Human Carnivore Study
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MyriiStorm
Posts: 609 Member
In case anyone is interested, there's a study that's about to begin on the carnivore diet in humans, and they are still accepting participants.
http://nequalsmany.com/hello-world/
It's not a scientific study, and the results will all be self-reported. Still, it looks like an interesting experiment. They have over 300 volunteers so far, and I'm curious how many will be able to stick to a strictly carnivorous diet for the whole 90 days.
http://nequalsmany.com/hello-world/
It's not a scientific study, and the results will all be self-reported. Still, it looks like an interesting experiment. They have over 300 volunteers so far, and I'm curious how many will be able to stick to a strictly carnivorous diet for the whole 90 days.
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Problem with self-reports is there's likely to be inaccuracies. What's the point if you can't be extremely sure that the results you're getting are accurate? They stated that they already anticipate that some people will stray from the experiment's requirements, which again what's the point then? If the point is to see how sustainable a purely meat and water diet is wouldn't you be a little more strict in your requirements? Idk, maybe it's my own ignorance but after reading it I just don't see the point of this. And I don't know if you even need a study to know whether an all meat diet is sustainable.6
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I think the point is to try some n=1 experimenting and gather some anecdotal evidence that could lead to further study.
Many have tried vegetarian challenges, if even just for a day. It agreed with many people. A carnivorous challenge agrees with some too, and some will continue it.3 -
One method of discovering the proper diet for an extinct species is for paleontologists to examine the dentition in the fossil record. Looking at the teeth of humans it is clear that we are omnivores, neither vegetarian nor carnivore.4
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Yeah, I couldn't do it. I like rice too much.
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What's the point? We already know that other food groups provide nutrients that meat does not. Meat isn't exactly low calorie, so it's not some "magic diet." (unless it's found to be so fulling and satiating that people cannot possibly over eat.) It's not less expensive than eating all the food groups, so there isn't an economic/ financial opportunity.
Overall, sounds strange and self reporting is a poor way to measure. I'd be interested to see the results but they need to account for a large error margin.0 -
What's the point? We already know that other food groups provide nutrients that meat does not. Meat isn't exactly low calorie, so it's not some "magic diet." (unless it's found to be so fulling and satiating that people cannot possibly over eat.) It's not less expensive than eating all the food groups, so there isn't an economic/ financial opportunity.
Overall, sounds strange and self reporting is a poor way to measure. I'd be interested to see the results but they need to account for a large error margin.
Meat does not provide nutrients? Are you being sarcastic? What nutrients?1 -
@nvmomketo - I didn't make that very clear, oops. Yes, meat is nutritious, but it doesn't provide everything that the body needs. This is where the other food groups are necessary.
Also, I just thought of this- can't you get sick from eating too much meat? Gout?3 -
@nvmomketo - I didn't make that very clear, oops. Yes, meat is nutritious, but it doesn't provide everything that the body needs. This is where the other food groups are necessary.
Also, I just thought of this- can't you get sick from eating too much meat? Gout?
You made it perfectly clear the first time.13 -
I couldn't live without my veggies.3
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There were doctors in the past who put people on a mostly meat diet.In the 1880's ? There was a James Salisbury.( yes the Salisbury steak man )And there was a Dr Donaldson who wrote a book,'Strong Medicine'.
I haven't read these.I heard a YouTube user named Butter Bob Briggs speaking of them.
But meat diets aren't a new idea.Really the Plains Indians ate a mostly meat diet.Buffalo,Deer,Wild Birds,etc..They added some berries,and wild root vegetables to that.3 -
Flutter cat, there are some in the scientific community reporting, we should emulate people, as the Plains Indians and others who were/are so close to the land because diversity is what we need.1
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@nvmomketo - I didn't make that very clear, oops. Yes, meat is nutritious, but it doesn't provide everything that the body needs. This is where the other food groups are necessary.
Also, I just thought of this- can't you get sick from eating too much meat? Gout?
Well, you were pretty clear. I just disagree though.
Animal products actually DO provide everything the body needs, especially if you avoid grains and sugars. It's a bit tougher if one only eats muscle but it is still rather easy to get your nutrients.
The only thing lacking in an all animal diet is fibre, but it is debatable if that is actually needed if one is not eating plant foods.
Gout can be slightly bothered by high purine foods but it is not with everyone and not to a great degree. It is sort of like the old "eat cholesterol and your cholesterol goes up" myth. That really is only true for those with familial hypercholesterolemia. Lots of meat does not seem to bother many with gout - my husband is one. Fructose on the other hand...8 -
I'd love to see the info that says animal products provide everything. Sounds about as rock solid as the guy who claims potatoes have everything the body needs.3
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MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »I'd love to see the info that says animal products provide everything. Sounds about as rock solid as the guy who claims potatoes have everything the body needs.
Stefansson lived with the Inuit and did a year long, medically supervised meat challenge. http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/adventures-in-diet/
More if you are interested in their experiences: http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/
Can you think of anything animal products do not provide? Besides fibre. I can't.3 -
Stefansson lived with the Inuit and did a year long, medically supervised meat challenge. http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/adventures-in-diet/
More if you are interested in their experiences: http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/
Can you think of anything animal products do not provide? Besides fibre. I can't.
Hmm, I'll take a look when I have more time. Thanks for backing up your opinion with some info. I was about to ask the same as I've never heard this view point before.
And fiber is helpful but I see people living off chips, fried chicken and soda and there's not much fiber in any of that.
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The long slow evolution of geographically isolated groups of humans has resulted in slight genetic variations in ability to digest and use the nutrition of different foods. East Asian peoples, from millennia of not consuming cow milk and cheese are likely to be lactose intolerant because for millennia there was little need to keep the genetic coding for lactose tolerance. Inuit are more able to absorb nutrients from the meat products they consume because a strong ability to do that was needed to survive in an environment where access to fruits, vegetables and grains was not possible.
Most of us in the 21st century do not come from a single, isolated population like the Inuit. We are not likely to have that unusual genetic make-up that allows us to thrive without fruits, vegetables and grains.6 -
I wouldn't make through the first day. And from what I've read on carnivorous diets in humans you would have eat raw liver in order to get vitamin C (assuming they aren't allowing supplements). No thank you. ::sick::1
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Stefansson lived with the Inuit and did a year long, medically supervised meat challenge. http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/adventures-in-diet/
More if you are interested in their experiences: http://highsteaks.com/carnivores-creed/vilhjalmur-stefansson/
Can you think of anything animal products do not provide? Besides fibre. I can't.
Hmm, I'll take a look when I have more time. Thanks for backing up your opinion with some info. I was about to ask the same as I've never heard this view point before.
And fiber is helpful but I see people living off chips, fried chicken and soda and there's not much fiber in any of that.
True. I do think fibre is needed mainly (only) for plant matter digestion though. I've done carnivorous diets for a couple of months at a time, and tend to eat that way up to about half the time now. And TBH, it's when I have veggies, nuts and fruit that my stomach gets messed up. If I would just stick to meat and eggs my stomach and bowel issues are gone. Things are perfect. I feel great.
I just really enjoy veggies and nuts so it's hard eliminate them. Especially since they are not unhealthy foods, in a nutritional sense. Individual food sensitivities notwithstanding. 1 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I wouldn't make through the first day. And from what I've read on carnivorous diets in humans you would have eat raw liver in order to get vitamin C (assuming they aren't allowing supplements). No thank you. ::sick::
You do not actually have to do that, although it is a great source of vitamin. But yuck.
Vitamin C needs appear to drop a lot without plant foods. I do not know why, and have only read a little on it, but it would explain why the Inuit did not all die of scurvy.
And the links I posted above include Stefansson's experience, and his peers' experiences, with curing (mild) scurvy on an all meat diet.HeidiCooksSupper wrote: »The long slow evolution of geographically isolated groups of humans has resulted in slight genetic variations in ability to digest and use the nutrition of different foods. East Asian peoples, from millennia of not consuming cow milk and cheese are likely to be lactose intolerant because for millennia there was little need to keep the genetic coding for lactose tolerance. Inuit are more able to absorb nutrients from the meat products they consume because a strong ability to do that was needed to survive in an environment where access to fruits, vegetables and grains was not possible.
Most of us in the 21st century do not come from a single, isolated population like the Inuit. We are not likely to have that unusual genetic make-up that allows us to thrive without fruits, vegetables and grains.
Possibly. But I think it unlikely.
I come from northern European stock. Mainly an animal based dietary culture. With cabbage... 1 -
Vitamin C needs appear to drop a lot without plant foods. I do not know why, and have only read a little on it, but it would explain why the Inuit did not all die of scurvy.
I have wondered if the gut biome might hold the key to that. I know that in the gut biome project, it has been discovered that some native populations in certain areas develop gut bacteria that help them with the food in that area. For example, in Japan, a common gut bacteria breaks down seaweed preferentially, in ways that gut bacteria in other areas do not.
And I know that some gut bacteria can also produce vitamins as by-products.
So I would not be surprised if someday, we find out that there exist certain bacteria that thrive on a no-low plant diet might also produce vitamin c as a by-product, at least in the inuit population or other areas where this was a more common diet, you know?0
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