The Carnivore Diet

The Carnivore Diet

The Carnivore Diet

Have you heard of the Carnivore diet? Can you guess what it's all about? 

The title is pretty self-explanatory, but the carnivore diet is about more than grilled steak. It's a favourite of body builders, gym fanatics, and dads. 

It's similar to other restrictive diets which have grown in popularity in recent years, including the keto, paleo and AIP. 

In the early 1990s, Canadian explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson lived with the Inuit people and adopted their high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet. He enjoyed the diet and its benefits so much that he spent the rest of his life encouraging others to follow the diet, too. Since Stefansson's time, people have been looking for a way to reduce the increasing number of health issues each year. 

The carnivore diet, just like the paleo diet, is based on the idea that early humans lived as hunter-gatherers who primarily consumed animal products with far less of the health problems we experience today; and that to return to google health, modern humans should follow a similar diet.

The carnivore diet isn't just about what to eat (animal based products, including meat, dairy and eggs), but what to avoid, too. 

People on the carnivore diet eliminate all sources of carbohydrates, including common carbs like wheat, grains and nuts, which is why it is also known as the no-carb diet. This means that they eliminate all sources of carbohydrates, including complex carbohydrates — complex carbohydrates include those found in starchy vegetables and fruits containing simple sugars (which is all foods). In addition to cutting plant-based foods, people on the carnivore diet also avoid processed foods, such as baked goods, snack foods, and sugary drinks, as well as most condiments and sauces, which may contain added sugars or other non-carnivorous ingredients. 

For some, the carnivore diet includes organ meats and bone broth, or avoiding dairy if they're predisposed to lactose intolerance.

The carnivore diet has many reported benefits which make it a desirable diet for some. 

Major benefits include weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and decreased inflammation, though other fans of the diet claim it helps to:

Improved digestion by eliminating fiber and other indigestible carbohydrates
Increased energy levels due to the diet's high protein and fat content, which can help regulate blood sugar levels and provide sustained energy. 
Clearer skin due to the reduction of inflammation.
Better mental clarity with the elimination of processed foods and carbohydrates, which can lead to brain fog and fatigue. 

All of these potential benefits are especially helpful for those who struggle with chronic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis. 

Restrictions such as those included in the carnivore diet is an extremely restrictive diet may need to reply on supplemental vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C and magnesium.

As with all restrictive diets, nutrition is very personal and what's right for one person may not be right for others. If you're considering attempting the carnivore diet, do your own research and discuss the possible benefits and side effects of the diet. 

Have you tried the carnivore diet?