(NewsNation) — A Florida man whose diet consisted of pounds of meat, cheese and butter, part of the “carnivore diet” fad, led to such high cholesterol levels that it released from his body in the form of yellowish lumps.
The diet claims to heal any number of issues from hormonal imbalances to chronic digestive issues despite medical evidence showing high levels of red meat consumption raises the risk of heart disease and cancer. It is a wholly meat-based diet consisting of only animal and meat products.
The man, in his 40s, developed “yellowish nodules on his palms, soles, and elbows” after eight months of his new eating habits, which consisted of foods high in fat including daily hamburgers.
Doctors examined his case, publishing their findings on Jan. 22 in the JAMA Cardiology medical journal.
“This case highlights the impact of dietary patterns on lipid levels and the importance of managing hypercholesterolemia to prevent complications,” the doctors said.
He was diagnosed with xanthelasma, a condition of painless yellowish lumps filled with cholesterol typically caused by high cholesterol levels.
The patient’s levels exceeded 1000 mg/dL. Anything above 200 mg/dL is considered high, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The man’s symptoms other than the lumps and high cholesterol were weight loss, increased energy and improved mental clarity.
