My Low-Carb Journey With Crohn’s
I am a 29-year-old man living in New York. I began my low-carb journey at 26, and not long after, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s. I went whole hog into the Primal Blueprint lifestyle, and I saw incredible benefits. I dropped 60 lbs, and I saw a huge benefit in how I felt daily, and my intestines had improved.
Slowly over time, I kept eliminating foods from my diet: potatoes of all kinds, nuts, squashes, tomatoes, and fruits, and it got to the point where I was eating meats and greens with rare deviation. Then I listened to the interview on the JRE podcast with Dr. Baker. It stuck with me, though I was skeptical at first.
As March came around, I decided to experiment and take the step to eating a Carnivore diet. I joined the Facebook group, and I read others’ stories to find inspiration and guidance.
I ate 2-2.5 lbs of mostly ground beef, chicken thighs, some ground turkey, and around 6-8 eggs daily, with some goat cheese and butter thrown in occasionally. I continued to drink coffee, tea, and seltzer. I ate twice daily at lunch and dinner time. The rare snack was either salami or pork rinds.
Benefits Of The Carnivore Diet For My Health
Because I already knew to increase my salt intake and I had been fat-adapted, the transition was not difficult for me, but I did notice a challenge in my calisthenics-based workouts early on in that I struggled at first, but then it became easier.
The first thing I noticed is that my hunger levels surged very high, then dropped significantly. I’m curious how my Crohn’s has impeded my absorption, if at all. My energy levels were more consistent throughout the day. Previously there would be a dull fatigue towards the end, but I’m more stable and calm on Carnivore.
But most of all, I felt the lingering inflammation in my gut decrease, and my bowel movements (after the first week) were the most consistently solid and easy passings I have had in a long time.
The inflammation I felt was in the upper right, and lower left of my abdomen (duodenum and colon), and they were tender to light prodding. They are now far less tender, and I don’t feel the swelling as I did before.
Challenges And Changes In My Workouts
As for weight loss: I did not drop much weight, but I did notice a difference in my measurements. My muscles were slightly bigger and definitely more dense, my waist was thinner, and I’m willing to bet my bone density increased. I have found a lot of benefits in the carnivore diet.
Reintroducing Foods And The Future Of My Diet
But I’m an experimental person, and I know I’m going to want to reintroduce fermented foods and mushrooms, maybe the occasional plant, but I know now the best way to return to baseline and reclaim my health. It’s easy to do, and it’s very tasty.
