Talking About the Carnivore Diet
July 15, 2019
There’s a relatively new diet out there, somewhat similar to the Ketogenic diet that has been causing a buzz. The only flaw: it’s not really based on the carnivore’s diet…. As shocking as this might be: it’s not even as diverse as the keto diet is.
The Carnivore Diet is simple, eat any meat; beef, pork, poultry, lamb, fish, eggs, and some dairy in moderation. Note: hardcore carnivores skip the dairy due to the lactose which is a sugar found in milk. You can also drink water and bone broth, but it’s suggested that you limit your coffee and tea consumption. End.
The meat group contains a bounty of nutrients; beef is a wonderful source of iron and B Vitamins, fish contains Omega 3 Fatty Acids and Vitamin D; bonus points if you eat the bones for Calcium, Eggs contain Choline and small quantities of vitamins. Unfortunately, meat doesn’t contain carbohydrates, Vitamin A, C, E, or K, phytonutrients or fiber.
Macros
The human body is fairly complex, it runs off of three primary macronutrients, and when it is lacking in one, it can make up for it for a short time. Example; lack in carbohydrates it can use fat as a fuel for the brain, a lack of fat and carbs and the brain will run off of lactic acid. You can technically remove most carbohydrates and it can still function (unfortunately at the sake of sacrificing your kidneys down the line). However, the body needs at least 5-7% of the diet from carbohydrates in order to make hormones. If there is no hormone production, the body will continue to function but in a downward spiral. Please note: 7% of a 2000 calorie diet is 140 grams, one glass of milk will give you only 12 grams of carbs.
Everybody Poops
For as complex as the human body is, it can only tolerate so much protein. The maximum protein your body can utilize is 1.7 grams per kilogram, or 0.77 grams per pound of body weight. Excess protein can result in funky smelling diarrhea and potential dehydration. Please use extreme caution if you have a family history of kidney disease or are diabetic.
Phytonutrients
Lucky for us: Phytonutrients, AKA Phytochemicals are beginning to make headlines, most notably about how healthy onions, cabbage, sweet potatoes and blueberries are. The reason that many of these foods are dubbed ‘super foods’ is because of the chemicals they contain; sometimes it’s the color, other times it’s the flavor. These attributes are phytonutrients in disguise; battling cancer and preventing disease on your behalf. You can get your vitamins and minerals in a pill, but phytonutrients work when consumed from the source.
Mama said ‘Eat your Greens’
In the wild, carnivores eat all of their prey and not just bacon and tenderloin; intestines are not discriminated against. Generally, prey are smaller herbivores, meaning that large cats, coyotes, wolves, and dinosaurs still got their fiber and phytonutrients; albeit being partially digested. Take a look at high quality dog and cat food, you’ll notice they contain fruit and vegetables;
Talking about the Carnivore Diet
. . . Because that’s what doggo would have gotten if he was allowed to capture the bunnies and squirrels. Humans need a variety of various fibers, with the RDA for fiber being 25-30 grams per
day.
If you’re interested in observing this meat-based diet, I might suggest following a true carnivore’s lead; even T-Rex ate his veggies.
