Negative aspects of the carnivorous diet

Throughout this course, we have analyzed different aspects of the carnivorous diet, the foods that should be included and those that should not, its benefits and particularities.

We can then summarize that the carnivorous diet is probably one of the most controversial diets that exist, as it presents an eating plan that breaks the established paradigms of a healthy diet. It is based on the hypothesis that most of the nutritional advice we rely on is essentially wrong.

The meal plan that it proposes, is a food fundamentally based on meat, either red or white meats, with possible accompaniments of fish, seafood, eggs, butter and hard cheese. On the other hand, any food of vegetable origin is discarded, as they are considered toxic for the human organism, as well as carbohydrates.

We have also explained its benefits, among which is the decrease of insulin levels in blood and fat retention in the organism; it also induces the state of ketosis with the advantages that this entails. However, the present lesson is dedicated to analyze the negative aspects of this diet and its possible health implications.

Suppression of important nutritional sources

The detractors of the carnivorous diet disqualify its validity by claiming that suppressing such important sources of nutrients as vegetables is nonsense.

Although foods of vegetable origin contain anti-nutrients, substances that are extremely harmful to human health if ingested in large quantities, the reality is that the percentage of these compounds that we consume through vegetables, fruits or infusions is very low. In addition, there are mechanisms to further reduce these levels, and it is achieved through fermentation, prolonged soaking or germination.

The effects of anti-nutrient intake, which are generally the blocking of vitamin and mineral absorption, can be a problem for people who eat a plant-based diet, such as vegetarians or vegans. This deficit can be solved through supplements, mainly of iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium and Vitamin C.

That is to say, the antinutrients that plants have are not a substantial problem to feed us with them, so changing to a carnivorous diet just for that reason is not really valid. Instead, it is proven that a diet that integrates a variety of fruits and vegetables helps prevent diseases such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease or even certain types of cancer.

Discarding carbohydrates

The carnivorous diet is not the only one that proposes to eliminate or reduce the amount of carbohydrates we consume, this is a macronutrient also excluded in the ketogenic diet and the low-carbohydrate diet. The reasons for not including foods of this type are generally associated with the diseases that an abundant intake of carbohydrates can cause, such as obesity and heart disease.

Simple carbohydrates are sugars such as fructose, glucose and lactose, present in foods such as dairy products, sweets, soft drinks and syrups, among others.

Complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugars that join together to form a chain. They are rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. As they are more complex, they take longer to be assimilated by the body, so they do not raise the blood sugar level as fast as simple carbohydrates. They are a source of energy necessary for the body in the performance of its functions. We can find them in wholemeal flours, potatoes, legumes, whole grains, in vegetables such as sp