We tell you what the carnivorous diet consists of and what are its risks and application frameworks so that you can see if it is worth adhering to it. When it comes to restrictive nutritional plans, you always have to have reservations.
Many users state that they experience a series of benefits related to a better state of health from its implementation. However, as we will develop, this diet does not have all the support of scientific evidence .

Carnivorous diet, highly restrictive

The main problem with restrictive diets is that they cause a great impact on the population due to the important propaganda work behind it. Some of them, like the vegan diet , have an ethical component that motivates many people to put it into practice; in addition to the promises regarding weight loss.
The carnivorous diet is not far behind, and in its particular case, it is a method of eating opposed to veganism. It consists of consuming only food from land animals .
In fact, the stricter versions contemplate the option of eating red meat and drinking water, nothing more. It is a very restrictive protocol that suppresses food from the vegetable kingdom and fish, which can favor the appearance of nutritional deficiencies.
Macronutrient needs , except carbohydrates, can be met by eating meat. However, micronutrients are susceptible to deficiencies when there is no variety.
Thus, we find that consuming only meat lacks phytonutrients for our contribution. These are essential substances with an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature that play a leading role in promoting health.
The scientific literature defends the need to incorporate these nutrients in the diet on a regular basis to fight against the appearance of chronic diseases. They have been shown to decrease the risk of degenerative pathologies linked to aging.
The suppression in the intake of antioxidants is capable of increasing the risk of developing diseases. These nutrients are also important in the context of physical exercise, as they reduce muscle damage and promote recovery.
Meats as a single diet are a restrictive option, which can rarely be recommended

Arguments to defend the carnivorous diet

Proponents of the carnivorous diet make the argument that red meat and organ meats are foods of high nutritional density that provide all the substances that the body needs. The consumption of carbohydrates , depending on your posture, would be harmful and generate disorders.
While it is true that simple sugars increase the incidence of metabolic diseases, according to a study published in the journal Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratoty Sciences , the intake of complex carbohydrates may be necessary in many cases . For example, when you have to perform activities that require high intensity anaerobic effort.
Another argument that supports the implementation of the carnivorous diet is that those who have tried it maintain that they experience fewer gastrointestinal problems and reduce their feeling of bloating. This is because it is a fiber-free eating plan.
In any case, fiber is essential for intestinal health and peristalsis. It is real that those people who experience intestinal bacterial overgrowth should reduce the contribution, but it is a specific case.
It is known that large doses of fiber could increase the growth of pathogenic bacteria, causing bad feelings, in a disorder called SIBO by experts . For this clinical picture, reducing fiber consumption temporarily could reverse the process , but discontinuing it forever is not indicated.

Is the carnivorous diet sustainable?

Those who try the carnivorous diet claim a gastrointestinal improvement, but nutrition experts advise against it
Although a short-term application of the carnivorous diet could benefit patients with bacterial overgrowth syndrome, it is a type of diet that cannot be sustained for a long time . The short and medium term effects are evident.
Ketogenic diets, which are also restrictive, have been studied and rated safe, according to research published in the World Journal of Pediatrics . However, the carnivorous diet goes further.
The restriction it offers on phytonutrients can cause serious health disorders. This, leaving aside the little adherence that a diet plan of this style can present , which only allows consuming a small spectrum of foods.
For this reason, international opinion is to discourage the application of this very restrictive diet, in any of its variants. Reducing carbohydrate intake may be recommended for many people , albeit momentarily and within the framework of a varied plan rich in fish and plant foods.

The recommendation is always to avoid restrictive diets

Restrictive diets promise quick results in terms of weight loss and improved health. Sometimes they have certain ethical components added to them.
However, the restriction entails a limitation in the intake of nutrients, which can cause deficiencies in the medium and long term. For this reason, these types of extreme plans should be avoided and a varied and balanced diet should be chosen from the caloric point of view . If you have further questions, consult a nutrition professional.

The carnivorous diet: what is it?