Kidney Stone Diet: A social media influencer from the US, Eve Catherine, experienced a serious health scare after following the carnivore diet, a viral trend that focuses on consuming only animal-based foods. Catherine was diagnosed with kidney stones after only eating eggs and chicken steak the entire day, which happened due to excess protein. Read on to know all about the restrictive carnivore diet.
A Dallas-based fitness influencer, Eve Catherine, was hospitalised after enduring extreme pain, which later was diagnosed as kidney stones. According to Catherine, who is a proponent of the carnivore diet, she ate a high-protein diet consisting of multiple eggs, yogurt, and steak.
Even though the doctor raised concerns about elevated protein levels in her urine during a routine check-up, Catherine initially dismissed the warning. However, her condition deteriorated, requiring emergency medical attention. Catherine said she had a scary experience after she woke one day to find herself urinating blood. The influencer has claimed that her symptoms were a result of her high protein intake.
What happens when you increase your intake of protein?
- Reduced fibre intake potentially leads to constipation, headaches, and bad breath.
- Increased risk of heart disease due to consuming high amounts of saturated fats found in foods like red meat and processed meat
It is recommended to maintain a balanced diet and always consult a doctor before making significant changes to your eating habits.
What is a carnivore diet?
The carnivore diet stems from the controversial belief that human ancestral populations ate mostly meat and fish and that high-carb diets are to blame for today’s high rates of chronic disease.
Other popular low-carb diets, like the keto and paleo diets, limit but don’t exclude carb intake. However, the carnivore diet aims for zero carbs.
According to doctors, saturated fat raises your LDL, or bad cholesterol, which spikes the risk of heart disease. Also, a few processed meats, especially bacon and breakfast meats, also contain high amounts of sodium. Eating a lot of these foods on the carnivore diet also leads to excessive sodium intake, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, kidney disease, and other negative health outcomes.
Red and processed meat intake is also linked to certain types of cancer, including colon and rectal cancer.