When I started on the Keto diet a couple of months ago, I had no plans to go Carnivore. But here I am. It’s day one of my carnivore diet experiment and I’m pondering over whether to continue with my supplements, whether they’re needed and in fact whether they might help or hinder!
Why Do The Carnivore Diet?
I have a couple of reasons for deciding to give the carnivore diet a go. I have to say first up that I’m intrigued by the whole concept and it makes perfect sense to me. I also have quite a lot of niggly health problems that don’t want to quit.
Apart from being overweight and having a messed up metabolism, I’m also experiencing things like joint pain, muscular aches and pains, inflammation, digestive issues & IBS, anxiety, vertigo, dizzy spells, nose bleeds, deteriorating eyesight, increasing signs of aging, and the list goes on…
I have pain in my shoulders and hands that I’ve not been able to resolve that could, if they get worse, threaten my ability to continue my work as a bodywork practitioner. That’s a real concern for me!
So after seeing the results that so many others are experiencing with the carnivore diet, I’ve decided I need to try this for myself.
You don’t know unless you try….
What Is The Carnivore Diet?
The definition of ‘The Carnivore Diet’ varies from person to person, and discussions among those partaking can get quite heated! But it is essentially a diet of animal products.
Some carnivores only consume beef or ruminant meat, salt and water. Ruminants are animals that graze on grass such as sheep, goats, cows etc.
Some carnivores consume all types of meat, seafood and eggs.
Others consume all of the above plus either raw dairy only, or dairy in general.
And still others consume all of the above plus a little fruit and even honey.
There are also mixed opinions when it comes to consuming offal.
And of course there are the arguments for and against coffee because that’s an addiction many want to continue, but it IS a plant… which brings up the next topic…
Are Plant Foods Toxic?
The basic idea behind the Carnivore Diet is that plants contain toxins because they can’t run away and don’t want to be eaten, and that those toxins harm our health.
If this is the first time you’ve come across this idea, it might sound like total madness, but consider this…
Many plants are obviously known to be toxic and will kill us if we eat them. One example is deadly nightshade.
Other plants must be processed in some way to reduce their toxicity before we can consume them because they will kill us in their unprocessed form.
Oxalates & Lectins Are Plant Toxins
More subtle examples of plant toxins are substances such as oxalates and lectins which are commonly found in many fruits and vegetables that are commonly consumed by people around the world.
These commonly eaten plant foods are considered by most to be ‘healthy’, but may in fact have serious consequences for many people.
Some are more obviously serious or debilitating, and are known to be an issue for the people who are sensitive to them. But many people have no idea that the ‘healthy’ plants they’re including in their diet may be causing their kidney stones, joint pain, IBS, or other pain and disease they’re experiencing.
Mainstream often dismiss the idea that plants may be causing health issues, but how many people do you know who can’t eat certain plants without ill effects?
Many people people suffering autoimmune diseases for example find that removing at certain plants from their diet will put their autoimmune disease into remission. The autoimmune paleo diet is a popular choice for those suffering these conditions.
Tomatoes, potatoes and other nightshades cause arthritis and pain for many people. That’s really common! And beans often cause digestive upsets, as does the gluten in wheat and other grains.
You get the idea. The truth is that these well known issues with plants are just the tip of the iceberg. There may be much more subtle things happening over long periods of time in the bodies of humans around the planet that are being caused by the consumption of plants.
Do You Need Supplements On The Carnivore Diet?
As I’ve said in my video above, I’m mulling over whether to continue to take the supplements I’ve been taking, at least until I finish them
I’ve been taking this amazing Blackseed Oil which has been shown in studies to help with weight loss and has so many other reported health benefits. Blackseed has been described in Ayurvedic medicine as the cure for everything except death!
I’m also taking this Milk Thistle oil from the same company (they’re great quality). I’ve not taken it before as every time I went to order they’d be sold out. (If you want some and see it available grab it fast because it sells out quickly!)
So I finally managed to buy a bottle and milk thistle is THE liver herb. I don’t want to waste it now that I finally have it and I figure having a healthy liver going into carnivore is going to help. Right?
The one other supplement that I’m taking that I didn’t mention in the video is Seleno Health Maca. I’ve been taking it for hot flashes and hormones which should resolve on carnivore anyway (I hope) so I just don’t know. I guess I’ll try stopping it and see what happens.
So I’m kinda torn. Are the seed oils going to help or hinder? Do I keep taking them for a little while until they run out or not? Carnivores would say dump them I’m certain. The rest of the world would say take them.
I’ll mull it over and report back soon… 🤔
