Me and coffee have a special relationship – I like the taste and it makes me feel good.
But, when you decide to eat a carnivore diet do you really have to stop drinking coffee? Or, can you still enjoy a daily cup?
I see so many readers once they have learnt the steps on how to start a carnivore diet or start the world carnivore month challenge move onto the usual questions – like the “can I drink coffee or tea on the carnivore diet?”
Can I Drink Coffee on the Carnivore Diet?
No, you shouldn’t drink coffee if starting the carnivore diet as it is an elimination diet to help take you back to the basics of eating only meat and drinking water.
BUT, there is an alternative answer too.
Yes, you can drink coffee on the carnivore diet if you are not being very strict for health reasons and you enjoy it as there are health benefits to drinking good quality coffee.
Let me explain why you have two options depending on:
- What type of carnivore diet lifestyle you are wanting to follow
- What your main reasons are for following an all meat way of eating only
Why You Should Drink Coffee on the Carnivore Diet
Coffee has been shown in multiple research studies over the decades to be associated with various health benefits.
1. Coffee Helps to Boost Your Energy Levels
The caffeine found in coffee is a stimulant that has been shown to increase energy levels and decrease the feeling of fatigue. It does this by blocking adenosine receptors in your brain.
This is why coffee helps you to wake up in the morning or when you are feeling tired in the afternoon.
2. Coffee is Linked To Lower Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes
The strange thing is coffee consumption can cause a short-term rise in blood glucose levels, but then help lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over the long-term when compared to non-coffee drinkers.
I know a lot of people in the low-carb, keto and carnivore diet groups are all trying to eat foods that help to manage their blood glucose measurements better than a Standard American Diet.
Maybe coffee can help in some way long-term.
3. Coffee May Help Weight Management
Both men and women who had a higher coffee consumption appear to also have decreased body fat.
This reason how coffee might help weight management is it is associated with people doing more physical exercise.
I also wonder if people use coffee as an appetite suppressant and way to avoid snacking.
Why You Should Avoid Coffee on the Carnivore Diet
1. Coffee is From a Plant
The main idea of following a carnivore diet is to avoid any potential chemicals from plant based foods that could be contributing to any of your health issues.
Coffee has beneficial chemicals in it, but some coffees can also contain small levels of mold. People who have a mold sensitivity may have had a bad mycotoxin exposure at some stage in their lives.
Trying to see what happens when you eliminate coffee from your diet might be a good choice for someone who is sensitive to molds.
2. Coffee Can Contribute to Anxiety
Some people are very sensitive to the caffeine in coffee and coffee can trigger feelings of anxiety and panic attacks.
A feeling of anxiety might be experienced by some people when they drink a cup of coffee due to their caffeine sensitivity.
3. Coffee Can Cause Gastric Discomfort
Coffee stimulates many things in your body that could end up giving you an upset stomach or feeling nausea.
Coffee stimulates antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which is the hormone responsible for stimulating urine production. Coffee also stimulates gastrin release, gastric acid secretion, gallbladder contraction and colonic motor activity in the colon.
Alternatives to Coffee on the Carnivore Diet
You might decide you are not going to drink coffee because you will be following a strict carnivore diet, or you think it is contributing to some of your health problems
The alternatives to coffee you can drink are:
1. Hot Bone Broth or Meat Stock
If it is the siping of a hot drink feeling you are craving then that desire might be fulfilled with a healthy cup or mug of bone broth or meat stock.
The bone broth and meat stock will help you to reach your daily calories needed and could also be a source of other minerals.
I know some people don’t care about calories, butI do think people can both under consume and over consumer meat on a carnivore diet.
Just remember that off the shelf bone broths and stock you can buy might contain vegetables or spices, which again is not technically carnivore friendly. You can make your own all meat bone broth or meat stock as an option.
2. Water
Water is what we all need to survive and thrive.
When you are wanting a coffee try drinking a glass of tap water, or maybe even try drinking sparking water to give you a different mouth feel and flavor for you.
Final Thoughts
The answer to if you can drink coffee on a carnivore diet is both yes and no. The reason why is thta it depends on what your health goals are and how strict you want to follow the carnivore diet way of eating lifestyle.
If you are considering drinking coffee you can choose to drink mold free coffee options, like:
Purity Coffee has a great selection of mycotoxin tested organic coffee beans that are all speciality coffee rated for a coffee shop level taste experience.
What to Read Next
- Where to Buy Grass Fed Meat
- Where to Buy Elk Meat
- Where to Buy Bison Meat
- Where to Buy Picanha Steak
- Listen to Dr Shawn Baker MD carnivore diet tips
