The carnivore diet has been praised to achieve stunning results in a very short period. What about it causes such change? It is said that the people who could benefit the most from an all-meat carnivore diet are those with some already existing autoimmune disorders, allergies, severe inflammatory diseases like arthritis, depression, or IBS. Going carnivore can be a very effective way of going through a short phase of healing the gut and regaining intestinal lining, which will help to deal with future exposures. In this article, we discuss why this diet has such big wins.

1. The Carnivore Diet Mimics Fasting

Protein is known to be very satiating, which fills you up and sends signals to your brain that you’ve consumed enough food. It follows that people report not feeling very hungry and start eating less frequently when they get onto an all-meat diet.

The monotony of eating the same thing every day may lead to a decrease in the amount of food you eat. This may result in unintentional caloric restriction. Caloric restriction sets off a number of processes. When caloric intake drops, the concentration of insulin, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and growth hormone are significantly reduced. This condition triggers autophagy, which literally means “self-eating”—an internal process of cleaning up old cells and repairing damaged ones. Autophagy is also induced during fasting.

This may be why caloric restrictions so effective at reducing inflammation and alleviating symptoms of autoimmune disease. Naturally, the caloric restriction also results in weight loss. These are arguably the main reasons that people seem to be drawn to the carnivore diet. It is important to note that these effects can also be achieved through simple caloric restriction.

2. The Carnivore Diet is the Best Way to Reverse Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is an energy overload problem, whereby your cells become unresponsive to insulin’s action. They refuse to convert more energy into the cells and thus insulin levels remain persistently high. Insulin resistance is related to almost every chronic disease.

The carnivore diet is the most effective way to reverse insulin resistance because:

• It cuts out the highly glycemic carbohydrates which power your body off of ketones and increases insulin sensitivity.
• Cutting off of fructose also increases insulin sensitivity.
• Certain plant antinutrients like lectins can bind to insulin receptors and make you more insulin resistant. Eliminating plants from your diet eradicates this issue.
• The intermittent fasting that often accompanies the carnivore diet also increases insulin sensitivity. 

3. It Is a Low-Residue Diet

Residue can be defined as the undigested food that makes up stool. A low-residue diet is one that limits high-fiber foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. It is often prescribed for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to alleviate symptoms like diarrhea, bloating gas, and abdominal pain.

Meat is made primarily of protein and fat, which are absorbed high up in the GI tract, leaving little residue leftover to irritate or inflame the gut. In other words, an all-meat diet is effectively a very low-residue diet and gives the gut a rest.

4. It is an elimination diet

The carnivore diet works like an intense elimination diet – you eliminate all the potential foods and allergens from your diet that may potentially be causing some gastrointestinal stress, weight gain, brain fog, autoimmune disorders or bloating.

By removing all the “danger foods”, you allow your body to take a break from the chronic bouts of nutritional inflammation and that allows you to function more optimally. If you’re not putting in inflammatory stuff into your gut, then your body has the opportunity to start healing itself.

Constantly consuming processed foods, trans fats, allergens, and environmental toxins damage the intestinal lining of your gut wall, which eventually leads to intestinal permeability or leaky gut. This may lead to undigested food particles entering the bloodstream. This condition promotes brain fog, GI disorders, and more inflammation.

According to the father of modern medicine Hippocrates “All disease begins in the gut”. Your gut can be referred to as the second brain as it connects the nervous system and brain with the rest of the body. As the majority of your immune system is located in the gut, keeping it gut health is essential for overall longevity.

The elimination diet reduces some foods and environmental stressors that could potentially damage the gut and cause inflammatory responses. We will look at the most common ones:

• Gluten and grains are responsible most for leaky gut, arthritis, bloating, IBS, brain fog, diabetes, and weight gain. Avoid bread, pasta, cereal, pastries, oatmeal, cookies, etc.
• Legumes and beans can lead to intestinal permeability by promoting digestive issues and bloating. Peanuts and soybeans are also categorized as legumes.
• Nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, potatoes, and peppers have a lot of lectins which are compounds that attach sugar molecules to proteins and damage the gut walls again…
• Eggs, fish, shellfish, nuts, and seeds aren’t unhealthy foods quite the opposite but they may cause some allergic reactions in some people
• Dairy is a potential allergen and it’s also pro-inflammatory that tends to promote skin disorders, weight gain, and inflammation. Avoid commercial pasteurized milk and limit your cheese consumption.

5. The Carnivore Diet can get you into ketosis

If you’re eating large amounts of meat but are only eating once or twice a day and adding extra fat to the meat, your diet is likely ketogenic. A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein diet.

While the carnivore diet does not have strict ratios, it’s likely that some of the benefits that come with eating meat alone are due to the body being in a state of ketosis.

Ketosis has been known to be helpful in conditions including multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

5. The Carnivore Diet Changes the Gut Microbiota

Changing to an all-meat diet can also swiftly alter the gut microbiota. A 2014 study found that putting healthy human volunteers on an animal-based diet resulted in significant changes to the gut microbiota in less than 48 hours. The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant organisms and decreased the levels of microbes known to metabolize different plant fibers.

The gut microbiota has been linked to virtually every chronic inflammatory disease that has been studied, so it’s no surprise that an intervention that drastically changes the gut microbiota could have significant implications for health.

6. Happy tummy, happy life

Once you get your digestion in order, your entire life will change as you’ll be able to liberate yourself from the chronic inflammation most people are suffering from.

All disease does begin in the gut and to get better you need to allow your body to self-repair and self-renovate itself.

An all meat carnivore diet can work as a short-term fix for promoting intestinal rebuilding but you’d be much better off by still eating at least some plants, vegetables, and different hormetic foods. The best remedy would be a fasting-focused lifestyle that revolves around periods of eating and fasting. This is sure to promote general health, longevity, and keep inflammation in check.

Much remains to be discovered about how eating meat only impacts our health. However, if you’re struggling with autoimmune diseases, obesity, diabetes or psychiatric issues, it is definitely worth a try. Going on a carnivore diet as a short-term experiment is sensible and safe.

References

1. Simland (2018): Why Does the Carnivore Diet Work. Retrieved from http://siimland.com/why-does-the-carnivore-diet-work/

2. Carnivore Aurelius(2019): Carnivore Diet | 16 Reasons It Works. Retrieved from https://carnivoreaurelius.com/carnivore-diet/

3. Chris Kessler (2019): The Carnivore Diet: Is It Really Healthy? Retrieved from https://chriskresser.com/the-carnivore-diet-is-it-really-healthy/

4. Nutrita (2019): The Ultimate Guide to the Carnivore Diet. Retrieved from https://nutrita.app/guide-to-the-carnivore-diet/

The carnivore diet has taken over the pop culture space like a whirlwind, hot on the heels of other diets like the ketogenic and paleo diets. It has received extremely harsh reviews from some quarters while some proponents swear by it. Will it stand the test of time? Is it worth all the hype? In this article, we will explore its viability and its chances of soldiering on.

1. Where did this diet come from?

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 the daily intake of foods that may contain lactose — a sugar found in milk and dairy products — such as butter and hard cheeses.

The Carnivore Diet stems from the controversial belief that human ancestral populations ate mostly meat and fish and that high-carb diets are to blame for today’s high rates of chronic disease.

Carnivore ancestors?

The world has yet to produce a civilization that has eaten a vegan diet from childhood through death. Conversely, there are numerous examples throughout the recorded history of societies from a variety of cultural, ethnic and geographical backgrounds that have lived on mainly-meat diets for decades, lifetimes, and generations. What exactly did these carnivorous cultures eat, and how healthy or unhealthy were they?

Some of the ancient cultures that practiced carnivorism predominantly are:

• The Inuit of the Canadian Arctic thrived on fish, seal, walrus and whale meat.
• The Chukotka of the Russian Arctic lived on caribou meat, marine animals and fish.
• The Masai, Samburu, and Rendille warriors of East Africa survived on diets consisting primarily of milk and meat.
• The steppe nomads of Mongolia ate mostly meat and dairy products.
• The Sioux of South Dakota enjoyed a diet of buffalo meat.
• The Brazilian Gauchos nourished themselves with beef.

The studies on these communities strongly support claims that early man predominantly survived on meat. Although there is no dispute that our early ancestors ate meat, a meat-only diet is quite unlikely.

Anthropological evidence contradicts the carnivore claim about early humans not eating carbohydrates. There’s archaeological evidence from at least 30,000 years — that’s 20,000 years before the agricultural revolution — of stone tools that look like mortars and pestles that people used to grind up seeds and grain. It is possible that both Neanderthals and Paleolithic peoples ate barley, beans, and tubers.

In addition, copies of amylase genes, whose only purpose is to make enzymes that digest carbohydrates, are often highly selected for within our genome, suggesting that starchy foods were important throughout our evolutionary history. This contradicts an ancestral all meat diet, or even an ultra-low-carb one, as such replications are not strongly selected for within any carnivorous species.

That said, there is still some scientific debate about the diet of Neanderthals, who are partly-ancestral to some people of Eurasian ancestry. There are some exceptionally high levels of δ15N in some Neanderthal remains, which would indicate high levels of meat-eating: perhaps high levels of rotten meat-eating or perhaps not.

Who Is Shawn Baker and what’s His Role in the Popularity of the Carnivore Diet?

One of the earliest carnivore diet proponents, Shawn Baker is an orthopedic surgeon and a major leader in the carnivore diet movement. He authored a book that was released in early 2018 appropriately titled The Carnivore Diet.

However, Baker’s medical license has since been revoked. The New Mexico Medical Board ordered the “voluntary and permanent surrender” of his medical license in 2017.“This action was based on failure to report adverse action taken by a healthcare entity and incompetence to practice as a licensee,” the report reads. He still remains a central figure in the zero-carb, all-meat movement.

Does the current popularity of the carnivore diet stem from traditional practices? Is it solely based on the practicality of the diet solving some health issues and being a lifestyle of choice? These are still subjects that remain up for discussion.

2. Why you should start this diet as early as today…

Proponents of this diet have lauded it for curing or helping them to manage pretty severe chronic conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, brain fog, digestive issues, autoimmune issues, just to name a few. While most of this evidence is anecdotal, let us look at some benefits of adopting this diet:

• The Carnivore diet cuts out All Added Sugar– Sugar is bad for you, here’s why:

1. It can glycate and stick to cholesterol particles, which can lead to atherosclerosis
2. It’s highly glycemic. Sugar spikes insulin and can lead to insulin resistance over time.
3. When metabolized, it produces AGEs which lead to aging, chronic disease, and diabetes
4. Glucose is oxidatively stressful, causes inflammation and can produce reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress plays a role in almost every disease.

• The Carnivore Diet Can Cure Leaky Gut- Leaky gut is a condition when the tight junctions of the small intestine open and allow proteins and toxins into the bloodstream. This diet resolves leaky gut by:

1. Reducing inflammation, which reverses gut microbiome imbalances
2. It is arguably the most nutrient-rich diet on earth, which heals the gut.
3. It removes foods that pry the tight junctions in the small intestine open like Lectins and Gluten

• The Carnivore Diet Eliminates Refined Carbohydrates

Because all the fiber has been removed from refined carbohydrates, they are digested very rapidly and cause major blood sugar spikes.

This can lead to insulin resistance over time, especially when consumed with fat. They also damage the gut. Sugar and carbohydrates are fermented by the gut and colon which can exacerbate GI issues and lead to leaky gut, which is why a well-established treatment for IBS recommends low carbohydrates to starve your bacteria.

Over time, refined carbohydrate consumption has been linked to inflammation and obesity. The carnivore diet completely cuts off carbohydrates and may reverse these effects over time.

3. Why you should not board this bus…..

The carnivore diet has been condemned by medical experts as dangerous and unscientific. The carnivore diet is based on anecdotal evidence; there is no scientific evidence to support it. Eating only meat deprives the body of necessary nutrients and causes vitamin deficiencies.

While carnivore dieters reject and ridicule dietary fiber which they claim is unhealthy and not necessary, in reality, greater dietary fiber intake has been shown to lower the risk of both cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers including bowel and colon cancer.

There are many other health benefits from fiber consumption including improvements in digestive health and weight management. Lack of dietary fiber is dangerous to the bacteria in the colon. Growing evidence suggests that in the absence of adequate fiber, the bacteria in the colon consume and thin the protective mucus lining, which then leads to impaired immune function and inflammation.”

Some negative health effects are suspected High levels of LDL cholesterol which can increase the risk of heart disease, Constipation from lack of dietary fiber, Folate (vitamin B₉), vitamin C and E deficiencies and scurvy.

Eating a high quantity of red meat could increase the chances of one getting colon cancer and kidney failure.

4. Trash it or keep it?

If you are suffering from severe or incurable conditions with poor therapeutic possibilities, the carnivore diet can be an option you try out. In the absence of any good scientific evidence pro or con, the benefits to you might be well worth the trip.

Short-term, it is unlikely to cause any harm. However, longer trials could cause some health issues for some people — so it is important that anyone considering doing this should pay close attention to their individual responses. If one does not note remarkable improvement over weeks or a few months, it’s very likely not helping and they can return to a more varied and less restricted low-carb ketogenic diet, knowing that they gave it a shot.

References

1. Diagnosis Diet (2019): The History of All-Meat Diets. Retrieved from https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/all-meat-diets/

2. Rational Wiki (2019): Carnivore diet. Retrieved from https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Carnivore_diet

3. Diet Doctor (2019): Sinking our teeth into the carnivore diet: what’s known, what’s not. Retrieved from https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/carnivore

4. Carnivore Aurelius (2019): Carnivore Diet | 16 Reasons It Works. Retrieved from https://carnivoreaurelius.com/carnivore-diet/

5. Healthline (2019): What is the Carnivore Diet? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet#what-it-is

6. Everyday Health (2019): On the Carnivore Diet, People Are Eating Only Meat: Here’s What to Know. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/diet/carnivore-diet-benefits-risks-food-list-more/

In previous articles, we have reviewed the great benefits of the carnivore diet. How consistently does one have to be on this diet in order to ensure all the benefits gained are not thrown down a black hole? How can one keep from reverting back to old habits? In this article, we will review these questions and highlight what one can do if they find themselves sidetracked.

1. The effects of cheating

The Zero Carb Carnivore diet is similar to AA, Alcoholics Anonymous. It is an all or nothing diet. It is basically AA for carbohydrate addicts.

If you are cheating and eating plant foods and or zero carb artificial sweeteners, you are not doing Zero Carb, you are on Low Carb.  It takes several weeks/months of 100% Zero Carb to become completely fat-adapted and realize the amazing benefits that a plant-free, chemical-free, diet can do for you.

• Carbohydrate/Sugar addiction

Carbohydrate or sugar addiction is no different than alcohol or drug addiction. The addiction infects every cell of your body and your brain. It takes about 90 days for the brain to break free of the immediate effects of an addictive substance. So, if you can’t make it 90 days or so without carbs, then you are not even close to overcoming your addiction and becoming fat adapted. It takes the body weeks and months or years to detox from the damaging effects of years and years of the overconsumption of carbohydrates and sugar.

When you keep cheating and feeding that addiction your body remains in a state of turmoil. Your body will not adapt to clean fat burning if you continue to feed it carbs. You might think that 1 piece of dark chocolate or apple once a week or once a month has no effect on you, but it will definitely show in your progress, or lack of it.

• How do you keep from falling off the wagon?
  

1. Start with realistic expectations

Getting on a carnivore diet has many benefits, including potential weight loss. Nonetheless, it’s important to set realistic expectations.

For example, if you keep getting on the scale and looking for signs of progress, you might give up. Trust the process and keep doing what you should be doing every day.

2. Think about what really motivates you

Remembering why you made the decision to start the diet can help you stay on course. Making a list of specific reasons why you want to get healthier can be helpful. Keep this list handy and refer to it when you feel you need a reminder.

When you’re tempted to indulge in unhealthy behaviors, remembering what motivates you can help you stay on track.

3. Keep unhealthy foods out of the house

It’s difficult to stick to your diet when you’re surrounded by other tempting foods. If other family members want to have these foods around, try keeping them hidden rather than on countertops. The saying “out of sight, out of mind” definitely applies here.

Having food on display in various areas of the house has been linked to obesity and increased consumption of unhealthy foods.

4. Do not have an ‘all or nothing’ approach

Rejecting the urge to judge your day as “good” or “bad” can prevent you from making poor choices.

5. Eat well beforehand

Leave the house when you have already had your fill to prevent you from getting tempted into eating snacks.

6. Exercise and change diet at the same time

You may have heard you shouldn’t change too many things at once when trying to improve your health. In general, this is good advice. However, research shows that when you make both dietary and physical activity changes at the same time, the results tend to reinforce each other.

7. Have a game plan before eating out

Plan your outings to ensure you either only eat what’s acceptable or eat before you go out.

8. Don’t let traveling derail you

Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, being outside of your familiar territory can make it difficult to stick to your diet. Here are a few tips:

• Research the restaurants and supermarkets ahead of time.
• If possible, get quarters that can allow you to prepare your own meals.
• Challenge yourself to stay on track for most of the trip.

9. Practice mindful eating

Eating mindfully can help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Take time to enjoy your food and appreciate its ability to nourish you. This increases your chances of making successful, lasting behavioral changes.

10. Track and monitor your progress

Logging the foods you eat into a diary, online food tracker, or app can help you stick to a healthy diet and lose weight. Measuring your exercise progress is also beneficial and provides you with the motivation that can help you keep going.

Tracking your food intake and exercise progress can provide motivation and accountability. Studies show that it helps you stick to a healthy diet and leads to greater weight loss.

11. Get a partner to join you

Sticking with a healthy eating and exercise plan can be tough to do on your own. Having a diet or exercise buddy may be helpful, especially if that person is your partner or spouse.

Researchers studying data from over 3,000 couples found that when one person made a positive lifestyle change, such as increasing physical activity, the other was more likely to follow their lead.

12. Start the day with a big meal

If you eat a big meal as first thing in the morning, you’re more likely to maintain stable blood sugar levels and not overeat for the rest of the day. This will keep your mind far from the food you should not be eating.

13. Realize that it takes time to change your habits

Don’t be discouraged if it takes longer than you expect to adapt to your new, healthy way of living. Researchers have found that it takes an average of 66 days to make a new behavior a habit.

Eventually, you will find that it will become easier to stick to your diet.

14. Expect a Bit of Discomfort

No matter what type of diet you get into you will be a bit grumpy. During the first one or two weeks into a low carb diet, you’ll feel less energy or with a change of mood. That’s because you’re burning fatty acids for fuel. Expect it to subside and for your body to normalize within a week or two.

15. Figure out what works best for you

There is no perfect way that works for everyone. It’s important to find a way of eating and exercising that you enjoy, find sustainable and can stick to for the rest of your life. The best diet for you is the one you can stick to in the long run.

3. Are you motivated enough?

Breaking your habits and improving your diet is not easy. Unfortunately, if you cannot control cravings and continue to cheat over and over, this diet will not work the way it is supposed to. Your body will keep reverting to its original state and you will have to start over.

One of the best carnivore diet tips is to be mentally prepared and keep moving forward. Feeling a bit down is inevitable, but it’s up to you to decide whether to give up or keep going! To stay motivated,  look at before and after results to inspire you, or keep yourself distracted from food by taking a walk or picking up hobbies to keep yourself occupied.

What you need to do is to take the small steps necessary to be totally self-disciplined and stick to the diet. This way, you will see that the benefits will far outweigh the discomfort.

References

1. Zero Carb Health (2018): Zero Carb Carnivore Diet and Cheating. Retrieved from http://www.zerocarbhealth.com/zero-carb-carnivore-diet-and-cheating/

2. Low Carb Yum (2017): Low Carb Diet Tips to Stay on Track. Retrieved from https://lowcarbyum.com/low-carb-diet-tips/

3. Healthline (2019):14 Simple Ways to Stick to a Healthy Diet. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/14-ways-to-stick-to-a-diet#section1

You’re ready to go on the Carnivore Diet but you think it may be too expensive! Dollar signs flash before your eyes and you almost toss the idea out the window. Is the carnivore diet really that expensive? Is being on a more conventional diet less costly? In this article, we will look at the cost impact of eating all meat….all the time.

1. What exactly comprises the carnivore diet?

What precisely can you eat on the carnivore diet? The diet stresses the importance of leaning heavily on red meat, particularly on fatty cuts that will help you meet your daily calorie needs. Foods that are on the green list of the carnivore diet include:

• Beef
• Pork
• Lamb
• Organ meats
• Poultry
• Fish
• Eggs
• Lard
• Bone marrow
• Butter
• Salt and pepper
• Water
• Bone broth

If your plan is to adhere to the strictest version of the carnivore diet, you’ll eat only what’s on the above list; however, some people choose are more flexible and may include some foods that come from animals indirectly, like milk, yogurt, and cheese.

Others still, take coffee and tea.

2. How much food does one consume under the Carnivore diet?

The perception is that a meat diet is exorbitantly expensive and can put one in the poor house. In reality, when compared to other diets or eating lifestyles,  it is surprisingly one of the more affordable options.

Can a Carnivore diet be more affordable than being Vegan or going, Keto?

Without a doubt! The generalization aside, look at all the extra ingredients you end up purchasing on the other diets. For example, you are buying expensive avocados, cashew and almond butter, cacao products, oils, teas, herbs, seasonings, kombucha, raw snack like cookies and brownies and occasionally, some very costly supplements.

Supplementation can really add up at the till…consider the vitamins, mushroom teas, elixirs, MCT oils, protein powders and the rest of the stuff you find in the health food store or supplement aisle. As a carnivore diet generally does not include all these additives, it ends up being quite affordable.

1. Buy Cheaper Cuts

When you are new to the carnivore diet, you might need to take leaner and choosier cuts as your body is not yet accustomed to this diet and in order for you avoid digestion issues and minimize keto flu symptoms. As your tolerance increases, you can step down to fattier cuts and ground beef and you’ll find that these are much cheaper options.

Another way to approach this is by starting with the different ratios of fat in ground beef. For instance, start off with a 90/10 for a week, then an 85/15 and then an 80/20 and a 70/30 and so on.

Also of note is that fattier cuts make you more satiated and sometimes you just end up eating less meat-based on pounds. You will see that you will get full quickly on a 70/30 burger as compared to a 90/10.

2. But what’s on sale

Lots of grocery stores have a weekly ad. Look out for which stores have meat offers. You could find that you save greatly this way.

3. Buy your meat online-

Online meat shopping has major benefits. You have a large variety, you can order the less prominent meat selections like organ meat and liverwurst, and you can double down on coupons or buy in bulk.

4. Buy the whole animal

The ultimate way to go carnivore and to save money, in the long run, is to purchase a full cow or pig. The savings are tremendous and if you have a non-defrost freezer, you could potentially have meat for half to a full year, naturally depending on how much you consume.

5. Buy sections

You could also buy sections of an animal i.e ½, ¼,1/8 and so on…

Here is a very general breakdown of a grass-fed organic certified ranch costs for a full cow.

The average hanging weight of a full cow is 500 pounds. (Hanging weight is basically all the meat minus blood, head, etc.)

A whole cow costs with butcher fees approximately $3200 to $4400. We are looking at total costs of 8.80 per pound on the high end and $6.40 per pound on the low end.

(You can get even cheaper if you purchase from an uncertified organic farm or ranch or non-grass-fed.) Non-grass fed beef is fattier but they are usually fed grain and soy which depending on who you talk is controversial from a health and environmental perspective.

When you buy the full cow you are given the choice of cuts you want and how thick you want your steaks, so there is a certain amount of customization. Depending on your cut selection you end up with around 100 to 150 pounds of ground beef too.

This is by the far the best deal because you are getting all the cuts like ribeye steaks, filets, flanks, strips, and briskets.

3. How much freezer space do you need?

The general rule of thumb is one cubic foot of space per every 35-4o pounds of packaged meat so a quarter of a cow will fit into a standard freezer chest that has five to seven cubic feet.

Auto Defrost or Not???

Be careful what type of freezer you use to store your packaged meat. There is a huge difference between an auto-defrost freezer, most likely as the one in your kitchen, and a non-defrost freezer. The auto defrost actually has heating coils in its walls which are used to heat up, thaw the ice and then freeze again. This is not ideal because if you have meat next to the walls it’s basically doing the same thing. Your meat is thawing and defrosting over and over again which means it will not last as long and if not eaten within 3 or so months it may spoil.

If you are going big and getting that full cow and expect to keep it frozen through the year you will need to invest in a non-defrosting chest-style freezer which is very affordable. Investing in a non-defrosting freezer will pay for itself over time.

How else can you keep meet longer?

At the point of purchase, the butcher will generally give you the option of standard paper style packaging or vacuum-sealed. The vacuum-sealed will last longer but there is an increase in price due to material and the time it takes to vacuum seal everything. It will, therefore, be up to you to decide whether you can afford the extra and have your meat last longer or keep your meat for a shorter period at a cheaper cost.

Another fun way to purchase your meat is by going to a livestock auction. You will get to see the quality of the cow, pig, goat or chickens you are buying and bid up to where you are comfortable at. A lot of the auctions help support programs like 4H which in turn help ranchers and their children with education and best practices. Plus it’s a fun and exciting experience.

4. So, is a carnivore diet affordable?

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to reduce your meat costs, even if it won’t be quite possible to cut it down to the bare minimum. For anyone attempting to lose weight on this diet, it is advisable to stock up on eggs and cheese as they are great fillers to keep you going.

What is of note however is that this lifestyle is affordable! You will find yourself eating out a lot less and you no longer need to snack, on anything at all. Think about the health care costs associated with poor health. Can you afford not to go carnivore?

References

1. Mbg Food (2019): The Carnivore Diet: Here Are The Benefits & Risks Of Going Meat-Only. Retrieved from https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/what-is-the-carnivore-diet

2. Wild Lumens (2019): How much does the carnivore diet cost? A surprising breakdown. Retrieved from https://wildlumens.com/how-much-does-the-carnivore-diet-cost/

3. CarnivoreStyle (2018): How To Do Carnivore Diet On A Budget. Retrieved from https://carnivorestyle.com/blog/carnivore-diet-on-a-budget/

4. The cool Carnivore (2019): Keto diet, healthy eating, and lifestyle advice from a meat-eating carnivore. Retrieved from https://coolcarnivore.com/2019/06/15/5-easy-ways-to-eat-cheap-on-the-carnivore-diet/

The carnivore diet is one of the most controversial diets yet. Its followers, however, are very categorical about the immense benefits it brings to their health and wellbeing. What about it makes it work? This article looks at its key proponents in an attempt to find out why it is effective, where some other diets have failed.

1. 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.

The Carnivore Diet stems from the controversial belief that human ancestral populations ate mostly meat and fish and that high-carb diets are to blame for today’s high rates of chronic disease. Other popular low-carb diets, like the keto and paleo diets, limit but don’t exclude carb intake. However, the Carnivore Diet aims for zero carbs.

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The carnivore diet has been touted to cure the incurable. Health sites like Meatheals.com, World Carnivore Tribe and ZeroCarb are overflowing with tens of thousands of people who have reversed serious health conditions.

It seems almost too good to be true, right?

We will delve into the reasons why the carnivore diet works so well.

• Why does the carnivore diet work?
  The Carnivore Diet cuts out all added sugar

Sugar is one of the most controversial topics. To sum it up, sugar is bad for you. Here’s why:

• It can glycate and stick to cholesterol particles, which can lead to atherosclerosis
• It’s highly glycemic. Sugar spikes insulin and can lead to insulin resistance over time.
• When metabolized, it produces AGEs which lead to aging, chronic disease, and diabetes
• Glucose is oxidatively stressful, causes inflammation and can produce reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress plays a role in almost every disease

In a study conducted, it was found that from consuming just 40 grams of added sugar, people had an increase in inflammation, insulin resistance and weight gain.

Glucose is also speculated to feed tumor growth. The Warburg Effect explains that cancer cells depend on glucose to grow. Very unlike normal cells, cancer cells cannot use Ketones.

While glucose is considered to be bad, fructose is considered to be even worse as it goes directly to the liver where it’s converted to fat. It is twenty times more likely to cause fatty liver than glucose alone. A fatty liver can lead directly to insulin resistance.

2. The Carnivore Diet can cure leaky gut

Leaky gut is a condition when the tight junctions of the small intestine open and allow proteins and toxins into the bloodstream. So far, the carnivore diet has been one of the few clinically shown ways to reverse intestinal permeability and the attendant consequences.

How does the carnivore diet cure leaky gut? Three main ways:

• It reduces inflammation, which reverses gut microbiome imbalances
• It is the most nutrient-rich diet on earth, which heals the gut.
• It removes foods that pry the tight junctions in the small intestine open like Lectins and Gluten

3. The Carnivore Diet eliminates refined carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are converted to glucose in your body (sugar). Here are some of the negative effects of consuming refined carbs:

• Because all the fiber has been removed, refined carbs are digested very rapidly and cause major blood sugar spikes. This can lead to insulin resistance over time, especially when consumed with fat.
• Refined carbohydrates also damage the gut. Sugar and carbohydrates are fermented by the gut and colon which can exacerbate GI issues and lead to leaky gut. This is why a well-established treatment for IBS, recommends low carbohydrates to starve your bacteria.
• Over time, refined carbohydrate consumption has been linked to inflammation and obesity.
• Refined carbohydrates also increase blood triglyceride levels, which is a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Disease. Fat hanging out in your bloodstream is a sign that something is seriously off.

Eating refined carbs such as pasta is no different than eating straight sugar. Seven ounces of cooked spaghetti has the same amount of sugar as 4 12 oz cans of Pepsi.

4. The Carnivore Diet cuts out most carbohydrates

Carbohydrates range from simple sugars to complex carbohydrates. But even unrefined carbohydrates can be bad for you. Many forms of starch, for example, raise blood sugar as much as eating glucose.

Below are some reasons why cutting out all carbohydrates may be beneficial (yes, even the “healthy ones”):

• High carbohydrate diets can lead to insulin resistance, especially if combined with fat
• Many whole grains are loaded with anti-nutrients, like lectins
• Carbohydrateshalt fat burning because of the insulin response. The more carbohydrates you eat the less body fat you burn.
• Getting to < 50g a day allows you to burn fat and enter ketosis. Ketosis has a number of health benefits.
• All carbohydrates break down into glucose, which can produce some of the negative effects mentioned above: AGEs, glycated LDL particles, insulin resistance, etc.
• Carbohydrates and fiber are fermented by the gut, which can exacerbate gut issues like IBS

5. The Carnivore Diet is very effective in reducing insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is related to almost every chronic disease. Though it might not cause all the conditions, its presence exacerbates them. Some of these conditions are: Heart disease, 62% higher cancer mortality,160% higher gastrointestinal cancer mortality, Prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Aging, Inflammation: Elevated CRP and IL-6, Acne

The good news is that you can reverse insulin resistance. The carnivore diet is the most effective way to reverse insulin resistance in the following ways….

• Cutting out the highly glycemic carbohydrates powers your body off of ketones and increases insulin sensitivity
• Cutting out fructose increases insulin sensitivity
• Certain plant antinutrients like lectins can bind to insulin receptors and make you more insulin resistant
• Vegetable oils cause insulin resistance
• Protein is satiating and high protein diets burn body fat, which reduces insulin resistance
• People generally intermittent fast on the carnivore diet, which increases insulin sensitivity

If you want to live longer, you need to lower fasting insulin levels.

6. Carnivore Diet Increases Natural Saturated Fat Consumption

Despite the prevailing dogma, saturated fats are associated with longevity.

Saturated fats are highly beneficial to health. Your body cannot function without them. Diets high in natural saturated fats are associated with longevity. Hong Kong, for example, consumes more meat per capita than any other nation in the world, but they actually have the world’s longest life expectancy at 84.5 years.

Studies continue to debunk the myth that saturated fat causes heart disease. A review from 2014 looking at 76 studies, found no link at all between saturated fat and heart disease

6. Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting isn’t a pivotal part of the carnivore diet. Nor is it prescribed. But people naturally tend to find themselves eating in a shorter window, which brings tremendous health benefits.

Intermittent fasting is restricting your feeding to a windowless than or equal to 8 hours. This is a direct contradiction to what many American’s do today.

Fasting is extremely beneficial. It has been shown to:

• Reduce inflammation
• Increase insulin sensitivity
• Promotes fat loss
• Increases cognition, memory, and focus
• Increases autophagy, the natural cellular cleansing process
• Increases BDNF, which upregulates neuronal creation and maintenance
• Improves immune system
• Starves bad gut bacteria
• Can improve autoimmune symptoms like RA and Crohns

7. The Carnivore Diet gets you into ketosis

Your body can use two types of fuels: glucose (from carbs) and ketones (from fat).

Everybody on the carnivore diet is in ketosis to some extent. When you stop fueling your brain and body with glucose, fat needs to take its place.

Here are some major benefits of going into ketosis:

1. Upregulates FOXO genes which regulate oxidative stress, insulin sensitivity, and influence longevity.
2. Ketones improve mood and have antidepressant-like effects
3. BHB reduces oxidative stress in the brain and may be beneficial in preventing neurodegenerative disease
4. BHB lowers inflammation and blocks NLPR3 inflammasome
5. Increases endogenous antioxidant production
6. Ketones improve insulin sensitivity
7. Increased fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass and performance
8. Ketones can slow tumor growth by starving them of their preferred fuel, glucose, and lowering IGF-18. The Carnivore Diet is Simple

In the complexity of life, food doesn’t need to be complicated. The carnivore diet involves just eating meat, meat, and more meat. This makes it easier to stick to as there are no meal plans and measurements.

3. The Carnivore diet works…

If you have tried everything to help you keep in shape and manage chronic conditions you might have, maybe it’s time you tried the carnivore diet. Its basic mechanisms make sense and are likely to cause some positive effects in your state.

However, if you have a chronic disease, like diabetes or heart disease, talk to your doctor before trying an extreme diet like this one. Do not follow the carnivore diet if you have any level of kidney disease.

References

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

2. Every day Health (2018):On the Carnivore Diet, People Are Eating Only Meat: Here’s What to Know. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/diet/carnivore-diet-benefits-risks-food-list-more/

3. Carnivore Aurelius (2019): 16 Reasons why the Carnivore Diet Works. Retrieved from https://carnivoreaurelius.com/carnivore-diet/

The carnivore diet – also known as the all-meat diet or the carnivorous diet – entails eating almost nothing but meat for every meal, every day. That means a lot of protein, a lot of fat, and almost zero carbs. This rather drastic shift in eating patterns is bound to leave your body reeling. What are the adverse symptoms? How can you manage them? In this article, we’ll take you through what you need to expect and the tips and tricks that will get you through them.

1. The Carnivore Diet – What are the symptoms? Are there any cures?

You may experience significant symptoms when getting adapted to The Carnivore Diet.

Often, nearly always, when you start a Carnivore Diet, you will experience adverse symptoms and side effects. The symptoms you experience are your body’s natural response to carbohydrate restriction and the elimination of addictive agents and chemicals.

Common Symptoms Include:

• Brain fog
• Headache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Digestive issues
• Dizziness
• Irritability
• Bad breath/smells
• Bad taste in the mouth (metallic)
• Dry mouth
• Cravings (sugar!)
• Muscle soreness
• Jaw soreness
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Poor focus, and decreased performance, energy, and drive,
• Cramping
• Rapid heart rate
• Insomnia
• Night sweats
• Nocturia (peeing a lot at night)
• Feeling hot or cold

In case you are coming from a ketogenic (keto) or high fat/low carb diet (HFLC), the transition is generally easier (but there are still symptoms you need to be aware of!) than someone coming from a Standard American Diet that is high in carbohydrates.

These symptoms are a result of your body undergoing significant metabolic and hormonal changes.

2. What are the are 3 Major Adaptations

If you decide to start the Carnivore Diet, there are 3 major adaptations that your body is going to go through.

1. Fluid Rebalancing: Because you are eating fewer carbs, your insulin levels drop, which sends a signal to the kidneys to release sodium from the body. Losing 10 lbs of water in a couple of days is not uncommon as water follows sodium out of the body.

Glycogen is then converted to glucose as the last energy usage before switching to mainly fatty acids.

2. Transitioning from Sugar to Fat for Energy

Your body will start switching from burning mainly sugar to fat for energy. Depending on your metabolic flexibility, you might have milder or more severe symptoms. Your metabolic flexibility is your body’s ability to adapt to different fuel sources, which depends on a number of factors including genetics, and especially how you ate prior.

If you have been accustomed to eating a lot of high carbohydrate foods, it can feel a lot like going into withdrawal.

3. Hormone Response and Rebalancing

Some hormones in your body will respond to the diet by rebalancing, let’s look at thyroid and cortisol hormones.

• Thyroid Hormone
• Cortisol

T3 thyroid hormone levels may decrease. T3 is a hormone produced by the thyroid that is closely connected with dietary carbohydrates. It plays a major role in the regulation of body temperature, metabolism, and heart rate.

3. Are there any cures for the Carnivore Adaptation Symptoms?

Fortunately for you, yes! You can dramatically lessen and perhaps even eliminate most of the suffering in the “Trough” by using some tricks to help bridge your body to the adapted state of bliss. Here are some tricks:

1. Eat more meat.

Under-eating is the number one reason people unnecessarily suffer.

Early on, it’s common to feel extremely hungry. As your body is getting used to the diet, eat, eat, and eat again. Don’t try to restrict calories or track macros. Don’t worry about gaining fat.

2. Hydrate

Make sure you are drinking water. Do not overdo it as you will make the situation worse, but you need to stay hydrated. After adaptation, you drink to thirst (no need to measure/monitor) but if you are feeling like crap during adaptation – make sure you are hydrating.

3. Electrolytes

Replenish your electrolytes. As you lose a lot of excess water, you also lose a lot of electrolytes: sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride. Salt used generously on your meat is the first step.

For some people, this may be adequate. Other people need some help in the potassium and magnesium department as well though…

These are tricks that can help you replenish:

1. Drink Meaty Bone Broth– In addition to water and sodium, this will give you some potassium which will offset some of the discomfort caused at a cellular level.
   • It’s important that the bones have some meat on them because that’s where the potassium is.
2. Supplement–

• Potassium K+: 500 – 3500 mg/day (start with 1g – K+ chloride)
• Magnesium Mg:250-500 mg/day (magnesium citrate)
• Sodium Na: 2-7g/day (5g is a good starting point – I like this brand)

4. Solving GI Problems

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues are extremely common, especially if you are coming from a low-fat diet.

Your gallbladder and pancreas might not be ready to handle the increased fat intake, even if you are. When first starting, you may have inadequate bile and lipase to digest the increased fat intake. This leads to diarrhea and all kinds of GI distress.

To help manage this, you can reduce how much fat you’re eating by choosing leaner cuts of meat. A better solution though is the supplement for 2-4 weeks. You could take some lipase supplements a few minutes before meals. You can start with one tablet and if you still have some discomfort go to 2.

For most people, lipase alone does the trick. However, if it doesn’t for, you, you can take some exogenous bile with meals.

If they still having GI issues, especially, if they are GERD/acid reflux-related, take a Betaine HCl supplement. Many people produce inadequate stomach acid to facilitate digestion and proper metabolic signaling. This is what results in GERD, Heartburn, Acid Reflux.

Don’t take this supplement with anti-inflammatories as it could result in ulcers. It should automatically include pepsin in it, but check to make sure. Common dosage range between 3-5g/meal.

Important note: Supplements are a Bridging strategy and not designed for long term use–. The goal is to be off all of these after the first month. They are intended to allow your body to catch up.

It might also be important to eliminate rendered fats as they could exacerbate the problem.

It is normal to notice less frequent bowel movements as your body absorbs and uses meat very efficiently and not a lot goes to waste.

5. Sleep

Insomnia is common during adaptation, and since you are purging water, nocturia is also an interrupter. A few hacks that help:

Keep your room pitch black (blackout curtains, cover LEDs) and COOL

Start winding down 2 hours before bed (no screens or at the least put them in night mode)

• Don’t eat within a few hours of sleep if you can help it
• Be conscious how much you are drinking later in the day
• Be asleep before 11 (a cortisol spike happens if you are not asleep around this time)

6. Sweat

Sweating is a natural detox mechanism. Since you are finally giving your body the nutrition it has been craving, you give it the opportunity to expel toxins. Give your body a hand and help it detox by getting some exercise and sweating.

7. Killing cravings and addictions–“Brain Changes”

Besides the metabolic and hormonal changes mentioned, you may also experience alterations in what I call “Brain Changes” that occur along the “brain-body highway”, a  signaling control system between the gut and the brain.

This communication highway influences everything from hormones to neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA that play huge roles in mood, cravings, and addiction.

Not unlike many drug addictions, you may go through withdrawal symptoms from foods or other substances (especially sugar) which you have become physically and neurologically addicting.

Cravings are common and the best solution is to make sure you are eating enough fatty meat. Not eating enough meat and eating meat that is too lean are the top mistakes.

4. Are you now ready to start?

Most people experience adaptation symptoms which can range from annoying to a certainty that you are going to die. I’ll be the first to admit that they aren’t all that pleasant, but with the above information to help identify and deal with them, your first attempt should be much easier.
Yes, your bowel movements will change, and you will have some initial fatigue and brain fog.
But in my opinion, the benefits certainly outweigh these temporary symptoms, especially if your goal is to lose weight fast.
Be committed, don’t let them deter you and give it a try.

References

1. Meat Health (2018): The Carnivore Diet – Symptoms and Cures. Retrieved from https://meat.health/knowledge-base/carnivore-diet-symptoms-and-cures/

2. Mike Fishbein(2019): The Carnivore Diet: How to Survive the First Month. Retrieved from https://mfishbein.com/carnivore-diet/

3. Carnivore Style (2018): Carnivore Diet Side Effects
   What Are the Symptoms, Risks & Dangers? Retrieved from https://carnivorestyle.com/carnivore-diet/side-effects/

The diabetes state of affairs has taken the world by storm. With easy to access processed foods and a sedentary lifestyle, obesity has become all too common. As in many chronic diseases, people are always looking for a cure. Though many diabetics are often under treatment, it is well understood that conventional medicine only manages the diabetic condition but does not offer any hope for reversal or a cure. Is the carnivore diet the missing piece in this puzzle?  How can adapting the carnivore diet start reversing the effects of this disease? In this article, we will look at the possibilities of these statements and shed some light on how the carnivore diet can actually help.

1. What about the carnivore diet that would make it ideal for reversing Type 2 Diabetes?

The carnivore diet is very effective in achieving two common aims of diabetes control, lowering blood glucose levels and reducing weight.

The all-meat diet, also known as the carnivore diet, is exactly what its name suggests: a diet that consists of 100% of meat. Think of the keto diet without any salads or low carb vegetables.

The carnivore diet has been claimed to have a variety of benefits including:

• lower blood pressure
• improved insulin sensitivity
• reduced dependency on medication
• reduction in weight
• improvements in high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good” cholesterol, without adding to low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol
• a drop in insulin

Proponents of the diet tout its ability to aid in weight loss, cure autoimmune diseases, decrease digestive issues, and improve heart health.

The idea with this diet is to stay away from carbohydrate-rich foods that could spike insulin levels. Typically, carbohydrates are totally eliminated from a carnivore diet.

The carnivore diet should consist of the following types of food:

• Meats: Fatty meats are acceptable, but should be eaten in moderation to be mindful of heart health. Also, be mindful of consuming too much protein. Combining a high level of protein with low levels of carbohydrates may cause the liver to convert the protein into glucose. This would raise blood sugar levels.
• Eggs: Eggs are low in carbohydrates, as well as being an excellent source of protein.
• Fish: This is a good source of protein.
• Poultry: Also a good source of protein
• Organ parts: Apart from giving nutrition, they also have nutrients important for the body
• Cheese: Not everyone on a carnivore diet takes cheese but it can be included.

There has been anecdotal evidence that people with diabetes have been able to stabilize their blood sugar using this diet. From a biochemistry standpoint, if you’re eating only meat, you’re largely not taking in glucose, so your blood glucose levels are likely to be the table.

2. What are the effects of Carbohydrates on a diabetic?

Foods containing carbohydrates, such as bread, rice, pasta, milk, and fruit, are the main fuel source for many bodily processes. The body uses insulin to help bring glucose from the blood into the cells for energy.

Type 2 Diabetes is a disease of insulin resistance, people suffering from this condition produce too much insulin and their receptors don’t work. This disrupts the body’s ability to use carbohydrates effectively and, in turn, causes high blood sugar levels.

When a person with Type 2 Diabetes eats a high-carb meal, this can lead to a spike in blood glucose.

Because the carnivore diet totally eliminates carbohydrates, glucose spikes are avoided. In fact, the body starts using the stored up fat for energy. This leads to weight loss and stable sugars.

In a nutshell, the carnivore diet might:

• reduce the risk of diabetes in people who do not yet have it
• improve glycemic control in people with diabetes
• help people to lose excess weight

3. What impact would the carnivore diet have on a diabetics’ medication?

The carnivore diet may help reduce blood sugar levels. As such, some people with type 2 diabetes who start this diet may be able to reduce their need for medication. One should have their blood glucose levels constantly monitored so as to adjust medication accordingly.

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood sugar levels fall to 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or less.

4. What is the impact of a carnivore diet on weight loss?

People on a carnivore diet tend to lose weight because:

• They totally eliminate carbohydrates and sugar, which are converted to fat very readily.
• Their bodies start burning fat for energy. Naturally, this leads to reduced weight.

Diabetes has been linked to obesity and one of the factors that help in the prevention and management of this disease is keeping one’s weight within their BMI. As such, this aspect of the carnivore diet can go a long way in managing, and even reversing Type 2 Diabetes.

Does the Carnivore dirt have side effects?

The Carnivore diet may be a viable glucose management option for some people with type 2 diabetes. However, as it involves switching to a different source of energy, it can lead to some adverse effects.

Short-term side effects

The dietary change might cause symptoms that resemble withdrawal from a substance, such as caffeine.

These symptoms may include:

• keto-flu, a short-term group of symptoms that resemble those of flu
• noticeable changes in bowel habits, such as a running stomach
• uncomfortable leg cramps
• a noticeable loss of energy
• mental fogginess
• frequent urination
• headaches
• loss of salts

In most instances, the side effects are temporary. People often experience no long-term health problems.

5. Are there any long-term side effects?

Measuring blood sugar looks at the short-term, immediate effect of food. But over time, eating a diet of mostly or only meat can have long-term health consequences.

Long-term effects might include the development of kidney stones and an increased risk of bone fractures due to acidosis.

Other complications include the risk of dyslipidemia and a possible increase in hypoglycemic episodes.

Some animal studies have suggested that, since a low-carb diet often involves additional fat, there might be a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), due to a buildup of fats in the arteries. People with diabetes already have an increased risk of CVD.

There is a lack of evidence about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the carnivore diet, and researchers have called for more primary studies and more evidence before recommending this diet.

6. Are there alternatives to this diet?

A doctor may recommend a specific meal plan rather than suggesting a diet. The carnivore diet is one of many eating plans that might help people manage their weight.

However, a majority of health professionals do not recommend the carnivore diet for managing diabetes. There are many other nutrient-dense diets available that aim to balance carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake, control body weight, and keep blood sugar within a healthful range.

7. What are the Criticisms of this diet?

Critics of the carnivore diet focus on the adverse effects, including the possibility of kidney damage, CVD, and hypoglycemic episodes.

Maintaining this type of diet can also be difficult on a long-term basis, as it is highly restrictive.

This may lead to weight gain later on, particularly if an individual starts to eat unbalanced levels of carbohydrates once they switch back to a regular diet.

Critics also note that there is no evidence to support the long-term benefits of the carnivore diet.

8. So, is it advisable for a diabetic to go on a carnivore diet?

Unlike the other diets, the carnivore diet is easy to track and maintain because it involves eating all kinds of meat in any quantities. It is thus easier to follow and much harder to fall off the wagon than being on diets such as the keto diet and others that need careful monitoring and measuring in some.

Much remains to be discovered about how this way of eating impacts our health, but it’s certainly worth a try if you’re struggling with autoimmune diseases, obesity, diabetes or psychiatric issues. Going on a carnivore diet as a short-term experiment is reasonable and safe, albeit socially challenging.

Therefore, at this point in time, without scientific studies to back the safety of this diet, and without substantial anecdotal evidence about long-term success, there isn’t really any way to say for certain if the all-meat diet is good for people with diabetes. One thing it won’t do, however, raises blood sugar levels. And that’s a good thing!

References:

1. A sweet life (2018): Is the All Meat Diet Good for People With Diabetes? Retrieved from https://asweetlife.org/is-the-all-meat-diet-good-for-people-with-diabetes/

2. Nutrita (2019): The ultimate guide to the carnivore diet. Retrieved from https://nutrita.app/guide-to-the-carnivore-diet/

3. Healthline (2019): All Meat, All the Time: Should People with Diabetes Try the Carnivore Diet? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/diabetes/carnivore-diet-for-diabetes#1

4. NCBI (2017): Effects of Ketogenic Diets on Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Evidence from Animal and Human Studies. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5452247/

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

In the world of low-card diets that have amazing results, keto has been a great hit. How does the Carnivore diet compare? Which of these two diets has better outcomes? What are the differences? In this article, we will explore the differences and similarities of these two diets, and discuss why you should try one or both of them….

1. What Is The Keto Diet?

The ketogenic diet, or keto for short, is designed to switch your metabolism from glucose to ketones as a source of fuel. It was initially medically designed and clinically tested to help treat patients with epilepsy.
The ketogenic diet is a very low-carb, high-fat diet that shares many similarities with the Atkins and low-carb diets.It involves drastically reducing carbohydrate intake and replacing it with fat. This reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state called ketosis.

When this happens, your body becomes incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. It also turns fat into ketones in the liver, which can supply energy for the brain.Ketogenic diets can cause massive reductions in blood sugar and insulin levels. This, along with the increased ketones, has numerous health benefits

2. What Is The Carnivore Diet?

The Carnivore Diet consists entirely of meat and animal products, excluding all other foods.It’s claimed to aid weight loss, mood issues, and blood sugar regulation, among other health issues.

This diet is however extremely restrictive and likely unhealthy in the long term. Additionally, scientific tests have not been carried out on it.

3. So, what are the differences between the Keto and Carnivore diets?

It might seem obvious in the sense that carnivore dieters only eat meat, while there is a little bit more flexibility in keto. But there are a few more details you should be aware of, especially if you have some experience with keto and its health benefits.

1. The carnivore diet is more restrictive

On the ketogenic diet, you are allowed to have some carbs. For the average person, this will be somewhere around 50 grams per day or lower. What this does is allow you to satisfy some food cravings, especially in the early days.
It also gives you just that little bit more flexibility when it comes to your meal recipes to add some vegetables for a bit more diversity. And then there is fiber which by and large is keto friendly because it isn’t counted as a net positive carb as most of it passes through your stomach undigested.

So, from digestion and micronutrient point of view, there are some advantages that keto has.

2. You experience more Cravings with the carnivore diet

As you start getting used to having an all meat diet, you will be cutting out all carbs and increasing fat and protein intake. It doesn’t take long before your body starts craving some starchy vegetables or even just a small donut for a little sugar rush.
Similar cravings are noted on keto, but because you have to avoid all plant-based foods, your body may start interpreting this as a symptom of starvation.

3. Meal Frequencies

Someone on keto is likely to eat more frequently due to the food choices and ready availability of the food. On a carnivore diet, one has to prepare the food and have it hot. This coupled with the lack of variety and effect of eating proteins reduces mealtimes to 2-3 per day.

4. Macronutrient Ratio

The macronutrient ratio on a ketogenic diet is 60% fat, 30% protein, and 10% carbs. This is a radical shift from the 20/25/55 ratio recommended by conventional nutritional science.
When doing thecarnivore diet, there isn’t a strict ratio to keep to, as it’s all about eating meat. You can eat as much meat as you want, with only a tiny, almost accidental, amount of carbs that may sneak in with some dairy products.

5. Supplementation

The total elimination of vegetables in the carnivore diet might require higher supplementation of essential vitamins and minerals than the keto diet, which allows for some.

4. And what are the similarities between these two diets?
   
   The Keto and carnivore diets have a lot in common, includingside effects, metabolic changes, and quite a few health benefits.1.The Keto FluThough called the keto flu, it can affect people both on the keto diet and the carnivore diet. Its symptoms are flu-like with of brain fog, muscle aches, nausea, headaches, and fatigue that generally last for somewhere between 1 and 14 days.2. Constipation One of the common questions is, “does keto diet cause constipation?” The answer is sometimes, and the same can happen on the carnivore diet as well. This is most often due to the lack of fiber, which may be something you need to supplement.
5. Fat consumption and fat burning
   In both diets, there is a significant emphasis on getting a lot of fat into your diet. As a guide, this would be around 60% of your daily energy needs, which is quite a lot. However, once your body switches to ketosis, all that extra fat will be transformed into fuel. Ketones are a different form of energy that result in a lot better cognitive functions and levels of alertness.
6. Metabolic Changes On both keto and carnivore, your body will switch from blood glucose to ketones for fuel. This metabolic process is called ketosis and is a vital function and feature of human evolution.5. Weight LossAs long as you calculate your calorie needs and stay below your daily threshold, you will trigger weight loss. By keeping the amount of dietary fat to below what you need, your body will go into a starvation protection mode and use up all those fat storage areas.The results can be rather drastic, and as long as you stick to the guidelines of keto and carnivore, you will notice a very steady and sustainable loss of weight.

6. Increased physical and mental energy
   One of the significant benefits of ketosis (whether keto or carnivore induced), is that you will have a lot more readily available energy. And the nature of ketone-derived power is that it doesn’t regularly spike as glucose does.

5. Bottom Line: Which Diet Is The Better Option For You?

In the whole keto vs carnivore debate, it really shouldn’t be a question of which one is better. The choice of which one to do is a personal decision. Keto works better for some people while carnivore works better for others. It might be advisable to try both to find out which suits you best. Switching up also allows you to reap the benefits from both.
In the short term, though the carnivore diet seems to have a lot of positive testimonials and works similarly to the ketogenic diet, we’ve to accept the fact that the ketogenic diet presently has more clinical evidence than the carnivore diet. However, we can expect more studies to be done on the carnivore diet as well in the not so far future.

References

1. Kiss my Keto (2018): Keto vs. Carnivore Diet: Which One is Better? Retrieved from
2. https://www.kissmyketo.com/blogs/keto-basics/keto-vs-carnivore-which-one-is-better
3. Carnivore Style (2018): Keto Vs Carnivore. Retrieved from https://carnivorestyle.com/blog/keto-vs-carnivore-diet/
4. Healthline (2019): All You Need to Know About the Carnivore (All-Meat) Diet. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet

The modern age has brought with it questions of how best to maintain our health without synthesized drugs, whose complete effects are not fully known. How did our ancestors keep certain diseases at bay? How did they treat illness? These questions often plague us as we look for a more natural way of living. The carnivore diet is one of many that has touted benefits which include weight loss and reversal of some major chronic diseases, simply by the food we eat. Will these interventions cause waves in the conventional medicine circles? In this article, we will delve into this perspective and shed much needed light.

1. What is conventional medicine?

Conventional medicine can be described as the type of medicine that those who control the medical education system have deemed to be the most appropriate system of medical care. In the United States, conventional medicine consists primarily of drugs and surgery, which are the most widely used treatment methods. Other treatments such as nutritional therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and herbal medicine, are not generally considered to be a part of conventional medicine, even though they have been shown to be safe, effective and relatively inexpensive.

2. Complementary and alternative medicine

Alternative medicine is defined loosely as a set of products, practices, and theories that are believed or perceived by their users to have the healing effects of medicine, but whose effectiveness has not been established using scientific methods, or whose theory and practice is not part of biomedicine, or whose theories or practices are directly contradicted by scientific evidence or scientific principles used in biomedicine

Many different areas make up the practice of complementary and alternative medicine. In addition, many parts of one field may overlap with the parts of another field. For example, acupuncture may also be incorporated into conventional medicine. Examples of Complementary and alternative medicine include:

• Traditional alternative medicine. This field includes the more mainstream and accepted forms of therapy, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and Oriental practices. These therapies have been practiced for centuries worldwide. Traditional alternative medicine may include:
  • Acupuncture
  • Ayurveda
  • Homeopathy
  • Naturopathy
  • Chinese or Oriental medicine
• Body Touch has been used in medicine since the early days of medical care. Healing by touch is based on the idea that illness or injury in one area of the body can affect all parts of the body. If, with manual manipulation, the other parts can be brought back to optimum health, the body can fully focus on healing at the site of injury or illness. Body techniques are often combined with those of the mind. Examples of body therapies include:
  • Chiropractic and osteopathic medicineMassage
  • Body movement therapies
  • Tai chi
  • Yoga
• Diet and herbs. Over the centuries, man has gone from a simple diet consisting of meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains, to a diet that often consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. Nutritional excess and deficiency have become problems in today’s society, both leading to certain chronic diseases. Many dietary and herbal approaches attempt to balance the body’s nutritional well-being. Dietary and herbal approaches may include:
  • Dietary supplements
  • Herbal medicine
  • Nutrition/diet
• External energy. Some people believe external energies from objects or other sources directly affect a person’s health. An example of external energy therapy is:
  • Electromagnetic therapy
  • Reiki
  • Qigong
• Mind. Even standard or conventional medicine recognizes the power of the connection between mind and body. Studies have found that people heal better if they have good emotional and mental health. Therapies using the mind may include:
  • Meditation
  • Biofeedback
  • Hypnosis
• Senses. Some people believe the senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste, can affect overall health. Examples of therapies incorporating the senses include:
  • Art, dance, and music
  • Visualization and guided imagery

The carnivore diet as an alternative medicine

Many people embark on the carnivore diet as a lifestyle change to reap the benefits of the diet as a whole. On the other hand, others take it to help manage and cure the chronic health conditions they have. As no conclusive scientific studies have been carried out to prove or disprove these curative claims, the onus remains strictly with the “patient”, of whether to experiment with this diet.

Conditions that have been reported to be helped by the carnivore diet are:

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Some auto immune diseases
• Obesity
• Leaky Gut
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Depression
• Brain fog
• Other mental conditions

Are the carnivore diet and other alternative medicine forms likely to impact conventional forms of medicine?

In this age where information is available to everyone at the click of a button, more and more people are beginning to take their health into their own hands. Engaging in forms of alternative medicine such as the carnivore diet is one such decision. Case by case, this intervention might have significant changes in ones’ health. Does this mean that conventional medicine will be out of business? Not necessarily. Primary healthcare is still gotten from medical practioners as is methods of measurement and monitoring.

However, once knowing their status, more people will opt to either compliment their conventional treatment with alternative means or fully embark on an alternative method like the carnivore diet to manage their condition.

More scientific studies should be carried out within conventional circles to prove or disprove these methods and to build on them for better comprehensive care.

Will we see a shift from conventional medicine?

Although the carnivore diet is very safe for most people, caution should be practiced when practicing it. It is also advisable that medical supervision be sought in people taking medications for diabetes or high blood pressure. Because rapid changes are experienced in patients following a carnivore diet, when medication is not adjusted accordingly, there is a risk of low blood sugar or dizziness. A doctor can help you track the improvements the diet is causing through blood tests and other monitoring techniques. That way, you can get hard facts about whether or not the diet is working for you.

References

1. Sharecare (2019): What is conventional medicine? Retrieved from https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-care-basics/what-is-conventional-medicine

2. John Hopkins Medicine (2019): Types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/types-of-complementary-and-alternative-medicine
3. Wikipedia (2019): Alternative medicine. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternative_medicine