March 12, 2023

Carnivore Diet Diarrhea: Is It Normal or Not? How to Fix It?

Are you worried about diarrhea on the Carnivore diet and have second thoughts about going on this diet? No worries, as I’ll explain the causes of Carnivore diet diarrhea, examine if it's normal or not, and provide tips on fixing it. This article is a must-read for those caring about optimising their digestive health with the Carnivore diet.

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Carnivore Diet Diarrhea: Is It Normal or Not? How to Fix It?

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What Is Carnivore Diet?

A Carnivore diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, high-protein, and meat-based dietary method, allowing only animal products, including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and limited dairy products.

The Carnivore diet doesn’t allow consuming other foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. That’s why it’s also called a "zero-carb" or an "all-meat" diet.

The Carnivore diet is famous for its effectiveness in losing weight, improving digestion, and increasing energy levels. However, it’s no secret that before going on any diet, you need to consult a healthcare specialist.

A condition that some people may face following some dietary approaches, including the Carnivore diet, is diarrhea. Let’s see what it actually is and why it may happen to Carnivore dieters.

What Is Diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a medical condition happening to the digestive system causing frequent and loose or watery bowel movements, i.e., the intestines’ ability to absorb water decreases.

Normally, Diarrhea lasts a few hours or a couple of days. But in acute or chronic conditions, it can last several days, weeks, or even longer.

Diarrhea is commonly caused by

Viruses,
Bacteria,
Parasitic infections,
Food intolerances,
Allergies,
Some medications,
Certain medical conditions,
Inflammatory bowel diseases,
Stress or anxiety.

Diarrhea can be dangerous as it can lead to dehydration and other serious health problems if it continues and is not cured for an extended period. But why does diarrhea occur on the Carnivore diet?

Why Does Diarrhea Happen on The Carnivore Diet?

Carnivore dieters may face diarrhea for various reasons, including the following.

Lack of Fibre: The Carnivore diet is low-fibre in nature and can cause constipation or diarrhea in dieters not used to processing this diet.
Body Adjusting: In the early days of going on a high-fat, high-protein diet like Carnivore, dieters may experience diarrhea as the body tries to adjust to the new diet.
Food Intolerance and Allergy: Some dieters may be intolerant or allergic to animal-based products allowed on the carnivore diet. For example, lactose intolerance can lead to digestive issues like diarrhea.
Gastrointestinal Infection: Some dieters may even face gastrointestinal infections resulting from contaminated meat or animal products.

Although there are reasons behind experiencing diarrhea on the Carnivore diet, is it normal to experience it? Does everybody get it? The following section will tell us.

Is It Normal to Have Diarrhea on The Carnivore Diet?

As mentioned above, some conditions can cause diarrhea on the Carnivore diet, but we can’t say experiencing diarrhea is part of the diet and "normal", but it is not uncommon.

Not everybody experiences diarrhea on the Carnivore diet, which mainly depends on each individual’s body structure and digestive system sensitivity. Some may face digestive issues like diarrhea upon switching to the Carnivore diet because it is a considerable change from their earlier eating habits.

Also, going on the Carnivore diet includes increasing the amount of meat and decreasing or avoiding fibre, which can induce changes in bowel movements, causing diarrhea.

In addition, preexisting medical conditions or sensitivity to certain animal products can lead to digestive issues, including diarrhea. But remember that not necessarily everyone will experience diarrhea on the Carnivore diet.

Now that you are aware of this possibility, you may ask when diarrhea can start to occur for Carnivore dieters. The following part will elaborate on it.

When Does Diarrhea Start on The Carnivore Diet?

Different dieters may experience diarrhea at different times during their Carnivore diet. Most dieters face gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea within a few days of starting the carnivore diet.

Yet others may not face any digestive problems ever or until several weeks or even months into the diet.

The occurrence of diarrhea on the Carnivore diet depends on various factors, including the following.

The individual's previous diet
The dieters’ general health status, and
Pre-existing gastrointestinal conditions

It is also related to the dieters’ ability to adapt to the sudden increase in consuming fat and protein and removing fiber from their diet.

How Long Does Carnivore Diet Diarrhea Last?

It is recommended to fix it in the early days.

The duration of Carnivore diet diarrhea differs from person to person and depends on many factors, including

The cause of diarrhea and
The speed of the dieter's body in adopting the new diet.

In many cases, if a dieter faces Carnivore diet diarrhea, it lasts a few days until their body adjusts to the sudden jump in fat and protein levels and the lack of fibre.

In other cases, diarrhea can continue for some weeks or even months, especially if the dieters have preexisting conditions or severe sensitivity to animal products.

So, the question is how we can treat Carnivore diet diarrhea. The section below will introduce tips to fix this problem.

How to Treat Carnivore Diet Diarrhea?

Following the steps below can help Carnivore dieters treat and alleviate the symptoms.

Drink More Water: Dehydration caused by diarrhea is a serious condition that can be avoided beforehand by increasing the intake of fluids. Water, herbal tea, and bone broth are the fluids allowed on the Carnivore diet good to prevent dehydration.
Take Fiber: No diet should affect your health. In cases of diarrhea due to decreased levels of fibre, dieters can boost their fibre intake using psyllium husk or low-carb veggies like spinach or broccoli.
Avoid Food Triggers: If your body is sensitive to some products, try eliminating them from your diet to see how it reacts.
Consult a Healthcare Specialist: If diarrhea continues for more than a couple of days or is accompanied by other symptoms, you must visit a physician to avoid serious health conditions.
Use Probiotics: Probiotics (beneficial bacteria) can help improve digestive health. High-quality probiotic supplements are good choices to avoid digestive abnormalities. Let’s get to know more supplements to stop Carnivore diet diarrhea in the following section.

The Best Supplements to Stop Carnivore Diet Diarrhea

Before introducing the best supplements to stop Carnivore diet diarrhea, it’s important to note that taking any supplement must happen after consulting a health professional to minimise possible health risks.

Anyhow, to give you a general knowledge of the useful supplements to avoid diarrhea on the Carnivore diet, I’ll introduce the following list.

Probiotics: Probiotics are helpful bacteria helping improve digestive health and reduce Carnivore diet diarrhea symptoms.
Digestive Enzymes: Digestive enzymes can boost the absorption of nutrients, which helps avoid diarrhea. Digestive enzyme supplements containing a mix of protease, amylase, and lipase enzymes are good.
Magnesium: Magnesium is a mineral necessary for regulating bowel movements. Supplements like Magnesium Glycinate, which are easy to absorb, are useful.
Psyllium Husk: Psyllium Husk is a natural fibre supplement that must be used gradually and with lots of water to minimise further digestive problems.
Electrolytes: To compensate for the dehydration and electrolyte imbalances caused by diarrhea, dieters can take electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

You may also ask, “What about foods I need to eat or avoid to stop facing Carnivore diet diarrhea?”. Follow me to the next section to find out.

Food to Eat to Stop Diarrhea on The Carnivore Diet

To stop Carnivore diet diarrhea, you can consume the following animal-based foods allowed on the Carnivore diet.

Lean Meats: Lean meats are easy to digest and are good sources of protein without excess fat, which can be diarrhea trigger. Examples of lean meat are chicken, turkey, and fish.
Organ Meats: Nutrients and vitamins found in organ meats like liver and heart are good for digestive health.
Bone Broth: The digestive system needs collagen, gelatin, and other nutrients found in bone broth to soothe and avoid diarrhea.

Eggs: Eggs are among the ancient foods used to stop diarrhea. They’re also rich in protein and nutrients and are easy to digest.
Fermented Foods: Beneficial bacteria in fermented foods can boost digestive health and stop diarrhea.

Here are some of the best and most delicious Carnivore diet recipes for those looking for easy and yummy Carnivore-friendly meals.

Food to Avoid to Stop Diarrhea on The Carnivore Diet

The above foods were allowed to consume to stop Carnivore diet diarrhea, but the ones mentioned below need to be decreased or avoided to stop diarrhea.

Fatty Meats: Bacon or sausage are fatty meats that can trigger diarrhea in some Carnivore dieters.
Dairy Products: Although dairy products are mainly avoided in the Carnivore diet, the amounts of limited dairy like cheese, butter, or cream that are allowed in the diet can also increase diarrhea, especially in those sensitive to lactose or dairy products in general.
Spicy Foods: Highly seasoned foods are bad for the digestive system and can worsen diarrhea symptoms.
Processed Meats: The additives and preservatives found in processed meats like deli meat or hot dogs can trigger diarrhea in some dieters.
Artificial Sweeteners: Aspartame or sucralose are among the artificial sweeteners that can lead to diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems.

All in all, it’s important to follow the rules mentioned above and listen to your body and monitor its reactions to avoid any health problems. But when do you need to see a doctor in case of Carnivore diet diarrhea?

When Must You See a Doctor?

If you see diarrhoea symptoms at any time during the Carnivore diet, it’s a must to monitor them and seek medical help when you experience the following signs.

Severe Dehydration: Dehydration is the condition of acute fluid reduction in the body, which needs early treatment. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or rapid heartbeat are some of the symptoms you need to stay alert to.
Blood in Stool: Spotting blood in your stool or abdominal pain are signs of a serious condition that needs early treatment.
Prolonged Diarrhea: If diarrhea continues for more than a few days or if it accompanies fever, vomiting, or severe abdominal pain, you need to visit a doctor.
Prior Health Conditions: If you have records of a digestive issue like inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease, you must seek medical help in case of Carnivore diet diarrhea.

All in all, the Carnivore diet is among the least risky diets, but nothing is 100% safe for EVERYONE. As health is a priority, we must be cautious about any changes, signs, or pains in our bodies.

It’s essential to consult a health specialist before going on the Carnivore diet to make sure you have no harmful backgrounds that can worsen on this diet.

Also, you can check this free Carnivore diet meal plan, which provides meal ideas from one day to a whole month to stay healthy and melt some fat.