Oxtail

meats

Oxtail

2/ 10Poor
Controversy: 8.2

Rated by 11 diets

5 approve0 caution6 avoid

How the diets react

Approves5
Disapproves6
Is Oxtail Healthy?

Mostly no — Oxtail is avoided by the majority of diets reviewed. 6 out of 11 diets recommend against it.

Nutrition Facts
Per 100g

Diet Ratings

KetoApproved

Fatty, collagen-rich cut with zero carbs. Excellent for bone broth and provides high fat content ideal for ketosis. Whole food.

VeganAvoid

Oxtail is beef (cattle meat and bone), an animal product explicitly excluded from vegan diets.

PaleoApproved

Oxtail is an unprocessed muscle meat with collagen-rich connective tissue and marrow. It is nutrient-dense, available to hunter-gatherers, and fully paleo-compliant when prepared without additives.

Beef-based offal extremely high in saturated fat and collagen. While traditional in some cuisines, it contradicts Mediterranean emphasis on lean proteins and minimal saturated fat. Braising method typically adds additional fat.

CarnivoreApproved

Oxtail is a ruminant meat cut rich in collagen, gelatin, and fat. Excellent for bone broth and slow cooking. High micronutrient density and ideal fatty acid profile. Minimal processing, pure animal product.

Whole30Approved

Oxtail is a whole, unprocessed meat cut fully compliant with Whole30. Excellent source of collagen and nutrients.

Low-FODMAPApproved

Oxtail is unprocessed beef with no FODMAP content. It is a pure protein and fat source, making it low-FODMAP at any reasonable serving size.

DASHAvoid

Oxtail is extremely fatty (11-15g saturated fat per 3oz) and high in cholesterol. Red meat with significant marbling. Typically braised with added sodium. Directly contradicts DASH limits on saturated fat and red meat.

ZoneAvoid

Extremely high in saturated fat (20-30g per 3.5oz cooked). While providing protein, the fat-to-protein ratio is unfavorable for Zone macros. Requires excessive portioning reduction. Dr. Sears recommends avoiding fatty cuts of red meat.

Oxtail is a fatty beef cut with high saturated fat and arachidonic acid. Red meat, especially fatty cuts, is pro-inflammatory and should be avoided.

Oxtail is extremely fatty (20-25g fat per 3oz) with high collagen content that requires long, slow cooking producing a rich, heavy broth or stew. The high saturated fat content and dense texture make it unsuitable for GLP-1 patients. While protein is present (~15g per 3oz), the fat burden is prohibitive.

Controversy Index

Score range: 110/10. Higher controversy = more disagreement between diets.

Consensus8.2Divisive

Diet-Specific Tips for Oxtail

Keto 9/10
  • Zero net carbs
  • High saturated fat
  • Collagen-rich
  • Whole food
Paleo 9/10
  • Unprocessed muscle meat
  • Rich in collagen and marrow
  • Available to Paleolithic humans
  • High nutrient density
Carnivore 9/10
  • Ruminant meat (beef)
  • Collagen and gelatin-rich
  • High fat content
  • Ideal for bone broth
  • Minimal processing
Whole30 10/10
  • Whole meat cut
  • No processing
  • No excluded ingredients
Low-FODMAP 9/10
  • Unprocessed beef product
  • High collagen and gelatin content
  • No fermentable carbohydrates
Is Oxtail Healthy? Diet Ratings & Controversy Score | FoodRef.ai