How to Use Raw Dairy on the Carnivore Diet
The carnivore diet is diet based on consuming predominately animal foods to meet your nutritional needs. That’s right. Imagine only eating juicy ribeye steaks, hamburgers (with no bun of course), grilled buttery fish, nutrient-dense pastured eggs, and all of the raw dairy products your body desires. Count me in!
It turns out that red meat, one of the most feared foods, is the most bioavailable source of nutrients. It contains all of the protein, nutrients and fat we need to function – in just the right proportions. Many of the nutrients in meat and dairy products are easier to absorb than in vegetables because animal foods are more bioavailable.
WHAT TO EAT ON THE CARNIVORE DIET
Meat (beef, pork, chicken, bison, elk, seafood)
The best part of the carnivore diet is meat! You can eat ALL of the meat you’d like. Whether it’s ribeye steaks, bun-less hamburgers, elk burgers, or a fatty piece of salmon, you have a wide array of nutrient-dense meats to choose from. It’s very important to source your meat well and buy from local farmers who sell grass-fed and pasture-raised meats. You can also find 100% grass-fed and pastured meats in most health-based grocery stores.
RAW DAIRY
What’s the difference between regular dairy and raw dairy? Simply put, raw dairy products are never heated, so they retain their raw goodness and nutritional benefits, which would otherwise be destroyed in the pasteurization process. RAW FARM dairy products are simply tested for safety allowing the final product to be unprocessed, whole, nutrient dense, and probiotic. NEVER pasteurized (heated), homogenized (crushed), fortified (enhanced), or otherwise altered. EVER. The proven health components found in raw dairy products are unlike ANY “milk alternatives”, naturally! Nothing is added to enhance or stabilize this life-giving food. Enjoy our products without digestion issues or milk sensitivities.
ORGAN MEATS
While meat alone can sustain a human being, it is also important to realize that meat includes the organs and tissues of the animal. This is not as abstract as it seems. We know that our ancestors have enjoyed organ meats for centuries. In fact, many traditional communities around the world still enjoy organ meats as a regular part of their diets today.
The most nutrient-dense parts of the animals are the organs. My favorite organ meat is beef liver. Liver has a high concentration of vitamin A (retinol), and small amounts of Vitamin C. In our house, we love pairing raw beef liver (yes, that’s right, raw) with raw butter! Watch how we enjoy ours and WHY here.
WHOLE EGGS
Eggs are nature’s multivitamins, and an essential part of a healthy carnivore diet. Opt for organic, pasture-raised eggs which you can find in most grocery stores. You can have boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, poached eggs, sunny-side up eggs, omelets, or raw (yes-some people enjoy raw eggs in smoothies or in their coffee)! The options are endless.
ANIMAL FATS (LARD, TALLOW, BUTTER)
The best kinds of fats to bake with are animal fats: butter, lard, and tallow. These fats are superior because they are the highest in nutrients, and they do not oxidize when you cook with them, like vegetable oils do. Cooking with vegetable oils releases high concentrations of toxic chemicals called aldehydes, which have been linked to diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, and dementia. Recent scientific studies show that the artificial trans fats found in vegetable oils aren’t as healthy as once thought. In fact, modern science proves that the naturally-occurring saturated fats found in animal fat are the healthier, more natural option. Animal fats are mostly saturated fat, which means they stand up better to high heat and last longer than plant-based fats. Reduced oxidation in animal fats means they are less susceptible to the toxins and carcinogens generated by using vegetable oils.
DO’S AND DON'TS OF THE CARNIVORE DIET
DO:
Eat sustainably-rasied meat that is 100% grass-fed and finished. Cows that forage year-round produce healthier meat because they are exposed to fresh air, sunshine, and the nutrients in the pasture.
Eat organ meats, like liver, kidney, hearts, and brain. Organ meats have a higher concentration of nutrients and minerals than muscle meat. For example, a single three-ounce serving of cooked liver contains as much as 6600 mcg of vitamin A, or more than 700% of the recommended daily requirement.
Always cook in butter, beef tallow, or another type of animal fat.
Consume raw dairy! Raw dairy products are a great way to get in additional healthy fats for long lasting energy. Enjoy raw cheese, raw butter, raw cream, raw milk, and raw kefir.
Eat fruits and raw honey if you choose!
Use a high quality salt to season your meat
DON’T:
Eat vegetables. Vegetables on this diet are strictly prohibited.
Cook in vegetable or seed oils. Cooking with vegetable oils releases high concentrations of toxic chemicals called aldehydes, which have been linked to diseases, including arthritis, heart disease, and dementia.
Use highly processed herbs and spices for seasoning.
RAW CHEESE, RAW BUTTER, AND RAW MILK ON THE CARNIVORE DIET
When it comes to dairy, choosing products that are full-fat instead of low-fat or fat-free is preferred. Raw butter, Raw cheese and Raw cream FROM GRASS-GRAZING COWS are not only more nutritious, but people who consume full-fat dairy products have a reduced likelihood of being overweight or obese. These foods contain vitamins A, D, E and K, and essential fatty acids like omega-3s and CLAs. These nutrients are anti-inflammatory, balance insulin levels, increase metabolism, support digestive health and give detoxification pathways a jump start so that you can burn fat more efficiently. Raw grass-fed butter, cheese, and cream are some of the best foods to eat on the carnivore diet!
RAW CHEESE
Our Raw Cheddar has aged a minimum of 60 days and is truly traditional artisan raw cheddar. Made with Whole Raw Milk from grass-grazed cows, each block is loaded with bioavailable vitamins, minerals, enzymes, beneficial bacteria, naturally occurring CLA, and Omega-3 fatty acids. The ease of digestibility of Raw Cheddar gives those that experience discomfort with processed cheese products a delicious and natural option. No coloring ever added. RAW FARM Cheddar’s yellow color comes naturally from seasonal grass-grazing. Its color will vary with the season; springtime brings the brightest color. Absolutely NO antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or GMO anything.
We believe in keeping our products TRULY raw, which involves never heating above 102° F. Many other so-called “raw” cheeses are heated to temperatures just under the legal pasteurized temperature of 161° F, which denatures proteins, enzymes, and kills beneficial bacteria that aids in the digestion of dairy.
We currently offer Original Raw Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeño Raw Cheddar Cheese, in both bulk, block, and shredded sizes. Our Raw Cheddar Cheese is available in stores nationwide.
RAW BUTTER
RAW FARM Cultured Raw Butter is rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, "X Factor ", vitamins, and minerals. Made from cold-churned Heavy Raw Cream with no coloring ever added. RAW FARM Cultured Raw Butter is made from cold-churned Heavy Raw Cream that has been cultured with a European-style butter culture (no coloring added). It is sweet and easy to spread. We also carry a lightly salted version of raw butter.
Our Raw Butter's yellow color comes naturally from seasonal grass-grazing. Its color will vary with the season; springtime brings the brightest color. The ease of digestibility of Cultured Raw Butter gives those that experience discomfort with processed dairy products, a delicious and natural option. Absolutely NO antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or GMO anything.
RAW FARM Raw Butter has an average of 87% raw butterfat.
RAW CREAM
📸: @lovethyordinary
RAW FARM Heavy Raw Cream is rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, CLA, "X-Factor ", vitamins, and minerals. Separated from our Whole Raw Milk that was simply flash-chilled, filtered, and tested. The ease of digestibility of Heavy Raw Cream gives those that experience discomfort with processed dairy products, a delicious and natural option.
Our truly happy cows seasonally grass graze on lush green pasture. Absolutely NO antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or GMO anything. Raw Milk is a delicious, nutritious, and natural alternative to “dairy-free diets”.
DELICIOUS CARNIVORE MEAL PLAN-Try it for a day!
Let’s take a look into what a carnivore day of eating can look like. It does NOT have to be boring. You can spice it up or spice it down as you’d like. The best part of following a carnivore diet is that you can eat yummy food that your body loves.
BREAKFAST: BACON, EGGS, and alfredo sauce
Meal: Scrambled eggs, bacon, and homemade alfredo sauce.
Coffee: (optional) add a generous amount of heavy raw cream!
This is one of my favorite breakfast recipes. It is so delicious and filling. Simply fry 2 pieces of bacon, scramble your eggs in the leftover bacon fat, and top your cooked eggs with our homemade alfredo sauce recipe:
HOMEMADE ALFREDO SAUCE:
1 stick (1/2 cup) of RAW FARM Cultured Raw Butter
4oz of cream cheese, softened
2 cups of RAW FARM Heavy Raw Cream
1 1/2 cups of RAW FARM Truly Raw Cheddar Cheese
ALFREDO SAUCE INSTRUCTIONS: In a medium sauce pan, melt 1 stick of raw butter. Once melted, add cream cheese and heavy raw cream. Let sit until it begins to simmer, stirring occasionally to mix in the cream cheese. Then add cheese, stir to combine, and remove from the heat. Serve immediately over eggs, or let cool and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
LUNCH: RAW KEFIR
Meal: RAW FARM Plain Raw Kefir
When I eat such filling, and nutrient-dense breakfast like the one above (like most carnivore breakfasts), I’m not hungry for a big lunch. When this happens, I opt for my favorite snack/light lunch: a quart of Plain Raw Kefir.
Kefir is a fermented drink made from raw milk. RAW FARM Whole Raw Kefir is made by culturing our whole raw milk with 12 specialized bacteria colonies (in addition to the bio-diverse colonies of beneficial bacteria naturally found in our raw milk). It is cultured (fermented) for 36-48 hours to achieve a pH of approximately 3.8. RAW FARM Whole Raw Kefir is deliciously smooth and very drinkable! Raw Kefir contains special prebiotics to feed and protect gut bacteria. It’s the bacteria’s food! Our raw kefir is alive with fully active enzymes containing a biodiversity of probiotic bacteria a broad spectrum of naturally occurring beneficial bacteria, essential amino acids, OMEGA-3 fatty acids, metabolically available vitamins, immunoglobulins, minerals, and antioxidants. Absolutely NO antibiotics, synthetic hormones, or GMO anything.
SNACK
Snack: Raw Liver with Raw Dairy
We are late to this trend, but better late than never! SIDE NOTE: tasted just like beef jerky… actually was delicious. Post your tips!!!!! We enjoyed raw liver as a #postworkout boost! We are into it. We froze the rest, but our goal is to take several raw liver/raw dairy servings a week. Raw liver is an amazing healthy snack idea.
DINNER: CARNIVORE BOWL
Meal: Carnivore taco bowl
This meal is inspired by Chipotle! I LOVE Chipotle. It’s my go-to place for eating out, for many reasons. Chipotle is great for all diet plans: paleo, keto, carnivore, and vegan. So, no matter who you’re out with, you can find a delicious option at Chipotle. Not to forget, Chiptole is known for using minimal ingredients and minimal processing. They are one of the first national brands to commit to sourcing local produce and responsibly raised meat. Plus, they have some of the highest animal welfare standards, all things we stand for.
I also love how I can re-make a similar yummy carnivore bowl at home. Here’s what you’ll need:
grilled meat (grilled chicken, carne asada, taco-seasoned ground beef) *pro tip, use our RAW KEFIR for making a delicious marinade for your meat.
sour cream (see our raw sour cream recipe)
queso (recommended recipe)
Guacamole (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS: Marinate your meat 3 hours before cooking in raw kefir and other seasonings of choice. Get our marinade recipe here. Grill the meat. Once finished, in a bowl, add grilled meat, queso, raw sour cream, Shredded Raw Cheese, and optional guacamole. Enjoy this raw, filling deliciousness!
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO USE RAW DAIRY ON THE CARNIVORE DIET:
The amazing thing about raw dairy products is that they can be paired with practically everything! They are a great compliment to whatever snack or meal you’re having, whether it’s sweet or savory. Enjoying a steak? Top it with raw butter. Eating a burger? Top it with raw cheddar cheese. Enjoying some berries? With raw whipping cream. Coffee? Add raw cream. The list goes on. Here are some additional ways to enjoy raw dairy on the carnivore diet:
USE Raw kefir as a delicious marinade for grilling tasty meat.
MAKE dreamy raw milk ice cream. Simply made of raw milk, raw cream, egg yolks, and raw honey. Get our recipe here.
MAKE homemade raw sour cream FOR A DELICIOUS TOPPING FOR MEATS
MAKE homemade raw butter
MAKE homemade raw whipping cream- a delicious carnivore dessert!
CARNIVORE DIET INFLUENCERS TO CHECK OUT:
STEAK AND BUTTER GAL | @steakandbuttergal
Carnivore, MD | @carnivoremd2.0
We love Paul Saladino, aka Carnivore MD! He is an animal-based, carnivore doctor. He promotes eating a nutrient-dense diet composed of organs, meat, fruit, honey, and raw dairy. He also shares wonderfully helpful tips to improve your health and your lifestyle, and to bring yourself back to nature for health and healing. Check out this video where he shows you how to find raw milk here!
“I now make raw dairy a daily part of my diet with raw butter, raw cream, and raw kefir.”
-Paul Saladino, MD
