Unexpected Consequences of the Carnivore Diet
When I began my paleo journey in 2014 I never thought I’d end up a carnivore. What is the carnivore diet? It is exactly as it sounds; it’s an all-meat diet. Everything you’ve ever heard about the human diet and health may have you wondering if the carnivore diet is healthy?
For me, it was never about weight. My food journey has been solely focused on feeling better. Then I noticed that I felt better the fewer carbohydrates I ate. Transitioning to keto just sort of happened. I didn’t get out my macro tracker and obsess over blood ketone meters. There were the occasional days when I’d track just to see where I was but it definitely wasn’t difficult. The only carb flu I’ve ever had was when I made a drastic change from “gluten-free” to Whole 30.
Since then I’ve simply learned to listen to my body. After experiencing an autoimmune flare while eating mostly AIP it didn’t sit well with me. Considering that I ate better than most people (aiming for 9+ cups of vegetables a day) I didn’t think a setback after a day of skiing was what should have happened. I began digging and researching and decided to give the carnivore diet a try. (Blog Post: My First Week Eating Like A Carnivore)
The Carnivore Diet Made Me Vegetable Phobic
Since that first week went so well I decided to try it out for a month. (Blog Post: The Carnivore Diet For Rheumatoid Arthritis) After a month I tried adding back some vegetables. (It’s all about the n=1 experiment)
Cauliflower shouldn’t hurt when it goes through your intestines. Romaine lettuce shouldn’t feel like a Brillo pad going through your digestive tract. Right? The more meat I eat the more vegetables I fear. It’s interesting because it goes against what we’ve been told for decades.
Digging into the science behind the case for vegetables I’ve found that there really isn’t any. We know that if you eat vegetables in lieu of fast food you’ll be healthier but that has more to do with what you’re not eating. Take away the garbage food and of course your health will improve.
Then we’ve done these “studies” that are essentially memory recall. “How many vegetables would you say you’ve eaten over the last ______ months?” The problem with those studies is that they only look at memory recall. They don’t account for the lifestyle differences between people who emphasize vegetables versus those who don’t.
Typically people who are driven to eat a lot of vegetables generally have a number of other healthy habits. They drink water, exercise, they don’t smoke, etc. Conversely, most people in these studies who eat a lot of meat typically do it in the form of a burger from a restaurant with a side of soda and french fries.
People who don’t care what they eat are less likely to exercise, they don’t focus on drinking water, and are more likely to smoke. In the study, they conclude that meat is bad while they ignore all of these other variables.
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It’s like the heart disease and saturated fat hypothesis. Back in the 50’s they only looked at saturated fat consumption and ignored lifestyle and other dietary factors. As it turns out, high carbohydrate consumption paired with high saturated fat consumption is problematic. Looking around, we’ve been avoiding fat for decades. How’s that working out?
Do I Get Bored Eating A Carnivore Diet?
First, let me say that I am a foodie. I love food. I love different cuisines, flavors, and new food creations. At one time I thought I wanted to be a chef. Going carnivore isn’t about being part of a trend or some form of disordered eating; I genuinely feel better eating this way.
Does it get boring? It’s interesting.
At first, it can feel boring but with time, I’d say a few days, that feeling goes away. When you make yourself something to eat and you only used 1 pan and it took no more than 15 minutes, you suddenly find yourself with a lot of free time not standing over the stove. That by itself is motivating.
There are actually so many food choices and different ways to eat them (I’m keeping my herbs and spices) that I don’t get bored. In fact, I’ve recently made a game out of it: how many different ways can I eat animal foods? My next venture is branching out into actual organ meats. I’ve been taking organ capsules but I want to try the liverwurst and pate a friend recommended.
Imagine you were a hunter-gatherer. After putting in the effort to bring down an animal are you simply going to take the steak and leave the rest? I can assure you that bowhunting is no easy feat. Even humans who don’t live as hunter-gatherers have used organ meats in their cuisines. Think of all the choices: sausages that incorporate organs, tripe, head cheese, sweetbreads, heart, kidney, and the most nutrient-dense of them all: liver. My friend who recommended the pate is of Italian descent and she told me of the time her grandmother roasted goat brain in the oven. Evidently, it tastes like cream cheese…who knew?
The Thing I Didn’t Expect
What is it about the carnivore diet that keeps bringing me back? After about 3 days I discover that my abdomen is insanely relaxed. Lying in bed at night my abdomen doesn’t feel tight like it usually does. It feels super relaxed like it’s not pissed off, and it gives me this inner sense of peace that I never knew was possible. I like to think of it as my own inner Buddha that’s at peace with everything.
I’ve been around for 45 years and I’m only now discovering that my body can feel this way. It’s not something most medical professionals are even going to begin to look for. Unless you have limited digestion, severe pain, or some other acute symptom they don’t typically ask how relaxed your abdomen feels. Of course, looking back at my childhood I wonder if there were signs that I may have had some food intolerances.
Old photographs show a girl with some pretty dark circles under her eyes. Like everyone else, I grew up on Crisco, Kool-Aid, Pop-Tarts, and Friday night pizza with pop. Then there were the numerous times I took antibiotics because I had tonsillitis “again”. Combine that with a mom who was an OCD clean freak and never having a pet; I’m not surprised that I have gut issues today.
The inner peace and calm I get is what attracts me to the carnivore diet. In my mind, it’s my body telling me that this is a thing. Your body should be relaxed right? My experience going paleo is the reason I recommend it to everyone and one of the many reasons I became a Primal Health Coach. After 4 days of paleo, I felt like my body was no longer at war with itself.
How Long Will I Eat This Way?
Honestly, I can’t say. I definitely want to put some distance between me and plants for an extended period. Say 3-6 months. I want to see what changes, if anything changes. I’d like to get to a place where I can feel this inner peace with a wide variety of foods; I just don’t know if it’s possible. Lectins, nightshades, and oxalates all give me issues now. Is it possible for those sensitivities to go away? The more I read the more I don’t think so. Simply based on how I feel it’s further proof for me that the carnivore diet is healthy for me. My body seems to love it.
How Long Will I Eat This Way? (Updated)
It’s now 2024 and I turn 50 this fall. I’ve been meaty ever since I began playing with carnivore in 2018. What I know for sure is that if this way of eating is killing me then I’d rather die feeling amazing than whatever I was before.
Next week I’ll test for my advanced red belt in Taekwondo and in another 8 months I’ll be eligible to test for my black belt. Multiple consecutive days of hard skiing this past winter didn’t trigger any autoimmune flares. Foods I used to be very sensitive too don’t seem to bother me as much.
My latest reads: The Carnivore Diet and The Carnivore Code
If you’re wondering if the carnivore diet is healthy The Carnivore Diet is a good read that covers the basics. It’s written in a way that is easy to understand. Dr. Baker covers everything you need to know along with common concerns people have. If you’re into books that are light on the scientific jargon then I recommend this book. The science is there it’s just been simplified so that anyone can understand it.
Dr. Shawn Baker is an orthopedic surgeon who was ran out on a rail because he found that he could do fewer surgeries by changing people’s diets. He has a long chat with Joe Rogan where he tells the tale. It’s unbelievable. On social media, you can find him on Instagram where he posts lots of science, testimonials, and his own personal experiences with the carnivore diet.
Dr. Paul Saladino struggled with eczema and asthma for years. He went vegetarian and then vegan and discovered that they got worse. Then he adopted the carnivore diet. You can find him at carnivoremd.com, read his book The Carnivore Code or check out the Fundamental Health podcast.
Who Is The Carnivore Diet Best Suited For?
People who’ve struggled with autoimmune conditions tend to find some relief after adopting a carnivore diet. Red meat and salt is the most basic least allergenic version. Some people include eggs and fish but since those are both on the list of the top 8 allergens others do not tolerate them.
For those who’ve struggled with weight loss, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes they can typically find success on a carnivore diet because there are virtually no carbohydrates on an animal based diet.
Need Help Going Carnivore?
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Headaches, joint pain, diarrhea, skin breakouts and rashes, are a few signs you might have a food sensitivity. While testing is a great place to start elimination diets are the best for uncovering sensitivities.
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If you're going to go to the trouble of adjusting your diet and changing your fitness routine, shouldn't you stop using harmful chemicals on your body and around your home?
Can You Do “1” Thing?
Each week I’ll teach you 1 thing you can do for your diet, fitness, and lifestyle - hence the name - SIMPLE
