A Life-Changing Diagnosis
Dave’s world changed dramatically in 2019 when he received a diagnosis that would alter the course of his life – bipolar disorder. After experiencing what doctors called a “bipolar episode,” Dave found himself sitting across from a psychiatrist who, after just 15 minutes, prescribed him Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and told him he’d be taking it “until you’re in your grave.”
The medication initially provided relief. “It was like a religious experience,” Dave recalls. “Suddenly my brain… I feel like I’m in high school again instantly.” But the thought of being medicated for life was devastating for someone who had never needed medication before.
From Medication to Meat
Dave’s journey toward healing began with subtle changes. His wife, who had been cooking for their son with multiple dietary restrictions, introduced him to the ketogenic diet. His parents, who were following keto themselves, encouraged him to reduce carbohydrates due to their inflammatory effects on the brain.
“I started to try to go keto, and I saw a little bit of improvement,” Dave says. But the real transformation began when he and his wife purchased a bakery, which they named “Keto Carnivore.” Dave felt if he was going to put “carnivore” on the building, someone working there should actually follow the diet.
“I just start eating leftover kielbasas from this roller at the end of the day,” he explains. “And I’d also have some eggs, maybe a little bacon.” Soon, he was consuming a fully carnivore diet centered around gluten-free beef kielbasas and other animal foods.
The Unexpected Breakthrough
After approximately five months of strict carnivore eating, Dave experienced something remarkable – he forgot to take his medication one day and didn’t even notice until the afternoon.
“I completely forgot my meds, but I didn’t realize it,” Dave says. For someone who had been told they would need medication for life, this was significant. “If anyone is suffering from serious mania like I was, you can feel it in the air. You can hear it. It’s like a freight train off in the distance.”
But that day, there was no freight train. No anxiety building up. Just calm.
Dave cautiously began to experiment, skipping doses and monitoring his mental state. “I skipped it. And then I skipped it again, and next thing you know, I’ve gone a week without it.”
Today, Dave is nearly eight months free from the medication he was told he would need forever.
A New Diet, A New Life
Dave now consumes about two and a half pounds of ground beef daily, sourcing his meat from a ranch that delivers half-cow orders. He finds that beef provides something special that other meats don’t. “I can eat every meat under the sun – bacon, poultry, eggs. And at the end of the day, I’ll call my wife and say, ‘Hey, will you pull a pound of ground beef? I have to have red meat.'”
The benefits extend beyond mental health. “No more back pain. No joint pain anymore either,” Dave says. “I feel like I’m in my twenties. And when I was in my twenties, I think I felt like I was in my forties.”
Beyond Food: The Holistic Transformation
Dave is quick to point out that his transformation wasn’t just about food. Moving from a warehouse job where he worked in isolation to running a bakery where he interacts with people daily has had a profound impact.
“I work in a building where I meet people, new people, and see familiar faces every single day, people I truly care about,” he explains. “I share oxygen with them. I share a room. I look them in the eye.”
His family life has improved too. With six children (and a seventh on the way), Dave notes that the whole household is calmer when everyone eats similarly. His oldest son, who has significant dietary restrictions, has become more calm and industrious since changing his diet.
“He used to give us so much trouble,” Dave says. “To have him suddenly be not only so calm and collected, but also industrious… it’s cool.”
For Dave, the carnivore diet hasn’t just changed what he eats—it has transformed his entire life.
The Clearest Mind
When asked about any negative aspects of the carnivore diet, Dave can’t think of any physical drawbacks. The only challenge is sometimes dealing with other people’s reactions. “All you have to do is tell them that you’re a carnivore, and you’ll see people lash out,” he observes.
But for Dave, the clarity and stability he’s gained are worth any social awkwardness. “I feel great today, and I don’t feel that weight on my shoulders any longer.”
