Trendy ‘carnivore diet’ could give you scurvy, heart disease and even a form of CANCER, nurse warns

Experts warn that the ultra-popular carnivore diet could lead to heart disease, the ancient sailor’s disease scurvy – and even colorectal cancer.

With nearly 100 million videos shared, the controversial diet has exploded in popularity on TikTok.

It consists of eating only meat, fish and animal products such as butter and eggs, excluding other food groups such as fruits, vegetables and seeds.

Jane Clarke, a UK-based specialist bowel nurse, warned that a diet limited to meat products strips away essential nutrients such as vitamin C and fibre, while building up harmful cholesterol.

Recent studies have shown that a lack of fiber could be responsible for rising rates of colorectal cancer in young people, because the nutrient found in carbohydrates prevents nasty toxins from settling in the digestive tract.

‘Meat, eggs and butter all contain loads of essential vitamins, that much is true,’ Ms Clarke said. “What these meat influencers leave out, however, are all the things your body needs that this restrictive diet doesn’t include.”

Unlike other extreme diets like keto, which are low in carbohydrates, the carnivore diet aims to eliminate carbohydrates completely.

It is based on the belief that our ancestors lived solely on meat thousands of years ago, with proponents claiming that foods high in carbohydrates and sugar – including certain fruits such as apples and bananas – are responsible for high rates of chronic disease.

Carbs get a bad rap because some refined versions like white bread don’t keep us full for long.

However, they are the body’s main source of energy.

The digestive system breaks down the sugars in carbohydrates and turns them into glucose, also called blood sugar.

The body releases insulin, which sends glucose to the cells for energy.

Not getting enough carbohydrates can lead to sluggishness and lack of energy due to chronic low blood sugar, also called hypoglycemia.

In addition, whole-grain carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, oats and whole-wheat bread, are the main source of fiber in the American diet.

Ms Clarke warns that a carnivore diet also takes away from fibre, which is necessary for maintaining healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.

“A diet that contains so much fiber will eventually result in a fiber deficiency, usually characterized by severe constipation,” she said.

‘In the long term, this can increase the risk of colorectal cancer, not to mention it is extremely uncomfortable.’

Rising rates of colorectal cancer, especially among young people, have recently been linked to diets high in red meat and sugar, and to diets lacking fiber.

“You want to try to minimize this risk with your diet and not increase it,” Ms Clarke said.

And while a carnivore diet could contribute to new and alarming health trends, it could also increase the risk of contracting nearly extinct diseases.

Ms Clarke pointed to scurvy, which is caused by a severe vitamin C deficiency.

The condition has roots dating back to 16th century pirates who rarely had a steady supply of fruits and vegetables at sea, as well as the Irish potato famine.

Vitamin C helps form collagen, an important component of connective tissue, which supports the structure of blood vessels.

Symptoms include bleeding ulcers, tooth loss, anemia, swelling, bone pain and shortness of breath.

Modern cases are rare in developed countries such as the US, although cutting out vitamin C-rich foods such as citrus may increase the risk.

‘Leaving out crucial sources of vitamin C is likely to leave a serious dent in your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds and other viruses,’ Ms Clarke said.

‘Vitamin C is essential for both collagen synthesis and immune function.’

‘A lack of vitamin C in the diet can lead to scurvy. Scurvy makes you too exhausted to go to the gym and can cause you to lose your teeth.’

Additionally, she noted that a carnivore diet can lead to eating excessive amounts of protein or protein poisoning. This is an excessive protein intake without carbohydrates and fat to balance the nutrients.

In these cases, the kidneys cannot properly filter out all the proteins and struggle to keep up. Ms Clarke said that over time this ‘can lead to kidney damage, especially those with pre-existing kidney conditions.’

Red meat and animal products like cheese and butter are also high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, making the organ pump harder.

“If your diet is just plate after plate of saturated fat and cholesterol, you’re putting a huge strain on your heart,” Ms Clarke said.

‘Eating a carnivore diet for long periods of time increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.’

Perhaps one of the most famous proponents of the carnivore diet is the Liver King, a social media influencer who has more than eight million followers on TikTok and Instagram.

The ‘King’, whose real name is Brian Johnson, is known for his love of raw meat and a primal lifestyle, insisting that the ‘ancestral’ diet is responsible for his hugely muscular physique.

However, he has come under fire for his steroid use, leading critics to blame performance-enhancing drugs rather than the influencer’s bizarre diet.

Searches for the carnivore have increased 79 percent in the past year alone, peaking at nearly 200,000 between December 2023 and January 2024, according to Google search data.

And videos about the diet have been viewed more than 1 billion times on TikTok.