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Why "carnivore" diets seem to "work."

 

They result in weight loss because without carbs, total caloric intake goes down.  It's not the right way to lose weight*, but any diet that reduces caloric intake below caloric expenditure necessarily results in weight loss.

They can result in feeling better, and healing some conditions, simply because cutting carbs happens to incidentally or inadvertently cut a lot of unhealthy things, particularly refined sugar and OIL, and all the processed and junk foods that contain them.  So it could be a net step forward in health, but without realizing that's because cutting the junk is two steps forward and adding the meat is one step back.  In other words, the carnivore diet is NOT actually healthy, it just may accidentally be potentially LESS UNHEALTHY than the typical conventional (junk) diet.

If, instead of replacing sugar, oil, processed foods, and junk foods with meat, you replaced those things with a broad variety of whole plant foods (including carbs), you'd lose weight the right way*, and feel and be even healthier.  The carnivore diet just trades some risks for others, while the healthier course is to reduce ALL risks with a whole plant food diet, carbs and all.

(*For the right way to lose weight, see my Weight Loss page.)

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