Shawn Baker has a pretty impressive track record—he’s a doctor, surgeon, soldier, and an athlete, plus he’s written his own book, “The Carnivore Diet.” Baker is also a popular guy, he’s developed a large following for his fitness regimen and eating habits.
He credits his sculpted body to his tailored diet and exercise routine. If you want to know more about the Carnivore diet, read on.
What Diet Does Shawn Baker Follow?
Shawn Baker’s Carnivore diet consists of two things—meat and water. However, Baker didn’t always eat that way.
In a podcast with BioHackers Lab, Baker shared his diet journey.
It all started when he reached his forties. After noticing joint pain and other issues that come with age, the doctor realized he had to start paying attention to what he ate—so he took action.
“I did what I would advise patients to do, reduce calories and increase my exercise.”
Unfortunately, Baker encountered the same issues many of us have had to deal with. “I did that fairly successfully, but it was hard. It wasn’t something that was sustainable,” he said.
Baker then attempted the Paleo diet. “That was certainly a step up as far as sustainability for me,” he said. “I got into low-carb and did that for a while, then I started doing ketogenic diets.”
As an athlete, Baker monitored his performance on different dietary regimes. He eventually came to adopt a carnivorous diet.
Baker differentiates the Carnivore diet from a standard zero-carb program. “You don’t eat vegetables, fruits … spices … anything that’s derived from a plant.” Salt and pepper are fine, but plant-based spices like rosemary are out.
“It would be better to term it a pure carnivorous diet,” Baker added. He eats all sorts of meats: beef, lamb, chicken, pork. As long as it comes from an animal, you can eat it.
“I eat about two kilos of meat a day,” Baker shared. “When all you eat is meat, you eat a lot of meat.” This means that seafood, as well as eggs, are on the table for you. “As long as it’s animal-derived,” he stated. Dairy products are also acceptable on the Carnivore diet.
The Benefits of Shawn Baker’s Diet
Particularly for athletes, high protein diets have many advantages. Consuming high quantities of protein can improve weight loss. Plus, it helps build muscle and also preserve it, which is crucial for recovery, performance, and stamina.
However, there are downsides to a heavy-protein diet. Animal proteins are high in fat, which isn’t ideal for everyone. Plus, too much can be taxing on the kidneys over time.
A varied, balanced diet is recommended for optimal health. You can eat dairy, eggs and other animal products on Baker’s diet. Yet, vegetables, fruits, and grains are out of the equation entirely.
So far, no studies have been carried out on diets similar to the Carnivore diet.
What Does Shawn Baker Have to Say?
As well as writing a book, detailing his way of eating, “The Carnivore Diet,” Baker also offers private consultations on nutrition and fitness.
In an interview with HVMN in December 2018, Baker addressed critics of the diet who claim there isn’t enough scientific evidence to support it.
“As a physician, I’m interested in results,” he said. “Just because we don’t understand everything about how something works … in the meantime, there are people who just want to get the results.”
Diet Resources
If you’re interested in the carnivore diet, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide on the subject. We’ve also got other free diet guides to help you make the best nutrition decision for you.
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