What Is The Ketovore Diet & Is It Right For You?

The name gives it away – the ketovore diet features elements of the ketogenic diet (keto) and the carnivore diet. 

It comes with many health benefits which can range from better metabolic health to improved cognitive function and healthier weight loss. It is a good diet to follow if you’re looking for a sustainable nutrition plan that includes the best of both worlds. 

​So, let's learn about what ketovore is, how it differs from the other diets, and its benefits below to help you decide whether it’s the right diet for you.

What Exactly Is The 'Ketovore' Diet?

Also called the keto-carnivore diet or simply and animal based diet, ketovore is a combination of the keto diet and the strict carnivore diet – hence the name. 

​It takes the meat-based approach of the carnivore diet and infuses the high-fat, low-carb principles of keto. On the ketovore diet, you eat high-fat animal products like meat and eggs most of the time and incorporate small amounts of low-carb veggies and leafy greens. 

To put things in perspective, here are some of the ketovore foods you can eat: 

• Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, wild game, poultry, etc. 
• Other animal products like eggs, bone broth, liver, and other organ meats.
• Fish: Salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardine, and other fatty fish.
• Healthy fats and low-carb fruits: Avocados, olive oil, coconut oil, and other sources of monounsaturated and saturated fats.
• Low-carb veggies like broccoli, asparagus, and leafy greens.
• Dairy: Heavy cream, cheese (particularly hard and aged varieties), butter.
• Nuts and seeds, but in moderation. Focus on those with lower carb content like macadamias, almonds, and flaxseeds.
• Beverages: Water, coffee (without sugar), and tea are encouraged for hydration and energy.

This diet aims to maintain nutritional ketosis, a metabolic state in which your body burns fat for fuel instead of carbs. 

Ketosis happens when you keep your carb intake low to drain your glucose stores. Without carbs to burn for energy, your body starts burning fat, and this has many health benefits, including healthy weight loss and reduced hunger.

Ketovore vs. Carnivore ​

As the name means in science, the carnivore diet recommends you eat animal products only. This approach has the biggest influence on the ketovore diet. 

Carnivore is the ultimate elimination diet. It does not include any processed foods or plant-based foods, including beverages like tea and coffee. Carnivore diet foods mainly include meat, eggs, fish, and high-fat dairy products. Beverage options include water or bone broth.

KETOVORE

Improved Mental Clarity

Stable Energy

Weight Loss

Stable Blood Sugar

Improved Skin Health

Lowers Inflammation

Nutrient Dense

Reduces Seizures

Improves Sleep

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CARNIVORE

Improved Mental Clarity

Stable Energy

Weight Loss

Stable Blood Sugar

Improved Skin Health

Lowers Inflammation

Nutrient Dense

Reduces Seizures

Improves Sleep

Eliminates Cravings

Improves Gastrointestinal Issues

Improves Mood Disorders

The biggest difference between carnivore and ketovore diets lies in the food options. On the ketovore diet, you will mostly eat meat and other animal products, but you can still eat some plant products. 

When compared with the carnivore diet, ketovore is a low-carb diet that may be easier to maintain in the long run. For most people, the carnivore diet is best followed short term to enjoy maximum benefits like weight loss.

Ketovore vs. Keto

Keto is a popular low-carb, high-fat diet that comes with many health benefits, including regulating blood sugar. Like ketovore, it helps to keep you in ketosis where your body finds energy from your fat stores after using up glucose.

The keto diet incorporates high fat intake from both animal and plant products. Besides meat, fish, and high-fat dairy, keto also includes plant-based foods. These include sugarless beverages like coffee and tea, low-carb vegetables like broccoli and asparagus, seeds and nuts, and low-carb fruits like avocado. You can also use monounsaturated and saturated fats, including olive oil and coconut oil.

Keto is very similar to ketovore, with the only difference being macronutrient distributions. 

In keto, the macros look like:

• Carbohydrates (5-10%)
  
• Protein (15-25%)
• Fats (70-75%)

On the other hand, ketovore macros look like:

• Carbohydrates (5%)
  
• Protein (30-35%)
  
• Fats (60-65%). 

In short, ketovore is a stricter keto diet where you keep the carbohydrate intake much lower. 

5 Key Benefits Of The Ketovore Diet

Combining elements of the ketogenic and carnivore diets comes with these health benefits: 

1. ​Healthy Weight Loss

If you're looking for a healthier way to lose weight, it's best to consume fewer carbohydrates. And that’s exactly why the ketovore diet is effective for weight loss. 

By limiting carbs and pushing your body into ketosis, it turns it into a fat-burning machine. Studies show that diets that target maintaining ketosis are effective for losing weight more rapidly. In fact, by consuming this high-fat diet, you can lose 2 kgs more than you would eating a low-fat diet!

LEARN MORE: WEIGHT LOSS ON THE CARNIVORE DIET

2. Better Blood Sugar Control

The ketovore diet allows very few carbohydrates, so it helps lower sugar and insulin levels in your blood. 

According to this study, diets like keto-carnivore can make your body better at using insulin and keeping your blood sugar steady even when you haven't eaten. 

This could be good news for people with diabetes or at risk of developing it. 

3. Improved Brain Health

Following a ketovore diet can be good for your brain because you consume more healthy fats than carbs. Without carbs, your body will run out of glucose to use for energy and finally go into your fat reserves for fuel. And, when your body uses fat for energy instead of carbs (ketosis), it makes ketones, which power your brain and help it work better and stay sharp. 

So, the ketovore diet can protect your brain, help you remember things better, and improve how well you think and learn. 

4. Better Metabolic Health

You can boost your metabolic health significantly by following a ketovore diet. This diet emphasizes eating high-quality animal proteins and fats, which improve your body's metabolism. With this diet, you also feel full for longer, while your body burns calories to digest and use your food's nutrients.

This way, ketovore can help decrease bad fat levels in your blood while increasing good cholesterol. So, you can actively improve how your body processes energy and nutrients, and effectively reduce your risk of diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.

5. Balanced Diet

The ketovore diet includes low-carb vegetables alongside animal products, ensuring you get fiber and essential nutrients from plants. This mix helps your digestion, keeps you full, and packs your diet with antioxidants and vitamins that boost your health, like heart and bone health. 

With veggies, you consume a wide range of nutrients that fight inflammation and support your immune system. They also ensure a broader range of gut microbiota, which is essential for gut health.

​This combination of animal and plant nutrients makes the diet easier to stick to!

​Final Thoughts

Considering the ketovore diet blends the best of ketogenic and carnivore diets, it might be just the right fit if you're looking for flexibility alongside the benefits of low-carb eating. 

​It is especially effective if you aim to lose weight through ketosis, while also enjoying the simplicity of focusing mainly on animal-based foods. A keto carnivore diet is less restrictive which could also make it easier to stick with long-term compared to stricter diets.