A new study examining the carnivore diet has sparked considerable debate in the nutrition world.
According to Dr. Eric Westman, a physician specializing in low-carbohydrate nutrition, the research offers compelling evidence about this controversial eating approach.
In a recent YouTube video, Dr. Westman analyzed content from Max German, a health content creator known for his pro-carnivore stance, who broke down what he called “the best carnivore diet study to date.”
But does this research truly validate the carnivore diet, or are there critical limitations that temper the enthusiasm?
Jump to:
What Makes This Study Different
Conducted in Germany, this exploratory study recruited individuals already following a carnivore diet for at least one month. Participants provided blood test results from before starting the diet and after maintaining it for an average of 17 months—with some continuing for over four and a half years.
This extended timeframe represents a significant advantage over previous research. Dr. Westman emphasized the importance of studying participants beyond the initial adaptation period.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
If a study only lasts a week or two and there’s some big metabolic change that occurs, we call that the adaptation period or keto adaptation or you may hear on the internet the keto flu.
He compared it to exercise studies, noting that asking sedentary people how they feel after just two weeks of training would only capture discomfort, not long-term benefits.
Blood Work Reveals Striking Changes
The study included 24 participants, 22 of whom had chronic health conditions when they started. The objective blood marker results painted an overwhelmingly positive picture.
Improvements in Key Health Markers
Among participants with elevated triglycerides at baseline—six individuals total—all six saw their levels decrease. This finding suggests reduced inflammation and metabolic stress, as elevated triglycerides typically reflect an inflammatory environment.
Two participants entered with pre-diabetic HbA1c values, a marker of long-term blood sugar control. Both experienced decreases in this critical metric.
Perhaps most impressive was the change in C-reactive protein (CRP), a well-established inflammation marker. Levels dropped from a median of 0.6 mg/dL to just 0.1 mg/dL—moving participants from above the reference range to very low inflammatory levels.
The Gout Myth Debunked
Common wisdom suggests that meat consumption raises uric acid levels and causes gout. This study challenged that assumption directly.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Average uric acid levels dropped slightly from 5.17 mg/dL to 5.1 mg/dL. Zero participants developed gout.
German explained that gout occurs not from dietary purines in meat, but from chronically elevated insulin levels that prevent kidneys from efficiently clearing uric acid. Carbohydrates—particularly fructose—drive insulin up and uric acid excretion down.
On a carnivore diet, insulin levels stabilize at lower levels, allowing kidneys to function more effectively. However, Dr. Westman offered practical advice for those with existing gout.
If you have a history of gout and you start a carnivore or keto diet, while this is technically correct that it’s not the meat that’s causing the gout, it’s the underlying inflammation and metabolic syndrome. If you’re starting out, I still do recommend that people restrict their meat and purine, especially seafood.
Beyond Blood Work: Subjective Improvements
Of the 22 participants with chronic health conditions, 17 saw improvement or complete resolution. Five experienced no change, and none reported worsening symptoms.
Participants also reported significant improvements across multiple quality-of-life measures:
- 89% experienced improved energy levels throughout the day without afternoon crashes
- Enhanced mental clarity, memory, and focus were commonly reported
- 69% noted improvements in strength and endurance
- Weight loss occurred naturally among those who were overweight or obese
- Food cravings disappeared, typically within just days or weeks
German attributed the cognitive benefits to the brain’s composition—roughly 20% consists of long-chain fatty acids abundant in animal fats but absent in plant-based sources. Additionally, the ketones produced on a carnivore diet provide efficient brain fuel.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
Athletic Performance Without Carbohydrates
The improved strength and endurance findings challenge conventional sports nutrition wisdom that emphasizes carbohydrate intake for performance.
Through gluconeogenesis, the liver converts protein and fat into glucose as needed. Once fat-adapted, individuals maintain glycogen stores identical to those on high-carbohydrate diets.
Your body actually does make enough glycogen to be there when it’s needed, even when you’re not eating carbohydrates.
Dr. Westman noted this represents updated understanding, as older teachings incorrectly claimed low-carb diets deplete glycogen.
Significant Limitations Worth Considering
Despite the positive findings, both German and Dr. Westman acknowledged important constraints that prevent drawing definitive conclusions.
Small Sample Size and Selection Bias
With only 24 participants, the study lacks statistical power to detect smaller effects. More concerning is selection bias—participants were already successfully following the diet, potentially for years.
Dr. Westman highlighted this as the most critical limitation.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
The main limitation of small sample size as the strengths though of the blood work being done before and after, and people who’ve been on it for a long time by self-report. You know, the grassroots changes that we monitor, people, you might have results just like this. And yet it’s not counted and then what we do is we put together groups online.
Those who struggled with or disliked the diet wouldn’t appear in this research. This creates “survivor bias”—only successful adherents are counted, inflating apparent benefits.
Reliance on Self-Reported Data
Participants self-reported their dietary adherence. While blood work came from certified laboratories, researchers couldn’t verify exactly what participants ate or how strictly they followed carnivore principles.
No Control Group
The study lacked a comparison group following a different dietary approach. German argued that “the general population” serves as an informal control, but this doesn’t meet rigorous scientific standards.
What Future Research Should Examine
Dr. Westman disagreed with German’s assertion that better-controlled studies would be prohibitively expensive. He suggested several feasible approaches:
- Prospective clinical trials starting with 100 participants to track adherence rates, dropout reasons, and outcomes
- Intention-to-treat analysis that includes all enrolled participants, not just successful ones
- Internet-based monitoring with AI-assisted food intake assessment to reduce costs
- Validation through medical records and verified blood work from Facebook groups and online communities
I’m optimistic that this will be on the platter so to speak on the plate of studies that need to be done in the future to get more information about how a low-carb keto or carnivore diet affects metabolism and health and even longevity.
The Verdict: Promising But Not Definitive
This German study represents valuable preliminary evidence that carnivore diets may benefit certain individuals, particularly those with metabolic conditions, inflammation, or autoimmune issues.
The combination of objective blood markers and subjective quality-of-life improvements across multiple domains creates a compelling narrative. The extended follow-up period—averaging 17 months—provides more meaningful data than short-term trials.
If you want something simple that actually works, this is one of the most effective tools I’ve used to build strength, conditioning, and endurance without needing a full gym setup.
- Full-body training with one weight using swings, squats, and presses
- Solid cast iron build that feels stable and lasts for years
- Comfortable grip that makes high-rep workouts easier to handle
However, the study cannot answer how many people would thrive versus struggle if placed on this diet. Selection bias means results likely overestimate benefits for the general population.
For those considering a carnivore approach, this research suggests potential benefits exist—but individual results will vary. Working with knowledgeable healthcare providers to monitor blood work and symptoms remains essential.
The carnivore diet debate continues, but this study adds an important piece to the puzzle. As Dr. Westman notes, properly designed prospective trials would finally provide the definitive answers both critics and advocates seek.
