What is the difference between keto and animal-based?

December 31, 2025 •

4 min read

According to recent data, both low-carb diets like keto and more restrictive animal-based approaches are trending for weight management, but confusion remains over their key distinctions. This guide will explain what is the difference between keto and animal-based diets by examining their core principles, permitted foods, and potential health impacts.

Quick Summary

This article breaks down the key distinctions between the ketogenic diet and the animal-based diet, focusing on food choices, macronutrient ratios, and health implications.

Key Points

Food Philosophy: Keto focuses on achieving ketosis with specific macros, while animal-based emphasizes nutrient density from animal products by minimizing plant intake.
Carb Intake: Keto strictly limits carbs (typically 20-50g/day), whereas animal-based is naturally very low or zero carb, depending on allowed fruits and honey.
Plant Foods: Keto allows low-carb vegetables, nuts, and seeds, providing more dietary variety than the animal-based diet, which restricts most plant matter.
Macronutrient Ratios: Keto requires precise tracking of high-fat, moderate-protein macros, while animal-based consumption is generally based on appetite and does not follow specific ratios.
Nutrient Risks: The animal-based diet carries a higher risk of deficiencies in fiber and vitamin C due to the exclusion of plant foods, while keto offers more variety but still requires careful planning.
Sustainability: Keto's broader food options tend to make it more sustainable long-term, while the animal-based diet's restrictions can make it more socially challenging.

Understanding the Ketogenic Diet

The ketogenic, or keto, diet is a high-fat, moderate-protein, and very-low-carbohydrate eating plan designed to shift the body's primary fuel source from glucose to fat. This metabolic state, known as ketosis, involves the liver producing ketone bodies from fat to use for energy. Followers must adhere to specific macronutrient ratios to maintain ketosis, typically consuming 70–80% of calories from fat, 15–30% from protein, and a strict limit of 5–10% from carbohydrates.

Key Keto Food Groups:

High-Fat & Protein: Meat, fish, eggs, and full-fat dairy like butter, cheese, and heavy cream.
Healthy Fats: Avocado, olives, olive oil, and coconut oil.
Low-Carb Vegetables: Leafy greens (spinach, kale), cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower), and others like zucchini and bell peppers.
Nuts & Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds in moderation.
Berries: Small quantities of low-sugar fruits like raspberries and strawberries.

The inclusion of a variety of plant-based foods makes keto a more varied and flexible low-carb diet compared to its animal-based counterpart. However, careful tracking of net carbs is essential to avoid being knocked out of ketosis.

Exploring the Animal-Based Diet

The term "animal-based diet" typically refers to an approach that prioritizes animal-derived foods while eliminating most, but not necessarily all, plant foods. It is important to distinguish this from the stricter carnivore diet, which excludes all plant matter. Proponents of the animal-based diet, like the influential Dr. Paul Saladino, often allow some low-antinutrient plant foods, such as fruits and honey. This eating style is often viewed as a way to maximize nutrient intake from highly bioavailable animal sources and minimize exposure to potential plant toxins or anti-nutrients.

Core Animal-Based Food Groups:

Meat & Organs: Primarily meat from ruminant animals (beef, lamb) and organ meats (liver, heart).
Fish & Seafood: Wild-caught options like salmon and sardines.
Dairy: Often focuses on raw, full-fat dairy like milk, yogurt, and cheese, depending on tolerance.
Eggs: Free-range eggs are emphasized.
Allowed Plant Foods: Some fruits (berries, bananas) and honey, depending on the individual's approach.

The macronutrient focus is naturally high in fat and protein and very low in carbohydrates, but unlike keto, it does not mandate specific ratios. It aims to achieve ketosis indirectly by eliminating carbs, but the primary focus is nutrient density from animal sources.

Comparison: Keto vs. Animal-Based

While both diets are low in carbohydrates, the fundamental differences lie in their food philosophy, macro precision, and flexibility.


Feature	Keto Diet	Animal-Based Diet
Primary Philosophy	Achieving ketosis by manipulating macronutrient ratios (high fat, moderate protein, low carb).	Emphasizing nutrient-dense animal products and minimizing plant-based foods, especially those with anti-nutrients.
Food Variety	Broader, including low-carb vegetables, nuts, seeds, and some berries.	Narrower, focused on animal products with limited additions of fruit or honey.
Carbohydrate Limit	Strict limit, typically under 50g per day, requiring careful tracking.	Naturally very low or zero carb, depending on allowed plant foods; less emphasis on precise counting.
Macronutrient Precision	High-fat, moderate-protein ratios are crucial for maintaining ketosis.	No set macro targets; protein and fat are consumed based on appetite from allowed foods.
Long-Term Sustainability	Generally more sustainable for most due to greater food variety and flexibility.	Often more challenging due to extreme food restrictions and social limitations.
Potential Deficiencies	Possible electrolyte imbalances and micronutrient gaps if not well-planned.	Higher risk of deficiencies in fiber, vitamin C, magnesium, and certain phytonutrients.

Nutritional Differences and Concerns

The main nutritional trade-off between the two diets is the balance of animal-derived nutrients and plant-based compounds. Animal-based diets provide highly bioavailable sources of protein, iron, zinc, and B12. However, they completely lack dietary fiber and are deficient in vitamin C, E, and various antioxidants found in plants. A strict animal-based dieter would need careful supplementation, though this is also recommended for those on keto. Keto, by including low-carb vegetables and nuts, offers more fiber and a wider range of micronutrients, although it still requires careful planning.

Adaptability and Side Effects

Transitioning to either diet can cause side effects. The "keto flu" is a well-documented phase for keto dieters, characterized by fatigue, headache, and nausea, while transitioning to an animal-based diet can lead to digestive changes like constipation due to the lack of fiber. From a lifestyle perspective, keto is typically easier to follow in social settings due to a wider range of food options. The extreme restriction of a strict animal-based or carnivore diet can make dining out and social events challenging.

The Rise of Ketovore

For those seeking a middle ground, the "ketovore" diet has emerged, blending elements of both. It primarily focuses on animal foods but allows for a small amount of low-carb plants, herbs, and spices. This approach can provide some of the digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits cited by carnivore adherents while offering more dietary flexibility and nutrient diversity.

Conclusion: Which Diet Is Right for You?

Both keto and animal-based diets are low-carb approaches that can be effective for weight management and metabolic health, but they differ significantly in their approach to plant foods. The choice depends on your individual health goals, dietary preferences, and tolerance for restriction. Keto offers more variety, making it potentially more sustainable for many, while the animal-based diet is more restrictive and may lead to nutritional deficiencies if not managed properly. The best diet is the one that you can adhere to consistently and that best supports your overall well-being. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting a new diet to ensure it is appropriate for your health needs. For a deeper look into the health benefits of the ketogenic diet, the National Institutes of Health provides extensive research.

Frequently Asked Questions

A strict carnivore (animal-based) diet excludes all vegetables and other plant matter. However, a more flexible animal-based approach may permit some low-toxin plant foods, such as fruits and honey.

Both diets can lead to weight loss by restricting carbohydrates and promoting satiety. Some sources suggest initial weight loss can be faster on stricter animal-based diets due to water loss, but long-term success depends more on individual adherence.

Yes, because the animal-based diet is naturally very low in carbohydrates, it will typically induce ketosis. However, unlike keto, inducing ketosis is not the primary goal, and some versions may include small amounts of carbs from fruits.

The keto diet is generally considered healthier for the long term by many health experts due to its greater food variety, which helps prevent nutrient deficiencies. The extreme restriction of a strict animal-based diet raises concerns about long-term nutrient adequacy.

The biggest difference is the stance on plant foods. Keto allows low-carb plant foods, while the animal-based diet strictly restricts or eliminates most, if not all, plant-based items.

For the keto diet, tracking macronutrients (especially carbs) is essential to ensure you enter and maintain ketosis. The animal-based diet does not require strict macro tracking, focusing instead on consuming only allowed animal products.

The ketovore diet is a hybrid approach that blends elements of both keto and animal-based diets. It focuses primarily on animal products while allowing small amounts of low-carb plant foods for added nutrients and flexibility.