From Vegan to Carnivore: Andrea’s Healing Journey
Andrea’s health journey began in her mid-twenties when she owned an insurance agency. When her mother was diagnosed with stage four cancer, Andrea ran her business from the hospital, experiencing tremendous stress. This experience first opened her eyes to nutrition as she supported her mother through treatment.
However, Andrea’s own health began deteriorating under the pressure of running her business. What started as “whispers” of joint pain and headaches eventually became “screams” of severe fatigue, anxiety, panic, and inflammation. After two years of doctors’ visits, scans, and being told she was “fine,” the only diagnoses she received were possible lupus and hypothyroidism.
“I knew I don’t want to take medicine. I want to heal this naturally, and I know there’s a way. I just don’t know where,” Andrea recalls.
The Plant-Based Experiment
Andrea’s dietary journey began when she took a trip to Colorado with friends where they ate only vegetables. She found herself not craving meat and decided to try veganism, thinking “how could plants be bad for me?”
She embraced veganism fully, attending vegan festivals, wearing “powered by plants” shirts, and believing she was making the healthiest choice. However, her health continued to decline. After five years, she transitioned to vegetarianism, then pescatarianism, as her body struggled.
Despite eating what most would consider a “clean” diet—free of processed foods, table sugar, and full of vegetables—Andrea remained sick.
The Turning Point
The conversation that changed Andrea’s life came from her chiropractor who shared personal success with the carnivore diet.
“She told me about getting off medication and her healing journey. I thought, that sounds amazing,” Andrea says.
Inspired, she researched the carnivore diet and found others who had experienced healing. Rather than focusing on being thin, Andrea wanted to be strong again. She started gradually, removing vegetables and adding more meat.
Unexpected Healing
The results came quickly. After just three weeks of transitioning to carnivore, Andrea’s menstrual cycle returned after years of irregularity. This was particularly significant as her chronic illness journey had spanned nearly a decade.
“I was like, this is like a miracle. I cannot believe this,” she says.
Another significant change was freedom from food cravings. After years of obsessing about sweet treats, those cravings disappeared completely.
Adapting the Approach
Andrea discovered she had histamine sensitivity, which caused headaches and sinus pressure after eating certain foods. She responded by adopting the Lion Diet—consuming only lamb—for 90 days.
“I did lamb for almost ninety days, which was extremely beneficial. It just felt like everything calmed down,” she explains.
After this healing period, she gradually reintroduced other meats and now enjoys a variety of animal foods including beef, bison, lamb, and salmon.
Beyond Diet
Andrea emphasizes that healing involves more than just nutrition. Her “virtual toolbox” includes:
- An infrared sauna
- Epsom salt baths
- Prioritizing sleep
- Regular sun exposure
- Mindful eating practices
- Meditation and breathing techniques
- Mindset work
She also had her breast implants removed during her health journey, noting that removing foreign elements from her body was part of her commitment to natural healing.
The Financial Cost of Chronic Illness
In her decade-long quest for health, Andrea spent approximately $250,000 of her own money visiting renowned clinics and specialists.
“I did my will years ago. I did everything because I was like, things aren’t going well. I’m spending so much money,” she reflects.
This financial burden became another driver in her mission to help others avoid similar struggles.
Life Transformed
Nine months into her carnivore journey, Andrea’s life has completely transformed. From being so ill her mother had to drive her car, she now enjoys unprecedented strength, clarity, and energy.
When asked about negatives, Andrea describes only “speed bumps” like adjusting to the right fat-to-protein ratio and managing histamine reactions. These challenges were easily outweighed by the healing she experienced.
Today, Andrea has left the insurance industry to become a health coach, helping others navigate their own healing journeys, focusing on nutrition, mindset, and creating a non-toxic lifestyle.
“The healing was so tremendous that I knew this was the way to go,” Andrea says, encouraging others to be open, curious, and willing to listen to their bodies.
