The meat diet ... does it kill you or heal you?

Blogger "Don't Eat It" blogger Michaela Peterson claims that she managed to cure herself from many problems, when she decided to follow a diet based only on beef, salt and water, and to give up eating fruits, vegetables and grains.

She emphasized that, thanks to her diet, she was treated for various diseases, such as over sleep, depression, anxiety and skin problems.

In her report, published by the American Medium website, writer Dana Smith stated that based on the nutrition recommendations provided, Peterson and thousands of her ilk who are considered carnivores due to lack of vitamins, heart disease, colon cancer or constipation were expected to end their lives.

However - according to what is published in Instagram, forums and some websites such as "meat heals" - this diet shows its ability to heal these people. In this regard, followers of this diet stressed that the commitment to a diet that depends only on meat helped them lose weight, and treat multiple diseases such as depression, fatigue, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, joint pain and insomnia, according to their confirmation.

How?
But at this level, the following question is asked: How is this possible? And what happens to the intestine of these people and their arteries?

In fact, low-carb and high-fat diets are not a recent matter, as many of the diets - like the Atkins diet, the Stone Age diet, the South Shore diet, and the ketogenic diet - all agree on the same principle of limiting carbohydrates and getting calories From fat and protein.

Initially, doctors and dietitians flatly rejected this diet, but later on it gained great popularity and scientific support, especially since the Western diet based on sugar and processed foods has come under heavy criticism.

The author quoted a nutrition specialist at the Stanford Health Care Center, Amy Reisenberg, as saying that low-carb diets are useful in helping to lose weight quickly and regulate blood sugar levels, and it is expected that some doctors will now recommend this type of diet to treat a disease Type 2 diabetes.

She added that it is possible that any health benefits resulting from these diets are mainly due to the list of foods that have been abandoned, such as processed and sugar-free foods.

On the other hand, the former orthopedic surgeon, health and lifestyle coach Dr. Sean Baker, believes meat contains something special.

Baker has been following a meat-based diet for three years, credited with improving his high blood pressure, sleep apnea, gastric reflux, mood, energy, strength, athletic performance, and sexual desire.

In his view, meat - especially red - is an ideal food source in practice, as it contains a high percentage of fat, protein and calories, and a high concentration of nutrients, amino acids and essential fatty acids that the human body needs.

Why do we give up eating fruits and vegetables? Supporters of this diet say that many plants contain compounds that people may not be able to tolerate, and limiting their intake can reduce inflammation levels.

The response to this claim is that while some plants contain the effects of natural toxins as part of their defensive system, the amount of these plants consumed in a balanced natural diet is negligible.

However, as long as a person is not allergic to a specific type of fruit or vegetable, the nutritional benefits of vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants greatly outweigh the health risks.

And the author mentioned that what dieters like Raisenberg cannot accept in this diet is a lack of fiber. "In all the long-term research that has already been done, researchers in the nutrition field are unanimous that a plant-based diet is mostly healthy, as it works to treat infections," Reisenberg said.

However, unlike studies and articles dealing with the health benefits of fibers, Baker believes that "fibers are not a necessary component of life. There is no need to use biochemistry to obtain fibers," adding that for many people, fibers are a nuisance to the intestine, and I think when they are excluded From diet, it actually contributes to improving the function of the digestive system. "

cancer
The author stated that fiber is not the only source of disagreement, as the debate rages over the long-term consequences of a diet rich in red meat.

For decades, scientists have linked red meat and high levels of cholesterol-saturated fat, heart disease, cancer and premature death. However, research papers claim that these risks are exaggerated. In addition, eating meat has been linked to climate change, as concerns arise about the environmental impact of the meat diet.

Most people do not tend to stick to the meat diet for a long time, and they will start including other foods in their diet after a few months. In this regard, Reisenberg explained that any benefits people might get from such a restricted diet - especially with regard to food allergy and weight loss - will disappear as soon as they return to normal eating patterns.

Most dieticians consider that the best diet is one that you can stick to in the long run, with the consensus that the diet should be low in sugars and refined carbohydrates.