‘Carnivore board’ is the new ‘girl food’. Fad diets can have serious health consequences.

A juicy steak, a few eggs, a slice of cheese and maybe a stick of butter and you’ve got yourself a modern food fad: the meat board.

It’s the latest iteration of the carnivore diet, which has been popularized by male influencers like Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson and Dr. Paul Saladino. They all swear by the animal-based diet plan for energy levels, treatment of skin conditions like eczema, weight loss and muscle gain.

Physical influences and biohackers followed suit. But now young women in the health and wellness space are giving it a stir as influencers like Lauryn Bosstick of Skinny Confidential recommend it for weight loss, clear skin and healthy hair. well

Bosstic loves the “meat bowl,” which he presents in various versions on social media. They usually consist of grilled beef topped with eggs, green cheese such as parmesan, and hot sauce. All they need, apart from the occasional addition of sauerkraut, are vegetables. But that’s the point.

Joan Salge Blake, professor of nutrition and nutritionist at Boston University, “The carnivore diet is a very restrictive approach by including food from animal sources only: meat, poultry, fish and other animal foods such as eggs and certain dairy products.” the author of Nutrition and You and host of the podcast, “Spot On!” tells Yahoo Life. “It eliminates all other food groups; which are grains, fruits and vegetables.”

So how did women go from girl food to carnivore board? Let’s get into it with the experts.

What is a carnivore diet?

It’s a high-fat, high-protein diet similar to low-carb diets like keto and Atkins. However, the difference is that the carnivore diet in its true form is zero-carb and eliminates all plant-based foods completely, according to Dr. Jennie Stanford, obesity medicine physician and medical contributor for Drugwatch.

The interest in animal foods is due to the increased concern about protein. “Eating a high-protein diet will provide a strong source of iron, which many women lack in their diets,” says Blake. “Protein is also a nutrient that increases satiety, that feeling of satiety. So, a diet rich in protein can help prevent hunger.”

Sticking to animal proteins has been particularly appealing to women. Isabella Ma, a former vegan who now goes by “steakandbuttergal” on TikTok, says her “nothing but animal food” diet has helped balance her hormones and regulate her period. home of the time. “I can eat as much as I want without counting calories [and] to have the power to finally move my body the way I want,” he said in one video.

These goals do not require the amount of meat these women eat, nor the elimination of other sources of protein and plant foods. “Plant-based foods like high-fiber veggies and beans can also help reduce hunger and provide the added benefits of many vitamins and minerals that are lacking in animal foods,” says Blake.

Of course, sticking to animal foods only has consequences.

Is it healthy?

Blake says he wouldn’t recommend a carnivore diet, not least because eating too much red meat is linked to health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and a host of other conditions. cancer, but because of what the food included.

“Since this is an extreme way to eliminate large food groups, these diets may continue to have long-term health problems, such as elevated “low- density lipoprotein” (LDL), vitamin and mineral deficiency,” says Blake. folic acid and other B vitamins, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, vitamin E and essential fatty acids, all of which are essential for good health, would be lacking. He says this can lead to “scurvy, osteoporosis, constipation, kidney stones and malnutrition, to name just a few.”

The elimination of large amounts of food can also be the cause of weight loss in the beginning. But even that wouldn’t last, according to Stanford.

“A diet high in animal products promotes chronic inflammation,” he says. “Without long-term anti-inflammatory plants, chronic inflammation can cause organ dysfunction.” bodies, weight gain and dysregulated metabolism.”

Saladino said on the podcast that he experienced unpleasant symptoms such as low testosterone levels, sleep problems, heart palpitations and muscle spasms after sticking to a carnivore diet for years. two. He has since improved his diet to include carbohydrates.

Claire Couv Smith, a TikTok creator who also documented her journey with animal-based food, complained of “carnivore headache” on the third day. He now includes carbohydrates in the form of avocados and fruits.

Avocado, which appears on many viral carnivore boards, is not enough, according to Blake. “More than 80% of an avocado’s calories come from fat,” she says, noting that it’s an unsaturated and heart-healthy fat. “Avocado will provide additional nutrients such as fiber and potassium but will not replace all the other vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.”

How to better include meat and protein in your diet

Stay away from extremes is the take home here.

“Although lean meats are an excellent source of protein, iron and vitamin B12, you don’t have to eat a lot of them at each meal to get these benefits,” says Blake. about 2 to 3 at each meal, along with vegetables and other whole grains, will provide a balanced diet that increases satiety and intake of other important nutrients. A small amount of protein at each meal, throughout the day, will go a long way in providing nutritional benefits and satiety without the risks of nutrient deficiencies. ”

He recommends that protein-rich foods take up about a quarter of your plate at each meal. But even the daily recommendation is individual.

“Depending on a woman’s age and activity level, eating six ounces a day is a good goal. It should come from lean sources and include other sources of protein such as lean fish. omega 3-rich with chicken and spread throughout the day,” says Blake.

The universal tip he relies on, however, is not to rely on social media for nutrition guidance. “The fact that social media creators have no scientific credibility but are labeled ‘influencers’ based on their number of followers is absurd,” he says.