If you hang out in the low-carb corners of the internet long enough, the algorithm will eventually serve you a steak on a plate with absolutely nothing else. No broccoli. No avocado. Just meat, salt, and water.
This is the Carnivore Diet (or, at an extreme, the "Lion Diet"). It is the ultimate elimination diet. Its proponents - many of whom are brilliant and incredibly healthy - argue that plants are full of "defense chemicals" (anti-nutrients) and that humans evolved to eat apex predators, not salads.
Given that my daily OMAD is anchored by a 1.5 lb. ribeye, people often assume I’m one step away from going full Carnivore.
But I haven't. And I won't.
While I respect the Carnivore approach as a powerful therapeutic tool for autoimmune issues, it doesn't fit my clean keto lifestyle. My goal isn't just elimination; it’s optimization. And for my specific goals - heart health, gut health, and sanity - I believe the right plants act as medicine, not poison.
Here is why I still keep a seat at the table for the vegetable kingdom.
Reason 1: Feeding the "Second Brain" (Prebiotics)
The Carnivore argument is that fiber is unnecessary "roughage" that causes bloating. And for "dirty keto" fiber (like processed corn fiber), they are right.
But as I wrote in my post
These trillions of bacteria need to eat. And they don't eat steak. They eat Prebiotic Fiber
The Carnivore Approach: Starve the bad bacteria (and the good ones) by removing all fiber. It’s a "scorched earth" approach.
The Clean Keto Approach: Starve the bad bacteria (by removing sugar/starch) but feed the good bacteria with specific, fibrous vegetables.
When I eat asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, I am not just eating "sides." I am dropping fertilizer down to the "good guys" in my gut so they can produce Butyrate (a short-chain fatty acid) that heals my gut lining and lowers inflammation. I’m not willing to let that garden die.
Reason 2: The "Plant Medicine" (Phytonutrients & Hormesis)
This is the biggest scientific divergence I have with the Carnivore crowd. They view plant chemicals (like oxalates or lectins) as toxins.
I view them - specifically the ones I eat - as Hormetic Stressors. Like exercise or a cold shower, a small dose of these compounds signals my body to get stronger.
More importantly, I eat plants for their Polyphenols. These are potent antioxidants that meat simply does not provide.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: One of my top fat sources. It contains Oleocanthal, a natural anti-inflammatory compound that rivals Ibuprofen
. I need this for my heart. Coffee: My [not just] morning fuel. It is the single biggest source of antioxidants in the Western diet.
Dark Chocolate (90%+): Packed with flavanols for blood flow.
Herbs & Spices: Garlic, ginger, turmeric. These aren't just flavors; they are concentrated anti-inflammatory agents.
If I went full Carnivore, I would lose access to Olive Oil and Coffee. And frankly, a life without coffee and olive oil (not to mention chocolate!) isn't a life I want to sustain.
Reason 3: The "Texture" Factor (Joy & Sustainability)
This is the unfiltered, human side of the equation.
I can eat a steak every day. I love steak. But if I only ate steak, salt, and water for the next 30 years, I would eventually succumb to "palate fatigue."
I need crunch. I need acid. I need heat.
I need the snap of a cold pickle.
I need the acidity of a tomato or a squeeze of lemon juice to cut the fat of a ribeye.
I need the texture of a roasted mushroom or the crisp of a radish.
Eating is biological fueling, yes. But it is also one of the few daily pleasures we have. A clean keto meal - a seared steak with garlic butter, mushrooms, and a bright, acidic arugula salad - hits every sensory note. It makes the lifestyle sustainable because it feels like a feast, not a restricted protocol.
The Takeaway: I am "Meat-Based," Not "Meat-Only"
Don't get me wrong: Meat is the star. The plants are the supporting cast.
My plate is 70% beef/eggs/fish and 30% plants. I don't eat huge bowls of salad with a tiny garnish of chicken. I eat huge portions of protein with a strategic side of medicine (plants).
I guess you could call me "Carnivore-ish" or "Keto-vore." But I just call it Clean Keto. I keep the meat for the muscle, and I keep the plants for the microbiome, the medicine, and the joy.
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