A Florida man, whose identity was not released due to privacy issues, ate nothing but 6-9 pounds of butter, cheese and hamburgers every day for 8 months. As a result, he wound up at Tampa General Hospital with yellowish lumps of cholesterol developing on various parts of his body. The man, in his 40s, got Internet diet advice and began following an extreme carnivore diet. He stopped eating all carbohydrates, such as bread and sugar. At first, he said he felt great. He lost weight, became more energetic, and had more mental clarity. However, after 8 months, he began developing yellow lesions on his eyelids. Over the next month, the lesions appeared on the palms of his hands, his elbows, and the soles of his feet. Doctors diagnosed him with xanthelasma, a rare condition that impacts about 1% of patients with high cholesterol. The carnivore diet is a type of keto diet that consists of cutting carbs and eating nothing but meat and animal byproducts, which forces the body to use fat for energy and results in weight loss. The problems start when people eat too much fat. When cholesterol increases, it can deposit not only under the skin, but in other parts of the body and cause heart attacks and strokes. There is no treatment or medication for xanthelasma, and even if the cholesterol is treated, the xanthelasma remains. Doctors recommend following a low-carb diet in the beginning and then moving on to a more balanced diet. If someone does decide to follow the carnivore diet for a long period of time, they should work with a doctor or cardiologist to monitor their cholesterol levels.
Man Eats 6-9 pounds of Butter and Cheese a Day and Develops “Cholesterol Hands" While on a Carnivore Diet
A Florida man, whose identity was not released due to privacy issues, ate nothing but 6-9 pounds of butter, cheese and hamburgers every day for 8 months. As a result, he wound up at Tampa General Hospital with yellowish lumps of cholesterol developing on various parts of his body. The man, in his 40s, got Internet diet advice and began following an extreme carnivore diet. He stopped eating all carbohydrates, such as bread and sugar. At first, he said he felt great. He lost weight, became more energetic, and had more mental clarity. However, after 8 months, he began developing yellow lesions on his eyelids. Over the next month, the lesions appeared on the palms of his hands, his elbows, and the soles of his feet. Doctors diagnosed him with xanthelasma, a rare condition that impacts about 1% of patients with high cholesterol. The carnivore diet is a type of keto diet that consists of cutting carbs and eating nothing but meat and animal byproducts, which forces the body to use fat for energy and results in weight loss. The problems start when people eat too much fat. When cholesterol increases, it can deposit not only under the skin, but in other parts of the body and cause heart attacks and strokes. There is no treatment or medication for xanthelasma, and even if the cholesterol is treated, the xanthelasma remains. Doctors recommend following a low-carb diet in the beginning and then moving on to a more balanced diet. If someone does decide to follow the carnivore diet for a long period of time, they should work with a doctor or cardiologist to monitor their cholesterol levels.