The carnivore diet is not a new diet. However, it was popularized by Shawn Baker when he talked about it on Joe Rogan’s podcast. The weight lifter eats only meat each day. If you wish to follow this diet, you might wonder how much meat in the carnivore diet is required?
Let’s find out here.
How Much Meat Must Be in the Carnivore Diet?
This meat-only diet doesn’t have a requirement on how much meat you can eat. Shawn Baker eats an average of four pounds of meat every day. You might think it’s crazy but he said he felt good after a month of doing so.
Those who started following it dropped several pounds after just a month of jumping on this bandwagon. Baker posts success stories on his Instagram.
Some followers said that their inflammation was gone while their “brain” was back. Their energy has also returned.
However, it’s vital to note that this diet is not for everyone. It might have worked for them but it might not work for you. Talk to your doctor about it before you follow this eating plan.
Before you follow this diet, you must remember that you can no longer eat your favorite pizza, burgers, and burritos. You can still drink coffee but no sugar.
Read: Can the carnivore diet reverse diabetes?
Can I Eat all the Meat I Want on Carnivore Diet?
This is the advantage of the carnivore diet. You can eat any meat that you want. In that case, you can eat beef, turkey, organ meats, lamb, pork, etc.
But just because it’s a carnivore diet, it doesn’t mean that you can only eat animal meat. Fish is accepted here. You can also choose other animal products, such as eggs, bone marrow, bone broth, etc.
As much as possible, you must not eat foods with high carbs.
It means that you can’t eat the following:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Dairy
- Legumes
- Nuts and seeds
- Grains
- Alcohol
- Sugars
- Beverages
Some people who are following a carnivore diet incorporate these options. However, if you wish to follow a true Carnivore diet, you should avoid them.
As you can see, it’s an extremely restrictive diet. Your diet consists of meat, fish, and eggs. Although many proponents are saying that this diet has aided them to lose weight, there’s no research that supports the claims. Thus, you should take the benefits with a grain of salt.
Read: How does the carnivore diet work?
Can You Overeat on Carnivore Diet?
Yes, you can still overeat on the carnivore diet. But the chances are low considering that meat is highly satisfying. And since you’re not eating carbs, you won’t feel hungry every hour.
This diet isn’t like keto although they are similar. The carnivore diet calls for zero carbs a day, unlike the keto diet.
Instead, you will only eat meat, eggs, fish, and other animal products. As mentioned, you can’t eat vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
Eating meat is so satisfying because it has the nine essential amino acids that can build and rebuild each cell in your body.
It is packed with Vitamin B12. This is a nutrient that’s vital to achieving long-lasting energy. Furthermore, meat contains a range of vitamins and minerals that our body needs.
Another reason meat is satisfying is that it takes longer to digest. The protein in meat makes its way through the liver, unlike sugars that are used up right away.
Because of protein’s nature, it takes longer for your digestive system to break down. Thus, you’ll feel satisfied for a lot longer.
But that’s not all.
Meat’s protein building blocks go into muscle creation and feed your brain in the form of neurotransmitters. Keep in mind that imbalances can result in various health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Eating meat can protect your brain against neurotransmitter imbalances thereby, preventing various chronic issues.
In this study, researchers found that people who eat meat less than three times a week reported feeling mental distress. The reason for this is that they are eliminating the soothing power of serotonin, which is made from amino acids.
Read: Can the carnivore diet cause kidneys stones?
Can I Eat Only Chicken on Carnivore Diet?
If you don’t like eating red meat, you can focus on consuming chicken. You can try baking chicken thighs. Baking chicken thighs is easy.
But since you’re following a carnivore diet, you should not add herbs or seasonings. However, you can add salt and pepper.
No garlic and honey.
Another carnivore meal you can try is turkey breast that you can air fry. You can opt for bone-in or boneless breast. This is only great if you have an air fryer at home. If not, you can just choose to bake it in your oven.
Although chicken is allowed on the carnivore diet, you must avoid some dairy products. Eggs are okay but milk is not.
If you want to follow a less restrictive version of this diet, you can use healthy vegetable oils to prepare your meals. For instance, you can add MCT oil to your egg or avocado oil in frying your bacon.
Why Eating Meat Gets a Bad Rep?
Interest in a vegetarian lifestyle has been higher. Furthermore, there’s a huge concern about environmental sustainability. The meat industry is said to contribute to pollution.
However, there’s no reason to avoid meat entirely. There’s no scientific proof that avoiding meat can make anyone become healthier.
It’s also important to note that there’s no proof that eating only meat can offer longevity. The claims have not been substantially supported by scientific studies.
Meat is a great source of protein. This is one reason it took so long to create vegetarian alternatives.
However, if you wish to follow a carnivore diet, you need to avoid processed meat. In that case, you should avoid marinated bacon.
Summary
How much meat in the carnivore diet? You can eat up to 4 pounds. However, it is important to note that you can still overeat even if you follow a meat-only diet. Thus, you need to watch out for your calorie intake.
If you wish to get started with the carnivore diet, make sure to read this post.
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