Why I Quit The Carnivore Diet

Summary

The speaker shares their journey with the carnivore diet, which initially resolved their autoimmune issues but led to health complications after a year and a half, prompting them to quit. They discuss the diet's benefits and drawbacks, suggesting that while it may work for some, it's not universally effective. The video offers insights into the potential issues with ketogenic diets, such as electrolyte imbalances and hormonal impacts, and advocates for an animal-based diet with added carbohydrates like fruit, honey, and raw dairy for improved health outcomes.

Takeaways

• 🥩 The speaker initially experienced a resolution of autoimmune conditions like eczema, itchy rashes, and asthma after adopting a carnivore diet.
• 📚 The speaker is a proponent of the carnivore diet and even wrote a book about it in 2019, but now acknowledges that it may not be suitable for everyone long-term.
• 🚫 The video is not intended to dissuade those thriving on a carnivore or ketogenic diet but to offer alternatives to those experiencing issues.
• 💊 The speaker faced health issues such as electrolyte insufficiency, muscle cramps, sleep problems, and heart palpitations, possibly due to low insulin levels from a lack of carbohydrates.
• 🧬 Lab values showed a decline in total testosterone and an increase in sex hormone-binding globulin, leading to lower free testosterone levels, which could be a concern for some individuals.
• ❄️ Feeling cold and having suboptimal thyroid levels, specifically total T3 and free T3, were other issues the speaker experienced, potentially related to the diet.
• 🍎 The solution for the speaker was reintroducing carbohydrates into their diet, transitioning to an animal-based diet with fruits, honey, and raw dairy as sources of carbs.
• 🍇 The speaker argues that carbohydrates are essential for human physiology, contrary to popular belief in certain diet communities, and that they play a crucial role in electrolyte balance and hormone regulation.
• 🚫 The speaker is not advocating for grains or beans due to their anti-nutrient content and the rigorous preparation required to make them less toxic for human consumption.
• 🍯 Fruits and honey are suggested as preferable carbohydrate sources due to their natural availability and health benefits, despite common misconceptions in certain diet communities.
• 🔬 The script references various studies to support the benefits of including carbohydrates like fruit and honey in one's diet and the potential downsides of strict ketogenic diets.

Q & A

What was the initial impact of the carnivore diet on the speaker's health?

The carnivore diet initially led to the full resolution of the speaker's autoimmune condition, eczema, itchy rashes, and asthma that they had suffered from their whole life.

Why did the speaker decide to quit the carnivore diet after a year and a half?

The speaker quit the carnivore diet due to issues that arose, possibly due to electrolyte insufficiency and consistently very low insulin levels, which led to muscle cramps, sleep problems, heart palpitations, and other health issues.

What is the speaker's stance on the carnivore diet for those who are thriving on it?

The speaker supports those who are thriving on the carnivore diet and encourages them to continue with it, as the video is not meant to change their minds but to offer alternatives for those who may be struggling.

What health issues did the speaker experience after adopting a carnivore diet?

The speaker experienced muscle cramps, sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, hypnagogic jerks, low testosterone levels, high sex hormone-binding globulin, and cold intolerance, which were possibly related to a lack of carbohydrates and insufficient insulin signaling.

What role does insulin play in electrolyte balance according to the speaker?

Insulin plays a crucial role in signaling at the kidney to hold on to electrolytes, specifically sodium, and is connected to the reabsorption and retention of other minerals like potassium, chloride, and magnesium, which is essential for optimal human health.

Why does the speaker believe that carbohydrates are valuable for human physiology?

The speaker believes carbohydrates are valuable because they help maintain electrolyte balance, support thyroid function, improve cortisol metabolism, and are essential for optimal metabolism and hormone production.

What were the speaker's lab values that declined on the ketogenic carnivore diet?

The speaker's lab values that declined included lower total testosterone, higher sex hormone-binding globulin leading to lower free testosterone, and不理想的 totalT3和游离T3水平。

What dietary changes did the speaker make to address the issues they experienced on the carnivore diet?

The speaker transitioned to an animal-based diet, adding carbohydrates from fruit, honey, and raw dairy, which helped to alleviate the issues they were experiencing.

What is the speaker's view on fructose and its consumption in natural forms?

The speaker believes that fructose in its natural form, as found in fruit and honey, is not harmful to humans and is consumed in conjunction with glucose, which is different from isolated or processed fructose.

What are some of the potential downsides of ketogenic diets mentioned by the speaker?

The potential downsides of ketogenic diets mentioned include increased stress hormones, impaired bone health, negative effects on thyroid function, and increased protein catabolism.

Why does the speaker suggest that fruit and honey might be better carbohydrate sources compared to grains?

The speaker suggests that fruit and honey might be better because they are more easily digestible and do not contain the same level of anti-nutrients found in grains, such as phytic acid and saponins, which require rigorous preparation to detoxify.

What evidence does the speaker provide to support the consumption of fruit and honey in moderation?

The speaker cites studies showing that fruit juice can improve lipid peroxidation, glucose indices, insulin sensitivity, and endothelial function, while honey has been shown to lower fasting blood glucose and potentially increase testosterone levels.

What is the speaker's final recommendation for those struggling with certain health issues on a carnivore or ketogenic diet?

The speaker recommends considering an animal-based diet that includes meat, organs, fruit, honey, and raw dairy, as a way to address health issues like low thyroid symptoms, low sex hormone symptoms, sleep disturbances, and weight loss plateaus.