The Carnivore Diet: Why It Can Work (But Probably Not Forever)
If you've spent any time in health and wellness circles lately, you’ve probably heard the buzz around the carnivore diet — a way of eating that focuses almost exclusively on animal products: meat, fish, eggs, and little to no plants.
And the truth is?
It can work.
In the short term, many people report incredible benefits:
✔️ Rapid reduction in inflammation
✔️ Relief from autoimmune symptoms
✔️ Simplified digestion
✔️ Weight loss and mental clarity
When you strip your diet down to the most bioavailable proteins and fats, you naturally eliminate processed foods, allergens, and many gut irritants.
For people who have been stuck in cycles of food sensitivities, bloating, chronic fatigue, and brain fog, a period of carnivore eating can feel like hitting a "reset button" for the body.
But here’s the important part:
Just because it can work short term doesn't mean it's ideal long term.
Our bodies evolved to thrive on a diverse range of nutrients — including vitamins, minerals, fibers, and antioxidants found in plant foods.
Long-term, a strict carnivore diet can create gaps in micronutrient intake, affect gut microbiome diversity, and potentially strain certain systems in the body that benefit from variety.
Over time, the lack of plant polyphenols, fermentable fibers, and key vitamins (like Vitamin C in its whole food form) can become a liability rather than an advantage.
Not to mention — food, in its richest form, is also meant to nourish our connection to life: color, texture, and variety play a real role in our emotional and social health, too.
Here’s a more sustainable perspective:
Think of carnivore as a tool, not a lifestyle.
A short-term therapeutic intervention to calm inflammation, reset digestion, and rebuild your relationship with food — not necessarily a permanent way to eat for decades.
For many people, the most powerful path is starting strict to heal, then strategically reintroducing a wide variety of nutrient-dense, whole foods to maintain long-term health.
Bottom line:
The carnivore diet can be powerful — but the goal isn’t to live on steak forever. The goal is to heal, regulate, and rebuild a strong foundation that supports true, dynamic health for the long haul.
If you need help finding the right diet for your body, I invite you to book a wellness session with me.
