Can You Enjoy Tabasco Sauce on a Carnivore Diet?
Posted by FAISAL TOOR
Nowadays, people are focusing on the simple and essential things in life. These simple things will help them focus on higher values and be more successful.
The same goes for diet. Many people are starting to focus on protein-rich foods to protect their health. It also keeps meals simple while providing the body with all the necessary nutrients.
There's an even better diet than one that focuses on protein - the carnivore diet.
However, is it okay to add a little spice to dishes on the carnivore diet? If you enjoy spicy food, can you add Tabasco sauce on carnivore diet to your dishes?
In this article, we will explore the compatibility of Tabasco sauce with the carnivore diet. Besides, let's make Tabasco sauce suitable for a simple carnivore diet at home!
Understanding the Carnivore Diet
What is the carnivore diet?
This diet focuses on animal protein and fat sources. Unlike other diets, you only need to focus on consuming animal products.
At the same time, you avoid carbohydrates and everything from plants including fruits, vegetables, and grains. Simply put, you only need to focus on animals that can walk, fly, or swim and avoid anything related to plants.
This diet may not be appealing in color and taste, but it has pros for people with autoimmune diseases.
The carnivore community believes that it helps fight inflammation, depression, and anxiety and effectively controls weight.
Core principles for choosing sauce on the carnivore diet
When choosing sauces, it is important to choose options that fit the principles of the carnivore diet. This means avoiding sauces that contain plant-based ingredients, sugar, or artificial additives.
You should also focus on simple sauces with only one ingredient or minimal seasonings. They should be animal-based, contain natural flavors, and be low in carbohydrates.
Some recommended sauces for the carnivore diet are:
- Butter-based sauces, bone broths, and cream-based sauces are encouraged on this diet.
- You can also use animal organs, like beef liver, pate, and animal fats to make flavorful sauces that enhance the dish.
- Some types of mayonnaise, a little hot sauce, and homemade Tabasco are also acceptable.
- The principles of choosing sauces are animal-based ingredients, minimal seasonings, low in carbohydrates, and no additives.
What is Tabasco Sauce?
Tabasco sauce is a popular American hot sauce made from Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. "It is to hot sauce what Kleenex is to tissue and Xerox is to copying." That's how NPR describes this hot sauce.
It was invented by Edmund McIlhenny. It has a distinctive spicy flavor that can be combined with anything from bread, pizza, grilled meat, and seafood. This has made it a staple sauce in American kitchens since 1868.
The characteristic flavor of Tabasco sauce is sour and spicy. Tabasco sauce is often used to enhance the flavor of meat, soups, and cocktails.
Learn more: Carnivore Hollandaise Sauce: A Rich & Nutrient-Dense Delight
Can You Enjoy Tabasco Sauce on a Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet is a strict, primal diet. You may eat only meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. You can also eat American hot sauce with Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. It also requires you to avoid foods containing plant ingredients.
Tabasco sauce has a main ingredient from plants - Tabasco peppers, so it is impossible for people on a strict carnivore diet.
Carnivore dieters can enjoy Tabasco sauce sparingly as part of their tailored meal plan. The reason is that this sauce is completely made from natural ingredients. It is low in carbohydrates, and calories, and contains no preservatives.
Learn more: Carnivore Cheese Sauce: A Delicious and Nutrient-Dense Addition
Tabasco Sauce Types and Their Nutritional Profiles
#1. Red Pepper Sauce
This sauce can be considered the origin of all hot sauces today. Red Pepper Sauce has a classic spicy taste from Tabasco peppers. It has a strong flavor and a little sourness from vinegar and the salty taste of salt.
Red pepper sauce is made from the main ingredient of Tabasco peppers grown on Avery Island, Louisiana. Although it has a characteristic red color, it is not too spicy but has a bit of richness. This sauce is great with grilled bread slices, meat, or seafood - it adds more flavor to your dish.
Ingredients: Aged red pepper, salt, and distilled vinegar.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 5ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 35mg
#2. Salsa Picante Sauce
Salsa Picante Sauce is a Mexican-style hot sauce. It has a mild, rich, vibrant flavor. It enhances Tex-Mex dishes like tacos, burritos, and guacamole.
Ingredients: Water, red jalapeno pepper, distilled vinegar, salt, garlic powder, paprika, spices, xanthan gum, tabasco brand pepper sauce.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 140mg
#3.Geen Jalapeno Sauce
Tabasco brand green sauce has a beautiful green color and a mild spicy taste. It is made from fresh green chilies. With a bite, you can experience the freshness, crunchiness, and rich flavor.
This green sauce is for those who do not like spicy food too much. It has a mild spiciness. You can combine it with your favorite dishes without worrying about the heat.
Ingredients: Distilled vinegar, Jalapeno pepper, water, salt, cornstarch, xanthan gum, ascorbic acid.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
#4.Chipotle Pepper Sauce
Chipotle Sauce is a rich, spicy sauce made from red, ripe Jalapeno peppers. They are slow-smoked over a smoldering pecan wood fire to give them flavor and color.
Chipotle Pepper Sauce is great for marinating or grilling meats and adds an unexpected smoky flavor to cocktails, dips, and sweets.
Ingredients: Chipotle Pepper, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Sugar, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Spices, Tabasco Brand Pepper Pulp (distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt).
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 120mg
#5. Cayenne Garlic Sauce
Cayenne Garlic Pepper Sauce is one of the most popular chili peppers in the world. It has a hot and spicy flavor and a vibrant color. Garlic Cayenne Sauce is made with three different types of chili peppers. Cayenne pepper, crushed chili peppers aged in oak barrels, and mild red jalapeño peppers.
All of these ingredients are infused with salty garlic, which adds flavor to this hot sauce. Garlic Cayenne Sauce has a mild spicy flavor, not too strong and hot. You can use it to enhance the flavor of chicken wings, steaks, pasta, and burgers.
Ingredients: Red Pepper, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 140mg
#6. Habanero Pepper Sauce
Habanero Pepper Sauce is a Jamaican-Caribbean-style sauce. It is made from a blend of chili peppers, papaya, mango, and spices. It has a strong, spicy taste. If you like spicy food, it will enhance the flavor of meat and seafood dishes.
Ingredients:
- Distilled Vinegar, Habanero Pepper, Cane Sugar
- Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce (distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt)
- Salt, Mango Purée, Dehydrated Onion, Banana Purée
- Tomato Paste, Tamarind Purée, Papaya Purée, Spices, Garlic
- Tabasco Brand Pepper Mash (aged red pepper, salt)
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 5
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 135mg
#7. Scorpion Sauce
If you are looking for a hot sauce, Tabasco's Scorpion sauce is the best choice. It is made with one of the hottest peppers in the world - the Scorpion pepper.
This sauce is 10 times spicier than Tabasco Original Red. It is made with Scorpion peppers, guava, and pineapple, all mixed with a dash of Tabasco Original Red sauce.
Ingredients: Scorpion Pepper, Distilled Vinegar, Sugar, Guava Puree, Pineapple, Salt, Guava Powder, Pineapple Powder, Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 200mg
#8. Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce is made from Jalapeno peppers and garlic. It has a mild spicy taste, a strong garlic aroma, and a rich flavor that is perfect for any meal.
Just one bite and you will feel the mild spicy flavor of chili garlic. You can also use it with any main dish, or side dish or mix it with melted butter to create a delicious spicy guacamole.
Ingredients: Red Jalapeño Pepper, Water, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar, Xanthan Gum, Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 5
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 160mg
#9. Sweet & Spicy Sauce
As the name suggests, this Tabasco sauce has a sweet, mildly spicy taste and a pleasantly aromatic aroma.
It is suitable for those looking for a mild chili to use as a dipping sauce or to eat directly with the main dish. Sweet & Spicy Sa is ideal for spreading, drizzling, and dipping on grilled meats, fish, fried foods, and noodles.
Ingredients: Sugar, Red Pepper, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Pear Concentrate, Garlic, Onion, Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce, Ginger, Salt, Xanthan Gum, Spices.
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 15
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 3g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 75mg
#10. Buffalo Style Sauce
If you like a little bit of creaminess and a little bit of spice with the sweet aroma of the traditional Buffalo Sauce, you can try this sauce. Buffalo Style Sauce gives you the classic Buffalo Style flavor that is perfect for chicken wings.
It is sour, salty, and a little spicy. Buffalo Style Sauce is made from a blend of red peppers and crushed peppers that are aged in oak barrels. It is preservative-free and GMO-free, making it a good choice for your nutritious meals.
Ingredients: Red Pepper, Distilled Vinegar, Water, Salt, Garlic
Nutrition facts per a tsp or 15ml:
- Calories: 0
- Total fat: 0g
- Carbohydrate: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Sodium: 150mg
Health Effects of Tabasco Sauce on a Carnivore Diet
Does Tabasco Sauce Impact Ketosis?
The answer is no. Tabasco sauce is made of chili, salt, and vinegar. It is preservative-free, sugar-free, and gluten-free, so it is safe for the Ketosis diet.
In addition, Tabasco sauce is low in carbohydrates and calories, so it does not affect ketosis and carnivore states.
Can Tabasco spike insulin levels?
Having diabetes means you need to avoid certain foods that are not good for your body, especially sugar. Diabetic dietitians also advise against mayonnaise and some sauces that are high in carbs.
Tabasco sauce, on the other hand, has little or no carbohydrates and sugar. Its main spices are chili, salt, and vinegar, so it cannot increase insulin levels.
Learn more: The Ultimate Guide to Carnivore Alfredo Sauce: Deliciously Simple, Fully Carnivore
Gut Health: Can Tabasco Sauce Cause Issues?
Tabasco sauce is mainly made of fresh chili, vinegar, and salt, so it is harmless to the stomach. In addition, it also contains capsaicin, which can stimulate digestion and promote better gastric secretion.
However, some people with sensitive stomachs or acid reflux may feel uncomfortable. Therefore, you should be careful when choosing spicy sauces, it is best to use moderate or mild spicy sauces.
Inflammation: Does Tabasco Sauce Cause Flare-ups?
Some scientific studies have shown that the capsaicin in hot sauce has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce ulcers in the body. However, eating too much spicy food can also irritate the stomach, so you should consider it.
Does Tabasco Sauce Affect Weight Loss on Carnivore?
Many people fear that spicy sauces will make them gain weight. Sauces help enhance flavor and stimulate the taste buds. However, scientifically speaking, Tabasco sauce is low in calories and carbohydrates, so it does not affect weight loss efforts. The spiciness of chili also helps curb appetite and boost metabolism.
Practical Considerations for Including Tabasco on a Carnivore Diet
How much Tabasco is safe on a carnivore diet?
While the strict carnivore diet excludes hot sauces and spices, the customized carnivore diet allows for moderate use.
Hot sauces have been studied to have anti-inflammatory effects, stimulate appetite, support weight loss, and aid digestion. The recommended amount of hot sauce is to use a small amount with a mild level of spiciness.
When combined with a carnivore diet, you should reduce the amount of hot sauce as much as possible, this will help you progress better on a strict carnivore diet. For example, a teaspoon can add flavor without affecting the diet.
Frequency of Tabasco consumption
The carnivore diet favors all animal ingredients and avoids plant ingredients. Tabasco sauce is a major ingredient in chili peppers, which is also a limitation for those on a strict diet.
However, with other carnivore diets, it is allowed in small amounts. How much to eat will depend on each person's body, but don't overdo it.
It is best to use Tabasco sauce once or twice a week to avoid any potential digestive problems.
Final Thoughts
While Tabasco sauce isn’t exactly carnivore-friendly due to its plant-based ingredients, it’s a great option for those struggling to get over it.
You’ll also want to consider the ingredients to choose the right level of spiciness. Whatever diet you choose, it’s important to listen to your body and adjust based on your personal needs and preferences.
Learn more: Can You Have Hot Sauce On the Carnivore Diet? The Complete Guide