Of Lions and Men: In Defense of "Carnivore"

Before we begin, full disclosure. Even as a Health Coach, Sports Nutritionist, and specialist in the art and science of human transformation, it is not within my scope of practice to prescribe a nutrition plan for a client. What follows constitutes professional opinion, is offered for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical advice. Please consult a physician or registered dietician before beginning the Carnivore Diet or any other nutritional regimen.

In recent years, the "Carnivore Diet" has gained a signature sort of notoriety in the arena of health and fitness; it's a rare thing to see a dietary regimen draw battlelines with a fervor typically reserved for soccer championships and presidential elections. It may be because it's a relative newcomer to the arena, and thus the long-term effects of a meat-only diet aren't yet fully understood - it may be because the ethical implications of consuming animals is already something of a hot-button topic.

With that in mind, I'll first address the Tasty Herbivore in the Room; if your moral convictions (or spiritual beliefs) preclude the consumption of animal flesh, I wholly empathize with your stance and support your decision. Zero sarcasm. There's no "right" or "wrong" way to approach health, fitness, nutrition, or life. There's only what works for YOU.

With that out of the way, let's discuss the most controversial diet since cannibalism.

Carnivore VS. Keto

Ketogenic "Keto" Diet:

• Foods high in "healthy" (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) fats are generally considered preferable for intake, including animal and plant sources; animal fats, olive oil, nuts and seeds, and animal protein are all acceptable.

• Most adherents count macronutrient ratios, with an "optimal" ratio hovering in the range of 70%-80% of daily caloric intake coming from healthy fats, 20%-30% from protein, and 5% or less from carbohydrates.

• Ketogenic diets are typically considered more sustainable, due to the wider range of intake sources (although as stated previously, the long-term physiological effects of either diet are still under review.)

Meat-Only "Carnivore" Diet:

• Meat.

• Salt.

• Water.

"Is this look achievable natty?"

As simple as that sounds, there's plenty of debate among the Carnivore crowd as to what is and isn't considered "true" Carnivore, and plenty of variations on the central theme:

• Keto diets, as outlined above; healthy fats and plenty of them, minimal carbohydrates, from a variety of sources.

• Animal-based, or "Carnivore-ish" diets, which eschew vegetables and processed foods, but make allowances for herbs, spices and sauces; eggs, dairy products and honey are likewise usually considered acceptable, as are coffee and tea, provided that meat (red meat preferred) comprises the bulk of daily caloric intake.

• For the hardest of the hardcore, the above-mentioned "Lion Diet" (meat, salt and water; all killer, no filler) is considered the Gold Standard. Some will still make an allowance for tea and black coffee (believe me, I understand.)

Despite its growing popularity, a high-fat, low- or zero-carbohydrate, meat-centered diet seems to fly in the face of conventional nutritional wisdom, and possibly, common sense. We all learned in grade school that fat is the enemy. Most reputable dieticians and doctors typically recommend a diet consisting primarily of fruits and vegetables, balanced with healthy grains and lean, quality protein. So, the question remains...

Are Carnivores Insane?

In my first post, I touched on my decision to try a "soft" version of the Carnivore Diet as I undertook the 75 Hard Challenge, and yes, to say that my friends and loved ones "expressed concern" is underselling the situation to a laughable extent. I ate eggs and small amounts of dairy (hard cheeses, primarily) in addition to meat (mostly steak and ground beef, occasionally adding some chicken and seafood for sake of variety.) I allowed for sparing amounts of seasonings and spices to make the prodigious amounts of red meat I was consuming a bit more palatable, and drank only water and black coffee. These are my observations.

• It's damn difficult to eat that much meat. A significant part of the Carnivore Diet's appeal is that protein and fat are incredibly satiating - despite eating only meat, I rarely ever felt hungry. Until I did. Without the spikes and dips in energy caused by consuming simple and complex carbs, my energy levels remained surprisingly steady throughout the day. So steady in fact, I rarely realized I wasn't meeting my caloric requirements until my body reminded me of it in dramatic fashion; within minutes I would go from "I'm hungry; I wonder what I should have for dinner tonight" to "I need to eat RIGHT F***ING NOW before I wind up unconscious on the kitchen floor." Many Carnivore success stories owe to the fact that it is, perhaps, the ultimate "elimination diet;" junk food, fast food, and most readily-available snacks are immediately removed from the menu. Which means that all of the "grazing" that most of us do throughout a busy day simply disappears, and you may not even notice. If you're contemplating Dat Lion Lyfe, please take my advice; eat before you get hungry, and I can't recommend skipping meals. Ever.

• Dinnertime will make you feel like a bloodthirsty velociraptor. Carnivore has a reputation of appealing largely to the male demographic, and the reasons are obvious. There's something undeniably "macho" about the concept of eating meat, and only meat, as a rule; common side effects of Carnivore include growing a lumberjack beard and developing a predilection for cooking outside over an open flame. This is normal. My wife showed incredible patience and understanding as, night after night (as she tucked into a sensible plate of leafy greens and lean protein,) I ate pounds of sizzling meat. Off the bone. Several weeks in, it became a mutual understanding - my fork and knife were only there on the table to keep up appearances. Enjoy the experience, but please respect the sensibilities of those around you as you de-evolve.
  

• Will you ever poop again? ...Not to be indelicate, but this is a myth in need of debunking. A lack of fiber DOES NOT (typically, in itself) cause constipation. Fiber adds undigestible bulk to the stomach which will then need to be excreted, and when it's removed from the diet, many people will react to the sudden lack of "movement" with undue alarm. Once the body has had sufficient time to adjust...yes, you will poop again. In fact, both research and anecdotal evidence suggests (though results are inconclusive) that Carnivore may even be beneficial to individuals with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's Disease, by reducing dietary triggers of inflammation. I invite any potential Cavemen with sensitive stomachs to conduct their own independent research.
  

• It's not for everyone. Yes, I lost a significant amount of fat on the Carnivore Diet, and felt pretty great throughout. But whether it's right for YOU, depends on YOU. "Visual eaters" and those whose palates crave variety will very quickly grow discouraged when tonight's dinner plate looks the same as last night...and the night before...and the night before. If you cook for, and dine with, a family, you'll definitely feel like the odd one out. And since Carnivore exists on the extreme end of the dietary spectrum, well-meaning friends, family and colleagues will undoubtedly "express concern" in the manner mentioned previous.

A Lion Has No Choice - You Do

Lions, big cats and other predatory creatures are biologically specialized to eat other animals, not by acclimation or by choice but by design. Humans aren't built that way. We've evolved to subsist and thrive on a staggering variety of foods, and (with no offense intended to my esteemed colleagues, who might consider it something of a controversial stance) at the end of the day, calories are calories. With regular exercise (and a quality multivitamin,) the human body can be sustained indefinitely by anything from filet mignon to glazed donuts. But it's not about what's possible; it's about what's ideal.

I spent 75 days on the Carnivore(-ish) Diet, and I'm still here...and I may even do it again. But I'm not YOU.

The only way to discover YOUR ideal is through open-minded, unbiased experimentation - to go Carnivore and see how you feel. To go vegan and see how you feel. To go whole-foods and see how you feel. And then integrate what you've learned.

Find what works for YOU and make it a lifestyle. I believe in you. - Coach K.