The carnivore diet is a restrictive diet plan wherein you only eat animal foods. This diet has no room for any fruits or vegetables. It only includes meat, fish, and other animal products like certain types of dairy and eggs. Some recommend even ditching the low lactose dairy like butter and cheese.
The carnivore diet was formulated based on the belief that the ancestral populations got most of their nourishment from meat. This diet helps you cut out food items that have low beneficial nutrients and high calories. Some of the benefits of carnivore diet are that it reduces fat, increases muscles, controls blood sugar levels, and even helps you lose weight.
Moreover, there is a controversial belief that today’s high-carb diets are the reason for the plethora of chronic diseases. Unlike the other popular diets, such as ketogenic and paleo, that restrict carb intake, a carnivorous diet eliminates carbs.
When it comes to the carnivore diet, the only rule is to eat only animal-sourced food items. The diet has no time or portion restrictions, unlike other diets. When following this diet, you can eat all you want until you are full. So, here is a list of recommended carnivore diet food items to get you started.
- Fish and Meat
The primary sources of nourishment in a carnivore diet are steak, red meat, and hamburgers. It is best to consume the fattier cuts of meat you can find because you are not consuming any carbs or plant foods. They provide enough calories to keep you up and running with energy.
Poultry meats like chicken and turkey are also a part of this diet. However, if you prefer the water dwellers more, then the best fishes to consume are sardines or salmon, as they are the high in fats than other kinds of fish.
However, consuming processed meat, such as bacon or sausages is debatable, since many of them have high preservatives and even may have complex carbs. Animal products like eggs, lard, and bone marrow make it to the list as well.
- Dairy
It is a controversial item on the list. Since the carnivore diet is an extension of the Ketogenic diet wherein dairy products are eliminated, most carnivore dieters skip the dairy. This is because of the sugar (lactose) content in milk or sugar. However, some dieters moderately consume milk, yogurt, and butter.
- Condiments
Red meats taste perfectly well with salt and pepper, owing to their high-fat content. So, a little bit of salt, pepper, and butter can make your steak quite flavorful. Unfortunately, you cannot use the usual dressings in this diet as they are either plant-based or have high sugar content.
So, bid goodbye to mustard, barbecue sauce, salsa, and other flavorings. However, sugar-free substitutes of these condiments are permissible but in small quantities.
- Supplements
Eating only animal foods ensures that you meet your daily protein needs, thus leaving no room for protein supplements. In addition, while products like creatine and whey proteins come from animals, there is no room for accessories in this diet. However, some people recommend taking multivitamin or mineral supplements to get enough micronutrients.
The diet plan is quite restrictive and demands one to be creative with their food choices, which can be quite challenging. However, it is not possible to benefit from a carnivore diet unless you adhere to all guidelines and consume only foods allowed in the diet.
