One of the biggest surprises people run into on the Carnivore diet is something called meat aversion. 

It sounds strange at first. After all, if your diet is mostly meat, shouldn’t you want to eat meat? 

Many people start Carnivore and feel great. Their appetite settles down, and cravings disappear. But after a few weeks or months, something odd can happen. The thought of another steak suddenly seems very unappealing, even nauseating. Even the smell of meat cooking can make you gag. 

This can worry people. They wonder if something is wrong or if the diet has stopped working. But in most cases, meat aversion is normal, and it usually passes.

Let’s talk about it. 

What is meat aversion?

Meat aversion simply means losing the desire to eat meat for a period of time. Unlike food allergies, which can cause physical symptoms like hives or difficulty breathing, meat aversion is psychological or sensory-driven, and causes disgust, nausea, or gagging. 

And to be clear, meat aversion is not a moral issue, as with choosing to not eat animal products for moral or spiritual beliefs. 

Food that once sounded good, might now feel too greasy or too heavy, or just not appealing. Sometimes people take a few bites and feel full. Other times they cannot finish meals they once enjoyed. 

This can happen even if you’ve been happily eating Carnivore for months or years. 

Why does meat aversion happen?

There are several reasons why meat aversion can happen. 

First, meat aversion can actually be a good sign, because it can mean that your hunger signals are improving. As many of the Carnivore experts say, if meat doesn’t sound good, then you’re probably not really hungry. 

Many people come to Carnivore after years of snacking and eating ultra-processed foods. Their hunger signals are often out of whack. Once the diet becomes simple and the protein intake is bumped up, the body can start regulating appetite better. That means it will sometimes tell you very clearly when it has had enough food. 

Another reason for meat aversion can be fat intake. 

Carnivore meals can get very rich. Steaks, butter, and fatty ground beef are delicious, but sometimes all that fat can become overwhelming and food starts to taste unpleasant. 

Electrolytes can also play a role. Low sodium is common when people switch to a low-carb or Carnivore diet. When electrolytes drop, appetite often drops with it, and food may start to taste bland or unappealing. 

Sometimes the issue is just plain boredom. You may just be craving some variety.

Finally, the body may simply need less food. Again, this comes back around to appetite. The Carnivore diet can heal the appetite and you start to become more in tune with how much or how little food you actually need. 

Signs your body might just need a break

A few simple signs often show up during meat aversion:

• Meat doesn’t sound good

• You feel full quickly

• You would rather skip a meal, than force yourself to eat

Please note that prolonged nausea, or vomiting, would not be typical symptoms of meat aversion and should be checked out by your healthcare provider. 

How to handle meat aversion

If the thought of one more bite of steak or one more egg makes you gag, don’t panic. There are a few simple things that usually help. 

First, try leaner cuts of meat for a few meals, or even a few days. If you’ve been eating very fatty meat, switching to something leaner, like chicken or fish, can make food easier to enjoy again. 

Second, add some variety. If you’ve been eating a lot of steaks, try eggs and bacon for a bit. Or switch to fish or seafood for a few meals. 

Next, make sure you’re getting those electrolytes in, especially if you’re coming to Carnivore from a diet high in carbohydrates. 

And sometimes the best option is simply to wait until you’re hungry again. If meat doesn’t sound good, try some Intermittent Fasting. After a 24 hour fast, meat usually sounds really good again. 

The bottom line

Meat aversion can happen on the Carnivore diet, even if you’ve been doing it a while. It does not usually mean that something is wrong. 

Often, it just means your body is asking for a change, whether that means less fat, a different cut of meat, or more time between meals.