The REAL reason I started the Carnivore Diet
Some research has suggested that a diet based solely on meat can negatively impact gut health, heart disease risk, and more. There is little data on this way of eating, but historic reports from Arctic and nomadic populations suggest that it may be possible to thrive on an animal-based diet in the long-term.
To better understand how people who follow a carnivore diet are doing in the modern world, researchers set out to study a large group of adults who were committed to this way of eating. They wanted to know more about their motivation, dietary habits, and how they felt about their health and satisfaction with the diet. While some proponents claim that a carnivore diet can provide all the essential nutrients we need, the researchers hoped to shed some light on the reality of this way of eating.
When it comes to how people following a carnivore diet eat, the majority reported consuming meals 1-3 times per day, although it wasn’t clear whether these were meals or snacks. The breakdown was 17% once daily, 64% twice daily, and 16% three times daily. As for what they were eating, most participants opted for meat with a high or moderate fat content, with only a small minority choosing lean cuts. Interestingly, over three-quarters of respondents reported that they preferred to eat raw, rare, or medium-rare meat. Note that consuming raw and undercooked meat brings a host of potential risk factors.
A significant portion of those following a carnivore diet reported that they were aiming to achieve nutritional ketosis, which is a state in which the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose. In fact, 41% of participants said they were trying to achieve this state, and of those, 41% monitored their ketone levels. The majority of respondents also aimed for a medium or high salt intake, which is recommended for people on low-carb diets that can lead to increased natriuresis, or the excretion of sodium in the urineAccording to the survey results, many reported improvements in their chronic medical conditions, general health, and well-being. They reported feeling more energetic, sleeping better, and having better mental clarity and focus. While most medical conditions improved with the diet, lipid abnormalities were not as consistent. Just over half of respondents reported that their lipid abnormalities resolved or improved, while 18% saw no change and 27% saw new occurrences or worsening of the issue. Ophthalmologic conditions were improved or unchanged with equal frequency, indicating that the diet positively impacted eye health for many respondents..Many of them also reported wanting to achieve nutritional ketosis, and they were monitoring their ketone concentrations. When compared to low-carbohydrate diets, the findings of this study were consistent with other research, which has shown that this type of diet can result in weight loss and improved glycemic control
Harvard Study on the Carnivore Diet