Jurriaan, 32, is a personal trainer from the Netherlands. Inspired by Dr. Shawn Baker’s approach to health, he ditched a plant-based diet and began his own carnivore journey to optimal health.
Plant Based Disaster
Jurriaan struggled with his health for many years. “After a period of following a plant-based diet, I lost so much muscle!” he shares. He suffered from anxiety and depression, had low libido, and no longer had the energy to work out. He experienced other health issues that only worsened on a plant-based diet, including Raynaud’s Syndrome (a condition that causes cold and numbness in fingers and toes), insomnia, lack of coordination, chronic fatigue, hair loss, ringing in his ears, blurry vision, and candida. “The list goes on! I also had chronic pain in my neck, back, and hips.”
Carnivore For A Happy Life – From Failing to Thriving
In December 2018, Jurriaan watched Dr. Shawn Baker’s interview on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and made the choice to move away from a plant-based diet. Jurriaan credits Dr. Baker’s story as his inspiration for getting his health under control. He had previously thought that more vegetables added up to a healthier life, but as Dr. Baker shared, removing vegetables from his diet was the key to eliminating the laundry list of ailments that had plagued him for years.
Jurriaan wisely took a gradual approach as he implemented a meat-based diet. Although he added more meat to every meal, he was still hung up on some foods he previously believed to be healthy and necessary. “I was still eating the ‘magical’ broccoli!” he jokes. Three months later, Jurriaan made the decision to ditch vegetables for good! He has been following a 100% carnivore diet since February 2019. “It’s been exactly one year, and I feel awesome!”
Jurriaan’s physical and mental health symptoms have greatly improved in his first year. “After years of depression, I am now happy and healthy again!” Mental clarity, a general sense of peace, and the ability to train hard at the gym again were the most noticeable improvements. “I feel calm and mentally clear. I can lift heavy weights again, and I have joy in my work as a personal trainer and coach.” Jurriaan’s before and after pictures clearly show an incredible improvement in body composition since switching to a carnivore diet.
Harnessing Shawn’s Superpower
Jurriaan admires the work that Dr. Baker is doing for the carnivore community, describing him as “brave” in a world where so many are afraid to speak against mainstream health trends and decades of nutrition narratives that seem to shun animal-based products. He writes, “Dr. Baker is on the other side of the world from me, but it feels like he is right beside me and all the other people who are struggling with their health!”
Jurriaan considers that kind of solidarity and commitment to truth to be nothing short of a superpower and one he strives to uphold with his own training clients and community. “Now that I found my strength and feel healthy again, I hope I can help others find theirs!”
