Can You Eat Nuts on the Carnivore Diet?
No, nuts are not part of the carnivore diet. Nuts are seeds from plants, which places them firmly outside the animal-only framework. Despite their reputation as a healthy, high-fat snack, nuts carry several concerns from a carnivore perspective, including anti-nutrients, high omega-6 content, and a tendency to encourage overeating.
Why Do People Think Nuts Might Be Carnivore?
Nuts occupy an interesting position in popular nutrition. They are high in fat, relatively low in carbohydrates, and feel “primal” in a way that other plant foods do not. Many people coming to carnivore from a keto or paleo background are accustomed to eating nuts daily and view them as one of the healthier foods in their diet.
The reasoning usually goes: nuts are natural, they are high in fat (which carnivore values), they do not taste sweet or “planty,” and they have been part of human diets for a long time. All of these points have some validity, but none of them change the fact that nuts are plant seeds, and the carnivore diet is exclusively animal foods.
What Is Wrong With Nuts?
From a carnivore perspective, nuts have several significant issues beyond simply being plants.
Phytic acid. Nuts are among the highest dietary sources of phytic acid, which binds to zinc, iron, calcium, and magnesium in the digestive tract, preventing absorption. This is particularly concerning because these are precisely the minerals that carnivore dieters get in abundance from meat. Eating nuts alongside animal foods could actually reduce the mineral absorption from your steak.
Oxalates. Almonds and cashews are particularly high in oxalates, compounds that can contribute to kidney stones and accumulate in tissues, causing joint pain and inflammation. Almonds, one of the most popular “healthy” nuts, contain roughly 122 milligrams of oxalates per ounce.
Lectins. Nuts contain lectins that can damage the gut lining and trigger immune responses. Cashews and peanuts (which are actually legumes) are particularly high in lectins. Even tree nuts like walnuts and pecans contain these inflammatory proteins.
Omega-6 fatty acids. Most nuts are very high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fats. Walnuts, pecans, and especially pine nuts have omega-6 to omega-3 ratios that promote inflammation. The standard Western diet is already heavily skewed toward omega-6, and adding nuts makes this imbalance worse. Animal fats like butter, tallow, and lard have much more favorable fatty acid profiles.
Calorie density and overeating. A cup of mixed nuts contains roughly 800 calories. Nuts are extremely easy to overeat because they are calorie-dense, mildly addictive (especially salted and roasted varieties), and do not trigger strong satiety signals. Many people can eat an entire jar of nuts in a sitting without feeling full, something that is nearly impossible with an equivalent amount of calories from steak.
What Should You Snack on Instead?
One of the best things about the carnivore diet is that most people find they snack far less. Meals high in protein and animal fat are deeply satiating, and the blood sugar stability from eliminating carbohydrates reduces between-meal hunger.
That said, if you want snack options, here are the best carnivore-friendly choices.
Beef jerky and biltong. Look for brands with minimal ingredients. Many commercial jerkies contain sugar and soy sauce, so read labels carefully. The best options have just meat, salt, and maybe black pepper.
Pork rinds. Fried pork skin provides a satisfying crunch that is hard to get elsewhere on carnivore. Choose brands fried in lard or pork fat rather than vegetable oils. They work well as a substitute for the crunchy, salty experience nuts provide.
Hard-boiled eggs. Eggs are one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Boil a dozen at the start of the week and keep them in the fridge for convenient snacking.
Cheese. If you tolerate dairy, cheese cubes or slices make an excellent portable snack. Hard cheeses like cheddar, gouda, and parmesan are particularly satisfying.
Salami and pepperoni. Cured meats are portable, shelf-stable, and satisfying. Check for added sugar in the ingredients, but most quality cured meats are essentially just meat, fat, salt, and spices.
Bone broth. A mug of warm bone broth can satisfy hunger between meals while providing collagen, minerals, and electrolytes. It is particularly good during the transition period when cravings are strongest.
What About Nut Butters?
Peanut butter, almond butter, and other nut butters are not carnivore for the same reasons whole nuts are not. They are plant-based and contain the same anti-nutrients, just in a spreadable form.
Nut butters are arguably worse than whole nuts for overeating. The smooth texture makes them extremely easy to consume in large quantities. A few tablespoons of almond butter can add 400 or more calories to a meal without providing meaningful satiety.
If you miss the creamy, spreadable quality of nut butter, butter from grass-fed cows is a far superior alternative on carnivore. It provides healthy animal fats without any plant compounds.
The Transition Away From Nuts
If nuts were a daily staple in your previous diet, the transition can feel significant. Here are some practical tips.
Increase meal fat. The satiety from nuts usually comes from their fat content. Replace this by adding more fat to your meals: extra butter on your steak, fattier cuts of meat, or bacon alongside your eggs.
Eat larger meals. Many people who snack on nuts are simply not eating enough at their main meals. On carnivore, eating until genuinely full at each meal usually eliminates the need for snacking.
Give it time. Nut cravings typically fade within two to three weeks. The habitual reach for the nut jar is replaced by genuine indifference once your body adapts to getting its energy from animal sources.
For a complete guide to what is and is not included on the carnivore diet, visit our carnivore diet food list. If you are just starting out, our beginner’s guide will help you build your foundation.