What is the difference between the carnivore diet and the ketogenic diet?

The carnivore diet and the ketogenic diet stand out in particular in the jungle of food fads.

But these two approaches are often confused; although they have similarities, it is important that you understand their fundamental differences to choose the diet that will suit you best.

What are the origins of the carnivore and ketogenic diets?

The carnivore diet , also known as the zero-carb diet , is a radical dietary approach that involves eating almost exclusively animal products , such as meat, fish, seafood, eggs, and depending on the derivatives, some dairy products.

This approach originates from the traditions of our hunter-gatherer ancestors who ate mainly meat and animal products due to their environment, climate and limited resources.

This is why we have been able to develop in this way, meat being very rich in bioavailable proteins and micronutrients .

The most famous follower of the carnivore diet is undoubtedly the famous Joe Rogan , the king of podcasts!

As for the ketogenic diet , its origin is quite different and refers to the medical field since it was originally developed in the 1920s to treat epilepsy in children .

This diet emphasizes limiting, or even eliminating, carbohydrates , a moderate amount of protein, and a high intake of healthy fats .

Which makes it a very low-carb diet, just like the carnivore diet.

What are the differences between the carnivore diet and the ketogenic diet?

The main difference between the carnivore diet and the ketogenic diet lies in their food composition.

As mentioned earlier, the carnivore diet focuses exclusively on animal foods, such as meat, fish, eggs, and seafood.

Plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, are completely excluded.

Processed and industrial foods are also prohibited .

As you will have understood, this diet focuses on raw and lightly cooked products .

The carnivore diet emphasizes the consumption of animal protein and healthy fats, taking care to eliminate vegetables and fruits which, for carnivores, would be harmful to health because they create toxic products.

The ketogenic diet also limits carbohydrate intake, but it does not completely eliminate plant-based foods.

Instead, it allows for moderate consumption of low-carb vegetables, such as spinach, broccoli, avocado, and zucchini, to name a few.

But this diet also includes a significant amount of oilseeds, such as almonds, cashew nuts, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, etc.

Finally, it also includes a moderate amount of protein and a high consumption of healthy fats, such as different vegetable oils.

To give you an idea, in general, ketogenic dieters consume between 70 and 80% fat , 0 to 10% carbohydrates and 20 to 30% protein.

What are the promises of the carnivore diet?

There are many…

More vitamins and minerals in the food bowl, weight loss , better hunger management, better digestion, stable energy throughout the day, better skin appearance, antidepressant effect, anti-inflammatory effect, natural increase in testosterone , possible reduction of symptoms of autoimmune diseases , etc.

All these effects could be explained by several factors.

Firstly, the nutritional richness of meat, but also and above all the bioavailable nature of the nutrients , which makes a large number of vitamins and proteins very assimilable for the human digestive system.

Then, the carnivore diet leads to a drastic improvement in digestion from the first days, this is explained by the elimination of vegetable fibers, which would in reality be a real antinutrient , which will slow down the assimilation of real nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc.

Another phenomenon that will improve your overall health is the elimination of potentially inflammatory foods present in the modern diet.

And when I say that, I'm obviously talking about products made with sugar, preservatives, refined oil, coloring, and other chemicals of all kinds...

In fact, these hyper-processed foods contribute to chronic inflammation throughout your body.

But significantly reducing carbohydrates in the diet can lead to a decrease in the production of insulin, a hormone that, in excess, can promote inflammation.

Finally, the carnivore diet is also low, or even zero, in carbohydrate intake , so your body will no longer use glucose to meet its needs, but will use sources of fat.

Your body will enter ketosis !

If you would like to know more and hear firsthand accounts from people who follow this diet, I'll link you to those of Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila.

As for scientific confirmation, we are still waiting for studies that would confirm these effects in the long term, as specified by scientist Dr. Rhonda Patrick , a leading specialist in nutrition.

What are the promises of the ketogenic diet?

The main goal of the ketogenic diet is to put the body into a metabolic state called “ ketosis ,” in which it burns fat as its primary energy source instead of carbohydrates.

In fact, this will lead to a loss of fat mass, since the body will use the fats found in your body, instead of using sugars.

The carnivore and ketogenic diets have many similarities when it comes to positive effects .

The ketogenic diet has been widely studied for its positive effect on weight loss , diabetes management, and seizure reduction in some children.

But one of the biggest advantages will be the increase in longevity, where a human being will have a lifespan of 80 years,

A person adopting a low-carb diet will profoundly modify their metabolism, which would allow them to live longer and in better health.

Because using carbohydrates as the main source of energy would actually be far too energy-intensive for our bodies.

In fact, many clues from our biology prove that we are made to live on average 120 years.

What are the dangers of a carbohydrate-restricted diet?

A sudden change in diet can sometimes be too demanding for the body, which can quickly become confused by your new eating habits, which is where negative aspects can appear .

One of the most impressive side effects is the keto flu , which occurs when the body adapts to burning fat as its primary energy source.

Nausea, headaches, fatigue and irritability may then occur.

In addition, some nutrition specialists also speak of certain nutritional deficiencies when drastically cutting out carbohydrate sources and potentially certain sources of vitamins found in particular in fruits.

Finally, a low-carb diet is like a small wedding, you can't go anywhere whenever you want...

It takes time for the body to adjust between burning fat and burning sugar, so you'll need to stick to your diet for the long term if you want to reap all the benefits of the ketogenic or carnivore diet.

Also, when the ketogenic diet is interrupted, there is a risk of weight regain, unstable moods, and fluctuating energy.

Also, one of the consequences, often underestimated, is the social aspect .

In fact, few people adopt the ketogenic or carnivore diet in their daily lives, so outings with friends and meals at Uncle Daniel's could quickly become a source of misunderstanding, or even conflict.

So you will need to be clear with those around you about your new way of eating, and find strategies to maintain your new eating habits.

At the table, show pedagogy and patience!

If you want ideas for your meals, I have written an article entirely dedicated to this .

I would like to end on a logistical point.

The products you consume, whether it's the carnivore diet or the ketogenic diet, must be of good quality, so you may see your shopping costs increase.

And in times of crisis that can be a problem...

You will therefore need to find concrete strategies to buy quality products at better prices.

Like buying local directly from the producer , or going to the market for example.

But there are also online solutions, such as the Pour de Bon website.

This platform connects producers directly with consumers, which will allow you to receive quality products at home at more reasonable prices than in some organic stores, for example.

Both the ketogenic and carnivore diets have some interesting things going for them…

This way you will be able to make an informed choice about what suits you best at this moment in your life.

But don't forget, adopting a diet is not about following a dogma .

Experience and your own feelings will always prevail over what an article or a YouTube video tells you, even mine!

Thank you for your attention, my Mouver!

And if you want to bounce back or simply share your experience with low-carb eating, I look forward to hearing from you in the comments section 😉

Nomad Slim
Founder of MOUVERS