Does Meat Really Heal? Many anecdotal reports have been released claiming that the carnivore diet – which basically consists of eating a diet restricted to meat (usually red fatty meat)–has alleviated the symptoms of autoimmune disease, depression and caused weight loss and improved health. Despite these anecdotal, is there any scientific evidence to support these claims? In this article, we will examine some of the effects of this diet on some conditions.

1. What is the effect of the carnivore diet on obesity?

When you are on the carnivore diet, your intake of processed carbohydrates and sugar is completely cut off. Thesesimple sugars are the leading cause of weight gain. In the absence of these carbohydrates, your body burns fat for fuelin a process known as ketosis. This results in weight loss and the eradication of obesity. Obesity is a leading cause of chronic illnesses such as T2DM, Cardiovascular diseases and Fatty Liver disease among others.

2. What effect does the Carnivore Diet have on autoimmune diseases?

Studies have shown that excess intake of sugary foods and processed carbohydrates increases systemic levels of inflammation in the body, which can increase the risk for cancer and autoimmune diseases. Eliminating sugar intake through the meat diet can therefore theoretically decrease levels of inflammation in the body.

But does the meat diet directly decrease levels of inflammation in the body? The carnivore diet sends the body into a metabolic state called ‘ketosis,’burns fat for energy instead of using glucose. Compared to glucose metabolism which produces large amounts of free oxygen radicals, contributing to inflammation, ketotic metabolism has been shown to produce far fewer free radicals.

In fact studies have shown that ketosis decreases inflammationand reactive radicals in animal models of multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition that affects the brain. It also decreases markers of liver inflammation in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Since the ketogenic diet has also been shown to produce anti-inflammatory effects by directly inhibiting pro-inflammatory immune pathways in the body, it is assumed that the carnivore diet does the same, short of scientific tests being carried out. With this in mind, it can be concluded that the carnivore diet can in fact guard against inflammation and ameliorate symptoms of autoimmune disease.

3. Does the Carnivore diet have any cancer fighting properties?

Not enough studies have been done on the carnivore diet but emerging evidence suggests that the ketogenic diet may decrease the risk of cancer through its anti-inflammatory properties. Because they basically act in the same way, the same can be deduced of the carnivore diet. Carcinogenesis (the development of cancer) has been related to hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and chronic inflammation. The ketogenic diet is hypothesized to decrease risk of cancer by decreasing levels of insulin and glucose in the body and also by decreasing systemic levels of inflammation.

Initially, it was thought that cancer cells use a lot of glucose for energy, thus starving them of glucose would stop their growth. Unfortunately, this theory was disproved because normal cells too need energy, and there is no way of starving the cancer cells and feeding the normal ones.

However, there is an indirect link between cancer risk and sugar. Eating lots of sugar over time can cause you to gain weight, and scientific evidence shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of 13 different types of cancer. In fact, obesity is the single biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking. The carnivore diet can thus reduce the risk of obesity and thereby reduce the risk of cancer.

In addition, a study published in 2019 suggested there could be something else going on. Researchers found that people who drank more sugary drinks had a slightly increased risk of cancer, regardless of body weight. The study took weight in to account, but there are still lots of answered questions. More studies will be needed to investigate this.

But what of the studies that show a correlation between red meat and cancer? There is one major flaw in the way these studies are interpreted.  These studies are epidemiologic. This means that causal effects cannot be implied. In other words, just because there is a correlation between meat consumption and cancer does not mean that meat consumption itself causes cancer.

4. The Carnivore Diet and cognitive functioning…

Although there is limited evidence on the neuroprotective effects of the carnivore diet specifically, there is much evidence on the neuroprotective of the ketogenic diet, which the carnivore diet closely resembles. Data suggests that the ketogenic diet has anti-inflammatory effects on the brain and holds neuro-protective benefits.

The ketogenic diet was initially designed to manage children suffering from seizures. Studies show that as many as half of patients that are started on the ketogenic diet have fewer seizures after starting the diet. In children with specific genetic epilepsies or epilepsy syndromes, studies have shown up to 90% of patients achieve seizure freedom on the ketogenic diet.

Because inflammation is thought to play an important role in epilepsy and seizures, the ketogenic diet, and therefore the carnivore diet may decrease seizure occurrence through its anti-inflammatory effects. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of the ketogenic diet involve reduced mitochondrial production of pro-inflammatory molecules and reduced production of excess excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, which can cause neuronal damage (a.k.a“glutamate excitotoxicity”).

Inflammation is thought to play a role in the development of other neurological diseases such as autism (increasingly associated with maternal inflammation), Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease, as well as cognitive dysfunction in people with diabetes and obesity. Thus, decreasing inflammation, potentially through the carnivore diet, may improve symptoms related to neurological dysfunction associated with inflammatory processes.

5. What is the effect of the Carnivore diet on depression?

From anecdotal reports, the carnivore diet has shown neurological and psychological effects beyond the treatment of seizures and chronic pain. Several people on the carnivore diet report benefits such as increased alertness, energy, mood and concentration.

Moreover, inflammation can contribute to depression, and depression itself can promote inflammation. The ketogenic diet may improve mood and ameliorate depression symptoms through its anti-inflammatory properties.

6. So, does meat heal?

It is clear that the carnivore diet has marked positive effects on the conditions we set out to explore. This is mainly due to its cutting off of sugars and carbohydrates. It can be said that getting on a carnivore diet is likely to bring about improved health outcomes.

It is important to note that there is not a ‘one-size-fit all’ when it comes to diet. Every individual has a different body, genetics, digestive system and immune system, which all of play a role in the body’s reaction to food. However, one “take home” is that everyone should cut down on sugar and processed carbohydrates because these are known to cause weight gain, pro-inflammatory states, and health problems.

References:

1. Neurogal (2018): Does Meat Really Heal? Show me the Evidence for the Carnivore Diet. Retrieved from https://neurogal.com/neuro-blog/2018/12/7/does-meat-really-heal-show-me-the-evidence-for-the-carnivore-diet

2. Cancer Research UK (2017): Sugar and cancer – what you need to know. Retrieved from https://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2017/05/15/sugar-and-cancer-what-you-need-to-know/

3. The BMJ (2019): Sugary drink consumption and risk of cancer: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort. Retrieved from https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l2408

Obesity has become rampant in recent times. It is said to affect almost 50% of the American population. It has been credited with being a leading cause of chronic illness and ill health. The carnivore diet has become very popular as the new way to lose weight, maintain a healthy lifestyle and ward off diseases. A major proponent of this diet is its ability to melt away the fat. How effective is it in the management of obesity? Do its effects last? In this article we will explore the role this diet can play in the curbing of obesity.

1. What is obesity?

Obesity is a complex disease involving an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic concern. It is a medical problem that increases your risk of other diseases and health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. There are many reasons why some people have difficulty avoiding obesity. Usually, obesity results from a combination of inherited factors, combined with the environment and personal diet and exercise choices.

2. What is the Carnivore diet?

The Carnivore Diet is a restrictive diet that only includes meat, fish, and other animal foods like eggs and certain dairy products. It excludes all other foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds. Its proponents also recommend eliminating or limiting dairy intake to foods that are low in lactose — a sugar found in milk and dairy products — such as butter and hard cheeses.

A good number of people who have adopted the carnivore diet report faster weight loss, improved mental clarity, healthier digestion, and even improved athletic performance. Some have also reported remarkable relief from debilitating chronic health problems where conventional means did not succeed.

1. What does one eat on the carnivore diet?

This is what you are likely to eat if you are on the carnivore diet:

–Below is the Green List that is, food you should be eating all the time with an emphasis on fattier cuts of meat to take in enough calories:

• Meat: beef, chicken, turkey, organ meats, lamb, pork, etc.
• Fish: salmon, mackerel, sardines, crab, lobster, tilapia, herring, etc.
• Other animal products: eggs, lard, bone marrow, bone broth, etc.
• Low-lactose dairy (in small amounts): heavy cream, hard cheese, butter, etc.
• Water

Generally, salt, pepper, and seasonings with no carbs are allowed.

– Below is the RED list of what you should NOT be eating:

• Vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, green beans, peppers, etc.

• Fruits: apples, berries, bananas, kiwi, oranges, etc.
• High-lactose dairy: milk, yogurt, soft cheese, etc.
• Legumes: beans, lentils, etc.
• Nuts and seeds: almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, etc.
• Grains: rice, wheat, bread, quinoa, pasta, etc.
• Alcohol: beer, wine, liquor, etc.
• Sugars: table sugar, maple syrup, brown sugar, etc.
• Beverages other than water: soda, coffee, tea, fruit juice, etc.

While some people incorporate some of these foods, a true Carnivore Diet does not permit them:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese

Coffee and tea: These may be plant-based, but some people keep these in the diet.

The carnivore diet can be considered to be a fad. Is there evidence that any traditional populations practiced the carnivore culture?

3. What effect might the carnivore diet have on obesity?

When on a carnivore diet, all you consume is meat, meat and more meat…Occasionally you could have some eggs and cheese and maybe a cup of coffee. What about this diet at a glance could help in combating obesity?

How does the carnivore diet work?

1. Cutting out sugar and carbohydrates

The absence of sugar and carbohydrates cause rapid and sustained fat loss without the need to count calories. Carbohydrates are hard to store and actually harmful if left to circulate in your system too long, so your body always wants to use them up first.

Your body releases insulin to shuttle blood sugar into muscles. To make sure the sugar gets used up first, insulin also tells your fat cells to store any fat you consume and to not release stored body fat for hours afterwards. If you eat a lot of easily-absorbed carbohydrates, your body releases a ton of insulin in response. Excess insulin can then remove too much sugar from your blood stream, resulting in hypoglycemia. The quickest way to restore blood sugar levels is to eat more carbs, which puts people on the carb roller coaster to weight gain.

The carnivore does away with all this by totally eliminating sugar and carbohydrates from your diet.

2. Eating a lot of protein suppresses appetite

One way that protein controls appetite is through the amino acid phenylalanine. Consumed protein is broken down into amino acids so it can be absorbed by the body. Multiple studies have shown how phenylalanine suppresses appetite and even improves mood and helps you burn stored fat. One study found that phenylalanine increases the release of an intestinal hormone called cholecystokinin in humans. This hormone signals the brain to feel satiated after eating and causes a reduction in subsequent food intake. A mouse study found that a single dose of phenylalanine caused an increase in another satiety hormone called GLP-1, it reduced levels of the hunger-hormone ghrelin.

3. Increase in dopamine

Protein foods are made from the building blocks of amino acids (including tyrosine), which are essential to the production of dopamine. It has therefore been suggested that upping protein intake may also boost dopamine production without increasing appetite. Dopamine is considered the reward-hormone and increasing its levels in your brain is helpful for making your weight loss diet less unpleasant.

4. The carnivore diet “imposes” time restricted eating

The carnivore diet tends to make people naturally adopt time-restricted eating patterns. Studies show that eating at night is a common cause of obesity. Junk food actually causes you to prefer late-night eating. Sugar and fat together, act as a trigger that cements the unhealthy habit of late-night eating. Worse yet, your body runs on an internal clock called circadian rhythms. These do more than set your sleep and wake times; they also determine your digestion and energy usage times. We’re meant to eat during the day and sleep at night. When you eat at night, your body doesn’t want to process those calories and instead they sit and cause metabolic dysfunction.

Protein does not seem to trigger a desire for late-night eating so the carnivore diet also helps curb that unhealthy practice. Late-night eating also reduces the quality of your sleep and poor sleep leads to poor eating the next day. Reduced sleep also increases stress and anxiety, so removing late-night eating not only improves weight loss, but helps your mood and overall feeling of well-being.

5. Does the carnivore diet stave off obesity?

There is a link between the Carnivore diet and sustained weight loss. In the absence of carbohydrates, fat can be kept off for long periods of time. The question becomes how safe it is to do the carnivore diet long term. More studies on this need to be carried out but in the meantime, this diet is one of the best in keeping obesity, and its associated diseases at bay.

References

1. Mayo Clinic (2019): Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742

2. NCBI (1994):L-phenylalanine releases cholecystokinin (CCK) and is associated with reduced food intake in humans: evidence for a physiological role of CCK in control of eating. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8201963

3. NCBI (2012):The Carnivore Connection Hypothesis: Revisited, Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3253466/

4. Lolo (2018):Carnivore Diet: Fad or the Future? Retrieved from http://unity.lolofit.com/blog/posts/carnivore-diet-fad-or-miracle-diet

5. Healthline (2019):All You Need to Know About the Carnivore (All-Meat) Diet. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet