The Ketovore Diet - What It Is and How It Works

Need a little more than Keto but not quite ready for strict Carnivore? Ketovore may be your solution. 

Let’s look at the Ketovore diet, what it is, how it differs from Keto and Carnivore, and who might benefit from giving it a try.  

What exactly is Ketovore?

As the name suggests, Ketovore falls somewhere between Keto and Carnivore. You get the meat-heavy simplicity of Carnivore along with some of the flexibility of the Keto diet. It’s also sometimes referred to as animal-based or meat-based, although those terms can have slightly different meanings depending on who you ask. 

There is no official Ketovore rule book because it’s not really a formally defined diet at all. There are no set macro ratios, and different people follow it in slightly different ways. The basic idea, however, is that the Ketovore diet is similar to Carnivore, with a few carbohydrates here and there. In other words, it’s not strict, animal food only. 

What do you eat on Ketovore? 

Meat still takes center stage. Beef, pork, poultry, seafood, eggs, animal fats, and sometimes dairy make up most of what you eat. But unlike pure Carnivore, you don’t necessarily have to eliminate every plant food. 

You might include small amounts of low-carb foods such as: 

• Leafy greens

• Broccoli or cauliflower

• Avocado 

• Olives

• Berries 

• Herbs and spices

• Nuts or seeds

Exact amounts are up to you and can vary depending on your goals and preferences. Some people eat a serving of vegetables daily. Others eat almost entirely Carnivore and occasionally add a few veggies or berries. Think of Ketovore more as a spectrum than a strict diet with a long list of rules. 

How is Ketovore different from Keto?

A Ketogenic diet keeps carbohydrates very low and dietary fat high enough to encourage the body to produce ketones and use fat as a major source of energy. Keto generally has specific macro targets, but it doesn’t require most of your food to come from animals.

A Keto meal could include meat, cheese, avocado, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and other low-carb foods. 

Ketovore shifts the focus more heavily toward animal foods, while still allowing for some flexibility with carbohydrates.

How is Ketovore different from Carnivore?

Carnivore, when followed strictly, eliminates all plant foods. Ketovore doesn’t necessarily eliminate them, it just limits them. 

A truly Carnivore meal might look like steak, or bacon and eggs, while those same meals on Ketovore might add half an avocado or a handful of berries to the plate. 

It’s not a huge change, but for some people that little bit of flexibility can make the diet easier to follow over the long term. 

Who might benefit from Ketovore?

Ketovore may appeal to you if you want to get a little stricter with your Keto diet, or if you’re curious about Carnivore but aren’t ready to go all in. Instead of jumping straight from Keto to zero plant foods, Ketovore can serve as a comfortable middle ground. 

The opposite can work, too. Someone who has been a strict Carnivore may decide they want to experiment with adding a few plant foods back into their diet without returning to a higher-carb way of eating. 

Most importantly, Ketovore gives you some room to personalise your diet based on your goals, preferences, and how different foods make you feel. 

How do you start Ketovore?

Start with protein. Build your meals around beef, pork, poultry, fish, or eggs. Include enough healthy fat to keep meals satisfying. 

Next, get rid of obvious high-carb foods such as sugar, bread, pasta, cereal, starchy vegetables, and fruits (not berries). This creates the low-carb foundation of the diet.

Then decide which low-carb plant foods you want to keep, and how often or how much you want to include in your diet. 

You don’t need a list of “approved” Ketovore foods. Start with a few foods you enjoy and tolerate well. Just remember that meat and other animal foods are still the bulk of your diet, while plant foods play a smaller supporting role. 

And don’t forget your electrolytes. You still need them. Anytime carbohydrates drop significantly, changes in insulin and water balance can increase the loss of electrolytes, especially during the early stages of a low-carb diet. 

Ketovore gives you another option

You don’t really have to choose between Keto or Carnivore. Ketovore allows you to find the sweet spot between both. It keeps carbohydrates low and animal foods front and center while allowing for a few carefully chosen plant foods. If you find Keto too complicated but Carnivore too restrictive, Ketovore may be the middle ground you’re looking for.