In October 2017, Jeremiah listened to Dr. Shawn Baker’s interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Like many others who are brave enough to throw traditional nutritional advice out the window and try a meat-based diet, Jeremiah was skeptical at first. “It sounded crazy, but I was willing to try it!”
Jeremiah had some concerning health issues at the time he decided to try a carnivore diet, and it seemed that he would have nothing to lose to try it for at least 30 days.
“I weighed between 260 and 275 pounds,” he shares, “and my doctor diagnosed me with prediabetes. My blood sugar was very high at the time.” Jeremiah was right to be concerned. Prediabetes is a serious health condition that affects 1 in 3 American adults. It occurs when blood sugar levels are higher than average but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. To make things worse, it’s estimated that 80% of patients with prediabetes are unaware that they have it.
In addition to being overweight and prediabetic, Jeremiah learned that his blood pressure and cholesterol levels were also high. With his total cholesterol measuring 250 mg/dL and his LDL at 205 mg/dL, Jeremiah’s doctor was concerned he was “on the path to a heart attack.”. (For more information on the relationship between cholesterol and the carnivore diet, see this helpful guide.)
Jeremiah wasn’t about to give up on himself, and he knew he’d need to make drastic changes if he wanted to reclaim his health and avoid a long list of medications. His approach was simple: “I started eating only meat and slowly began working out.”
It typically takes a few weeks or even months for carnivore dieters to work out at their full capacity again. After the transition period, however, most people following a carnivore diet find that a meat-based diet provides sustained energy throughout the day, making workouts and recovery easier. This is due in part to switching the body’s fuel source from carbohydrates to fat in the form of ketones.
Jeremiah’s results were better than he expected! “I dropped 20 pounds in the first two months,” he shares. “I”m currently down 50 pounds.”
His health is improving beyond just weight loss. “My total cholesterol is now 205 mg/dL, my LDL is down to 148 mg/dL, and both my blood sugar and blood pressure are now within normal range.”
Jeremiah’s mental health has improved, and he no longer needs medication to fall asleep. He no longer takes medication for anxiety, either. With all these incredible improvements, it’s no wonder he can say, “I’ve never felt better in my life!”
The secret to better health for Jeremiah was simple: adopt a meat-based diet. “Who would have thought that eating meat and not being lazy would do the trick?” Any concerns he once had about a “restrictive” diet have been laid to rest. “Dr. Shawn Baker is dead on! I have no doubt about being a meat eater now.”
