Animal-Based

An animal based diet revolves around consuming animal proteins with every meal, and eating fruits for healthy fats and carbohydrates.

Why Animal Based?

Evolutionarily consistent

An animal-based diet aligns with human anatomy evolutionarily. The ratio of our relatively shorter small intestine to the longer large intestine indicates adaptations for efficient protein absorption. This suggests a historical reliance on animal foods, supporting the argument for a diet in line with our evolutionary heritage.

What about cholesterol?

Dietary cholesterol from food differs from blood cholesterol, as the body regulates blood cholesterol independently of dietary intake. LDL cholesterol alone may not be the best heart disease indicator; factors like LDL particle size and inflammation play crucial roles. Dietary patterns and overall health status contribute more significantly to heart health than isolated cholesterol levels.

Nutrient bioavailability

Animal foods typically offer better nutrient bioavailability than plant foods. Nutrients like iron and zinc, along with certain vitamins, are more readily absorbed from animal sources. This enhances the body's efficient utilization of essential nutrients, making animal-based foods particularly beneficial for meeting dietary requirements, especially in less diverse diets.

Satiety levels

Increasing protein intake from animal foods helps manage satiety levels throughout the day. Protein-rich meals induce a feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of overeating and promoting weight management. Animal proteins are particularly effective in providing sustained satiety, contributing to a balanced and satisfying diet.

Why fruit?

Including fruit in an animal-based diet adds essential nutrients, fiber, and natural sugars. Fruits contribute to digestive health, blood sugar regulation, and hydration, while providing a diverse range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. I believe carbs are important, but they must be natural, as the fiber slows down the absorption in the gut and does not spike your blood sugar levels. Honey, and Maple syrup are also great carb sources.

Complete proteins

Animal foods contain complete proteins, providing all essential amino acids in proportions optimal for human nutrition. This contrasts with many plant foods, which often lack certain amino acids, meaning that those 15 grams of protein in chickpeas aren’t really 15 grams. When foods lack certain amino acids, it limits the amount of protein that your body can absorb. With animal foods, this is never the case.

How to

  • I like to start my mornings with greek yogurt topped with raw honey, or scrambling some eggs and adding raw cheddar cheese. Always try to get pasture-raised eggs as these will have the richest nutrients and flavor. Kefir is another great option too.

  • If I don’t have eggs for breakfast, I’m likely to have them for lunch. There’s a ton of options here, from steak to ground beef, tinned fish like tuna or sardines or any whole fish, chicken or turkey; basically animal protein of your choice. Add some avocado, berries or other fruit on the side, and you have a great clean meal that is going to fuel you for the rest of the day.

  • Have your pick of your favorite animal foods here too. Salmon, Beef, Bison, Pork, you name it. I am a huge fan of ground bison and bison steaks, as they have a robust flavor and are leaner than beef. Regulations on bison meat are also tougher than beef, reducing any chance of funky additives. With beef, try and get grass-fed when possible, and for fish always choose wild-caught options.

  • Overall, eating animal based you will notice that your snacking appetite will decrease because of the high protein intake. But fruits, dried fruits, jerky, raw dairy, and certain bars like Lara bars are great options to curb that craving.

  • First and foremost, don’t expect yourself to be perfect. It’s normal to cheat here and there, just keep it under control. For me, I keep it simple by being pretty strict on weekdays then allowing myself to make some exceptions on weekends. It’ll take some time to adjust, but soon you’ll notice that eating carbs like pastas, and sandwiches are going to leave you feeling bloated and tired after eating.

    The mindset shift is this: stop treating food as a reward and treat it as fuel for your body. Prioritize feeling good in between meals rather than craving your next bite.