Is a Carnivore Diet Good for SIBO?

What are the Benefits of a Carnivore Diet for SIBO?

Since the Carnivore diet is a relatively "new trend," there is not much (official) research on its benefits.

Symptom and (disease) management

Other studies investigated the benefits of low-carb diets on health and showed noticeable improvements in weight loss and metabolic markers. (7) Many people support their statements using research on the ketogenic diet.

One survey by Harvard University showed "adults consuming a carnivore diet experienced few adverse effects and instead reported health benefits and high satisfaction." (8)

Since the diet eliminates all inflammatory and processed foods (seed oils, additives, preservation, and more) and all plant foods that may trigger food sensitivities (oxalates, lectins, salicylates, etc.), it makes sense that many advocates of the carnivore diet report better mood, focus, and more energy, improved insulin sensitivity, better gut health, mental clarity, libido, and weight loss as inflammation reduces.

Regarding SIBO, people generally experience less or no bloating and gassiness because the diet eliminates bacteria's primary food source: carbohydrates (including fiber)! Excess bacteria in the small bowel can become an issue due to their fermentation process leading to bloating, gas, and other symptoms. So yes, it can provide relief in terms of symptoms. But it is also essential to be aware that research shows that our gut microbiome needs fiber to function optimally. Many health issues stem from dysbiosis (an imbalance between beneficial and pathogenic bacteria). To feed your good microbes, they need fiber. (9) There is also more discussion if SIBO is actually also a form of dysbiosis.

Healing a Leaky gut

One of the possible reasons why many autoimmune warriors report improvement in their health could be due to healing the leaky gut with the diet. The Carnivore diet encourages bone broth and animal food sources rich in various amino acids and other nutrients (like glutamine, collagen, and omega-3 fatty acids). These amino acids are the building blocks of the intestinal lining. (10)

Calming down the immune system

It can also help calm down the immune system. Since the gut lining is healing, and most of the possible triggering foods have been removed from the diet, inflammation decreases, not triggering the immune system anymore. Therefore the body has time to focus on repair, and some symptoms like skin, mood, sleep, and gut issues slowly fade away.

What are the Potential Risks of a Carnivore Diet for SIBO?

Promoting food fear & metabolic inflexibility

We can all agree that the Carnivore diet is restrictive by eliminating whole food groups. Therefore the diet can be difficult to sustain long-term due to a lack of variety, especially for those who tend to be a foodie. Additionally, there is a potential risk of under-eating, which can impact metabolism and nutrient levels.

It can also lead to social isolation, as eating out can become a real challenge.

I often hear that people are scared to reintroduce foods to the diet due to presumed symptoms. Others who tried the reintroduction process soon backed up because they realized that previously tolerated foods no longer worked for their bodies. This is happening because of metabolic inflexibility. (Metabolic flexibility is the ability to respond or adapt to changes in metabolic demand.) (11) So, in this case, their gut is incapable of adapting to the "new" foods, possibly due to the dysbiosis from a one-sided diet.

Changes in the gut microbiome

A small study found that in just five days, participants who switched to an animal-based diet experienced significant detrimental changes to the gut microbiome, including a dramatic increase in strains of bacteria in the gut that cause inflammation and have been linked with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

"The animal-based diet increased the abundance of bile-tolerant microorganisms (Alistipes, Bilophila, and Bacteroides) and decreased the levels of Firmicutes that metabolize dietary plant polysaccharides (Roseburia, Eubacterium rectale, and Ruminococcus bromii)...Finally, increases in the abundance and activity of Bilophila wadsworthia on the animal-based diet support a link between dietary fat, bile acids, and the outgrowth of microorganisms capable of triggering inflammatory bowel disease6. In concert, these results demonstrate that the gut microbiome can rapidly respond to altered diet, potentially facilitating the diversity of human dietary lifestyles." (12)

Possible nutrient deficiencies

It can lead to nutrient deficiencies if the diet is not designed well. Some folks prefer to consume only lean and muscle meat, which may not provide all the essential nutrients as organ meats. This is why it is crucial to practice nose-to-tail eating (including bone marrow, brains, liver, pancreas, and kidneys). For those who can't accept the thought of eating organ meats, organ meat supplements could be a solution.

Some advocates promote adding quality salt (Celtic or Himalayan salt) to the diet to get enough trace minerals.

Ignoring the root causes and lifestyle changes

Many use this diet as a quick fix. But this band-aid approach may mask the underlying problems, especially when we talk about nervous system dysregulation, stored trauma, hidden infections, toxicity, and structural issues that can all contribute to SIBO, and the Carnivore diet alone may not resolve.

Sometimes people focus too much on their diet and ignore all other aspects of their health like sleep, stress management, relationships, exercise, environment, and so on. But lifestyle factors are the actual foundational steps of any healing journey. This is why holistic coaching & functional nutrition can be powerful in eliminating mindset blockages, limiting beliefs that may stand in your way, and finding strategies to implement the necessary lifestyle changes to reach your health goals. It can also guide you in finding the underlying causes to prevent SIBO relapse in the future.

It may not be suitable for everyone

People with specific health challenges like chronic kidney diseases, adrenal and thyroid dysfunctions, and eating disorders are not recommended to follow this diet.

Those with histamine intolerance may also need modifications. Fresh animal foods generally contain a lower amount of histamine. Reducing or avoiding aged or processed meats, cheeses, hydrolyzed collagen, bone broth, and shellfish is better as they can trigger histamine-related symptoms. (This might change later, though, if the cause of histamine issues is a Leaky gut, for example).

Is the Carnivore Diet good to follow?

My intake on this question is that the Carnivore diet may be helpful for people with chronic conditions as a therapeutic approach to reduce inflammation and allow time for the body to calm down and heal. It may be a good strategy to be on the Carnivore diet for 3-4 weeks and support the gut healing process, implement the necessary lifestyle changes, and have a plan on how to reintroduce plant-based foods to the diet to feed the beneficial gut microbes. But I wouldn't follow it long-term as a new lifestyle.