7 Best Carnivore Diet Supplements | Reviewed and Tested

Are supplements needed on a carnivore diet? First, what is the carnivore diet? The carnivore diet is basically an all animal product-based diet completely devoid of plant foods.

It’s simple: eat meat (maybe dairy) and drink water.

Carnivore diet proponents say the diet is optimal in that you don’t need to use supplements or even protein shakes, assuming you’re a healthy individual.

However, there seem to be some caveats and recommendations from dieters in the community, so I gave them a try.

Below you will find the best carnivore diet supplements I’ve found while participating in the carnivore community and actually doing the diet.

(These are solely based on opinion and not fact. Don’t misconstrue this post as medical advice. Seek a doctor for all medical questions.)

If you are looking to save time and just look at my list then here it is. If you are curious how I got here then please keep on reading. My reasons are derived from some of the best keto and carnivore diet doctors and practitioners.

The Top 7 Carnivore Diet Supplement List:

1. Redmond Real Salt “Ancient Sea Salt”
2. Magnesium
3. Potassium Nu-Salt
4. Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Organs (Desiccated)
5. BioOptimizers HCL Hydrochloric Acid
6. Ancestral Supplements Gallbladder w/Ox Bile & Liver
7. Enzymes by MassZymes – Premium Digestive Enzyme Supplement for Women and Men – Most Potent Enzyme Formula on The Planet

Below you will find potential reasons on why these supplements may be beneficial.

Keto/Carnivore Flu

When I first started the carnivore diet back in 2018, I was warned that one of the symptoms of switching up your diet is the keto flu, which can also be called the carnivore flu.

This flu is not the real flu but has some similar symptoms.

What Causes Keto/Carnivore Flu?

I’ve resorted to Dr. Ken Berry’s opinion on what causes the keto/carnivore flu. In a nutshell, he states that there are 3 main causes.

He says the severity of your symptoms can be diet-related; for instance, if you have practiced a paleo, Bulletproof diet, or low carb, you may have fewer issues.

#1 Withdrawal from Carbohydrates and Sugar

Carbs, grains, sugars, and seed oils are addictive. What happens when a drug addict stops taking drugs? Withdrawals!

When you go carnivore you are essentially eliminating carbs and you can get some of these withdrawal symptoms:

• Body Aches
• Chills
• Itching/rash
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Nassau
• Constipation
• Depression/Anxiety
• Muscle Cramps
• Just to name a few

#2 Body Fluid Flush

Dr. Berry says that when you have chronically high insulin as a result of a high sugar/high carbohydrate diet, your body stores excessive fluids. When you go carnivore, your body gets rid of the excess fluid, which can cause a depletion in your magnesium and potassium levels.

Because of this, some people see drops in body weight from 3 or more pounds within a few weeks.

Dr. Berry also mentions that most Americans or Westerners already have a deficiency in magnesium and potassium.

My go-to magnesium supplement is Natural Vitality Magnesium. (Amazon Link)

#3 Inflammation Improvements

Chances are that if you eat a standard American diet or one high in carbohydrates, sugars, grains, and processed oils you may have inflammation.

When you go carnivore your bodies reduction in inflammation may improve and as a result your body releases stored fluids. When this happens the salt (sodium chloride) goes with it.

Dr. Berry says you may experience a salt deficiency.

He recommends salting your meat and remembering all mammals need salt to survive so don’t be afraid of adding it to your diet.

Most people in the carnivore diet community recommend Redmond Real Salt. I have to get the full 10-pound bucket because I go through so much! Here is the 10-pound bucket link.

My Top Supplements to Combat Keto Flu and Carnivore Flu

Now that you have been warned about the keto and carnivore flu I’m going to share some of the supplements I used to combat the symptoms and what Dr. Berry recommends and other carnivore diet proponents.

My Keto-Carnivore Electrolyte Flu Drink Recipe

1. 16-24 ounces of Live Spring Water or Reverse Osmosis Filtered Water or even Sparkling Water
2. 1/2 TSP of Redmond Real Salt “Ancient Sea Salt” (My Favorite Salt on the Market”
3. 1/2 TSP on Nu-Salt (Potassium)
4. 1 to 2 TSP of Magnesium Carbonate (Warning: start with less as this acts as a laxative and will give you disaster pants if not careful!)
5. Mix and enjoy.

You can also experiment and add more or less, depending on your needs. However, Dr. Paul Saladino and other doctors caution against using this and other supplements if you have kidney problems. Always consult with your doctor before experimenting with supplements.

I also use this mix as a pre or post-workout drink in order to replenish the lost electrolytes.

Elemental Labs Electrolyte Recharge Packets

One other suggestion is to buy a box of Robb Wolff’s pre-mixed electrolyte packets. I put these in my office and car and always have them as an option if I need them. Each packet has the following:

1. Sodium/Salt: 1000mg
2. Potassium: 200mg
3. Magnesium: 60mg

Be careful as the flavored ones have 2 grams of carbs from the stevia extract and flavoring. If you don’t want that stick to the Raw Unflavored version.

I can’t go without mentioning my other go-to pre-mixed electrolyte powder which is now made by my favorite salt maker Redmond Real Salt. Yep, these guys have a ton of healthy products now, (even toothpaste) and their electrolyte mix does not disappoint.

This powder is called Re-lyte and is packed with electrolytes and minerals. Each serving has:

• Sodium: 1000mg
• Potassium: 500 mg
• Coconut Water Powder: 100 mg
• Chloride: 1585mg
• Calcium: 75mg
• Magnesium: 60mg
• +60 trace minerals

They give you three flavors to choose from. These links will take you to Redmond’s website which should give you a 15% discount but if not just type in WILD at checkout and that should do the trick

• Mixed Berry
• Lemon Lime
• Unflavored

If I had to pick between the Elemental Labs and Redmond Re-lyte I’d have to say it’s a tie. So try them both and see which is better for you. Also if you want to learn more about electrolytes and how they apply to a carnivore diet then check out this article:

• How to Get Electrolytes on a Carnivore Diet: An Essential Guide

Organ Meat Supplements

Some proponents of the carnivore diet recommend the nose-to-tail version which is comprised of including the organs and other not so mainstream animal parts like “Rocky Mountain Oysters.”

Why should you include organs in your diet? If you take a look at their nutritional profile you will see they are packed with vitamins and minerals.

100 Grams of Beef Liver:

• Vitamin A=26091 IU which is 522% of RDA
• Vitamin B2=3.4 mg which is 201% of RDA
• Vitamin B6=1 mg which is 51% of RDA
• Vitamin B9=260 mcg which is 65% of RDA
• Vitamin B12=83 mcg which is 1386% RDA
• Choline=418 mg
• Copper=14.6 mg which is 730% of RDA
• Iron=6.2 mg which is 34% of RDA
• Selenium=32.8 mcg which is 47% of RDA
• Protein=27 grams

See what I mean! Beef liver is loaded with nutrition. Dr. Shawn Baker says in his book, “The Carnivore Diet”, that he doesn’t see any downside to adding organ meat to your diet.

Here’s the challenge though. Organ meats are fairly unpalatable and hard to mask the strong taste. Which brings us to the supplement option.

Dr. Pail Saladino says, “desiccated organs from high-quality grass-fed animals are a great option…the freeze-drying process is very gentle and involves low-temperature dehydration, it preserves the nutrients in organs very well.”

That’s why I really like Ancestral Supplements. They are committed to quality and say, “We produce one small batch at a time to ensure higher quality and attention to detail… this includes 3rd party testing all products to ensure purity and product specification.”

These are the versions of organ supplements I use from them, plus sometimes they give our readers a 10% off discount with these links:

• Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Liver (Desiccated)
• Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Organs (Desiccated)

Digestion Reinforcements

Back in 2015 when I first started working with Dr. Justin, a functional medicine doctor, he advised me to include 2 supplements to aid in my digestion. These being digestive enzymes and Betaine Hydrochloric Acid HCI.

(I had stomach issues and digestion problems due to gluten, parasites, and candida!)

Fast forward to reading Dr. Shawn Bakers’ book and he mentions that some people may have problems with digesting fat.

He says, “strategies to deal with this problem include lowering the fat content a bit and temporarily adding digestive aids…hydrochloric acid supplements or a bile supplement can be effective.”

These are my go to digestion aids:

• BIO Optimizers HCL Breakthrough is an ALL natural source of betaine hydrochloric acid
• Ancestral Supplements Gallbladder w/Ox Bile & Liver

Enzymes Galore

My last but not least important supplement on the list is enzymes. My digestive system was devastated from years of eating a poor diet and I’m pretty sure the absorption of nutrients was compromised.

When I began fixing my digestion in 2015 I had included enzymes as recommended by my functional medicine doctor. Enzyme supplements seem to be another way to get some help with breaking down all the protein you’ll be eating on a carnivore diet.

Bio Optimizer is a brand that appears to be one of the best and has focused its attention on digestion aid.

They say, “So many individuals suffer from digestive issues—because any protein your body doesn’t break down creates digestive distress, gas, bloating and constipation. MassZymes ensure that all the protein you consume breaks down into absorbable amino acids that feed your muscles, brain, and entire body.”

If just starting out on the carnivore diet these may help with getting your digestion on point!

• Enzymes by MassZymes – Premium Digestive Enzyme Supplement for Women and Men – Most Potent Enzyme Formula on The Planet

Supplements Are Not Carnivore

Supplements may or may not work for some people. They could be just really expensive pee if you know what I mean.

The ones mentioned in this post helped me out especially when I first started on my digestion fixing journey. I continue to keep the ones mentioned above in my rotation. Also, you will find they are generally accepted in the carnivore diet community and by some of the proponents.

However, all of the other vitamins and supplements on the market seem to be questionable.

Let’s take a look at what Dr. Paul Saladino says about supplements. (He authored the book, “The Carnivore Code”, which I highly recommend.)

He says, “everyone comes from a unique position of nutritional adequacy/inadequacy when they begin a new dietary change. If we include a variety of organ meats, we can meet all our nutritional needs. This assumes adequate nutrient absorption and a reasonably healthy gut.”

He goes on, “there are conditions, such as celiac disease, small bowel overgrowth, and autoimmunity, that affect the stomach and the gastrointestinal tract which can result in malabsorption. If our bowel habits are normal, and we don’t have gastrointestinal symptoms, chances are we absorb the nutrients in our food just fine.”

“If we are not sure, a stool test that includes fecal fat and measures gastrointestinal inflammation can determine if malabsorption is a problem.”

Dr. Saladino finishes by saying, “In cases of pre-existing nutritional deficiency, some supplementation may be useful, but this must be determined with a or your physician on a case-by-case basis depending on detailed lab testing.”

Conclusion

We are all different. Supplements may work for some people and not for others. Do your due diligence and learn what you can. I’ve been bamboozled out of money with stupid expensive supplements in the past so I’m always skeptical of claims.

For me, the carnivore diet, in general, has helped me out and the supplements in this post did as well. However, speak to your doctor about any medical and nutritional questions!

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor. Consult with and ask your doctor about any diet or medical-related questions. No information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

Legal Disclaimer

These statements have not yet been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.

Resources

The Carnivore Diet by Dr. Shawn Baker
The Carnivore Code by Dr. Paul Saladino