Sunday
Jun142009
Sun, June 14, 2009 | Lisa Barger Raw Meat Diet
“Did you see the guy with the raw meat diet on TV the other day? Do you think it actually works?”
No, I didn’t see it but I understand it made quite a stir on the television show “The Doctors” when the segment on the so-called “raw meat diet” was aired. As its name suggests the raw meat diet, which is also known as the primal diet, advocates the eating of raw meats, organs, and dairy. It was developed in the early 1970s or late 1960s by a man named Aajonus Vonderplanitz. Vonderplanitz claims that he cured himself of a life-threatening disease by adopting and maintaining a low-fruit, low-vegetable diet high in raw organs and uncooked animal flesh.
In my own personal opinion, based mainly on clips of Vonderplanitz’s various media appearances, this diet seems to be based more on shock value than any real science. Despite the glowing testimonials found on the primal diet web site, there’s just something that rubs me wrong about a health care professional cracking a raw egg against his teeth and teasing “Do you want to see?” and “I’m getting hungry” while denouncing the “germ theory” of disease.
One thing the primal diet proponents won’t tell you is that this diet is very low in what nutritionists call phytochemicals. This flies right in the face of all we know about the health benefits of foods like berries, fruits and vegetables.
Finally, this diet is high in animal protein which, when eaten in excess, may stress the liver and kidneys.
References:
The Doctors. (2009). Extreme Health Trends. Video accessed June 9, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abg8l2Zs7d8.
No, I didn’t see it but I understand it made quite a stir on the television show “The Doctors” when the segment on the so-called “raw meat diet” was aired. As its name suggests the raw meat diet, which is also known as the primal diet, advocates the eating of raw meats, organs, and dairy. It was developed in the early 1970s or late 1960s by a man named Aajonus Vonderplanitz. Vonderplanitz claims that he cured himself of a life-threatening disease by adopting and maintaining a low-fruit, low-vegetable diet high in raw organs and uncooked animal flesh.
In my own personal opinion, based mainly on clips of Vonderplanitz’s various media appearances, this diet seems to be based more on shock value than any real science. Despite the glowing testimonials found on the primal diet web site, there’s just something that rubs me wrong about a health care professional cracking a raw egg against his teeth and teasing “Do you want to see?” and “I’m getting hungry” while denouncing the “germ theory” of disease.
One thing the primal diet proponents won’t tell you is that this diet is very low in what nutritionists call phytochemicals. This flies right in the face of all we know about the health benefits of foods like berries, fruits and vegetables.
Finally, this diet is high in animal protein which, when eaten in excess, may stress the liver and kidneys.
References:
The Doctors. (2009). Extreme Health Trends. Video accessed June 9, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abg8l2Zs7d8.
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