Category: women’s reproductive health
Heidi was a vegetarian and suffered with heart pounding, dizziness, shortness of breath, poor energy and improved all of her symptoms on a carnivore diet
Hello Dr Baker:
I was a vegetarian for 20 some years, from my late 20’s to 50 years of age when my health suddenly crashed, seemingly overnight. Stomach pain, heart pounding, dizziness, shortness of breath, dry mouth, itching watery eyes, broken capillaries, “brain buzz,” mouth burning & itching, physical weakness and shakiness, night sweats. Symptoms were the worst at night so sleep was a distant memory. I had been physically active all my life, but as I was unable to eat or sleep I became weaker and weaker having barely enough energy to do the essentials. Unable to work, had to close my business and lost everything. Doctors gave me hormones, antacids, and tranquilizers. So called “Wholistic” doctors just wanted to sell me the supplements they have stocked in their back rooms. It took me 8 years to figure out that ALL my symptoms were related to food. (These were the years before everyone had a PC so information was difficult to find)
Don’t want to bore you with all the horrid details, but over the last 20 years (I am 70) I slowly added meat to my diet, but being as brainwashed as I was about all those healthy fruit and veggies, I actually thought I was hurting myself if I left them out. When I came upon your YT channel I finally had the courage to stop all but meat and eggs. I still occasionally have some stomach ulcer pain, but it’s mild and digestive enzymes help. My gallbladder pain is totally gone along with the rest of my symptoms. I sleep well and have adequate energy.
Thank you for your dedication to health and for going against the stream.
Heidi
Danni improved her frequent infections, sleep, digestion, tinnitus and sinus issues on a carnivore diet
Carnivore Success Story:
Growing up on a ranch I learned early that meat was healthy. I have been on a meat-based diet for my whole life. Probably less so during my college years. I contracted mono during my freshman year. Otherwise I was healthy except for the occasional low iron reading I’d receive at annual checkups. I attributed it to running and heavy periods. Fast forward to my last pregnancy at age 39, when the doctor told me my blood sugar was too high and that this could lead to compilations. She gave me a blood sugar testing kit. I could monitor my blood sugar throughout the day. It didn’t take me long to realize how much what I ate affected my BS level. I began sticking with a mostly meat diet through the pregnancy and never had to use insulin shots. After pregnancy I returned to more normal meat-based diet. In 2013 I struggled through a West Nile “like” virus. The test for West Nile was negative but my doctor thought it was very similar to it and for lack of a better idea we treated it like that. The fatigue was like when I had Mono, in addition it seemed that each week or two a different system would be under attack. For a while it was hard to breathe, headaches and fever came and went. I lost over 20 pounds. After a few weeks my breathing seemed normal, but my digestive system was challenged. At one point the doctors thought the gallbladder needed to be removed. When that subsided, I was left with constant loud tinnitus 24/7 along with night sweats and chills.
This gradually improved and life became more normal; the tinnitus returned at the end of the day or would return 24/7 when I became fatigued from lack of rest. I caught every flu and cold bug that came around. Allergy symptoms were constant so that I took a pill every day to keep symptoms under control. I also couldn’t exercise very hard or my muscles would become very tight and the tinnitus would return. This resulted in regaining more than the 20 pounds I had lost from the illness, and it was not muscle. I became flabby and gained more weight around my waist than I’d ever had. It seemed like any additional stress brought symptoms back and I came down with viruses and infections often.
In 2016 I met a trainer who helped me stay focused on exercising twice a week. This helped strengthen my body and I gained back much of the muscle I had lost. However, I was still about 20 pounds heavier than what was normal for me in my 20s and 30s. In September of 2017 I began the Carnivore diet. Since then I have lost the tinnitus and the extra body fat, while increasing my energy and strength. My body composition has never been better. I rarely need to take an allergy pill. I have not been knocked down by the flu or cold for days at a time since eating this way either.
I really didn’t think I’d see a huge difference in my health because I’d eaten a meat -based diet my whole life. I’ve been amazed and feel blessed to have found what works for me. Many thanks to the MeatRx team for spreading the good news and helping me and so many others.
Before (Feb. 2017) and Carnivore Measurements:
Chest: 34.5 to 31 in.
Belly Button: 37 to 30 in.
Thigh: 23 to 21 in.
Hips: 41 to 38 in.
Weight: 160 to 140 pounds
Improvements from eating a Carnivore diet for me:
Tinnitus
Allergy symptoms
Sinus issues
Less colds, flu and yeast infections
Less aches and pains
Less bloating
Better digestion less burping and gas
Less body fat more muscle
Better sleep
Stable blood sugar
Marion improved her back pain, digestion, skin and energy on a carnivore diet
My partner ( he is 67) myself ( 63) began the meat diet last March. If we hadn’t did this way of eating we would not have believed it. I am of indigenous heritage and did believe we should eat as our people did, but somewhere along the line we are convinced this is wrong. Luckily we didn’t totally buy into it and still ate meat everyday and enjoyed the fat but when we went strictly meat, eggs and dairy the results were unexpected.
We noticed right off the hop how much energy we had (almost ADHD..lol) Sex drive way up. As continued it was amazing, NO MORE BLOAT OR GAS.( I had taken up eating one particular salad with brussel sprouts and broccoli and the bloat was unreal ) sugar cravings went away, sleeping better, no snacking & eating twice a day usually, sometimes once, different kind of hunger, the rumbling/shakes didn’t happen, just felt hungry, skin tags gone, no more hang nails, hemorrhoids gone ( I had for years), our arthritis went away and backpain decreased significantly, we both have more muscle definition, the muscle is harder/tighter & we are definitely stronger, (we don’t go to gym, our work over the years & daily living has given us good muscle) Our eyesight has improved. I apply beef/pork grease on my skin and people have commented on how amazing my skin looks. They thought I was wearing face makeup and one commented did I have surgery! Incredible. Not only that but my eyebrows are growing back in after going years with only half brows.
My partner is growing just not thicker hair, but brown hair & on places there wasn’t any, the white hair is turning brown on his head and chest. He was also taking high blood pressure and gout pills after appx. 3 months he discontinued use. ( I did not take any pills) Our attitude was happier ( not so cranky) and his depression decreased and eventually disappeared. My anxiety disappeared as well.
Overall, we have found the majority of people think we are killing ourselves with “ so much fat /meat/butter etc.”
Note: when we have fallen off the wagon we notice the arthritis, hand nails, gas etc. return. Hence it is motivational for us to continue with the meat.
My brother was doing keto previous to our diet change and we thought wow, that’s a little too much meat and ignored the diet. Once again goes to show how manipulated we were even though we knew better.
My daughter decided to give it a go and she has had amazing results as well. She is 43 and when she went to her doctor for check up she stated her test results were “ off the chart” and what was she doing. When she said the Carnivore diet, the doctor didn’t say a word! Interesting eh?
Thank you for all the info you provide. It is much appreciated.
Marion and Roy from Ontario, Canada
We did forget to mention , although we were not hugely overweight and that was not our reason for doing the meat, I lost 20 lbs. and Roy lost 26 lbs.
Melissa improved her depression, chronic fatigue, PCOS and endometriosis on a carnivore diet
Interstitial Cystitis,
Vulvodynia,
Metabolic syndrome,
High blood pressure and cholesterol,
Unstable weight including Underweight, Overweight and Obesity,
Chronic yeast infections, endometriosis, PCOS culminating in a hysterectomy and a
Pelvic Organ Prolapse (grade 2) Whew!
I came to carnivore in the spring of 2019 after thinking about it for a year and reluctantly deciding to give it a 30 day trial. I had gradually lost 40 pounds before starting carnivore and was at a normal BMI. I’ve lost an additional 13 pounds effortlessly since making the transition. I no longer have most of the above issues and the only medication I’m on is bio identical HRT for early menopause from the hysterectomy.
The additional benefits I’ve experienced so far include: stable mood, increased motivation, improved relationships, stronger nails, softer skin and hair, stronger teeth and immune system. I’m also feeling so good that I’ve decided to go back to University in the Fall to finish a degree I put on the back burner over 25 years ago! I finally have energy and desire to live life to the fullest! Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the inspiring people in the carnivore community who shared your stories. Melissa
Brittney improved her mood, join and back pain and lost 40 lbs on a carnivore diet
I didn’t even realize how much pain I was experiencing day to day until I went carnivore and then didn’t have the pain anymore. I used to have pain in my lower back, neck, knees and ankles. I dealt with significant fatigue every day, some days I’d get home at the end of the day and just sit there for a long time in my car because I didn’t have anything left to walk in the house. I thought it was normal being a mom of three to just be tired all the time. Since starting Carnivore 8 months ago my life has changed. I no longer have pain in my body every day. My husband used to get asked to rub my back and ankles constantly and one day I realized it had been weeks since I’d asked. I no longer experience the restless leg syndrome that was something I dealt with every night for years. I haven’t sat it my car for twenty minutes waiting on the energy to go inside.
My mental health has improved significantly. I don’t have any diagnosis’s surrounding it but had normalized the level of stress and aggravation I was dealing with, I am significantly happier, more calm and more patient now. My anger isn’t something I feel like I’m constantly having to control because it’s not there like before. I’m a better mother and wife because of this. I was experiencing what I would consider depression around ovulation time for about a year. It was overwhelming sadness that I could not snap out of for two to three days. That doesn’t happen anymore. After about six months being CV my cycles began to be lighter and shorter and with less pain. I used to have to take ibuprofen for cramps and now I don’t need to. I still have cramps but the pain is a bearable level.
My mental health has improved significantly. I don’t have any diagnosis’s surrounding it but had normalized the level of stress and aggravation I was dealing with, I am significantly happier, more calm and more patient now. My anger isn’t something I feel like I’m constantly having to control because it’s not there like before. I’m a better mother and wife because of this. I was experiencing what I would consider depression around ovulation time for about a year. It was overwhelming sadness that I could not snap out of for two to three days. That doesn’t happen anymore. After about six months being CV my cycles began to be lighter and shorter and with less pain. I used to have to take ibuprofen for cramps and now I don’t need to. I still have cramps but the pain is a bearable level.
My adult acne cleared up. My libido made a return, it’s been gone since I was a teenager. I’ve been a mother for 11 years and my sex drive was just gone! Now gradually it’s coming back. Life has become easier because meal planning and cooking has never been simpler. I don’t stress about grocery lists and prepping or planning like I used to. Less dishes, it’s awesome! I’ve been able to incorporate exercises into my life for the first time ever in my life! I had two skin tags on my neck that fell off, my Grey hair is turning dark again at the roots! Before CV I’d only ever been able to stick with any way of eating for 30 days. Two weeks in I notice I didn’t crave all the carbs and sugar like before and that has made this possible to continue and even easy. I’ve never in my life known what it felt like to not crave bad food. I’ve lost 40lbs at this point and it feels almost effortless.
Brittney, RN
Becky improved her digestion, hormones, cardiovascular health and relationship with food on a carnivore diet
Hi I’m Becky! I’m 38 and I started my weight loss journey in 2002-03.
After the birth of my first child, I was at my highest weight–over 200lbs. I was suppose to be a happy new mom, but I was anything but. I hated what I saw in the mirror and was depressed I allowed myself to get to that point. You know, eating for two and all. I attempted calorie restriction, but I was going through alot of stress (divorce) and instead found myself eating my feelings until they were numb. This started a vicious eating cycle and no doubt damaged my metabolism. I did managed to lose some weight, then I got pregnant with my second child in 2005 and remarried. In 2006, I joined Weight Watchers in hopes of reaching my goal weight. I didn’t feel comfortable in my body eating predominantly plant-based and lean protein that Weight Watchers encourages. But let’s face it, those food items were less points, and I could eat more.
I started to have some health issues–orthostatic hypotension, asthma, and heart issues. I had to see a cardiologist and pulmonologist and under went a stress test, echo, lung function test, etc. All the doctors wanted to treat the symptoms with medication instead of getting to the root cause of what was actually wrong.
Our town lost our local WW meeting place and out of frustration, I ended up going to more of a Standard American diet. My weight yo-yoed. I had my third child in 2008. At my follow up, I had a subpar pap screening result. Because I had a strong family history of ovarian/uterine cancer, I ended up having an hysterectomy with BSO in 2011. This basically put me into surgical menopause. My hormones were out of balance, and my physician wanted me to do HRT but it made me sick. I had bad brain fog and headaches. And it definitely didn’t help weightloss efforts with all the inflammation and bloating. In 2015, I started doing the Trim Healthy Mama diet which was a struggle due to its complexity. I found myself eating fatty meals along with carbs which was a no no. I ended up falling back into the Standard American diet again and the cycle continued.
In 2016 after doing some research, I stumbled across keto. I cut my carbs down to 20g, ate moderate protein, and high fat. I consumed fat bombs, steaks, chicken thighs, bulletproof coffee, full fat dairy, and salads with full fat dressings, etc. I lost weight, but I still had bloating, inflammation, and menopausal type symptoms. After a while, I started to notice how certain foods affected me. “Ketofied” junk food, fat bombs, and baked goods caused bloating, inflammation, and cravings. I stalled which caused more depression and frustration.
Out of desperation, I started to become even more proactive and continued to eliminate foods. In January 2019, I came across World Carnivore Month that Shawn Baker started. I honestly thought he was nuts eating just Ribeyes, but I figured what the heck. It’s just a month. In June, I had a genetic test done and found out I have health traits/variants for Type 2 diabetes as well as having a family history of diabetes and hypertension. After finding out this information, I knew I was on the right path with carnivore.
I’m currently still carnivore. Yes, I’ve had a few slips throughout the year but as time goes on, it becomes easier to recognize what nutrients my body needs. I still battle the mental struggles of carb and sugar addiction, but I have learned I need to be an abstainer. I knew I needed to change my relationship with food and now view it as nourishment instead of using it to fill an emotional void.
I seek my nourishment from animal based food thanks to Dr. Baker! I feel better than I have on any other diet I’ve tried, and I don’t foresee any change to my eating lifestyle. My 2019 focus was nutrition and healing. I took a break from exercise in order to heal. I feel better than I’ve felt in years! With the healing of Carnivore, I’ve had a 30+lb weightloss. But an even bigger positive effect is my hormones are more balanced–no night sweats, mood swings, or hot flashes. My sleep is better and deeper than it has ever been. I have no issues with any of the previous asthma symptoms or any cardiac/heart issues. And, I’m no longer taking any prescription medication.
Another huge benefit is FOOD FREEDOM! I don’t track, weigh, or log my food. I’m not tied to any book or app telling me when I can or can’t eat. I eat when I’m hungry, and I stop when I’m full.
My food based Carnivore focus has been sourcing local meat I can afford. I lean towards beef and lamb. Being from a hunting family, I consume venison including the heart. I don’t routinely eat organs such as kidney and liver. We also raise chickens for farm fresh eggs.
After the birth of my first child, I was at my highest weight–over 200lbs. I was suppose to be a happy new mom, but I was anything but. I hated what I saw in the mirror and was depressed I allowed myself to get to that point. You know, eating for two and all. I attempted calorie restriction, but I was going through alot of stress (divorce) and instead found myself eating my feelings until they were numb. This started a vicious eating cycle and no doubt damaged my metabolism. I did managed to lose some weight, then I got pregnant with my second child in 2005 and remarried. In 2006, I joined Weight Watchers in hopes of reaching my goal weight. I didn’t feel comfortable in my body eating predominantly plant-based and lean protein that Weight Watchers encourages. But let’s face it, those food items were less points, and I could eat more.
I started to have some health issues–orthostatic hypotension, asthma, and heart issues. I had to see a cardiologist and pulmonologist and under went a stress test, echo, lung function test, etc. All the doctors wanted to treat the symptoms with medication instead of getting to the root cause of what was actually wrong.
Our town lost our local WW meeting place and out of frustration, I ended up going to more of a Standard American diet. My weight yo-yoed. I had my third child in 2008. At my follow up, I had a subpar pap screening result. Because I had a strong family history of ovarian/uterine cancer, I ended up having an hysterectomy with BSO in 2011. This basically put me into surgical menopause. My hormones were out of balance, and my physician wanted me to do HRT but it made me sick. I had bad brain fog and headaches. And it definitely didn’t help weightloss efforts with all the inflammation and bloating. In 2015, I started doing the Trim Healthy Mama diet which was a struggle due to its complexity. I found myself eating fatty meals along with carbs which was a no no. I ended up falling back into the Standard American diet again and the cycle continued.
In 2016 after doing some research, I stumbled across keto. I cut my carbs down to 20g, ate moderate protein, and high fat. I consumed fat bombs, steaks, chicken thighs, bulletproof coffee, full fat dairy, and salads with full fat dressings, etc. I lost weight, but I still had bloating, inflammation, and menopausal type symptoms. After a while, I started to notice how certain foods affected me. “Ketofied” junk food, fat bombs, and baked goods caused bloating, inflammation, and cravings. I stalled which caused more depression and frustration.
Out of desperation, I started to become even more proactive and continued to eliminate foods. In January 2019, I came across World Carnivore Month that Shawn Baker started. I honestly thought he was nuts eating just Ribeyes, but I figured what the heck. It’s just a month. In June, I had a genetic test done and found out I have health traits/variants for Type 2 diabetes as well as having a family history of diabetes and hypertension. After finding out this information, I knew I was on the right path with carnivore.
I’m currently still carnivore. Yes, I’ve had a few slips throughout the year but as time goes on, it becomes easier to recognize what nutrients my body needs. I still battle the mental struggles of carb and sugar addiction, but I have learned I need to be an abstainer. I knew I needed to change my relationship with food and now view it as nourishment instead of using it to fill an emotional void.
I seek my nourishment from animal based food thanks to Dr. Baker! I feel better than I have on any other diet I’ve tried, and I don’t foresee any change to my eating lifestyle. My 2019 focus was nutrition and healing. I took a break from exercise in order to heal. I feel better than I’ve felt in years! With the healing of Carnivore, I’ve had a 30+lb weightloss. But an even bigger positive effect is my hormones are more balanced–no night sweats, mood swings, or hot flashes. My sleep is better and deeper than it has ever been. I have no issues with any of the previous asthma symptoms or any cardiac/heart issues. And, I’m no longer taking any prescription medication.
Another huge benefit is FOOD FREEDOM! I don’t track, weigh, or log my food. I’m not tied to any book or app telling me when I can or can’t eat. I eat when I’m hungry, and I stop when I’m full.
My food based Carnivore focus has been sourcing local meat I can afford. I lean towards beef and lamb. Being from a hunting family, I consume venison including the heart. I don’t routinely eat organs such as kidney and liver. We also raise chickens for farm fresh eggs.
Amy improved her skin, fibromyalgia, asthma, and relationship with food on a carnivore diet
Hi, I’m Amy and the carnivore diet has healed my fibromyalgia, asthma, issues from hysterectomy and pelvic reconstruction, menopausal problems, chronic migraines, disposition for easy injury, and immunity issues as well as further enhanced my recovery from food addiction.
I have had issues with food addiction and body dysmorphia from as far back as I can remember. Growing up I was a normal body size despite sneaking sugary foods as often as I could. I went on my first diet at age 9 and dieted frequently from about age 13 until age 32. Once I hit my early 20s, I started having real issues with weight, though, and proceeded to take my seat on the weight gain and loss roller coaster. After more than a decade of this hell, I found a 12-step program where I walked in at over 300 pounds (136 kg).
After joining the 12-step program In 2002 I started on a food plan that eliminated all sugars, artificial sweeteners, wheat, caffeine, alcohol and excess dietary fats. This plan also called for me to weigh and measure everything I put in my mouth and to eat three set meals a day with one snack at night. I ate a *lot* of vegetables, a decent amount of fruit, a good bit of grains, and minimal protein and fat. I lost 140 pounds (63.5 kg) in my first year or so of the program and have maintained that general amount of weight loss ever since. My food plan between 2002 and 2008 changed a number of times; I went through a period where I tried to reincorporate wheat back into my diet (that didn’t go well) and I added back and took out caffeine & dairy too many times to count.
From an early age I had a poor constitution – I was sick with bronchitis, ear infections, and other upper respiratory illnesses multiple times per year every year. I was hospitalized for pneumonia once and developed that disease multiple times in my life. If there was any type of illness going around, I was sure to catch it.
In 2008 I also started developing physical health issues. They were mild and seemingly random at first: heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and a frozen shoulder were the first things to occur and I took care of each of those through physical therapy. But then I was in a car accident late that year and after that the physical ailments started piling up. I was in and out of doctor’s offices and my journey to find better health began in earnest. After trying pain management, acupuncture, chiropractic and physical therapy, I started to look towards my diet with the first stop at an ayurvedic medicine clinic. That didn’t seem to help so I tried a vegetarian diet for 6 months. I didn’t notice any improvement, but I didn’t get worse so I went vegan. After about 6 months of being vegan, I felt considerably worse – to the point where I didn’t have the energy to get out of bed some days. It was around this time that a doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia. I was also seeing a neurologist for an issue with frequent migraines and was put on a preventative medicine for those. My instincts told me to add animal products back to my diet and I felt better almost immediately after doing so, but I still didn’t feel as good as I thought I should for a woman in her 30s.
That period of trial and error lasted about 3 years and in 2011 I discovered the Paleo diet. I felt somewhat better following that plan, but I still had many physical issues as well as all my regular upper respiratory illnesses throughout the year and continued to seek solutions without success. Then in 2015 I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma and began a regiment of medication for that disease. My frustration with all of my health issues really peaked here. I wasn’t sure what else I could try and basically decided that it was just my constitution – I thought I was just the type of person who was meant to get sick and frail at an early age.
In late 2017 I had a hysterectomy, pelvic reconstructive surgery and a bladder sling put in. By mid 2018 I had gained at least 10 pounds (4.5 kg) and was feeling horrible physically. The urge incontinence the bladder sling was supposed to have fixed was still there, I had discomfort in my entire pelvic region, and I was exhausted. My menopausal symptoms also intensified: hot flashes & flushes, wild mood swings, swollen and painful breasts, vaginal dryness and discomfort. Once again, I decided to look at different food plans and began earnestly searching online. Thankfully, the ketogenic diet was gaining in popularity around this time and I came across some resources that seemed promising. I decided to try it. Those 10 pounds came off quickly and my husband was inspired to try the diet with me. He had much more weight to lose and rapidly lost 40 pounds, but was worried that we were going to give ourselves heart attacks with all the meat and fat we were eating. I found a low carb doctor in our area and made appointments to see him to help put my husband’s mind at ease.
During that appointment, the doctor mentioned the carnivore diet – not as a suggestion, but in passing – and my first reaction was, “Who would want to do that??? I could never just eat meat. How boring!” When I went home, though, I began researching to see what the carnivore diet was all about and why people would go on it. I discovered a lot of online resources and began reading some of the success stories and started to wonder if a carnivorous diet could help me fix my health issues. By this time, I had been on keto for 2 months and although I felt pretty good (after the initial carb flu), I still was suffering from asthma pretty badly. I stewed on the idea for a couple of weeks and finally on October 18, 2018 decided to take the plunge for 30 days to see if a carnivore diet would help my asthma and fibromyalgia. I felt so good after 30 days that I decided to extend the trial to 90 days. And after 90 days, I felt even better so there was no reason for me to go back to eating any other way.
I have not taken asthma medication since late 2018. Right around two months after starting the carnivore diet I noticed my breathing was improving so I stopped my maintenance inhaler and decided to just use my rescue inhaler as needed. Well, I haven’t needed it. I also have not had any “fibro flares” in all this time. None!! I am no longer exhausted, achy, foggy-headed and miserable from that dreadful autoimmune condition. Another fibro-related issue I suffered from was IBS-type symptoms (I was never diagnosed with IBS nor did I ever mention those symptoms to a doctor). But I suffered from intermittent constipation and diarrhea as well as issues with gassiness for many years. After the initial adjustment to carnivore, those issues have gone away.
Since going carnivore, this girl who was deemed to have a poor constitution has had one mild cold. ONE! I no longer walk around in fear of contracting whatever the latest illness is that is going around. Additionally, sometime in the past 5 years or so I started developing cherry angiomas all over my body. My dad has a lot of these so I thought I just inherited that trait from him and there wasn’t much I could do about them except burn them off (shhh, don’t tell the dermatologist!). My husband asked me if I had burned off the ones on my back because he noticed they were gone. I had done no such thing – they had all disappeared on their own! I then realized that other ones I had in different areas were also gone. Every website I have read about cherry angiomas says the cause is unknown. Well, I still am not 100% certain of the cause, but I definitely know the cure.
My urge incontinence has disappeared and I no longer feel the pressure and discomfort in my pelvic region that I did for the first year after my surgery. My menopausal issues have also mostly resolved (so far) since going carnivore. I no longer have hot flashes or flushes, my mood is stable, and I don’t suffer from vaginal dryness. I do still have some minor vaginal discomfort (which happened from the surgery) and breast tenderness, but both are issues that don’t affect me too much.
On a different tack, but equally (or possibly even more) impactful than the health issues resolving is how the carnivore diet helped me to recognize my satiety point. Ever since joining a 12-step program for food addiction, I was basically taught that my satiety meter was broken and could not be fixed nor trusted. And I saw the truth in that while I was eating the traditional food plan that is followed by many in that organization. If I didn’t weigh and measure my meals, I could easily overeat at every meal. As I progressed in my recovery and felt safer not weighing or measuring my food while eating out, I noticed that I would often end up overfull after meals having eating more than my body needed. While I was eating, though, I had no signals that told me to stop eating. I could have easily kept going if I wasn’t being mindful and trying to eat reasonable portions. Eating carnivore, though, changed all that. It is just about impossible to overeat because my body physically won’t let me eat any more. I find I naturally lose interest in eating or put my fork down without even thinking about it. In extreme cases, I start to get nauseated as my body sends clear signals that it has had enough. This is something I don’t remember experiencing once in my entire life prior to eating a carnivorous diet. And as a recovering food addict, this is downright mind blowing and awe inspiring.
The carnivore diet has given me such a freedom – I thought I knew what freedom from food obsession was when I joined my 12-step recovery group, but the freedom I experience on a carnivore diet has surpassed that. It is a much more natural way of being and living and has brought my recovery from food addiction to the absolute next level. After almost 50 years of suffering with multiple types of health issues and resigning myself to getting old, sick, and frail, the carnivore diet has brought me a whole new hope and perspective. I now look forward to growing older and getting stronger and healthier as I go. I continue to see improvements in my physical and mental health all the time. I’m excited to see how much better things will get as I continue to regain health by eating an all-meat diet.
My pictures chronicle how I looked at my heaviest (prior to a 12-step program), then at a healthy weight but still with persistent health issues to today where I’m still at a healthy weight (although I’m continuing to lean out) – the biggest difference is now I’m healthy inside and out!
Ekaterina is an ex-vegan who improved her digestion, skin, hormonal health and PCOS on a carnivore diet
Hi!
I am Ekaterina, russian-speaking carnivore coach and live in Switzerland.
This is my story (sorry, i can’t write just in a few words 
):
):First of all I’m an ex-vegetarian (10 years) plus ex-vegan (5.5 years).
My health wasn’t perfect since my childhood: allergies to pollen and home animals, genetic psoriasis, super sensitive gut, digestive problems always, acne (especially during vegan phase), unexplained PCOS, amenorrhea.
First serious psoriasis attack was at 15 y/o – first hormonal and school stress.
At 18 i became vegetarian and felt relative good. At 24 I got pregnant (shockingly to every body around , especially to doctors). The told me it was impossible to have health pregnancy and to give a birth. But it was a gift from heaven and my boy was born. Yes, not perfectly healthy: small, bilateral cryptorchidism, atopic dermatitis, food allergies . But he developed breastfeeding gut and quick.
After pregnancy i got very aggressive psoriasis attack, was hospitalized. Hormones, hormonal creams and so on… and in 2 years after very low calorie diet of very high lean protein (no fat) my psoriasis attacked me again… it was the first time when it appeared after sun exposure! Normally sun helps me.
So i decided to try veganism. And in the beginning during “vegan honeymoon” everything was fine for about 1-1.5 years. Psoriasis was calm, no hormones, no medicines. But after 1.5-2 years of veganism a lot of digestive problems appeared, acne blossomed everywhere on my skin, herpes appeared every month… and bloating, farting, emotional unstability, no libido, insulin tummy, quick aging… i was 26-32 y/o during my vegan story. I tried everything from vegan diet: hclf, 90-10-10, raw vegan, fruitarian, banana islands, raw till four and so on… nothing helped longterm. Psoriasis started to come back.
At one moment when i started to bleed during pooping… and felt miserable from all these gut cramps and pain… i decided to eat less frequent, and stopped at OMAD (one meal a day). It helped a lot!!! And that way i discovered ketosis 3 years ago. I started with vegan type of keto diet and quickly understood it was almost nothing to eat (thanks to soy allergy). And i started to eat fish once a week, after that cheese… during all these psychological transformations from understanding that veganism was wrong i started to learn science: anthropology, nutrition, physiology, history, quantum physics and so on… i understood the depth of stupidity of going vegan that ruins my health and health of my kid.
So keto helped. I lost a lot of vegan weight , even too much. And vegetarian keto with salads, oils, nuts, fish and cheese (and tons of supplements!) made me very thin and sick: anemia, no periods, aggressive and nervous, non-healing ulcers on my fingers, very dry skin, some digestive issues … but almost no psoriasis!
Nowadays I’ve been proud and happy carnivore almost 18 months (from june 2018). No supplements. My digestion was never better than on this WOE. My skin glows, my psoriasis is in remissions with some plaques (they appear when i eat not enough fat and too much histamine rich variants of meat and fish). I have some issues with my periods, but no PCOS on ultrasound scan! I eat mostly meat, all types if them, fish and seafood, eggs, butter and organs from time to time. I am looking younger.
And appreciate this carnivorous way of living so much! Thank to meat-eating my son is very healthy and handsome. And his some autistic symptoms disappeared. His mood is stable,productivity in school and piano playing are fantastic, his anemia has gone. He is active and happy child!
We are still going to the perfect health. And meat helps us!
Veganism was a huge mistake and missed steak!
Meat really heals!
Thank you so much for all you are doing for the world!!!
Sincerely yours
Ekaterina (or just Kate)
Laney lost weight, improved anemia and fatigue on a carnivore diet
It’s New Year’s Eve 2018, and this time last year I was making lists and action plans for how I might once-and-for-all get to the bottom of my digestion problems. “This will be the year,” I would think as I would set out at the top of that willpower mountain only to make a steady trail downwards and backwards. I would tell myself, I will drink more water than ever, I’ll eat kale, collards, and spinach, I’ll cut down on meat to once a week max… I’ll have my plate be mostly vegetables. I tried soaking my grains, slow cooking my food, juice fasts, bone broth fasts, water fasts, I tried yoga postures for digestion, a regular evening walk, going vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten free, grain free, paleo… I did the Whole Life Challenge three times, the Whole30 several times a year, I tried staying on the Whole30 for 100 days… I did the GAPs diet, I tried eating only once a day; eating 3 times a day; grazing all day; not eating after 4pm, I tried the Low Fodmap diet, the SCD, I saw doctors and specialists, I had abdominal x-rays, ultrasounds, a colonoscopy… I worked with a nutritionist (for a year!), received regular acupuncture, took Chinese herbs, went to naturopaths, did colon cleanses, saw Mayan Abdominal massage therapists… At one point I tested positive for SIBO and stuffed myself with supplements like goldenseal, oil of oregano, bitters and all manner of digestive enzymes, Berbercap, 5htp, ABD5, Interphase, Floradix. I did two rounds of Rifaximin and Neomycin but the SIBO kept coming back.
I was “being so good”, doing everything I was supposed to be doing! I’d see slight improvements but eventually all of my symptoms would return. Nothing was actually healing me. And not only was I chronically constipated, I had all kinds of mysterious health issues about which doctors would always shrug and say, “Let’s just watch it and see”. I was always getting “benign tumors” including a lump under my arm, a lipoma on my shoulder blade, an enchondroma in my finger that caused the bone to fracture, a uterine fibroid, fibrocystic breast tissue… I had mysterious skin rashes, rosacea, vision problems, and constant whooshing (tinnitus) in my left ear. I had problems falling and staying asleep, I had bizarre inflammation flare-ups in my joints including one in my knee that was so debilitating that I could not walk without a cane for several months. I had interstitial cystitis, irregular cycles, headaches (including ocular migraines), and I was also depressed, anxiety-ridden and anemic. There were days when I could manage to go to a barre class only come home and sit parked in the driveway for half an hour or more trying to muster the energy to walk to my front door. I was miserable. I was red-faced and so bloated that I looked 5 months pregnant. I would wake up with a day planned and by 10 in the morning I would have to start cancelling things because I was so inflamed/in pain/bloated/exhausted and emotionally drained. I was missing out on time with my kids, with my husband, my friends, my life.
I felt I had tried everything and I was miserable. And then I tried going keto. I started seeing a slight shift in regularity, I started having more energy and better moods, I was sleeping better… I started learning everything I could about ketosis and macros! I was tracking and peeing on sticks and trying amazing keto recipes like graham crackers with cream cheese frosting!! Then I heard about micronutrients and slammed on the breaks. The fear set in and I was worried that I might not be getting what I needed if I wasn’t eating my greens and other “superfoods” so I added collards back in and immediately the tinnitus came back. I added in berries and avocado and I became constipated again, my energy dropped, the moodswings returned. Then one night I was listening to Anthony Gustin’s podcast and heard Dr. Shawn Baker talking about carnivory. I thought, you know what? I have tried EVERYthing else… What have I got to lose by trying one more thing? So, I threw my hands up and went carnivore.
That was September and now, 4 months later, every single one of those symptoms I mentioned above have disappeared. In six weeks went from 156lbs to 127lbs (and have now stopped weighing myself because I couldn’t care less about the scale). I went from CIC (chronic idiopathic constipation) to having several -at least two- bowel movements every day. I can make plans with confidence because I am no longer a slave to mysterious physical and mental health issues. Today my diet is simple. There is no guesswork, recipe scouring or fretting over whether this dish is “legal”. I eat mainly beef, pork, elk, and fish. I can have small amounts of cheese but I don’t do well on eggs or yogurt. I do not miss anything that I used to eat. I do not feel left out when others partake in things I cannot eat because I have my health back and that is way more delicious than anything else imaginable!
