Is the carnivore diet worth it?
By April
@thislittlepennyearns (70502)
Defuniak Springs, Florida
September 17, 2026 7:39pm CST
I’ve been looking into the carnivore diet lately, and there’s honestly a lot of debate about whether it’s actually healthy or not.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the carnivore diet is basically eating mostly meat, fish, eggs, and sometimes dairy, while cutting out things like fruits, vegetables, grains, beans, and nuts.
There are definitely some possible benefits. One of the biggest ones is weight loss. Eating a lot of protein can help you feel full longer, so you may naturally eat less. One survey of more than 2,000 people following a carnivore diet found that many reported losing weight and being satisfied with the diet. The catch is that it was a survey, so it doesn't prove the diet itself caused the weight loss.
There’s also research showing that low-carb diets can help with blood sugar and insulin levels. They can also lower triglycerides and raise HDL (the “good” cholesterol). So there are definitely some positive things happening with low-carb eating.
Another thing I can understand about carnivore is that it’s SIMPLE. There aren't a million rules or foods you have to track. You basically know what you can eat and what you can't.
But there are some pretty big concerns too.
One of the biggest is cholesterol. Some people see their LDL cholesterol go way up when they eat a lot of saturated fat from things like fatty beef, butter, and dairy. Some studies on keto diets have shown pretty significant increases in LDL and ApoB. We still don't have enough long-term research to know exactly what that means for someone eating carnivore for decades.
Then there’s fiber. A strict carnivore diet has basically zero fiber because fiber mainly comes from plants. Fiber is important for digestion and has been linked with better heart and overall health. So completely cutting out fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains means you're also cutting out a lot of fiber and other nutrients.
There’s also the red meat question. The World Health Organization's cancer research agency has classified processed meat as carcinogenic and red meat as probably carcinogenic, especially when it comes to colorectal cancer. That doesn't mean eating a steak is going to give you cancer, but research has found that regularly eating higher amounts of red and processed meat is associated with higher risk.
The biggest thing I found while researching this is that there just isn't enough long-term research specifically on the carnivore diet. A lot of the studies people use to support it are actually studies on low-carb or ketogenic diets, which aren't exactly the same thing.
So I don't think it's as simple as saying “carnivore is amazing” or “carnivore is terrible.” There are some real benefits, especially when it comes to protein, weight loss, and blood sugar, but there are also some legitimate concerns about cholesterol, fiber, nutrients, and eating a lot of red and processed meat.
Personally, I think the most important thing is looking at the actual research instead of just listening to someone online saying the diet either cured everything or is going to kill you .
There’s still a lot we don't know, especially about what happens after following a strict carnivore diet for 10, 20, or 30 years. More long-term research would definitely help answer that.
6 people like this
6 responses
@teamfreak16 (46712)
• Denver, Colorado
10h
It sounds like the Atkins Diet. I will say I once lost 25 pounds on Atkins. But I also didn't stick with it.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (70502)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
10h
My mom and step dad did the atkins diet in the early 2000s but they didn’t stick with it either.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (46712)
• Denver, Colorado
10h
@thislittlepennyearns - It was very hard to completely cut out carbs.
@AmbiePam (127312)
• United States
10h
One thing I always worried about with my dad is that he eats a lot of red meat. That was just what they could afford growing up, when they could afford meat at all. I’ve heard tons about red meat being carcinogenic, and that a diet high in red meat is bad for you.
@thislittlepennyearns (70502)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
10h
My grandpa was a meat and potatoes guy. And bread. Every meal had meat potatoes and bread. Maybe a veggie is someone other than him planned dinner. So I get it.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (12996)
• Philippines
5h
I just eat the usual diet with fruits and veggies, as long as we are young and can eat anything healthy we should, in preparation when we get older and we no longer able to eat just any fruits or veggies, at least we can stored nutrients and vitamins from them, especially calcium...
@FourWalls (87765)
• United States
6h
I tried the Atkins diet but couldn’t stick with it. I’ve lost 60 pounds on Weight Watchers, so that’s the one I recommend.
@nawala123 (23318)
• Indonesia
10h
We are naturally omnivore. I think intermitten fasting might be an option







