The 'King' Of Carnivore Diet Admits He Doesn’t Know The Long-Term Effects (2024)

Shawn Baker, a cheerleader for the carnivore diet, has stated that he doesn’t know the long-term effects that a high-meat diet is having on people’s health.

Baker is an emblematic promoter of the carnivore diet, and has hundreds of thousands of followers across social media.

The admission came in a head-to-head debate with vegan doctor Garth Davis. “I don’t know if my diet is going to make someone live longer,” Baker said.

Carnivore diet not backed by science

The 'King' Of Carnivore Diet Admits He Doesn’t Know The Long-Term Effects (1)

Baker regularly posts pro-carnivore diet content and encourages his followers to choose a meat-heavy lifestyle.

Despite this, he admitted in the debate that he is not aware of the carnivore diet’s long-term health effects. “I don’t know if it’s going to either prevent or increase the likelihood of some disease,” he said. “We just don’t have the data that shows that.”

Followers of the carnivore diet eat only meat, though some may eat eggs and dairy products. Diets heavy in these foods have been associated with various negative health outcomes.

In contrast, plant-based diets have regularly outperformed other diets for a wide range of health markers.

Social media “for entertainment purposes only”

As well as admitting that he has no idea about the carnivore diet’s long-term health effects, Baker said in the debate that his “social media is kind of for entertainment purposes only in many ways.”

Responding to the comments on Instagram, a vegan doctor named Dr Matthew Nagra urged Baker’s fans to see that those promoting high meat consumption are unaware of its long-term effects.

He said that the best available evidence suggests that a carnivore diet will increase risk of colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease compared to many other diets.

“There’s no way [Baker] doesn’t know that people are going to take what he says and actually implement it into their lifestyle,” Dr Nagra said.

“You can bet that he will not be held accountable if you follow his advice and end up suffering a heart attack.”

In a response message to Dr Nagra, Baker doubled down on his admission. “He says that I said I don’t know the long-term outcome of a carnivore diet, which is true,” Baker said in a video posted on X.

Baker went on to repeat that “in no way, no shape or form can we make assessments good or bad about how long a carnivore diet will last over the long term.”

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The Author

The 'King' Of Carnivore Diet Admits He Doesn’t Know The Long-Term Effects (4)
Daniel Clark

Daniel is the former Digital Publishing Assistant at Plant Based News. He has a degree in European Literatures and performed vegan poetry at COP26. He loves long walks and vegan croissants.

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The 'King' Of Carnivore Diet Admits He Doesn’t Know The Long-Term Effects (2024)

FAQs

The 'King' Of Carnivore Diet Admits He Doesn’t Know The Long-Term Effects? ›

Carnivore diet not backed by science

How unhealthy is the carnivore diet? ›

Saturated fats can cause inflammation. Additionally, a high-protein diet (such as the carnivore diet) can be harmful to the kidneys—and can even promote gout and kidney stones.

What are 3 disadvantages of the carnivore diet? ›

High in fat, cholesterol, and sodium

Given that the carnivore diet consists solely of animal foods, it can be high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Saturated fat may raise your LDL (bad) cholesterol, which may increase your risk of heart disease ( 13 ).

Is carnivore diet bad for kidneys? ›

Also, the very high protein intake associated with the carnivore diet can lead to impaired kidney function. Because keto diets induce the body to burn fat, all keto diets can jump-start a weight-loss program.

Is there any science behind the carnivore diet? ›

The Carnivore Diet is a highly restrictive dietary approach that excludes all plant-based foods, emphasising animal products instead. While some people may experience short-term benefits, there is limited scientific evidence to support its long-term safety and effectiveness.

Is carnivore diet cancerous? ›

There is strong evidence that consuming: red meat INCREASES the risk of colorectal cancer. processed meat INCREASES the risk of colorectal cancer. Cantonese-style salted fish INCREASES the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Can carnivore diet cause health problems? ›

“The carnivore diet can increase the risk of disease because it is an acidic diet that is high in sodium that lacks in key nutrients responsible for optimal health,” Rydyger says. “The diet can also be high in saturated fat and LDL cholesterol.

Is the carnivore diet bad for your liver? ›

Eating a carnivore diet may come with serious consequences for the liver and kidneys, especially if they are already damaged, diseased, or stressed. A diet high in protein, especially animal-derived protein, can lead to hypertension which in turn may lead to several different kidney issues.

Who should avoid the carnivore diet? ›

The carnivore diet can be risky, especially for people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a history of heart disease. The lack of fiber can also cause constipation and poor gut health. Consult a healthcare provider, such as a registered dietitian, before starting a carnivore diet.

What are the bad bacteria in the carnivore diet? ›

Yeah, so in other words, in just five days on a carnivore-like diet, the study revealed the human body began to replace "good" anti-inflammatory bacteria with "bad" inflammatory bacteria, starve our gut of healing SCFAs, and lay the foundation for antibiotic resistance, inflammatory bowel disease, and colon cancer.

Is carnivore diet bad for your heart? ›

Eating lots of meat can cause serious digestive issues, and eating lots of saturated fats, which are plentiful in the Carnivore diet, can elevate LDL cholesterol (the bad kind!) and increase risk of heart disease.

Can you be in ketosis on carnivore diet? ›

Because the carnivore diet is zero-carb, it is by definition a type of keto diet. If you just eat meat, you'll almost certainly end up in ketosis. So while you can say that carnivore is keto, you can't say that keto is carnivore. Simply put, carnivore is a more extreme keto diet.

What is the only meat diet? ›

On the carnivore diet you cut carbohydrates and eat nothing but meat and other animal products, like beef, chicken, pork, fish, and eggs. The idea is that by cutting all carbs, your body will burn fat for energy and you'll lose weight.

How long can you stay on the carnivore diet? ›

While one person may be able to sustain a carnivore diet for months, or even years, without any health complications, that's certainly not going to be the case for everyone.

Is carnivore diet anti-inflammatory? ›

Carnivore diet for inflammation

Ovadia, much like the Petersons, says the diet is great for reducing inflammation. “It's clearly anti-inflammatory,” he says. “We now have, in large experience, many, many people who have had inflammatory conditions, autoimmune conditions that healed themselves with a carnivore diet…

Does carnivore diet heal gut? ›

The carnivore diet does two things at once: It infuses the gut with bone broth's gut-healing benefits while eliminating harder-to-digest vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds. In other words, it still allows a person to get beneficial nutrients while giving the gut a break from working so hard.

Why did I quit the carnivore diet? ›

He shifted away from the carnivore diet due to concerns about its long-term impact on physical health. Exclusively eating meat could lead to an increased intake of toxins, as environmental contaminants tend to bioaccumulate in animal fat.

What is the success rate for the carnivore diet? ›

Harvard Carnivore Study

93% improved or resolved obesity and excess weight. 93% improved hypertension. 98% improved conditions related to diabetes.

What is Joe Rogan's carnivore diet? ›

Joe Rogan's daily intake, while on the Carnivore Diet, primarily consisted of meat. He often mentioned consuming elk, bison, and other game meats, along with more traditional meats like beef. Organ meats, particularly liver, were also a part of his diet.

What happens if you only eat meat for a week? ›

As one might expect, carnivores face a whole host of nutrient deficiencies from cutting out all other food groups. Two of the biggest issues are a lack of fibre and carbohydrates, Virjee explained, which can lead to constipation, a common side effect of the diet.

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