You're standing in the grocery aisle, staring at a bag of macadamias. You’ve been eating ribeyes and eggs for three weeks. You feel great, but honestly, you miss the crunch. You're wondering, can I eat nuts on carnivore diet, or will that handful of almonds ruin everything you’ve worked for?
It's a loaded question. If you ask a strict "Lion Diet" follower like Mikhaila Peterson, the answer is a hard no. If you ask someone doing a "carnivore-ish" approach, they might tell you it’s fine in moderation. But the truth is somewhere in the middle of your gut microbiome and your specific health goals.
Strictly speaking, nuts are seeds. They come from plants. Since the carnivore diet is, by definition, an all-animal-products protocol, nuts are technically "illegal." But life isn't always lived in a vacuum of strict rules.
💡 You might also like: What Disease Does RFK Junior Have? His Health History Explained
The Plant Defense Mechanism Problem
Plants don't want to be eaten. Unlike a cow that can run away or a lion that can bite back, a walnut is stationary. To survive, plants evolved chemical warfare. These are often called antinutrients.
When you ask can I eat nuts on carnivore diet, you have to consider things like phytic acid and oxalates. Phytic acid is a bit of a thief. It binds to minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron in your digestive tract, preventing your body from absorbing them. If you’re eating a high-quality steak specifically for the bioavailable iron, tossing a handful of walnuts on top might actually cancel out some of that benefit.
Then there are oxalates. These are tiny, needle-like crystals found in high concentrations in almonds and cashews. For some people, these lead to kidney stones or "oxalate dumping" symptoms like joint pain and skin rashes when they try to transition off a plant-heavy diet. If you’re doing carnivore to heal an autoimmune issue, these chemicals are exactly what you’re trying to avoid.
Lectins and Gut Permeability
Ever heard of Dr. Steven Gundry? He made a whole career out of talking about lectins. Nuts are loaded with them. Lectins are proteins that can bind to the lining of your stomach, potentially contributing to "leaky gut."
Most people turn to the carnivore diet to fix their digestion. They want to stop the bloating. They want the brain fog to lift. If you introduce nuts back into the mix, you might be reintroducing the very trigger that caused the inflammation in the first place. It’s kinda like trying to put out a fire while occasionally throwing a tiny bit of gasoline on the embers.
The Omega-6 Imbalance
We talk a lot about healthy fats in the keto and carnivore world. But not all fats are created equal. Animal fats from grass-fed beef or wild-caught fish are rich in Omega-3s and saturated fats that stabilize cell membranes.
Nuts are a different story.
Most nuts, especially walnuts and pecans, are high in linoleic acid, an Omega-6 fatty acid. While we need some Omega-6, the modern diet is already drowning in it. An imbalance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 is a fast track to systemic inflammation. If your goal with the carnivore diet is to lower your C-reactive protein (a marker for inflammation), nuts are going to work against you.
Walnuts, for instance, are nearly 50% linoleic acid. That’s a lot of polyunsaturated fat (PUFAs). These fats are unstable. They oxidize easily when exposed to heat, light, or oxygen. Even "raw" nuts can have rancid fats by the time they hit the store shelf.
Why You’re Actually Craving Them
Let’s get real for a second. Most people asking can I eat nuts on carnivore diet aren't doing it because they’re worried about their manganese intake. They’re doing it because they’re bored.
The carnivore diet is monotonous. It’s effective because it’s monotonous, but it’s still tough. Nuts provide a texture—that salty crunch—that you just don't get from a soft piece of brisket or a fried egg.
They also act as a "buffer food." It’s easy to mindlessly snack on a jar of pistachios while watching a movie. You can't really "mindlessly snack" on a cold pork chop. If you find yourself reaching for nuts, ask yourself if you’re actually hungry or if you’re just seeking a dopamine hit from the salt and texture.
The Binge Trigger
For many, nuts are a "domino food." You plan on having five almonds. Suddenly, the bag is empty.
Because they contain a mix of fat, some carbs, and salt, they hit the reward centers in the brain in a way that pure animal protein doesn't. This can stall weight loss. If you’re wondering why the scale hasn't moved in two weeks despite eating "mostly" carnivore, those "healthy" nuts might be the culprit. They are incredibly calorie-dense. A small handful can easily pack 200 calories, and almost nobody stops at one handful.
Real World Exceptions: The Carnivore-ish Approach
Is it ever okay? Well, it depends on your "why."
If you are a high-performance athlete who needs extra calories and doesn't have autoimmune issues, a few macadamias probably won't kill you. Macadamias are generally considered the "safest" nut because they are lowest in protein (lectins) and highest in monounsaturated fats, similar to olive oil.
- Macadamias: Lowest toxins, best fat profile.
- Walnuts: High Omega-6, high phytic acid.
- Almonds: Extremely high in oxalates.
- Cashews: Actually a seed, very high in carbs, can trigger insulin.
If you must deviate, stay away from the cashews and peanuts (which are actually legumes). Stick to a few macadamias. But even then, you aren't doing a "true" carnivore diet. You're doing a ketogenic diet with animal emphasis.
Digestion and the "Transit" Issue
Fiber is a controversial topic in the carnivore community. Mainstream medicine says you need it to poop. Carnivore veterans like Dr. Shawn Baker argue that fiber is actually like a giant broom pushing through a sensitive hallway—it causes more trauma than help.
Nuts are full of insoluble fiber. If your gut is currently healing from years of irritation, that fiber can feel like sandpaper. Many people find that adding nuts back in leads to immediate bloating or a return of constipation. Your body has spent weeks streamlining its digestive process to handle highly absorbable meat; throwing a bunch of woody plant fibers in there can cause a literal traffic jam.
How to Test if You Can Handle Them
If you’re determined to try, don't just start eating them daily. Follow a protocol.
- Complete at least 30 days of strict, meat-and-water carnivore first. You need a "clean slate" to see how your body reacts.
- Introduce one type of nut—preferably macadamias—in a small amount (5-10 nuts).
- Wait 48 hours. Do not introduce anything else.
- Monitor for: Bloating, joint pain, skin breakouts, or sudden cravings for sugar.
If your skin flares up or you feel "puffy" the next morning, you have your answer. Your body is telling you that those plant defense chemicals are an issue for you.
Actionable Steps for Success
If you're struggling with the urge to eat nuts, you need a strategy that doesn't involve raiding the pantry.
Eat more fat. Usually, a craving for nuts is actually a craving for energy. If you’re lean-meat heavy, add some cold butter or extra tallow to your meal. It shuts off the hunger signals in the brain much more effectively than a bag of almonds.
Find a carnivore-approved crunch. If it’s truly the texture you miss, try pork rinds (chicharrones). Just make sure the only ingredients are pork skins and salt—no vegetable oils. Alternatively, fry up some bacon until it’s extra crispy or make "cheese crisps" if you tolerate dairy.
Check your salt. Sometimes the "need" for nuts is just a need for sodium. If you’re feeling lethargic or snacky, put a pinch of high-quality sea salt on your tongue or mix it into your water.
Audit your goals. Are you doing this for weight loss, or to cure a skin condition like psoriasis? If it's for an autoimmune condition, stay away from nuts entirely for at least six months. The risk of a flare-up isn't worth the five minutes of salty crunch.
The carnivore diet works because of what you don't eat. It is the ultimate elimination diet. By adding nuts, you're re-complicating a system that thrives on simplicity. Most people find that once they push past the initial craving phase, they don't even want the nuts anymore. They start to taste "dusty" or overly bitter. That’s your taste buds adjusting to the nutrient density of animal foods.
To truly see what this lifestyle can do for your health, give yourself the gift of a 100% plant-free window. The nuts will still be there in a few months if you decide the carnivore life isn't your permanent home. But for now, stick to the steak. Your gut will thank you.