The Animal Based Diet is an eating pattern that centers the consumption of animal products while intentionally including only a select group of plant foods. This approach prioritizes meat, organs, and animal fats as the primary sources of nutrition and energy. The diet focuses on nutrient density and excludes specific plant-derived foods believed to contain compounds that interfere with human digestion or nutrient absorption. This structure is distinct from other low-carbohydrate or animal-focused diets due to its philosophy regarding plant toxicity and its unique inclusion of certain carbohydrate sources.
Core Principles and Foundational Rationale
The philosophy revolves around maximizing the intake of bioavailable nutrients from animal sources. Proponents argue that animal products are more nutrient-dense than plant sources, offering high concentrations of essential vitamins and minerals easily utilized by the human body. Animal sources provide pre-formed Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin B12, and heme iron, which are often more readily absorbed than their plant-based counterparts.
This approach operates on the theory of minimizing exposure to plant defense chemicals, often called anti-nutrients. Compounds such as oxalates, lectins, and phytates found in seeds, roots, and leaves can interfere with the body’s ability to digest food and absorb minerals. The diet avoids plants high in these compounds, aiming to reduce digestive stress and inflammation.
The macronutrient composition typically leans toward high fat and adequate protein intake, with carbohydrates included selectively. Fat is a primary energy source, often derived from animal fats like tallow or lard. The inclusion of carbohydrate sources like fruit and honey means the eating pattern is not necessarily ketogenic, which differentiates it from stricter low-carb regimens.
The Allowed Food Spectrum
The foundation is built upon a diverse range of animal products, starting with muscle meat. Beef, lamb, pork, and poultry are commonly consumed, often with an emphasis on grass-fed, pasture-raised, or wild-caught sources to maximize nutrient profiles. Fatty cuts of meat are preferred to ensure sufficient energy intake from animal fats.
Organ meats are highly encouraged because they are considered nutritional powerhouses. Foods like liver, heart, and kidney provide high levels of vitamins A, B12, and essential minerals like zinc and iron. Eggs and low-lactose dairy products, such as aged cheeses, butter, and ghee, are frequently included, providing additional protein and fat.
The diet incorporates specific plant-derived foods, which is a defining characteristic. Fruits, especially those low in anti-nutrients, are permitted, often including berries or certain types of citrus. Natural sweeteners like raw honey and maple syrup are also allowed, providing carbohydrate sources not derived from grains or refined sugars.
The List of Excluded Foods
A feature of the Animal Based Diet is the systematic exclusion of many common food categories, based on the anti-nutrient theory. All grains, including wheat, corn, rice, and oats, are strictly avoided. This elimination extends to all grain-based products like bread, pasta, and cereals.
Legumes, such as beans, lentils, and peanuts, are excluded due to their high content of lectins and phytates. Nuts and seeds are also removed, as they are concentrated sources of plant defense compounds. This restriction includes popular items like almonds, cashews, and all seed-based products.
A major exclusion involves all vegetable and seed oils, which are viewed as inflammatory and processed. This means avoiding common oils like canola, soybean, corn, and sunflower oils, favoring animal fats like tallow or lard. Many vegetables are also excluded, particularly roots, leafy greens, and nightshades, as these are higher in oxalates and other anti-nutrients compared to the allowed fruits.
Distinguishing the Animal Based Diet from Related Approaches
The Animal Based Diet is frequently confused with the Carnivore Diet and the Ketogenic Diet, but it occupies a unique space between them. The primary distinction from the Carnivore Diet is the allowance of specific plant foods. While the Carnivore Diet demands the exclusive consumption of animal products, the Animal Based Diet selectively includes items like fruits and honey as acceptable sources of carbohydrates and micronutrients.
The Carnivore Diet is often described as a zero-carbohydrate approach, relying solely on fat and protein for energy. The Animal Based Diet intentionally incorporates carbohydrates by including honey, maple syrup, and fruit, meaning it is not necessarily a zero-carb or strict low-carb diet. This inclusion prevents the body from consistently achieving ketosis, which is the primary goal of the Ketogenic Diet.
In contrast, the Ketogenic Diet focuses on macronutrient ratios (high fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate) to induce ketosis, while the Animal Based Diet is defined by food exclusion. The Ketogenic Diet allows many plant foods that the Animal Based Diet strictly prohibits, such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils, provided they fit within the carbohydrate limit. The Animal Based Diet excludes these items based on their perceived anti-nutrient content, regardless of their carbohydrate count.