Ed began a carnivore diet just over a year ago, in July 2018. He’s enjoyed numerous health benefits since making the switch to a meat-based diet.
Over the last year, Ed has lost 40 pounds. “My weight and BMI are now within the healthy range.” This is the first time in decades that Ed has fallen within that category.
“I have better energy throughout the day, and I no longer have sleep apnea.” Ed has noticed that his mental clarity is sharper and steadier, and his brain seems to function more efficiently. “My mood is better, and I have less anxiety. I have less frequent bouts of melancholy, and I’m less reactive to stress or negative situations.”
Ed was on three different medications to address his high blood pressure. A year into his carnivore lifestyle, he has eliminated two of those prescriptions and is on his way to eliminating the third.
“I’ve been able to reduce my blood pressure. While my HDL is up, my triglycerides are down.”
An important factor for people with cholesterol concerns is the ratio of HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Ed’s recent bloodwork shows that he’s been able to improve that ratio now that he’s following an animal-based diet.
Ed reports having “various other minor improvements” since sticking to a carnivore diet for the past year. Ed’s chronic inflammation in his feet is gone now, resulting in better mobility. His digestion is much better since he eliminated most plant foods from his diet.
Ed noticed his skin tags have disappeared. Skin tags are often a sign of insulin resistance; while harmless, they can be bothersome. Regulating the production of insulin on a carnivore diet will usually resolve this issue over time.
After following a carnivore diet for nine months, Ed decided to add certain foods back in and see how his body tolerated them. “For taste and variety, I’ve added some vegetables such as avocado and cucumber back into my diet over the last three months.” He hasn’t noticed any adverse side effects.
When introducing plant foods back into your diet, it’s best to do them one at a time and monitor how your body feels over the next few days. Since a carnivore diet is a fantastic “elimination diet” resulting in low or no inflammation, it will be easier to tell if a particular food will cause issues. While some people with serious health concerns or autoimmune responses choose to stay on a strict carnivore diet, others may choose to add additional foods that don’t have a negative impact on their digestion.
With a few small exceptions, Ed maintains his meat-based diet. “I am still 90% carnivore. I was 100% carnivore for nine months out of the last year.” He has seen “no downsides” and plans to continue on the path.
“The carnivore diet has been a huge blessing in my life. I’m very grateful to Dr. Baker and all of the other people who have helped get the word out!”
