The Carnivore Cure (The Carnivore Diet) - My 90 Day Experience
An Ancestorial Way Of Eating
Let’s take it back to human evolution. How did our ancestors eat? They hunted and gathered. According to the book A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide To The 21st Century, wherein the authors Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein explain their theory of how evolution of nourishment has evolved with a modern lifestyle. With a modern lifestyle comes highly processed temptation and exorbitant amounts of sugar consumed daily.
Our ancestors did not have a fast food option on every corner. They did not have a local Starbucks where they could choose from an array of highly caffeinated, sugary drinks that resemble more of a dessert than actual coffee. They began their day with a hunt, which usually took hours. They would have to travel hundreds of miles, depending on the closest animal herd. Then came the preparation of the kill. A lengthy process of skinning, deboning, and starting a fire to cook their kill. Then came the EAT. They ate their kill and took a nice nap afterwards.
If they became thirsty, they quenched their thirst through clean springs and streams of water that contained minerals (yes, which also included salt). For those of you who fear salt, I challenge you to read The Salt Fix, wherein Dr. James DiNicolantonio, explains how “we are all salty folk.” The cells in our body crave and need salt to stay alive!
Our ancestors did not grab a quick breakfast sandwich at McDonald’s. Followed by a mid-afternoon “pick me up” at Starbucks. Proceeded by a highly processed frozen dinner from their local Trader Joe’s. Can’t forget to wash it down with a bottle of $2 buck chuck. No! It just didn’t happen.
The way our ancestors ate was more in line with what their bodies needed to survive. The Carnivore Diet is an ancestral approach to how we nourish our bodies. It is not a fad diet. It is not a diet to get thin. It is an ancestral appropriate approach to fuel your body.
What Is the Carnivore Diet?
The Carnivore Diet consists of only eating ingredients from animals. You can eat any fatty meat or ingredient from the animal kingdom. You cannot eat any processed food products or foods containing gluten, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, soy products, and sugar sweeteners (this includes artificial).
While on the Carnivore Diet, you will learn to understand what is a hunger cue and the mind’s ability to trick you into thinking you are hungry. If you cannot feast on a plate of food from the above ingredients listed in the food pyramid, then you truly aren’t hungry. Snacking is also not allowed on the Carnivore Diet. Which means, you only feast when your body is truly hungry. You are feasting until you are comfortably stuffed. This is also referred to as eating until satiated.
What Are The Risks?
“You’re going to die of a heart attack” followed by “meat causes cancer” are the statements that usually follow when I disclose I have been on a Carnivore Diet since September 2022. Instead of exuding energy trying to convince those who disagree with my way of eating, I refer them to The Carnivore Code, wherein the author Dr. Paul Saladino explains in great detail the benefits of a Carnivore diet while addressing the many myths of meat consumption. His ancestral approach to diet “unlocks the secrets to optimal health.”
I encourage anyone who believes myths about red meat consumption to read The Carnivore Code, to understand “good” v. “bad” cholesterol, “fiber is necessary for a healthy gut”, when in fact plants are extremely dangerous to consume, and red meat does not cause heart attack or colon cancer.
Wait, what? Plants are extremely dangerous to consume?!?
If you don’t believe me check out The Plant Paradox Quick and Easy: The 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Feel Great, and Live Lectin-Free, wherein the author Dr. Steven R. Gundry discloses the “surprising truth about foods that have long been regarded as healthy”, which consist of lectins, fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy, and grains.
Getting back to the Carnivore Diet now.
What Are The Benefits?
Dr. Paul Saladino explains the benefits of the Carnivore Diet in depth. However, I wanted to share my own personal benefits. I initially experimented with the Carnivore Diet for 90 days. Since then, I have continued to stay on it because the overall benefits out way the negatives.
Overnight I cut carbohydrates, fruits, grains, legumes, artificial sweeteners, and sugar from my diet in September 2022. I went through carbohydrate and sugar withdrawals for the first five days. What did the withdrawals feel like? Well, a lot like I had the flu. I had a lingering headache, extreme fatigue, body sweats, body ache, and the sudden urge to have sugar in the challenging moments. Looking back, I now know my body went through carbohydrate withdrawals. Similar to an addict, our bodies can become dependent on sugar. Our mind can play tricks on us and convince us we need sugar in that moment. But with all “instant fixes” they pass. After the initial five days, I felt great. The longer I remained on the Carnivore Diet, the less I craved any carbohydrates or sugar.
I with many of millions Americans suffer from autoimmune disease. With that comes chronic pain and array of symptoms that have not seemed to improve with medication and many dietary changes over the years. Within the second week of eating the Carnivore Diet, my chronic pain completely subsided along with the array of symptoms. In fact, my body responded so well to this diet I was able to lower my medication with the guidance of my doctor.
I finally had consistent energy throughout the day without the afternoon “pick me up” of caffeine to get my through the rest of my day. I was able to improve my sleep quality. My face complexion cleared and my thinning hair began to shed and grow in thicker. While all of these little changes were happening my body composition was changing too. I lost several inches all around my body. I lost 35 pounds and I dropped several pant sizes.
With physical changes came mental changes too. I had improved mental clarity and focus. I felt happier. Reminder… these changes all occurred within 90 days!
My Final Thoughts
The Carnivore Diet can be scary at first, especially if as a society we have been ingrained to believe meat consumption is “bad.” That is why I encourage you to do your own research. I would also suggest getting a full blood panel before you begin this way of eating to give yourself peace of mind. I realized westernized medicine has a long way to go when it comes to having an open mind about nutritional healing. It is crucial to find a doctor who supports you in whatever health goals you have. I found Lies My Doctor Told Me, by Dr. Ken Berry to be the wake up call for me. It is imperative that you be your own advocate when it comes to achieving your optimal health.
The listed benefits above far surpassed my expectations. They also outweighed the negatives. Personally, I did not have any negative experiences with the Carnivore Diet. However, with current meat prices the way they are this way of eating can be expensive. Shop responsibly. Eat what you can afford.
The Carnivore Diet has changed my life in many ways. I feel closer to my optimal health each day. I hope it does the same for you.
I will continue to eat this way until I experience any negative side effects. I will report back soon!
