Quick fixes and instant gratification. These are commonplace in many aspects of life today.
Things like business profits, getting work done, cooking, therapy, dating, and most recently, losing weight.
Millions of people embark on a roller coaster of decisions and fad diets in search of a toned and toned body, an hourglass V shape, a slim and slender body, or a muscular and solid body. You are trying desperately to lose the extra weight in an impossible way. For a short time.
But as we all know, fad diets (fad weight loss diets that give quick and dramatic results) may initially lead to weight loss, but they usually rely on specific foods or food groups. This is often unsustainable and dangerous. and strictly adhere to the rules and guidelines for doing the job.
Recently, the carnivore diet (fad diet) has been trending on TikTok Kenya.
A carnivore diet is a dietary approach that involves eating only animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and certain dairy products.
Fruits, vegetables and grains are excluded from this diet. Proponents of this fad diet, also known as the Lion Diet, say eating only animal products can improve your health, promote weight loss, and alleviate a variety of health conditions, including digestive and autoimmune diseases. believe.
This diet continues to trend on various social media platforms and is endorsed by many lifestyle and fitness influencers.
But according to Lillian Mutanu, registered dietitian at Mumina Wellness Solutions and national treasurer of the Kenya National Federation of Dietitians and Dietitians, the carnivore diet “solves problems that we don’t have, and “It creates other problems in the process.”
“Carnivores have an excess intake of protein, so they emphasize high-protein, high-fat diets. That’s why,” she told Nairobi News.
“This is because eliminating all carbohydrates reduces insulin production and increases fat burning, which definitely triggers weight loss,” Mutanu added.
She used the example of the lifestyle of an ordinary worker in the country to explain how food solves problems that millions of Kenyans do not have.
According to Mutanu, the man wakes up early, quickly gets ready, leaves the house, and either walks to work or walks a short distance before taking public transport to work.
This man probably repeats the same routine six days a week to burn off his energy for the day and is “allowed to actually consume energizing foods” such as red meat and various dairy products. Balanced with plant-based foods.
This man is different from office workers who may resort to strict carnivorous diets to lose weight.
However, Mutanu says there is no scientific support for the carnivore diet, and there are no long-term studies showing the sustainability of weight loss. And because people on this diet eliminate plant-based foods, they may be deficient in certain vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and fiber and may experience deficiencies.
“In Kenya, people don’t take safe supplements or think about what they take. So even though people know about such diets, they don’t get the right information. It is very dangerous to advocate such a diet in a group like ours,” Mutanu warned.
“This diet not only solves problems we don’t have, it also creates inefficiencies such as digestive problems, intestinal imbalances, anemia and rickets, so we have problems we don’t have.” In the long term, increased protein intake can also lead to kidney problems, poor bone health, the production of toxic ammonia, and the formation of uric acid crystals,” Mutanu explained. .
She added that eliminating fruits and vegetables from your diet for long periods of time can increase your risk of developing heart disease and cancer. She would never recommend a carnivore diet to anyone.
“We don’t need Western solutions to Africa’s problems. The problem we have in Kenya is malnutrition and hidden hunger. I cannot advise these people to move away from trying to solve Kenya’s problems with Western solutions.We are creating more problems than we already have. It’s just going to happen,” Mutanu added.
But what happens to those who have been warned about the carnivore diet and still boldly try it?
“Those who want to start a carnivore diet should tread carefully and have someone accompany them every step of the way to check that it is actually working to prevent harm to the body. Some people don’t believe in eating meat, so if you have to follow a diet like this, you should seriously consider a balance of plant-based nutrients if your beliefs allow. “You should check your health regularly, especially your cholesterol, kidney function, and bone density,” Mutanu warned.
So, given all the risk factors outlined by Mutanu, what are the alternatives to a meat-based diet? She recommends either a keto diet or a Mediterranean diet.
The ketogenic diet is designed to put your body into a state of ketosis, burning fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.
This involves eating lots of fat, moderate amounts of protein, and very small amounts of carbohydrates.
The Mediterranean diet, on the other hand, involves eating plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts while limiting red meat and sweets. Eating fish and poultry is also encouraged.
“Compared to the Keto and Mediterranean diets, which are also very popular, they both lead to short-term weight loss due to the lack of carbohydrate intake. However, in the long-term, the intake of nutrients from plant sources is Unlike the keto diet, which can be adapted to suit your needs, there is no research to justify the use of a carnivore diet. I don’t recommend a carnivore diet, I prefer a keto diet and a Mediterranean diet. concluded.
