The Carnivore Diet: Can You Have Too Much Meat?

Diet programs come in many shapes and sizes, and one popular diet is the vegetarian diet. You may brag about your success in shedding a few pounds (maybe you gained weight during quarantine?), but you think it’s okay to eat only meat. And how does the vegan diet differ from other low-carb diet plans, such as the ketogenic (keto) diet?

Nutritionist Kate Patton, MEd, RD, CSSD, LD explains what a carnivore is and why it’s possible to eat too much.

What is a carnivore?

If you like to eat at every meal, being a carnivore sounds like a good idea (hello, Ron Swanson). In this meal plan, the goal is to eat both meat and animal products at every meal. Unlike keto, which limits carbs to a certain amount per day, veganism means zero carbs per day. Eat only meat, fish, eggs and some animal products. Other food groups are excluded, including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.

A vegetarian diet promotes weight loss, better mood, blood sugar control, and more. It is based on the belief that high carbohydrate intake is the cause of chronic disease. However, it is dangerous to eat only animal protein and no carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates can cause damage. When you digest carbohydrates, your body turns them into glucose to use as energy.However, if you don’t exercise regularly to burn carbs, they will quickly turn into fat. So eating too many carbs will make you gain weight quickly.

“Carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy, what the body uses for energy,” says Patton. “But if you don’t eat carbs, the next step is to burn fat. And that comes from burning fat from the food you eat or your body fat.He says people feel better when they cut carbs because they don’t have blood sugar swings and eating meat doesn’t cause inflammation. But he warns that too much animal fat can cause inflammation.

According to Patton, a lack of carbohydrates can cause the weight loss associated with a carnivorous diet, but carbohydrates are the body’s main source of energy. And if you only eat meat, you will experience serious side effects.

Not all carbs are created equal or bad.

Carbohydrates in their original form provide fuel for the body. It’s high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and lots of good-for-you carbs. The best carbohydrates are those that are exactly the same, as long as they are not processed or refined. Here are some things to consider:

• Fruits like apples, pineapples and strawberries.
• Vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and beets.
• Whole grains such as quinoa and whole meal bread.

Avoid simple carbohydrates (candies, sweets, cakes, pies). These products are full of preservatives, sugar and flour, which are notorious for inflammation and weight gain. This is especially true in the womb. These carbohydrates are also known to be the cause of many negative health conditions, such as type 2 diabetes (and therefore high blood sugar), obesity and high blood pressure. So basically, if you eliminate it from your diet, you will lose weight and feel better.
Variation in sugar levels. But you don’t have to give up all carbs to reap the health benefits. In fact, doing so can seriously harm your body.

What are the dangers of carnivores?

Food consumption is very low. And when you eliminate entire food groups from your diet, you get results.

“Carnivore food is very low in fiber, so it causes a lot of tissue,” says Patton.And the problems are worse than not being tired.

“You shouldn’t try this diet if you have a pre-existing medical condition, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of stroke or other cardiovascular disease,” says Patton. “Even if you have digestive problems, this food is more harmful because of the protein and fat, which take longer to digest.”

Diets high in saturated fat raise LDL, or bad cholesterol, and increase the risk of heart disease. In addition, many processed foods, such as bacon and luncheon meat, contain sodium, which has been linked to certain types of cancer.And foods high in sodium can cause kidney problems and high blood pressure.

Should you consider Carnivore Diet?

Patton did not comment on this question.

“I didn’t mean it.”

If you are someone who believes in everything in moderation, this diet is not for you.The best diet is a balanced diet with a variety of foods from many food groups.

“It’s really about finding a balance that works for you.”