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Can one live on only meat?

queenliz99
queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
edited March 2016 in Debate Club
I have a friend on FaceBook that has challenged me to eat only meat for one month. This sounds horribly unhealthy.


ETA: and eat no vegetables.
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Not addressing the substance of your question, but are seasonings allowed? It sounds awfully dull.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I offer this without any real comment. I just know that they exist: http://inhumanexperiment.blogspot.com/2009/09/two-brave-men-who-ate-nothing-but-meat.html?m=1
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    No spices or very little because they are not food according to her.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I have no idea, but I believe in order for meat to be considered a "complete" diet, some of it has to be consumed raw to incorporate some of the more rare vitamins (they are degraded by heat):

    http://paleoleap.com/raw-meat/
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I have heard of carnivore challenges before but I though there was at least the option to include other proteins besides beef - and maybe even eggs too? I can't recall the parameters because as much as I love bacon and eggs, I really can't imagine eating nothing but animal based products, even for a short period of time.

    ETA - I'd be careful, otherwise this may be your future...

    wherethebeef.gif
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    edited March 2016
    auddii wrote: »
    I have no idea, but I believe in order for meat to be considered a "complete" diet, some of it has to be consumed raw to incorporate some of the more rare vitamins (they are degraded by heat):

    http://paleoleap.com/raw-meat/

    I like that this site talks about the benefits of eating spoiled meat because it has "probiotics" like kefir and yogurt:

    http://www.mygutsy.com/is-raw-meat-healthy/
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I've known of folks who've done carnivore challenges. Some have loved them, and continued on. Some have hated them. I couldn't do it. I'm a veggie fiend.
    Is it unhealthy? In the grand scheme of diets it's not very balanced, but probably as nutrient balanced what many consume as their "regular" diet.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    http://thenortheasttoday.com/anderson-family-on-meat-diet-for-17-years/
  • viren19890
    viren19890 Posts: 778 Member
    For a month, you'll survive. Would it have health consequences ? maybe but I'd think by the time you'd realize them you'd be back on normal/complete diet.

    You might even lose weight for first few days cause it'll be no carb diet lol

    Would it be boring -yes, unless you make different type of everyday or other day.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    http://thenortheasttoday.com/anderson-family-on-meat-diet-for-17-years/

    I don't even know what to say to this. I'm stunned
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    http://thenortheasttoday.com/anderson-family-on-meat-diet-for-17-years/

    I don't even know what to say to this. I'm stunned

    Agreed
  • msf74
    msf74 Posts: 3,498 Member
    IIRC the short answer is yes as the diet will provide all the essential nutrients needed (minimum amounts of protein and some essential fatty acids) which the body cannot produce itself for survival.

    It sounds like a fate worse than death though so...
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    It doesn't sound healthy or sustainable without lots of work going into what parts have which nutrients that you need. You'd have to eat lots of organ meats and possibly some raw too. And I don't want to know how your bathroom visits look if you eat like that.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,219 Member
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    http://thenortheasttoday.com/anderson-family-on-meat-diet-for-17-years/

    I don't even know what to say to this. I'm stunned

    I'm not saying I think it's a good idea or a bad one, but the thread reminded me of this family and I had to share.
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    usmcmp wrote: »
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    http://thenortheasttoday.com/anderson-family-on-meat-diet-for-17-years/

    I don't even know what to say to this. I'm stunned

    I'm not saying I think it's a good idea or a bad one, but the thread reminded me of this family and I had to share.

    Thanks for sharing the link. I had no idea that was even a thing.
  • shhlisa
    shhlisa Posts: 2 Member
    There are a lot of people out there that follow a zero carb diet, but I believe they eat protein that has a high fat content.

    http://myzerocarblife.jamesdhogan.com/wp/2015/02/post-7-six-tips-eating-zero-carb/
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    But the problem I have with eating only meat is where do people get their necessary vitamins and minerals? What about fiber? That is a *kitten* load of saturated fats. Your omegas would be whacked out.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    shhlisa wrote: »
    There are a lot of people out there that follow a zero carb diet, but I believe they eat protein that has a high fat content.

    http://myzerocarblife.jamesdhogan.com/wp/2015/02/post-7-six-tips-eating-zero-carb/

    I'm intrigued by these zero carb dairy products referred to in that blog post...
  • SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage
    SarcasmIsMyLoveLanguage Posts: 2,668 Member
    I just can't imagine a family of four eating only meat. I mean....the bathroom stench alone isn't worth it. And the meat sweats? Not fun.
  • hallycat
    hallycat Posts: 16 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    I have a friend on FaceBook that has challenged me to eat only meat for one month. This sounds horribly unhealthy.


    ETA: and eat no vegetables.

    Is there going to be a monetary payoff? Otherwise why would you take such an inane challenge
  • T1DCarnivoreRunner
    T1DCarnivoreRunner Posts: 11,502 Member
    Every once in awhile, I'll watch Living Below Zero. I don't know how much happens that is not shown, but there is one guy that lives way out in the wilderness in Alaska and eats pretty much just wild game. I don't watch enough to be clear if he is able to plant any fruits or vegetables or scavenge for them. But it is clear that he is eating pretty much just wild game (if not exclusively). He gets fish, caribou, moose, and some smaller game too. There was even an episode where he made a gelatin out of some connective tissues or hooves or something (I don't remember exactly).

    I would think that anyone without health issues preventing it should be able to survive off of meat.
  • allaboutthecake
    allaboutthecake Posts: 1,535 Member
    I wondered if your FB Friend did this? Ate only meat for a solid month? Seems like only meat would give a person (who is used to eating from all the food groups) a rather wicked headache for too many days.
  • Therealobi1
    Therealobi1 Posts: 3,262 Member
    i couldnt do it, just sounds really boring and i love meat.
  • speerickson
    speerickson Posts: 8 Member
    Can you? Yes
    Is it the most healthy and optimal? No
    Variety within food choice is always good to help get various nutrients and vitamins.
  • moe0303
    moe0303 Posts: 934 Member
    But the problem I have with eating only meat is where do people get their necessary vitamins and minerals? What about fiber? That is a ***** load of saturated fats. Your omegas would be whacked out.

    My understanding is that most of that would come from eating meat rare. My question is: How much of a drop off in vitamin content is there from rare to say medium?
  • French_Peasant
    French_Peasant Posts: 1,639 Member
    Mmmmm......meatshakes.

    I love me some meat, but dang, I would rather go Vegan.
  • goingtobefit2015
    goingtobefit2015 Posts: 408 Member
    Not good very unhealthy and lots of fat and disease causing food.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    moe0303 wrote: »
    But the problem I have with eating only meat is where do people get their necessary vitamins and minerals? What about fiber? That is a ***** load of saturated fats. Your omegas would be whacked out.

    My understanding is that most of that would come from eating meat rare. My question is: How much of a drop off in vitamin content is there from rare to say medium?

    Rare or raw?
  • vikinglander
    vikinglander Posts: 1,547 Member
    Liz...you will be OK for a month, in my opinion. Many indigenous Arctic cultures survived and thrived for millennia on diets of primarily whale, seal and bear meat, and in winter, rotted fish, with a growing season of barely two months to provide any kind of vegetation. This is well-documented: Google "Indigenous Arctic diets".
    The real question is, "Will you lose any weight?".

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