Zero Carb Carnivore Diet

When Artic explorer Viljalmur Steffanson lived with the Inuit, his idea of what constituted a healthy diet changed. During the early part of the 20th century, common belief was that people needed a balanced diet to avoid scurvy and other ailments related to nutritional deficiencies. But after years of living primarily on meat, Steffanson began advocating a carnivorous diet. Little research has been done on all-meat diets, however the popularity and success of low-carb diets suggest that a diet made up mostly of lean-proteins and healthy fats can help control weight and reduce the risk of heart problems.

Zero Carbs

Low and no-carb diets operate on the theory that when the body doesn't have carbs to convert to glucose for energy, it will begin to use fat in a process known as ketosis. A study done in 1930 to look at the effects of a no-carb diet concluded that there were no ill effects from eating only meat and fat. Most carb-restricting diets such as Atkins advocate little to no carbs for a short time, and gradually add in healthy carbs over time.

Benefits of Zero Carbs

There is little research on zero-carb carnivorous diets; however many studies on low-carb diets indicate several health benefits. Carbs are converted to glucose to use for energy. However, unused glucose increases blood sugar which can lead to diabetes. Katherine Morrison, a general practitioner in the U.K., reports that diabetics who eat fewer carbs, don't need as much insulin. Low carb diets promote weight loss, which leads to reduced risk of heart disease. The American Association for Cancer Research reported that a low carb, high protein diet reduces the risk of cancer and slows the growth of tumors.

Eating Zero Carbs

The challenge of a zero-carb carnivorous diet is that your food options are severely limited. Nearly all food groups have carbs, which include sugar, starch and fiber. A zero-carb diet is exclusively animal meats and fats such as beef, lamb, port, seafood and eggs. Most cheeses have carbs, however parmesan, chedder and Muenster are carb-free. Beverages are limited to water, black coffee or tea and diet drinks sweetened with aspartame or saccharine.

Warnings

Although some research supports an all-meat diet, many health practitioners express concern about the long-term impact of a no-carb diet. Despite their bad reputation, carbs offer many health benefits. Carbs contain fiber, which helps with digestive and colon health. Without fiber, your risk of constipation and colon cancer increases. Another concern is that many meats and fats are high in saturated fats, which are unhealthy for your heart. By choosing lean meats such as chicken and fish, and monounsaturated oils, you can avoid saturated fats.