What Is The Carnivore Diet And Is It Healthy?

What is the carnivore diet and is it healthy? The carnivore diet is a very restrictive diet consisting of fish, meat, eggs and different types of animal foods and dairy products. And it excludes vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, etc.

The carnivore diet excludes carbs, cookies, cakes, candy, sodas, pastries, etc. One of the negative drawbacks is the elimination of carbs which is not recommended from a health and wellness perspective. Your main energy source that gives you fuel comes from carbs.

What is the carnivore diet and is it healthy? Photo credit: iStock-Skathi

The negative health issues of the carnivore diet are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.  When you have high consumption of saturated fat it can raise bad cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. Processed meats, bacon, and breakfast meals contain a high amount of sodium.

Research studies have linked high sodium intake to higher blood pressure levels, kidney disease, colon cancer, rectal cancer, and other types of cancers.

When you have a diet like the carnivore diet that excludes vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, etc. and that puts you in a position in being deficient in micronutrients. By removing plant compounds from your diet, you remove all the potential antioxidant’s effects from it.

The carnivore diet contains no fiber and that is not good for your overall health. Fiber is essential to great gut health and providing proper balance in gut bacteria. Some of the negative issues of an unhealthy gut is potential colon cancer.

Some of the other things you wouldn’t consume on the carnivore diet:

• Alcohol– beer, wine, liquor, etc.
• Beverages– soda, coffee, tea, fruit juices, etc.
• Nuts and Seeds– almonds, sunflower seeds, almonds, etc.
• Dairy– milk, yogurt, soft cheese, etc.

The Bottom Line is carnivore diet is a very restrictive diet that consists of meat, fish, eggs, etc. It is high in fat; sodium and it contains no fiber or plant compounds. And it is a diet that isn’t the healthiest because it lacks fiber such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains which is important for good gut health.

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