Catherine is 51 years old and has seen incredible improvements in her health since she started following the carnivore diet, including healing from anemia, colitis, weakness, and fainting. She has been able to get her career in musical performance back as well.
“I was quite sick, and terribly anemic and was hospitalized on a regular basis for health issues,” Catherine shares. “I had severe colitis, weakness, and fainting, and many other physical problems.” Catherine began researching different dietary interventions to help control her symptoms. Her doctor suggested that she may be intolerant to FODMAPs and a high residue diet.
Following a low FODMAP diet is believed to help people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have better control over their symptoms by limiting certain foods. FODMAPs stands for fermentable oligo-saccharides, di-saccharides, mono-saccharides and polyols. These are all types of sugars that are poorly absorbed by the small intestine. Just a few examples of FODMAP foods that are to be avoided are wheat, garlic, onions, apples, peaches, pears, beans, and lentils.
As with a carnivore diet, low FODMAP foods that are acceptable include eggs, meat, and certain cheeses. Catherine realized she needed to avoid plant foods, and transitioned over to the carnivore diet. “I’ve lost about 40 pounds and I put my wheelchair into storage,” Catherine shares. “My marriage is better, my sex drive has been restored, and I have the ability to do athletic activities that I haven’t done in years! For the first time in 25 years, I began to audition again for opera and musical theater.” Catherine has enjoyed being in several different productions since she gained her health and energy back. Her dream to perform became a reality for her once she had her energy and health restored following the carnivore diet.
While her transition to a carnivore diet has gone smoothly, socially it can sometimes be a bit more difficult. “Everybody around me eats plans and thinks I’m nuts not to,” Catherine says, “but after a few months, my husband started eating this way as well, and he’s lost 25 pounds.” Catherine’s husband doesn’t follow the carnivore diet as strictly as she does, but he also did not have the severe health conditions that had plagued Catherine for most of her adult life.
While her goal is to reach zero carbs, Catherine explains she occasionally includes some low-carb vegetables in small amounts like sauerkraut and a pickle to go with her meat dishes. “I certainly don’t miss sweets, and I don’t miss being home-bound and bed-bound.”
“I understand that some have environmental concerns about this diet, but I know personally, I wouldn’t have lived much longer eating the foods I was eating before. If I’m not able to get out of bed, then I’m not able to help the environment in any way.” Catherine expresses gratitude to the carnivore community for getting the message out there and making such a difference in her life. “My life has changed, and it makes me very happy!”
