Herbal Supplements on a Carnivore Diet

The Carnivore diet is one of the most nutrient-dense ways of eating, providing bioavailable vitamins and minerals without the need for additional supplementation. However, there are certain conditions where targeted herbal supplements—or even prescription medications—may be necessary as part of a root-cause healing protocol. 

 

While the goal is always to minimize and avoid unnecessary supplementation, personalized healthcare requires nuance. Temporary or long-term support may be essential for individuals dealing with chronic conditions such as chronic infections, mold toxicity (CIRS), or hormone imbalances.

 

A key concern for those following a strict Carnivore diet is whether herbal supplements have impactful anti-nutrients and whether they interfere with the benefits of a meat-based way of eating. Questions also often arise regarding the quality, sourcing, and potential side effects of plant-based extracts. While some herbal compounds can be beneficial for short-term therapeutic use, others may trigger unwanted responses or side effects.

 

We’ll explore common concerns and questions raised by the Carnivore community regarding herbal supplementation. Let’s take a closer look at when supplementation is helpful, how to find trustworthy sources, and how to make informed decisions based on individual health needs.

 

What Is the Carnivore Diet?

 

 

The Carnivore diet, also known as Carnivore, an all-meat diet, or carnivorous way of eating, focuses on consuming only animal-based foods while eliminating all plant-based ingredients and grains. Unlike ketogenic (keto) and other low-carb diets, which still include some carbs, the Carnivore diet is a true zero-carb or near-zero-carb approach that prioritizes nutrient-dense animal proteins and fats.

 

There are multiple variations of the Carnivore diet, each differing in food restrictions and allowances. Some options are more flexible, incorporating dairy, eggs, or seafood, while stricter versions focus solely on ruminant meats or muscle meat. Understanding these different adaptations allows individuals to choose a sustainable option that supports their health goals, lifestyle, and long-term success.

 

Why Don’t Carnivore Diets Require Supplementation?

One of the biggest advantages of the Carnivore diet is that it naturally provides the full spectrum of essential nutrients in their most bioavailable forms. Unlike plant-based foods that contain anti-nutrients that can interfere with absorption and other unideal compounds, animal products offer highly digestible vitamins, minerals, and amino acids without inhibitors.

 

Animal Foods Are Nutrient-Dense and Highly Bioavailable

 

 

Animal foods are packed with bioavailable essential nutrients, minerals, and essential fatty acids. These nutrients are abundant and exist in forms that the body can readily absorb and utilize. For example, heme iron from red meat is far more bioavailable than non-heme iron from plants, which is poorly absorbed due to plant fiber, anti-nutrients, and biological differences in absorption pathways.

 

Eating a rainbow of meats—such as beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and seafood—ensures that individuals receive a complete range of vitamins and minerals without the need for supplementation. Organ meats aren’t required to achieve optimal nutrient intake either—in our clinical practice, Carnivores can thrive with or without the inclusion of organs in their diet. 

 

Complete Protein vs. Limiting Amino Acids

 

 

Animal products provide all nine essential amino acids necessary for protein synthesis, making them a superior protein source. In contrast, plant-based proteins often lack one or more essential amino acids, meaning the protein synthesized is only limited to the minimum limiting amino acid content of that particular food. 

 

This makes animal proteins far more effective for muscle growth, recovery, and overall metabolic function.

 

How Anti-Nutrients Reduce Nutrient Absorption

 

 

Plant foods contain anti-nutrients such as:

 

• Oxalates – Bind to calcium, increasing the risk of kidney stones.
• Phytates – Inhibit the absorption of zinc, iron, and magnesium.
• Lectins – Can cause gut inflammation and impair nutrient absorption.
• Glucosinolates – Found in cruciferous vegetables, can interfere with iodine absorption and thyroid function.

 

These anti-nutrients block key minerals and also reduce protein digestibility. Fiber and certain plant compounds interfere with the breakdown and absorption of amino acids, making plant-based proteins less efficient for muscle maintenance and repair.

 

Nutrients and Health Marker Nuances in Carnivore and Low-Carb Diets

 

 

Some argue that eliminating plant foods could lead to nutrient deficiencies and problematic health markers. However, these concerns are based on conventional diet models that overlook the unique metabolic adaptations of a zero-carb lifestyle:

 

• Electrolytes – While electrolyte supplementation is commonly required temporarily when transitioning to any low-carb diet, including Carnivore, the body is meant to adapt and eventually balance electrolytes naturally. If you’re unable to balance electrolytes long-term on Carnivore or any low-carb diet, this is usually an indicator of a deeper root cause and not the diet. Discover more about those nuances here. 

 

• Vitamin C – The need for vitamin C decreases when carb intake is low because glucose competes with vitamin C for cellular uptake. Meat provides small but sufficient amounts of vitamin C to prevent deficiency. Learn more about vitamin C on Carnivore diets here.

 

• Folate – Often associated with leafy greens, folate is also abundant in liver, eggs, and beef, making supplementation unnecessary. You can read more about folate and Carnivore here.

 

• Omega Fatty Acids – Plant “superfoods” have been touted as safer options for omega fatty acids but in reality, there are certain nutrients like omega-3s you simply cannot get from plants. Read more about omega fatty acids and seafood here. 

 

• Fiber – There are many misconceptions about the necessity of fiber for gut health and overall wellness. You can learn more about these myths and misconceptions here.

 

• Other Vitamins and Minerals – Calcium, vitamin K1, iodine, and manganese are other potential concerns on Carnivore diets. However, these can also be adequately addressed by eating a rainbow of meats. Working with an experienced Carnivore functional nutritional therapy practitioner for nutrient deficiencies is highly recommended to ensure optimal, efficient nourishment.

 

Check out the graphics above to see the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals found across animal foods.  

 

Carnivore and Low-Carb Health Markers

Health markers always require context, especially when on any low-carb diet, including Carnivore. Here are more resources regarding these distinctions and other common questions about Carnivore and meat:

 

• High Cholesterol and Carnivore  
• Higher Fasting Glucose and A1C on Carnivore
• Low Thyroid and Carnivore
• Biblical Take on Meat

 

Now that we’ve established why general supplementation isn’t required on carnivore diets, let’s explore when supplementation becomes necessary.

 

When Are Supplements Required on Carnivore?

 

 

Viral and bacterial pathogens can cause a significant range of conditions, from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to Lyme disease and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). While Carnivore starves microbes the most efficiently compared to other diets, it cannot kill the organisms the way herbal antimicrobial supplements can. Relying on diet alone often isn’t enough to eradicate these pathogens, especially when gut health is compromised. 

 

In our practice, we choose to balance the most do-no-harm protocols to expedite healing while being thoughtful of the overall holistic health of the body. The goal is that the body becomes more resilient in fighting against any pathogens long-term. However, when the body has been in a state of compromise for years or decades, we’ve found that supplements and sometimes even medications can help expedite healing.

 

Herbal antimicrobials are by far the least caustic to our bodies when compared to many medications (which usually don’t work for root-cause healing and come with a lengthy list of side effects). In certain cases, such as acute Lyme, medications can be required.

 

Certain Chronic Illnesses

Some chronic conditions like Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) will require both herbal supplementation and prescription medication for root-cause healing. For example, CIRS is essentially a condition that happens because the body is unable to detox biotoxins on its own. Detoxing accumulated biotoxins requires the support of supplementation and medications temporarily.

 

Gut Conditions and Healing

Many gut conditions require probiotic supplementation as part of the healing protocol. Individuals without appendixes or gallbladders may need long-term probiotic support as well. There are also several subsets of supplements that will never be grown in a meat-based culture, making it impossible to stick to animal-based supplements for various treatments. For example, most probiotics can’t be grown on gelatin and are commonly plant cellulose-based instead. 

 

Digestive supports are also important tools that may be necessary for gut healing, particularly when first transitioning to Carnivore. 

 

For example, some sources suggest that up to 90% of individuals suffer from low stomach acid, also known as Hypochlorhydria. Low stomach acid leads to acid reflux symptoms including heartburn, gas, bloating, and indigestion. Adequate levels of stomach acid are required to properly digest food, absorb and assimilate nutrients, kill pathogens and harmful microbes, and prevent acid reflux and GERD symptoms. 

 

Supplementing with betaine HCl supplements for those with low stomach acid can be essential for addressing nutrient deficiencies, improving digestion, and providing proper defense against pathogens and microbes. Supplementation in these cases is usually temporary while the root cause of low stomach acidity is explored and addressed. 

 

Pro-Tip: For individuals transitioning to Carnivore, our Gut Healing Kit can help provide a smoother transition, minimizing symptoms, particularly for those transitioning from plant-based, low-fat, high-carb, and/or Western diets.

 

Particular Hormone Imbalances

While Carnivore can provide the essential fats and nutrients that are building blocks for hormone synthesis, in certain cases, hormone imbalances will require supplementation and sometimes medications. Hormone imbalances are often caused by deeper root causes so our goal is always to provide temporary support while targeting the underlying condition. 

 

We always take a foundational approach by focusing on diet, hydration, gut health, metabolic function, and environmental factors first. We aim to heal and balance these foundations with Carnivore diets, essential lifestyle considerations, and other healing modalities, along with supplements in the short term to determine what the root cause is. The goal is always to achieve root-cause healing so you don’t require supplements long term.

 

Balancing the Benefits and Risks of Herbal Supplementation

When we recommend supplements in our practice, we always take into full consideration the benefit-risk ratio. Supplementation should always be intentional and only when necessary.

 

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions regarding herbal supplements from our meat-based patients:

 

Herbal Supplements and Plant Anti-Nutrients

 

 

Avoiding plant anti-nutrients is one of the exclusive benefits of Carnivore, making it understandable how anti-nutrients are a common concern with herbal supplementation. Herbal extracts and tinctures have fewer anti-nutrients and plant compounds, such as oxalates and fiber, compared to their whole-plant counterparts because they are ultra-purified during processing. 

 

While the roots and actual plants that are used in certain supplements still have some naturally occurring levels of anti-nutrients, we as humans have used them for thousands of years throughout history for their medicinal properties. This is where evaluating the benefit-risk ratio comes in—it’s about balance and accepting that we are likely ingesting a trace amount of anti-nutrients for the tradeoff of medicinal benefits.

 

Medicinal Plants vs. Agricultural Crops Sourcing Differences

 

 

Another thing to consider is that eating GMO-grown plant foods that aren’t natural isn’t the same thing as taking herbal and medicinal plant-based supplements. Many medicinal plants are harvested from wild populations to preserve their full range of bioactive compounds. And when cultivated, they’re often grown in natural or semi-wild conditions to mimic their native habitat with organic farming practices. 

 

Agricultural crops for food consumption are typically grown on large-scale farms with controlled environments such as irrigation, fertilizers, and pest management. The focus here is on maximizing yield and uniformity rather than preserving phytochemical diversity. Genetic modification and hybridization are often used to support pest resistance and higher yields in these cases. 

 

Soil quality, altitude, climate, and organic conditions play a role in the potency of medicinal plants, making these important focuses compared to the focuses of conventional agricultural crop cultivation.    

 

In terms of harvesting, medicinal plant harvests follow strict guidelines to preserve bioactive compounds which can be influenced by various factors like plant maturity, the season, and time of day. Some medicinal plants require selective or partial harvesting (e.g., picking only the leaves or bark) to allow for regrowth. Manual or low-impact harvesting methods are common to prevent environmental degradation. 

 

Harvesting crops generally rely on mechanized and large-scale solutions for efficiency. The focus here is on full-plant harvesting with timing optimized for maximum yield instead of peak bioactive content.      

 

Medicinal plants are also subject to different post-harvest processing and quality control compared to crops. Medicinal plants require careful drying, storage, and extraction to maintain potency. They are supposed to be subject to stringent testing for purity, and contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, pesticides, microbes). They often undergo special extraction techniques as well to concentrate beneficial compounds like ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) or CO2 extraction. During these extraction processes, many undesirable plant compounds including anti-nutrients are removed.

 

Supplement Quality and Reputable Sources

 

 

Sourcing and quality are significant when it comes to supplementation. Since the supplement industry is largely self-regulated, companies are not required to undergo third-party testing or stick to strict quality control standards. This makes it essential to seek out reputable, professional-grade sources that prioritize purity, potency, and transparency.

 

Third-party testing is a voluntary process where independent laboratories verify a supplement’s ingredients, purity, and absence of contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and fillers. Without this certification, there’s no guarantee that what’s listed on the label matches what’s actually inside the product. Some lower-quality supplements may contain hidden additives, synthetic binders, or even undisclosed allergens, which can lead to adverse reactions or reduced effectiveness.

 

Potential Issues With Low-Quality Supplements

Low-quality supplements can pose various potential issues, including:

• Lack of Effectiveness – If a supplement doesn’t contain the stated amount of active ingredients or is poorly absorbed, it won’t provide the intended benefits.
• Contaminants and Fillers – Cheap fillers, artificial preservatives, or heavy metal contamination can cause side effects and long-term health concerns.
• Misleading Labeling – Some companies use deceptive marketing, listing “proprietary blends” without specifying exact ingredient dosages, making it difficult to assess effectiveness.

 

Choosing Reputable Sources

To find the highest quality supplements, look for brands that:

• Provide third-party testing from independent labs.
• Use GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certification, ensuring high safety and production standards.
• Offer transparent ingredient lists without hidden additives or fillers.
• Source organic or wildcrafted herbs to reduce pesticide exposure.
• Have a proven track record in functional medicine, nutritional therapy, or holistic health.

 

Our practice only uses professional-grade supplements that we have thoroughly researched and vetted. In addition to company and product analysis, it’s important to make sure you’re purchasing supplements from companies with temperature-controlled warehouses for proper storage. That’s why purchasing directly from NwJ or Fullscript is always recommended over Amazon.  

 

Closing Thoughts on Herbal Supplements and Carnivore

We believe a meat-focused diet is the most optimal way to support the body—and that a well-formulated Carnivore diet remains one of the most powerful tools for healing. But we also know that healing is rarely black-and-white. While our foundational principles remain rooted in meat-based protocols, we always leave room for nuance—because true healing requires flexibility, discernment, and a willingness to use every tool that supports the individual.

 

Herbs and plants have been used as medicine for thousands of years. And while we don’t believe plants should make up a significant portion of the diet, we do recognize that in certain situations, their medicinal properties can be incredibly supportive. The goal is always root-cause healing—not blind loyalty to a diet, belief, or protocol.

 

It’s common in Carnivore spaces to see dogmatic stances against herbal supplementation. However many of these voices don’t work with patients and often base their recommendations on their n=1 experience alone. We’ve worked with over 2,000 meat-based patients and some of the most complex and chronically ill, meaning our recommendations are based on clinical experience, ongoing research, and careful consideration of each patient’s needs.

 

We don’t take supplementation or medication lightly. When we recommend something—herbal or otherwise—it’s because we’ve thoroughly vetted it and determined that the benefits significantly outweigh any potential risks. We’re always thinking long-term, and we never lose sight of the bigger picture: helping individuals achieve true root-cause healing and long-term resiliency.

 

Diet is foundational, but it’s not a miracle cure. Healing is complicated and typically requires multiple tools and layers of support. Whether it’s a carefully chosen herbal supplement or another evidence-based intervention, our goal is always the same: to support the body in doing what it was designed to do—heal.

 

Work With Our Trusted Carnivore Diet Functional Health Practitioners

The Nutrition with Judy practice is honored to be a trusted carnivore diet practitioner support serving patients from around the globe. We’re passionate about helping our patients achieve root-cause healing in order to lead the best quality of life possible that’s nearly symptom-free. Our team is dedicated to finding the most effective preventative and root-cause healing protocols that honor holistic health. We welcome you to explore our free resources and are always available to support you through personalized protocols. Our Symptom Burden Assessment (SBA) is the perfect starting point for discovering your root cause and is required to work with our team— you can learn more in-depth about this powerful tool here.