Ladies and gentlemen, veggie-munchers and carb-cravers, gather around as we take a plunge deep into what some call a dietary eccentricity, while others proclaim as ancestral truth. Whatever side of Joe Rogan’s dinner plate you land on, you cannot ignore the uproar caused by the Carnivore Diet. As the name slightly indicates, this diet is all about feasting on the animal kingdom and side-lining anything that so much hints at being a plant. But don’t judge this juicy juicy diet just yet. There’s more to “The Carnivore Diet” than meats the eye!
What is the Carnivore Diet?
The Carnivore Diet, with its origins tracing back to that daring explorer of diet, Vilhjalmur Stefansson, in early 20th century, isn’t necessarily a new trend. Yet, in recent years, it has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity (mostly because Joe Rogan put it on the podcast map). This diet is all about consuming animal-based foods and eliminating all plant foods. Now I can see vegans and vegetarians recoiling in horror- but bear with me. Your plate will be laden with steak, fish, eggs, dairy- basically, if it has parents, it’s on the menu. Carnivores argue that humans evolved to eat meat, and our bodies are best adapted to digest it.
Benefits of the Carnivore Diet
Meat lovers will rejoice with the potential benefits of this diet- and not just because it gives them an excuse to enjoy steak every day. Reduced inflammation, weight loss, better heart health, clearer skin, and even better mental clarity are all tucked into this meaty package. You get high proteins, fats, and almost zero carbs (keto peeps, wink wink). Basically, hello six-pack and goodbye muffin top!
Challenges of the Carnivore Diet
What’s life without a little challenge, though? This diet can be costly (ever notice how steaks are somehow always pricier than a salad?). Then there’s the “poop problem”. You see, plants are rich in fiber, which aids digestion. But with no plants in sight, let’s just say things might become less, um, consistent in the loo department. There’s also that initial week of dealing with ‘low-carb flu,’ when you’ll probably fantasize about robbing a bakery of all its bread.
The Verdict- Is the Carnivore Diet for you?
Before you start adjusting your grocery list to consist entirely of the meat aisle, consider this: The flip side to the carnivorous coin is a potential risk of nutrient deficiencies, boredom (due to lack of variety), and stiff resistance from friends who’d kill for a bowl of tofu. Your first carnivore dinner date will also likely to be your last unless your date happens to be a lioness. And, let’s not forget that we still need more research to conclusively understand the long-term effect of this diet.
Yet if a life without Brussels sprouts and quinoa sounds like paradise, maybe, just maybe, you’re ready to roar! Go ahead, give the Carnivore Diet a whirl. Just remember, a one-size-fits-all approach to dieting isn’t ideal. You might need to chew the fat with a nutritionist to customize your new diet to your dietary needs.
Been there, done carnivore? Or still sitting at the vegan table? Drop a line and let us know. Irrespective of our dinner choices, we can all agree that our bodies are incredible machineries that deserve nourishing, real food.
So go ahead. Take a bite, make a choice. In the wild terrain of diets, just be sure you’re the predator, not the prey.