Are Lentils Carnivore Friendly? The Definitive Answer

December 20, 2025 •

3 min read

According to nutrition experts, a traditional carnivore diet restricts all plant-based foods, including lentils. This eating plan is founded on the principle that humans can thrive exclusively on animal products like meat, fish, and eggs. Therefore, integrating any legume like lentils would contradict the diet's core rules and principles.

Quick Summary

The carnivore diet strictly excludes all plant foods, including lentils, due to their carbohydrate content and presence of antinutrients like lectins and phytates. Lentils contain compounds that proponents of the diet believe interfere with nutrient absorption and gut health. Individuals follow this regimen for various reasons, but any inclusion of plant-based items would fundamentally break the diet's framework.

Key Points

Strictly Prohibited: Lentils are not allowed on a carnivore diet because it excludes all plant-based foods, including legumes.
High in Carbs: Lentils contain carbohydrates that would disrupt the state of ketosis, a key metabolic goal for many carnivore diet followers.
Contain Antinutrients: Lentils have antinutrients like lectins and phytates, which carnivore diet proponents believe can cause inflammation and block mineral absorption.
Zero Fiber Intake: A strict carnivore diet provides no fiber, so incorporating a fiber-rich food like lentils would deviate from the plan.
Core Philosophy: The fundamental goal of the carnivore diet is to consume only animal products, a philosophy directly contradicted by eating lentils or other plant foods.
Dietary Contrast: The carnivore diet is an extreme version of low-carb eating, more restrictive than keto or paleo, which may permit some plant foods in moderation.

Why Lentils Are Not Carnivore Friendly

Lentils, as a type of legume, are explicitly prohibited on a strict carnivore diet, which focuses solely on meat, eggs, and animal fats. The primary reasons for this exclusion are tied to the diet's low-carbohydrate philosophy and the concern over plant-based compounds known as antinutrients. A carnivore diet aims for a state of ketosis by removing all carbohydrate sources, and lentils, with their moderate carb content, would disrupt this metabolic state.

The Antinutrient Concern in Lentils

One of the most significant arguments against including lentils in a carnivore diet is the presence of antinutrients.

Lectins: These are proteins found in many plants, including lentils, that can bind to cell membranes in the digestive tract. Some carnivore proponents believe lectins can cause inflammation and digestive issues. While cooking and soaking significantly reduce lectin levels in lentils, the possibility of their presence is enough for strict adherents to avoid them entirely.
Phytates (Phytic Acid): Also found in lentils, phytates can hinder the absorption of minerals such as iron, zinc, and calcium. This is a concern for those on a carnivore diet who already lack the diverse nutrient profile of plant foods. Soaking and cooking can reduce phytate levels, but again, for a zero-tolerance approach, avoidance is key.

The Impact of Carbohydrates on a Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet is often described as a 'zero carb' or 'very low carb' diet. Lentils contain a notable amount of carbohydrates, both complex carbs and fiber, which directly conflicts with this principle.

The diet is based on burning fat for energy (ketosis), which is disrupted when carbohydrates are introduced.
By eliminating carbohydrates entirely, followers of the carnivore diet report more stable energy levels and mental clarity, free from the blood sugar fluctuations that carbs can cause.

The Carnivore Diet vs. Other Low-Carb Diets

It's important to understand how the carnivore diet's strictness compares to other dietary approaches. While some low-carb diets might allow limited quantities of certain plants, the carnivore diet has a much tighter restriction.


Feature	Carnivore Diet	Modified Carnivore (e.g., 'Animal-Based')	Standard Ketogenic Diet
Core Food Source	Exclusively animal products (meat, fish, eggs, some dairy)	Animal products, with some low-carb plant additions (e.g., avocado, berries)	High fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate macro ratios
Legume Inclusion	No	No (usually)	No (too high in carbs)
Vegetable Inclusion	No	Select low-carb options like leafy greens	Select low-carb vegetables
Carbohydrate Limit	As close to zero as possible	Very low, but not zero	Typically under 50g net carbs per day
Fiber Intake	None	Minimal, from allowed plants	Low to moderate, from permitted plants

Why Some People Pursue a Strict Carnivore Approach

Individuals who follow the carnivore diet often do so to address specific health concerns or to experiment with an elimination diet. A common motivation is to simplify food intake and remove all potential food irritants. By eliminating all plant-based foods, including legumes, adherents aim to reduce inflammation and pinpoint specific food intolerances. This strategy is sometimes used as a temporary 'reset' before slowly reintroducing certain foods to test for reactions.

For those considering an adaptation of the carnivore diet, adding foods like lentils would be a direct move away from the diet's foundational principles. The transition should be gradual, and the reintroduction of any food group should be monitored carefully to assess its effect on the body. For individuals exploring more flexible options, a 'modified carnivore' or 'animal-based' approach might be considered, allowing some low-carb plants like avocado or berries. However, even within these variations, high-carb legumes like lentils typically remain off-limits.

Conclusion: Lentils and the Carnivore Diet Do Not Mix

In summary, lentils are not carnivore friendly due to the diet's core principle of eliminating all plant-based foods. Their exclusion is based on their carbohydrate content, which can interfere with ketosis, and the presence of antinutrients like lectins and phytates that some believe can cause inflammation and impede mineral absorption. While modifications to the diet exist, lentils and other legumes are consistently excluded in favor of a strictly animal-based food list for those seeking to adhere to this dietary framework.

Lentils on Healthline

Frequently Asked Questions

You cannot have lentils on a carnivore diet because they are a plant-based food. The diet's rules strictly exclude all plants, including vegetables, grains, nuts, and legumes like lentils.

From a carnivore diet perspective, lentils contain carbohydrates that interfere with fat-burning (ketosis) and antinutrients like lectins and phytates. These compounds are believed to cause digestive issues and block mineral absorption.

Antinutrients are plant compounds, like lectins and phytates, that can interfere with the body's absorption of minerals and cause digestive irritation. For carnivore adherents, eliminating all sources of these compounds is a key goal.

No, a traditional carnivore diet allows zero plant foods. Some variations, known as a 'modified carnivore' or 'animal-based' diet, may reintroduce very limited, low-carb plants like avocados or berries, but not lentils.

Eating lentils while on a strict carnivore diet would break the diet's rules by introducing carbohydrates and plant compounds. For some, this could cause digestive upset, inflammation, or knock the body out of ketosis.

No, while cooking and soaking can reduce some antinutrients like lectins and phytates in lentils, it does not remove their carbohydrate content. The presence of any plant matter is still a violation of the carnivore diet's core principles.

Instead of lentils, you would focus on a variety of animal products. Approved foods include red meat (beef, lamb), poultry, fish, eggs, and animal fats like butter or tallow.