All about the Primal Diet: a raw version of the carnivore diet.

The primal diet , or Primal Diet in English, is a variation of the carnivore diet.

This dietary approach is based on foods of animal origin, consumed in the most raw way possible, that is to say raw and unprocessed.

In this article, I invite you to explore the origins of the primal diet , its basic principles, its potential benefits , as well as the negative points that can be drawn from it.

What are the origins of the primal diet?

Much like the carnivore diet , the primal diet draws its inspiration from the eating habits of our hominid ancestors .

But where the carnivore diet allows for cooking meat, the primal diet goes even further...

By eating your short rib or salmon, without cooking or prior preparation.

But this diet, although based on a large consumption of animal flesh, will also accept vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, algae and even some tubers in the food bowl.

The main idea is that we, homo sapiens sapiens, are genetically adapted to consume unprocessed and uncooked foods .

Indeed, our ancestors for millions of years fed themselves mainly by hunting, fishing and gathering, before the advent of agriculture 10,000 years ago.

It is on these eating habits that our entire digestive system is formed.

As for cooking food, we note that the first hominids were able to cook their food from 400,000 BC, when fire could be mastered for domestic purposes.

But followers of the primal diet prefer to refer to uncooked foods because they are said to be more interesting in terms of nutritional and enzymatic values .

In other words, cooking altered the bioavailability of nutrients.

For several years, several celebrities and health experts have claimed to follow this diet and to benefit from it, which we will see shortly.

It’s difficult to talk about the Primal Diet without mentioning Mark Sisson , the author of the book “The Primal Blueprint”, he is the one who partly democratized this way of eating.

But also several actors and singers like Jessica Biel, Matthew McConaughey, Megan Fox, Uma Thurman and Miley Cyrus.

One of the greatest athletes of all time, LeBron James, has claimed to have experimented with the Primal Diet to improve his athletic performance.

But also one of the biggest players in the world of personal development, Tim Ferriss has mentioned following the paleo diet, cousin of the primal diet, in some of his books and interviews.

Let's take a look at the reasons why all these celebrities are trying the Primal Diet...

How to eat according to the primal diet?

As mentioned previously, your food bowl will mainly consist of meat and fish .

These foods provide complete proteins, essential fatty acids and a significant dose of vitamins for your body.

In particular, they can promote weight loss and the creation of testosterone .

Then the rest will be considered more as accompaniments...

Vegetables, fruits, oilseeds, seaweed and, according to fans, a little honey.

There may also be times when certain dairy products are welcome.

Especially raw milk cheeses, not pasteurized preparations.

All this without cooking , and with minimal preparation!

What are the benefits of the primal diet?

My friend, YouTuber and naturopath Jeremy Dalzon, was able to follow this diet for several years and reaped many benefits from it...

Increased vital energy

The testimonies on this type of diet are often unanimous: greater vital energy on a daily basis.

And this can be explained by the high nutrient intake that a raw, minimally processed diet can provide, far from the standards of modern nutrition.

Thus the primal diet can provide a wide range of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

But this aspect will be explained by the reduction, or even the complete elimination of processed foods , but also foods with a high carbohydrate index, such as bread, pasta, sweets...

These foods are often the cause of many of our ailments, such as inflammation, bloating, constipation, etc.

Improved digestion

This aspect is explained by the same elements that are mentioned previously, by focusing on raw and healthy foods, your digestion will be improved.

Your intestinal microbiota will thank you, it will be more diverse, healthier .

No more gastrointestinal problems!

Fat loss

Some people report weight loss and better appetite management with the Primal Diet.

And this is thanks to several elements…

The primal diet sometimes involves a reduction in cravings because the foods consumed are rich in protein and healthy fats, which provides a longer-lasting feeling of fullness.

This way of eating can also induce an increase in metabolism.

Protein has a higher thermic effect than carbohydrates or fats, which means the body burns more calories to digest it, helping to increase your metabolism.

Additionally, by limiting carbohydrates, the body can enter ketosis , a state where it uses stored fat for energy, rather than carbohydrates, which can promote fat loss.

And as mentioned earlier, the primal diet will allow your body to be less inflamed, since the foods responsible for this will no longer be present on your plate.

What are the risks of the Primal Diet?

Because to form a fair opinion on any subject, you need to know the positive and the negative, which is why I suggest you take a look at the less attractive aspects of the primal diet.

Risk of foodborne infections

The biggest fear that is attributed to the Primal diet is the raw and unprocessed nature of the foods.

When they are of good quality, they are real nutritional bombs.

However, the risk of foodborne illness is greater than with other types of food, as cooking is an effective way to destroy potentially harmful bacteria in food.

Gradual adaptation

Switching to a primal diet often requires gradual adaptation.

This is because your body has been accustomed to a certain type of diet since you were born.

And unfortunately for us Westerners, it is often an industrial and chemical diet that has taken precedence...

So your body often, whether it is a diet with few carbohydrates, or with high nutritional values, will have to adapt , for example changing some parameters in your intestinal microbiota.

And often it can take a few days for you to feel comfortable with a new diet.

Unless you change gradually, day by day, week by week, in which case the detox symptoms should be less complicated to live with.

But there are also obstacles at the social level .

When you share a meal with your loved ones, for example.

You'll need to clarify how far you want to push your diet.

Do you want to go so far as to take your lunch with you to make sure you stick to your diet?

Or spend a friendly moment without bringing these questions to the table?

It's up to you!

Cost of food

As a great philosopher would say...

“I know that I know nothing”

This doctrine is true for the majority of subjects.

Only I'm going to go against this one because I'm sure of something...

It is absolutely essential to eat quality food.

Do you think that biting into the thigh of a free-range chicken fed a diet made for it is just as beneficial as eating the flesh of an animal full of antibiotics that has never seen the light of day in its life ?

Obviously you will tell me that these two cases are very different, and that they do not bring the same nutritional values ​​to your plate, but they also do not have the same impact on the environment .

So you will have to buy as much quality food as possible, and even more so when it comes to raw animal products.

There are several solutions available to you...

Avoid supermarkets.

Consume locally and collect your products directly from a breeder or farmer.

Make your own garden .

Even in an apartment there are solutions, so no excuses!

Go to the market .

Order directly from producers via online platforms, such as Pour de Bon.

These solutions are not the most economical, it is true that buying your 10 frozen steaks will always cost you less than if you buy them from a breeder near you.

But by doing this you will be buying nothing more or less than so-called “empty” calories.

That is, foods devoid of nutrition, and sometimes even full of chemicals harmful to your gut health.

Eating healthy comes at a cost, but you'll see your vital energy and health greatly improved.

Here's a quick overview of the Primal Diet.

Now that you know something about this diet, I suggest you find out about other ways of eating, such as the carnivore diet , the ketogenic diet or even the vegan diet !

With this additional knowledge you will be able to choose and experiment on your own what will suit you best.

But you can also create your own diet, depending on your desires and priorities!

Diets are not ends, they are means to help you move forward and reach your full potential.

Thank you for your attention, my Mouver!

And if you want to bounce back or simply share your experience, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section 😉

Nomad Slim
Founder of MOUVERS