LIVING AN EXCEPTIONAL LIFE #73

By Rhonda Jones

With so many healthcare providers and hospitals now advocating a plant-exclusive diet for good health, I really thought the days of Atkins and carbophobia might be coming to a close. But, as usual, I was wrong.

It turns out that there is a new craze out there called the Carnivore diet, and it seems to be quite popular among men and some women. I see advocates for this diet commenting on Facebook about how great it is, and no one should eat anything but meat if they want to live a healthy life.

Of course, I have seen this all before when the Atkins diet became the revolutionary way of eating for weight loss and health. Unfortunately, Robert Atkins did not get a chance to really enjoy the fruits of his labor, as he died at 72 of obesity and heart disease.

Then there was the popular Paleo diet in which everyone loaded up on meat, thinking they should eat what our ancestors ate, and they would be healthier. The problem with that diet is that our poor Paleolithic ancestors had a hard time getting meat and lived mostly off of nuts, seeds, berries, and whatever else they could find. They would occasionally get a chance to choke a squirrel or a rabbit to death and eat it, but that was about all they had to eat. They had no grain or dairy, so cutting those foods out to mimic their diet was appropriate.

Along came the Keto diet, and everyone started loading up on fat and animal products. The true Keto diet advocates for eating a lot of fat, and most of it from plant sources, actually. Meat is usually only a small part of the diet, and non-starchy vegetables are also included. The problem with the Keto diet is that most people get their fat from animal products, making their version just another variation of the Atkins diet. And long-term ketosis is an unhealthy state for the body.

Now, we have the Carnivore diet. It is a simple diet, just meat. I think eggs are also consumed, but I am not sure about dairy. Supposedly, eating only meat can be healthy. Some people report weight loss, which can improve blood sugar levels and blood pressure, simply because they weigh less. However, LDL can increase, and kidney issues can also occur, as well as other health problems that arise due to a lack of essential nutrients.

Those who advocate for this diet claim that all necessary nutrients can be obtained solely by eating meat. Kidney health, cardiovascular health, and gut health can be greatly affected by just eating meat, as the high protein intake puts a huge strain on the kidneys and can contribute to dehydration. The total absence of fiber can negatively impact gut health and increase the risk of digestive issues. It is highly recommended to take a laxative or fiber supplement while doing this diet.

The diet also lacks essential nutrients found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, such as folate, vitamin C, and various phytonutrients. Of course, the restrictive nature of the diet makes it hard to sustain over a long period, so most people stop the diet and go back to regular eating. Since there are no long-term studies on the efficacy of the diet, the full impact of the diet is not really known, although I do think that as more people attempt this diet, more issues and/or benefits will become known.

I still say the best diet on the planet for weight loss and long-term good health is a plant-exclusive diet using very little salt, sugar, and oil. Hundreds of long-term studies agree with my assessment.