Is a raw meat diet healthy or the fast track to a heart attack?

Dear Dr.Zac,I’ve been seeing a lot of influencers online talking about the carnivore diet and eating raw meat like it’s the key to perfect health.

I started following this guy who goes by the name of the ‘Liver King’, who loves eating kilos of raw liver each week and preaching animal-based everything.But now I’ve heard he’s had some serious health issues? Is eating this way actually healthy, or is it going to destroy my insides (let alone my teeth from all the associated vomiting!)? Should I be worried if I’m thinking of trying it?– Will, 27, DarwinAh, the carnivore diet – where plants are apparently public enemy number one, and raw liver is treated like some sort of miracle cure.

It’s like paleo had a chaotic love child with a protein shake.And while social media might have you convinced that chewing on uncooked steak is the ultimate shortcut to six-pack abs, your gut (and your GP) might strongly disagree.Let’s have a proper look at what’s going on here.What even is the carnivore diet?Put simply: meat, meat, and more meat.If it once had a heartbeat, it’s on the menu.No fruit.

No veg.No grains.

Not even a lonely lentil in sight.Some hardcore fans – and by hardcore I mean TikTok bros shirtless in the snow – take it even further and go full raw.Yes, raw liver straight from the fridge like it’s a health food version of sashimi.The theory? Our ancestors ate this way, plants are packed with “anti-nutrients”, and modern carbs are evil.It’s seductive, especially if you’ve struggled with bloating, auto-immune issues or weight gain.But seductive doesn’t mean safe.Brian Johnson – better known as Liver King – was the poster boy for raw meat supremacy (not to be confused with Bryan Johnson the dude who wants to live forever).

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