Jacob has experienced so many benefits since switching to a carnivore diet 18 months ago. He has improved his cardiovascular health, arthritis, digestive issues, and blood pressure by eliminating grains and vegetables.
At 28 years old, Jacob was diagnosed with arthritis in his hands. Affecting the joints and other connective tissues, arthritis is characterized by inflammation that causes joint pain and stiffness. Since most people do not develop symptoms before the age of 40, Jacob was concerned by this early onset of symptoms.
The following year, Jacob received more concerning news. “At 29, I had my first colonoscopy and was diagnosed with diverticulitis.” Diverticulitis is a disease of the digestive tract that occurs when small, bulging pouches (diverticula) develop and become infected.
At 32, Jacob was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Also known as A-fib, the condition presents as a very rapid heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that puts the patient at risk for blood clots in the heart. With this diagnosis, Jacob was now at risk for stroke, heart failure, and other complications.
Faced with these serious health concerns, Jacob had to make adjustments to his lifestyle and fitness routine. “I was a powerlifter throughout my twenties, but at 35, I couldn’t run or push myself hard for fear of triggering a-fib.”
Jacob notes that at age 27, he had started to gain more weight and says he developed “man boobs and love handles,” common indicators of an imbalance of testosterone and estrogen in men. Combined with his heart issues, Jacob’s weight gain led to decreased mobility and poor digestion. “I couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and had very few solid bowel movements.”
A year and a half ago, at age 35, Jacob decided to make adjustments to his diet after finding Dr. Shawn Baker’s videos on Youtube. “Every time I cut out a grain or vegetable, I felt better and got leaner,” he recalls, sharing how he eventually adopted a meat-only diet.
His results have been astounding! “I am approaching 37 years old and have 8.5% body fat, and run over 3.5 miles per day.” Other health markers have improved as well. Jacob reports lower blood pressure and higher “good” cholesterol (LDL) numbers. He has “zeros issues with a-fib,” and his diverticulitis is in remission.
Jacob enjoys better quality sleep and requires less of it (just 4.5 hours per night). During the day, he benefits from sustained energy and better focus, allowing him to be more productive and “get more done” than he could before.
With better cardiovascular health and stabilized blood pressure, Jacob has noticed better sexual health as well. He’s happy to report that since following a carnivore diet, “the benefits in the bedroom with my wife are off the charts!”
For those hesitant to trade vegetables, fruits, grains, and other foods for a meat-based diet, Jacob has a simple mantra based on his own health transformation: “Go carnivore, and live better!”
