A lot has been written of late about the Carnivore or Meat Diet. This became something of a trend when Canadian psychiatrist and viral sensation Jordan Peterson said in an interview a few months ago that all he had adopted it and that it had made him lose weight, but also had improved his bouts of depression and anxiety. A
As someone who’s become famous for finding methods to deal with what might be termed a current ‘crisis’ in masculinity, Peterson advocates things like cleaning ones room and standing up straight as simple ways to find some strength in being a man in this day and age. And, according to Peterson, eating meat only has the same effect.
What’s involved?
Like its close associate the Keto diet, the carnivore diet is high in fat, rich in protein as it is only meat! Pure protein! The Keto diet involves fruit and vegetable as well as calorie counting which should lead your body to reach a state of ketosis, a state in which it burns fat for fuel rather than carbohydrates in order to keep going. The meat diet on the other hand simply advocates no cheating and to eat only meat (breakfast, lunch and dinner) with salt and pepper as your only friends. In some versions of the diet animal produce – dairy and eggs – are also allowed. The diet throughout stresses consumption of beef over other foods, and in particular, steaks.
The diet was first put forward by orthopaedic surgeon Shawn Baker in his 2018 book The Carnivore Diet. Supposedly it should lean you right down, provide you with all the nutrients you need, as well as regulate your body and mind. It was packaged as a manly diet for men trying to get built up. But not all (in fact not many) nutrionists think it works and it’s been labelled the “worst” dieting fad.
The side effects
As the fad took off more and more people tried it, it became clear that the diet wasn’t exactly what people were hoping for.
Firstly, dieticians suggested that in fact such a high levels of fat and protein would be quite bad for insulin production! Other drawbacks included diarrhea during the first few weeks, exhaustion, depression, and an increase in oily skin for those prone! In fact, a rather hilarious Guardian article documented the diet describing it as follows:
“I wake up early. My skin is greasy – even greasier than normal – and my hair, clothes and kitchen smell of meat. This is my life now. I open a window. It doesn’t do anything. I’m still feeling drained, and I can’t face going out to buy more beef.”
The takeaway
If you’re looking to shred fat and not muscle, stick to the keto diet. Most dieticians are horrified by the idea of the carnivore diet, pointing out the obvious, that without an element that is plant-based a diet simply is not balanced and is potentially damaging.
