Let’s chew the fat, shall we? You’ve undoubtedly heard of every diet under the sun — Vegan, Mediterranean, Paleo, Keto — oh my! If you’re a tireless explorer in the vast wilderness of diet plans, then the ‘Carnivore Diet’ is likely to pop up on your radar. The carnivore diet, a meal plan as meaty as its name suggests, seems to be clawing its way up into the trendy diet limelight recently. This is a plunge into the deep, protein-dense parts of the diet jungle where plants fear to tread.
What on Earth is the Carnivore Diet?
In this world of nutritional A-Zs, carnivore diet comes up strikingly simple: eat meat, and pretty much only meat. It’s a fleshy food pyramid with a singular layer. Unlike its cousin, the ketogenic diet, which permits low-carb veggies and high-fat dairy, the carnivore goes full roaring lion, sticking to beef, pork, chicken, fish and eggs and saying ‘no-thank-you’ to anything that grows in the ground.
The Science (or Lack Thereof) Behind the Carnivore Diet
To toss some science into this meaty stew, there’s unfortunately scant little research directly investigating the long-term health repercussions of carnivorous living. Circumstantial evidence suggests that such a diet could be high in protein and low in carbohydrates, which can aid in weight loss — particularly if that loss is a polar bear you’ve been wrestling.
Meat, Meat, and Yes… More Meat!
On this diet, the duty of meal planning is all but extinct. Your grocery list can rescind into something a caveman could remember: meat, more meat, and perhaps even some eggs thrown into the air, if you’re feeling lavish. Dairy, being from an animal and all, is sometimes allowed depending on the strictness of your carnivorous creed. Yet, caution is advised due to its sneaky lactose content – a sugar derived from plants (gasp!).
Forks in the Road
Now, it’s not all roses on the hoof. While the simplicity is appealing, critics argue you could miss out on vital nutrients, like Vitamin C, which humans can’t produce and generally gain from fresh fruit and veggies. While you might argue that you can get vitamins from certain organs like liver or kidney, planning a diet around organ meat may well bring a liverish appeal to your dating life (or not — we don’t judge).
To Carnivore or Not to Carnivore?
That is the question. Hopping on the carnivore diet may be an enticing experiment if you’re tired of your leafy greens fluttering away into compost, or if you have dietary issues, like wheat allergy or autoimmune problems. Yet, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional before taking such a meaty plunge.
The Final Verdict
Ultimately, the carnivore diet is a radical, appealingly simple approach to food that may or may not work for you. But however exciting rejecting the fruit and vegetable aisle may be, remember, in diet as in life: variety is the spice.
So, while we’re all for shaking things up, total commitment to the carnivorous lifestyle might not be in everyone’s best interests. Happy grazing, or hunting, and as always, listen to your body. And perhaps a nutritionist.