How to Properly Do the Animal-Based Diet: A Comprehensive Guide

December 27, 2025 •

5 min read

Historically, human diets have varied widely, but most ancestral patterns heavily featured animal-based foods. To properly do the animal-based diet, one must prioritize nutrient-dense animal products while carefully managing or eliminating modern processed foods and high-antinutrient plant sources.

Quick Summary

Guide to the animal-based diet emphasizing high-quality animal foods, including meat, organs, and dairy. It covers food priorities, strategic preparation, and navigating the transition for a sustainable eating pattern.

Key Points

Prioritize Quality Animal Foods: Focus on grass-fed meat, organ meats, pasture-raised eggs, and wild-caught fish for maximum nutrient density.
Strategic Plant Inclusion: Unlike strict carnivore, the animal-based diet allows low-toxin plants like select fruits and honey, managed for individual tolerance.
Manage the Transition: Prepare for a metabolic shift to fat-burning by replenishing electrolytes and consuming enough fat to avoid fatigue.
Embrace Nose-to-Tail Eating: Incorporate organ meats like liver and heart to access a wider, more concentrated array of vitamins and minerals.
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water and consider bone broth to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance during the adaptation phase.
Balance Fat and Protein: Ensure adequate fat intake from sources like tallow and fatty cuts of meat, as fat is the primary energy source.
Practice Budget-Friendly Shopping: Use cheaper cuts of meat and prioritize nutrient-dense organ meats to make the diet more economical.
Individualize Your Diet: Pay attention to how your body responds and adjust your food intake accordingly, understanding that personal tolerance varies.

Understanding the Animal-Based Diet Philosophy

In recent years, the animal-based diet has gained traction for its focus on nutrient-dense, bioavailable foods, distinguishing it from stricter approaches like the carnivore diet by allowing for some low-toxin plant foods, such as fruits and honey. This eating pattern is built on an ancestral health framework, centering on the idea that human bodies thrive on high-quality animal fats and proteins. A proper understanding of this philosophy is the first step towards successful implementation. It's not simply about eating meat; it's about prioritizing nose-to-tail nutrition, choosing quality sources, and eliminating processed ingredients that cause inflammation and digestive distress.

Prioritizing High-Quality Animal Products

Quality is paramount for success on the animal-based diet. This means sourcing the best possible animal products to maximize nutritional benefit and minimize exposure to hormones and other unwanted compounds.

Ruminant Meats: High-quality cuts from grass-fed and regeneratively raised animals, such as beef and lamb, are foundational due to their excellent protein and fat profiles. Fatty cuts like ribeye and pork belly are often preferred for energy.
Organ Meats: The practice of 'nose-to-tail' eating, which includes nutrient-rich organs like liver, heart, and kidney, is a cornerstone of this diet. Organ meats provide concentrated doses of essential vitamins and minerals that are harder to obtain from muscle meat alone.
Seafood: Wild-caught, fatty fish such as salmon and mackerel offer essential omega-3 fatty acids that support cognitive and heart health.
Eggs: Pasture-raised eggs are a versatile and nutrient-dense source of complete protein and healthy fats.
Dairy: High-quality, low-lactose or raw dairy products (for those who tolerate it) like aged cheeses, butter, and kefir are valuable additions. Ghee and tallow are also excellent cooking fats.

Incorporating and Managing Plant Foods

Unlike a zero-carb carnivore diet, the animal-based diet includes limited, low-toxin plant foods. The key is strategic incorporation to reap benefits without inviting the anti-nutrient compounds present in many plant sources.

Fruits: Stick to low-antinutrient fruits like berries, bananas, and melons, which provide antioxidants and a source of carbohydrates for energy.
Honey: Raw honey is a natural source of carbohydrates and has some antioxidant properties.
Fermented Vegetables: Some individuals incorporate small amounts of fermented vegetables, which may aid gut health, as tolerated.

The Transition and Adaptation Phase

Moving to an animal-based diet requires a period of adaptation, especially for those accustomed to a high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diet. Your body must shift its primary fuel source from glucose to fat, a process known as becoming 'fat adapted'.

Hydrate and Replenish Electrolytes: The initial stage can cause rapid water loss as glycogen stores deplete. Replenish electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and potassium to prevent fatigue and dizziness. Drinking bone broth is an excellent way to accomplish this.
Increase Fat Intake: A common mistake is not consuming enough fat. Protein is important, but fat is your primary energy source on this diet. Focus on fattier cuts of meat and adding animal fats like tallow or ghee to meals to maintain stable energy levels.
Expect Digestive Changes: Your digestive system needs time to adjust to the absence of high-fiber plant foods. Temporary changes in bowel movements, like loose stools or constipation, are normal. These usually resolve as your gut microbiome adapts.
Listen to Your Cravings: Cravings for carbohydrates are common at first. Instead of giving in, view them as a sign that you need more fat or are not eating enough. Address hunger with a satiating, fat-rich animal food.
Be Patient: Full adaptation can take several weeks or even months. During this time, energy levels may fluctuate. Be consistent and patient with your body as it makes the metabolic switch.

Meal Planning and Preparation Strategies

Successful adherence to the animal-based diet depends on proactive meal planning and efficient food preparation. This approach simplifies the process and ensures nutritional needs are met.

Sample Animal-Based Meal Ideas

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs cooked in ghee with bacon and a side of mixed berries.
Lunch: Ground beef patties with melted cheddar cheese and a few slices of avocado.
Dinner: Ribeye steak cooked in tallow, served with a side of steamed bone marrow.
Snacks: Plain full-fat yogurt with a drizzle of raw honey, boiled eggs, or cheese slices.

Budget-Friendly Tips

While quality animal foods can be costly, several strategies can help manage expenses:

Choose Budget Cuts: Opt for more affordable cuts of meat like ground beef, chuck roast, or chicken thighs.
Build a Relationship with a Butcher: A local butcher can inform you of specials on bulk packs or less common, more affordable cuts.
Prioritize Organ Meats: Organ meats are not only nutrient-dense but often significantly cheaper than muscle meats.

Animal-Based vs. Standard Diet: A Comparison


Feature	Animal-Based Diet	Standard Western Diet
Core Focus	Nutrient-dense animal foods, low-antinutrient plants	Grains, processed foods, varied proteins
Carbohydrate Source	Limited intake from fruits and honey	High intake from grains, sugars, processed foods
Fat Source	Healthy animal fats (tallow, lard), fatty fish	Mix of seed oils, processed fats, saturated fats
Fiber Content	Low to moderate (from fruits)	Variable, often high but from grains and legumes
Nutrient Bioavailability	High (e.g., heme iron from meat)	Variable (e.g., non-heme iron from plants)
Potential Benefits	Weight management, improved digestion, stable energy	Varied, often linked to diverse nutrient intake
Potential Downsides	Limited fiber, potential for high saturated fat, some nutrient deficiencies	High processed food intake, potential for chronic disease risk

Conclusion

To properly do the animal-based diet, an individual must commit to prioritizing high-quality animal products, incorporating limited, low-toxin plant foods, and navigating the initial transition period with patience and strategic planning. By focusing on nose-to-tail nutrition, choosing quality sources, and listening to your body's cues, you can build a sustainable eating pattern that aligns with ancestral health principles. As with any significant dietary change, it is advisable to consult a healthcare provider to ensure this approach aligns with your specific health needs. By understanding the 'why' behind the food choices and focusing on nutrient density, you can properly implement the animal-based diet and explore its potential benefits.

For more in-depth nutritional information, visit the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

A Final Word on Individualization

The most critical takeaway is that the animal-based diet is not one-size-fits-all. While the foundational principles are consistent, the exact balance of foods, particularly the inclusion of plants and dairy, will vary based on individual tolerance and health goals. Listening to your body, adjusting macros as needed, and seeking professional guidance can optimize your experience on this eating plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

The core difference lies in the inclusion of plant foods. The carnivore diet is strictly animal products only, while the animal-based diet allows for some low-toxin plant foods, such as fruits and honey, as tolerated by the individual.

You should prioritize healthy animal fats, including those naturally found in fatty cuts of meat and fish, as well as cooking fats like tallow, lard, and ghee. Your body will use this fat for energy as you become 'fat adapted'.

During the transition, focus on consuming larger portions of fatty animal foods to feel satiated. Staying well-hydrated and replenishing electrolytes with bone broth can also help. View cravings as a sign that your body is seeking more fuel, and respond with a nutrient-dense animal food.

Proponents suggest it can be sustainable, but concerns exist about potential nutrient deficiencies, especially if organ meats are neglected, and high saturated fat intake. Consulting with a healthcare provider before and during the diet is recommended, particularly for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

On a properly executed animal-based diet, organ meats are crucial for obtaining a wide spectrum of nutrients, including vitamins A, B12, and various minerals that are highly bioavailable from animal sources. Quality dairy and eggs also contribute significantly.

Nose-to-tail eating involves consuming all parts of the animal, including organs, fats, and connective tissues, rather than just muscle meat. This approach ensures a more comprehensive nutrient profile and aligns with the diet's ancestral principles.

Yes, many individuals experience weight loss on this diet, largely due to the high protein and fat content leading to increased satiety and lower overall calorie intake. It can also help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, aiding in weight management.