Experts Expose the 'Carnivore Diet' as a Scam
Urgent warnings from doctors and dieticians
The ‘carnivore diet’ consists exclusively of animal-based foods, such as meat, eggs, and dairy. This article shares expert insights on the dangers of this diet. As someone who was a meat eater for most of my life, I’m not here to judge — just to inform.
In a world flooded with fad diets and health misinformation, we owe it to ourselves to have an evidence-based, civil discussion about what we eat. In this article, I aim to expose one of the most alarming cases of misinformation I have ever encountered: the ‘carnivore diet.’ After extensive research, I know that this diet is — in many ways — a dangerous and completely pseudoscientific trend.
While this trend may boost the profits of the meat industry and the fame of a few influencers, it benefits no one else — quite the opposite. Though short-term effects may give the false impression of health benefits, the carnivore diet carries significant health risks and causes devastating harm to animals, climate, and the environment.
Advocates of the carnivore diet are known for spreading lies, baseless claims, and misleading sources. Their arguments are riddled with glaring flaws. Even Shawn Baker, known as the ‘King’ of the carnivore diet, has admitted that there’s no data to support the diet he aggressively promotes. Meanwhile, reputable doctors and dieticians who have examined the evidence strongly warn against this diet. Let’s find out why!
What the experts say
The following list of quotes illustrates just how many professionals are sounding the alarm about the carnivore diet. Feel free to explore them all, or skim through and pick a few at random.
“The theoretical justification for the carnivore diet is highly flawed, and there is no empirical evidence to support it. Further, there are multiple lines of evidence that restricting one’s diet to only meat and eggs is a bad thing for health.”
Steven Novella, MD, clinical doctor at the Yale University School of Medicine; Executive Editor of ‘Science-Based Medicine’
“Aside from the brief and unsustainable weight loss, there are virtually no ‘pros’ from [following a carnivore diet] for any period of time. It is incredibly high in fat while lacking critical nutrients for both short term and long-term health.”
René Ficek, RDN; Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist; President and Owner at Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating
“To be blunt, I wouldn’t recommend the carnivore diet to anyone.”
Antonette Hardie, Registered Dietitian at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
“Experts advise against the all-meat diet (...) No expert in good faith could provide ways to consume an all-meat diet safely.”
Beth Ann Mayer, Jase Peeples & Dana K. Cassell, Healthline
“The carnivore diet is not healthy and should not be followed. Do not recommend.”
Michelle Yates, RD & licensed medical nutrition therapist
“No controlled studies support claims that the carnivore diet can help eliminate health issues. It lacks beneficial nutrients, including fiber and plant compounds like antioxidants.”
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN, LD; article medically reviewed by Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT
“In a strict carnivore diet whereby no plant foods are allowed, the body is stripped of any opportunity to have phytonutrients that protect us from cancer and many chronic diseases. These phytonutrients are exclusively found in plants.”
Angel Luk, Registered Dietician
“Increased Risk of Kidney Stones, Gout, and Osteoporosis: Experts Agree TikTok’s Carnivore Diet Is Risky”
Charlotte Pointing, food journalist
"Meat alone doesn’t provide us with the broad range of nutrients we require, including vitamin C which causes scurvy if we become deficient."
Sophie Medlin, Consultant Colorectal Dietician
“The Carnivore diet is trending — but dieticians are warning not to try the fad”
Chloe Gray, health and fitness journalist
“Because this is an extreme elimination diet of major food groups, [the carnivore diet] could perpetuate long-term health problems, such as the elevation of the unhealthy LDL cholesterol, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, scurvy, low bone mass, constipation, kidney stones and malnutrition, just to name a few.”
Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Clinical Professor and dietitian at Boston University; author of Nutrition & You and host of the podcast
“Diets that are extremely high in animal products promote ongoing chronic inflammation. Without plant-based anti-inflammatory compounds over time, chronic inflammation can cause organ dysfunction, weight gain and a dysregulated metabolism.”
Dr. Jennie Stanford, obesity medicine physician and medical contributor for Drugwatch
“Studies have shown the opposite of the carnivore diet is best for your health.”
Robbie Purves, health journalist
“I'm a Registered Dietitian and I Really Don't Want You to Eat a Carnivore Diet”
Abby Langer, Registered Dietician
“Carnivore diet: New social media trend criticised by nutritionists as 'very damaging'. The lifestyle has been condemned by health and nutrition experts.”
Rachel Hosie, Health Correspondent specializing in fitness and nutrition; writes Insider's Nutrition Clinic
“Carnivore diet a ‘terrible idea’”
Dr. Walter Willett, Professor of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
“The Bullshit Argument that Carnivores Use Against Plants”
Sam Westreich, PhD in genetics; Microbiome Scientist at DNAnexus
“The ‘king’ of the carnivore diet admits he doesn’t know the long-term effects”
Daniel Clark, food journalist
“The claims of the carnivore diet are just so crazy. Its supporters are saying that vegetables are horrible, and that carbohydrates are toxic. None of this has ever been proven by science, and any studies they’re citing are not credible. You’re essentially cutting out foods that have been proven to be good for you, and that have never proven to be harmful.”
Abby Langer, Registered Dietician; formerly Clinical Lead dietitian at two major Toronto hospitals
“The Not-So-Hidden Dangers of the Carnivore Diet”
Elizabeth Klodas, MD; F.A.C.C.; founder of the Preventive Cardiology Clinic; trained at Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins
“There’s a reason health experts say to eat the rainbow. You need a variety of foods for optimal health. These include fruits and vegetables, healthy fats like avocado and olives, and whole grains like quinoa and brown rice. You get so many important nutrients from these foods — from vitamins and minerals to antioxidants — that are important for good health.”
Amy Gorin, award-winning Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
“The carnivore diet can increase the risk of disease because it is an acidic diet that is high in sodium that lacks in key nutrients responsible for optimal health. (... ) The diet can also be high in saturated fat and LDL cholesterol. Eliminating nutrient-rich food groups and increasing saturated fat can increase the risk for heart disease.”
Beata Rydyger, registered nutritionist; clinical nutritional advisor to Zen Nutrients
“I definitely shouldn't try the carnivore diet, right? Yup, it’s not a smart idea.”
Christine Byrne, MPH, LDN, Registered Dietician
“I would never recommend a carnivore diet (…) The disadvantage of all keto diets is they tend to raise LDL cholesterol levels in both the short and long term. Other longer-term concerns about keto diets, especially the carnivore diet, include the increased risk of kidney stones, gout, and osteoporosis. Also, the very high protein intake associated with the carnivore diet can lead to impaired kidney function.”
Howard E. LeWine, MD; Chief Medical Editor at Harvard Health Publishing
“A carnivore diet is high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol — almost everything that is harmful to the heart. Sodium and saturated fat put a lot of pressure on the heart by narrowing its arteries. Not eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans significantly increases the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and other cardiovascular diseases.”
Wendy Lord, Registered Dietitian
“The carnivore diet isn’t evidence-based, meaning there is no research to validate its claims. (…) Without the consumption of fruit and vegetables, the body will be highly deficient in essential vitamins and minerals. There are higher chances of cardiovascular diseases, increased blood pressure, constipation, and other chronic illnesses that come along with vitamin deficiency.”
Krutika Nanavati, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
“I would never recommend the carnivore diet to anyone. (…) Those following the carnivore diet are more at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to the lack of variety in the diet. Dieters are also at risk of having gastrointestinal issues such as constipation and acid reflux. The carnivore diet contains no fiber which [can damage] the gut microbiome by starving good bacteria in the gut.”
Sydney Greene, M.S., Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
“It’s also a bad idea for long-term heart health as almost the entire diet is made up of high saturated fat foods. There is solid evidence that shows a well-balanced diet full of plant-based foods is health promoting and none to prove that there are benefits to the carnivore diet.”
Jamie Nadeau, Registered Dietitian
“Our experts can’t recommend the carnivore diet. There are other significantly healthier and more balanced eating strategies that include plant-based foods, which can be used to elicit the same purported results. You can also get those same results in a way that will improve your health, protect against chronic disease and be more environmentally sustainable.”
Lambeth Hochwald, health journalist for Forbes; article medically reviewed by Nina Kolbe, Registered Dietician
“It may be difficult to get enough vitamin C to support a healthy immune system without vegetables, especially if you don’t eat much fruit. You may not get enough dietary fiber either, which is essential for reducing inflammation and helping beneficial gut bacteria thrive over pro-inflammatory bacteria.”
Stephanie Wells, MS, ACSM-CPT, Registered Dietician
“The carnivore diet is horrible for your health and should be avoided — in my professional opinion.”
Katie Tomaschko Tout, Registered Dietician Nutritionist
Conclusion
The carnivore diet isn’t just an extreme fad — it’s the “flat earth theory of nutrition science.” Every reputable health authority agrees that fruit and vegetable consumption is key to good health, yet carnivore advocates promote the opposite, despite overwhelming evidence against it.
So why do influencers push a diet that is scientifically baseless, unsustainable, and harmful? The influence of the meat industry is hard to ignore, with millions spent on spreading pro-meat misinformation and smearing plant-based diets to protect their profits — not public health.
Beyond its health risks, the carnivore diet is also inherently exclusive. The vast majority of the world cannot afford to eat only animal products, given the high costs and resource demands of meat and dairy production. The world would need to grow six times more calories to sustain a shift to a carnivore diet, which is completely unrealistic.
Plant-based foods are not only more affordable on average but also reduce animal suffering, benefit the climate and environment, improve food security, and offer a vast array of health benefits. For anyone who trusts science and cares about compassion, their own health, and the future of humanity, the choice should be clear.
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I have a friend whose brother-in-law is on this diet and I think it’s just bonkers because it is so unhealthy. I just watched this short on YouTube the other day where a professional discusses why people first feel really good on the carnivore diet, but that that feeling doesn’t stick around for long (https://youtube.com/shorts/TBUKtQyTt34?si=JugWHySq8V2LGtyX) - it’s all about gut health. Very intriguing article, cheers!
"So why do influencers push a diet that is scientifically baseless, unsustainable, and harmful?"
Nobody is pushing the carnivore diet. Nobody is proselytizing. Some people are choosing to try it out and decide to stick with it, but that's about as far as it goes. People on carnivore diets seldom demand accommodation for their dietary choices or insist that their diet is the only moral choice.
On the other hand, veganism is frequently pushed as a moral imperative, despite the fact that it is not always a nutritionally complete or viable option for everyone. As someone with an autoimmune disorder of the digestive system, I cannot eat a plant-based diet, and as someone who enjoys a rich array of fruits and vegetables, I don't have the luxury to do so since it will trigger my autoimmune disorder, causing further inflammation. My terminal ileum - the part of the digestive system where many essential minerals are absorbed - has been removed.
Veganism requires supplementation to avoid deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamin B12 and heme iron: nutrients that are readily available in animal products. Up until recently, we did not have the technology to make living a vegan diet even a feasible option for most people due to the risk of anemia and other conditions.
Historically, there have been populations that thrived on diets heavy in animal products, particularly in regions where plant-based food availability was scarce.
The characterization of the carnivore diet as “scientifically baseless” is overly simplistic. While long-term research is still limited, there are people who report significant health improvements on the diet, just as some people thrive on plant-based diets. Dismissing an entire dietary approach outright, while ignoring the challenges and risks of veganism, seems intellectually inconsistent. Like with vegans, if people want to make themselves data points in diets that deviate substantially from the human norm, what does it matter? It will provide us with more information moving forward.
Every time I read Vegan Horizon, I’m struck by how rigid and dismissive the perspective is. A more balanced discussion would acknowledge that different diets work for different people rather than resorting to mockery.