Have you tried lots of unsuccessful diets in the past in order to combat autoimmunity? Research now shows why the Carnivore Diet might just be the answer.
The Carnivore Diet is an all-animal food diet. The diet is on a scale of pure meat, while others include dairy, eggs, fish, and even some plant matter like berries or greens. The diet works by eliminating the triggers found in plant foods that can lead to health issues, including gut irritation and aggravation of autoimmune conditions. Although many people consider meat to cause disease, the reality is that those studies are epidemiological and cannot draw causational links. On the contrary, many studies link saturated fats to health.
Americans’ 37.5% saturated fat intake comes from junk food which includes pizza, grain-based desserts (cookies, cakes), dairy desserts (ice cream), processed meats, candy, chips, fries, pasta, and burritos. Only 24.2% of Americans’ saturated fat intake comes from whole foods like beef, eggs, full-fat dairy, butter, and nuts (quality not considered). The problem is really not meat, but refined sugar, flour, and vegetable oils.
One common argument against an all-meat diet is that “meat causes cardiovascular disease.” The reality is that zero studies create a causal link between meat and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C lack in the Carnivore Diet, but the argument is made that when someone is not eating plant matter, they simply need fewer antioxidants and vitamin C. Although fiber is often linked to digestive health, some studies suggest the opposite, and anecdotal evidence demonstrates that many people solve their gut problems with the Carnivore Diet.
Many plant foods contain anti-nutrients and inflammatory agents which are nature’s way of ensuring it can survive and reproduce. By fortifying their structure, the members of the plant kingdom have a chance at survival against the elements and against being eaten by predators. Those who fair better on a strict meat-only diet, whereby any plant consumption triggers feeling worse– generally, these people are dealing with autoimmune conditions or a severely damaged gut. For this population, even small amounts of these anti-nutrients can set them back in health.
Meat contains very little vitamin C, in fact there is more in organ meats like liver. Carnivore diet contains no fiber at all and the body does not make it. Although fiber is said to be essential for bowel and digestive health, many people report a significant increase in digestion and bowl movements on the Carnivore Diet. Some studies even suggest that removing fiber from your diet can improve constipation, not make it worse.
Meat is a superfood; it is a nutrient-dense food that, unlike marketed superfoods, offers complete human nutrition. For example, a cow that has spent its whole life grazing pastures in the sun will be much denser in polyphenols than a factory-farmed cow fed on grain.
It is best to treat the Carnivore Diet as an elimination diet. First, strip it back to the most basic of nutrient-dense foods: meat. Then, introduce foods one by one (perhaps starting with animal products) and see how your body reacts. If it feels just as good or better, keep the food. If it feels worse, then maybe that food is better out of your diet.
Larisa Belote, Health Practitioner & Certified Detox Specialist is a strong believer that your body is a smart machine and can heal itself given a chance and the right set of tools. Call/Txt 732.996.6963 or email: larisa@stepbystep-wellness.com to set up a FREE 20-minute consultation.
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