We’ve all scoured the internet for weight loss secrets. But just because the scale drops doesn’t mean your body’s on board.
Just look at the carnivore diet. The eating plan — which involves consuming only animal byproducts such as meat, eggs and dairy — has taken off among fitness influencers and across the internet. Devotees of the high protein, no-vegetable lifestyle swear it’s a game-changer for weight loss and overall health. Podcaster Joe Rogan is among the faithful, recently returning to the diet even after his first stint left him with explosive diarrhea. While most kidney stones can pass naturally, the process can be incredibly painful. Podcasting giant Joe Rogan has publicly touted the carnivore diet.
But experts are sounding the alarm. Many have raised concerns about the diet’s nutritional gaps, and now doctors from the Indiana University School of Medicine are warning that the carnivore diet could also increase the risk of painful kidney stones. These hard deposits, made up of minerals and salts, form in the kidneys due to diet, weight, and other factors. Most people can pass kidney stones naturally, though it can be incredibly painful. Depending on their size, they can block the flow of urine, leading to potentially life-threatening infections and the risk of sepsis.