eating raw meat won't help you get pregnant, no matter what heidi montag says

lots of celebrities will court the paparazzi when they want attention for a new brand, or a new relationship, or to drum up attention for a new project. heidi montag, best known for her role on the 2006 to 2010 reality show “the hills” and her marriage to fellow reality star (and seller of crystal jewelry ) spencer pratt, is seeking the spotlight for a new and very original reason: to draw attention to her raw meat diet.

heidi montag snacks on bison heart as part of her raw meat diet https://t.co/gpuy9kxp3l pic.twitter.com/huexp5nynp

— page six (@pagesix) march 10, 2022

“i have been trying to get pregnant for over a year and a half, i’m willing to try different things,” she told the magazine . she’s aware that it’s risky, but doesn’t mind, she added: there’s “always risk eating raw just like eating raw sushi,” but “i just happen to like eating sushi-style organs.”

eating raw meat to get pregnant is dangerous

and while it’s true that food can affect fertility to a certain extent, red meat is actually something you may want to cut down on if you’re having fertility issues. studies have found that women who ate more vegetable protein than animal protein had lower rates of infertility due to ovulation disorders, according to healthline . men who eat a lot of red and processed meats had lower sperm count, quality and motility.

why eating only meat, all the time, is bad for your health

“there are issues with potential micronutrient [vitamin and mineral] deficiencies,” dr. beth mayer-davis, chair of the nutrition department at the university of north carolina, chapel hill told the guardian about raw meat diets. “fibre, for instance, is a non-nutritive substance in food that has a crucial function in the gut and in health in the context of a more typical diet. that would be a concern.”

what’s safe to eat raw?

montag told people that she got the idea from research by dr. paul saladino, a proponent of the “carnivore diet.” saladino, endorses a diet made up almost entirely of meat, with exceptions for a few foods like squash and cucumber without skin or seeds. he believes most vegetables, as well as seeds, nuts and beans, are actually harmful. plants, saladino claims, are responsible for almost all autoimmune illnesses, skin diseases, and psychiatric disorders. (he also rejects toothpaste and sunscreen as dangerous to our health.)

unsurprisingly, saladino sells supplements made from animal organs that he claims will aid weight loss, enhance memory and mood, improve cardiovascular health, and “reinforce your manhood,” ranging in price, from $28 to $74 per bottle.

a carnivore diet, which seems absurd and unhealthy, has supporters, including jordan peterson. ( the maintenance phase podcast has started a two-episode series about the fad diet, for those interested in a deep dive on where these claims come from and why they’ve caught on with particular groups of people.)

misinformation around pregnancy and childbirth is rampant

eating raw meat to boost the likelihood of pregnancy is far from the only piece of misinformation spread around fertility, pregnancy and childbirth. false claims about how vaccines affect pregnancy are rampant on pregnancy apps , for instance. and many public figures endorse the idea of consuming their placenta after childbirth, claiming it could decrease the risk of postpartum depression, decrease fatigue, and improve lactation results. by the way, health canada has stated  that human placenta products are not authorized for consumption in canada: it can contain infectious bacteria and viruses including hepatitis and hiv, which can infect new parents and their children.

share story

share this story

eating raw meat won't help you get pregnant, no matter what heidi montag says

email

facebook

x

linkedin

copy story link