8 Myths of the Carnivore Diet

1) Causes colon cancer

The lack of fiber found in red meat has the potential to cause colorectal cancer.

While fiber has been shown to benefit colon health by helping to clear out the colon, some studies have suggested that consuming red meat may have the opposite effect and increase the risk of colorectal cancer. For example, a paper from Oxford found that eating red meat once a day could increase the risk of colorectal cancer by 20%.

However, it is important to note that epidemiological studies, like the one from Oxford, can have limitations, and it may be difficult to draw concrete conclusions from correlational data alone.

On the other hand, some research, including a study in rats, has suggested that certain components in red meat, such as bacon, may have a protective effect against cancerous growth, and that red meat could potentially be used to treat pre-existing tumors.

Overall, while the relationship between red meat and colon health is complex, there is currently no evidence to suggest that a carnivorous diet will necessarily have a negative impact on colon health. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

2) – Causes scurvy

One of the most well-known deficiencies associated with the carnivore diet is Vitamin C. This essential vitamin is necessary to prevent scurvy, a condition that has afflicted long-haul sailors for centuries. In severe cases, scurvy can lead to death, while milder symptoms include swollen gums and easy bruising. Despite being a disease of the past, scurvy still affects people today, with 128 cases reported in England in 2016. However, the good news is that we now know how to treat it.

While meat is often said to contain no Vitamin C, this is not entirely true. Fresh beef, for example, contains 2.5mg of Vitamin C per 100-gram serving, which is not enough to meet the recommended daily intake of 40mg. However, beef liver contains a much higher amount at 25mg per 100 grams, which can help cover your Vitamin C needs when added to your meat intake.

It’s important to note that Vitamin C has other functions besides preventing scurvy, including its role in glucose metabolism. By following a meat-based diet, you’re essentially taking this task away from Vitamin C, which can have an impact on your overall health. Although there are no official recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for carnivore diets, it’s worth considering that Vitamin C requirements would be lower. Despite this, there’s plenty of evidence that people can thrive on a meat-based diet alone, as seen in the Inuit population who eat only occasional plants found in a Caribou’s stomach.

3) Lack of phytochemicals

The reason why dieticians recommend eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is because of their abundance of phytochemicals. These non-nutritive compounds are claimed to have various health benefits, including longevity, hormone support, and reduced inflammation. However, since phytochemicals are exclusive to plants, following a carnivore diet limits one’s access to these compounds.

While the idea of plants having noble intentions may be appealing, the reality is that plants are designed to protect themselves from predators. In addition, our biology is optimized for digesting and absorbing meat, not plants. Phytochemicals may have some medicinal uses, but they cannot be considered a cure-all. Furthermore, some phytochemicals have unwanted side effects in humans, such as isoflavones in soy products, which act as hormone disruptors.

Interestingly, grass-fed meat and milk are sources of various plant-exclusives, including terpenoids, phenols, carotenoids, and antioxidants. This is due to the fact that ruminants digest plant matter, which makes the plant nutrition bioavailable to us. Thus, it is possible to obtain phytochemicals from animal products without the accompanying toxins and indigestible fiber found in plants.

4) Too much protein can decrease life expectancy

We won’t delve into the intricacies of the kidneys just yet, as the topic at hand is slightly more complex. In recent years, protein has received criticism for its ability to activate the anabolic switch, specifically the MTOR pathway associated with cell growth and replication. While MTOR can be beneficial for muscle growth, excessive activation has been linked to cancer, leading many diets to recommend minimal protein intake for preventative purposes.

However, the link between protein and mortality is weak, and MTOR also plays a critical role in natural tissue repair. Labeling the anabolic switch as a carcinogen is an overreaction. A carnivore diet, which activates MTOR through the amino acid leucine, still pales in comparison to insulin’s activation, which lasts three times as long. Insulin is still present in a zero carb diet, but it’s counterbalanced by the suppressive effects of glucagon.

Moreover, protein is crucial in preventing muscle breakdown, especially as one ages. The notion that this macronutrient, a staple in our evolutionary diet, is detrimental to health is unfounded. It’s essential to balance out feasting with fasting to avoid overstimulating MTOR, a concept that aligns well with the carnivore diet, which is highly satiating and doesn’t spike blood sugar. Therefore, the MTOR issue is already addressed in the diet.

5) Saturated fats clog your arteries

Navigating the subject of cholesterol can be tricky since it has been linked to heart disease, the leading cause of death in the UK, yet it also plays a crucial role in forming precursor compounds like testosterone and cortisol. Saturated fat has been scapegoated due to its effect on increasing LDL cholesterol, the supposed culprit behind arterial damage.

However, there is no concrete evidence linking saturated fat to heart disease, and the association doesn’t equate to causation. Moreover, there are several reasons why saturated fat should be redeemed. For instance, it can reduce mortality caused by high cholesterol, and it’s resistant to oxidation and doesn’t contain sugar, unlike processed foods that are notorious for causing arterial plaques.

Saturated fat also boosts HDL, which acts as the cleanup crew and is considered a healthy form of cholesterol, just like exercise. The notion that LDL is bad is an oversimplification since there are two types: small and dense or big and fluffy. The latter is harmless, but the former can get wedged into tight spaces and cause plaque. Interestingly, VLDL is increased by insulin resistance and not the type of fat.

To avoid relying on the gospels of diet gurus, it’s essential to do your research on this complex topic. In conclusion, there’s no substantial evidence linking saturated fat to heart disease, but seed oils should be a cause for concern.

6) Destroys your kidneys

A high protein intake has been linked to impaired kidney function and kidney stones, in addition to its association with the MTOR pathway. The belief that protein intake is detrimental to kidney health has been circulating for a long time. However, there is not enough evidence to support this claim in healthy kidneys, despite the potential mechanism for such an effect. Protein leaking into urine is one of the first signs of kidney damage, but it does not necessarily imply a causal relationship between high protein intake and kidney problems.

According to a 2005 review, “while protein restriction may be appropriate for the treatment of existing kidney disease, we find no significant evidence for a detrimental effect of high protein intakes on kidney function in healthy persons.” It is therefore reasonable to assume that the body is capable of handling high amounts of protein, a food source that has been part of human evolution for a long time.

In conclusion, protein restriction is necessary for people with pre-existing kidney disease. However, there is no harm in consuming high amounts of protein for individuals with healthy kidneys.

7) Decreases thryoid

One of the concerns with a ketogenic diet is that it can lower T3, a compound that powers the metabolic rate. A decrease in T3 can lead to lethargy, insomnia, and weight gain, and some have suggested that a low carb diet puts the body into a state of hypothyroidism or “starvation mode”, making it unsustainable over the long term.

However, there is a significant difference between the effects of ketosis and hypothyroidism. In hypothyroidism, T3 decreases while T4 increases, indicating that the body is responding to the lack of T3 by increasing T4. In a ketogenic diet, T3 decreases while T4 remains the same, suggesting that the body has already adapted to the new demands.

Moreover, ketosis increases sensitivity to T3, meaning that the body requires less T3 to perform the same functions. There is no evidence that ketosis meaningfully lowers the metabolic rate. Since the ketogenic diet operates on a different fuel system to glucose, the markers are changed.

It has been suggested that intermittent carb cycling may help raise leptin levels, which can boost T3 numbers, but this remains theoretical.

In summary, while a ketogenic diet may decrease T3, it also increases sensitivity to T3, which could even be beneficial for those with hypothyroidism.

8) Is a leading cause of global warming

The argument frequently made by plant-based advocates that livestock farming is a significant contributor to climate change is flawed. The claim that cows are causing droughts and taking up land that could be used for sustainable crops is not based on accurate data. The infographic from Meatless Monday stating that a ¼ pound burger requires 10 bathtubs of water is misleading. Most of the water used in beef production is rainfall, which would still hit the ground if cows were removed from the equation. Agriculture already takes up 70% of the world’s fresh and ground water, so it’s not a matter of diverting water from one use to another.

The claim that the livestock sector produces more greenhouse gases than the entire transport sector is based on incomplete data. Methane, which is belched by cattle, is the main culprit, but it has a short life cycle and is broken down after ten years. Also, cattle raised in regenerative pastures can sequester carbon in the soil and be a net negative on carbon emissions.

Comparing direct emissions from livestock and transport shows that livestock is responsible for only 5% of emissions, while transport is responsible for 14%. Furthermore, 70% of current agricultural land is suitable for livestock and wild animals, not for producing crops, so converting grazing lands to crop production is not a feasible solution.

Ruminants, such as cows, have played a crucial role in the ecosystem throughout human history, and the notion that they are solely responsible for climate change is unfounded. On the other hand, the proposed alternatives have only existed since the agricultural revolution 10,000 years ago.

The claim that livestock is a significant contributor to climate change is based on flawed data and flashy infographics. It’s time to move beyond this myth and have a more nuanced conversation about the environmental impact of different food production methods.

Conclusion

The carnivore diet was the primary food source for our paleolithic ancestors encompassing the majority of human existence. Red meat was undoubtedly a staple food item, as evidenced by the near-extinction of megafauna due to our hunting practices. This fact is at odds with the current notion that meat is unhealthy. However, specialized biological adaptations don’t simply disappear over a few thousand years because humans began to consume more plant-based foods.

Humans have always been meat-eaters, and a carnivore diet is likely one of the healthiest options available. Research supports this claim, with ample evidence pointing to the detrimental effects of seed oils and sugar, but no compelling data indicating that red meat itself is harmful, aside from weak correlations. Until new evidence arises to the contrary, there’s no reason to assume that a carnivore diet has any negative health consequences.