EXCLUSIVES
Costco Caters to the Carnivore Diet
By Chelsea Mandler
The Carnivore Diet buzzes through the food community with more questions than answers. This new diet craze requires no carbohydrates or sugar intake, which enables the body to experience ketosis. Ketosis occurs after the body burns fat for energy instead of glucose (Ketosis, 2024).
As a Costco member, this pricey diet can be included in most grocery budgets due to the quality and price control that Costco offers its members. Four thick ribeye steaks usually cost $22 a steak in grocery stores but can be sold for under $70. That is an amazing find!
Costco sells its meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy products in bulk making it a win-win for both the customer and the company. Many people are discovering that the Carnivore Diet improves their health significantly with rapid weight loss and regulating blood sugar levels (Kubala, RD, 2024).
Compliance to the strict rules of the Carnivore Diet requires that consumption of meat, red, lean or dark, as well as poultry, eggs, seafood, fish, an array of dairy products, and water are mandatory while eliminating vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts (Lewine MD, 2024).
Skeptics wonder how the carnivore diet works due to a lack of intake of carbohydrates. An increased risk of kidney stones, gout, and osteoporosis may develop as the Carnivore Diet eliminates foods that lack the nutrients in a diet, including carbohydrates. In addition, LDL cholesterol levels may increase in people due to the diet’s intake of red meat and certain dairy products. (Lewine MD, 2024).
Regardless of lackluster research that promotes the Carnivore Diet, people following the diet’s guidelines report more energy, weight loss, and feelings of being satiated more quickly than when carbohydrates are present (Kubala, RD, 2024). Many dieters report improved metabolic changes such as lowered blood pressure, reduced belly fat, and cardiovascular health (Streit, MS, RDN, LD, 2024).
Further research is needed before the Food, Drug, and Administration recommends the Carnivore Diet, and caution is advised for beginners. However, the diet continues to pick up momentum, and Costco’s meat and dairy department can contribute significantly to reducing grocery costs that the average consumer faces in today’s economy.
References
Cleveland Clinic Medical. “Ketosis: Definition, Benefits & Side Effects.” Cleveland Clinic, 1 May 2024, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24003-ketosis.
Howard E. LeWine, MD. “What Is the Carnivore Diet?” Harvard Health, 8 May 2024, www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/what-is-the-carnivore-diet.
Jillian Kubala, RD. “Carnivore Diet: Benefits, Side Effects, and Risks.” Health, Health, 7 Aug. 2024, www.health.com/carnivore-diet-7486099.
Streit, Lizzie. “Carnivore Diet: Food List, Benefits, Risks, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 29 May 2024, www.healthline.com/nutrition/carnivore-diet.
