Kerri WaldronImagine, instead of your usual porridge or cornflakes, you were presented with a slab of meat for breakfast – is it your idea of food heaven or hell?
With more than a billion views on the hashtag #carnivorediet on TikTok, “meatfluencer” accounts including the likes of podcaster Joe Rogan and YouTuber Shawn Baker wax lyrical about their weight loss journeys, and in “what I eat in a day” style videos rave about the diet’s health benefits. Baker even claims that it can help to reverse chronic diseases. But there are also videos warning about the negative side effects – including hormone imbalances, high cholesterol levels and bad gut health.
Like the ketogenic diet, the carnivore diet is based on eating only animal products – meat, fish, eggs and some dairy products – but cutting out other food groups such as carbohydrates and vegetables (the keto diet does not proscribe vegetables that grow above ground). But could it harm not just our health, but also the planet?
TikTok influencer Isabelle Cooki, 28, so far hasn’t had any bad side effects – but she’s only been following it for a month. She admits to starting the diet because she was a binge eater, and wanted to lose weight: “I love not having food noise (constant thoughts about food) and how I don’t need much to be completely satisfied and full.”
Isabelle says she has lost over a stone in just one month, and claims her energy levels have also skyrocketed. Isabelle admits she was influenced by social media, in particular accounts by Dr Anthony Chaffee and Dr Ken Berry which promote the supposed benefits of the diet.
Among the accounts showcasing the positive outcomes, one of these is the influencer Bella aka @steakandbuttergal, whose bio reads ‘Ex-vegan turned carnivore’. Her TikTok videos see her happily snacking on sticks of butter, bone broth, eggs and, of course, all the meat she can get her hands on.
Another “meatfluencer” is Scotty Brizzle, who has gone one step further by following a diet of just meat and salt every day – detailing that his decision was for health reasons. But, like any controversial diet, some of his followers seem to be concerned with his health, with comments about his cholesterol levels and his diet’s effect on the environment.
Nutritionist Dr Laura Wyness is concerned that it’s a very restrictive diet and could harm the gut: “Eating just meat means you’re missing out on fibre essential for your gut to function well. Fibre from a variety of plant foods feed beneficial gut microbes and encourages a diverse range of microbes to thrive.
“Including a lot of saturated fat and very little fibre-rich foods is likely to increase LDL (the bad) cholesterol,” says Wyness, also the author of Eating Well for Menopause. “People who have a lower diversity of gut microbes have a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as IBS. In the short term, a carnivore diet that cuts out fibre may initially reduce bloating and wind, but after a while, it’s likely to cause constipation and other digestive issues.”
Wyness explains that our gut bacteria influences, and is influenced by our hormones. “This two-way relationship between your gut microbiome and your hormones is known as the gut-hormone axis. Eating well to support your gut microbes is key for balancing hormones. This includes sex hormones, such as oestrogen, as well as stress hormones (for example cortisol) and appetite hormones (for example ghrelin and lepin).
“Plant foods provide many beneficial plant compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which help protect us against disease,” explains Wyness.
Nutritionist Fadumo Mohamoud Mohamed says just like the keto diet it can help promote weight loss because: “The diet is high in protein and fat, which can promote satiety and reduce overall calorie intake. The absence of carbohydrates can lead to ketosis, where the body burns fat for energy, similar to the ketogenic diet.”
But what kinds of effect can the diet have on you in the long run? Podcaster Paul Saladino who was on the diet for five years now eats a more balanced diet, with fruit and vegetables, as he admitted to suffering from sleep issues and low testosterone levels.
Avoiding plants altogether could be dangerous, with many studies, including one in 2023 showing a plant-based diet, which sources its protein primarily from plants reduces the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Pop star James Blunt also saw the negative side of the diet. Speaking to talking to Jessie Ware on her podcast Table Manners in 2020, he admitted to getting scurvy after two months due to the lack of vitamins in his diet.
Wyness also explains that the carnivore diet goes against the current sustainable eating advice. “The UK Climate Change Committee recommends for environmental reasons that diets need to change – with a reduction of meat and dairy of 20 per cent by 2030 and a further reduction to 35 per cent for meat by 2050.”
In fact, beef is said to have the largest carbon footprint, while according to a study in 2021, animal-based food produces double the amount of global greenhouse gas emissions compared to plant-based foods.
But not everyone has been influenced to start by social media.
Nikola Howard, 53, was on the carnivore diet for two years, starting in 2019, as she wanted to lose weight, but quickly realised it helped her feel less bloated, gave her clearer skin and mental clarity. “My energy levels also improved. I’m a person that has chronic pain, which is a drain. Being on a carnivore diet went a fair way to both reducing my pain levels and also boosting available energy off the charts.”
Every week Nikola would buy a kilo of slow-cooked cuts such as beef brisket, shin, short ribs or lamb shank, then slow or pressure cook them – eating them with eggs, cheese and homemade bone broth. But after two years she admits she missed the “crunch” of other food and found it hard to maintain around her busy life.
Both Nikola and Isabella admit that despite shopping for meat products every week they weren’t, surprisingly, left shortchanged. “When you cut out everything but meat the money that usually goes to vegetables, snacks, cereals makes up for the [more expensive] cost of meat. I’ve actually been able to save money,” adds Isabella. While they both add that they spend around £50 a week on their meat-only diet.
So, should you try it? While Ms Mohamed believes it can provide some benefits, she suggests approaching the diet with “caution”. “It’s not suitable for everyone, and the exclusion of important food groups could pose risks to overall health in the long run. Anyone considering this diet should consult with a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian to ensure they are meeting their nutritional needs.”
Source: bing.com
