Is Honey Ok on a Carnivore Diet? Examining a Controversial Inclusion

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 17 grams of sugar are packed into a single tablespoon of honey, a carbohydrate-rich food that sparks fierce debate within the carnivore diet community. So, is honey ok on a carnivore diet, or does it contradict the diet's core zero-carb principle?

Quick Summary

The inclusion of honey in a carnivore diet is controversial, clashing with the strict zero-carb rule. While a modified "animal-based" approach might permit it for energy or taste, honey's high sugar content can disrupt ketosis and metabolic goals, making it unsuitable for strict followers.

Key Points

Honey is high in carbs and sugar, which directly opposes the zero-carb philosophy of a strict carnivore diet.
Strict carnivore rules exclude honey due to its high carbohydrate content and the fact that it is derived from plant nectar.
Consuming honey will disrupt ketosis, the metabolic state that many carnivore diet followers aim to maintain for fat burning and stable energy.
A modified “animal-based” diet allows for exceptions, with some followers incorporating small amounts of honey for energy or perceived benefits.
Individual metabolic health and activity levels are key factors in determining if a small amount of honey is compatible with your goals.
Flavor alternatives exist, such as certain low-lactose dairy products and rich bone broth, for those seeking variety without compromising strict carnivore rules.
The debate highlights a key split within the carnivore community between purists and more flexible animal-based dieters.

The Carnivore Diet: A Strict Zero-Carb Approach

At its core, the carnivore diet is a highly restrictive eating plan centered exclusively on animal products. This means consuming only meat, fish, eggs, and certain low-lactose dairy products while completely eliminating all plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The guiding principle is to avoid carbohydrates, with the goal of shifting the body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of glucose.

Followers of a strict carnivore diet typically consume:

Meat: Beef, lamb, pork, and poultry, prioritizing fattier cuts.
Fish: Fatty varieties like salmon and mackerel, along with shellfish.
Eggs: A staple source of protein and fat.
Organ Meats: Liver, heart, and kidney are highly encouraged for their dense nutrient profile.
Animal Fats: Tallow, lard, and butter for cooking.
Water and Salt: Often the only allowed beverages and seasonings.

The Case Against Honey in the Carnivore Diet

For followers of the strict carnivore approach, including honey is unequivocally against the rules. The opposition is based on several key factors:

Honey's High Carbohydrate Content

One tablespoon of honey contains approximately 17 grams of sugar, consisting mainly of fructose and glucose. This is a significant source of carbohydrates, which runs contrary to the carnivore diet's emphasis on maintaining a near-zero carbohydrate intake. The consumption of these sugars can have a direct and negative impact on the diet's metabolic goals.

Plant-Based Origin

Although honey is produced by bees (an animal), the bees collect nectar from flowers, which are plants. A strict carnivore perspective views anything derived from a plant source as off-limits. This is where the debate over honey's "animal-based" status arises, and for purists, the plant origin is a disqualifying factor.

Disruption of Ketosis and Blood Sugar

One of the main metabolic goals for many on the carnivore diet is achieving and maintaining ketosis. Consuming a high-sugar food like honey can cause a rapid spike in blood glucose and trigger an insulin response. This process will knock the body out of ketosis, undermining the metabolic state the diet aims to achieve. This makes honey particularly unsuitable for those using the carnivore diet to manage blood sugar issues or promote weight loss through fat-burning.

The “Animal-Based” Argument: A More Flexible View

A less restrictive, modified version of the carnivore diet has gained traction, often referred to simply as an "animal-based" diet. Proponents of this approach, such as Dr. Paul Saladino, argue that avoiding all plant foods might be unnecessarily dogmatic. They contend that the primary benefit of the diet is eliminating highly processed modern foods, seed oils, and potentially problematic plant compounds like lectins and oxalates.

This modified approach allows for the reintroduction of some carbohydrates from specific sources, including honey and certain fruits, especially for individuals who are metabolically healthy and highly active. The rationale is that these natural, whole-food carbohydrates can help with athletic performance, hormone balance, and electrolyte management, particularly for those with high energy expenditure.

Comparison: Strict Carnivore vs. Animal-Based with Honey

To better understand the core differences in approach, consider the following comparison:


Feature	Strict Carnivore	Animal-Based (with Honey)
Core Philosophy	Zero-carb, animal products only. Eliminates all plant-based foods, including their derivatives.	Primarily animal-based, with careful inclusion of specific, nutrient-dense plant foods and natural sugars like honey.
Carbohydrate Intake	None (or near-zero), with the goal of maintaining ketosis.	Very low, but allows for some carbohydrates from honey and specific fruits.
Food List	Meat, eggs, fish, organs, animal fats, salt, water.	Core carnivore foods plus honey, fruit (e.g., berries), and potentially fermented dairy.
Metabolic Impact	Continuous ketosis, stable blood sugar. Potential risks of nutrient deficiencies over time without organ meat or supplementation.	Intermittent ketosis, potential blood sugar spikes depending on honey consumption. Claims of improved hormone and electrolyte balance in certain individuals.
Primary Goal	Elimination of all plant-related compounds to address inflammation and health issues.	Optimization of diet based on individual response, focusing on nutrient-dense, whole foods.

Navigating the Sweet Tooth: Carnivore-Friendly Options

For those who want to maintain strict adherence to the carnivore diet but miss the taste of sweetness, there are limited, albeit useful, options:

Full-Fat Dairy: If tolerated, heavy cream and certain hard cheeses can offer a rich, decadent flavor profile. Some followers use whipped heavy cream as a dessert.
Bone Broth: Concentrated and slowly simmered bone broth offers a deep, savory, and surprisingly satisfying flavor that can curb cravings for other tastes.
Minimalist Cooking: Instead of relying on seasonings or sweeteners, focus on high-quality meat. Simple cooking methods like slow-roasting can bring out the natural sweetness of animal fats without adding anything extra.
Weaning off Sweetness: The most direct approach is to break the dependency on sweet flavors altogether. Over time, many carnivore dieters find their palate changes, and the natural richness of meat becomes more satisfying.

The Bottom Line on Honey

So, is honey ok on a carnivore diet? For a strict carnivore, the answer is a resounding no. Its high sugar content, plant-derived origin, and ability to halt ketosis make it fundamentally incompatible with the diet's core principles. However, the picture is more complex for those following a modified, or "animal-based," approach. These individuals may choose to include small amounts of raw honey, believing it offers unique benefits and is preferable to refined sugars, especially for those with high activity levels.

Ultimately, the decision depends on your personal health goals and the level of dietary purity you are seeking. If the aim is strict ketosis and the complete elimination of plant compounds, honey should be avoided. If you are pursuing a broader animal-based framework and find small, infrequent amounts beneficial for energy or otherwise, it can be considered a personal modification. As always, it is wise to monitor your individual health markers and consult a healthcare professional, especially if you have metabolic concerns like insulin resistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

While honey is produced by bees, the bees create it from plant nectar. From a strict carnivore perspective, any food derived from a plant source is off-limits, which makes honey unsuitable.

Yes, even a small amount of honey can cause a glucose spike that will interrupt the state of ketosis, which is a key metabolic goal for many carnivore followers.

A carnivore diet is strictly animal products only, with zero plant foods. An animal-based diet is less rigid, allowing for the strategic inclusion of certain nutrient-dense plant foods and natural sugars like honey and fruit.

For those on a strict carnivore diet, the high sugar content outweighs any potential benefits. However, some on an animal-based diet suggest it provides antioxidants and energy, especially for athletes, but this is highly debated.

For sweetness, options are very limited. You can use full-fat dairy like heavy cream or butter if you tolerate it, or stick to the savory, rich flavors of bone broth or high-quality animal fats.

Yes. If you have insulin resistance, the sugar in honey will likely trigger a problematic insulin response, counteracting the metabolic benefits of the diet.

Neither is acceptable on a strict carnivore diet. While honey is a natural sugar and generally considered a healthier option than processed table sugar, both would violate the zero-carb principle and metabolic goals of the diet.

Dr. Saladino advocates for a broader "animal-based" approach, focusing on avoiding modern, processed foods rather than all plant matter. He has included honey and fruit to address specific metabolic needs, arguing it's a more optimal approach for certain individuals.