The Hidden Dangers of the Carnivore Diet | Image Source: www.verywellhealth.com
NEW YORK, March 27, 2025 – As they influence social networks and diet bloggers are shaking more and more bacon nets and breakfasts, the carnivorous diet has increased in popularity as a controversial health trend. Diet is considered a simple, unloaded diet of total meat, promises weight loss, improves blood glucose control and even a better mood. But behind the bright pictures before and after is a complex and potentially dangerous reality. Medical experts sound alarm about nutritional problems of diet, long-term health risks and lack of scientific support.
The carnivorous diet, which consists of consuming only products of animal origin such as meat, fish, eggs and limited dairy products, excludes all plant-based foods. No fruits, vegetables, cereals or legumes. Not even a weed spur. Its defenders claim that returning to a prehistoric diet and focusing on flesh restores the body and eliminates harmful modern dietary toxins. But according to many health authorities, including plant-based health professionals and health professionals such as Dr. Suraj Kukadia and Dr. Shireen Kasam, this approach to meat only can be more than a field of nutritional mines than a short-cut of well-being.
What is the carnivorous diet?
To break it down, the carnivorous diet is a very restrictive and carbohydrate-free diet that includes beef, poultry, pork, fish, eggs and low lactose dairy products such as cheese and butter. The concept is derived from the belief that our first ancestors thrived in a heavy diet and that modern chronic diseases are the result of carbohydrates and processed foods.
However, unlike pallet or keto diets, which allow a variety of whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, the carnivorous diet draws the clean plate from anything that is not derived from an animal. No fibers, no antioxidants and no phytonutrients. According to Verywell Health, sponsors say it helps control blood glucose, insulin sensitivity and even digestive problems, although these claims are largely anecdotal.
What Foods Can You Eat on the Carnivore Diet?
According to user surveys and community forums, typical carnivorous foods include:
- Beef, pork, lamb, and other red meats
- Chicken, turkey, and other poultry
- Fish and shellfish
- Eggs
- Organ meats like liver and heart
- Dairy (limited to low-lactose varieties)
- Bone broth and bone marrow
On the contrary, the list of prohibited foods reads as all the products of a grocery store. No fruits, no vegetables, no grains, legumes, nuts or seeds. Even coffee and tea are often discouraged in stricter interpretations.
What are the alleged benefits of a carnivorous diet?
1. Can Carnivore Diet help control sugar in the blood?Yeah, short term. Because carbohydrates directly increase sugar in the blood, removing it can stabilize glucose levels, especially for those with type 2 diabetes. Low carbohydrate diets have been shown to reduce insulin levels and glucose peaks. But the lack of long-term research on the carnivorous version makes it a risky strategy. According to a review of 2023 cited by Verywell Health, the effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets in managing blood glucose is promising, but varies widely among individuals.
2. Does insulin resistance improve?Maybe. Some data suggest that low-carbohydrate diets can promote insulin sensitivity by influencing protein markers in the blood. However, other studies indicate that in healthy adults, the restriction of extreme carbohydrates may increase insulin resistance. Thus, although some metabolic diseases may benefit, a general recommendation is not supported by science.
3. Is it effective in losing weight?Absolutely, at least at the beginning. Diets rich in protein and carbohydrates tend to suppress hunger by reducing ghrelin, the hormone from hunger. This can naturally reduce calorie intake. But, like Dr. Kassam of plant based health professionals, this type of weight loss can reach a cost. Rapid weight loss often results in muscle loss, reduced nutrients and metabolic deceleration. In addition, without a balanced intake, weight recovery is likely to resume a more sustainable diet.
What are the real risks of carnivorous diet?
1. Nutritional impairmentThe carnivorous diet eliminates whole food groups, especially plants. According to Dr. Kassam’s in-depth study, this restriction results in vitamin C, E, K deficiencies and many complex vitamins B, as well as minerals such as magnesium and potassium. Fibre, a key component of intestinal health and regularity, is completely absent. This increases the risk of constipation, microbial imbalance and inflammation.
2. Increased risk of cancer and heart diseaseDr. Kukadia, in a TikTok clip that has millions of views, pointed out that the intake of highly processed red meat combined with low fibre correlations with an increased risk of intestinal cancer. To this end, Cancer Research UK attributes 13% of intestinal cancer to red and processed meat consumption and 28% to insufficient fibre consumption. Saturated fats and dietary cholesterol in animal products also contribute to a high level of LDL cholesterol, thereby scratching the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Mental health and side effectsAnecdotal, some followers require greater mental clarity and less anxiety. However, the research linking diets than meat to a better mood is imperfect and inconclusive. A meta-analysis of 2022 involved lower rates of depression among meat eaters, but the causal link remains uncertain. According to Dr. Kassam, diets with low consumption and high fat can contribute to anxiety and cognitive deterioration over time.
Real-World Consequences: A Cautionary Tale
Dallas Influencer Eve Catherine thought she had found her grail food. Publishing photos of riveted dinners and cheese trays, she credited the carnivorous diet to her lean physicist. But at the beginning of this year, Catherine found herself in the emergency room, suffering from intense abdominal pain. Later, he was diagnosed with kidney stones, a direct result, says doctors, of excessive protein consumption.
“I didn’t think this could happen to me,” Catherine admitted in a video. I liked blood. The doctors told me my high protein diet stopped my kidneys. I wanted to be healthy. “
His story is not unique. Health care professionals warn that extremely high protein diets increase the load of nitrogen in the kidneys, especially in those with underlying conditions, which could cause kidney damage over time.
How is the carnivorous diet compared to other diets?
Carnivore v. KetoWhile both diets are low in carbohydrates, keto is much more flexible. It allows vegetable fats like avocados and allows small portions of fruits and vegetables. Ketosis, the central metabolic state of keto diet, also requires careful monitoring of macro-utrians, while the carnivorous diet focuses solely on avoiding carbohydrates.
Carnivore v. PaleoPaleal feeding, inspired by ancestral foods, includes feed and vegetable feed, provided it is complete and unprocessed. It offers more variety and a more balanced intake of carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Unlike carnivores, it includes fibers, vitamins and antioxidants that are crucial for long-term health.
Carnivore c. low carbohydrate contentA standard low-carbon diet allows flexibility and includes glycemic fruits, vegetables and whole grains. It supports sustainable weight loss and better metabolic health without extreme restrictions. The carnivorous diet takes it too far, say critics, eliminating any vegetable diet.
Who Might (Temporarily) Benefit?
Dr. Kukadia observed that carnivorous diet could provide short-term relief to people with gastrointestinal disorders such as ISI, where plant fibers can trigger symptoms. But even in these cases, this is not a long-term solution. Instead, medical nutrition is preferred under the direction of a dietitian.
According to Times of India, health care professionals universally warn that while there may be temporary benefits in terms of inflammation or glucose control, they are overcome by serious long-term risks. No major medical corps supports carnivorous diet as a safe or effective intervention.
What is a balanced approach?
If you are looking to control blood sugar, lose weight or improve intestinal health, a balanced approach that includes lean protein, healthy fat and a rich variety of herbal foods is supported by decades of research. A major 20-year study published last year found that herbal diets reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer while improving overall mortality.
Plant-based news quotes Dr. Kassam:
“The small benefits of eliminating processed foods do not justify depriving your body of essential nutrients. The carnivorous diet is nutritionally unbalanced, unsustainable and potentially harmful in the long term. »
Ultimately, carnivorous diet can assure those who are desperate for quick results. But as the fastest solutions, it is full of risks. Nutrition is not about extremes, but about balance, sustainability and personalization. Always consult a dietitian or a doctor before making radical changes to your eating habits.
