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Carnivorous Diet

The carnivorous diet is also known as the caveman, hunter-gatherer or paleo diet, because it's designed to duplicate the eating habits of humans during the Paleolithic, or Stone Age, era, according to a January 8, 2010, New York Times article. Except for the fact that most of its adherents eat cooked rather than raw meat to kill bacteria and parasites, the diet also mirrors those typical of predators in the wild, who ingest vegetables that are inside the stomachs of the herbivores they devour. Adherents claim this diet has many health benefits

  1. The Diet

    • The diet involves eating large amounts of meat and fish that are high in fat, coupled with vegetables, some fruit, but no grains, potatoes or sugar. This approach is the basis of the Evolutionary Fitness Diet, introduced by retired economist and nutrition guru Arthur De Vany, according to reporter Bryan Appleby in an August 17, 2008, London Times article. But it's not just what you eat, but when, that matters, De Vany says. He urges people to skip meals occasionally, as, he points out, cavemen did because food wasn't always available, so our bodies have adapted to periodic mini-starvation periods. Some carnivorous diet followers fast for a day or more at a time, ending them with a large meal, to reflect the type of stress cavemen endured by hunting on empty stomachs, according to the New York Times article.

    The Exercise Component

    • The diet also calls for people to conduct the types of exercise Paleolithic hunter-gatherers probably performed: a variety of quick, brief movements for short periods of time throughout the day. De Vany discourages people from performing prolonged periods of aerobic exercise, and "straining or heaving." His approach "promote(s) growth-hormone release, to build muscle and to elevate insulin sensitivity," he said. It also prevents the release of harmful stress hormones that prolonged exercise can. Examples would be performing a broad range of fast movements, such as sprinting, jumping, dodging from one side to the other and scooting about on all fours or playing catch with stones. He also calls for people not to exercise per se, but to play spontaneously, which makes it more likely that they'll enjoy and stick with it.

    The Rationale

    • Adherents of the diet point out that our Paleolithic ancestors tended to be very strong and lean and excellent at chasing and killing prey. So, they believe the diet can help people lose weight and become stronger. The diet is popular among people who do cross-fit training, which involves short, intense bouts of exercise to build body mass. Body builders eat high amounts of protein after workouts to help rebuild muscle that weight lifting breaks down.

    Nutritional Benefits

    • Meat also contains essential nutrients. The fatty acids in meat, especially bone marrow, causes brain growth, and it's a major source of iron, zinc and vitamin B12, said Dr. Neil Mann, an Australian nutritional biochemist, on the "George Vegus Tonight" TV show, a transcript of which is on the ABC (Australia) news website. Australia raises grass-fed beef, which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in the grass cattle eat, he added.

    Reported Benefits

    • De Vany claims that this no-sugar diet cured his wife and son of type-1 diabetes, made him lean and strong and, despite the high fat content, keeps his cholesterol low. New York City aficionados claim similar benefits, the New York Times article said.

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