Keto and culture

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #1

This post is just an observation (from a European person), not any political discussion:

Everybody here realizes sugars and refined carbs are “bad”. However, the decision about what to do about it differs:

I understand many people here are US citizens. And a big amount of them (I do not know if majority or minority, but many of them) decide to go towards the “bacon” route. Also, carnivore, etc.

Instead, I would tend to think that Europeans (at least, continental Europeans) would choose a high vegetable route (of course, with meat, fish, eggs, etc. but in lower amounts). I think the carnivore route would be chosen by very few people.

So, the issue I want to make is that our home culture guides a lot our final decisions. We do not choose “the best decision”, but probably a “good enough decision” which is consistent with our past.

(bulkbiker) #2

Why would you think that?
There are plenty of European carnivores…

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #3

In proportion, I am pretty sure I am right. Of course, there will always be exceptions on both sides.

For example, when I read about keto in Spain (not much written, but anyway), there is (almost?) never a carnivore option. The underlying idea is to get rid of bread, pasta … and move towards vegetables + protein + oil.

(bulkbiker) #4

Possibly because you are reading about keto?

Carnivore is a different path… and Spain with its meat heavy diet would be a great place to be a carnivore…

I’m even thinking of spending time there myself once Brexit is sorted out.

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #5

Carnivore is one type of doing keto. In fact, probably is the “most strict keto” diet you can do, since meat has basically zero carbs.

(bulkbiker) #6

Err yes I know…

But most carnivores would not describe themselves as following “a ketogenic diet” they describe themselves as carnivores.

Edit to add … what I’m trying to say is that if you search for “keto” you’ll get keto results and if you search for the spanish equivalent of carnivore you might more meaningful results.

Although I still don’t understand why you think europeans are less likely to want meat heavy diets…

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #7

I think that if an Spaniard would start explaining that he/she eats only meat, everybody around him/her would say “you are crazy”. And I think here people depend more on the opinion of their environment, than in the US (as said, in general terms, not everybody, of course).

(bulkbiker) #8

But Germans eat huge quantities of pork
The British are known as “rosbif”'s in France…
The French guzzle ducks and their engorged livers all the time…

Spain has some of the best beef and steaks I have ever eaten and huge portions…

Maybe we live in different Europes…

(Doing a Mediterranean Keto) #9

Yes, lots of meat. But “not only meat”! The difference is like day and night.

(Full Metal KETO AF) #10

So Arbre this is more about worrying what others think. Maybe family pressure is greater for some.

Maybe that’s the difference is that people who go Carnivore tend to not really care much what others think about it. Sure, there’s always people who think you’re weird and object. Then again some of us revel in the shock value that KETO/Carnivore can have on the average person. Because we’re a little bit revolutionary by nature eating either way and most of us are proud of it and know what’s right for us. As Mark said I think there are plenty of Carnivores in Europe too. :cowboy_hat_face::cut_of_meat::cut_of_meat::cut_of_meat::cut_of_meat: