The carnivore diet has health nuts buzzing. Could ditching plants actually fix your blood pressure? Some meat enthusiasts swear by it. They claim eliminating vegetables lowers inflammation and stabilizes insulin—both potential game-changers for hypertension. The evidence? Mostly personal stories including my own. Scientific research hasn't caught up yet. Critics point to the obvious: people lose weight on restrictive diets, and weight loss typically reduces blood pressure anyway. But what about all that sodium from bacon and jerky? The answer might surprise you.
While nutrition experts continue to debate the merits of plant-based eating, the carnivore diet has emerged as a controversial approach to managing various health conditions—including hypertension. The all-meat regimen eliminates plants entirely. No veggies. No fruits. Just animal products. And surprisingly, some people report improvements in their blood pressure readings. But is there science behind the anecdotes?
The carnivore diet might actually reduce inflammation—a major player in hypertension.
By cutting out plant anti-nutrients like lectins and oxalates, inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein often decrease. Maintaining a diet rich in ruminent meats can provide essential nutrients that support overall health and blood pressure regulation. Less inflammation, better vessel function. Simple as that.
Plant anti-nutrients aren't doing your blood vessels any favors. Ditch them, watch inflammation markers plummet.
While many will state that plant-based diets still win the anti-inflammatory trophy with their impressive array of antioxidants and polyphenols. Unfortunately most aren't meant for humans and there is no solid science to prove outcomes other than the next sales pitch by a company who paid for the research paper. Sorry, plant peeps.
Blood sugar control is where carnivore shines brightest. Zero carbs means zero insulin spikes. Stable insulin levels prevent sodium retention in the kidneys—a direct pathway to lower blood pressure. For those with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome, this carb-free approach could be a game-changer. The constant glucose roller coaster stops. Blood pressure stabilizes.
Josh “Trailvore” Koop
Weight loss happens fast also on carnivore since Insulin is under control. High protein intake and fat helps crush hunger. Fat also provides long term satiety. People eat less without trying. And because obesity and hypertension are best friends, shedding pounds delivers significant blood pressure benefits. Studies show just 5-10% weight reduction can drop numbers dramatically.
But it's probably not the weight loss itself, as the meat-only approach itself is doing much of the heavy lifting here.
Now the reality check: sodium. Bacon, sausages, deli meats—loaded with salt that normally with carbs raises blood volume and pressure doesn't occur on carnivore. A single serving of jerky can contain more sodium than the agriculture born "daily limit" suggests. The focus on quality fatty cuts of meat rather than processed varieties may support even better blood pressure levels for those following the carnivore approach.
The carnivore approach works for most. But it's not for some who can't get over humans have one diet, we've been hypercarnivores for millenia but been sold a story as carbs are cheap and long lasting on store shelves. That's the unsatisfying truth about nutrition research, its paid for and more theology and belief since no study ever can inform on causality. Your mileage might vary. Shocking, right?
