Men with carnivore diet have 1,000 cholesterol, and seeing shocking symptoms appear on their hands
His doctor said that as part of the carnivore diet, a man who had eaten “very extreme fat and protein” suddenly appeared in his palms a yellow lump – with excess cholesterol under his skin.
The unnamed patient is eating 6 to 9 pounds of cheese a day, plus the butter and other he adds to his daily hamburger every day, says Dr. Kostas Marmagkiolis, an intervening cardiologist at Tampa. Fat. General Hospital in Florida, USF Health and Tampa Heart Treat him.
Tests found that the man had a total blood cholesterol of more than 1,000, one of the highest results Marmagkiolis has ever seen. Adult health level is less than 200.
Marmagkiolis told Today.com that he pointed out that he had normal cholesterol for years.
“In a year, his cholesterol was suddenly increased, and these lesions appeared at the same time. Therefore, based on the patient's medical history, we must assume that these lesions were caused directly by high cholesterol, which was caused by his (eating) diet Types are directly caused.”
The patient appears in the crease of his palm – excess cholesterol deposits under the skin.
For eight months, the man has followed a carnivore diet – a high-protein, carbohydrate-free program that focuses on eating only animal products, especially meat, eggs and some dairy products; and excludes fruits, vegetables and grains. This means eating lots of saturated fat can raise cholesterol, warned by registered dietitian Kristin Kirkpatrick.
According to a case report from JAMA Cardiology, the patient said he lost weight, increased energy, and experienced improved psychological clarity. But his primary care doctor noticed the yellow bumps in fat on his hands and referred him to Marmagkiolis.
Warning signs of high cholesterol
The yellow deposits under the skin are a red flag for cardiologists to check cholesterol levels, Marmagkiolis said.
“We think it's a way for the body to eliminate extra cholesterol in blood that cannot be processed,” he said.
When bulges appear on the eyelids, they are called Xanthelasmas.
This file image shows Xanthelasma on the eyelids.
They appear in other parts of the body, including the hands, elbows, and soles of the feet, called Xantomas.
Marmagkiolis says only about 1% of high cholesterol patients develop these clumps and are genetically susceptible.
He added that the yellow deposits themselves are completely painless and harmless – they are just visual signals of possible metabolic disorders. Once they appear, they usually don't go away, but dermatologists can remove them.
Cardiologists point out that in this case, the bumps indicate “a lot of cholesterol is in the blood.” Overall, this extreme level is an emergency that requires immediate medical care, Marmagkiolis said.
The patient's total blood cholesterol exceeds more than 1,000, about five times the health level of adults.
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, high cholesterol causes plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Doctors recommend that patients immediately switch to a more balanced diet and take medication to lower cholesterol.
Do carnivores eat healthy?
Marmagkiolis said many people are interested in the carnivore diet and other keto diets because they feel full while losing weight. The lack of carbohydrates forces the body to burn fat for energy rather than glucose.
Other benefits include elimination of sugar, refined cereals and super popular foods that are linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes, Kirkpatrick said.
The carnivorous diet provides nutrition including riboflavin, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium and vitamin A. The study found that it is deficient in magnesium, calcium, vitamin C and fiber.
Kirkpatrick notes that people can cut plant-based foods, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals because they cut plant-based foods. She added that not eating enough vegetables can lead to gut health and poor constipation.
Generally, patients who follow this extreme diet have much higher risk of abnormal cholesterol levels, Marmagkiolis said.
Georgia cardiac surgeon Dr Jeremy London, who was not involved in the case report, said the carnivore diet may be useful for some people, but most people will be the healthiest when eating some nutritional balance.
“Our bodies run on protein, fat and carbohydrates,” London told Today.com.
“Everything that is extreme is rarely beneficial. … Usually, if you focus on eating whole foods with lean meats, leafy vegetables, vegetables and fruits, and fiber, you’ll do it well.”
Both doctors say the Mediterranean diet is the healthiest, pointing to studies that are good for the heart and others.
Marmagkiolis said people who are still interested in following a predator diet should focus on the characteristics of cholesterol through blood tests and consult a nutritionist or doctor to monitor the effects of eating only animal products.
This article was originally published today
