The Great Debate: Plant-Based Diet vs. Animal-Based Diet

The pros and cons of a plant-based diet vs. animal-based diet continue to fuel the great debate about which is the healthier and better choice.

This is a complex issue, as people follow their chosen diets for a variety of reasons. And depending on what their reasons are, they are often reluctant to consider a change in dietary choices. However, a comparison of the two is necessary if we hope to get to an answer.

So, let’s look at how these opposing diets compare, in this comparison of the plant-based diet vs animal-based diet.

Animal-Based Diets: An Overview

Animal-based diets include the carnivore diet, paleolithic diet (paleo), and ketogenic diet (keto). There are a few others, but these are the most common. Animal-based diets include meats, dairy, and eggs. They usually exclude, or severely limit, plant-based foods, particularly those high in carbohydrates.

Foods You Can Eat

The foods allowed on each animal-based diet are similar. Most animal foods are included. Processed foods are excluded. But the difference in foods you can eat on the carnivore, keto, and paleo diets lies in the approach to plant foods.

Carnivore

The carnivore diet includes meats, fish and seafood, animal fats, dairy, and eggs. Plant-based foods like sugar, cereals, and grains, are not allowed. Fruits and vegetables are excluded, although people on more relaxed forms of the diet, eat them in moderation.

Most carnivore dieters start with a strict diet of meat (with salt for seasoning) and water only. They generally transition to a less restrictive version after a while, or a crossover between animal-based diets, like ketovore.

Keto

The keto diet also allows meats, fish and seafood, dairy and eggs. Keto avoids sugar, grains, cereals, and starchy vegetables. However, keto dieters allow certain plant-based foods in their diet.

Paleo

The paleo diet includes grass-fed meat, wild-caught fish and seafood, and eggs. It also includes fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and certain plant-based oils. It excludes sugar, grains, and cereals. Dairy is usually excluded, but some paleo fans occasionally consume dairy.

Benefits Of Animal Foods

All animal protein, from red meat to fish to eggs, are sources of complete protein. That means they are not just rich sources of protein, but they also contain all the essential amino acids your body needs.

Animal foods contain essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats needed for overall health. For example, this is the amount of vitamin C you can find in animal foods.

Some animal foods like bone broth provide collagen, which is beneficial for joint health.

​Plant-Based Diets: An Overview

Plant-based diets include different types of vegetarian diets, including the strictest form of plant-based eating known as veganism. Fruitarianism is another example. There are other plant-based diets, but these are the most common.

Foods You Can Eat

When plant-based diets differ, it is usually in the approach to dairy products. 

While lacto, ovo, and ovo-lacto vegetarian diets are mostly plant-based, they do allow certain animal foods like milk and other dairy products (lacto) and/or eggs (ovo). Veganism and fruitarianism, however, exclude all animal foods, including dairy and eggs.

Benefits Of Plant-Based Foods

• Whole grains include a variety of nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals. They are also rich in dietary fiber, which can aid healthy bowel movements and even help with cholesterol and blood sugar regulation cholesterol.
  
• Fruits and vegetables are especially rich in vitamins and minerals. They, too, can provide dietary fiber. ​

​Plant-Based Vs. Animal-Based Diet Comparison

Let’s have a closer look at plant-based vs. animal-based diets. ​

1. ​Nutritional Value

Both plant-based and animal-based diets have nutritional value. The best foods for vitamins and minerals come from both sides of the fence — plant-based and animal-based foods. Both contain protein, too.

2. ​Protein Quality

There are plant-based alternatives to animal proteins, but very few are complete proteins. So you’d have to eat a variety of plant proteins to get all the essential amino acids you need. On the other hand, all quality animal proteins are complete proteins. 

3. ​Health Benefits 

A plant-based diet like a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet can be healthy, as can animal-based diets like carnivore, paleo, and keto. 

It’s possible to lose weight (which will help you reduce the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease) on both types of diets. But it must be said that weight loss depends calories in vs calories out.

Research suggests that plant-based diets may increase the diversity of health-promoting gut bacteria. 

However, the carnivore diet, which is an animal-based diet, is often beneficial for individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This condition is often a result of inflammation, and the carnivore diet reduces inflammation. Plant-based diets often include foods linked to inflammation.

​4. Ethical Considerations

No comparison of plant-based vs. animal-based diets can ignore ethical considerations. 

If you’re wanting to go vegetarian or vegan for ethical, cultural, or religious reasons, don’t feel pressured to consider an animal-based diet. However, we recommend limiting simple carbohydrates and processed foods for better health.

If you’re a meat eater but want to do your bit for improved treatment of animals, use only grass-fed meats, and dairy from grass-fed cattle. Insist on free-range meats, dairy, and eggs. Choose organic products. By doing this, you ensure that farm animals are given room to move and healthy grazing choices. 

5. ​Potential Risks

A diet rich in plant-based foods can trigger or worsen many allergic reactions and/or autoimmune responses. Unless you have a dairy allergy or intolerance, it’s better to follow an animal-based diet to improve your autoimmune issues.

Many plant-based diets are high in carbohydrates, whereas most animal-based diets exclude or restrict carb intake. High-carb diets have been linked to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Plant-based diets may be high in seed oils which can cause inflammation. Animal-based diets typically exclude these but are high in animal fats which the plant-based diets exclude.

Veganism and fruitarianism (only eating fruits) may cause nutritional deficiencies. Animal-based diets can be deficient, but not if enough variety of animal products are eaten.

6. ​Ease Of Adherence

Neither plant-based diets nor animal-based diets are particularly difficult to follow. Usually, it all comes down to willpower and careful decision-making.

While in the past, vegetarian and especially vegan choices were limited, this is no longer the case. Many supermarkets and grocery stores stock plant-based products, and there are countless vegetarian and vegan restaurants to choose from.

Carnivore dieters struggle in restaurants, as meat dishes often include plant-based items in the meal. A restrictive diet like carnivore requires great willpower until you get used to the new way of eating. That said, meat-eaters have no problems finding suitable foods in grocery stores and supermarkets.

Which Diet Is Better For You: A Plant-Based Diet Or An Animal-Based Diet?

Plant-based diets can be nutritious. Many people swear they have plenty of energy and suffer no ill-health from eating plant-based meals. However, plant-based diets are typically high in carbohydrates and allergy/autoimmune triggers, which spell doom for some.

Are you looking for relief from autoimmune disorders and allergies? Or a way to lose excess weight, and maintain a healthy weight? Perhaps you just want optimal health and energy levels. You can do all of this and more on an animal-based diet like carnivore.

The carnivore diet is restrictive, but you don’t have to remain on the strictest form of the carnivore diet, forever. It is meant as a temporary measure. Once you have found relief from your most urgent health concerns, you can always transition to a more relaxed form of diet or another animal-based diet.

​Final Thoughts

In the comparison of a plant-based diet vs animal-based diet, the answer is clear. Unless you have ethical, cultural, or religious reasons for not eating meat, an animal-based diet may be a better choice. But, can you have it both ways? Yes, you can! 

If you’re opposed to eating meat, consider introducing dairy and eggs into your diet. If you're allergic to shellfish, or can’t eat pork for religious reasons, leave those foods out of an otherwise animal-based diet. 

When followed responsibly, the carnivore diet offers many health benefits. It includes delicious meals, beverages, and even desserts! And it can be tailored to meet your needs.