From Active Runner to Carnivore Challenger
Veronika, a 44-year-old exercise physiologist and nutritionist from Australia, has always been passionate about health and fitness. Growing up in the Czech Republic, she was raised on a diet rich in meat, eggs, and fermented foods, which laid the foundation for her lifelong interest in nutrition. When she moved to Australia 21 years ago to study sport and exercise science, Veronika maintained her healthy eating habits, incorporating more seafood and grass-fed beef into her diet, taking advantage of the high-quality produce available in her new home country.
Experimenting with Different Diets
As a dedicated nutritionist, Veronika firmly believes in the importance of trying various diets firsthand to better understand their effects on the body and to help her clients make informed decisions about their own nutritional choices. In the past, she even tried a vegan diet for a month, although she admits that she didn’t feel her best during that time. However, the experience provided her with valuable insights into the challenges and potential benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.
More recently, intrigued by the growing interest in the carnivore diet among her clients and fellow athletes, Veronika decided to embark on a personal carnivore diet experiment. Her main goals were to test its effects on her gut health, mental clarity, and athletic performance as an endurance runner.
Thorough Testing and Impressive Results
To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the carnivore diet’s impact on her health, Veronika underwent a series of tests before starting the experiment. These included a complete panel of blood tests, gut microbiome mapping, and a DEXA scan to assess her body composition. Armed with this baseline data, she followed the carnivore diet strictly for one month, consuming mainly grass-fed beef, liver, eggs, and homemade bone broth cooked in nutrient-dense beef tallow.
After the month-long experiment, Veronika retested her blood and gut health markers, and six weeks later, she repeated the DEXA scan. The results were impressive, showcasing several notable improvements in her overall health and well-being.
Veronika’s gut microbiome, in particular, showed a significant shift in the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes, two major groups of bacteria residing in the human digestive tract. The increased proportion of Bacteroidetes indicated a reduction in inflammation, suggesting that the carnivore diet had a positive impact on her gut health.
Moreover, Veronika experienced consistent mental clarity and sustained energy levels throughout the day, without the typical afternoon crashes she had previously encountered on her regular diet. She also reported improved sleep quality, waking up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle her busy schedule. Remarkably, Veronika experienced no bloating or stomach discomfort during the entire carnivore month, a testament to the diet’s potential to alleviate digestive issues.
Thriving in an Ultra Marathon on Carnivore
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Veronika’s carnivore experiment was her outstanding performance in a grueling 50-kilometer trail race during the fourth week of the diet. Despite the demanding nature of her work, which limited her training time leading up to the event, Veronika completed the challenging race in a fasted state, relying solely on her fat-adapted body to fuel her endurance.
Throughout the race, Veronika maintained a strong and steady pace, feeling mentally sharp and physically energized. She encountered no injuries or excessive fatigue, a testament to the efficiency of her fat-burning metabolism and the power of a well-formulated carnivore diet.
Equally impressive was Veronika’s swift post-race recovery. She reported minimal soreness and inflammation, and after just two days of rest, she was able to resume her regular training regimen without any issues. Her follow-up DEXA scan also revealed an impressive gain of 1 kilogram of lean muscle mass, an exceptional result considering the high volume of running she had undertaken during the experiment.
Forward with a Meat-Centric Approach
Although Veronika’s cholesterol levels did increase during the carnivore month, she remains focused on the numerous positive outcomes she experienced, both in terms of her overall health and her athletic performance. Moving forward, she plans to continue incorporating a meat-centric approach to her diet, with the occasional addition of low-sugar fruits like berries and the reintroduction of coffee in moderation.
Veronika’s successful carnivore experiment serves as a powerful example of the potential benefits of a well-formulated, nutrient-dense meat-based diet for supporting gut health, mental clarity, and athletic performance. As an active runner and dedicated nutritionist, she continues to explore the optimal balance of foods that help her thrive both personally and professionally, while inspiring others to take a proactive approach to their own health and well-being.
