Introduction: Supplements for the Carnivore Diet
Health Clue – Supplements for the Carnivore Diet. People often ask me if vitamins are needed for a meat-based diet. As the name suggests, this eating plan is based on eating animal things like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. Why can’t these healthy things give us everything we need?
You can get most of the nutrients you need from an all-meat carnivore diet, but taking supplements can help you stay healthy by making up for any nutrients you might be missing. It might be hard to get enough of some vitamins and minerals from muscle meat on its own. Taking certain supplements to improve your general health is a beneficial idea.
I have tried many different versions of the carnivore diet and have found the best vitamins that help me feel my best while following this eating plan. Read on to learn about the 12 best products for people who eat only meat.
Why Do Supplements Matter for a Carnivore Diet?
First, let’s go over why supplementation might be a good idea for a nose-to-tail omnivore diet. There are two main reasons for this:
Possible Lacks of Nutrients
Even though meat, especially organ foods like liver, is very healthy, there are some areas where it might not be as healthy:
- Animal foods don’t have vitamin C, which is important for your immune system and for making collagen. Without vegetables and flowers, meat eaters need another source.
- There are more than 300 jobs that magnesium does in the body. Still, people who eat a lot of dairy may still not be able to meet their goals.
- Calcium goes to bones and teeth through vitamin K2. Even though K2 is found in animal foods, people still don’t get enough of it.
- Vitamin D is hard to get from food alone, but it’s needed for the defense system and for the body to absorb calcium.
- Omega-3s are beneficial for your mental and emotional health. Depending on the animal foods you eat, your diet might not be enough.
You can see that even on a well-planned vegetarian diet, there is a chance of not getting enough nutrients. Supplementing in a smart way can help protect health.
Promoting Wellbeing All Around
Supplementing predators isn’t just a way to make up for lost nutrients. It’s important to support general health.
- Probiotics help keep your digestive system healthy and strong. They can be especially helpful when switching from a normal diet to a meat-only diet.
- Electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and magnesium, stop symptoms like cramps, tiredness, and headaches that some people have when they first stop eating plant-based foods.
- Zinc and organ meat products help your hormones and immune system, so you feel your best.
To put it simply, the right nutrients can improve a nutritious meat-based diet even more.
Twelve of the best supplements for a carnivore diet
I’ve done a lot of research and testing, and these are the 12 nutrients I think go best with an animal-based, carnivore diet. These are the superfoods and health-boosting nutrients I eat every day:
Fats with omega-3s
What they do: Omega-3s are crucial for your mental and physical health. They fight inflammation, improve brain function, and lower the risk of getting diseases.
Good fish, algae, or krill oil pills are the best places to get it. You could also try flavored liquid omega-3 oils. Take in 1-2 grams of EPA and DHA together every day.
Magnesium
Why it’s important: Magnesium helps with a lot of things, like keeping blood sugar levels steady, building muscle and nerves, and more. A lot of Americans don’t eat enough.
You can get magnesium glycinate, citrate, or threonate powders or tablets from the best sources. Aim for between 300 and 500 mg of magnesium every day. You can also take Performance Lab’s Mg pills, which I found to have an above-average bio-absorption rate, if you’re having trouble meeting your daily Mg needs.
Vitamin C
Why it’s important: The body can’t make vitamin C, so it needs to come from food or pills. It keeps your immune system, hormones, and collagen creation going.
Powders of ascorbic acid or decreased L-ascorbic acid are the best sources. Take in at least one to two grams a day, spread out over the day.
Vitamin K2
Why it’s important: Vitamin K2 turns on proteins that help blood clot and puts calcium into bones instead of vessels. It stops atherosclerosis and cells from “hardening.”
The best sources are 100 to 200 mcg of MK4 and/or MK7 forms every day.
The vitamin D3
Why it matters: Most people are lacking in this vitamin, which is often called the “sunshine vitamin,” especially those who don’t get enough UV light every day. When it works at its best, it controls more than 1,000 body functions.
Liquid-mixed drops or oil-based gel caps, 5,000 to 10,000 IUs based on my own tests, are the best sources.
Zinc
Why it’s important: Zinc helps the immune system work better, digestion works well, reproductive health, good sleep, and over 300 enzymatic processes happen.
Silver
Why it’s important: Selenium is an important trace element that helps the thyroid work, makes DNA, and keeps cells safe from oxidative damage. It’s also important for a healthy defense system and reproduction. Selenium is found in a lot of animal foods, but the amount can be very different based on the soil where the animals were raised.
Best sources: Brazil nuts are often said to be the best source of selenium, but they don’t come from eating meat. Selenium methionine or selenomethionine are the best types for meat eaters to take as supplements. Aim for daily doses of 100 to 200 mcg.
Extracts of Organ Meats
Why they’re important: Liver and other organ meats are excellent sources of iron, vitamins A and B, CoQ10, and other fat-soluble nutrients. Extracts make it simple to get these nutrients.
The best sources are up to 9 pills of desiccated liver, heart, or thymus every day.
Powdered bone broth
Why it’s important: Broth from bones has amino acids like glycine that calm the nervous system and collagen that makes skin flexible. These benefits are quickly and easily provided by easy powders.
Proteins from cows or chickens and products with hyaluronic acid are the best sources. You should eat about 10 to 30 grams of these every day.
Good bacteria
Why they matter: Keeping your gut bacteria healthy and varied can help your digestion, immunity, and even your mental health. Probiotics restore strains that have been damaged by chemicals in food or medicines.
Soil-based organisms or spore-forming Bacillus supplements are the best sources. Switch between different types from trusted brands. The inulin in Performance Lab’s Prebiotic capsules helps gut microflora grow better, which is why I suggest them.
Other Types of Electrolytes
Why they’re important: Electrolytes keep the pH level stable, nerve signals going, and muscles working. Deficiencies can happen quickly, like when you have diarrhea or vomit, or slowly, like when you sweat.
Hydration mixes with sodium, magnesium, and potassium, like LMNT, Ultima, or Elements, are the best places to get them. Every day or when you need to.
Tips on How to Make Your Own Supplement Plan
If you follow a carnivore diet, I suggest picking two to six of the above supplements to make a personalized plan that fits your wants and goals. For me, the best basics are:
- Omega-3s help your brain and keep your emotions in check.
- Vitamin . D3 helps the nervous system and gives you energy.
- Magnesium helps you sleep and keeps your metabolism healthy.
- Zinc helps with digestion and reproduction
- liver capsules so that you don’t miss out on any possible vitamins
Adding electrolytes and probiotics may also be helpful for people who are busy or who are just starting to eat meat. You can pick the mix that makes you feel the best!
Many predators find that certain supplements help them look, think, and feel better on this diet, even though they aren’t required if they eat from nose to tail. You can get your most energy by trying some of these ideas.
Conclusion: Supplements for the Carnivore Diet
Following a carnivore diet can be an effective way to simplify your eating and improve your health, but it’s also important to understand your body’s nutritional needs. By choosing the right supplements for the carnivore diet , you can fill potential nutritional gaps without compromising the core principles of the diet. Remember, everyone has different needs, so what works for one person may not work for you. Consult a dietitian or health professional to find the supplements that best suit your needs. With the right approach, you can be on your way to a carnivore diet with optimal energy and support your long-term health.