Latest diet putting people at risk of 17th century illness, says nurse

A nurse has warned that following a diet trend popular on social media could be bad for your kidneys, immune system and gut - and could even see you get an illness common in the 17th century. Nurse Jane Clarke says those following the weight-loss and fitness trend even risk constipation and bowel cancer.

Jane, a nurse at ConfidenceClub, said: "It’s this year’s keto; the carnivore diet is a diet based on consuming only animal products, with many restricting themselves to just red meat, eggs, and butter. Carnivore influencers on TikTok are claiming that you can lose weight, cure PCOS, and clear up skin problems such as acne, all by consuming only animal products. It sounds too good to be true.

“Meat, eggs, and butter all contain a whole heap of essential vitamins, that much is true. However, what these meatfluencers are leaving out is all the things your body needs that this restrictive diet doesn’t contain. There is a reason that for years health professionals have been telling patients to follow a balanced diet, and that’s because this is the only way you are going to get the right mix of vitamins and nutrients to keep you healthy. When you restrict yourself to just animal products, you are missing out on a whole bunch of vital nutrients from plant foods and other non-animal sources.”

Jane said a diet this high in protein is likely to put a strain on the kidneys, which over time can lead to kidney damage, especially in those with pre-existing kidney conditions. And she warned of the risk of developing scurvy - a disease common in sailors in the 17th century.

Jane said: "Cutting 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. Vitamin C is essential for both collagen synthesis and immune function. An absence of vitamin C in the diet can lead to scurvy. Scurvy will leave you too exhausted for the gym and could lead to you losing your teeth."

Jane also listed the risk of three other serious health conditions as a result of only eating meat and animal products.

Heart Disease

When your diet is just plate after plate of saturated fat and cholesterol, you are putting immense strain on your heart. Eating a carnivore diet long-term will increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Constipation

A diet this lacking in fibre will eventually result in a fibre deficiency, most often characterised by serious constipation. Long-term, this can increase your risk of colorectal cancers, not to mention being extremely uncomfortable.

Bowel Cancer

The link between a diet high in red meat and bowel cancer has been known for some time now. This risk can be made worse when you combine red meat with cooking methods such as frying, grilling, and barbecuing. We are already seeing an increase in bowel cancer among younger generations; you want to be looking to minimise this risk with your diet, not increase it.