Can You Use Coconut, MCT & Olive Oil on a Carnivore Diet?
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Say what? The carnivore diet is an all-meat, animal-based diet, and you want to add some plant-based oils to the carnivore diet, which already restricts plant-based foods. Can you do that?
If you plan to be a strict carnivore dieter, you can not add coconut oil, MCT oil, or olive oil to your diet. These products come from the plant kingdom, disqualifying them from being carnivore diet compatible.
Don’t get triggered!
Let’s try not to get triggered here. What I mean by that is if you are attempting or considering the carnivore diet, it may have some health benefits by keeping toxic immune responses triggering plant foods out.
The following shows some of the potential dangers and inflammatory culprits found within plant-based oils. If you have food sensitivity and intolerance, then this might hit home.
Dangerous Molecular Triggers
While reading Dr. Paul Saladino’s book, “The Carnivore Code,” he mentions that many of these so-called healthy plant oils still have some potentially harmful toxins hidden within, like…
Polyphenols
There is a lot of hype around polyphenols, an antioxidant that is supposed to benefit humans. Here’s an exciting study that hypothesizes them as being positive.
According to the study, “Polyphenols are reducing agents, and together with other dietary reducing agents, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and carotenoids, referred to as antioxidants, protect the body’s tissues against oxidative stress and associated pathologies such as cancers, coronary heart disease, and inflammation.”
But maybe that’s faulty information?
The crazy thing about this study and many others that try to prop up polyphenols as good is that they are based on epidemiology.
Epidemiology doesn’t use intervention but rather diet surveys!
Dr. Georgie Ede destroys the idea of using epidemiological studies as a source of viable nutritional information in:
Unfortunately, the thing is that there are a few interventional studies surrounding polyphenols, and it doesn’t show them as helpful but potentially harmful as this study:
This study said, “The overall effect of the 10-week period without dietary fruits and vegetables was a decrease in oxidative damage to DNA, blood proteins, and plasma lipids, concomitantly with marked changes in antioxidative defense.”
The study showed some positive results when the subjects ate a diet free of polyphenols!
Dr. Saladino says, “There’s a lot of hype around polyphenols, but I’m far from convinced that these provide a unique benefit in humans.”
“…they (polyphenols) don’t play well with our biology, nor is there solid evidence that we need them to be optimal.”
I also wanted to mention that a lot of beef jerky out there is not carnivore diet approved, as it includes nasty oils, sugar, and other additives.
What’s the solution? Carnivore Crisps!
They make tasty carnivore diet-approved snacks and only use Redmond Real Salt for flavoring. Check them out and get 10% off with this link!
Salicylates
You are going to find salicylate in both coconut oil and olive oil!
Salicylates are one form of a plant’s natural defense mechanism. They are released by the plant when attacked or eaten.
It’s one form of a plant’s natural pesticide. They suck for humans too.
This stuff has been shown to trigger asthma, gut inflammation, and even disaster pants, aka diarrhea.
Some people that very sensitive to salicylate have these symptoms as well:
- Rashes
- Headaches
- Ringing in the ears
Oleosin
Oleosin is a structural plant protein found within plant cells.
These plant proteins trigger the immune response in specific individuals and cause allergic reactions.
Some people have had dangerously strong allergic reactions to oils containing Oleosins, as it’s also abundantly found in seed oils like peanuts and sesame.
Guess what? Olive oil and coconut oil can potentially do the same thing. Dr. Saladino resorts to these studies, which show the research that oleosins are found in coconut oil and olive oil.
- Cloning, characterisation, and expression analysis of an oleosin gene in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) pulp
- Oleosin Is Bifunctional Enzyme That Has Both Monoacylglycerol Acyltransferase and Phospholipase Activities
- Oleosin gene expression in olive.
Dr. Saladino mentions, “If the idea is to eliminate the plant foods that may be triggering our immune system, avoiding all plant oils is a good idea.”
MCT Oil
MCT oil is the oil made popular in the keto and bulletproof diet community and one of the supplements I paid way too much money for over time.
It is essentially concentrated fat, usually from coconut, and processed into an easier-to-digest form of oil.
It’s supposed to help with energy. Some people cook with it and put it in their coffee or smoothies.
However, it usually comes from a plant source and is processed food.
Dr. Shawn Baker, the author of “The Carnivore Diet,” drops his two cents on MCT oil by saying, “The “keto” propensity to drink lots of oils is largely a great way to take in a large dose of low nutrition fat and is often why so many people do poorly.”
“Never would we see a prehistoric man doing this, particularly with the processed fake food fat bombs and things that are now so ubiquitous.”
“Processed food is still processed food whether it is labeled keto, paleo, primal, organic or vegan- it is just garbage- if you need some more fat, get it from a well-marbled steak like you were designed to- nutrition is simple, and you just don’t need all that other bulls*#t!!”
What Oil, Then?
It’s simple. Stick to animal-based oils as they are far superior to plant-based ones.
You don’t have to be worried about being poisoned by toxic plant molecules.
Plus, animal fats are a great source of bio-available nutrients and minerals.
Most recognizable are the fat-soluble vitamins like K2 and Vitamin A, D, and E.
Animal fat is excellent to cook with as you don’t have to worry as much about overheating it like plant-based oils.
Plus, eating more fat while on a carnivore diet is encouraged, as most beginners don’t consume enough.
That’s just one of the problems…check out these other top 11 carnivore diet mistakes.
You can make your own fat stores by rendering fat from beef or pork, or you can always stock up on it from butchers or producers.
This tallow and lard is the bomb and is made from livestock raised on sustainable farms:
- US Wellness Beef Tallow (Grass Fed)
- US Wellness Pork Lard
Whatever you do, stay away from seed oils and chemical oils like:
- Canola Oil
- Vegetable Oil
- Sesame Oil
- Safflower Oil
- Almond Oil
- Margarine
- Crisco
Those are just a few of the culprits responsible for destroying good health.
Closing Remarks
As you can see, it’s highly advised to try to eat without those pesky plant foods which contain potentially harmful toxins that may be triggering or causing inflammation.
Maybe it’s time to toss the MCT, Olive Oil, and Coconut Oil and stick to good old-fashioned unprocessed animal fat? I did and haven’t looked back since.
Where to go now?
While on the subject, did you read our article, “21 Essential Carnivore Diet Products You Need On Your Shopping List?” We have other animal products on that list that can help in your carnivore diet journey!
If you need motivation and to communicate with like-minded individuals, check out World Carnivore Tribe on Facebook.
If testimonials are your thing, then check out MeatRX.
Carnivore Discounts
- Redmond Real Salt and Re-Lyte Electrolyte Mix (15% Discount)
- White OakPastures Regenerative Farmed Meat (10% Discount)
- Carnivore Crisps (10% Discount)
- Live Water Glass Bottled Spring Water (11% Discount)
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.
Resources
Polyphenols: Do they play a role in the prevention of human pathologies?
The Problem with Epidemiological Studies
Oleosin gene expression in olive.
