Should I try the carnivore / animal-based diet?

The carnivore diet, often defined as an animal-based diet, has been associated with improvements in mental clarity, weight loss, and remission of autoimmune diseases, with its utility being reverse-engineered from anecdotal evidence, according to Peter Attia and Paul Saladino.

However, experts like Paul Saladino also report experiencing problems after prolonged strict adherence, including electrolyte imbalances, declining testosterone, and heart palpitations, suggesting potential downsides to long-term, strict carnivory.

While some benefits are attributed to the immune system's response to plant compounds or addressing insulin resistance, the diet's long-term safety and impact on various health markers, such as LDL cholesterol and gut microbiome diversity, remain subjects of ongoing discussion and uncertainty among experts.

A carnivore diet typically involves nose-to-tail eating of animal foods and adequate salt, with some variations including less toxic plant foods, fruit, goat's milk kefir, and raw honey. A 30-day animal-based reset, 'Nose to Tail January,' has been suggested. Some individuals have followed a diet of 95-99% meat with minimal or no plants for two weeks. For active individuals, up to 200 grams of carbohydrates daily may be needed to prevent muscle twitches.

• 01Paul Saladino stated that transitioning to a carnivore diet after health decline on a vegan diet led to improvements in mental clarity and overall health.
• 02Peter Attia and Paul Saladino noted that the utility and scientific definition of carnivore diets are being reverse-engineered from anecdotal evidence of benefits like weight loss, eczema clearing, and autoimmune disease remission.
• 03Paul Saladino claimed that a carnivore diet or a diet including less toxic plant foods can address insulin resistance and improve health.
• 04Paul Saladino mentioned that the benefits of a carnivore diet may be due to the immune system's response to plant compounds rather than caloric restriction.
• 05Paul Saladino indicated that a nutrient-rich animal-based diet including meat, organs, fruit, goat's milk kefir, and raw honey can be prepared for $23.25 per day.
• 06Paul Saladino stated that some individuals may develop scurvy on a carnivore diet if they consume only cured or non-fresh meats, but not if they eat fresh meat.
• 07Paul Saladino reported that a carnivore diet helped reduce the need for daily inhaler use for allergic asthma and sinusitis.
• 08Paul Saladino suggested that a carnivore diet can be a beneficial adjunct for treating methane-dominant SIBO and leaky gut.
• 09Paul Saladino proposed that a 30-day animal-based reset called 'Nose to Tail January' can be beneficial.
• 10Paul Saladino asserted that the carnivore diet is the evolutionary baseline diet for humans and is safe in the long term.
• 11Paul Saladino mentioned following a diet consisting of 95-99% meat, with minimal or no plants, for two weeks.
• 12Paul Saladino stated that the ketogenic diet, as used by Paleo Medicina, is a carnivore diet and an animal-based diet.
• 13Paul Saladino observed that fibrinogen levels were at the low end of normal (mid-200s) on an entirely animal-based diet.

Paul Saladino reported that sustained absence of insulin on a carnivore diet could lead to muscle loss and decreased bone density. He also experienced hair loss and scalp pain after three months on a carnivore diet, suggesting a folate deficiency and the need for organs and fat. Paul Saladino, Peter Attia, and Rhonda Patrick noted a potential downside of the carnivore diet is a significant increase in LDL cholesterol and LDL particle count in some individuals. Paul Saladino experienced electrolyte problems, heart palpitations, sleep disturbances, and declining testosterone after two years on a strict carnivore diet, and a decrease in active thyroid hormone (total T3) and slightly decreased testosterone after about a year and a half. He also noted that long-term ketosis from a strict carnivore diet can lead to electrolyte imbalances and energy crashes, suggesting a need to include some carbohydrates. Paul Saladino stated that problems experienced on a pure carnivore diet were not solely due to overconsumption of organs. He also mentioned that individuals with chronic kidney disease should exercise caution with a carnivore diet, paying attention to protein macros and monitoring kidney function. Paul Saladino observed that patients on higher-protein carnivore diets may exhibit elevated BUN, creatinine, uric acid, and glucose, while vitamin D, folate, and sometimes iron can be decreased. He also noted that some individuals report increased food sensitivity after adopting a carnivore diet, which may be due to becoming more aware of pre-existing sensitivities. Paul Saladino stated that it is uncertain if carnivore and ketogenic diets promote healing or simply prevent further harm, and it is unknown how long one can adhere to a carnivore diet before it becomes difficult to reintroduce plant-based foods.

The verdict could change with more definitive research on the long-term effects of the carnivore diet on various health markers, including cardiovascular health, bone density, and hormonal balance. Clearer guidelines on nutrient supplementation, particularly for folate and electrolytes, and a better understanding of individual variability in response to the diet would also be impactful. Additionally, studies that definitively establish the necessity or non-necessity of plant foods for a healthy microbiome would be crucial.