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What Is an Animal‑Based Calculator?

The animal-based calculator is a digital nutrition tool created to determine and monitor the needs of the carnivore diet. Below, we discuss the purpose, core metrics, and why it appeals to women over 40.

Purpose & Core Metrics (Protein, Fat, Calories)

The animal-based calculator is used to determine calorie, protein, and fat intake to sustain the carnivore diet.

The carnivore diet is unlike any other diet, focusing on protein and fat while excluding carbohydrates such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and sugar. Because of this, identifying protein and fat is essential to ensure the body has adequate fuel.

Why It Appeals to Women Over 40

Women over 40 experience a decline in estrogen. Studies show that this leads to menopause, bringing on major physiological changes and symptoms that impact quality of life, including:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Sleep disruptions
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Muscle loss
• Bone loss
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain
• Change fat distribution
• Increase risk of chronic illness

Weight-related issues can cause serious concerns for women over 40. Research shows that when estrogen declines, weight shifts from the thighs and hips to the abdomen. This increases the risk of chronic illnesses such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.

The carnivore diet’s elimination of carbohydrates forces the body to use fat as its primary fuel source,  leading it into a metabolic state called ketosis. This is shown to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL), the risk of heart disease, body weight, and triglycerides, while improving blood sugar control.

While additional studies indicate that the carnivore diet is an effective method for managing type 2 diabetes. All benefits are incredible for addressing physiological changes and symptoms women experience after 40.

How the Calculator Works

The animal-based calculator uses your information to determine your calorie and macronutrient requirements. Below, we discuss the essential inputs and additional health factors to highlight the calculator's key function.

Essential Inputs (Age, Weight, Activity)

The animal-based calculator uses inputs such as age, height, weight, and physical activity levels to determine your calorie and macronutrient intake. Here you explain each and how they influence your results.

• Age: Sources show that as age increases, energy expenditure declines due to the decrease of fat-free mass, such as muscle, bone, and organ.

• Height/Weight: Research shows that total body weight and body composition are the main factors for determining energy expenditure. Composition refers to metabolically active tissue, such as bone, skeletal muscle, and organs such as the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

• Physical Activity: Your level of physical activity influences your energy requirements. Those who report frequent exercise sessions will have a greater calorie allowance, while those who report lower exercise will have a lower calorie allowance.

Optional Health Factors (Bone Health, Digestive Sensitivity)

The animal-based calculator takes into account additional factors such as bone health and digestive sensitivity to ensure your nutritional requirements are met.

This is because both bone and digestive an decline during menopause. Studies indicate that bone loss occurs from an increase in bone turnover, with an imbalance between bone formation and resorption, increasing the risk of fractures.

Meanwhile, sources show that chronic digestive disorders can become more prominent for women during menopause, while menopause can bring on digestive symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, altered bowel movements, constipation, and diarrhoea.

Because of this, these factors should be considered during your animal-based calculator input.

Recommended Macro Ranges

The key to the carnivore diet is that it eliminates carbohydrates, while shifting to fat for fuel and protein to preserve muscle, in a state of ketosis. Modifying your macronutrient ranges is essential not only to enter ketosis but to stay there.

Below, we highlight the recommended macro ranges for the animal-based calculator.

Protein (20–40%)

Protein contains 4 calories (kcal) per gram and makes up a considerable portion of the carnivore diet, compensating for the decrease in carbohydrates. Protein is vital for women over 40, used to preserve and build muscle mass.

Studies also show that protein improves satiety and increases thermogenesis, which is the process by which our bodies burn energy to process, digest, and absorb nutrients.

This helps to reduce hunger and increase energy expenditure, which can be a powerful tool for women to lose weight.

Fat (60–80%)

Fat contains 9 kcal/g and makes up the majority of the energy intake of the carnivore diet. The most energy-dense maronutrient, it becomes the primary fuel source during ketosis.

When fat becomes the primary fuel source, the body’s carbohydrate stores, known as glycogen, are depleted. Sources show that the body then begins to break down stored fat into fatty aids and glycerol, before the liver processes them into ketone bodies, which are used for energy.

Animal food products such as red meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and full-fat dairy are allowed on the animal-based diet.

Zero‑Carb vs Trace Carbs (0–5%)

Carbohydrates contain 4 kcal/g and make up 0–5% of the carnivore diet. This elimination leads the body to rely on fat as its primary fuel source.

Furthermore, studies indicate that decreased carbohydrate intake leads to lower blood glucose and insulin levels. For reference, the insulin required for a ketogenic meal is 10 times less than a Mediterranean alternative.

This decrease results in greater glycemic control, lowering fatigue, and improving energy levels.

Translating Your Results

The result from the animal-based calculator provides information that is used to achieve your goals. Below, we discuss macro grams and calorie totals, and meal planning tips.

Daily Macro Grams & Total Calories

The calories displayed on your results represent your recommended energy intake for the diet. Using your macronutrient ratios, the calculator highlights the composition of your calories in grams.

Here is an example of a calorie and macronutrient breakdown for a woman with a daily calorie allowance of 1400 kcal, with the following macronutrient ratio.

• Fat: 70% of daily calorie intake
• Protein: 30% of daily calorie intake
• Carbohydrates: 0% of daily calorie intake

To determine the number of calories, you multiply each macro percentage by as a decimal:

• Fat: 70% = 0.7
• Protein: 30% = 0.3
• Carbohydrates: 0% = 0

Example:

• Fat: 1400 x 0.7 = 980 kcal
• Protein: 1400 x 0.3 = 420 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 1400 x 0 = 0 kcal

To calculate the grams, you must divide the calories per gram:

• Fat: 9 calories per gram
• Protein: 4 calories per gram
• Carbohydrate: 4 calories per gram

Examples:

• Fat: 980 / 9 = 109 grams
• Protein: 420 / 4 = 105 grams
• Carbohydrates: 0 / 4 = 0 grams

Meal Planning Tips with Whole Animal Foods

Like with most nutrition plans, planning meals can improve adherence. While the carnivore diet has fewer ingredients due to its elimination of carbohydrates, time must be taken to prepare meat. This is where prep comes in.

We recommend performing a weekly shop to purchase all your animal-based foods for the week ahead. This makes meal prep easier and ensures ingredients are readily available at home, reducing the chance of ordering in and breaking ketosis.

Regarding prep, we recommend cooking your meals for the week on the weekend or preparing larger portions for dinner for lunch the following day.

Next Steps After Calculation

Once you have received your results and determined your macros, it's time to start thinking about how you can streamline the process. Below, we discuss complementary tools and integrate training.

Using Complementary Tools (e.g., macro calculators)

Tools such as macro calculators and nutrition trackers are invaluable for the carnivore diet. Marco calculators make converting your macros to grams much easier, streamlining the calculation process. They allow you to enter your calories and macro ratios before spitting out your macros in grams.

Meanwhile, nutrition tracking apps help you log your foods, while giving you a detailed calorie and macro breakdown.

Fortunately, have combined both of these functions, making it easy to track your nutrition and ensure you are staying in ketosis.

Integrating Resistance Training & Recovery

Beyond nutrition, women over 40 must consider regular exercise to preserve muscle. Studies show that skeletal muscle and bone loss are associated with menopause. Leading to age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) and bone loss (osteoporosis), which can reduce function and increase the risk of falls later in life.

Research shows that resistance training has positive effects on bone density, helping to prevent frailty. Meanwhile, additional research explains that resistance training using progressive overload with a gradual increase of load and repetitions increases muscle size, strength, and endurance, highlighting incredible benefits for women over 40.

If you are considering integrating resistance training into your routine, it must be done with adequate rest and recovery. Rest days allow muscles to repair, connective tissue, and bone to repair, alongside restoring energy levels.

Summary & Call to Action

The animal-based calculator provides vital information for animal-based food diets, such as the keto diet and the carnivore diet, highlighting calorie intake and the ideal macronutrients to maintain ketosis.

Why Animal‑Based Works for Midlife

Animal-based diets directly tackle some of the biggest issues women experience in midlife during menopause. Women over 40 struggle with weight gain, changes in fat storage, and the risk of chronic illness, which is not only confronting but also challenging to navigate.

Animal-based diets that switch to fat as a primary fuel source lead to benefits that address these negative health issues. These include:

• Reduce bad cholesterol (LDL),
• Reduce the risk of heart disease,
• Decreased body weight
• Reduce triglycerides
• Improved blood sugar control

Try the Calculator & Start Tracking

Easy to use, the animal-based calculator is the first step to helping you achieve your goals.. Simply fill in the fields, and start regaining your health today.

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