3 min|Dr. Maya Kuczma

An Introduction to the Carnivore Diet

Wellness, Nutrition, Health

What is the Carnivore Diet?

The Carnivore Diet is a diet that includes only food made from animals. For strict carnivores, this means eating only animals, such as fish, red meat, game meat, bone broth, organ meats, chicken, turkey, duck… you get the idea. For the strictest of carnivores, they may eat only beef or lamb and salt. Like any diet, certain components are up for debate. Certain carnivores would not eat dairy products; others include them in abundance. Some prioritize quality, and eat only animal foods that are organic, grass-fed, and/or wild. Some avoid all spices and sauces; others liberally spice their food. Depending on who you talk to, honey could be (or absolutely cannot be) considered an animal-based food. But carnivores tend to agree on a couple of factors:

Eat food that comes from animals

Don’t eat plants (no, not even vegetables, or grains, or sugars, or whatever plant you’re thinking of. No means no)

Why?

The carnivore diet prioritizes animal foods due to both their nutrient density, and the absence of potentially harmful components found in plant foods, such as lectins (like gluten, and many others), phytic acid, saponins, and oxalates. Additionally, animal foods have bioavailable nutrients, meaning we can easily digest and absorb the nutrients, unlike nutrients in plant foods that our body may struggle to access, particularly when prepared using industrialized processing methods.

This way of eating has been popularized by people who have used it for weight loss, as well as a growing community who have noticed improvements in autoimmune conditions, and symptoms of inflammation (such as joint pain, breakouts, and depression) by experimenting with this diet.

How?

For most, diversity is a helpful consideration when constructing a carnivore diet. This includes both diversity in the sources (the animals), as well as diversity in the type of animal food (such as muscle meat, connective tissue, and organ meat). This can lead to a wider range of nutrients, as well as more variety in day-to-day meal options. However, individual responses to a varied carnivore diet may suggest a more limited menu could be beneficial, such as in individuals with severe autoimmune reactions, or those who actually prefer the predictability of drawing from only one or two animal sources.

Where to Start?

If you are intrigued by a carnivore diet, I suggest learning more, particularly from those who have been following a carnivore diet for an extended period of time. Some of my favourite resources are:

BOOKS

“The Carnivore Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Optimal Health by Returning to our Ancestral Diet” by Paul Saladino, MD

“The Carnivore Diet” by Shawn Baker, MD

OTHER

Kelly Hogan, @kelly_hogan91 on Instagram, ‘myzerocarblife’ on YouTube

Judy Cho, @nutritionwithjudy on Instagram; Nutrition with Judy - the website https://nutritionwithjudy.com; and her podcast “Nutrition with Judy” https://nutritionwithjudy.buzzsprout.com

Laura Spath, @Lauraespath on Instagram, on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBT6FNxVkQFgudbJXomqveA/featured?app=desktop and her podcast (with Judy Cho) “Cutting Against the Grain” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cutting-against-the-grain/id1562595689

Curious about a Carnivore diet? Contact us to work with a Naturopathic Doctor today to find the best meal plan for you. Contact us by phone at (604) 738-1012 Ext 1 or by email at [email protected] to get started.