Health is Wealth

Reflecting on a Year of the Carnivore Diet

The 2024 election was shaken up when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided to join forces with Donald Trump, binding the “Make America Great Again” movement with the “Make America Healthy Again” momentum. Throughout the campaign, Kennedy spoke not only about the dangers of the establishment Democrat Party that had shut him out of the presidential primary process, but he also gained enormous traction discussing a topic that seemed to resonate with millions of Americans: our nation’s poisonous diet.

You can read and see everything that Kennedy, now Trump’s HHS Secretary nominee, thinks about our food and pharmaceutical industry in the news or in his book. However, I want to share something far more personal in this piece about the topic.

In previous posts, I have stated that a New Year’s resolution is rarely successful. Research cited by the Ohio State University Fisher College Business found that only 9 percent of Americans that make yearly resolutions complete them. In fact, some 23 percent quit their resolution by the end of the first week and 43 percent quit by the end of the first month.

Despite that knowledge, last December, I decided to make a lifestyle change in 2024. I challenged myself to go on the Carnivore Diet for an entire year. Now with that time coming to an end, I can proudly say that I beat the odds – I accomplished and completed my commitment. So, with that in mind, I thought it might be worth sharing a little about my experience over the last year and my personal observations concerning our food and health system.

But before I begin, I want to make a few disclaimers. First, I want to assure you that this platform is not turning into a health and wellness outlet. After committing the last year to a healthy lifestyle change, I simply think it might be worth sharing a little about my experience in hopes that it might be helpful to someone else. Second, I am not a doctor. If you want medical advice, talk to a physician you trust. I am only going to speak to my personal perspective and observations.

The Results

Did the diet work? Well, the results speak for themselves. I lost well over 40 pounds since January – it was slow and steady weight loss, that took place over the course of many months. However, it is important to keep in mind that I also lost significantly more pounds of body fat than that, given the increased muscle mass that I gained over the year. The bottom line is this: the scale in the living room doesn’t lie and neither does the plates added to the barbell in the weight room.

Before and After

I have more energy. I feel more alert, and I am stronger at the age of 36 than I ever was as a Division I college athlete. Most importantly, I feel like – for the first time in a long time – I have control over my own health once again.

And like I said earlier, I can’t give you medical advice, but here are the facts. I generally have sinus and allergy issues every season. This year? I never had to seek a single treatment. And despite having a toddler in the house, who typically spreads colds and bugs like wildfire, I have not taken a sick day this year.

Coincidence? Maybe, but not likely. I firmly believe that the biggest obstacle to my health has been my own dietary choices. To me, that is good news. I would rather cut out 90 percent of the products at the grocery store than be dependent on a pharmacy to control my health outcomes.

I know for many that is not an option due to their health conditions, but I must wonder how much of our poor health in America, as a whole, is related to our diets rather than any other factor.

Keep Design in Mind

The carnivore diet consists of eating only animal products: meat, eggs, fish, and certain dairy products. The weight-loss strategy is based on the same premise of any ketogenic (keto) diet, where the body begins to burn fat for energy when it doesn't take in enough carbohydrates. It’s restrictive, but simplistic.

Make no mistake: I don’t think fad diets work. In fact, I know diets themselves rarely work in the long-term. I chose Carnivore, because I don’t think it’s really a diet at all - it is really a move back toward our original menu as a people.

When you think about it, human beings, until the invention of modern agricultural practices, had a regional or local palette. God designed our bodies to run on what we could find. And yes, we were designed to eat meat. Sorry, PETA – take your concerns up with Scripture.

In Genesis 9, God makes a covenant with Noah and states: “The fear and dread of you will fall on all the beasts of the earth, and on all the birds in the sky, on every creature that moves along the ground, and on all the fish in the sea; they are given into your hands. Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.” Want some New Testament scripture? In Acts, God told Peter to “kill and eat.” That’s just some of the evidence which clearly outlines mankind’s mandate to utilize meat as a resource for food.

In sum, humans historically only ate what we could kill or find in the woods. Then we started to harvest what we could grow on our land, followed by what we could trade with our neighbors in our community. In other words, if you didn’t live in a climate that could grow citrus, good luck finding oranges to eat. Yet, somehow, without the preservatives and practices of the modern food industry, we survived as a species. In fact, we lived without the chronic disease and obesity that plagues modern America today.

In contrast, we were certainly not designed to eat the processed foods that make up the bulk of our American diet today. Some 60 to 90 percent of the standard American diet consists of highly processed foods and beverages. Commons sense would dictate that no matter what type of diet you choose to live on – it’s probably in your best interest to limit the highly processed items and focus on real, natural foods.

Finally, humans weren’t designed to live on the carbohydrates and sugar that Americans currently consume. According to the American Heart Association, American adults consume on average about 17 teaspoons of added sugar every day, which is more than 2 to 3 times the recommended allowance. This intake amounts to 60 pounds of added sugar consumed annually, or roughly the equivalent of six, 10-pound bowling balls. In addition, according the Harvard School of Public Health, “low-quality” carbs account for 42 percent of Americans’ daily calories.

For me, the carnivore diet worked because it simplified eating, and it cut out the processed foods, sugar, and carbohydrates that were clearly negatively impacting my health. Some in the medical community have been taught to shame patients for eating red meat and animal fat, but let’s not forget that everything is political – and what physicians are taught about nutrition is no different.

We are generally not reminded that almost six decades ago, lobbyists from the sugar industry paid scientists to shift blame away from sugar as a contributor to heart disease and move toward fat. Don’t believe me? Google it or look on NPR, which isn’t exactly a conservative publication. Plus, don’t forget that lobbyists helped make bread and pasta part of the “foundation” of the food pyramid. That turned out to be great idea, right?

My point is that doctors, like any profession, work at the level of their training. Sadly, our government’s hand on the so-called “science” of nutrition hasn’t always been in the best interest of the American people. So, don’t let the science outpace your common sense. When choosing a diet, do the research, talk to experts, and keep our design as human beings in mind.

Accountability and Affirmation

When I first started the diet, I was told by a few people that I would, in summary, gain all the wait back by spring if I lost any at all. From life experience, I have concluded that people can only speak from their own the level of knowledge and that they often lash out from the depth of their own insecurity or hurt. If they can’t accomplish a certain thing, they expect you to fail as well. In fact, your growth often threatens their own sense of self-worth.

So, when taking on a life changing habit, my first advice is to ignore the haters. Do your research, consult experts, and make your own decisions. Once you commit, then own it.

Part of how I chose to take ownership myself was through transparency. I made everyone close to me aware of the lifestyle change I was making. Was this to impress them? Not even close. I was transparent about my habits to ensure that if I failed, everyone would know. That, in itself, is a form of accountability.

Yet, today’s social media culture rewards appearances over real accolades. I often observe confusion about how to handle growth in the digital age. Here is an example: how many people do you see post workout videos on social media, but objectively lack any measurable improvement in their health? It’s a tough topic that probably will offend someone, but it’s simply a factual part of our culture today. Many people seek affirmation from their community when what they really need is accountability.

This post is the first time I have spoken about my diet or health choices on the internet, in any form. But the people in my life who care about me knew about my decision from the beginning – I was vulnerable with the people that mattered. They would know if I succeeded or failed. They would know if I cheated on my diet or stopped working out. However, I did not rely on appearances to replace the importance of results.

I can speak to this firmly, because I’ve learned the hard way in my life that seeking accountability from your community works far better than simply seeking affirmation. Sadly, our online world today promotes the latter instead of the former.

Lift Weights

Mobility as we age is important. NIH (National Institute of Health) studies found that higher daily step counts are associated with lower mortality risk from all causes. Plus, immobility seems to enhance the risk of death significantly. For example, medical research indicates that mortality among patients with hip fractures is two or three times higher than the general population. Only 60% recover all their previous functions, and around 8 percent to 27 percent die within three to six months. In sum, research supports the idea that movement is life.

However, it seems from a layman’s perspective that most people focus solely on cardiovascular health and forget to put as much effort into their musculoskeletal health. Sadly, a declining muscular system can lead to the immobility concerns listed above.

Medical studies indicate that human muscle mass typically decreases approximately 3 to 8 percent per decade after the age of 30 and declines at even higher rates after the age of 60. Researchers point out that this loss of muscle, power, and functionality is “a fundamental cause of and contributor to disability in older people.”

Harvard Medical School recognizes that weight lifting can positively boost longevity. In fact, they point to a study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, which examined the exercise habits of nearly 100,000 men and women ages 55 to 74. After about nine years, the researchers found that weightlifting alone was linked to a 9 to 22 percent lower risk of dying. Moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise lowered the risk of death by 24 to 34 percent. However, the risk of dying was 41 to 47 percent lower for people who did both types of exercise when compared to people who did not exercise.

I firmly believe strength is core to health. Your need for power may be relative to your lifestyle, but every human being’s quality of life will be limited if they lack the physical strength to carry out the tasks they need to do in their daily life. If you have never given strength training a try, I would suggest you get some professional training and try it out. Whether you are 18 or 80, you can benefit from appropriate strength training.

Lose the Pride

The ability to make real and lasting change in this world is rare. That is not because the ingredients for growth itself are rare – the willingness to change the details of our daily habits is the real scarcity. The first step, though, is admitting you need change.

Thus, one of the greatest inhibitors to growth is pride. In culture, in health, and in society, human beings typically try to arrive at some type of homeostasis, no matter how bad the status quo may be. We try to tell ourselves that we are perfect the way we are. In fact, we can even make our status a significant part of our very identity. The “body positivity” movement is a perfect example of this.

Positive self-esteem can be a good thing. God loves each of us the same, and we all have the same inherent value in His eyes. However, that doesn’t mean that our personal choices and habits aren’t killing us or depriving us of living our life to our fullest. Part of our culture seems to care far more about hurt feelings than healthy living, and that is a dangerous thing.

Take Control

As discussed in previous posts, America spends the most money on healthcare of any developed nation. Yet, we have some of the worst health outcomes. This is, in part, because our system is largely focused on treatment rather than true health. I know a lot of great doctors. And believe it or not, I have come to know a lot of great people in government. Despite that, I have personally come to the decision that I want to rely on both systems as little as I possibly can.

I believe that sentiment is why Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement has so much momentum and has played such a big part in this year’s presidential election: many Americans have come to the same conclusion. So, as our economy expands and financial growth returns to our nation under the next administration, don’t forget to invest in your own health – it’s a wealth you just can’t buy.