Experts are warning that the ultra-popular carnivore diet could lead to heart disease, the ancient sailor disease scurvy — and even colorectal cancer.
With nearly 100million videos shared, the controversial diet has exploded in popularity on TikTok.
It consists of eating only meat, fish, and animal products like butter and eggs, cutting out other food groups such as fruits, vegetables, and seeds.
Jane Clarke, a UK-based specialist bowel nurse, warned that a diet restricted to meat products strips away vital nutrients like vitamin C and fiber, while loading up on harmful cholesterol.
Recent studies have shown that a lack of fiber could be responsible for rising cases of colorectal cancer in young people, as the nutrient, found in carbs, stops nasty toxins from festering in the digestive tract.
Jane Clarke, an incontinence nurse at ConfidenceClub, warned that the popular carnivore diet could increase the risk of heart disease, colon cancer, and scurvy
Brian Johnson, better known as the Liver King, has built a following from his raw carnivore diet, mainly filled with meat
‘Meat, eggs, and butter all contain a whole heap of essential vitamins, that much is true,’ Ms Clarke said. ‘However, what these meatfluencers are leaving out is all the things your body needs that this restrictive diet doesn’t contain.’
Unlike other extreme diets like keto, which are low-carb, the carnivore diet aims to eliminate carbs entirely.
It’s based on the belief that our ancestors thousands of years ago lived just off meat, with prononents claiming foods high in carbs and sugar – including certain fruits like apples and bananas – are responsible for high rates of chronic disease.
Carbs get a bad rap, as some refined versions like white bread don’t keep us full for long.
However, they are the body’s main source of energy.
The digestive system breaks the sugars in carbs down and turns them into glucose, also known as blood sugar.
The body releases insulin, which sends glucose to the cells for energy.
Not getting enough carbs can lead to sluggishness and lack of energy from chronic low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia.
What’s more, wholegrain carbohydrates, like sweet potatoes, oats and wholemeal bread, are the main source of fiber in the US diet.
Ms Clarke warns that a carnivore diet also cuts out fiber, which is necessary for maintaining healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
‘A diet this lacking in fiber will eventually result in a fiber deficiency, most often characterized by serious constipation,’ she said.
‘Long-term, this can increase your risk of colorectal cancers, not to mention being extremely uncomfortable.’
Rising rates of colorectal cancer, particularly in young people, have recently been linked to diets high in red meat and sugar, as well as those lacking fiber.
‘You want to be looking to minimize this risk with your diet, not increase it,’ Ms Clarke said.
On TikTok, a wellness influencer posting under the name @healthwmac shares clips of her bizarre diet – which includes pieces of raw liver for a snack
And while a carnivore diet could contribute to new and alarming health trends, it may also raise the risk of contracting near-extinct diseases.
Ms Clarke pointed to scurvy, which is caused by a severe vitamin C deficiency.
The condition has roots dating back to 16th century pirates who rarely had a steady supply of fruits and vegetables while at sea, as well as the Irish potato famine.
Vitamin C helps form collagen, an important component of connective tissues, which support structure of the blood vessels.
Symptoms include bleeding sores, tooth loss, anemia, swelling, bone pain, and shortness of breath.
Modern cases are rare in developed nations like the US, though stripping out vitamin C rich foods like citrus can increase the risk.
‘Cutting out crucial sources of vitamin C is likely to leave a serious dent in your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and other viruses,’ Ms Clarke said.
‘Vitamin C is essential for both collagen synthesis and immune function.’
‘An absence of vitamin C in the diet can lead to scurvy. Scurvy will leave you too exhausted for the gym and could lead to you losing your teeth.’
Additionally, she noted that a carnivore diet can lead to eating excess amounts of protein, or protein poisoning. This is excessive protein intake without carbs and fat to balance out the nutrients.
In these cases, the kidneys cannot properly filter out all of the protein and strain to keep up. Ms Clarke said that over time, this ‘can lead to kidney damage, especially those with pre-existing kidney conditions.’
Red meat and animal products like cheese and butter are also high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, making the organ pump harder.
‘When your diet is just plate after plate of saturated fat and cholesterol, you are putting immense strain on your heart,’ Ms Clarke said.
‘Eating a carnivore diet long-term will increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.’
Perhaps one of the most famous carnivore diet proponents is the Liver King, a social media influencer who has more than eight million followers across TikTok and Instagram.
The ‘King’, whose real name is Brian Johnson, is known for his love of raw meat and primal lifestyle, insisting the ‘ancestral’ diet is responsible for his massively muscular physique.
However, he has come under fire for using steroids, leaving critics blaming performance-enhancing drugs rather than the influencer’s bizarre diet.
Searches for the carnivore have exploded by 79 percent in the last year alone, peaking at almost 200,000 between December 2023 and January 2024, according to Google search data.
And videos on the diet have garnered over 1billion views on TikTok.
