TLDR: We recommend an Animal-Based Diet as your forever diet, with Carnivore reserved as a temporary intervention for specific health issues.*
Curious why? Read on 👇
*Not a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider
Ever been confused about Carnivore vs. Animal-Based diets? You’re not alone.
These terms get tossed around like they’re interchangeable, but they’re actually very different approaches.
And the difference might be why you’re either CRUSHING your health goals… or feeling stuck in a dietary prison.
Let’s break it down:
Carnivore = Animal foods ONLY.
Meat, eggs, seafood, maybe some dairy. That’s it. No plants allowed.
Animal-Based = Animal foods FIRST, with carefully selected plant foods.
Meat, organs, eggs, raw dairy… PLUS fruit, honey, and even some squash or white rice if tolerated.
Both approaches are trying to get us back to eating like our ancestors…
It’s just that one (carnivore) is like using a sledgehammer, while the other (animal-based) is more like using a scalpel.
When Carnivore Makes Sense
Let’s be real – for some people, carnivore can be incredible:
- If you’re dealing with severe autoimmune issues
- If you’re using it as an elimination diet to identify food sensitivities
- If you have serious metabolic dysfunction (diabetes, pre-diabetes)
For these folks, the restrictive nature of The Carnivore Diet can be exactly what they need. Sometimes you gotta break up with all plants to heal.
It’s basically a therapeutic intervention. Like medicine, but with steak.
The Problem with Long-Term Carnivore
Here’s where people run into trouble…
After a few months on strict carnivore, many start experiencing:
- Muscle cramps that wake you up at night
- Heart palpitations that make you question your life choices
- Sleep disruptions that leave you staring at the ceiling
- Hormonal weirdness nobody warned you about
Why? Often it’s electrolyte imbalances from long-term ketosis and zero carb intake.
Plus there’s the whole
“I’m trapped in dietary prison and can’t eat a strawberry” psychological aspect… 🍓
Why Animal-Based Might Be Your Final Destination
An animal-based approach still gives you ALL the benefits of ditching processed foods, grains and seed oils…
But adds back in the foods your body actually loves:
🍉 Ripe seasonal fruits (nature’s perfect carb package)
🍯 Raw honey (humans have been scaling cliffs for this stuff for millennia)
🐄 Raw dairy (if you tolerate it well)
This isn’t a compromise – it’s OPTIMAL.
Think about it: our ancestors weren’t turning down honey when they found a beehive.
They weren’t ignoring perfectly ripe berries.
They were strategic omnivores who prioritized animal foods because of their nutrient density.
Animal-Based: The Best of Both Worlds
With animal-based, you get to:
- Keep the nutritional powerhouses (meat, organs, animal fats)
- Add in strategic carbs for better sleep, workouts, and hormones
- Enjoy more food variety (critical for long-term sustainability)
- Have an actual social life without constant food anxiety
It’s like getting all the benefits of carnivore without the long-term drawbacks.
So Which One Is Right For YOU?
If you’re dealing with autoimmune skin or joint issues, struggling with metabolic dysfunction (like diabetes or pre-diabetes), or using diet as a tool to identify food sensitivities – then a temporary carnivore approach might be your best bet.
For everyone else? Animal-based is probably your forever home.
Because carbs aren’t the enemy.
They’re fuel for your body, energy for your brain, and a vital part of what makes you feel alive and vibrant.
When your body senses abundance, your metabolism wakes up, your hormones begin to balance, and real vitality has a chance to take place.
An animal-based approach honors that need for nourishment, with nutrient-dense foods like meat, organs, eggs, raw dairy, fruit, and honey.
Because let’s be honest…
A diet you can actually stick with is worth 10X more than a “perfect” diet you’ll quit.
An animal-based approach is something you can literally do for life. It’s not a 30-day challenge – it’s a forever solution.
So next time someone asks if you’re “carnivore or animal-based,” you’ll know exactly what to say:
“I’m animal-based – I prioritize nutrient-dense animal foods but still enjoy nature’s carbs like fruit and honey because I’m in this for the long haul.”
If you’ve got any questions about the animal-based or carnivore diet, just hit reply.
As you can probably tell, we LOVE talking about this stuff.
We’ve spent years experimenting with both approaches ourselves, and we’re always happy to share what we’ve learned along the way.
To your radical health,
Heart & Soil
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