Everyone knows that a plant-based diet is very popular. Oat cappus and vegan dishes are now an essential part of your favorite (urban) lunch spot. But there are also people who are not interested in green food. In fact, they choose to eat only meat. Carnivore food attracts a lot of attention, especially on social media. According to some proponents, the diet reduces inflammation and regenerates the intestines.
But is it really that healthy? Quest call nutrition scientists Renger Witkamp and Pol Grootswagers from Wageningen University.
Carnivore menu
On social media, the meat system is promoted as a prehistoric diet: eat like a caveman. But the idea of a leading carnivore is not entirely correct, says Professor of Nutrition and Medicine, Renger Witkamp. ‘Studies show that early humans often ate plant-based foods. Of course it depends a little on where you look in the world, but most people would have to live on tubers and fruit most of the time.’ Eating only meat? Our intestinal tract is not built for that at all, says Witkamp. ‘Man is a monster on a mostly plant-based diet.’
What are the benefits of a carnivore diet?
Why on earth would you choose to cut all vegetables out of your diet? According to proponents of the carnivorous diet, cutting down on green food would have an anti-inflammatory effect.
It works like this: fruits and vegetables contain substances that some people call anti-nutrients. Plants make these substances to protect themselves from diseases and insects. But in the human intestine, the anti-nutrients could cause inflammation. The idea is to remove them and people with an autoimmune disease will have fewer complaints.
Witkamp: ‘That’s not right. Our body is well built to deal with these plant substances. There is no evidence that anti-nutrients such as phytic acid and oxalates have any negative effects on our body. We know from studies that a plant-based diet has an anti-inflammatory effect.’
The dangers of carnivorous food
No scientific research has been done on any health benefits of eating carnivore. However, there are many risks associated with a meat diet. From a study published in 2021 in the scientific journal Current Developments in Nutrition shows that 85 percent of people surveyed who follow a carnivorous diet eat beef or pork every day.
And that’s not good, says nutrition researcher Paul Grootswagers: “Eating a lot of red meat is associated with a higher risk of colon cancer. This also applies to processed meat.’ From a large review study in the British Journal of Nutrition Eating red and processed meat also appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Boring diet: boring residents
Removing green food and grains from your menu also causes another strange ailment: stomach ache. ‘You will not get any fiber in this diet. And that is very bad for intestinal function. You get big obstacles,” says Witkamp.
Eating only meat is boring. And the bacteria in your gut think so too. “When you eat only meat, and certainly only beef, you get a monoculture in the intestines, so too much of the same bacteria. And we know it’s not healthy.’ According to Witkamp, a mixed diet is a better idea. This will give you a richer intestinal flora. And that could very well help to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Slim on a carnivore diet?
In a diet in which you eat lots of plants and grains, you eat more carbohydrates than if you eat only meat. Carnivores often dismiss carbohydrates as fattening foods.
But that’s not entirely true, says nutrition researcher Grootswagers. “For most people, eating carbohydrates such as whole grains and legumes is still the best way to eat healthier. It has a lot of fibre, it gives you energy and makes it easy to maintain your weight.’
Aging healthily? Eat vegetables
Eating like a lion doesn’t seem to be as healthy as some say. But what is the right diet? To do this, we need to look at places in the world where people are aging successfully, says Grootswagers. He researches the relationship between nutrition and aging. ‘In here blue zones you will see that people mostly eat a vegetarian or vegan diet. Lots of vegetables, legumes and very little red meat.’
Witkamp said: ‘It’s not very complicated. Put all the studies together and you can see the similarities: don’t eat too much, mostly plant-based, a little fish and some shellfish.’ Just like the Mediterranean diet.
Do you want to know more about food? Quest also investigated how (or not) healthy is the paleo dietfrom Your body actually goes into economy mode after a dietone of Intermittent fasting actually has health benefits.
2024-05-03 12:37:40
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