The so called “carnivore” diet? Plants are bad to eat?!

[didelydoo]

RichTT said:

Which makes sense given that the nations with the longest lifespans also seem to have the highest cholesterol levels.

Those countries also all have a pretty high carb diet

[Panamax]

halo34 said:

The benefits of fasting are well known -

So people keep saying and yet never explain in simple English. Plenty of jargon but very little real world explanation.

For instance, if it's simply that "getting hungry is good for you" we're left with the question "If getting hungry is good for you, does that mean getting even hungrier is even better?"

Is it 8 hours?
Is it 24 hours?
Is it a week?
Is it a month?

[halo34]

Panamax said:

So people keep saying and yet never explain in simple English. Plenty of jargon but very little real world explanation.

For instance, if it's simply that "getting hungry is good for you" we're left with the question "If getting hungry is good for you, does that mean getting even hungrier is even better?"

Is it 8 hours?
Is it 24 hours?
Is it a week?
Is it a month?

Plenty research out there for anyone who is looking to try it with an open mind and reasonably well defined thresholds for when chemical changes happen in the body depending on your size/weight. Longer fasts have different benefits to shorter ones due to the changes that take place in switching to burning fat stores etc.

Google is your friend

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fasting-benef...

For me its a valuable tool - but I dont think the O/P is interested in a debate about it. I use it to compliment the carnivore diet as replied originally as it extends the period in ketosis.

[wyson]

Just eat whatever mate, as long as its home cooked from raw ingredients. I must have tried it all over the years, with natural foods, I’ve only struggled going to extremes. Like trying to go vegan or go keto.

The only common thing I’ve found universally diabolical for my health are UPF’s.

Regarding the seed oils, have a look on youtube about how they are made. I wouldn’t say they are a food. I only eat cold pressed oils now and rotate with animal fats. M&S has a nice selection. Depending on what you are cooking, they can add a nice flavour profile. Beef dripping with roast potatoes for instance.

Experiment on yourself and see what you feel best on. We all have different genetics, and your body will tell you best.

A biggie for me is avoiding legumes. Feel awful on them, lentils in particular so don’t follow that particular health advice.

Edited by wyson on Thursday 16th May 16:11

[mcelliott]

There is very little scientific evidence to proof that fasting has any benefits on the body, yes it can be used as a tool as part of a weight loss program, but it's no different that any other calorie restricted diet, but of course you can take to the internet and brag how you have needlessly starved yourself for 24hrs.

[biggbn]

halo34 said:

I do it for periods of time and include fasting.

The benefits of fasting are well known - so I tend to combine some fasts with moving onto carnivore diet which extends the Keto period right out.

Certainly find weight does drop and you lean out. Eggs for lunch etc

The main challenge is finding decent sources of meat to make sure your getting the best intake you can. When I switch back to a normal diet and end up with sugar/bread back in my diet its noticeable in terms of lethargy.

Why do you change back then?

[croyde]

The healthiest I felt eating wise was eating a low to no fibre diet prior to a colonoscopy.

Plus crisps were allowed

[ambuletz]

jagnet said:

MercedesClassic said:

Please elaborate as I'm interested to know more. My mate was talking about this at the weekend amongst other food debates. He's very obese, says 20 stone but also got degenerative mobility issues. I think in 2020 he was 22 stone and went on some diet, I'm saying Cambridge one to one but not sure. Was designed to put him into Keto mode or something. No fruit, no vegetables, little to no carbs but meat seems to be ok.
He dropped to 14 stone quite rapidly but I thought he looked gaunt and wrinkly, older maybe.

Anyway because he stopped the diet he's ballooned again and back on the diet. Trying to get back into Keto mode again.

What do you eat? Do you follow recipes or is it just fried steak every meal? What health improvement have you noticed and are they totally related to your diet or did you also make lifestyle changes? Thanks.

We tend to prioritise red meat, but the OH does like chicken so we do include that regularly. As our budget objects to steak on a daily basis, we do a lot with cheaper cuts of meat and long slow cooking. We make use of cream and butter sauces a lot, thickening by reduction rather than flour. It also helps increase the amount of fat, especially with chicken.

The biggest health improvement has been in my joints. Shoulder injuries from playing rugby at school bothered me all my life. Totally fixed since going carnivore and i've now got full movement back for the first time since my teens.

Similar with my back after once being over ambitious with how much I was carrying once - never any pain now from it. If ever I do eat wheat, my back soon reminds me not to.

There's been no big lifestyle changes as we've always been active, only in so much as I can now do even more because of the increased energy, ease of putting on muscle and lack of pain because of the diet changes.

Bear in mind that our diet previously would generally be considered healthy. We're not talking jumping from junk food to carnivore. Our diet was the typical balanced diet, all home cooked from fresh ingredients. I've never been into junk food or ultra processed food. My early career was working as a chef, so cooking meals from fresh ingredients has always been second nature.

An interesting health benefit that we didn't expect includes hair growth. My hairline had started receding; now reversed. I also started to get grey patches, which have now regained their colour. The OH's hair is now much thicker, and I find far less of it everywhere (including the shower plug).

We both tan faster now. We just don't seem to burn in the sun anymore. I'm sure it's still possible, but we'd really have to start overdoing it in a big way.

Our skin has definitely improved. Much smoother and more youthful. The permanent bags under my eyes disappeared quickly. Age spots on hands are gradually fading. I'd say it was similar results to having mesotherapy.

carnivore is a slightly more extreme version of the dukan diet which has been around for well over 25 years.

eating mostly high protein/meat and low carb works because protein is filling, so its kind of hard to eat 2000cals of sausages. At the end of the day weight loss is down to calories in/out. which is why it can work for SOME people.

[dobly]

You do you. I’d rather not eat the flesh of another animal, but that’s my choice. “Plants” haven’t done me any harm.

[Elmoslides]

dobly said:

You do you. I’d rather not eat the flesh of another animal, but that’s my choice. “Plants” haven’t done me any harm.

Fortunately, that’s because you’re eating the right type of plants. The majority are either toxic to humans, inedible, or just unpalatable…

Apologies if I come across as being facetious, but plants have had to develop survival mechanisms predicated on the fact they can’t run away or fight.

[croyde]

When you say steak for dinner, do you have just the meat or do you also have sides?

[jagnet]

croyde said:

When you say steak for dinner, do you have just the meat or do you also have sides?

Just the meat. Unless the sides are derived from animal products, eg a side of eggs, some crispy bacon rashers, etc.

[biggbn]

dobly said:

You do you. I’d rather not eat the flesh of another animal, but that’s my choice. “Plants” haven’t done me any harm.

Bang on, each to their own. Nobody shoukd need validation for their choices, try it, if you like it, or it likes you, keep it up. Enjoy.

[croyde]

jagnet said:

croyde said:

When you say steak for dinner, do you have just the meat or do you also have sides?

Just the meat. Unless the sides are derived from animal products, eg a side of eggs, some crispy bacon rashers, etc.

Cheers, I may as well give that a go for a bit. Interested to see what it may do to my guts as doing 'healthy' stuff like salads, greens, bran etc seems to tie my stomach in knots and involves frequent visits to the bathroom.

TMI

[grumbledoak]

croyde said:

Cheers, I may as well give that a go for a bit. Interested to see what it may do to my guts as doing 'healthy' stuff like salads, greens, bran etc seems to tie my stomach in knots and involves frequent visits to the bathroom.

TMI

There are lots of reports of people relieving IBS and similar on "carnivore". YMMV, but nobody is meat intolerant, and in any case nothing will be reaching your colon. It all gets digested and absorbed.

[bigpriest]

Maybe the increased amount of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, vitamins, supplements and worming tablets you're eating on a meat-only diet are what improves your health?

[jagnet]

croyde said:

Cheers, I may as well give that a go for a bit. Interested to see what it may do to my guts as doing 'healthy' stuff like salads, greens, bran etc seems to tie my stomach in knots and involves frequent visits to the bathroom.

TMI

Do. I know you've said before that you've felt much better on a zero fibre diet and that doesn't surprise me in the least. I know I don't enjoy the consequences of fibre anymore, and likewise the OH.

[jagnet]

bigpriest said:

Maybe the increased amount of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, vitamins, supplements and worming tablets you're eating on a meat-only diet are what improves your health?

[T_S_M]

grumbledoak said:

croyde said:

Cheers, I may as well give that a go for a bit. Interested to see what it may do to my guts as doing 'healthy' stuff like salads, greens, bran etc seems to tie my stomach in knots and involves frequent visits to the bathroom.

TMI

There are lots of reports of people relieving IBS and similar on "carnivore". YMMV, but nobody is meat intolerant, and in any case nothing will be reaching your colon. It all gets digested and absorbed.

Not quite the same, but I cut out all carbs (except fruit) for around 2 months last year as part of a weight-loss plan. I lost 14kg in around 4 months in total.

One thing I did notice, is I used to suffer with terrible indigestion/heartburn almost daily. Once I was only eating meat/fish, veg and fruit the indigestion stopped almost immediately. I also felt like I had way more energy and less lethargic.

[NaePasaran]

dobly said:

You do you. I’d rather not eat the flesh of another animal, but that’s my choice. “Plants” haven’t done me any harm.

But B12. And plants have feelings too!!!

Consumed no animal products for nearly 4 years, two sets of bloods done at New Year and everything ok.

One thing though regardless of what diet or lifestyle you go down is look at credible journalists and peer reviewed papers, hit Google Scholar, don't take advice from a Botox Injector or Bricklayer on tik tok or Instagram!