What About The Carnivore Diet Health Claims
In addition to dropping pounds, Baker and followers tout the anti-inflammatory components of the diet. Chronic inflammation has been linked to many diseases, including cancer.
Its true fish, which is acceptable on the carnivore diet, is rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids fight off inflammation in many different ways and reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, says Arsenault.
However, red meat, high in saturated fat, is also allowed on the diet. Saturated fats can cause inflammation. Additionally, a high-protein diet can be harmful to the kidneysand can even promote gout and kidney stones.
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The short list of foods considered acceptable in the carnivore diet includes:
- Beef
- Organ meats
- Fish
- Bone broth
- Dairy, including eggs, butter, hard cheese and heavy whipping cream
- Pink Himalayan sea salt
- Black coffee
- Water
Restricted foods include everything else, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains, alcohol, any drink besides water and black coffee and seasonings of any sort.
The Probable Origins Of My Symptoms
The lower gut is called the colon. It stores undigested fiber, explaining why my flat stomach became a mini bulge below the belly button when I added vegetables. The bulky, indigestible vegetable fiber gets the blame. The smoother, less muscular appearance of my physique may be from some of the natural pesticides all plants contain. It may be that I was experiencing low levels of systemic inflammation as a result.
The look could also be a natural part of my yearly cycle. I generally feel that my metabolism slows in the colder months, and I am less active. I usually get smoother in the winter.
I am 100% certain that alcohol adds empty calories and causes weight gain. It is a well-known gut irritant. The smoother-looking physique was definitely due to excess calories and inflammation from it. I did not expect it to be so harsh, but then again, I have never stayed away from it for so long.
Why Does The Carnivore Diet Work
I believe the main reason that people can see improvements in their health from the carnivore diet is that it removes most of the allergens and anti-nutrients that people eat. Of course, it is still possible to be sensitive or allergic to animal foods, but by removing gluten, corn, soy, and dairy, many people will find a reduction in inflammatory symptoms simply by eliminating these common triggers. The carnivore diet also removes sugar and other refined carbs, which can be a main driver of digestive symptoms and excess weight.
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Are Fruits And Vegetables Actually Bad For You
None of these anti-plant arguments are wrong per se, and theres absolutely an argument to be made that in the context of autoimmune disease, some of these plant compounds could cause problems. As I mention in my Autoimmune Protocol post, Sarah Ballentyne makes these arguments quite thoroughly regarding grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and nightshades.
Indeed, phytochemicals are generally handled by the body the same way as drugs and other xenobiotics, and some such as naringin in grapefruit can impact liver detoxification to such an extent that the metabolism of prescription medications is affected.
However, all of this begins to make sense if we look at the effects of these phytochemicals through the lens of hormesis, and its now well accepted that many of the thoroughlydocumented beneficial effects of polyphenols, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals do operate through a hormetic mechanism.
In other words, the body responds to a stressor in this case, a plant toxin in an adaptive way that ultimately promotes health.
Taking into account the reams of preclinical, clinical, epidemiological, and anthropological evidence for the health benefits of plant foods, theres no question that plant foods are extremely beneficial to human health as a general rule.
But that doesnt mean that they can never be harmful in individual cases, especially in disease states such as IBD where the bodys normal adaptive mechanisms are out of whack.
Kassandra Reverses A Lifetime Of Obesity
My name is Kassandra and Im 35 years old. My mother and I nearly died during my birth because she had untreated gestational diabetes. She passed out and I was pulled out with forceps unresponsive. I survived in nicu because the nurses taped together two incubators since I was a very large baby. I stayed large through
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Be Mindful Of Food Intolerances And Sensitivities
If eating a particular food causes symptoms, its probably causing inflammation. The most common offenders are eggs, nuts, grains , legumes, soy, and dairybut everyones gut is different.
Consider keeping a food journal to isolate your problem foods. Pro tip: use the Carb Manager app to simplify and digitize this process.
Paleolithic And Ketogenic Diets: The Roots Of Carnivore
Modern society has always been obsessed with fad workouts and diets. The ketogenic and paleolithic diets have recently become two of the trendiest, and many who suffer with IBS or IBD have found some solace with them. Recently many dieters and professionals have put them together to obtain the advantages of both. What research and experience has found, however, is that combining the two can provide even more benefits, particularly to those with Crohns and ulcerative colitis. This diet focuses on animals and animal byproducts and is formally called the paleolithic ketogenic diet, when adhered to strictly its also called the zero carb diet, or, more colorfully, The Carnivore Diet.
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How To Eat For Ibs And Ibd: Low
How To Eat for IBS and IBD: Low-Carb and Other Dietary Strategies
Posted 3 months ago
If youre dealing with a bowel disorder like IBS or IBD, youve probably tried a few diets to remediate your symptoms. And youve probably noticed that certain eating patterns lead to less discomfort.
It makes sense. What you put in your mouth ultimately passes throughand interacts withyour stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
But why do some foods cause more problems than others? And which diets are best for gut health?
To answer, well need to bring in concepts like inflammation, gut bacteria, and food sensitivities. First, though, lets talk about common gut issues.
Two Root Causes Of Gut Symptoms
Two root problems typically underpin the symptoms of IBS, IBD, and other gut disorders:
Inflammation in this context means unnecessary, damaging immune activity. Your immune system, reacting to what youve eaten, damages the gut barrier and creates uncomfortable symptoms.
There are many causes of gut inflammation, but the easiest factor to control is diet. Eliminating certain foods can squelch inflammation, allowing the gut the opportunity to try and heal.
The second problem involves the trillions of crittersmostly bacteria and yeastresiding in your gut. This ecosystem is called the gut microbiome, and its linked to nearly every facet of human health. A healthy gut microbiome is a strong ally.
Unfortunately, the gut microbiome is easily derailed. Antibiotics, stress, infections, and poor dietary choices disrupt this fragile ecosystem, turning it from friend to foe. An unbalanced gut biome drives inflammation, excess gas, and a variety of symptoms. Unsurprisingly, gut microbiome problems are central to both IBS and IBD.
The ideal gut-health diet handles both problems simultaneously. It minimizes inflammation while promoting a friendlier gut microbiome.
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Nsaids And The Gut: Adding Insult To Injury
NSAIDs are common pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen common brands are Bayer, Advil, and Tylenol. Aspirin and ibuprofen are known gut irritants. Acetaminophen is a liver toxin. As a result of the ibuprofen, I started having much more GI bloating and discomfort, so I decided to stop the ibuprofen after three days after all, the pain was lessening, and I did not want the additional GI issues. I am all for relieving severe pain with pharmaceuticals for short periods. Unfortunately, three days was too long for me, and it created gut issues. Incidentally, I had not taken NSAIDs for years, lack of exposure may have made things worse.
I Did Not Follow My Own Code
On vacation, I drank alcohol every day for dinner and a few times after it. I was out of practice, so I was more sensitive to its effects. On the last day of vacation, my nerve impingement became unbearable in the middle of the night. Was I surprised? Not really. I did not follow my own code and knowingly ingested toxic alcohol and slept less.
I believe it is wiser to breathe correctly, sleep enough, de-stress, get all your nutrients, move enough, avoid toxins, have reliable friends, and get adequate sun. For a quick guide to implementing these lifestyles, read this post. I chose to wait ten more days until I removed the well-known toxin alcohol from my diet. It promotes inflammation and chronic disease. Ultimately, something will go wrong, and I was no exception.
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Are There Any Risks To A Carnivore Diet
As with any extreme diet, theres always the risk of getting caught up in the dogma and ignoring your bodys signals that its not doing well. It doesnt help that some of the prominent leaders of the carnivore movement have repeatedly made authoritative extreme health claims and then totally changed their story without acknowledging the implications to their thousands of followers.
One common criticism of a carnivore diet is the lack of vitamin C-containing foods, since humans cannot synthesize their own vitamin C. I havent looked into this topic in depth, because I dont think a strict carnivore diet should be maintained long-term anyway, but I found from Amber OHearn tackling the topic.
You could also do as the Indians did and eat adrenal glands regularly, or eat whale skin like the Inuit.
Some other pertinent risks, which I covered here in the IBD Index article about ketogenic diets, include increased absorption of lipopolysaccharides from the higher saturated fat content of the diet adverse effects on the gut microbiome from lack of fiber increased hydrogen sulfide production from increased fat and protein content and no fermentable carbohydrate and adverse effects on muscle growth, bone density, cognitive performance, thyroid health , and overall metabolism.
Kind of a junk carnivore diet if you ask me, but probably not too off-base from what a modern carnivore diet might look like for someone just hopping on the bandwagon.
What Is Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic type of inflammatory bowel disease , like Crohns disease and microscopic colitis that affects the colon .
Recent studies estimate that IBD affects 2 million people worldwide .
Ulcerative colitis causes inflammation and sores in the inner lining of the colon. Inflammation often begins in the rectum, but it can spread throughout the large intestine.
Summary: Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation and sores in the colon.
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Whether Or Not The Carnivore Diet Is For You And Your Ibd Or Ibs
If youre on prescription drugs, have a doctor monitor your situation. Particularly with blood pressure, your body will be going through changes and that may make your prescription put you at dangerous levels.
If you have some sort of problem that precludes it, you have trouble adhering to things strictly, or staunchly object to consumption of animals and animal products, a perfectly valid objection, this diet is not for you.
The Carnivore Diet Theory
The carnivore diet theory is that eliminating potentially damaging natural plant-based irritants may result in lessening irritation and damage to the body. For Example, if you have intestinal problems when you eat hot peppers, removing them from your diet may decrease your symptoms and even eliminate them if it was the sole cause of your problem. You can read more about the diet and the theory behind it in this post. Animal-based foods rarely contain built-in natural toxins because animals are mobile and can defend themselves with teeth and claws etc. For this reason, most animal-based products can remain in the diet. Exceptions are egg whites and dairy.
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Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms And Causes
Ulcerative colitis is thought to develop when a person at genetic risk is exposed to certain environmental stressors.
These environmental stressors either change the ratio of gut bacteria or alter the way the immune system responds to bacteria .
As a result, the immune system attacks the intestinal lining causing inflammation and other symptoms, including:
Is The Carnivore Diet Safe
From a scientific perspective, we dont know if the carnivore diet is safe, as there hasnt been any official published research on this way of eating. Evidence right now is limited to people who have tried this diet and anecdotally reported their experience or clinicians who use this approach in their practice. However, even this information is lacking, especially for long-term results or risks.
When we look at indigenous communities around the world, historically, even those who subsisted primarily on animal foods still ate plant foods when they were available.
When I searched Pubmed , for information on the carnivore diet, much of the research that popped up was on dogs and other carnivorous animals. Humans are actually omnivores and are designed to eat both plants and animals.
Lets now tackle the issue about safety more deeply. The carnivore diet is likely safe as a short-term therapeutic tool where, from an anthropological perspective, it can essentially mimic a period of the year where hunter-gatherer populations didnt have access to any plant foods. However, I have some issues with the long-term use of the carnivore diet.
First of all, research is pretty clear about the long-term benefits and decreased risk of chronic disease from consuming vegetables and fruits .
Plant foods are also very important for the health of the microbiome and maintaining a healthy digestive system, so I question the long-term removal of these foods.
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What Causes Ulcerative Colitis
The same environmental factors that contribute to disease onset can also cause debilitating flares.
Certain medications, like antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are known to increase disease risk and trigger flares. But be careful, abruptly stopping any medication may also lead to a flare. Only do so under a doctors approval.
Stress is also thought to be a major contributor, as well as diet .
In particular, research has linked excessive use of sugar and artificial sweeteners to IBD, but other studies have shown no connection .
Some research has also shown a strong link between animal protein and IBD risk.
For example, in an observational study of more than 67,000 middle-aged French women, those who frequently ate meat and fish were significantly more likely to develop IBD. Eggs and dairy were not linked to increased risk .
Summary: A combination of genetic, environmental and immunological factors contribute to ulcerative colitis risk. Symptoms occur in flares and include digestive complaints, as well as fatigue and fever.
If you would like more information on how to eat for Ulcerative Colitis, which involves what we call a low FODMAP diet, tap the button below to download our Eat This, Not That list as well as additional resources for Ulcerative Colitis
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An Ulcerative Colitis Diet: Summarizing The Evidence
Despite many reports online that certain diets or supplements can cure ulcerative colitis, the only known cure is total removal of the colon and rectum.
Those with digestive symptoms during remission may find relief from a low FODMAP diet to identify trigger foods.
A semi-vegetarian diet has also shown promise in maintaining remission in Crohns disease and may be helpful for ulcerative colitis, but we cannot make firm conclusions.
Even without following elimination diets, certain patterns have been shown to reduce symptoms:
- A diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables provides fiber and antioxidants, which are linked to lower disease risk. Reducing intake of high-fiber fruits and vegetables may increase comfort during flares.
- Limiting dietary fat, especially fatty meats, may be beneficial.
- Certain probiotics are helpful in bringing about and maintaining remission. Ask your doctor for a recommendation.
- A few herbal supplements show promise but lack sufficient scientific evidence to support their use.
- Avoid foods that irritate the gut during flares, including fatty foods, caffeine and alcohol.
A registered dietitian can help you identify foods that trigger your symptoms and design a well-balanced meal plan.
If you would like more information on how to eat for Ulcerative Colitis, which involves what we call a low FODMAP diet, tap the button below to download our Eat This, Not That list as well as additional resources for Ulcerative Colitis
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Reduce Carbs And Fiber
Why should folks with gut issues consider carb restriction? Here are several reasons.
First, carbs are the favorite fuel of pathogenic gut bacteria. By limiting carbs, you limit the risk of bacterial overgrowth.
Fiber is generally considered a gut-healthy carbohydrate, but the research suggests that low-fiber diets may alleviate IBS symptoms. Less fiber means less fermentation, which in turn means less gas and diarrhea.
Then theres carbohydrate malabsorption. Some people simply lack the digestive machinery to absorb carbs properly.
Finally, low-carb diets are automatically low in a highly-inflammatory food group: grains. Eliminate the grains and you may well eliminate the symptoms.
The Science And Research Of Carnivore For General Use Ibd And Ibs
Over 20 years ago, Robert Atkins put forward the Atkins diet, in the family of diet known as low-carb, high-fat . Doctors and scientists were naturally skeptical of something that was generally described by their community as something that will kill you.
Even though many medical professionals practiced it themselves, they were wary to prescribe. The research wasnt there and the perceived risk was too great. At that time, we really knew very little about the diet or how our bodies digested and absorbed what they needed. Today, physicians readily prescribe a low carb diet to their patients as a temporary diet or a lifestyle change, having observed or experienced the sustained effects themselves. Many IBD sufferers have gone on and off of it with success, not only with pronounced weight loss, but relief from IBS.
Heres the thing. Despite a mountain of success stories, research, and acceptance from the medical community, in the nearly 50 years of its existence, what we call the Atkins diet has never been fully confirmed by science, particularly in the long-term. For weight loss, The Lancet questioned its central claim, that burning fat offers a metabolic advantage over burning carbohydrates, concluding that the weight loss was a result of a reduction in caloric intake due to to the monotony of the diet.7 Weight loss, however, is incidental to our aims.
As for mortality, if a patient on Atkins dies tomorrow or at 90 we will never know if their diet was the cause.
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