A plate of processed sausages on a dirty carnivore diet

What is a Dirty Carnivore Diet? Here’s What You Need to Know

You’ve probably heard of the carnivore diet, but what is a dirty carnivore diet? Let’s explore in this article.

What is a Dirty Carnivore Diet?

There are two ways someone can follow a dirty carnivore diet. The first is where you focus on eating animal foods and limit your consumption of plant foods, but you don’t really care about the quality of the animal foods you’re eating or if a few other unhealthy ingredients are present.

The second is when someone eats predominantly meat and animal foods but includes some plants like spices, condiments, and small amounts of plant foods or zero-calorie beverages.

People who follow a dirty carnivore diet often focus on two things: prioritising animal foods and sticking to a zero-carb diet.

What Foods are Included on a Dirty Carnivore Diet

As stated, a dirty carnivore diet will focus on eating animal foods, such as muscle meats, eggs, cheese, and dairy products, but it will also include a few dirty carnivore foods, such as:

1) Fast food hamburger patties that are cooked in seed oils like sunflower and canola oil, often topped with processed cheese.

2) Processed sausages that contain other ingredients such as soy, wheat, seed oils, spices, etc.

3) Cured meats like salami and salami sticks that often contain other ingredients like seed oils, wheat, and soy.

4) Meat that’s loaded with spices.

5) Meat that’s accompanied by a plant-based sauce such as tomato sauce (ketchup), mustard, mayonnaise, etc. These sauces also often contain seed oils.

6) Side dishes of small amounts of plant foods such as avocado, fruits, some vegetables, etc.

7) Sugar-free and zero-calorie soft drinks/fizzy drinks and desserts like sugar-free jelly and candy.

Potential Benefits of a Dirty Carnivore Diet

While the dirty carnivore diet isn’t as strict as a pure carnivore diet, it can still offer benefits. Focusing on animal-based foods helps with weight loss, reduces inflammation, and improves overall health. This diet might be more accessible and sustainable for some people compared to a strict carnivore diet because it allows for some flexibility. 

However, it’s important to note that the quality of the animal products consumed and the inclusion of processed foods could also impact the health outcomes and results of the carnivore diet. If you choose to follow a dirty carnivore diet, you will still experience a lot of benefits, especially because you’re still on a very low carb diet and eating a lot of animal foods, but your results just won’t be as great as on a clean carnivore diet.

Potential Risks and Drawbacks of a Dirty Carnivore Diet

The dirty carnivore diet, like any diet high in processed foods, can come with its own set of risks. Processed meats often contain additives, preservatives, and inflammatory ingredients.  The use of seed oils in cooking or processed products can also lead to an unhealthy balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, which may promote inflammation.

Who Might Benefit from a Dirty Carnivore Diet?

Individuals looking for a low-carb diet who are not overly concerned with the quality of their food sources may find the dirty carnivore diet appealing. It could be a transitional diet for those moving towards a more traditional carnivore diet or for individuals who struggle with adherence to strict dietary rules. People with specific health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases or severe carbohydrate intolerance, might also find this diet very beneficial.

The dirty carnivore diet offers a more relaxed approach to the traditional carnivore diet, allowing for some processed foods and occasional plant-based ingredients. While this diet might appeal to those looking for simplicity or an easy way to cut carbs, it’s important to consider the potential risks, such as the intake of unhealthy additives. If you’ve been wanting to try the carnivore diet but have been hesitant because it seems too strict, perhaps you can start with a dirty carnivore diet.

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