The Carnivore Diet: A Panacea for Autoimmune & Chronic Illness?
When it comes to modern day epidemics, “chronic diseases” like cancer, heart disease and diabetes take the spotlight – for good reason. These preventable illnesses are leading causes of death worldwide.
But there is another epidemic, which causes untold suffering for millions of people. And it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. I’m talking about the “Syndrome Epidemic”…
A syndrome is defined as, “a group of symptoms that consistently occur together.” As the definition indicates, a syndrome is not a true diagnosis. In fact, it is actually an admission that doctors have no idea what is really wrong with you… so they create a label for a group of symptoms.
For example, consider “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.” It might as well be called “You’re Always Extremely Tired & Your Body Aches Disease.” Or consider “Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, otherwise known as “You Have Bloating, Gas & Diarrhea (or Constipation) and We Don’t Know Why Disease.”
Of course, hand in hand with the syndrome epidemic are autoimmune disorders. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 23 million people in the United States alone are diagnosed with autoimmune disease (while millions more suffer undiagnosed).
What are the Symptoms of the “Syndrome Epidemic”?
The constellation of symptoms we’re talking about include everything from chronic pain, fatigue and weakness… arthritis and painful, swollen joints… psoriasis, hives and rashes… migraines… chronic sinus problems… hair loss… cold intolerance… brain fog, anxiety and depression… and of course a range of painful and embarrassing digestive troubles.
With such a wide range of ailments – and the fact that many people present all of these symptoms at once – it’s no surprise conventional medicine has few answers for this growing epidemic. Most doctors prescribe a basket of prescription drugs, each one aimed at suppressing a particular group of symptoms.
This approach rarely works. And it often makes things worse, as a host of side effects blend in with the already debilitating symptoms.
Some people find great benefit by switching to the meat-and-vegetables diet of our Paleolithic ancestors. This is especially true for those who were previously on a typical diet, including grains, sugar and a variety of processed foods. However, there are many people whose symptoms do not improve on a traditional Paleo Diet.
But there is a very controversial diet that is growing more popular by the day. This diet has already helped thousands of people – and possibly soon millions – to put a lifetime of debilitating symptoms into remission (often in a matter of just two weeks). It has also helped many people to shed fat faster than any other way of eating.
But before we get to that, let’s address a surprising dietary dilemma…
What if the Plants You’re Eating are Making You Sick?
When it comes to health, we are constantly encouraged to “eat more fruits and vegetables.” We are fed the message that a “plant-based diet” is the healthiest for everyone. (Though, please don’t forget that nearly every processed junk food in the grocery store is “plant-based” – so take that with a grain of salt.)
Of course, some people do well on a plant-based diet. But not everyone does…
In fact, what if the plants we’re eating actually contribute to inflammation, digestive distress and hormonal dysfunction? What if these “plant foods” are the leading cause of leaky gut and a primary factor in the rise of autoimmune disease?
The fact is that while our basic human biology is the same, at a biochemical level we are all unique. Each of us has key differences in our genetics, microbiome, hormonal and immune systems that impact how we react to food.
This is why broad statements like “eat more plants” can be both dangerous and irresponsible.
Yes, I said dangerous…
For example, the American Journal of Kidney Diseases recently published a report of a woman who “developed acute kidney injury that progressed to end-stage renal disease” as a direct result of following a “Green Smoothie Cleanse.”
Of course, this doesn’t mean that vegetables are unhealthy. And it doesn’t mean you should necessarily avoid green drinks. But it does clearly illustrate that the reactions we have to food are different for everyone. Foods that are healthy for one person might be quite toxic to another.
More on this in a moment, but first, please consider…
Is it possible that a meat-only diet could help reverse autoimmune disorders, quell inflammation, restore hormonal balance and alleviate suffering for millions of people?
The answer may surprise you!
Today, we explore the makings of the carnivore (or zero-carb) diet… how plant foods can “bite us back”… and the stories of people who are finding extreme relief (and six-pack abs) by subsisting on meat alone.
The Meat-Only Diet: A Diet That Doesn’t Bite You Back
I have to admit that the concept of subsisting on meat alone is one that seriously challenged me.
My educational background is in biology and chemistry. For the last 20 years of my career, I’ve studied nutritional biochemistry. In addition to being a recovering vegetarian, I’ve written a dozen books and hundreds of articles on the subject of nutrition (many of which focus on the nutrients in plants)…
But I was also very sick during parts of my life (sometimes for years at a time).
And it wasn’t meat that made me sick… it was plants!
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My journey to health began when I discovered 14 plant foods to which I had developed either an intolerance or full blown allergy. It was these “plant foods” that caused inflammation in my digestive tract. This led to a “leaky gut” – which allowed undigested food particles and other immune-stimulating compounds to enter my bloodstream.
As a direct result, I later developed an autoimmune condition as well as an overgrowth of bacteria in my small intestine (SIBO).
So, how did I find relief? I got better by following specific nutritional protocols and by removing quite a number of “plant foods” from my diet. I now believe I would have improved much faster if I had removed ALL plant foods from my diet (at least for a period of time).
Before we get to the potential benefits of the carnivore diet, it’s critical to understand that…
Plants Don’t Like to Be Eaten!
One of the arguments for a vegan diet is that it’s cruel to eat animals. After all, every living creature strives for self-preservation. They argue the world would be a much better if we would just leave the animals alone.
The truth is that nothing likes to be eaten… including plants!
Animals have the ability to defend themselves from predation or make a speedy escape. Plants do not have the same abilities, but they do have protection mechanisms. At the slightest nip of a leaf, plants release chemicals that can irritate or poison predators – the plant’s version of an immune response.
In fact, researchers at the University of Missouri recently showed that plants don’t even have to be damaged to mount a defense. The mere sound of caterpillar “munching vibrations” caused plants under study to ramp up production of mildly-toxic mustard oils. (Ref)
The problem is that plant defenses take affect after you have consumed them. And for many people the results of a plant-rich diet can be pain, inflammation and debilitating autoimmune diseases.
The examples of plant toxins and anti-nutrients are voluminous. But let’s review some of the common edible species and the compounds within them known to have health-harming effects:
- Nightshades: The solanaceae family of flowering plants includes a number of species that are outright poisonous. But the nightshade family also includes tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant and goji berries, which are well known to promote inflammation and joint pain in some people.
- Phytic Acid: A natural substance found in plant seeds (including grains and legumes). This compound is known as an “anti-nutrient” for its ability to bind to minerals. Phytic acid impairs the absorption of iron, zinc, calcium and other minerals and can promote mineral deficiencies.
- Oxalates: Compounds found in dark leafy greens, such as spinach, kale and other “superfoods.” Most people can break down oxalates in the gut. For others, however, these compounds turn into sharp crystals and can lead to chronic pain, inflammation, oxidative stress, kidney stones and autoimmune disease.
- Lectins: These plant compounds can promote leaky gut, alter the microbiome, stimulate the immune system and trigger inflammation. The highest levels are found in whole grains, legumes and dairy.
- Salicylates: These are naturally-occurring pesticides that plants use to protect against insects, fungus and bacterial infection. In humans, they can cause a wide range of symptoms from tinnitus to ulcers. High concentrations are found in avocados, berries, grapes, almonds, honey, dried fruits and many spices
- FODMAPs: Though not technically a defense mechanism of plants, these compounds are a collection of short-chain carbohydrates that are not properly absorbed in the gut. FODMAPs can cause severe digestive distress for some people. High-FODMAP foods include a wide range of fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, condiments, drinks and dairy foods.
- Saponins: Anti-feedant compounds that protect many plants from predation by insects, microbes and fungi. Saponins have soapy, foaming characteristics. They promote leaky gut and can cause bloating, gas, nausea and diarrhea. Legumes (soy, beans, peas and lentils) as well as quinoa are rich in saponins.
- Goitrogens: These compounds can reduce iodine uptake in the thyroid gland and slow the production of thyroid hormones. The result can be an enlarged thyroid (goiter) and a host of metabolic disturbances. The most common plant goitrogens are compounds known as glucosinolates, found in broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, arugula, radishes, turnips, collard greens, bok choy and other similar vegetables.
- Phytoestrogens: These naturally-occurring plant chemicals have a molecular structure quite similar to estrogen. Used as a natural defense against herbivores, they can disrupt animal fertility. In humans, phytoestrogens can cause hormonal dysfunction and may promote cancer. These compounds are most common in soybeans, flax and sesame seeds.
- Prolamins & Glutelins – Consisting of a wide range of proteins, used by plants to store energy in seeds. This group of compounds are the primary environmental factors in causing Celiac disease. Found primarily in grains and rice.
I would be the last person to say that there are no benefits to eating plant foods. But it is important to understand that there can be a dark side. Not all plant foods are right for all people all of the time.
If you’d like to learn more about the “dark side” of plants – and the tremendous benefits many people experience on the carnivore diet, we highly recommend the new book, The Carnivore Code, by Dr. Paul Saladino, MD.
Dr. Saladino practices what he preaches and he’s one of the rare physicians who will follow the truth wherever it leads. In his book, he dispels then myths demonizing meat with science and reason. He also presents compelling research that many of the “nutrients” we think of in plants are actually “phytoweapons” and can pose a real risk to our health.
The Carnivore Code is deeply researched, extensively referenced… and written in a way that’s easy to understand and accessible to all.
You can also visit Dr. Paul’s website at CarnivoreMD.
We also encourage you to check out the video presentation by Dr. Georgia Ede, MD from the 2nd Annual Ancestral Health Symposium, titled: Little Shop of Horrors? The Risks and Benefits of Eating Plants. (Ref)
Dr. Ede cites the meat-only / carnivore / zero-carb diet as very useful for managing the many “mystery syndrome” symptoms that do not respond to traditional Paleo or “elimination” diets.
And this is an important point, so let’s discuss…
The Problem with “Elimination” Diets And How “Meat Only” Could be the Solution
If you or someone you love has allergies, food intolerances, autoimmune disease or other health problems, there is a good chance you’ve heard of the “elimination diet.”
This is a diet that eliminates many of the most common dietary triggers. The user consumes only the foods on the “allowed” list for a period of time – usually a month – and then reintroduces potential trigger foods one at a time adding a new food every few days.
This last part is important, because many food reactions take three to or four days to manifest (this is known as delayed hypersensitivity). As each new food is reintroduced, the user records how they feel and any reactions they experience. This can be quite effective at determining which foods are best for YOUR body.
But there are some significant challenges and drawbacks to the typical elimination diet…
- While the most common trigger foods are usually eliminated, most “elimination” diets still include many foods which can cause problems for some people. This makes it difficult to truly isolate the foods that may cause you discomfort and contribute to poor health.
- With so many foods removed from the diet – and a random basket of foods remaining – many people are left wondering, “How do I turn these foods into meals and what the heck do I eat?”
The second challenge is why most people find elimination diets so difficult. They can’t make any of their usual recipes and don’t know what to make from the random assortment of “allowed” foods.
But imagine how much simpler an “elimination diet” would be if you eliminated everything except fresh meat (not cured).
With the exception of eggs, dairy, shellfish and sometimes fish… it is plants that cause problems for the vast majority of those with diet-related health issues. So, if you’re going to follow an elimination diet, it is easier (and more effective) to simply eliminate ALL plants, instead of picking and choosing.
On a side note, you can turn even the healthiest foods into something decidedly unhealthy, depending on how it is prepared. For example, grilling and charring meat can cause cancer-causing compounds to form. So, while it can taste delicious we don’t generally recommend cooking meat this way. One of our favorite ways to cook meat is low and slow in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
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The stories of those who have healed their bodies on a meat-only diet – often after enduring years of debilitating and mysterious illnesses – are numerous. In fact, most people who follow the Carnivore Diet are not just surviving, they seem to be thriving. And those who have sought objective lab data show biomarkers consistent with health and vitality.
And there is no shortage of physique transformations either!
Stories of Healing (and Adonis Physiques!) on a Meat-Only Diet
Dr. Shawn Baker, MD is an orthopedic surgeon, a pure carnivore and a physical specimen at 51 years of age. He is one of the leading proponents of the meat-only diet and encourages people to experiment and share their stories on his website, Meat Heals.
Dr. Baker says:
“A clear lack of progress in combatting diseases of lifestyle, the specter of bias and frequently confusion in the literature has led many to take matters into their own hands, often with excellent results and often being at odds with traditional recommendations.”
We’re also quite impressed by the experience of Mikhaila Peterson. In this post on her blog she describes her health history, which includes 20 years of intense suffering, which began when she was just a toddler. It was a strict elimination diet that finally helped her experience relief. But it wasn’t until she eliminated everything but meat that she truly felt well.
If you’re considering this diet to see how it makes you feel, I encourage you to check out these the sites above, where you can find before-and-after pictures, comments and testimonials from people whose lives have been changed forever by the carnivore diet.
The Zero-Carb Diet: What to Eat?
I am not suggesting that you or your loved ones embark on a meat-only diet for the rest of your life.
Humans have always been opportunistic feeders. I don’t think a mono-diet is optimal for most people. And I believe there can be great benefit from the cancer-fighting, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds in many plants.
But it might be a valuable experiment to try for a few weeks or months, especially if:
- You have stubborn fat to lose
- You suffer from autoimmune illness or “syndrome” with a constellation of symptoms
- You know that you have a range of food allergies and intolerances
So, what does a meat-based diet look like?
While some people add minimal dairy products like butter or cheese, most people who embark on this radical way of eating to improve difficult health issues are purists. They limit their intake strictly to meat (with mineral-rich salt) and water alone… as well as coffee / tea if you don’t want to give those up.
Here are the meats recommended on the carnivore diet:
- Red Meat: Beef, pork, lamb, wild game
- Seafood: Fish and shellfish*
- Poultry: Chicken, turkey, ostrich, emu
- Organ Meat: Liver, kidneys, tongue, bone marrow, spleen, thymus (sweetbreads)
- Eggs*: Chicken, goose, duck, quail
* Because egg whites and shellfish have allergenic potential, those with autoimmune issues, allergies and food intolerances often choose to avoid these foods on the meat-only diet.
What’s more, many meat-only diet enthusiasts find they react to certain types of meat – like pork or certain fish – so it’s important to listen to your body and pay attention to your symptoms. Most people do best with beef and lamb.
On the carnivore diet, it’s important to eat to satiety (no calorie counting), add high quality sea salts to your food and be sure to choose fatty cuts of meat. Here are a few (very simple!) meal ideas:
- Crispy Oven-Roasted Pork Belly with Maldon Sea Salt (To make in accord with the Carnivore Diet principles, simply pressure cook in bone broth, sear in duck fat and sprinkle with sea salt – omit the other ingredients in recipe)
- Ribeye with Redmond Sea Salt
- Broiled Wild Salmon
- Roasted Bone Marrow with Smoked Maldon Sea Salt
- Grilled Lamb Chops with Celtic Sea Salt
Do you have nagging health symptoms that haven’t resolved on a Paleo or keto diet? Would you be willing to give the carnivore diet a 30-day challenge? What do you think about the information in this article? We want to hear from you… please leave your comments below!
P.S. We anticipate that those who object might say, “What about the myriad of micronutrients in plants that you would miss on a zero-carb diet?” Our response is that the most nutrient-dense food we can consume is meat. And there are organ meats, such as liver, which supply even greater concentrations of nutrients than muscle meats. And, again, we are not necessarily recommending this as a diet to follow for life (although some people do).
As to the FDA’s Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) of certain nutrients, it also is important to remember that those guidelines are created for a population that consumes a high-carb, Standard American Diet – a diet which fundamentally converts your metabolism to that of a “sugar burner” and alters your nutritional requirements.
Gabriel Charles of the blog, Keto Kulture, writes:
“To say that a carnivore is nutrient deficient, based on the FDA’s RDI requirements, is like saying a Tesla Model-S is missing spark plugs.”
There’s no fiber in this diet. How do you avoid constipation?
Great question, Marti!
Dr. Baker discusses this on his site. Since the body utilizes/absorbs everything in meat, there is very little waste. Due to this, excretion diminishes significantly (ie – one poops less often).
Been doing zero carb with zero fiber for over 3 years. It has cured all my IBS problems that I previously used to have including constipation. The fiber is unnecessary, it just piles up and requires more fiber to push it through.
Where do these people get their vitamin C and water soluble vitamins?
I can’t account for all necessary minerals, but you get plenty of Vitamin C from lightly cooked organ meat.
Your body doesnt need vitamin c when its running on fat. The metabolic system changes. Hmm. Who wouldve thought
Kelly—I’ve been ZC since March 2018. I’m in my late 50’s and feel great. Knee pain gone and back to lifting weights and running several days a week. My son who is 33 was diagnosed with MS in May. He’s on conventional medicine and has tried several diets. His symptoms have gotten worse the last few weeks. I’m trying to encourage him to try ZC and eat mainly meat (fatty beef) for a few weeks and see if his symptoms improve. He’s so frustrated and looking for help that he’s willing to give it a try. I forwarded him your article above which sums up everything I’ve been trying to get him to do. Have you heard of other people help their MS symptoms going on a ZC diet and eating meat??
Thanks–Lynn
Hi Lynn,
Thank you so much for your comment. And I’m so happy to hear that you have been doing so well on ZC! You are an inspiration!
I am so sorry to learn of your son’s recent diagnosis. As you may know, autoimmune illness is considered a “three legged stool” – with genes, environment and gut permeability – being the three “legs”, or contributing factors. Of course, diet is included in “environment”, but so are other exposures like mercury or infections.
With that said, if your son is reacting to plant foods – as many people with autoimmune disease do – the carnivore diet could be a useful tool. You’ll find a number of stories of healing autoimmune disease with carnivory here – http://meatheals.com/category/autoimmune/
Hope this helps and wishing you both well!
Kelley
You should watch the movie, āLiving Proofā on Amazon and get your son to watch it. Amazing life experience of a man who was diagnosed with MS at age 19 and gone on to lead a healthy life, thanks to his fatherās intense research and conclusions. It is phenomenal!
I’m on my 95th day on the carnivore diet and I feel great. Everything that’s been said that supports this diet seems to be true. In fact, I don’t think I want to go off of this way of eating because I don’t want to go back to the old way. I poop once a day in the morning instead of the usual 2 to 3 messy times a day. I don’t want to spend that much time sitting on the toilet; I have better things to do. I’m very surprised that the carnivore diet works as well as it does. I’m starting to make my decisions based on what comes naturally, and that is usually the best choice. Mankind has only two types of food sources: plants and animals. After considering both, it just made good natural sense to go with the carnivore diet as that’s what is more available in nature. Until I see something to the contrary, I’m planning to stay on this diet for good. Another benefit is that I have lost most of my craving for sugar.
Fiber is not necessary. Read āFiber Menace.ā
Eating meat with fat prevents constipation. Treat constipation with fat, drink a tablespoon of MCT and wait a couple of hours.
Good advice!
Theres been studies done with gastroenterologists who found that people who took fiber out actually helped their constipation and have better and more frequent bowel movements. Fiber is just another thing we’ve always been told we needed in our diet for healthy digestive but just isnt true.
been doing carnivore for 2 years, never have that issue. Fiber is overrated. Why eat something that you cannot digest ? Nutrients in meat are much more bio available then vegs and fruits
I will have some vegs on occasion but not much
As a fifth year carnivore I can attest to fiber being unnecessary. I am quite regular without it, as is mu husband, whoās also a carnivore dieter. The gut goes thru a period of transition that involves a brief bout of diarrhea, then switches over to the slower digestion of protein. There are hundreds of thousands of carnivore dieters who are alive and very well without fiber.
Here in England, I remember when the Atkins diet was all the rage “nutritional experts” and the medical profession cautioned against such a high protein diet as possibly leading to kidney problems, has that consensus changed?
Hi Martin,
Unhealthy kidneys lose the ability to remove protein waste and it starts to build up in the blood.
But this is not an issue in healthy people. Read Chris Kresser’s article on that here – https://chriskresser.com/do-high-protein-diets-cause-kidney-disease-and-cancer/
You are citing a man who personifies himself as an author and a āhealth detectiveā
Maybe using actual peer reviewed sources and journals would be better.
Here is an article explaining a study showing that, even in obese diabetic people, high protein diets do not adversely affect the kidneys.
The link to the full study is included.
https://www.precisionnutrition.com/high-protein-safe-for-kidneys
“Peer-reviewed” articles in scientific journals are notorious for pushing the sponsors’ positions – instead of giving objective information that would be most helpful for readers to learn.
The Chris Kresser article is full of well cited scientific journal articles.
This is a lchf diet with medium protein. For every calorie there there 4 g of protein and 9 gr of fat.
Don’t you mean for every GRAM there is 4 CALORIES for PROTEIN and ( CALORIES for FAT
9 CALORIES for FAT
actually, the reason keto and carnivore are getting recognition is that the first wave of Atkins folks are going into the Medicare system and doctors are finding less heart disease, diabetes and other health issues in the low carb lifers.
Evidence?
That’s a good question. Also, does cooking plants affect their toxicity.
Hi Edward,
Absolutely cooking affects plant compounds.
Certain cooking methods can increase compounds (ie – cooked tomatoes have more bioavailable lycopene than fresh tomatoes), while other methods can decrease compounds.
For example, you can remove a significant amount of anti-nutrients with pressure cooking. You can read the research on that here – https://healinggourmet.com/healthy-cooking/health-benefits-pressure-cooker/
I had cancer and was told to avoid meat as it was cancer-promoting. I don’t want it coming back, but I do have gut issues I need to solve. Any suggestions?
Meat does not cause cancer. Itās the plants that ferment in the gut. Diagnosisdiet.com is an excellent site as well as borntoeatmeat.com.
Have a look around> Our stomach acid is almost the same acidity as a dog/wolf, and they eat meat. Meat is food plants are medicine, only to be eaten in times of illness. Our stomach acid allows our enzymes breaks down proteins.. Plant material of all types, ferments. Our stomach acid is around 2 on the scale, vege animals is between 6 and 9.
We’ve been eating meat for millions of years. Cancer is virtually non-existant in hunter gatherers. Most “scientific” studies are highly flawed and biased. Keeping your blood glucose low is a better safeguard against cancer, and a host of other dieases.
The diet is an interesting idea, however many who tried it do have difficulty and have to stop. I notice the people that promote this diet don’t usually have any answers for those who struggle with it other than to say “it’s adaptation”. (However, it makes one wonder what there is to “adapt” to if this is the human’s natural diet…).
There are concerns about increased methionine, increased homocysteine, and increased ammonia from metabolizing the meat. The vital nutrients to process these byproducts include Vitamin A and folate and are found in high amounts in liver, which the carnivore dieters usually don’t eat. There is also copper deficiency concern from the increased consumption of zinc and iron in the muscle meat when the diet excludes copper-containing organ meat.
Would like to see RBC/tissue levels of certain nutrients in people who do the diet.
One other thing; there are a similar number of stories of people who are healed from the same diseases on low fat diets that still include animal products (thinking of Roy Swank diet for MS) or even plant-based. Maybe it is just biochemical individuality?
Hi S,
You make some interesting points. I do think organ meats are vital and would be an important inclusion.
Do you have examples of what has happened when people “tried to stop” the carnivore diet?
S…. Maybe diets are individual, but what this post is about is what happens to a lot of people eating an all meat diet. She is not trying to spread the GOSPEL of CANIVORY, as being the 1 and only true god, whoops, I mean way of eating, just if you have tried other ways(100% of people have), maybe, just maybe CARNIORY, may just be a god send to you. You tal;k about things that may happen if you eat just meat. every plant food has phytates, goiterens, lectins, just to name a few. These all inhibit the uptake of vitamins and minerals. If this has ruined the health of people you know, by all means let us know how dangerous this form of nutrition is, by telling us how the blood tests found it was this diet that caused it.
I think the other poster mentioned that diets are very personal and you also alluded to this point in your last question. I really tried to do a vegan diet and there were some benefits (I felt full after eating) but I got terrible depression that wouldn’t go away. I asked on all the vegan boards and crickets. I was very very low in vitamin b-12 and had to go on monthly injections for a couple years. I tried the 30 day challenge and felt more sick with every day. I don’t know why, but there were a lot of vegetables. As well, I have a huge intolerance to wheat and milder intolerances to soy and dairy (and those are the ones I know about).
But when I look at my genes I can see why vegetable primary diets fail. I have a number of the methylation SNPs. In fact I have a very long list of SNPs. When getting nutrients from plants your body must put together the building blocks and then you make the bio-available vitamin/mineral/whatever, but with meat it is ingested ready to go. Because I have so many methylation SNPs, I cannot efficiently put together the micronutrients or building blocks into what the body needs. So I was always deficient in lots of vitamins.
And there are the allegies/intolerances. I think there must be vegetables that I am intolerant to, I am on the fifth day of an all meat diet and we shall see.
Keep it up. I will never go back, although I won’t rule out throwing in some plants here and there to experiment. Diets are individual, but I don’t think they’re that individual. We didn’t grow these huge brains eating fruit and leaves. We used tools to scavenge the fat out of femurs and skulls. Veganism is death, and it doesn’t help the planet like people think either.
what?
u are probably unaware of the thousands and counting of people in the community.
facebook world carnivore tribe, zerocarbzen.com meatheals.com the recovery vegan group or something , principia carnivora, zerocarb on reddit, and then some.
you are talking about a minority of people,
not sure what idea of the human body u have, but adaptation takes time, gut flora needs to change.
do a dryfast for 3 4 days then go into it, if u dont want to wait )
I think similar to any diet it’s not necessarily for everyone. We are all quite complex and as the Bible says, “fearfully and wonderfully made.” I see great benefits and have also had some friends do this but have made some changes either for the shear enjoyment of some other foods or because they felt or learned that they needed it.
in almost all parts of the world, fruits and vegs were not a year round thing. They came in season, you at them and they were gone for another 10 months
Most people who preach a carnivore diet advise nose to tail to eat organs. Many do not because of the taste of liver but there are ways around that dessicated liver bills
Man evolved eating meat. Find me a picture of cave drawings with a picture of a salad
I have been zero carb or a carnivore for 1.5 years. I no longer have inflamatiom and pain from RA. I have also completely healed my hypothyroidism. I haven’t taken synthroid in many months. (doctor approved of course) I’ve lost 59 pounds and went down from a size 18 jeans to a 10. I eat bacon and eggs for breakfast, hamburger patties for lunch and steak for dinner most days. I have zero cravings, tons of energy and I feel better emotionally.
Hi Amanda,
So happy to hear you have found something that has worked for you!
I’m curious if you have tracked specific health metrics. If so, would you share here?
That’s awesome to hear. I am 1 week in of eating meat only and in just that short period of time have already found many benefits. My stomach doesn’t hurt at all anymore.. AT ALL. No more burning feet and legs when I try to go to sleep, no more sleepless nights, no more puffy face and hands and I have energy out the azzz… š No more cravings for junk food, no more all day snacking. I feel so good, so very very good!!!!!!!
Are you still on the diet and seeing positive results?
Wow, I have Hashimoto, Pernicious anaemia and Raynaud’s, I have been taking, thyroid medicine for many years, B12 shots for over 30 years and my symptoms are getting worse, my Dr has no clue unfortunately, I have now developed heart issues in the form of Bradycardia, extra heart beats to compensate for my low pulse rate, low energy, dizzy, I have had enough! I am very inspired by the what you have said, been eating Keto for a couple of years but gaining weight again, so this has given me hope.
Hi Angela, my MIL has Raynauds.. did you end up doing the Carnivore Diet? Has it helped?
Humans are not Carnivores and without “plant” foods they can never get the essential vitamins and minerals for healthy living. It is like running a machine on petrol but not using any lubricants – in a very basic example. After “Better Breads” I find this article a big let down because all the negative aspects of the plant foods s are based on “may” or ” might” while playing down their real and definite nutritional values.
Other point is that (unless killed for food) average life span of plant eating animals is far longer than life span of carnivores animals.
Big NO, Dr Baker and Kelly Herring
Hi Birol,
The point is of this post is to be willing to ask important questions about our own health and the potential causes of our illness. Only then, can we find answers and truly be the authors of our own health. To this end, my questions and your questions will be different. And I believe that the right diet for YOU is the one that makes you feel better and helps you achieve optimum health.
Can you please provide studies for your life span notations. Are you comparing plant-eating rabbits (lifespan 12 years) to humans … or plant-eating elephants (70 yrs) to humans?
As for your analogy about running a machine on petrol without lubricants… I know this is novel (ahem!), but what if a vehicle could run on electricity, and not need petrol?
Edison said: “We donāt know one-millionth of one percent about anything”. If we take conventional “wisdom” as fact, how can we solve problems and grow?
Again, I’m not trying to sell this diet to anyone – I’m opening the floor for (hopefully) intelligent discussion.
Kelly Herring wins the internet with this comeback!
Appreciate your kind comment, Andrew.
After 20 years of researching diet and disease, I’m humbled… every single day.
We’ve only just scratched the surface with respect to our biochemical individuality… nutrigenomics… the microbiome.
It is my mission to help as many people as I can awaken to the potential causative (and healing) agents of disease so we can all live our very best life.
Thank you for reading!
Quite!
Hi Byrol,
What other primate has a longer lifespan than a human? Gorillas (fully vegan) life span 35-40 years. Colo, a 60-year-old gorilla who was kept at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and was the first gorilla ever born in captivity, succeeded Jenny as the world’s oldest known gorilla. Colo died January 17, 2017. Our oldest living humans eat all sorts of food, and some even smoke tobacco. Whats your point
How many months of year do you think most humans had access to vegs and fruits. They were in season then they were gone.
Fruits and vegs are 100% GMO and look now nothing like they did 1000 years ago let alone 10,000 years ago or longer
Ever stumble across will broccoli, caluiflower, peppers etc ?
Meat Heals
O thank you for this! I wondered if I were going nuts (euhh….pun intended!) My body has always been happiest when I was eating tons of steak, and other pure proteins, good salt, and never very happy with alot of the plants people said were the best–beans, grains, to start etc. And the plant reactions don’t surprise me, as, as gently as I could, I often answered militant vegitarians simply with the fact that we are all people and that we have known for decades now that plants are indeed quite alive and responsive to their situations, why one gives thanks for lives given at all times, including when picking a flower..Just because we can’t hear them…doesn’t mean they aren’t speaking their own pain as well. And we’re all connnected in all things, of course. So you are the first person I have seen write about this, and I will be going into it more, thank you. As I am battling with a variety of symptoms, including a normally resilient and strong body that isn’t losing this odd extra fat from the cortisol, despite changing many things, including adding many more vegetables and fruits recently, into our diet.
If one thinks of our ancestral bodies, it resonates entirely, especially in the cold climates..
You’re right – plants communicate too. And sometimes – for some people – that “communication” can means inflammation and pain.
Best wishes on your healing journey and kudos to listening to your body’s innate wisdom over conventional advice!
This is definitely fascinating. I am an omnivore. I eat animal products that are properly raised and I eat plant products. I’ve read that if you eat too much protein it converts to sugar in the system. This was one explanation for keeping protein moderate in most keto diets. How would this affect someone on a carnivore diet?
Great question! Gluconeogenesis – the conversion of protein to glucose – is demand driven… not supply driven. Just because protein can be converted to glucose doesn’t mean it necessarily will. Here is a great article with lots of research – http://www.ketotic.org/2012/08/if-you-eat-excess-protein-does-it-turn.html
Thank you Kelly. I will read the article – very helpful. That’s so interesting.
My pleasure, Ann!
I love meat! But many of the Brain experts are saying to be very minimal or not to eat it at all if your are carrying an apoE4 gene. My genetic type is a 3/4. Would you please weigh in on this. I am a big fan of your articles.
Hi Gloria,
Thank you for your kind comment and question.
Genetics is very multidimensional and we’ve only just scratched the surface of the field. With that said, I am a big believer in using genetic information to gain a better understanding of predispositions and to help create the most health-promoting personalized diet. What you mention here is only one allele of thousands that can increase/decrease disease risk. The genome-wide association study (GWAS), has identified a number of genes in addition to APOE E4 that may increase a person’s risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s including BIN1, CLU, PICALM, and CR1.
In addition to your genetics, your personal microbiome and how it impacts your metabolism, your alcohol intake, nutrients status (and related gene requirements), the type and amount of exercise in which you engage – and much more – must also be taken into account.
It is a BIG picture. And it’s the combination of genetics and environmental factors (diet, exercise, lifestyle) that ultimately prevent or promote disease. For example, some people with two copies of the APOE4 allele never get Alzheimer’s… while people without these “risky” alleles do.
APOE plays a role in lipid (fat) metabolism, and removing cholesterol from the blood. For those with this genotype, the body has a harder time clearing cholesterol which may build up in arteries and (in theory) increase heart disease and Alzheimer’s risk. For this reason, reducing dietary fat has been suggested (by some). While dozens of studies have confirmed that the APOE E4 allele increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s – researchers don’t understand the mechanism behind it.
Mark Sisson commented on the issue and provides some great research:
https://www.marksdailyapple.com/apoe4-allele-jet-lag-tedx-paleo-debunking-cough-drops/
In addition, you may want to read this article, which I found very interesting, as well: http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/alzheimers_statins.html
Hope this helps!
Kelley
Somehow I knew the referenced article would come from Stephanie Seneff. She is incredible!
Hello,
I have so many questions not sure where to begin. Maybe could start with āWhat the Healthā documentary I have watched many times and read up on studies they presented. Then Forks Over Knives? The studies presented there very compelling. What is your research findings that dispell the truth of these? And read summary of the China Study. Meatyourfuture.com Are we omnivores, herbivores or carnivores? Looks like we are herbivores!? We do not make Vitamin C. Carn ivores do. How can we be strictly carnivores? I have witnessed many unhappy followers of Atkins Diet that cannot do longterm. All that cholesterol and inflammation damaging kidneys and heart. Short term weight loss but completely constipated and fatigued. Our intestines are very long like other herbivores. Carnivores are short gutted and have higher acidity to break down meat. Our teeth are not designed for tearing meat. They are molars for breaking down plants. Meat putrifies in the long journey of human gut. Carnivores seems leftwing as plant-based seems rightwing. I have since found Dr Fuhrmans Pyramid that seems more approachable to our biological make-up. It does seem we cant eat healthy and noone in the know makes it any clearer. Round-up taints our soil killing our gut flora and dioxins spoil the grass that feed the grass-fed animals. We all want an answer to eating right and feeling healthy like back in the 60s and the absolute contradiction by experts on that makes it feel hopeless.
Hi Kendra,
Allow me a moment to respond to your partially intelligible stream of consciousness…
– Hominidae (including humans and chimps) are omnivores… not herbivores.
– “Our teeth are not designed for tearing meat” – What about our incisors?
– China Study has been debunked – https://chriskresser.com/rest-in-peace-china-study/
– “Meat rots in our guts” – http://www.gnolls.org/1444/does-meat-rot-in-your-colon-no-what-does-beans-grains-and-vegetables/
– “All that cholesterol and inflammation damaging kidneys and heart” – inflammation from?
– How is Dr. Fuhrman’s pyramid “approachable” to our genetics? He recommends our diet be comprised of 40% beans and 20% grains… and then lumps meat in with processed food
– “Carnivore seem leftwing and plant based seem right wing” – I don’t even know what to say about that one
Throwing our hands up because there is too much contradictory information is not the solution. The solution is to find what works best for your body. This will start with a Paleo template – an ancestral diet to which our genetics are adapted – without grains, legumes, dairy or fake foods – and be tailored from there (ie – lower carb ancestral diet, low FODMAP ancestral diet, nightshade-free ancestral diet, etc).
Kelley
One question,can you eat all the meat you want at any meal?
Hi Darlene,
I’ve never seen a law against it š
Joking aside, you’ll be amazed at how satiating the carnivore way is. The goal is to eat to satiety.
why have meals?
ideally you eat once a day or once every few days.
but its a journey experiment and settle where you feel right
Kendra, Our stomach acid is 2 on the acid alkaline table, about the same as a dog/wolf, enzymes interact with the acidity of our stomach to break down meat. Plant matter breaks down through fermentation. Meat, eggs and meat by products are very high in vitamins and minerals. go here.
https://medium.com/@andylindquist/90-days-on-a-carnivore-diet-results-and-insights-8d07692869fe
So, are herbs allowed? Those sure can make a good cut of meat taste even better.
No, I’m afraid herbs and spices are not allowed.
No, I’m afraid you are off on this point Kelly. Who told you that herbs and spices “are not allowed”? Allowed by whom? There is no Carnivory Police telling me I can’t put some basil in my pot roast.
Robin,
The pioneering work of Dr. Shawn Baker is the basis of this article. His Carnivore Challenge does not allow any plant food (other than coffee). From his website: “we will be looking for the participants to adhere as closely as possible to a purely carnivorous diet of meat and water for the entire duration”
I see you have “dr” in your email address, so I’m guessing you may have some scientific background. If so, then you may be aware of phytonutrients and antinutrients in plant foods. The purpose of keeping Carnivory to meat only is to eliminate the other variables. People absolutely react to spices – especially those of the nightshade family or seed-based spices. Herbs might be less problematic. It is all bio individual.
If you read my article, then you’d know what I’m advocating is what works for the individual. My response to the question as to whether herbs and spices are allowed is simply based off of the core Carnivore diet of Dr. Shawn Baker. If you truly want to try carnivore, I believe this is the only intelligent way to begin. Then, scientifically, one by one, introduce a single herb or a spice and journal any reactions for a few days. Then move on to the next herb or spice to challenge.
If one is using Carnivory as a therapeutic tool, and as the “Ultimate Elimination Diet”, I believe in approaching it in this manner is imperative.
And by the way, rudeness doesn’t make your point any more clear or your voice any more heard. Being defensive means that beliefs are so tightly held that alternate viewpoints cannot be considered. That mindset stifles growth and limits possibilities. And that’s not what we’re going for here.
Kelley
Ok, if pointing out a point on which you are mistaken makes me “rude”, so be it. That wasn’t my intention.
First of all, Shawn Baker is the most vocal and visible carnivore on the net right now but there have been people doing this quietly for decades. So, Shawn Baker is not the be all and end all authority on carnivory. If you want to know about “pioneering” work in carnivory, look up Owlsley “The Bear” Stanley.
In his “Carnivore Challenge”, Shawn made the rules as simple as possible to follow so there would be no confusion. It was also meant to be an “elimination diet” to help people figure out where their potential food sensitivities were lurking, (e.g. someone with a nightshade issue should stay away from the cayenne).
You stated it though as fact that carnivores don’t use spices, ever. Once past the elimination phase, spices are fine and even Shawn uses them. Unless you have a particular sensitivity, there is not enough there there to be an issue in terms of carbs or anti-nutrients. Those were the rules for the challenge, not forever. You conflated the two and mis-spoke. Understandable and not a problem. I pointed it out so others wouldn’t get the wrong info. It’s not a personal attack if someone points out where you are wrong. It’s a learning opportunity.
I’m not defensive but I am a little tired of people on the net talking *about* the carnivorous diet with no fist hand experience doing it and minimal research. One blogger was stating as a “fact” yesterday that carnivores never eat seafood or eggs or dairy. Just not true. These are individual choices.
I am not “trying” being carnivore. I am carnivore and have been since before Shawn Baker came along. If you would like a more nuanced view of this eating style from someone who is not an iron pumper, please look up the website of Amber O’Hearn, Empirica. She has been eating this way for over a decade.
BTW, I enjoy your articles in the US Wellness Meats newsletter.
Dr. Baker is a relative newbie to a Zero Carb (meat only) diet. There are many veterans of ZC sho have been eating meat only for 5, 10, even 15+ years. The general concensus among them is that dried herbs and spices are fine as seasoning if a person con tolerate them. Each person must determine for themselves if spices cause problems within the framework of a meat only diet. Many also find that they used a lot of spices and herbs in the beginning but then their tastes changed and they hardly use them anymore. The general concensus is that it is better to add some seasoning to keep you eating the meat your body needs than it is to go back to eating plants as food. Plants are generally accepted as seasoning and medicine only.
More info about the ZC diet can be found in the two main groups in Facebook which have these long term vets as members and admins. Zero Carb Health and Zeroing In On Health. There are other groups as well but they do not have the long term vets like the two I mentioned and they tend to veer off into tweaks and hacks to speed up weight loss at the expense of health.
I personally have been ZC for 3+ years. I have never felt better and my lifetime digestion and constipation problems are completely GONE.
I am willing to try the Carnivore diet.
I have been a type 2 Diabetic(Father and Great Grandmother had it as well) for 14 years. I tried Metformin for 4 months and that did not go well at all. Couldn’t leave the house until noon, due to diarrhea.
I have been somewhat controlling it with a strict low carb diet, however it seems to not be working as well now that I am well past menopause.
I was considering a vegetarian diet however i am noticing a lot of stomach cramps when I drink my berry and spinach smoothies in the morning and after lunching on fresh salads that include nightshades.
I have been gaining weight lately which i can not afford, as the diabetes was causing weight gain to begin with.
I am on board with this and will document my journey.
Start date will be May 28, 2018
Thanks!
Hi Sherie!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. Your resolve and courage is inspiring – we look forward to hearing from you on your carnivore journey!
Also, we would like to help you on your way with a little gift of pasture-raised and grass-fed meats from our friends over at US Wellness Meats. I will be sending you a personal follow up email.
Be Well,
Kelley
Down 17 lbs. and blood sugar is down as well, only 3 points on the Metic scale, but it is a good start!
Thanks
Down 20 lbs, blood sugars are approaching normal levels. No problems, except I am full of energy, something I have been lacking for quite sometime. Sleeping much better.
Woot, woot!! Go Sherie! Go Sherie!
Hello there.
I have switched from a ketogenic diet to carnivory. I currently battle autoimmune thyroid issues, IBS (not the constpation varietal), mastocytosis (they are leaning toward classifying this as autoimmune), chronic inflammation, and T2D, adding more recently depression (look at that list of stuff. No wonder. Lol)
Iām still supplementing sodium (Himalayan pink) and taking all meds (synthroid, metformin, Wellbutrin and quercitin (bioflavonoid that acts as an antihistamine against the mastocytosis). Eventually I hope to get off some if not all of the meds.
Carnivory has had its own adaptive phase even though I was previously ketogenic. Ketones have been hovering between .5 and 1.5. I do allow dairy as tolerated in the form of butter for cooking, hard cheeses every so often, maybe a splash of cream in my coffee on weekends. While I agree that organ meats are beneficial, most of what I have read has negated the absolute necessity of them. I like liverwurst, and thatās about as close as I am willing to get. The only real departure I take is in the use of spices and herbs. Herbs are the most micronutrient packed plants there are and have been used medicinally for centuries. I listened to a podcast this morning where the guest had returned from Finland where they have herb fed butter vice grass fed! I really think that if the addition of herbs and or spices helps someone starting out with adherence, the benefits can far out way the adversity. Just my .02 ????
Thank you for an informative and well written piece. (Love Chris Knesser btw!)
Hi Jenn,
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us.
I like your personal approach and really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the use of herbs and spices in the Carnivore Diet.
We’d love to get updates on your journey, if you get a chance!
Be Well,
Kelley
I am researching a diet change to improve overall health and am very interested in giving this a try! I have Crohnās disease and am over 100 pounds overweight. I am in my early 40ās and have zero energy or motivation. I have tried increasing vegetables and decreasing meat with no improvement in digestive symptoms, if anything itās worse. I have read many articles and studies and I appreciate how well-written and straightforward this is, well done!
Wow- thank you for this article. No one has ever understood when I’ve said that I feel best when I eat only meat. I’ve had digestive issues since I was a kid and I now have an autoimmune condition that makes my body highly reactive. I really appreciate your thoughtful presentation of this as a viable alternative, as well as the research and links you’ve provided. Your willingness to share a different perspective without judgment or noise is so appreciated. Thank you so much. I look forward to checking out more here on your website.
ditto Lisa…Noone got it, but I’ve gotten used to thinking myself normal and noticing that noone else agrees, why???!!! Anyway, there is no contect on the meat eating–the question here is getting truly healthy meats, and that is well nigh impossible at this point in ‘murrica, from what I can see. The grains are contaminated with the GMOs, what’s in the water is hair-raising..why did they hand their country over to the obviously abusive bunch of people that started coming back in 1980? Didi they not get it that you pay for allowing abuse in one’s life?? Bon, another discussion , in a way..in a way not. Time for health, in any case. Go for it!
Hi Lisa,
You might really enjoy the blog of Mikhaila Peterson called “Don’t Eat That”.
She is a young woman who has had a lifetime of debilitating auto-immune conditions with a major depressive disorder piled on top.
Carnivory has completely cured her of both. She is now a happy healthy new mom.
Agreed!
And her brilliant psychologist father, Dr. Jordan Peterson, is also having great success with carnivory. He discusses it in detail in a recent Joe Rogan podcast.
Here are links to both of their websites if anyone is interested: https://jordanbpeterson.com/ and http://mikhailapeterson.com/
This is a great article!
I have been carnivore for 10 days now. I started to help alleviate joint pain, terrible cramps and hopefully help with depression as well as severe carb (sugar) addiction. I’ve been doing well, though do allow myself cheese in moderation and heavy cream in tea in the morning.
However the other day there was an incidental finding on a recent ultrasound I had done which was consistent with Medullary Sponge Kidney (a congenital kidney disorder). I have a lot of stones at any given time and seem to be a kidney stone making pro. This gives me great concerns due to the high protein content of carnivorous eating. I have not talked to my doctor about this, as this way of eating is so new and still very frowned upon.
I have read that if your kidneys are healthy then you do not have to worry about the carnivore diet being too high protein – however my kidneys (while functioning) are not normal.
I want to continue, but I guess I will have to do so with caution, which is so disappointing because I am perfectly happy with this way of eating – not to mention I am down 8 pounds and am a little less achy.
Thanks so much for the great article though – all the best!
Hi Rachel, I was wondering how Carnivore has been doing for you with your kidneys? I have a friend with kidney stone issues and he was thinking about the carnivore diet.
I LOVE this thread and article!!! I am an avid Bulletproof follower and totally agree with going more primal….I don’t measure ketones, but am sure I am in ketosis. I find that the keto / paleo diets recommend a lot of vegetables, but like many of your other readers, just crave MEAT! I used to crave bread and pasta before I eliminated them from my diet, and really RED MEAT is the thing that I look forward to.
I am VERY petite, 44 years old and have osteoporosis. I have been cooking my vegetables for a couple years now – after reading about bone eroding effects of raw veggies…I have a good idea of what veggies I do well with, but still – at every meal, the meat is the largest portion on my plate, followed by fats then veggies.
I am wondering if this diet HAS to be ALL meat, zero carb – or if you feel like it could be do-able with still low carb (like 20-50g/day, but veggies you know you tolerate based on elimination previously and mostly meat? I love to wrap a rare slow cooked beef burger in some steamed collard greens with sprout and avocado for lunch! LOL
The more I read about this topic and research the issue online, the more I’m inclined to believe that this may be really, the natural way we humans were meant to eat. I’ve worked my way into OMAD in order to lose weight and regain a more healthy body. I started the first of April, 2018 on OMAD at a starting weight of 265 lbs and I’m determined to get back down to my most healthiest weight of 165 or 170. I’m a 70 year old male and I’ve been having health issues such as Asthma, Arthritis, Eczema, and now recovering from a Staph infection from Cellulitus and have developed on and off Gout symptoms. I’m sure all of these things have to do with the diet I eat….Meat, Fat, Legumes, and other Carbs in bread and pasta. OMAD has provided me a weight loss of 15 lbs for the first month of going on OMAD, now I’m going to try “Carnivore” for a month to see if my maladies subside or go away completely. I’m currently living in Thailand and beef is incredibly expensive here, but things like eggs and pork are much cheaper to buy, because that’s what Thai people use most, as they can’t as a whole, afford beef products. Most beef is shipped to Thailand from Australia and is expensive. I’m working on coming back to live in the USA sometime this year, which will make my food expense go way down in this area. I’ll keep you all posted as to my progress as I start this diet 01/05/2018.
Hi Kelly,
Was curious can you drink tea? Mainly Chinese teas and green tea?
This was just confirmation for me after hearing about the Petersonās miraculous changes.
Thank you
Hi Mark,
Thank for your question and taking the time to comment here at Healing Gourmet. We appreciate it!
I think “strict carnivore” is just that – meat, sea salt and clean water. But the goal here is not who can be the strictest… but rather, what diet helps the individual the most š
To that end, I believe that the carnivore diet can be used as a tool and a starting point to begin unravelling one’s own dietary dilemmas. But to do this correctly, it is imperative to introduce back one thing at a time and challenge that food only. By isolating the variables, we get a better idea of what is innocuous (to the individual)… and to what we are actually reacting.
Green tea contains a number of phytonutrients with impressive biochemical properties (tannins, EGCG, etc). It also is a sponge for fluoride – a halogen with some pretty nasty systemic and endocrine effects. Like many foods, it is a double-edge sword.
To conduct the best n=1 experiments we can to truly get to the root of our own issues, we must isolate the variables. I might suggest trying grass-fed/pastured meats/salt/water only for a week (grass-finished reduces the risk of lectins that may be present in grain-fed meats from soy/grains). Then try a cup of green tea and see how you feel.
Hope this helps and would love to hear back from you on your journey.
Best,
Kelley
A lot of carnivores still drink coffee and/or tea. Personally, I don’t use caffeine so I like herbal teas. The point is not carnivorous purity. Animal protein is the food, plants are fine as spices, flavorings, and non-caloric beverages.
Hi Robin,
I agree Iāve been drinking Chinese and Japanese teas daily now along with the carnivore diet. Many of the teas have compounds that lower your cholesterol along with other health benefits. I was a huge coffee drinker for years but would drown it in cream and sugar! With the teas I still get my caffeine and it tastes better than black coffee. It was a way for me to get rid of the sugar but keep the caffeine.
hi, you are a delight. especially how you handle questions – seems effortlessly.
ive integrated dry fasting , for example dry fast 2-3 days – hydrate , dry fast 1-2 days , eat meat
dry fasting (together with heat and cold therapy , and exercise seem to accelerate ketosis and boost hgh.
anyway, my point is with water and frequency. i think frequency is essential, we eat too much, we eat too often to allow the body to fully be efficient. its abnormal to eat daily imo, let alone multiple times a day.
as for water same thing. i think we drink too much, probably because our body is used to flushing its minerals? not sure, i have adapted to a low water diet, maybe drink 2-3 liters / week.
and lastly, fruit. especialyl while fasting , i feel a huge desire to eat some fruit. thirst is not that prevalent, but my smell sense is augmented and fruit is what attracts me most.
bottom line right now is im trying to combine these 3 . i never met someone to do this combination dry fast , fruit , carnivore. but lets see how it goes.
also, i have the bad habit of wanting to finish whats on my plate, which i think is detrimental.
if you have any input on any of my points, id appreaciate it.
cant wait for next article
Hello Keen4, The only thing that I see, is the decreased water intake. I would say that that needs to be held at a higher rate. As you ware speaking about our ancestral situation, water would have been the one element that was frequently ingested, more than any other likely..
I am an ex dancer, and been a professional singer for many years, also a competition sabre fencer athlete, so acutely tuned to my body and it’s yes! or no!!! . The water intake is essential. Truly, I’d advise ont to skimp on it, as the results will come later, kidney difficulties, etc.
See what this excellent ( I agree with you on that wholeheartedly) KH has to say from her research as well, of course..
Good luck!
Kendra, Our stomach acid is 2 on the acid alkaline table, about the same as a dog/wolf, enzymes interact with the acidity of our stomach to break down meat. Plant matter breaks down through fermentation. Meat, eggs and meat by products are very high in vitamins and minerals. go here.
https://medium.com/@andylindquist/90-days-on-a-carnivore-diet-results-and-insights-8d07692869fe
I am amazed how many people ask if they can eat this, or that, That isn’t derived from animal flesh. here is the list it was posted in the article
The Zero-Carb Diet: What to Eat?
I am not suggesting that you or your loved ones embark on a meat-only diet for the rest of your life.
Humans have always been opportunistic feeders. I donāt think a mono-diet is optimal for most people. And I believe there can be great benefit from the cancer-fighting, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds in many plants.
But it might be a valuable experiment to try for a few weeks or months, especially if:
You have stubborn fat to lose
You suffer from autoimmune illness or āsyndromeā with a constellation of symptoms
You know that you have a range of food allergies and intolerances
So, what does a meat-based diet look like?
While some people add minimal dairy products like butter or cheese, most people who embark on this radical way of eating to improve difficult health issues are purists. They limit their intake strictly to meat (with mineral-rich salt) and water aloneā¦ as well as coffee / tea if you donāt want to give those up.
Here are the meats recommended on the carnivore diet:
Red Meat: Beef, pork, lamb, wild game
Seafood: Fish and shellfish*
Poultry: Chicken, turkey, ostrich, emu
Organ Meat: Liver, kidneys, tongue bone marrow
Eggs*: Chicken, goose, duck, quail
* Because egg whites and shellfish have allergenic potential, those with autoimmune issues, allergies and food intolerances often choose to avoid these foods on the meat-only diet.
Whatās more, many meat-only diet enthusiasts find they react to certain types of meat ā like pork or certain fish ā so itās important to listen to your body and pay attention to your symptoms. Most people do best with beef and lamb.
EAT WHAT YOU LIKE, THIS IS WHAT IS SUGGESTED
Exactly. Personally I do better without pork, chicken, or dairy. But I do eat seafood and eggs. I have no problem with herbal tea but I find coffee and chocolate no longer agree with me. These micro-variations are personal choices. There are no hard and fast rules.
And then there is the debate over things that are neither animal nor plant (technically speaking) such as mushrooms (fungi) and seaweed (algae). Some carnivores include these and some don’t. Nobody is going to revoke your Carnivore Card if you put a mushroom sauce on your ribeye.
Robin,
If you put mushroom sauce on a steak, you would be an omnivore, by definition…
Carnivore: an animal that feeds on flesh.
Omnivore: an animal or person that eats food of both plant and animal origin.
The intent of this post is not to see who can carry a “Carnivore Card” or achieve carnivorous “purity”, but to find which way of eating produces the most beneficial effects on the body for the individual, and to approach that in a scientific manner.
Kelley
Kelley you are truly a delight, in your writing, handling of all our comments. Ever think of becoming president of the us?? Seriously, thank you again for your posting here, it has been such a help to have a place to follow this. Again, it was hard to explain to people that eating steak was basically what my body always wanted (healthy steak, that is..easy in Italia or France..) and that the vegetatian diet I tried for two years left me run down and without the energy to sing the intense repertoire which is mine, and for which I am physically on the small side as well..
As well as thanks to the other people participating here…
G. Sido!
Thank you for your kind comments and your contribution to our carnivore conversation. You made me smile. I would certainly be delighted to be nominated for something involving Health and Human Services, but definitely not president š
I had a similar experience with the vegetarian diet. And I am so happy to hear that you listened to your body and have been feeling well on the Carnivore Diet. For many people, it is becoming apparent that it is a simple solution for many complex health problems.
Wishing you the very best of health (and belting out your repertoire with full energy!).
Kelly, I wasn’t saying that you were going around revoking “carnivore cards”, although some net pundits do, just pointing out the absurdity of hair splitting on things like this.
Technically a mushroom is not a plant so….
To me what matters is the term “feed”. This is where you derive your nutrition. I think Phil Escott said it best when he said that, on a carnivorous diet , “Meat is the food, plants are the medicines”.
(Phil is a wonderful English gentleman who has cured a debilitating case of psoriatic arthritis with an all meat diet. He has some very interesting research on his blog.)
You are right, a mushroom isn’t a plant. It is a fabulous fungus, which also is… not a meat.
Whether a substance – plant or otherwise – is a “medicine” depends entirely on one’s own biochemical individuality.
Please keep the context of this article in mind: Using the carnivore diet as a healing tool under the auspice of – “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”
Definitely food for thought. One note of caution, though: I have a friend who lived with a bunch of vegetarians and went on an all-meat diet just to spite them (he was a bit of a dick back then) – and he ended up with scurvy. Iām assuming organ meats will reduce this risk? Otherwise, Iād maybe reintroduce lemon or capsicum or something as the first food, just to be sure your Vit C levels donāt get critical…
Personally I find I get SERIOUS reflux when my diet gets quite meat-heavy and I just feel gross when I eat really fatty cuts. This possibly is to do with the combinations of plant foods alongside them though, I will concede. Still, not sure I can last a whole week or more without hommus!!
scurvy is a carb eater condition.
of course there are many variables, from meat quality, type, sunlight, stress, personal defficiencies .
first time i heared of an all meat diet to get it. not a reliable source though
Can an all meat diet stop my body from being insulin resistant? I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides. I take Lisinopril, Metformin and allergic to cholesterol meds, that I do not take. I prefer not to take any prescriptions.
Thanks, Linda
Hi Linda!
Thank you for your question. I’m happy that you are seeking natural ways to improve your health.
Several dietary changes can help reverse insulin resistance and diabetes. Low carb and ketogenic (a very low carb, high fat, moderate protein diet) are two with which many people have success. Because the carnivore diet also eliminates carbohydrates, most people would see similar metabolic results.
As always, talk with your doctor before making any dietary or medication changes š
Be Well,
Kelley
I am a keto blogger and pretty close to carnivore. I will give it a go in a couple of weeks, after all the food is gone in the house. Will be very interested to see if there are any changes in my body and mind over the time.
Coming from a history of losing 100 lbs and improving my health with Atkins low carb dieting, and then moving to ketogenic for greater improvements, I have now switched to carnivore. This is Day 26. The improvement over keto, for me, is already quite apparent, and I’m noticing new joys every day. It’s like the next step for me, the “sweet spot,” and I am LOVING it. I don’t plan on going back to keto.
All cravings for sweet tastes (chocolate fat bombs and ketogenic desserts) and bread-like items (keto bread) immediately left me. My hunger is so minimal and manageable, I am in heaven. I can’t believe how simple, non-compulsive, calming, and satisfying this way of eating is for me. I feel very blessed and grateful, indeed, for having found and tried this way of eating.
My only plant-based food is coffee, which I see no reason to discontinue at this point. I discontinued most dairy (except butter and ghee), and I usually don’t even want eggs. Just meat and fat.
My mental and emotional state is balanced, moods are happy and peaceful, and mind is clear and sharp. I sleep like a baby.
I notice improvements every day. Like, being outdoors and not having flying insects landing on me or biting me, even if I am perspiring. That’s a first for me at this time of year.
Hi Jennifer,
Yes it is blissfully uncomplicated, isn’t it?
I think a lot of people doing keto (like me for years) spend a whole lot of time and effort to make their diet look like “a normal person’s food” e.g. keto-fying pizza crusts, muffins, sweets, etc. It’s so lovely when all those cravings just drop off and you look at that stuff like, “Why did I ever bother with all that?”
Makes shopping a whole lot simpler too.
I’m 10 days in on the carnivore diet. It has made my joint inflammation from RA pretty much go away. I do have some concerns though. I am MTHFR c677t so keeping folate up and homocysteine down is on my mind. The other main concern is prior to going on this diet my kidney numbers were already off for some reason. I had elevated BUN (27) and slightly lower than normal GFR (80) Do you think I should be concerned about the high protein consumption with these issues?
I lost 125 lbs by eating meat only and drinking water in 2010 and found that I just can’t tolerate carbs. I’ve regained as much as 55 lbs since then and was eating what many would believe to be a good diet (LC). I was almost diabetic and was having diabetic symptoms, but here is the part that I brag about the most, my blood test results. My C-RP was a 3.55, over the top of the scale (0-3), and within 2 yrs of eating meat only, it was down to a 0.55, and 2 yrs later, was down to a super low 0.29, so this lifestyle can really lower inflammation. The C-RP number indicates “Relative Risk for Future Cardiovascular Event”, so the lower the better. THIS is what is the most important thing, not weight. I don’t have any issues with constipation and in fact things have been stellar. If I just stick to the plan, everything is great. I will say that I have now realized that there are further health benefits that can be achieved through fasting and so I am doing IF’s now as well. Meat is not the demon that people would like to make it out to be…
I read this article adn have been doing some research. I am 26 years old and very sick. IBS, fibromyalgia, another autoimmune yet to be diagnosed, depression, anxiety, issues with painful urination, and both feet joints are messed up. I have tried the diet for 24 hours and I notice NO stomach pain! Its insane. I am going to continue for a month and see what happens. Hoping to have improvement in chronic inflammation.
I’ve had a lot of the same syptoms for years now. Are you still seeing positive results?
Hey. I started on a keto diet and I lost about 14lbs before it just stopped working. For me the primary goal is losing weight. Alcohol is the hardest thing for me as I love a drink but I am capable of doing the diet and then having a couple weeks off on holidays and things where I will drink then.
On the keto diet I was advised to add the following supplements:
Multivitimins and Multimineral supplement: 1 per day
Omega 3 supplement (I do not like fish – any fish)
On this diet I am thinking bacon and eggs for breakfast, fatty mince beef burger pates for lunch and then a bit of liver and a steak or pork steaks (as steak is expensive) for dinner. Ill also look for the fattiest cuts.
Would this be ok? My main question however is this:
Do i continue to take the supplements?
Couple of different factors here. Grass fed meat is just as good at getting you your Omega 3 fatty acids as fish but the problem is that most people eat grain fed which is very high in Omega 6. Also most people use industrial seed oils (canola, corn, etc.) which are also very high in O6. Grass fed animal fats, olive oil, and avocado oil are good O3 alternatives.
It’s not that O3s are magical and O6s are evil, it’s all about having a good balance between the two. Most westerners’ diets skew heavily toward the O6 side. That’s why you are advised to take O3s
Once you get yourself back to healthy, then I would say that supplements are no longer necessary. I have no way of knowing how far you are from “healthy” though.
I have found that alcohol, even infrequently in small amounts is not my friend.
Incorrect. Olive oil and avocado oil are NOT good omega 3 sources.
In fact, less than 1% of olive oil is the plant-based form of omega-3 – alpha linolenic acid (ALA).
Further, the human body is very inefficient at converting plant-based omega-3s to EPA to be utilized. In fact, only 8% of ALA is converted to EPA in men (with 0-4% converting to DHA) and 21% of ALA is converted to EPA in women (with 9% converting to DHA).
https://healinggourmet.com/healthy-eating/omega-3-fats/
I didn’t mean to imply that olive and avocado oils were awesome, just way better than industrial seed oils. They don’t have super high O3 but at least they don’t have the inflammatory O6s.
You are very right that the human body does not convert plant based O3s very well. That’s why I cook with grass fed animal fats.
US Wellness meats has a nice selection of them including tallow, lard, and duck fat.
Boy, you really are petty aren’t you Kelly?
You make a point of correcting me but then edit out my response *agreeing with you* about O3 conversion in humans and clarifying that I didn’t mean those oils are perfect, just better alternatives to industrial seed oils.
What, you can’t stand it when someone else actually knows their stuff too? Sheeesh!
My bad, now it’s posted. Friends?
Robin:
My assistant manually allows comments through to prevent spam and trolls. I reply to comments as I am able and as I see fit. Most people with blogs who aim to create a space for valuable discussion do this.
And I will always correct misinformation posted on my blog by readers. You stated:
“Grass fed animal fats, olive oil, and avocado oil are good O3 alternatives.”
But olive oil and avocado oil are absolutely not “good O3 alternatives” – not by a longshot, not even in the ballpark. It is important for my readers to know the facts.
In light of our mission to create a space for collaborative discussion around nutrition, we reserve the right to prevent trolling, spam, misinformation or otherwise negative banter here at Healing Gourmet.
I so appreciate how you choose to show up here, Kelley. Thank you!
Thank you, Lisa! I appreciate that and your positivity. Happy to have you here!
Hello Kelly- For the past year I’ve been diagnosed with chrones due to hospitalation with severe skin eruptions, gave me high dose steroids, rash persisted, diagnosed with vasculitis (surface skin only) gave me more high dose steroids. Rash(blood vessel breakage) came from nowhere. Drs put me on immune surppresant drugs. Did an all plant diet….felt great for awhile and then felt even worse. Broke 3 vertibrea in my back doing normal lifting (concrete..only 47 yrs.) Back to hospital for surgery for some glue Did a scan and found I have the bone density of an 85+ year old.. I sit with 2 broken ribs and a hairline in right scapula at this time. Dr wants me to give shot everyday for 2 years with bone cancer side effects…not. That’s the jest of it.I’ve exhausted all. My friend in Chicago (im in Florida)) told me about Rogan and I found you. I’m doing this diet along with my wife who I’m lucky takes the tunnel with me. I go 2 hours for care to Tampa and they don’t know what is wrong and throw meds at me….next is Mayo in Jacksonville? I will do this. Been sick and out of balance for years.. Give myself 6 months for improvement I hope.
Eric,
Thank you so much for your comment. And I’m sorry to hear what you’ve been going through.
I think a good functional medicine practitioner could be of real value to you. Have you looked into functional medicine? Steroids and immune-suppressing drugs can have some nasty side effects and only really mask symptoms… don’t address underlying ROOT cause. Symptoms are our body saying “I need help”, and when we suppress that cry for help, we can worsen our issues.
Will write you privately about the offer š
Be Well,
Kelley
Kelly- Get with Joe, Im relitivally healthy.My wife slightly overweight. You should do your own study on us both and am happy to oblige, You fund the food in sunny Florida landscape. Doctors can be mine or yours I think this would kill podcasts with my condition. Prove it and get data
From doing Keto, Ive been on the Carnivore diet for a week now, strictly adhering to it. My breathe is a little ammonia smelling at the moment…..Is this normal?
I have been on the carnivore diet for 3 weeks after trying every elimination diet known to man (all including a long list of veggies and grains I could NOT eat – it was confusing to say the least)! After researching my recent symptoms and visiting the doc (still waiting on lab results to confirm my suspicions) I believe that I have an ulcer. Based on all of my reading the carnivore diet (high fat, high protein and full of red meat) is about the worst thing you could do for an ulcer. Any ideas, thoughts or suggestions on this? I LOVE this diet and don’t want to quit so soon into it but I am afraid I may be aggravating my ulcer even further!
I am living proof that this type of diet works. Years ago when the ‘experts’ decided that fat should be banned, like most people I began to eat more grains and vegetables. I was never very well even well before that, but I got sicker and sicker. I developed Crohns disease. Went through hell with it. Many operations etc. Then it was discovered I was allergic to all the grains! Yes, wheat, corn, barley, rice, the lot! Vegetables other than grains are fine, but can’t have too many in the nightshade family.
So, went back to eating plenty of meat, eggs, dairy and those veges I can eat, plus most nuts and seeds and some fruits.
My Crohns has been in remission for 5 years and I feel better now in my 60s than I did in my 20s.
I do not eat processed foods. There are whole aisles in the supermarket I don’t need to visit.
I am considering the carnivore diet. My concern is bone health, as I have been diagnosed with osteoporosis. My understanding is the blood PH needs to stay around 7.4. How can I keep my blood levels at that number with all the meat? Sorry for my ignorance on the subject. I would love to hear from someone who has gained bone density on this diet, or at least not lost bone! Thanks.
Hi everyone! We are going to do it! My 65 year old husband and I (I’m 62) are going to start the carnivore way of eating in a few days on the third of October 2018 (due to money). We have been immersing ourselves in reading, youtube videos, blogs, different websites etc and are very excited to start! Reading all the comments/Q &A on this website has been very helpful. We started a journal to write down all our crappy symptoms/illnesses and are very hopeful. My husband got on board soon after I saw the Mikhaila Peterson video and shared it with him. He has suffered with severe depression and anxiety all his life and along with weight issues for us both and a myriad of other health issues we are ready and have been preparing for this (hopefully) wonderful change. Please wish us luck and we’ll keep updating how we do.
I would not eat a carnivore diet or any kind of low carb or keto diet even for 1 trillion dollars. I will stick to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, no added oil or sugar
Hi Kelley- Most excellent material you have provided! I am very early into a ZC diet after stumbling into carnivore diet info a few weeks back. I’m a 58 yr old healthy male who has battled IBS-D for a long time but never knew why or even what it was. Meals away from home became very worrisome for obvious reasons. Complete confusion regarding what to eat, when and where. However, things are looking up! Today I have been on ZC diet since Jan 3 2019 and have not had a single IBS moment. Very low gas and zero discomfort inside my gut with only a single poop per day or less. I still enjoy my evening red wine and morning black coffee. My diet is heavy eggs, bacon, steak, pork, cheese, butter, fish and shrimp. NO carbs NO plants! My energy level is as strong as it ever was if not better. Not to mention my confidence is high that I can now enjoy meals out in public w/o having to plan my emergency escape route!! I would have never believed the results without experiencing this for myself! Almost too good to be true!
Hi Mark,
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m so glad you are feeling better and found a way to heal yourself with diet. We’d love to hear back from you with updates, if you are so inclined.
Hi everyone, this is a fantastic thread, thanks so much for providing the information and all the comments and updates from everyone. I am 8 days into carnivore but have not lost weight, in fact I’ve stayed right where I was, which is annoying to me. I am 51, active, but I have celiac and hypothyrodism, so this NC diet plan is just an excellent choice for me. So far, I have noticed: 1. no drop in energy levels 2. no fuzzy afternoon sleepiness, that must have been a carb thing 3. sharp mindset, but also a bit cranky – I was a big sugar junkie so that may be it 4. most or all cravings seem to have disappeared with the exception of missing dark chocolate 5. hunger has taken a nosedive. But please can you tell me, why am I not losing weight? I would like to drop 10 lbs to be optimal. And since being celiac puts me at a higher risk of osteoporosis, I am concerned about bone density moving forward, can you advise on this? I feel fine, I believe this dietary lifestyle has huge merits, although it is hard not to listen to the terror in the back of my head coming from decades of people saying no plants = cancer and other terrible things. I am still taking calcium and other vitamin supplements, I use heavy cream in my tea with a touch of honey – is that what is messing me up?
Would someone with osteoporosis benefit from the carnivore diet as far as the condition itself? I understand d3, k2, mag, etc. are all critical in proper calcium, but this diet does not seem to provide enough calcium itself, or am I mistaken?
FISHING for the Right Fished Any wisdoms here would well be appreciated, especially from the Herring (just a yoke!to add bit levity. We’re told eat small fish to avoid mercury, eat wild fish for healthier fish or whatever, watch out for radiation, (and wht exactly and how reliable r those certifications on the packaging if frozen (ethically and properly etc etc), avoid fish having gone thru China, and now we have been told by Dr. Ede in her excellent article on the terrible effects of Histamines to exclude another long list of fishes (including once trusted salmon and sardines) So r there any safe fishes and with those “safe fish” does one still have to limit the consumption per week? As to the yoke i will keep eggs away at least for the first month or so and then challenge as to sensitivity…….thks
Hi Ronaldo!
I love your humor – thanks for bringing your levity along with your intelligent questions to Healing Gourmet.
You are on the right track here. Our oceans have become increasingly polluted, making fish a potentially dangerous source of many harmful substances (PCBs, hot particles, mercury, etc). Sticking with smaller fish is a great first step. Their shorter life cycle and non-predatory nature make them naturally lower in said contaminants. Also, purchasing from a reputable company – like Vital Choice – which tests their fish is also important. Packaging, also as you note, is an important consideration. For example, BPA or BPS-lined cans that typically are used for sardines, mackerel, etc. In the case of plastic (which I vehemently limit), I believe flash-frozen fish poses less of an issue as the process is done without heat (as compared to say, a ready-pack soup where the soup is cooked and placed in the plastic packaging).
Histamines are another topic, and one with which I am quite familiar. My genetics show I am less tolerant of histamines/poor at clearing them. The result for people like me (and possibly you, since you mention this), is that out “histamine bucket” gets filled and we develop an array of symptoms. Check out Debbie Moon’s info on histamines at Genetic Lifehacks – she’s incredible! Along that same vein, histamines increase over time in foods. So, for example, if you leave a steak to marinate in the fridge overnight it will contain more histamines than if you cooked it fresh. Since freezing arrests development of histamines, purchasing flash frozen meats is one way to potentially reduce these compounds in your dinner. Similarly, eating the meal you prepare in one sitting – and avoiding leftovers (or freezing them, per the logic above) – can help reduce these potentially pesky substances.
We live in a world where we simultaneously are exposed to more potentially-harmful substances… and we have a lot more information available about our own personal sensitivities due to genetics, microbiome, etc. I think it is important to strike a healthy balance by identifying and avoiding those things that are most problematic for YOU as an individual. It might be histamines due to your genetics or unhealthy microbiome… it could be mercury due to the MTHFR gene mutation, etc!
I hope this helps and thanks again for your great questions!
Kelley
Hi Kelley
You and your US readers may or may not know that there are current trials in Australia (Tasmania I think) on a product which is being developed to remove heavy metals from seawater. The results so far have been very promising, but as with all research and trials, there is a long way to go yet. With fewer toxins and heavy metals in the water, both farmed and wild salmon etc should be far safer for human consumption. Australian waters, to the best of my knowledge, have less mercury than other places where salmon is caught and any reduction has to be a real bonus for our health.
Cheers Vony
Too much weight losing: im about 5ft 10.5 age 75 have fibro, br fog,, cfs, mcs, hearing sensitivity, probably out of wack autonomic nervous system PN IBS was about 180 lbs but gradually gone down weight last 5 years first low fodmap for too long about 2 yrs, then last 1.5 yrs IMF myto plan form of ketosis diet, and now prepping for an all carnivore but even here losing weight and cold as only eating a few easier veggies until i return to my home city in Canada in about one week where i will get preparatory blood work at least insulin resistance and glucose intolerance before to zero carbs 100% carnivore elimination challenge BUT continue to lose weight and am cold even tho here in Mexico but mainly in Feb as it is cooler now after a warm Jan – down probably to around 155 lbs and still losing and do really want to gain some lbs back. So the question is how do i stop the weight loss and reverse it on the Carnivor diet when it seems 98% r losing weight and happy about it – is the only answer eat a higher % of fat and if so how does one measureor guage if consuming sufficient FAt on this diet – same with sufficient protein which i was told to raise on keto diet to gain weight.
Hi Kelley, I have a skin disease called Psoriasis, will this keto diet helps to get rid of it, please suggest, thanks
I have tried this diet and didn’t feel well on it. It also didn’t cure my autoimmune disease, I still have it.
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for your comment.
Of course, we have never made claims about “curing” anything, but healing from autoimmune disease is not a quick process. The immune system is very complex, as is the microbiome.
I’m interested in how long you did the diet. Did you do blood work before, during and after?
I have done Keto diet for a few months but the recipes use too much soft dairy .i.e. cream cheese, cottage cheese, rocotta etc. and my system couldn’t handle that. I did feel better . This is intriguing and I think I will try it for a while and see how I handle the cooking, snacking aspect. Also I need to cook for my family and they won’t go for no veggies or grains. š But still, I like the idea for a short time at least. Thanks.
Hi Page,
The dairy-heavy keto diet is one of my pet peeves about how keto is typically done. Don’t get me wrong – those foods are delicious, and I think on occasion they are fine for some people.
But most people who embark on keto end up eating way too much dairy. And unfortunately, dairy is rich in casomorphins, histamines and other compounds that can cause discomfort, inflammation and even disease in the long term.
I created a dairy-free keto meal plan called The Keto Solution that allows you to make one meal and eat several times, saving time and money. It’s how we eat in my household and has been a real sanity-saver for me.
We’d love to hear how your carnivore trial goes, please come back and let us know!
Kelley
What happened to the old well-balanced diet?
Grass-fed meat, bio organic fruit and vegetables, fish thatās not been pumped full of antibiotics in a tank and healthy water . A varied diet based on the latter does no harm. The problems started when everything was sprayed with chemicals. Iām
Sorry but I find the whole thing ridiculous and lacking common sense. If we eat clean healthy food , and cut out all the processed food and refined sugars, we will not be sick.
Kate,
Saying “A varied diet based on the latter does no harm” is an ignorant and potentially dangerous statement that lacks the scientific approach. Further, your statement that “If we eat clean healthy food , and cut out all the processed food and refined sugars, we will not be sick” – is far too simplistic.
There are hundreds of examples of how a “varied” diet” and so-called “healthy” foods can cause symptoms and diseases. Similarly, how choosing to consume bio-individually “safe” foods can ease symptoms and mitigate – and even reverse – disease, in some cases.
Of course, pesticides and other chemicals that are foreign to our ancient DNA and harm our endocrine system and cellular health are a problem for everyone. And we should avoid them. But we now have reams of research on bio individuality, the microbiome and how our own DNA impacts our dietary needs. One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
The floor is always open here to those who want to have intelligent, open-minded discussions about diet and health. But to disparage an idea because you don’t understand it, or didn’t take the time to research, isn’t helpful to anyone or to the pursuit of knowledge. And that’s what we’re going for here.
Kelley
What an incredibly rude reply. Iāve followed the latest food summits and been researching nutrition for two years . Johnathan Ottoās excellent webinars were inspirational. Dr Nuzum, whose detox protocols are outstanding, is incredibly enlightening . Ocean Robbins and his father also amazing. Dr Hayman. Dr Perlmutter and so many other highly trained experienced functional doctors, oncologists and other specialists, generously shared their knowledge and experience. The bottom line is we live in an incredibly toxic world. We are what we digest and the brain-gut connexion is now undisputed. While there is obviously not āone diet that fits allā, many people suffering from obesity . MS, Alzheimerās, autism, chronic fatigue…. to mention but a few of the many ailments people struggle with today, many would see their symptoms improve rapidly if they cut out refined suger, drank clean water instead of sodas and ate bio organic food. Get rid of junk food, genetically modified organisms and seek help from a functional doctor who will address the root cause and not just the symptoms Learn how to read labels , as so much of food deemed healthy is in fact poisoning peopleās bodies . Yes, itās much more complex, but to start with that already, would not be harmful. The emotional problems must obviously be treated as well. You obviously misunderstood my point. I fully understood everything I read and was not disparaging any of the ideas.
Far from it!
That is a much more thoughtful response than your last one. But I still think you have missed the point of this post on the carnivore diet and its therapeutic uses, which is the purpose of this page.
The vast majority of people who are considering a strict elimination diet like carnivore are much farther along on the nutrition curve than the “average American” and have already eliminated soda, junk food, refined foods, sugar, etc.
Your statement that “I find the whole thing ridiculous and lacking common sense” is the definition of disparaging. Your statement that “A varied diet…does no harmā is ignorant and potentially dangerous.
Dr. Hayman? Not familiar, perhaps you mean Dr. Mark Hyman?
Hi All
I was wondering has there been any long term results on cholesterol?
I have done on and off for 6 months then a break and then back on and my cholesterol went up, I was using coconut oil for cooking etc, so interested in any feedback
thanks
PS I love meat
Hi Kevin,
Your genes play a role in determining your personal response to saturated fat in food… and how it impacts your cholesterol.
In general, saturated fats raise HDL (the āgoodā) cholesterol and change LDL from small, dense (bad) particles to large fluffy LDL particles, which is mostly benign. Triglycerides are the dangerous kind of cholesterol, produced in response to sugar and carbs (not fat!) and you should see these going down with a low carb, keto or carnivore diet.
Would love to hear from others how their specific cholesterol types changed!
Kelley
Hi Kelly,
Wow! This has certainly kept you busy for a couple days! When I read this article I said to myself…well that will cause quite a stir! I am infatuated and consumed by fueling the human body in the least toxic way possible yet living a full live enjoying the occasional fuel sin. If anyone is paying attention we have been flooded with countless amounts of nutritional information over the last say 60 years. So much of it has been proven debunk if not down right poison! What is the Holy Grail? Beats me but I would encourage open minds. Continue to learn and do what feels right for your body. I am a Pharmacist and much of my practice is devoted to helping my patients with better fuel for their bodies.
Kelly I love your style! I love your site. You keep posting and I’ll keep reading!
Thanks!
Iām going to try carnivore for 60 days! I begin 11/01/2019. Canāt wait to begin healing. I have increasingly more autoimmune symptoms and ailments. I have chronic asthma, bronchitis and sinus infections, diverticulitis to name only a few. Plus Iām 60+ lbs overweight and pre diabetic! The depression and anxiety I endure are too much to live with! Iām ready to be me again!
Kelly,
I’m glad that I found this site. I’m a retired 65 yr old male, diagnosed T2D for 12 years. I’m on day 6 of the carnivore diet and I can already see and feel the benefits.
A recent visit to my doctor was a wake up call for me. My A1C was 11.5 and fasting glucose was 268. He wanted me to start on insulin, but I refused, so he prescribed two diabetic meds, a statin and something to protect my kidneys, which in his words are “surprisingly great”. The meds made me feel awful, so I started searching the ‘net for an alternative. I stopped taking the statin and kidney meds, dropped one of the very expensive diabetic drugs. After two weeks on a no-carb diet, my fasting glucose dropped maybe 5 points. Back to the ‘net I went and stumbled upon intermittent fasting. I started with a 12/12 for three days and “accidentally” began a 16/8 fast. It was surprisingly easy. I did the 16/8 for a week and by BG dropped to around 230 after the fast. Frustrated, I started doing a 5-day 16/8 fast and a 24-hour fast and kept my carb intake below 50g on my fasting day off. BG came down to around 200. When I walked for exercise, my BG would rise to around 250, even while fasting.
I was about to throw in the towel until I stumbled upon the carnivore diet. I thought I’d give it a try. I stopped taking the one diabetic medication and in these past six days my BG is now (at last check) around 140 and haven’t fasted for more than 8 hours since. I’m in ketosis, 0.5 to 1.0 via urinalysis strips. I believe I had a 2-day bout with the keto flu, but that’s fading fast.
I go back to the doctor early December for a follow-up, so I’ll discover if this experiment is working well enough to satisfy my doctor.
Anyone who wonders why I preface my BG level with “around”, it’s because I read several articles on the accuracy of home glucose test monitors. Apparently, they’re only +- 20% accurate. As a self-test, I would test the levels twice in a row and would sometimes get a variation of +- 30 points.
Anyway, I feel better, my pants are looser and my BG is lower. I’m not hungry and I eat till sated. I don’t have to count carbs and I’m a big fan of meat, fish and especially cheese.
I’m trying to convince my son, who is also diabetic, to try the carnivore diet. Wish me luck.
Thank you for this site.
Richard McGhinnis
Richard,
You are such an inspiration! Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us here at Healing Gourmet.
It takes a lot of courage to choose this path, especially in light of the dogma surrounding the carnivore diet and the general reluctance of the medical establishment to embrace personalized diet as a cure for so many of our modern maladies.
I am delighted to hear of your encouraging results, and hope you’ll come back to let us all know how it goes.
Thank you for empowering yourself and others!
Kelley
Hi! Our 11 year old son has had allergy and sinus issues all of his life. He was a C-section baby. He was hospitalized as a toddler for para influenza and developed croup after that. Heās had his tonsils removed. Heās had multiple ear infections and seems to get taken down with long colds/sinus infections easily. Finally, out of anger and frustration and much concern- we switched from āmedical adviceā to managing these issues ānaturallyā for the last five years. Diffusers, essential oils, XClear Nasal Spray and a diet that is by no means perfect – but probably 90% better than most 11 year olds!! His weight is fine. Not fat. We have always felt like these problems stem from bad gut.
Out of nowhere last week he had an anaphylactic reaction to what we think was a macadamia nut (still waiting to get tested).
What are your thoughts on his situation and how do you feel about us implementing the carnivore diet with an 11 year old boy? And any advice on doing so?
We just want to help him heal.
Thank you.
Hi SJ,
Thank you for reaching out. I’m so sorry to hear your son is going through all of this.
I applaud you for your stance to choose more natural methods. XLEAR is something we always have in our household – the combination of xylitol and saline is really ideal for promoting a healthy nasal-oral microbiome.
While I understand that you are very concerned about your child’s reaction to the macadamia nut, I’d suggest the first step would be to see a good immunologist who can help determine what other allergies your son might have. This is important information you need regardless, as it is highly likely he will come into contact with other allergens that could provoke anaphylaxis. With the history you describe, it seems your son’s immune system was damaged at an early age, which is common among allergy sufferers. After you get the complete results of your son’s immunological status, I think you’d be better armed to make a decision as to whether carnivore could be helpful or warranted.
Finally, we have heard of countless people who have healed serious immune and autoimmune issues with carnivore. As noted in the above article, I really believe it is a wonderful “elimination” diet and tool that is not getting the credit it deserves.
Wishing your family well,
Kelley
Hi Kelley, I guess you’d say I’m at my wits end with diet. I’m 55 and have insulin dependent T2 diabetes with high BG ranges, also with autoimmune disease. I’m so tired of trying to fix me with diet. I’m so weak, I can’t get the energy to think clearly enough anymore to make good diet choices. I truly know how plants hurt. There are so many plants that I can’t eat because they hurt me in one way or another. Now I’ve reached the end of trying, and the last thing I’m going to attempt is the carnivore diet. If that doesn’t work, I’m just going to give up trying, and just eat whatever. Your article really encouraged me but I’m truly frightened because of the T2 diabetes and the “too much animal protein” turning into even more glucose and raising sugar levels higher. OY. Do you have any advice or words of wisdom you could share with me that would help me to just jump right in to full carnivore? Thanks very much, Kelley.
Hi,
Great article.
Did carnivore for several months. Was waking up at 2 am.
Two months on carnivore started sleeping through the night. But after 9 months came down with what I thought was keto rash. Came off. Added good carbs and then came down with Numular dermatitis. Going to go back to carnivore, but I know I am not digesting well despite HCL and digestive enzymes.
Know my albumin is low. How do I get it up?
Dealing chronic health issues.
Healthy Carbo diet for decades including meat. Probably 80/20.
Carbo.
Following your recommendation s now at 80/20 Carno.
Carb cravings much improved yet continue with chronic constipation and we loss.
Gotten a bunch of tests and no one can pin point my issues.
Do you you c onsultations?
Please email me.
I am in s. Florida.
Daniel
Thank you for the informative article! Just what I needed to hear. I’ve been on a vegan mostly raw diet for 3 weeks now to see if my RA symptoms would improve. They did not, though I feel much better over all. But I’m also doing intermittent fasting and cold showers š So I’m going to try the carnivore diet next, starting after the holidays. Will post an update in a month or so. Thanks again!
So I tried the carnivore diet for RA. Tried for a week, that’s as much as I could take. My digestion was horrible, I was not constipated, but I could not digest the fat and meat. I started taking digestive enzymes, but that messed me up even more. I gave up on this diet. My body can’t deal with so much fat and protein. But to honest, my hands did get better. My cholesterol went super high though, and doc told me to start eating low fat. I’d probably ignore her if I felt good, but not in this situation. Meanwhile, my hands are also good on AIP (Autoimmune Protocol), and my digestion is OK. So that’s my path. Sharing if it helps someone here.
Great article, until you mentioned Saladino. He has become a proponent of carbohydrates, and announced over a year ago he is no longer a carnivore dieter. Dr Shawn Bakerās book, āThe Carnivore Diet Bookā is a far better choice to recommend.