Carnivore Diet Pros and Cons: Does One Outweigh the Other?

Want to weigh the carnivore diet pros and cons to determine if this lifestyle change is right for you? You're in luck - today, we're going to take a deep dive on the pros and cons of the carnivore diet. After reading this article, you'll know what your next steps should be.

We hate to spoil the fun for you, but the reality is this: the carnivore diet pros dramatically outweigh the cons.

You'll live a healthier, happier life while following this diet through weight loss, a sharper mind, and the elimination of many health complications that are a result of the modern American diet. The only cons to this diet are the cost and difficulty. But health is wealth and any goal worth attaining comes with a challenge - so we don't even really view these as drawbacks. With our carnivore crisps, the diet can be more affordable and easy.

Below, we'll fully break down the pros and cons of this diet so you can make an informed choice based on your unique needs. First, here's a brief overview of what this diet entails:

Background Information on the Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet, otherwise known as the all-meat diet (which is self-explanatory), is a type of elimination diet. Your food options are limited to animal products only. In other words, you eat meat, fish, shellfish, and some occasional eggs or dairy if desired.

That means that, by its very nature, you'll be eating a high protein, high fat, low carb diet. You won't be able to eat many of the foods you've grown accustomed to - but that's a good thing. The fact of the matter is that many of the staple foods our population eats on a regular basis is detrimental to physical and mental health.

We have a full article on what is allowed on the carnivore diet if you'd like to learn more - but for now, we're going to get to the real reason you came here today: to discover if this diet is right for you.

Unpacking the Carnivore Diet Pros and Cons

We touched on a few of the pros and cons of carnivore diet in the introduction to this article. But now, we'll take a full look at them to help you determine if you should move forward with this lifestyle change or not.

Carnivore Diet Pros

The pros of the carnivore diet can be summarized as better physical and mental health. But we're going to point out some specific health benefits you'll attain through this diet in this section.

1. Weight Loss: The carnivore diet is naturally a low carb, high fat, and high protein diet - which means you'll be eating fewer carbohydrates to maintain energy levels. This will lead to weight loss as your body burns fat in order to obtain energy.
2. Improved Focus & Mental Clarity: It's no secret that the modern American diet is full of unhealthy ingredients like sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and other preservatives that can take a toll on cognitive performance. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you may see an increase in focus and mental clarity over time. 
3. Decreased Inflammation: Eating animal products helps to reduce inflammation in the body which can lower the risk for many diseases or afflictions. You’ll also potentially eliminate chronic pain and other consequences of living with constant inflammation.
4. Better Gut Health: Animal products are great sources of probiotics, which help to keep your gut healthy and even reduce symptoms of digestive issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). And because the carnivore diet eliminates foods that are tough to digest - like gluten - it’s a double whammy.
5. Lower Blood Sugar & Insulin Levels: Eating animal-based foods helps to regulate blood sugar levels, reducing the risk for diabetes and other related conditions. And again, you’re eliminating common sources that contribute to diabetes - like processed snacks filled with sugar.
6. Improved Heart Health: Following a carnivore diet can be beneficial for heart health as it typically eliminates processed and unhealthy fats that can easily accumulate in the body over time - leading to increased risk for complications like high cholesterol and stroke/heart attack.

Carnivore Diet Cons

To be honest, there aren't any real carnivore diet cons - at least in our opinion. That's because the only two complaints people have are in regard to cost and difficulty. And these are both valid points - but they don't hold any weight in our viewpoint.

It's true - the carnivore diet seems more expensive than the traditional American diet. That's because meat is expensive - and that's really all you'll eat. With that said, the long-term costs of following an American diet dramatically outweigh the cost of eating healthier in the present day. Think about it like this - you can spend a bit more on groceries now, or you can pay for in the long run treating health complications like heart disease, diabetes, and other afflictions caused by processed foods.

One of our favorite sayings is "health is wealth". There is no price tag too high when it comes to your physical and mental well-being. So - rather than avoiding the carnivore diet because it's too expensive, we encourage you to learn how to do carnivore diet on a budget. We have a complete guide on this topic.

The other complaint people have is that the carnivore diet is too tough to follow. Again, this a valid point - when you're used to giving in to your inhibitions and cravings, it can feel impossible to limit yourself to just meat. However, this will be a great way to improve your willpower. You'll become mentally stronger as a result of this diet - which can actually make this point another pro!

And to help you ease into the transition, you can rely on our in-depth resources offering carnivore diet tips and tricks for success. Start slowly by removing foods from your diet until you're eventually 100% carnivore. Going all in can be a huge shock to your system and result in quitting early. And, make sure you have the best healthy low carb snacks on hand for when those cravings strike.

After Reading the Carnivore Diet Pros and Cons, the Verdict Should Be Obvious...

That's our full breakdown of the carnivore diet pros and cons. Are you able to see which one outweighs the other? By now, the verdict should be obvious. The benefits of the carnivore diet dramatically outweigh the drawbacks. If you're looking for a way to transform your physical and mental health for the better - this is one of the best ways. You can also consider other restriction diets, though, as we've written a full article comparing the carnivore diet vs keto.

But at this point, the only thing left to do is come up with a plan and jumpstart your journey to healthier, happier living. As mentioned earlier, the two cons of the carnivore diet can be offset with some careful shopping and planning. It really just comes down to having the right snacks in your arsenal to keep things affordable and fun. And that's where our meat snacks come in.

Wait - what are meat snacks? They're exactly what they sound like - snacks made from meat. Our treats have been referred to as "meat pastries" because of how they melt in your mouth - giving way to tantalizing flavors that will have you craving more, time and time again.

The best part? There are only two ingredients: meat and salt. These are a perfect choice for anyone on the carnivore diet - or anyone who simply wants a healthy, tasty snack on hand to replace sugar, carb-filled, processed junk. We have a variety of choices too, including beef chips, brisket chips, chicken chips, pork chips, ribeye chips, steak chips, and even lamb chips!

Want more carnivore diet snack list ideas? We have a complete guide to help you set out on the right foot - so take a look and take actionable steps to begin this new lifestyle!

Wrapping Up Our Breakdown of the Pros and Cons of the Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet pros and cons are clear. If you're looking to improve your physical and mental health, this is the perfect place to start. The carnivore diet will provide your body with all the nutrition it needs while eliminating any inflammation-causing foods that may be in your current diet. As a result, you’ll lose weight and offset your risk of developing many consequences of the modern American diet.

Plus, there's no denying how tasty our meat chips are - so you won't even miss the processed snacks on grocery store shelves! Take some time to weigh the pros and cons of the carnivore diet for yourself before making a final decision on whether or not this lifestyle change is right for you. With the help of carnivore snacks from Carnivore Snax, this journey can be both delicious and successful!