Why the ASTR Diet Is Safer Than the Carnivore Diet for Long-Term Health

The carnivore diet has gained attention for its bold simplicity—eat only animal products, and nothing else. Some followers report short-term relief from autoimmune symptoms or digestive issues. But what happens over time?

Although meat-only diets eliminate many common food triggers, they also remove the very nutrients and fibers the body needs to heal and thrive. The ASTR Diet, developed by Dr. Joseph Jacobs, offers a more balanced, functional approach that supports long-term healing without the risks associated with extreme restriction.

This article compares the carnivore diet to the ASTR Diet, revealing why ASTR is a safer, more sustainable solution for chronic inflammation, fatigue, and autoimmune recovery.

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What Is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet includes only animal-based foods—typically red meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and sometimes dairy. All plant foods, including vegetables, fruit, grains, legumes, and seeds, are excluded.

Short-term benefits reported by some followers:

• Reduced bloating and IBS symptoms

• Fewer autoimmune flares initially

• Rapid elimination of dietary variables

But science shows significant risks with long-term use:

• Lack of fiber harms gut bacteria, increasing risk of leaky gut and inflammation (De Filippo et al., 2010)

• Excess saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol and heart disease risk (Mazidi et al., 2021)

• Nutrient deficiencies in vitamin C, magnesium, folate, and phytonutrients

• Increased toxic load from cooking byproducts, high iron intake, and lack of detox-supportive compounds

• Greater risk of chronic inflammation and fatty liver disease (Jornayvaz et al., 2010)

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What Is the ASTR Diet?

o ASTR Diet, created by Dr. Joseph Jacobs after his battle with cancer, fatigue, and chronic pain, is a healing nutrition plan rooted in functional medicine and clinical success. Unlike extreme elimination diets, it focuses on removing root triggers of disease while restoring nutrients and supporting detoxification.

Core principles of the ASTR Diet:

• Eliminates inflammatory foods (refined sugar, processed grains, dairy, seed oils, and food chemicals)

• Emphasizes fiber-rich vegetables, clean proteins, healthy fats, and anti-inflammatory herbs

• Supports gut healing, liver detoxification, and hormone balance

• Prioritizes toxin-free, organic, and sustainable foods

• Incorporates intermittent fasting and is flexible for long-term sustainability

The ASTR Diet is detailed in Eat to Heal and supported by a free health coaching program to help you personalize your plan.

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Carnivore vs. ASTR Diet: Key Differences

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Why the ASTR Diet Is Safer for Long-Term Health

The carnivore diet removes food irritants—but at the cost of removing critical healing nutrients and gut-supportive compounds. Over time, this leads to microbial imbalance, liver stress, and nutrient depletion. The ASTR Diet takes a smarter, more holistic approach, balancing removal of inflammatory foods with the addition of restorative nutrition.

ASTR = Anti-inflammatory + Sustainable + Toxin-free + Restorative
This balance allows the body to reduce inflammation, repair tissue, balance hormones, and prevent disease without risking deficiencies or long-term damage.

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Who Benefits Most from the ASTR Diet?

If you’re dealing with:

• Autoimmune disease

• Chronic fatigue or pain

• Skin conditions like eczema or acne

• Hormonal imbalances

• Digestive issues like leaky gut, bloating, or IBS

The ASTR Diet offers a proven, safer path to healing that goes beyond what meat-only diets can provide.

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Take the Next Step Toward Lasting Health

📘 Get started with Eat to Heal by Dr. Joseph Jacobs and claim your free ASTR Diet consultation to create a healing plan tailored to your needs.

👉 Book your free session here

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Referências

• De Filippo, C., Cavalieri, D., Di Paola, M., et al. (2010). Impact of diet in shaping gut microbiota revealed by a comparative study in children from Europe and rural Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(33), 14691–14696. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1005963107

• Furman, D., Campisi, J., Verdin, E., et al. (2019). Chronic inflammation in the etiology of disease across the life span. Nature Medicine, 25, 1822–1832. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-019-0675-0

• Jornayvaz, F. R., Jurczak, M. J., Lee, H. Y., et al. (2010). A high-fat, ketogenic diet causes hepatic insulin resistance in mice. Journal of Lipid Research, 51(10), 2986–2994. https://doi.org/10.1194/jlr.M008144

• Mazidi, M., Katsiki, N., Mikhailidis, D. P., & Banach, M. (2021). Effect of low carbohydrate diet on liver enzymes: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 31(3), 835–842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2020.11.008