Monotrophic diet

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A monotrophic diet (also known as the mono diet or single-food diet)[1] is a type of diet that involves eating only one food item (such as potatoes or apples) or one type of food (such as fruits or meats). Monotrophic diets may be followed for food faddism motives, as a form of crash dieting, to initiate an elimination diet or to practice an extreme form of alternative medicine.[2]

Examples[]

There are examples throughout history of eccentrics living on monotrophic diets. For example, George Sitwell ate only roasted chicken.[3] Howard Hughes would sometimes spend weeks eating nothing but canned soup and at other times only steak sandwiches.[4]

Carnivore diet[]

See also: Diet (nutrition) § Diet classification table
See also: Paleolithic diet, Ketogenic diet, and Low carb diet

The carnivore diet involves eating only animal products.[5][6][7] People following a carnivore diet consume large amounts of meat, such as beef, pork, poultry and offal, and dairy products or eggs.[5] The carnivore diet is sometimes referred to as the "all-meat diet" or "zero-carbohydrate diet" when more restrictive versions are followed. A colloquialism for the diet is "nose to tail" suggesting a diet that consumes many parts an animal. The diet can be traced to the German writer, Bernard Moncriff, author of The Philosophy of the Stomach: Or, An Exclusively Animal Diet, in 1856.[8] In the 21st century, fad dieters reported following extreme variations of the diet where only red meat, salt and water were consumed.[9][10]

There is no clinical evidence that a carnivore diet is safe or provides any health benefits, with the diet being criticized by physicians and nutritionists as potentially dangerous to health due to its restricted nutritional profile.[6][11] Medical experts have warned that the diet can cause vitamin deficiencies and increased risk of high blood levels of LDL cholesterol, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.[6][7]

Fruitarian diet[]

Main article: Fruitarianism

The fruitarian diet ("fructarian diet")[12] is a subtype of dietary veganism and rawism that typically involves eating only botanical fruits and drupes. The diet is not nutritionally adequate.[13]

Health concerns[]

Long-term negative effects of a single-food diet may include anaemia, osteoporosis, malnutrition, nutrient toxicities, muscle catabolism and more serious health conditions. Possible side effects are constipation, diarrhea, fatigue and exacerbated mood issues.[14] Some experts have noted that pursuing any kind of mono diet may be a sign of an eating disorder developing.[15]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Guthrie HA (1986). Introductory Nutrition. Mosby. p. 446. ISBN 0-8016-2038-4.
  2. ^ "Ultimate Guide to Mono Diet". The Fashiongton Post. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  3. ^ Shaw K (2009). Curing Hiccups with Small Fires: A Delightful Miscellany of Great British Eccentrics. Pan MacMillan. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-752-22703-0.
  4. ^ "The Bizzarre Billionaire". Facts & Fallacies. Reader's Digest Association. 1988. p. 234. ISBN 0-89577-273-6.
  5. ^ a b Dennett C. "Popular Diet Trends: Today's Fad Diets". Today's Dietitian. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Hosie R (13 August 2018). "'Carnivore diet': New social media trend criticised by nutritionists as 'very damaging'". The Independent. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b Jarry J (15 November 2018). "The Carnivore Diet: A Beefy Leap of Faith". McGill University. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  8. ^ McLaughlin T (1979). If You Like It, Don't Eat It: Dietary Fads and Fancies. New York: Universe Books. p. 62. ISBN 0-87663-332-7.
  9. ^ Adam Gabbatt (11 September 2018). "My carnivore diet: what I learned from eating only beef, salt and water". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  10. ^ Migala J (7 August 2018). "The Carnivore Diet Is the All-Beef Weight Loss Fad You Shouldn't Try". Prevention. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  11. ^ Sutton M (5 December 2019). "The beefed-up diet 'changing lives' but health experts not so sure". ABC News – Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  12. ^ Brytek-Matera A, Czepczor-Bernat K, Jurzak H, Kornacka M, Kołodziejczyk N (June 2019). "Strict health-oriented eating patterns (orthorexic eating behaviours) and their connection with a vegetarian and vegan diet". Eating and Weight Disorders. 24 (3): 441–452. doi:10.1007/s40519-018-0563-5. PMC 6531404. PMID 30155858.
  13. ^ Sanders TA, Reddy S (July 1994). "Nutritional implications of a meatless diet". The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 53 (2): 297–307. doi:10.1079/PNS19940035. PMID 7972144.
  14. ^ "5 of the most extreme diets (and what they could do to your body)". British Heart Foundation. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  15. ^ Howley, Elaine (29 January 2021). "Mono, or Monotrophic, Diet Review: Pros and Cons". U.S. News & World Report.
Retrieved from ""