The Controversial Carnivore Diet: Benefits, Risks, and Environmental Impact
The diet, similar in style to the Atkins and keto diets, goes by many names: carnivore diet, lion diet, high-fat diet, and animal-based diet. Devout followers of the lifestyle boast that their skin is clearer than ever, their gut is healthier, and they’re in the best shape of their lives.
“One of the best things that’s happened since I quit the vegan diet and went carnivore is that my body odor just disappeared,” TikToker @steakandbuttergal said in one of her videos. “I don’t use any soap, I don’t use any deodorant, and I smell amazing.”
Here’s what experts have to say about the safety and sustainability of the carnivore diet.
Weight Loss and Potential Benefits
Weight loss is one of the significant benefits that followers of the carnivore diet claim to experience when incorporating more animal-based products into their diet. This can be attributed to the reduced intake of carbohydrates, according to Dr. Walter Willett, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
“It’s possible that some people who have been eating a lot of refined starch and sugar may experience short-term improvement,” Willett says. “But in the long run, this diet is likely to be very unhealthy.”
One of the major concerns with the carnivore diet is the lack of essential nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. These include fiber, carotenoids, and polyphenols. Fiber plays a vital role in gut health and can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as depression and breast cancer. Carotenoids have cancer-fighting properties, while polyphenols can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Furthermore, foods prominent in the carnivore diet contain high amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.
The Red Meat Controversy
Research linking red meat consumption to heart disease and other health issues has sparked a debate among experts.
“This is the mainstream messaging that blames red meat for various health catastrophes, from cardiovascular disease to colon cancer,” says Dr. Georgia Ede, a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in nutritional psychiatry.
She argues that these claims are largely based on untested theories from nutritional epidemiology and unconventional animal studies, without proper clinical trial support.
Environmental Impact
While the health implications of the carnivore diet are controversial, the environmental impact is clear.
According to Dr. Ede, industrialized food production, whether plant-based or animal-based, harms the planet. However, the production of animal-based foods, such as meat, has a greater impact on climate change. The emissions of global greenhouse gases, such as methane, from animal-based food production are double that of plant-based food production.
Additionally, Dr. Willett raises the issue of justice, as Western countries contribute the most to climate change while advocating for meat-heavy diets. This perpetuates the environmental challenges faced by less privileged nations.
Considering the detrimental health effects and environmental concerns raised by experts, the carnivore diet remains a highly contentious and potentially unrecommended choice for individuals and the planet.
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