Post: Is the Carnivore Diet Actually Healthy?

The carnivore diet is gaining popularity as a way to lose weight and improve health. But does it actually work? Meat lovers, take note: The carnivore diet — a no-carb, all-meat approach to eating — is gaining popularity as a way to lose weight and improve health. But is cutting out entire food groups really a good idea?

We asked a nutrition expert to weigh in on the benefits, risks and what you need to know. Find a doctor near me

Start here Here’s how it works.

Does eating steak for breakfast, lunch and dinner sound like a dream come true?

“With the carnivore diet, you only eat animal products like beef, pork, chicken and fish,” says Shannon Haynes, RD, a registered dietitian at Backus Hospital. “You can still eat eggs and dairy, but only in small amounts.”

The idea is to help people lose weight by cutting out carbohydrates.

“That means no fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts or seeds,” says Haynes. “It’s essentially an extreme version of the keto diet.”

> Related: 9 Foods to Eat If You’re Trying the Mediterranean Diet But does it actually help with weight loss?

It can – but there’s a catch.“The idea is that by restricting carbs, the body will get energy by burning fat instead. That’s supposed to speed up the breakdown of fat, improve blood sugar and decrease inflammation,” says Haynes.But studies don’t necessarily support this claim.“We know that red meat increases inflammation, so that’s a risk,” says Haynes. “And this diet also eliminates foods that do decrease inflammation, like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.”And the carnivore diet can be extremely difficult to stick to.“It’s true that this diet can show results – initially. But in the long term, it’s a very challenging diet to follow. It also comes with a host of other health risks,” Haynes cautions. > Want more health news? Text StartHere to 85209 to sign up for text alerts 5 reasons to rethink the carnivore diet. Before you jump on board with the carnivore diet, it’s important that you know the risks. 1. Nutritional deficiencies If you get rid […]

Is the Carnivore Diet Actually Healthy?