There’s a new diet trend that might surprise you — the Carnivore Diet. Like the name suggests, the diet is based on meat. More extreme than a low-carb diet, the Carnivore Diet is a “zero-carb” diet, excluding all fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, grains, and seeds. Those who follow the trend eat only meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, fish, some high-fat dairy products, and water.
Research Behind the Carnivore Diet
As of now, there is no solid research that supports the carnivore diet delivering provable health benefits. However, many people report that their experience has been positive, and that they’ve experienced a reduction in symptoms of chronic disease, and have lost weight.
Since the diet removes all sources of carbohydrates, it is inherently a low-glycemic diet, with the potential to reduce and regulate blood-sugar levels. A carnivore diet will deliver you plenty of protein and saturated fats, and enough riboflavin, niacin, phosphorus, zinc, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, selenium, and Vitamin A.
However, nutritional research shows that the carnivore diet can fall short in thiamin, magnesium, calcium, Vitamin C, iron, folate, iodine, and potassium. Fiber intake is significantly below recommended levels, and the sodium content of the carnivore diet is very high. This is why, regardless of anecdotal health benefits, the potential long-term damage from a carnivore diet may not be worth the risk.
Why Do Some See Skin Improvements?
There are several stories of those with eczema or TSW seeing improvement or temporary relief of symptoms while on a carnivore diet. However, the most likely explanation is that by eliminating all grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and seed oils, these individuals have eliminated foods that they were previously and unknowingly allergic or sensitive to. (Typically, people with skin conditions may not be inherently sensitive to the foods, but the skin condition makes them randomly more sensitive to normally benign ingredients in these food groups.)
By removing these foods, we would expect to see lower inflammation and greater balance in the immune system. This is what is likely contributing to the positive reports from those experiencing skin health benefits from the carnivore diet.
Also, the diet is by nature one that excludes heavily processed or “junk” foods. Getting rid of them can help reduce the burden on the body’s detoxification processes, which can also help skin health.
The carnivore diet, in this way, is functioning more like an elimination diet: a strategy used by doctors and dieticians to identify allergens by reducing the number of foods a patient eats, and then reintroducing foods one by one to see which ones trigger an unpleasant reaction. In the case of those experiencing short term health benefits on the carnivore diet, it’s likely that if forbidden foods are reintroduced, they will experience previous symptoms again over time.
In some cases, a carnivore diet can actually trigger eczema or other allergic symptoms. Why? Eggs, dairy, fish, and shellfish are all common allergens for some folks. Some people can have an allergy to beef and other red meat. Eating more of these foods, while reducing everything else, can spotlight an existing allergy that had previously been hidden.
Another reason the carnivore diet could be helping those with TSW is that it promotes high nutrient-dense foods. TSW patients are often constitutionally deficient from battling the symptoms of thermodysregulation, sleep deprivation, irregular eating patterns or food choices, etc. The meat, as a natural whole food, provides them with nutrients their bodies desperately need to heal.
The Drawbacks of a Carnivore Diet
Most of the stories crediting the carnivore diet for positive results such as weight loss and reduced inflammation, are from those who have followed the diet for a relatively short amount of time.
Without further research, long-term adherence to a carnivore diet could pose serious health risks, including:
- Severe constipation from a lack of dietary fiber
- Nutrient deficiencies
- A higher risk for colorectal cancer
- Kidney damage due to high sodium in meats, as well as byproducts from consuming too much protein. There is also a higher risk for kidney stones. These are reasons why the carnivore diet is contraindicated for those with kidney disease.
- Those who have conditions that make them negatively responsive to high levels of cholesterol in their diet should also avoid the carnivore diet.
Conclusion
While the carnivore diet is delivering strong results for many who’ve tried it, it may be nutritionally unsustainable in the long-term. We recommend making more sustainable choices, such as reducing processed foods and refined carbohydrates, and balancing your diet with healthy fats, proteins, and a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Why? In order for the body to function properly, it requires the whole gamut of nutrients. Providing only some will not allow the body to run optimally. While the body is healing from a skin condition, it’s even more important to make sure it gets all the building blocks it needs to support normal skin production and thus, overall brain and body health.
If you are considering the carnivore diet because you suspect that a food sensitivity or allergy is playing a part in a chronic skin problem or systemic inflammation, it may be better to work with a certified nutritionist. They can help pinpoint the foods that are causing problems for you, and help rebalance your system so that it is less reactive. It’s important to also work with a health professional, such as a TCM doctor, to address the root cause of your condition.
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Dr. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Dr. Olivia is the past chair of the board of directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.