My first experience with Carnivore Diet was with then little-known Paleo-Ketogenic Diet (PKD) developed by Paleomedicina in Hungary so what is the difference: Carnivore vs PKD. When I started telling people that I was on PKD they never thought this was an all meat and fat way of eating, and they were curious about it. On the other hand, when I tell people I am on carnivore diet, I get these worried questions: “What about cholesterol?” and “What about increased cancer risk?”.
What is the difference between PKD and Carnivore?
PKD WAS DEVELOPED IN CLINICAL SETTINGS
PKD was developed in the clinical settings by Drs Zsofia Clemens and Csaba Toth. They have been working with some of the worst cases of autoimmunity, epilepsy, and cancer. Dr Clemens has background in epilepsy and started tweaking the ketogenic diet, namely by removing dairy from epileptic patients’ diets. Dr. Toth worked a lot with patients with gut issues and was adjusting the paleo diet to the patients’ needs, realizing in the end that removing all plant matter was the best solution for just about every case. Combing the expertise of both came to life Paleo-Ketogenic Diet.
Paleomedicina isn’t an “alternative” medicine, they are highly trained allopathic doctors and researchers, rigorously adhering to the scientific method (www.paleomedicina.com)
Carnivore Diet is a broad term for all animal food diet. Though there have been many carnivores living among us in the modern society, Carnivore Diet gained in popularity after Shawn Baker and Jordan Peterson talked about it on Joe Rogan podcast.
KETOSIS
Ketosis is a critical part of PKD. You are expected to replace your glucose metabolism with ketogenic one, staying in continuous ketosis over 2 mml. This supposed to help with energy during the transition phase, mood, and inflammatory mechanisms that ketosis induce. Many professionals say that ketosis is especially useful in cases of autoimmunity, and cancers.
On Carnivore Diet ketosis is optional, and not managed to a particular level. There is a subtype of Carnivore Diet that is called keto-carnivore or carnivore-keto.
DAIRY
Dairy isn’t allowed on PKD in any form or amount. If you want to be consistent with the PKD protocol kiss dairy goodbye. This is especially important for people with autoimmunity and epilepsy.
Speaking from my own experience, autoimmunity and dairy simply don’t mix well. Though I love it, I can tell within couple of days, it doesn’t serve me well. On PKD, even with a maintenance protocol, dairy isn’t allowed.
Dairy is often consumed on the carnivore diet because it is an animal food. Lots of people achieve amazing results going carnivore and eating dairy. It tastes great and adds variety to carnivore diet.
In my personal experience and coaching of others, there is a subgroup of people whose health will be better off if they eliminate dairy. The ones with autoimmunity, epilepsy, migraines, chronic constipation need to get rid of dairy to reverse these issues. I also noticed for some individuals; the last 15 pounds of weight comes off when they eliminate dairy.
AMOUNT OF MEAT ON PKD IS LESS
On PKD you eat a lot less meat, about 500 grams (roughly a pound) with a lot more animal saturated fat. Ideally you achieve a ratio of fat to protein 2:1 by dry matter. This will ensure you are in continuous ketosis over 2.
On Carnivore diet, you eat to satiety whatever meats you desire, usually at least 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. People that are tall and do strength training eat a lot closer to 2 or 2.5 pounds of meat.
Check out my video version of this post here:
ORGAN MEATS
One PKD you will be eating a few ounces of liver or other organ meats about once a week. According to PKD protocol, this is the step you should not skip, as eating of organ meats will ensure you meet all your nutritional needs.
With Carnivore Diet, organ meats are optional. In fact, there is a quite a debate here in the Northern America if organ meats are a must, optional, or maybe an added value to already healthy diet. Another word, you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to including organ meats into your Carnivore Diet.
Desiccated organ meats supplements are a very useful workaround. They are becoming more and more popular these days.
MAINTENANCE PHASE
Once you reverse your illness, you can move on to maintenance PKD. It allows you to eat 30% fruit and vegetables. However, you will not be eating dairy, grains, exotic fruit, and leafy greens. Traditional cold climate fruit and mostly root vegetables.
On carnivore you can easily consume dairy, but if you add some plants back, the diet becomes “carnivore-ish”.
WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE
Carnivore vs PKD? I ended up on PKD because they got to me first. I really liked the presentation of Dr. Clemens and was very interested to have my gut permeability tested.
If you suffer from serious health issues and take tones of meds, I think Paleomedicina is a place to go.
If you have issues with weight loss, metabolic syndrome, fatigue, constipation, joining any carnivore community will be sufficient.
FINAL THOUGHTS
What is the difference carnivore vs PKD? PKD is Carnivore, but Carnivore isn’t automatically PKD. Usually, people that end up on PKD have serious chronic conditions where everything else failed. Carnivore is similar, but often people come from failing on keto and other regimens. We have many vegans that come to carnivore diet to fix their guts. However, you end up here, PKD or Carnivore, get in touch with me I have solutions for you.
