Eating raw meat on social media: they depopulate the “Meat influencers”, which we really didn’t need

Social users, with tens of thousands of followers, who show themselves in photos and videos in which they eat raw meat steaks. Let’s talk about the “Meat influencer”, a dangerous tendency, which we really didn’t need

In recent years, a worrying phenomenon has begun to spread among the food influencers on social media, what we could define “Meat influencer” who share videos and images of themselves as they eat raw meat steaks.

Some of these influencers argue that the consumption of raw or minimally cooked meat can lead to numerous health benefits, such as an increase in energy, weight loss, better management of anxiety and healthier skin. According to some, eating raw meat would be in tune with the ancestral diet of our ancestors, who had no access to modern cooking methods. Consequently, this food philosophy is made passed as a “natural choice” that could contribute to general well -being.

Those who follow this diet exclude cereals, legumes, fruit, vegetables and, above all, carbohydrates. An ideology that has found a bibliographic reference point in Bestsellers “Carnivore Diet” by Shawn Bakeran orthopedic surgeon who became famous precisely for his theories on the carnivorous diet, and a fervent anti-Vegan activist. Baker promotes red meat as the best food of all and his very popular Instagram profile feeds the cult of meat practically as the only source of nourishment (even if every now and then he admits to make some tears to the rule).

The reasons that push many people to follow these extreme regimes are complex and some influencers claim to have chosen it for personal health problems. But what is the risk? The growing search for perfect physical fitness, combined with poor food education and the ease with which some influencers share their experiences, It could induce many people to choose the same meat diet, without having first asked for the opinion of an expert in nutrition.

Often the meat influencers do not directly sponsor the carnivorous diet nor do they recommend it explicitly, but but The way they show their food style intrigues and the risk of emulation is around the corner.

The risks

Despite the popularity of these trends on social media, food and food safety experts are strongly concerned about the risks associated with the consumption of raw meat and in general of large quantities of meat at the expense of other foods.

Eliminate entire categories such as fruit and vegetables, exposes to serious nutritional deficiencies, since important nutrients and antioxidants are lost, in addition, the carnivorous diet is scarce in fiber, very important for the regularity of our intestine.

Eating too much meat then, with its high content of sodium and saturated fats, can increase the risk of serious cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension.

Then there are the concerns concerning the possibility of contracting dangerous bacterial and parasitic infections such as Salmonella, E. Coli and Toxoplasmosiswhich develop easily in raw meat.

Scientific studies have shown that bacteria present in raw meat, if not treated adequately by cooking, can cause serious food poisoning, with symptoms ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to more serious diseases, such as kidney failure or sepsis. These risks are even more evident in not correctly preserved meats.

“Meat influencers” often acquire the highest quality meat, coming from certified suppliers that guarantee adequate management and conservation of the product and also a grazing breeding, only in grass, etc. .. However, those who decide to emulate these behaviors may not have access to the same high quality meat, increasing the risks related to the consumption of raw meat.

Then there is a study that describes the case of a 40 -year -old man who has developed yellowish nodules on the palms of the hands, on the plants of the feet and on the elbows, after following a carnivorous diet for about 8 months. This diet, with high fat content, included large quantities of cheese, butter and additional fats.

The patient reported weight loss, greater energy and improvement of mental lucidity, but the exam revealed a level of cholesterol greater than 1000 mg/dl, significantly higher than its previous level of 210-300 mg/dl. The final diagnosis was Xantelasma, a condition linked to hypercholesterolemia, which highlights the negative effect of high fat diets on cholesterol and lipids in the blood.

In addition to health risks, This type of diet also has a great environmental impact. Excessive consumption of meat, especially in large quantities and/or if it does not have a more sustainable origin, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation and consumption of natural resources.

We try not to make ourselves influenced too much by what we see and feel on social media and When it comes to following a diet, let’s always contact a professional that the most appropriate diet will be for us for us.