Always on the lookout for inspiring content, I happened upon Dr. Lisa Weiderman’s latest video last week. CarnivoreDoctor, as she is known on YouTube and Instagram, takes us on a beach walk with her as she talks about what she calls ‘the excuse trifecta’ and how it’s so important to have a plan to navigate holidays with a carnivore coach or other support. You can check out her video here!
Holidays are Hard!
We all know trying to stay away from carbs and sugar during the holidays can take a toll on us especially if we are coming from food addiction or disordered eating. It’s a well-known fact that holidays are just really hard when trying to stick to a particular way of eating that excludes traditional foods. I won’t call them treats anymore, because poisoning yourself should never be considered a treat! Like my t-shirt says, ‘Eating sugar and calling it a treat is like getting punched in the face and calling it a gift’. (You can find that and other carnivore merchandise in my shop here)
Dr. Weiderman made an excellent point in her video – the time to plan for those holiday temptations is NOW. Halloween candy is out in stores. Thanksgiving and Christmas won’t be far behind. Then you’ll start seeing all the weight loss gimmicks making their way into your life to ‘help you’ with your New Year’s resolution.
Have a Plan!
Excuse season is upon us! Make your plan now to deal with those things when they come up! There are lots of free Facebook Groups and various levels of paid groups on other platforms. You can watch carnivore YouTube channels and listen to carnivore books and podcasts, or enlist the expertise of a carnivore coach to help you one-on-one or in a small group setting.
When you have a group of people with similar goals and challenges, your strength is multiplied by them. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals in a place you feel safe to share, ask questions, give and receive support. Yes, even if you are just starting out, you can lend support to others. Your experience and your struggle, or just being there for someone to lean on, is valid and important. In turn, when you lend support, you strengthen your own resolve.
If you need extra help, or if groups get to be too noisy for you, maybe you just want to focus on your own goals and challenges, then navigating the holidays with a carnivore coach may be a better fit for you. A carnivore coach will understand your struggles and work with you to develop strategies for success. Working with a coach will give you the confidence to say no to foods that may sabotage your progress while still enjoying gatherings with family and friends. You’ll have a tailored plan to combat cravings and temptation that fits your life.
Find the Right Support Tools
You can do all the things – large groups, support groups, one-on-one carnivore coaching, podcasts, videos, books…it’s all about resolving to only put the right things into your body and into your brain.
These things will help keep you on track, giving you a suit of armor for the holidays that assault us with sugar and carbs.
My healing mission looks different today than it did 20 months ago – it’s changed even in the last six months. Hell, I’ve changed things up in the last two months! Here are some key items I’ve learned along the way.
Slowwwww and Steady
5. It’s ok to make gradual changes. We always hear about how people just want instant gratification these days. Let me tell ya, when you add that societal trend to my life-long glaring lack of patience, I get a bit frustrated. I’ve learned that our bodies just can’t keep up if we change too much all at once. Aside from potential adverse effects, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what worked and what made no difference at all. If you change too much all at once how do you know what is helping or hurting your progress? Wanting instant gratification gets in the way of that.
I know my clients get frustrated when I tell them that I have several suggestions for them, but only give them one or two at a time. It’s not that I’m trying to stretch out their time with me. I want to take the one or two things that are likely to make the biggest impact and have them work on them for one or two weeks. Then we can gauge their progress and adjust as needed.
Addiction Began in Childhood
4. Sugar and carb addiction is just as real as any other addiction. Maybe it doesn’t damage relationships or cost you your home or your job, but it does destroy your physical and mental health. I had this revelation somewhere around 1992. Man, that was a long time ago! I was sitting in my apartment, just 20 years old, fighting a mental battle no one else knew about. This unyielding urge to scrape up what change I could find to go to the store and buy whatever cakes and candy I could get. Not just once, not just some days. This was every damn day. It always felt like I was possessed. I remember talking to my mom about it and she was sympathetic, if not a little confused, but had no solution for me. I had no idea what to do about it.
A solution didn’t come for a few more years. Though the solution I chose out of desperation ended up being more disordered eating and I was still addicted. Rather than being obsessed with consuming these foods, I became obsessed with counting and tracking fat grams. Low fat was all the rage at the time. I became very thin but I was only eating carbs and sugar, very few calories. No fat or protein, no nutrition at all. I began developing arrhythmia, urinary problems, I was sick all the time, and lost my period. My moods were horrendous and I could barely function.
Binging on Carnivore Foods
3. Binging absolutely can still happen on carnivore. I’ve heard so many influencers say that you can’t overeat on carnivore. That’s a dangerous claim for a binger. I’m trying to get used to smaller meals since people in the high-profile carnivore communities have been telling us to just eat as much meat as we want because it absolutely did trigger my binge eating disorder. It gave me the freedom to binge without guilt. Yes, I needed to actually nourish my body and not fear weight gain so I can begin to heal. But it also gave me permission to continue the disordered eating habit of binging.
I’ve heard some say it’s not possible to overeat fat. Somewhere in my subconscious, my brain said, “Challenge accepted! Hold my steak and watch this!” This was not a conscious decision. In some circles, it’s believed that the concept of priming is supposed to break the binging habit. That was not the case for me. The act of eating is a comfort for me. Doesn’t matter what the food is. The feeling of fullness equates to love, dopamine, and a really nice high.
High Fat and Gut Health
2. High-fat carnivore may be the ideal approach for you – but you may need to heal some gut issues first. If you are not seeing results, or if your blood glucose increases dramatically when taking the ‘eat all the meats’/high-protein approach, you may need to adjust. If your body is converting more protein to glucose for energy, it’s fighting against what you’re attempting to do.
I think this happens a lot in those of us who are severely damaged metabolically. I put my body through hell with a lifetime of a very high-carb diet, chronic dieting, eating disorders (binging, restricting, bulimia, and a brief bout of anorexia), Hashimoto’s, sugar and carb addiction. So when my body takes in protein, it improvises so that it can comfortably continue to do what it’s always done by using glucose for fuel. While I’m healing, I’m not utilizing stored fat for energy. I argue this with my body every day, but we speak two different languages. So it’s my job to try to communicate what I want my body to do.
When I began doing this high fat/moderate protein version of carnivore, my body rebelled in a not-so-pleasant way. We’ll call it gastric distress. After weeks of making 6 – 8 trips per day to the bathroom with this ‘gastric distress’, I also caught some stomach virus – I think. I couldn’t stand the thought of eating any fat. My only nourishment for more than a week was eggs, plain gelatin flavored with electrolytes, and plain full-fat greek yogurt that I also flavored with electrolytes. I’m not recommending this tactic, but I think these foods helped heal and balance my gut microbiome. Now I can eat very high fat and not have any bowel issues at all. Yay for stomach viruses!
I’m joking, of course. It was not fun, I do not recommend it. But it caused an unintentional experiment and I learned something. I didn’t lose any weight at all during my illness, despite the amount of time I was on the toilet and despite the limited intake of food. I think it’s fascinating though! So, if you are feeling that you need to try the higher fat version of carnivore but your digestion is uncooperative, you may be able to add some gelatin and/or yogurt for a short time to balance things out so that you are able to process fats. Start reintroducing fat at a 50/50 fat to protein ratio of your calories and slowly increase the fat from there.
Individuality Matters
‘Just eat meat’ is becoming the new ‘eat less move more’ mantra.
1 . The number one most important this I’ve learned is this: Not everyone can carnivore the same way. Huge companies in the diet industry have been selling diets, supplements, pre-packaged ‘foods’, and the promise of looking good in a bikini for decades. These days, there are some big influencers promoting a one size fits all approach even when it comes to keto or carnivore. Maybe those plans work for the majority, but making a blanket statement urging people to just eat meat could be doing more harm than good. While ‘just eat meat’ is excellent advice, and will absolutely help kickstart the healing process, it’s not always just that simple. The carnivore community stands to lose people that way when they don’t get the same results. Each health mission is different, each body is different.
I wholeheartedly agree that it shouldn’t be overcomplicated – but it’s potentially detrimental to over-simplify as well. Particularly so if the person has an autoimmune issue, eating disorder, insulin resistance, or gut issues. It’s so important to take your own health issues into consideration, do your research, and work one-on-one with a coach if you have some specific challenges to navigate. Groups are wonderful for their support and camaraderie! Even small groups are great for coaching. But please take what you hear in large groups – or even what I write here! – with a grain of salt and use it as a launching point for your own mission. And if you’d like some one-on-one advice tailored specifically to your challenges and goals, you can reach me HERE!
You must eat to live so you can’t just simply not eat in the same way an alcoholic or drug addict would avoid situations that include drugs or alcohol. My original post on that can be found HERE
Why Food Addiction Matters
So in abstaining vs moderating, I’m referring to specific foods that trigger binge eating. No one, in my experience, has an issue with binging on celery or chicken breast. The problem occurs in those processed foods, sugar, and high-carb foods. These foods are designed to ‘light up’ the same part of our brains that causes substance addiction, sex addiction, gambling, and other behaviors that consume us and disrupt our lives. When food is an addiction, it interferes with our health, causes chronic diseases, and contributes to mental decline. While it might not sound like a big deal to be addicted to sweets – it seems harmless to some – those foods are causing our quality of life to spiral out of control, keeping us sick and dependent on pharmaceutical symptom management.
Abstainers vs Moderators
Something I heard this week really resonated with me. I wish I could give credit to the person who said it, but I’m drawing a blank. Maybe Amy Bellinger? Emily Penton? I feel like it was one of those two lovely ladies. Anyway… ‘Addicts must be abstainers’.
Addicts MUST be abstainers. I believe this to be true of any addict, no matter the substance or source of addiction. Getting to the point of abstinence, however, may look different from person to person. Some addicts, or some addictions, can take a quit-it-an-forget-it approach. Rip off that bandaid and carry on. That can cause more severe adaptation or withdrawal symptoms, but the goal is typically accomplished more quickly. Others may require a step-down approach. This may drag out the process, but adaptation or withdrawal may be less severe and therefore more easily managed. In either approach, the goal and hopefully the result is the same.
Abstaining is Key for Most Addicts
Choosing which method is best for the addict is very personal and requires a great deal of being honest with themselves. My own battle with food addiction is ongoing. It’s been years in the making. I can confidently say my sugar and carb addiction is in remission at this point. Yet I still use food for comfort and that is hindering my progress to some degree. Am I still healing inside? I have no idea. I think so.
So while I do still ‘stress eat’ from time to time, I do not consume sugar or carbs and I do not eat with obsessive, uncontrollable action. I simply eat when I’m not truly hungry. It’s a problem and I’m still working on that. I believe I know what caused it but I’ll leave that for another time. I’m angry with those who suggested a specific practice without knowing my personal issues and angry with myself for thinking I could expect a different result. This is why there should be no specific program for everyone to follow. It’s dangerous and irresponsible. Unethical, even.
Anyway, my point is that any program should be highly individualized, especially where addiction is involved.
What About Moderation?
What about the moderation aspect? I don’t think this is possible for an addict. Maybe you have heard of an alcoholic who can just have a drink on special occasions without going on a bender, but I haven’t. Perhaps you know of a drug addict who can partake now and then without spiraling, but I don’t.
If there is a substance or activity, even if you feel it’s healthy, but it consumes you…I’m sorry to say but that is an addiction. So this applies to anything that has become a source of comfort or a coping mechanism, but it harms you either immediately or in the long run, it’s an addiction.
Comfort or Self-Sabotage?
If it brings you comfort but it’s contributing to your illness or hindering your progress, is that really comfort? Or is it self-sabotage? Moderating, or attempting to be a moderator, is not helping your progress. So, no. I do not believe in moderation when it comes to addictive behaviors. It doesn’t matter if that behavior is binging on donuts, running, smoking, or any other addiction.
I know in my heart and soul I cannot ever have cake and ice cream. It will open up an old wound that I have worked far too hard for far too long to heal. It will not serve me in a positive way and I only have room for good and positive in my life. I will not go backward for a few moments of perceived bliss that will potentially drag me back to the hell that was my miserable failing health. Dramatic? Nope. Not at all. Food addiction is real and it ruins lives.
Help is Here!
If you need help, please feel free to reach out. I can point you in the right direction or I can coach you one-on-one.
What is your why for going carnivore? My why is a pretty big one. It’s deep. This question could be applied to any new habit we start or goal we put in place. What is your why for…exercising, quitting smoking, cutting out caffeine, or dieting? Most of the time there is a very simple answer. You want to get healthy, you want to lessen your cancer risk, you want to fit into a dress or look better for an occasion, or you want better sleep.
Dig Deep, Make It Stick
In order to make your new habit stick, you’re going to need to come up with something better than any of those. Dig a little deeper. Keep asking yourself why with each answer.
Let’s say you have decided to try a carnivore diet. You might say your ‘why’ is because you want to lose weight. Ok, why do you want to lose weight? Maybe you feel uncomfortable or you no longer fit into your clothes. Losing weight may make you feel better and you may fit into your clothes again. But what other benefits would you gain? Maybe your knees won’t hurt anymore. What would you be able to do? Maybe you would reverse your type 2 diabetes and your doctor would reduce your meds. Would your autoimmune issues resolve? Perhaps infertility would no longer be part of your story.
My Why Has Changed, and That’s a Good Thing
For me, my why initially was my weight. It became so much more than that. I noticed my cognitive function had improved, my energy improved, and my muscle and joint pain improved. All of that happened before the weight loss started. So if I really break it down, my why is living.
I want to live. Allow me to clarify – I want to LIVE. I don’t want to simply exist. Surviving isn’t good enough. I want to soak up every moment, drenched in joy and gratitude. Every day that my health improves makes this kind of living possible. I have a pain-free life. I’m not ruled by carb addiction and sugar addiction. Binge eating is part of my past. My thinking is clear. My energy is high and steady. My anxiety has decreased. I am at a healthy, sustainable weight. Hair no longer falls out by the handful. In fact, my hair is growing back! I feel hope and gratitude every day. My body and mind are truly healing.
That Feeling of Zen
The physical changes are many. The changes to my mind and my spirit, however, are what keep me in this space ready to help others achieve the same blissful existence. Those physical changes allowed me to focus on something bigger than myself and my small world. With that, came the beginning of mental and emotional healing. Have you heard of the term ‘carnivore zen’ or ‘low carb zen’? It’s that stress-less, love more, gratitude, and peace that comes with true healing. When you realize you are no longer suffering and want to share this new-found appreciation for life with anyone who will listen.
I actually used to think it was a little hokey when I heard people talk about how your why needs to be something really big. Like dropping 50 pounds isn’t big? To my surprise, it’s not. It’s not everything. It’s not even the most important thing. Weight loss is often a happy side-effect of the crazy health benefits of being meat-based, animal-based, carnivore, high-fat carnivore (Fativore!), or keto. It’s the disease reversal, the giddiness of symptom relief, the gratitude you are able to feel, and then the weight.
Are You Ready?
If you need help finding your ‘why’, drop me a line! I’m happy to do a free consultation to help you decide how to approach your healing. You can email me, message me on any of my social accounts, or jump right in and book a coaching session.
Carnivore cooking, as I say, never has to be boring. But there is something to be said for the potential simplicity of it. Cooking a carnivore meal doesn’t need to be a complicated recipe with a dozen steps and ingredients. No need to figure out what to have as a side dish.
The same cut of meat cooked in a slightly different way is often all that is needed to add variety! 99% of the time, I air fry my steak – and every other meat, honestly. It’s just so fast, easy, and mess-free. This time, however, I added a little sizzle by searing my steak in bacon fat. The crisp outer layer, flavored with that delicious bacon added more depth to the flavor and more interest to the texture.
The Carnivore Grilled Burrito! Carnivore may be a well-known elimination diet, but it’s far from being restrictive. I have some carnivore recipes to share to help add some spice to your meal time!
I saw someone post a similar video on Instagram – I think. But hers turned out perfectly! Not sure what I did wrong, but it still tasted amazing! And it can be customized based on your taste, preference, goals, and sensitivities if you have any.
Carnivore cooking is really very adaptable. Here, I just used some local ground beef, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, Tapatio Hot Sauce (our favorite!), EggLife Wraps, and a little shredded cheese. But you could add sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, whatever! If you are just focused on gluten-free, this is a great option and you can add any veggies you like. If you’re keto, it works beautifully. And if you’re a carnivore, like me, it’s a nice treat! I have to be careful with dairy and seasonings, so I wouldn’t do this every day. But it adds a really nice variety to my menu. Check out my post on Carnivore Tacos here!
Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Follow me on Facebook and Instagram for more kitchen shenanigans! If you are curious about how a low carb or zero carb life can help you in your health goals, reach out to me on my socials, email me, or book a coaching session. I’ll help you come up with a plan that fits your life and your health needs.
Dieting in the traditional way is not sustainable. Why traditional dieting doesn’t work, and what do I mean by that? When you go on a diet it’s a temporary solution to a problem that returns when you stop utilizing said solution. Usually, this is some combination of tracking calories, restricting calories, low fat, lots of veggies, fruit, and fiber, and increasing exercise.
Calorie Restriction Doesn’t Work
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but, candidly speaking, calorie restriction for weight loss is bullshit. It’s not sustainable. Any weight lost will be gained back when you go back to eating ‘normally’. You can’t lose weight to become healthy. You must become healthy to lose weight. Weight gain is a metabolic disorder that can be reversed.
Dieting Doesn’t Make You Healthy
I’m currently reading Dr. Ben Bikman’s book, Why We Get Sick. It’s really fascinating and confirms a lot of my suspicions and answers a lot of my questions about insulin and insulin resistance. I’ll share more insight from what I learn from him in future posts. If you’d like to read it for yourself, you can find it on Amazon
Dr. Bikman is a professor and metabolic scientist whose work really speaks to me. An analogy I recently heard Dr. Ben Bikman use went something like this: He asked his students to imagine he had invited them to a huge buffet celebration dinner. It would include all of their favorite foods. A smorgasbord of palatable delights. Now if you want to make sure you are good and hungry so that you can enjoy all of this food I’m providing, he asked, how would you prepare for that? How would you ensure you’re hungry enough to sample all that food?
The majority of his students explained that they would eat less for a couple of days. Some also said they would exercise a bit more. This was sure to make their bodies able to indulge in everything they wanted. Dr. Bikman’s reply? But isn’t that exactly what you do when you’re trying to diet? Therefore, the strategy of reducing calories or food intake and exercising more innately sets you up for failure because your body naturally then wants MORE. If you deprive your body of nutrition and then use up its energy stores by exercising more….guess what? You are going to be hungrier than usual! A great strategy for preparing to binge, but not great if you want to lose weight.
Extended restriction of calories initiates a change, slowing your metabolism. This may then trigger you to overeat and the cycle continues. Maybe you are able to attain weight loss in time for whatever event you’re dieting for and when that is over you go back to your old habits. Well…of course you do, you’ve been starving your body, your hormones, and your brain! You may very well be malnourished even when you’re eating whatever you like and overeating. This is what causes some of us to overeat in the first place. Your stomach is often full, and yet you always have a notion to eat. I mean, there’s always room for ice cream or a few more chips, right? Why? Lack of actual nutrition that is bioavailable to your body. See my blog post here on this topic – Obese and Malnourished/Stuffed but Starving.
Love Yourself By Healing Yourself
Now, let me set the record straight once again – this is not about punishing yourself for not being a certain size or weight. Yes, you should love your body at any size – but love your body enough to nourish it and move it. That’s not self-loathing. THAT is loving the body you have and wanting it to function optimally so that you can live a long, beautiful, and fulfilling life as God intended. Not to be sick and miserable, putting on a brave face and telling yourself it’s ok to be this way. Stop abusing your body with nutrient-void, addictive garbage. This is not about a beauty standard. It’s about health. Physical, mental, and metabolic health.
It’s also not immediately about weight loss. It’s about healing. Even if you don’t have a medical diagnosis and you have a waist-to-height ratio greater than 45-50%, you have metabolic issues to correct. This can be done with diet. Autoimmune disorders, diabetes, arthritis, insulin resistance, and many MANY health concerns can potentially be reversed by following a species (human) appropriate way of eating.
How Is That Possible?
Stop dieting! So how, exactly, do I propose you nourish your body and prevent or even reverse chronic disease without calorie restriction and exercise? The answer, my friend, is simple. That’s not to say it’s easy, but it is very simple. Eat what we as humans were designed to eat, and don’t eat what was not meant for us. Hint: there’s a reason every parent fights to get their kids to eat vegetables.
My 2 rules for starting your mission to better health:
Eat meat and other animal products (eggs, butter, etc.)
Do NOT eat processed “foods” (if it comes in a box or has ingredients you wouldn’t recognize in nature ditch it)
This may be a slow, measured process or you might dive right in. I’ll help you decide which method is best for you! Feel free to email me at thecandidcarnivore@gmail.com if you would like more information on healing your body or losing weight; message me on my social media pages linked below, or click here to find out more about my virtual coaching sessions. I love helping people all over the world feel their best without buying some plan, program, special foods, or having to count or track anything!
If you’re ready to feel your best, heal your body, get great sleep, and lose weight in the process, what are you waiting for? Contact me!
What are the best, most natural skin and hair care products on the market today?
Cosmetic and skin care companies would like you to think the best products are the ones they created in a lab that cost way too much money and often don’t deliver on the promises they make.
So let’s think about this…if protein and fat give us such great results in our diet, healing us from the inside out, wouldn’t it make sense to use the same type of nourishing ingredients on the outside? Tallow products for skin and hair!
Ethical Skin Care and Hair Care Products – for real
I recently found a company online that DELIVERS on its claims. Buffalo Gal Grassfed Beauty. The company’s founder, Shalley, eats a meat-based diet herself, so she gets it! Everything they do is so thoughtfully done – from every single product, the descriptions, the clearly stated ingredients, and their take on ethical and green beauty. See their blog post on this topic here! It’s brilliant! They also have how-to posts and a very interesting outlook on pro-aging vs. anti-aging.
I was looking around online for a tallow lip balm. I had purchased from another company previously and it was ok, but very expensive. That’s when I found Buffalo Gal Grassfed Beauty and was immediately impressed with the number of products they offer. Tallow shampoo bars and conditioner bars, tallow soaps, tallow deodorant, tallow moisturizer bars…SO. MANY. THINGS.
What I Ordered and My Thoughts
Tallow Lip Balm: Creamy solid, not waxy. Long-lasting. Very moisturizing. Luxurious feel on the lips. This is my new BFF. I have dozens of various balms, sticks, and ointments. They are all going in the trash today. I don’t need them! Why hang on to something that ends up drying my lips out even more when the perfect, nourishing, natural lip balm is right here?
Tallow Shampoo Bar: I’ve never used a solid shampoo bar on my hair, so this was a new concept for me and I was a little intimidated. Lather it on your hands to use on your hair and section your hair to use it on your scalp – easy peasy! My hair and scalp don’t feel dried out and itchy like with some bottled shampoos. My hair feels and smells amazing!
Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse: Admittedly, I was a bit worried that I’d smell like vinegar after using this product. I’m happy to say I was worried over nothing! This made my scalp feel so fresh and clean. The scent does not hang around in your hair at all. It left my hair super soft!
Hyaluronic Conditioner Bar:You don’t need a lot! Use long strokes on your hair, then rinse it out or leave it in for soft, healthy hair that feels stronger right away.
Free Curated Sample Set: Yeah, free sample set! No one does that anymore – but Buffalo Gal does! I received samples based on my specific skin needs.
Here’s what I got in my sample set:
Cleansing Balm:I know I have said this about the other products, but this is so luxurious and nourishing. I have never used a cleanser that felt like this before. So buttery-smooth and luscious!
Toning Mist:I’m a believer! This gave my skin the boost I didn’t know it needed!
Tallow Face Balm and Tallow Night Repair Balm: These are the first tallow-based face products I have used that did NOT cause my skin to break out. More luxury, more lusciousness, my skin is very happy! I look forward to using these every morning and every night.
My Overall Review:
Happy 50-year-old hair and skin! Normal indoor lighting, no light ring, no filter, minimal makeup (just concealer between and under my eyes, cream blush, and eye makeup).
Taken just minutes after the indoor photo, outdoor lighting, no filter, and the same minimal makeup (just concealer between and under my eyes, cream blush, and eye makeup).
If you haven’t guessed by now, on a scale of 0 – 10, I give all of these products, the company, and the founder, Shalley, a 100 out of 10!
I cannot recommend this company and the products enough. Coming from a super-skeptical person like me who hates to be ‘sold’ on things, that’s saying a lot. The products speak for themselves and the values of the company are authentic. I cannot wait to try more products! If you’re looking for natural, truly ethical green, sustainable beauty products for your whole body, you have to check our Buffalo Gal Grassfed Beauty. I’ve just ordered more face balm along with the deodorant, soap, and body butter bar to try next! These are really fine products from a small business with truly caring people.
Thanks for checking out my review! I hope you are having a wonderful day and that you can take a minute to check out these incredible products. Your body will thank you! To learn how fat helps us on the inside, check out my last post: Fat and Brain Health: why we need fat to function.
XOXO
~ The Candid Carnivore
I purchased these items on my own prior to becoming an affiliate partner. Any purchase you make using the links here may earn me a small commission. I have not been paid for this review and it is not sponsored. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Why is it essential to eat animal fats? Commonly, we are told that the brain requires glucose to function. This, my friends, is a big, fat lie!
What disorders can be improved with higher fat diets?
Eating fat has been shown to improve cognitive function and mental clarity; mood and mental health; as well as brain disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s.
Expressly, noted improvements in brain-related disorders are:
Anxiety
Depression
Brain fog
Memory
Brain injury
Stroke
ADHD
Autism
Epilepsy
Dementia (Type 3 Diabetes)
MS (multiple sclerosis)
Migraines
You can check out one study supporting this here. These are just some of the brain-related issues that can be improved or reversed – not to mention metabolic, autoimmune, and other health issues.
We have been sold on a low-fat diet for so long. And it shows. Incidents of ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression have increased dramatically along with so many other disorders and diseases. We have been told fat and cholesterol should be avoided at all costs. This has been a detrimental piece of horrible advice.
What about all those studies?
Any study that is done for research requires funding. Scientists need paychecks just like the rest of us. So where does this money come from? Usually, at least some portion of funding comes from a large corporation that would stand to benefit from the findings of such studies. So perhaps the study is conducted in a way that a bit of ‘good information’ may come out of it, but the large part of the outcome will be worded in such a way, or the process of the study has been done in such a way, that the funding source can tout the findings as proof that you need to purchase their product. There are no local ranchers out here funding studies, they simply don’t have the bank for that. All we can do is trust the history of our species and dissect the significant amount of data, ignoring the study’s conclusion. Check the sources, and check the processes.
A simple example would be Ancel Key’s 7 nations study. It’s said that the study actually included 22 countries, but only 7 fit the narrative, so the rest were excluded. Another example is well known – the Harvard scientists who were bought by the sugar companies to outright lie and say that fat causes heart disease when the study clearly shows that sugar was the cause. This was proven many years ago, but the false information is so widely circulated that most people, including doctors, still believe it to be true. If this were the case, the last few decades at the height of the low-fat and high-fiber diets, and the increased popularity of veganism should have effectively reduced the rate of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, autism, and the vast array of other modern, and way too common, diseases. But the opposite has happened. The rate of these and other diseases has steadily increased!
What does food have to do with the brain?
Now, to get a bit science-y… brain health begins in the gut – the gut-brain connection. This is where our neurotransmitters are made. A key chemical for brain health is serotonin. But did you know that serotonin is actually made in your gut? So our brain health begins with what we are putting into our bodies. Fiber creates small perforations in the digestive tract. This causes ‘leaky gut’, which is exactly as it sounds. In addition, the toxins in the plants we are convinced we need can contribute to depression. Toxins and various fluids are leaking into your body and bloodstream. This has a direct effect on your brain and contributes to the mental and physical health of your brain. What do you consume via your eyes, your ears, and your mouth? It all matters a great deal. It’s imperative to your overall health. Filling the body with grains and sugar is causing the brain to be malnourished. The brain is not getting the nutrition it needs to operate efficiently or optimally. Add to that the man-made non-food ingredients in processed products, and we don’t really stand a chance at a long, healthy, and happy life.
This could be a very long post if I were to go into each category and explain how carnivore, specifically higher fat carnivore, can positively impact each issue. Let me know in the comments if there is any specific brain-related issue you would like more information on!
If you’re ready to start eliminating foods that are harming your health and begin really living your life, email me or contact me on social media here:
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A lot of yesterday’s deals are still going on, but some are selling out!! Check yesterday’s post to get those links: CLICK HERE
I’m looking for the best deals on all that Amazon has to offer for kitchen, cooking, health, fitness, and wellness products! From appliances to knives, gadgets to supplements, and anything else I can find that may fit into your mission for better health!
Don’t have a Prime membership? I got you! Here’s an Amazon Prime 30-day FREE trial. Cancel anytime! (Note: the links listed here are affiliate links that help me earn a small commission but do not cost any additional amount to you.)
Appliances
Ninja IG651 Foodi Smart XL Pro 7-in-1 Indoor Grill/Griddle Combo: 41% off! This has been on my wish list for a long time! The protein doneness settings take the guesswork out and you can get the perfect meat every time!
Cuisinart 36″ 4-Burner Gas Griddle: 30% off!
Instant Pot 800W Accu Slim Sous Vide Precision Cooker: 30% off! If you’ve ever wanted to try sous vide steak, here’s your chance to get a trusted brand at a great price!
Waterdrop Reverse Osmosis System with Smart Faucet: 30% off! Integrated into your kitchen plumbing, this system ensures your public water or well water is pure and free of toxins.
Corsi Smart Air Fryer XL: 31% Off! Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant!
Kitchen Tools, Gadgets, & Accessories
Egg Holder Storage Box: 40% off PLUS an extra 20% off when you clip the coupon, making this under $8! If you love having hard-boiled eggs on hand but hate the smell when you open the fridge, maybe this would help!
SodaStream: 37% off! Make your own zero-sugar sparkling water!
Cuisinart 15-Piece Knife Block: 41% off! The one I shared yesterday sold out so grab this one before it’s gone!
Kitchen Appliance Sliding Mats: 20% off! These would come in handy as often as I have to slide my coffee pot and pressure cooker/air fryer in and out of its storage place!
Meat Masher: 20% off! Nifty little gadget! I use a potato masher since I no longer eat potatoes, it’s been repurposed for meat! But this is a cool item!
Magnetic Air Fryer Cheat Sheet: 44% off! Another handy item, though I’d only use it for the meats, but a very handy thing to have!
Dash 8″ Round Griddle: 20% off! I have the waffle maker version I use for chaffles, but this would work too! Same chaffle recipe but could be used as tortillas, pancakes, etc.
Vacuum Insulated Food Container – 2 pack: 20% off! Great for keeping your steak or bone broth ward, and your butter cold!
Vacuum Sealer for Food Storage: 33% off! Save money – buy in bulk, vacuum seal, and freeze!
Supplements
Vital Proteins Beef Collagen: 39% off! Collagen is a flavorless powder that can be added to drinks or recipes, used as a thickener, and is so good for you! Collagen is needed for healthy skin, hair, nails, and joints. Also helps to heal digestive issues!
Vital Proteins Grass-fed Desiccated Beef Liver Pills: 47% off! Hate the taste of liver but feel like your nutrition needs a boost? This pill form makes it easy!
#1 Best Selling Vitamin D3: 52% off! With the little sun exposure we get, working inside and using screens, most people are deficient in vitamin D – especially those of us farther north! Vitamin D is essential for bone, muscle, cardiovascular, and immune health, as well as mood regulation.
Health & Fitness
Red Light Therapy Panel: 41% off + an additional $8 off coupon! Red light therapy is a great tool for anti-aging, hair growth, relieving pain, aiding in internal healing, and mood enhancement!
Grounding Mat: 21% off! Grounding is another tool to help reduce anxiety, pain and inflammation; while increasing healing and improving sleep and mood stability! I use mine DAILY.
#1 Best Selling Neoprene Weight Set: 47% off! Just starting out with strength training? Hate going to the gym? Prefer higher reps with smaller weights? These are for you!
