People on a weight loss diet usually incorporate low-calorie items in their meals. But a man attempted something different by trying a ‘carnivore diet‘ which included foods like hamburgers, cheese, and sticks of butter. While he claimed the diet led to weight loss, improvement in his energy levels and mental clarity, his cholesterol levels skyrocketed, to the extent that his blood lipids started oozing out from the body in the form of localized lipid deposits.
The carnivore diet is a restrictive diet which only allows animal-based foods, like meat, fish, eggs, and some dairy. It excludes all plant-based foods, like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. The proponents say it can help with inflammation, improve mental healthstabilize blood sugar, and improve heart health.
However, the man seems to have gone overboard with fat in his diet as he liberally consumed sticks of butter, added extra fats to his hamburgers, and ate cheese without guilt. He started the diet eight months before he developed the condition.When the yellow nodules appeared in his hands, soles of the feet and elbows, the Florida man showed up at a Tampa hospital and was diagnosed with xanthelasma. His case was published today in JAMA Cardiology.
Details about his diet
The man in his 40s told the doctors that was on a “carnivore diet” for eight months and his diet included between 6 lbs and 9 lbs of cheese, sticks of butter, and daily hamburgers that had additional fat incorporated into them. He claimed that his weight dropped, energy levels increased, and his “mental clarity” improved.
However, as a result of this ‘extreme’ diet, his total cholesterol level crossed 1,000 mg/dL, whereas the optimal total cholesterol level should be under 200 mg/dL. Even 240 mg/dL is considered the threshold for ‘high cholesterol.’
Before going on this diet, the man’s cholesterol had been between 210 mg/dL to 300 mg/dL.
What is xanthelasma?
Xanthelasma, also known as xanthelasma palpebrarum (XP), is a condition where cholesterol builds up under the skin to form soft, yellow growths on or around the eyelids. It’s a type of xanthoma, which is a general term for cholesterol deposits in the skin.
In this condition, excess blood lipids ooze from blood vessels and form localized lipid deposits. Normally, escaped lipids are absorbed by white blood cells known as macrophages. However, in cases of xanthelasma, the lipid buildup is too extensive for the macrophages to handle. As a result, they become foam cells filled with excess cholesterol, leading to the formation of visible deposits.
While the condition causes deposits mostly around the eyes, it can appear anywhere in the body, like in this man’s case.
High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and atherosclerosis by causing plaque buildup in arteries. It can also lead to reduced blood flow, potentially resulting in organ damage or other cardiovascular complications.
(Picture courtesy: iStock)
