Note: All the information in this post is based on Red Pen Reviews (a non-profit that publishes unbiased health and nutrition book reviews). Please consider donating to them.
The Carnivore Code, by Paul Saladino, is a book that argues that commonly-eaten plant foods are full of harmful substances and that the true ancestral human diet consists of meat and organs.
• The book states or implies that the diet is able to prevent or treat a wide variety of diseases, including obesity, diabetes, depression, and diverse autoimmune diseases.
• Red Pen reviewed this book for a few reasons: it is immensely popular; the carnivore diet is currently drawing a lot of interest; and they think this review will be a useful addition to the conversation.
1. Humans evolved as carnivores, only occasionally eating plants as "fallback foods" to avoid starvation.
This claim is not supported by the scientific evidence. In fact, the opposite is true: humans are evolutionarily adapted to consume a variety of plant-based foods and actually thrive on them. A diet that consists mostly or entirely of animal flesh is actually quite harmful to human health, as it is associated with increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
2. Dietary fiber is not helpful for constipation.
This claim is also not supported by the scientific evidence. In fact, dietary fiber is an essential nutrient that helps keep the digestive system healthy and prevents constipation. Without adequate fiber intake, people are at risk of developing a variety of digestive problems.
3. High LDL cholesterol on a carnivore diet is not harmful.
This claim is dangerous, as it is not supported by the scientific evidence. In fact, high LDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. A diet that includes animal flesh is associated with increased LDL cholesterol levels, which increases the risk of developing heart disease.
The book cites a study that found that a diet low in fiber resolved constipation in adults in Singapore. However, the study has major limitations and should be viewed with skepticism. Despite this, the study is consistent with the book's claim that a high LDL is not harmful. This claim is unsupported and potentially dangerous.
The Carnivore Code diet does not seem to be very healthy, based on the limited evidence that is available. There are concerns about how this diet might impact heart health, but since there is not much information available, it is hard to say for sure. Additionally, this diet does not seem to provide all the nutrients a person needs.