7 Surprising Common Points Between Vegans and Carnivores

In the world of nutrition, few battles are as fierce as the one between advocates of vegan and carnivore diets. Social media and platforms like YouTube are filled with heated debates where both sides fervently defend their positions. However, while this media war continues, the big beneficiaries are food corporations that keep selling ultra-processed products to all consumers, regardless of their dietary philosophy.

What if I told you that vegans and carnivores have much more in common than it seems? This article explores seven fundamental principles where these apparent rivals really share common ground, and why these coincidences could be the key to improving global health.

1. Focus on whole and real foods

Both conscious vegans and carnivores agree on a fundamental principle: prioritizing whole and minimally processed foods.

Point of agreement:

• Focus on foods with a single ingredient
• Rejection of products with endless lists of components
• Valuation of foods in their natural state

While a vegan might choose an apple and a carnivore a steak, both are opting for real foods that don't require a label with ingredients. This nutritional simplicity is one of the most important factors for metabolic health.

2. Rejection of ultra-processed foods

As a natural extension of the first point, both philosophies agree on avoiding highly processed industrial products.

Point of agreement:

• Elimination of foods with artificial additives
• Rejection of colorings, preservatives, and flavor enhancers
• Exclusion of products designed in laboratories

While some processed vegan products might seem "healthy," informed vegans recognize that an ultra-processed vegan nugget can be as problematic as its animal counterpart, and carnivores maintain the same critical stance toward processed foods.

3. The critical importance of protein

Although they differ in sources, both groups recognize protein's fundamental role.

Point of agreement:

• Protein is essential for health and longevity
• Adequate intake is crucial for muscle maintenance
• Protein deficiency has negative consequences

Differences in approach:

• Carnivores maintain that animal protein has higher bioavailability
• Vegans argue that adequate combinations of plant proteins are sufficient
• Disagreement about optimal daily amount needed

Despite these differences, mutual recognition of protein importance represents significant common ground.

4. Priority on nutrient density

The search for nutritionally dense foods is another shared principle.

Point of agreement:

• Foods should provide significant nutrients
• Maximize nutritional value per calorie consumed
• Avoid "empty calories" without nutritional benefit

Different perspectives:

• Vegans highlight nutrient density in foods like kale, spinach, and seeds
• Carnivores point to superior bioavailability and absence of antinutrients in animal foods
• Debate about actual nutrient absorption from plant versus animal sources

This technical difference doesn't eliminate the fundamental agreement: we seek foods that truly nourish our body.

5. Concern about industrial livestock practices

Perhaps surprisingly, both vegans and carnivores are frequently united in their criticism of modern industrial livestock.

Point of agreement:

• Current intensive livestock practices are problematic
• Extreme animal confinement is ethically questionable
• Reform is needed in animal production systems

Different solutions:

• Vegans advocate for total elimination of animal consumption
• Carnivores promote regenerative and pastoral livestock
• Difference in urgency and radicalism of necessary reforms

This convergence point offers ground for constructive dialogues about more sustainable and ethical food systems.

6. The therapeutic value of elimination diets

Both approaches recognize the healing power of eliminating problematic foods.

Point of agreement:

• Eliminating certain foods can have profound therapeutic effects
• The standard Western diet causes numerous health problems
• A period of restrictive nutrition can identify food sensitivities

Both a strict carnivore diet and a whole vegan diet function as powerful elimination diets, eliminating numerous processed foods and potential allergens, which explains why both can produce dramatic improvements in people who previously followed standard Western diets.

7. The centrality of gut health

Gut microbiome health is recognized as crucial by both sides.

Point of agreement:

• A healthy gut is fundamental to overall health
• The microbiome affects inflammatory and metabolic processes
• Intestinal dysbiosis contributes to numerous diseases

Different approaches:

• Vegans emphasize the importance of fiber to feed beneficial bacteria
• Carnivores report improvements in digestive problems when eliminating fiber
• Debate about whether fiber is essential or potentially problematic

Despite these differences, both groups seek to optimize intestinal function through their respective dietary approaches.

Additional point: Sugar as a common enemy

As an eighth convergence point, though not included in the title, is the shared recognition of sugar's dangers.

Point of agreement:

• Excessive sugar consumption is harmful to health
• Refined sugars promote inflammation and metabolic diseases
• Sugar reduction benefits multiple aspects of health

Although some vegans may be more tolerant of certain natural carbohydrates, most recognize the dangers of refined sugar, a position they fully share with carnivore diet advocates.

Conclusion: Beyond dietary warfare

While vegans and carnivores heatedly debate their differences, large food corporations continue prospering by selling ultra-processed products that neither side considers healthy. Perhaps it's time to recognize this common ground and direct more energy toward the true enemy: the ultra-processed food industry that promotes products everyone, regardless of dietary philosophy, considers harmful.

Whether you choose a plant-based diet or one centered on animal products, these seven shared principles can serve as common guidance for improving nutrition. Focusing on real foods, dense in nutrients, and minimizing ultra-processed products will benefit your health, regardless of the specific approach you follow.

Instead of continuing an ideological war, perhaps it's time for vegans and carnivores to recognize their important common points and work together to promote nutrition based on real foods, the true foundation of good health.