Can You Eat Shrimp on the Carnivore Diet? A Complete Guide

The carnivore diet has become an increasingly popular way of eating for people looking to lose weight reduce inflammation or improve other health conditions.

As the name suggests, the carnivore diet involves eating mostly meat and other animal products. But with such a restrictive diet, many people wonder – can you eat shrimp on the carnivore diet?

In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eating shrimp on a carnivore diet, including:

• What is the carnivore diet?
• Is shrimp carnivore-friendly?
• Nutritional benefits of shrimp
• How to add shrimp to your carnivore diet
• Recipes with shrimp
• Potential downsides of eating shrimp

What is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet, also known as the all-meat diet is a way of eating that only includes animal foods like meats, fish eggs, and dairy. It completely eliminates all plant foods, including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and plant-based oils.

On the carnivore diet, the majority of calories should come from fatty cuts of red meat. Other emphasized foods include organ meats, bone marrow, eggs, fish, shellfish, and full-fat dairy like butter or heavy cream.

Some of the potential benefits of the carnivore diet include

• Weight loss
• Reduced inflammation
• Improved mental clarity and focus
• Increased energy levels
• Relief from autoimmune symptoms

But experts warn that permanently eliminating all plant foods could lead to nutritional deficiencies long-term. That’s why many followers of the diet choose to add in limited plant foods like seasonings and spices to enhance flavor.

So within those guidelines, can you eat shrimp on the carnivore diet?

Is Shrimp Carnivore-Friendly?

The simple answer is yes, shrimp is generally considered carnivore diet approved.

As a seafood, shrimp fits perfectly into the carnivore guidelines. Other popular seafood choices on the diet include fish like salmon and tuna, crab, lobster, scallops, and clams.

Here are some of the reasons shrimp can be included on a carnivore diet:

• Shrimp is an animal product, not a plant.
• It provides a good source of protein and healthy fats.
• Shrimp contains important nutrients like selenium, vitamin B12, and iodine.
• It can add beneficial variety to an all-meat diet.
• Shrimp provides a nice change of pace from red meat or eggs.

The only potential issue with shrimp is that it’s relatively low in fat compared to fatty cuts of beef and other emphasized carnivore foods. But as an occasional part of a well-formulated carnivore diet, shrimp can absolutely be included.

Nutritional Benefits of Shrimp

Incorporating shrimp into your carnivore diet offers several nutritional advantages. Here are some of the top nutrients you’ll gain by adding shrimp:

High-Quality Protein

A 3 oz serving of shrimp provides over 18g of protein, supplying around 38% of the recommended daily value. The protein found in shrimp is complete, meaning it contains all of the essential amino acids your body needs.

The high protein content keeps you feeling full and satisfied on a low carb, carnivore diet. It also helps maintain and build muscle mass.

Selenium

Shrimp is one of the best dietary sources of the antioxidant mineral selenium. A 3 oz serving contains over 50 mcg of selenium, or almost 100% of the daily recommended amount.

Selenium plays important roles in reproductive health, thyroid function, and immunity. It also protects cells from damage and inflammation.

Vitamin B12

You’ll get over half of your recommended daily B12 from a 3 oz serving of shrimp.

Vitamin B12 is required for red blood cell formation, neurological function, and DNA synthesis. Many times, it is lacking in strict plant-based diets, making shrimp a smart choice for vegetarians/vegans.

Iodine

Shrimp provides a sizable dose of the often under-consumed mineral iodine.

Your thyroid depends on iodine to make critical hormones. An iodine deficiency can lead to hypothyroidism and other health issues over time.

Along with these stellar nutrients, shrimp also contains zinc, copper, vitamin D, and high-quality omega-3 fatty acids.

How to Add Shrimp to Your Carnivore Diet

Now that you know shrimp is carnivore approved, let’s look at some tips for how to integrate it into your low carb meal plan:

Choose Wild-Caught Shrimp

Whenever possible, opt for wild-caught shrimp rather than farmed. Wild shrimp live in their natural ocean habitats and consume a diverse diet. They are lower in contaminants and higher in omega-3s than farm-raised shrimp.

You can find fresh or frozen wild shrimp at most grocery stores. Look for terms like “wild-caught” on the label.

Eat Shrimp 2-3 Times Per Week

To add beneficial variety to your carnivore diet, aim to eat shrimp two or three times per week. Any more frequently than that is unnecessary.

Shrimp works great as part of your dinner or lunch a few times a week. You can also use it to top a carnivore-friendly salad.

Pair with Fatty Meats

Since shrimp is lower in fat and calories than many carnivore diet staples, pair it with fattier meats and fat sources.

Cook shrimp alongside a NY strip steak seasoned with butter. Top your shrimp scampi with pork sausage crumbles. Wrap shrimp in bacon before grilling or baking. These combos boost the fat content to keep you satiated.

Cook Simply

You don’t need complex recipes to enjoy shrimp on a carnivore diet. Simple cooking methods like grilling, sautéing, or baking work wonderfully.

Season shrimp with carnivore approved seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, etc. Then, grill until opaque and juicy or bake at 400°F for 5 minutes per side.

Carnivore Diet Recipes with Shrimp

To give you some inspiration for enjoying shrimp while carnivore, here are a few delicious recipe ideas:

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp

• Wrap peeled, deveined shrimp in bacon slices
• Season with BBQ dry rub or sauce
• Grill or bake until shrimp are opaque and bacon is crispy

Blackened Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

• Sauté shrimp in butter and Cajun seasoning
• Serve shrimp in lettuce leaves or collard greens
• Top with avocado slices and ranch dressing

Coconut Curry Shrimp

• Sauté shrimp in coconut oil and red curry paste
• Add full-fat coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice
• Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles

Shrimp Ceviche

• Marinate cooked shrimp in lime juice, cilantro, jalapeño
• Let lime juice “cook” the shrimp
• Top with avocado and enjoy

Shrimp and Crab Salad

• Combine cooked shrimp with lump crab meat
• Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper
• Serve on a bed of spinach or romaine lettuce

Potential Downsides of Eating Shrimp

While shrimp can be part of a healthy carnivore diet, there are a couple things to be mindful of:

• High cholesterol: Shrimp contains high amounts of cholesterol – around 165 mg per 3 oz serving. For some, this may negatively impact cholesterol markers. Monitor your levels if concerned.

• Food sensitivity: Shellfish like shrimp are among the most common food allergens. Discontinue eating if you suspect a sensitivity.

• Sustainability: Some shrimp fishing methods can damage habitats. Opt for sustainable shrimp when possible.

As long as you choose high quality shrimp and keep intake moderate, it can be a delicious and nutritious addition to the carnivore diet a few times per week.

The Bottom Line

Shrimp can absolutely be included as part of a well-formulated carnivore or zero carb diet. As a high protein seafood, it fits perfectly with the carnivore guidelines.

Aim to eat wild-caught shrimp two or three times per week. Pair it with fattier cuts of meat and use simple cooking methods. Add shrimp to carnivore versions of lettuce wraps, salads, or coconut curries for delicious low carb variety.

While very restrictive diets always come with potential downsides, shrimp provides important nutrients like selenium, vitamin B12, and iodine that may be lacking.

At the end of the day, shrimp can be a smart addition to an otherwise meat-heavy carnivore diet when consumed sensibly.

So if you’ve been wondering “can I eat shrimp on the carnivore diet?”, the answer