Olive Oil on the Carnivore Diet: A Smooth Drizzle or a Slippery Slope?
If you're anything like me, diving headfirst into the carnivore diet, you're probably questioning: "What about the glorious olive oil? Where does it fit into this meaty utopia?" Well, hold your steak knives! 🥩 Let's delve into the juicy details!
Should you use butter and ghee on the carnivore diet?
First off, let's give a shout-out to butter and ghee! Have you ever tried slathering a lovely, tender ribeye with a dollop of butter? Ah, divine! And ghee? That clarified wonder. A real game-changer. But wait! What about our friend olive oil?
What Cooking Oils Should You Use on the Carnivore Diet?
Are you as confused as a cow on AstroTurf when it comes to oils? 🐮 Here's my take: I've been saving my meat fats to cook with. Who needs oil when you've got liquid gold oozing out of your steaks, right? But let's be honest, avocado and coconut oil have their places. But you know what's funny? I tried avocado oil once, but dang it, it's just not the same as olive oil.
Did you know coconut oil is 87% saturated fat? Sturdy stuff, less likely to oxidize. Conversely, olive oil is packed with 73% monounsaturated fats – yup, the good fats with one unsaturated double carbon bond[1][2]. But we have a wee bit of a problem - olive oil's low smoke point. I learnt this one the hard way. I just couldn't figure out why my eggs tasted like a burnt tire! 😅
Should you use MCT oil on the carnivore diet?
Hold up! MCT oil? It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, doesn't it? Medium-chain triglycerides, baby! Quick energy and good for the noggin'. But here's the kicker: you don't need it if you've got an array of animal fats! My pantry's already looking like a meat lover's paradise! By the way, you must check out my meat lover's smorgasbord of advice. It's got everything you need to know!
Benefits of Olive Oil on a Carnivore Diet
But I hear you asking, "Seb, is there any room for olive oil in this carnivore fest?" I won't lie. Olive oil has its perks. Packed with antioxidants, it's said to be heart-healthy. But, get this - beef tallow and those meat juices? They've got a ton of goodness too! And let's not forget about the sauces! I love my BBQ sauce, but some of these bad boys have seed oils. I'm digging around, and it looks like seed oils might be the sneaky villains here[3].
If I'm going to use my olive oil, I'd drizzle it over some mozzarella. Thank you very much. I'm not touching salads again! 🥗❌
Types of Olive Oil
Quick rundown! Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) is the superstar with all the flavours. Think of it as the Elvis of olive oils. But don't go cooking with it; it's too precious! Best to use it as a condiment. Then there's light or pure olive oil - not lower in calories, just stripped of its flavour and colour. Suitable for high-heat cooking if you're into that[4].
Refined and Unrefined Oils
A bit of oil wisdom: refined oils go through more processing, while unrefined ones don't. So, EVOO? That's unrefined. You get more nutrients and flavour but a lower smoke point. Refined? Higher smoke point, but you lose some of that goodness. Choices, choices!
Flavor Variations in Olive Oil
EVOO comes with flavours shaped by the land (terroir) they come from. The polyphenols in there? They give you the kick and health benefits! The refined oils? Not so much.
Nutritional Profile of Olive Oil
Alright, olive oil's got fats, calories, and a wee bit of vitamins E and K. It can fill some gaps in the carnivore diet, but nothing that a juicy piece of meat can't fix!
Ways to Use Olive Oil on a Carnivore Diet
Salad dressings? No, not my jam anymore. But if you want to go rogue and dabble, use fresh and dried herbs with some EVOO.
Now, cooking and frying food? Here's where it gets messy. You've got to use the good fats, folks! Lard, butter, ghee, bacon grease, chicken fat, tallow - these are your best buds[5]. And for breading? Get yourself some pork rind crumbs!
Drizzling over meats and fish? Heck yeah! It adds a punch of flavour and some healthy fats.
So, there you have it, my fellow carnivores! Olive oil's extraordinary, but when you've got beef tallow and all that meaty goodness, who needs it? As they say, "When in doubt, eat meat!" 🥩🍖
