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Muscular guy lifting barbell above head standing at gym, Muscular guy lifting barbell above head standing at gym. Young athlete under physical exertion using sports weight equipment during fitness workout, Muscular guy lifting barbell above head standing at gym. Young athlete under physical exertion using sports weight equipment during fitness workout, 11.03.2023, Copyright: xNomadSoulx Panthermedia33770147.jpg
Bodybuilding needs immense patience, perseverance, training, and, most of all, a strict and nutritious diet. This diet mainly consists of a rich protein inclusion along with veggies and other nutrients. The carbs differ according to the bulking or the cutting stage. Bodybuilders and athletes in rigorous sports always look for the best diets to improve their exercise and fitness results. Howevever, there is a special diet that is all the rage in social media, known as the carnivore diet.
This form of diet strictly refers to the consumption of animal products while training for the growth of muscle and especially for bulking. There are numerous benefits of a carnivore diet, let us see what they are.
What is a carnivore diet?
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According to social media influencers such as the Liver King or Trystn Lee and even psychologist Jordan Peterson, who has a Lion’s diet, the carnivore diet prompts better weight loss and immunity. This diet emphasizes on animal products and claims that it helps lower blood sugar, gives better sleep, and reduces joint pain. It has already garnered popularity in the fitness world as the main ingredient for weight loss and a cure-all.
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Chrissy Arsenault, a registered dietitian in Indianapolis, tried the diet for two weeks and said that the popularity of this diet might be also because it is not complicated. This highly restrictive carnivore diet is generally based on animal-only protein diet.
The diet gained a lot of fans in 2019 when The Carnivore Diet by Shawn Baker, was published. An MD and an orthopaedic surgeon, Baker explained the benefits of eating only meat, fish, and other animal products such as dairy products, and eggs while completely excluding fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, bread, and other grains.
The weight loss mantra for the carnivore diet comes down to one simple point where Baker pointed out: “Everything you eat will be high in protein, which makes you feel full, and low in total carbohydrates, which makes you feel more sluggish.”
However, if you think that the diet is going to be versatile and fun, it is not so. It merely works because it’s full of protein and the options are limited, therefore reducing the likelihood that people will overeat. That being said, does being on a carnivore diet help you in your bodybuilding journey?
Is the carnivore diet good for bodybuilding?
According to the fitness world, the carnivore diet is very beneficial for both bodybuilding and fitness. This is because it is compatible with powerlifting and bodybuilding exercises and activities. Even though carbohydrates are the main ingredients for providing energy, athletes can still have enough energy following a full-protein carnivore diet.
There is also the fact that it helps with weight loss and cardiometabolic health because it can speed up weight loss and help with cardiovascular health. Another aspect that makes diet beneficial is that it reduces autoimmune diseases and symptoms. If a person decides to consume high-quality and costly protein, then animal products such as meat are the best because they contain the highest level of protein. It also has amino acids which are necessary for muscle growth and repair. The amino acids as well as energy can be gained from an old carnivore diet and the bodybuilder will not only have energy but also gain muscles faster.
The second aspect is the convenience and simplicity of it all. Every bodybuilder is not expected to have the best culinary expertise, and since they have to concentrate on exercise, they might not have time to concentrate on cooking food. This is where the carnivore diet recipes can help because they are simple but delicious. There are also benefits like decreased inflammation, low carbohydrate intake weight loss, and no bloating. However, even if research says that there are a lot of benefits of the carnivore diet, exercise scientist Dr Mike Israetel also explains the analogy behind muscle growth when connected to the carnivore diet.
Dr. Mike Israetel explains the process behind muscle growth
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During an interview where he also spoke about Tristyn Lee, who is on a carnivore diet, the fitness expert revealed how the carnivore diet affected the body’s metabolism. Israetel explained that muscle growth generally results from a regular balance of how much growth and how much loss of muscle there is from the body. The scholar also explained the same aspect with an analogy where he compared this process to the task of accumulating wealth.
He explained that a person’s income is an anabolism while the amount of expenditure is anti-catabolism. He further noted, “If you buy a lot of Lambos you could be making millions and just have nothing to show for at the end of the day except an insanely depreciating car that sits in your garage.” So Israetel is of the opinion that ultimately, it depends on the bodybuilder how they want to exercise and maintain their diet.
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While protein is essential for the body, especially when it comes to fitness, the deficiency of other crucial elements from the diet could also pose a risk to the body and health in general. Despite that, would you opt for the carnivore diet? Let us know in the comments below.