Micronutrients & recovery
Carnivore and animal-based diets pose significant risks for micronutrient deficiencies, altered gut microbiota, and unfavorable lipid profiles, with no long-term safety data in athletes.
Be cautious with long-term carnivore or animal-based diets. You risk missing key nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, and magnesium, which can affect gut health and recovery. Your cholesterol levels might also rise significantly. There is no long-term safety data for athletes on these diets. If you choose to try it, monitor your blood work closely and consider it experimental, not optimal.
Moreover, the highly restrictive nature of carnivore and animal-based diets raises concerns about micronutrient deficiencies, alterations in the gut microbiota, changes in the lipid profile, and potential effects on eating behaviours, particularly in competitive athletic populations.
Why this rating
Direct evidence is lacking; conclusions are based on indirect evidence from related diets and theoretical risks.
Source
Carnivore and Animal-Based Diets in Sport: A Critical Evaluation of Current Evidence and Future Perspectives for Precision Nutrition
Zbigniew Waśkiewicz · Nutrients · 2026
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