Living Well with Bri

The Carnivore Diet

Happy Monday!

Your words hold a lot of power and create your reality every day. Make sure you speak with intention.

The carnivore diet is a dietary regimen that primarily consists of animal products, particularly meat, and excludes most or all plant-based foods. This diet is characterized by its strict focus on consuming only animal-based foods while avoiding or minimizing the intake of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and other plant-based foods.

Key elements of this diet-

  1. Meat: The diet centers around various types of meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, and organ meats.

  2. Exclusion of plant foods: Followers of the carnivore diet generally avoid or eliminate plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes.

  3. Dairy: Some individuals following the carnivore diet include dairy products like cheese and butter, while others avoid them.

  4. Beverages: Water is usually the primary beverage of choice. Coffee and tea (without added sugars or plant-based milk) are sometimes allowed.

  5. Seasonings: Salt and spices are often allowed for flavor, though some adherents choose to eliminate them.

  6. Supplements: Because the diet lacks many essential vitamins and minerals, some people on the carnivore diet take supplements to meet their nutritional needs, such as vitamin C, fiber, and electrolytes.

Pros-

  1. Weight Loss: Some people report weight loss on the carnivore diet, possibly because it eliminates many high-calorie, highly processed foods and encourages satiety due to meat's high protein and fat content.

  2. Simplicity: The diet is straightforward and easy to follow since it involves consuming primarily meat and a few other foods. This simplicity can be appealing to those who find traditional diet plans complicated.

  3. Potential for Blood Sugar Control: This diet may help stabilize blood sugar levels and reduce insulin resistance, which can be beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes or insulin-related issues.

  4. Autoimmune Disease Relief: Advocates suggest that eliminating potential dietary triggers from plant-based foods may reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of autoimmune diseases in some cases.

  5. Mental Clarity: Some adherents claim to experience improved mental clarity and focus on the carnivore diet.

Cons-

  1. Nutritional Deficiencies: The diet lacks essential nutrients in plant-based foods, such as vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Over time, this can lead to deficiencies, potentially resulting in health problems.

  2. Potential for High Saturated Fat Intake: The diet can be high in saturated fats depending on the types of meat consumed.

  3. Lack of Variety: The diet is extremely restrictive, leading to boredom and difficulty obtaining a wide range of nutrients.

Next time…

  • 10/19 - The Blue Zones

  • 10/23 - High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) vs Low-Intensity Stead State (LISS)

xo

Bri