Paleo vs Carnivore: Comparing Nutrient Gaps and Solutions

The paleo diet and the carnivore diet have a lot in common. Both cut out processed foods, grains, and seed oils. Both emphasize real, whole foods that our ancestors would recognize. And both have helped people improve energy, lose weight, and reduce inflammation.

But here’s the catch: while they overlap, each diet comes with its own nutrient gaps—especially if organs aren’t on the menu. Let’s compare the two, and explore how organ supplements can fill in the missing pieces.

The Paleo Diet in a Nutshell

The paleo diet focuses on eating like our ancestors during the Paleolithic era:

• Meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
• No grains, legumes, dairy, or processed foods.

It’s nutrient-rich compared to modern diets, but there are still challenges.

Common paleo nutrient gaps:

• Vitamin K2 – hard to get without organ meats and fermented foods.
• Vitamin A (retinol) – beta-carotene from plants doesn’t always convert well.
• Collagen – missing without bones, skin, and connective tissue.

This is where paleo diet organ supplements (like liver or bone marrow) can provide the missing nose-to-tail nutrition.

The Carnivore Diet in a Nutshell

The carnivore diet is stricter:

• All animal-based foods, usually just meat, fish, eggs, and sometimes dairy.
• Zero plants, carbs, or fiber.

It delivers steady energy and simplicity, but when it relies only on muscle meat, issues can arise.

Common carnivore diet nutrient deficiencies:

• Vitamin C – small but important amounts for collagen and immunity.
• Folate – critical for cell repair and red blood cells.
• Vitamin K2 – absent without organs or dairy.
• CoQ10 & selenium – missing if heart and kidney aren’t included.

A carnivore approach without organs is only half of the ancestral equation.

Why Muscle Meat Alone Isn’t Enough

Both paleo and carnivore diets risk nutrient gaps if they focus only on muscle meat (like steak, chicken breast, or ground beef). Traditional cultures instinctively ate nose-to-tail—organs, marrow, skin, and connective tissue—because they knew that’s where the real nutrition was.

By skipping organs, you’re skipping the exact nutrients that make these diets sustainable long-term.

How Organ Supplements Fill the Gaps

Whether you’re paleo or carnivore, organ supplements are the simplest way to cover deficiencies:

• Liver supplements – provide vitamin A, B12, iron, and folate.
• Heart supplements – deliver CoQ10 and B vitamins for energy and endurance.
• Kidney supplements – rich in selenium and additional B12.
• Cartilage & marrow – supply collagen, glucosamine, and chondroitin for joints.

Instead of trying to force organ meats into your diet (if you don’t like the taste), supplements make nose-to-tail eating easy and consistent.

Key Takeaways

• The paleo diet often lacks vitamin K2, retinol (vitamin A), and collagen.
• The carnivore diet without organs can lead to vitamin C, folate, and CoQ10 deficiencies.
• Both diets are powerful, but muscle meat alone isn’t enough for long-term health.
• Organ supplements (liver, heart, kidney, marrow) are the most convenient way to fill nutrient gaps and make these diets truly ancestral.

Bottom line: Paleo and carnivore diets both eliminate junk and bring us closer to ancestral eating. But without organs, they fall short. Adding organ supplements turns them from “good” into complete, sustainable diets that your body can thrive on.