Some of the most prominent self-labeled “carnivore” figures repeatedly circulate the narrative that ketogenic and carnivore mess up your health. The former carnivores now openly warn and speak out against the Carnivore and ketogenic diets.
And they claim that adding carbohydrates solved it.
If you like the taste of carbohydrates in whatever shape or form you prefer, then have them. It is OK. However, one thing remains universally true - there are no essential carbohydrates.
Could the carbohydrates mask a root issue by trying to treat the symptom?
After all, numerous accounts of men and women across diverse ages claim their health improved in terms of body composition, energy levels, cognitive function, and hormonal health.
Could it be beneficial for some, bad for others? Maybe.
Self-experimentation and questioning should be encouraged.
Or maybe there is such a thing as doing carnivore or keto wrong.
And claiming carbohydrates are the fix might inadvertently create confusion and mislead as to what other issues could have taken place. Unfortunately, discussion of these ideas within the community seem to be pushed back against due to prevalent dogma.
1) Chronic Undereating.
One of the consequences of repeatedly claiming calories are a complete hoax is overlooking the fact that you could undereat if you disregard your total energy intake. No one is saying you have to track or that it is necessary. But you should, at least, keep a finger on the pulse here and there.
You are probably undereating if consuming <1500 calories/day as a woman or <2000 calories/day as a man. Lots of factors to consider here. Do not take these numbers to apply universally.
2) Emphasizing Organ Meat Consumption
Further, many are proponents of organ meat consumption. While they have gradually walked back the recommended liver intake over the years (Pepperidge Farm remembers). They also dismiss the notion that too much could potentially be harmful.
Generally, they may be nice but not necessary. Keep in mind the proportions these are found next to the amount of muscle meat present in a whole animal.
3oz of beef liver has 15000 IUs of vitamin A, the RDA is ~3000-5000IUs (not that RDAs are legit), and 1 egg has 260 IUs.
3oz of liver = 57 eggs in vitamin A IUs
(100g liver = 78 eggs for you non-American folks)
It is hard to identify an issue when it might be lining your pockets regardless of how much you think you do not subscribe to dogma.
Some human data shows vitamin A toxicity from consuming liver from many different animals like polar bears, wolves, fish, dogs, and cows. Of course, those are extreme cases. Just remember how little we really understand about nutrition. And the fact that fat-soluble vitamins can store and accumulate in adipose and liver tissue, potentially to the point of toxicity. And look at the pattern of former liver-munching carnivores turned sugar-coping Ray Peaters. If youre new to this space, you probably don’t know what that means. That’s OK. Just know liver is not essential.
3) Grass Fed Maximalism
There are many reasons to eat grass-finished and support your local farmer. However, when maximalism is combined with the notion that calories do not matter, it could further encourage accidental undereating.
Everybody knows you need fat with protein. If you go too lean, you will not feel good.
Grass-finished is characterized by being leaner than grain finished. After all, that is why the cattle (and humans) are fattened on grain. For example, 1lb of grass-finished and grain-finished ribeye have 900 and 1300 calories, respectively. If you are only eating grass-finished, you may be under consuming energy by around 40%. Over a long enough time, this can be an issue.
4) Fasting for Weight Loss
Last but not least, relying on fasting as a one-trick pony can end up hurting you and your hormones
Women seem to be more sensitive to these signals than men. That likely has to do with the cycles.
With fasting, you’re signaling your body to become more efficient. The body is forced to make crucial decisions by allocating resources in a time of scarcity. For example, it taps into fat stores for energy, converts fats into ketones, upregulates autophagy (recycling of cells), and slows down digestion.
These are all desired benefits with potential therapeutic effects. But if you go overboard, your body continues to ramp down.
This is when you start feeling cold, your sleep quality worsens, your energy feels low, appetite is gone. It’s a slippery slope. A slope that ends with you in a hole and with only one way out
Eating.
What comes with eating? Weight gain!
Except now your appetite is wrecked, you don’t feel too good, and you suspect it is because carbs are the missing piece to your carnivore diet. Even though you just went months starving yourself.
There is a lot to unpack for each of these 4 variables. That will be for another day. As well as how you may navigate having to recover from these situations. Keep in mind there’s no universal laws when it comes to these topics, but it’s important to acknowledge that however well intentioned some advice may be, it can actually hurt people.
Eat enough, if you eat liver then consume with moderation and at your discretion, beware of lean grass finished steaks and please don’t rely on fasting to lose weight. If you like carbs, say you like them - don’t pretend it’s for optimal health. And keep in mind, not everyone’s got to be a full carnivore. Everyone’s at a different place and has different goals.
But, please, don't go around saying carnivore or ketogenic diets are harmful to your health.
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