The 3 Biggest Advocates For The Carnivore Diet (And What We Can Learn From Them)

The carnivore diet is an elimination diet that provides powerful health benefits like decreased inflammation, increased nutrient density, and better overall health. That’s why it’s no surprise that many celebrities and YouTube influences have fallen in love with being a carnivore.

And who wouldn’t? It’s tasty, healthy, and shopping finally becomes something you enjoy.

But what are their experiences with the carnivore diet, and what can we learn from them?

Well, in this post, you will discover;

  • Who are the most prominent advocates for the carnivore diet
  • The benefits and drawbacks they’ve experienced
  • And what we can learn from them so that we can live healthier lives.

Let’s dive in!

1. Joe Rogan – Tried The Carnivore Diet Because Of Jordan Peterson

Joe Rogan recently signed a $100 million deal with Spotify, which took his popularity to the next level. With that, more people are being exposed to the benefits of the carnivore diet.

Joe tried a 30-day carnivore challenge to experience the potential benefits and to see what impact it might have on his body. He mainly ate elk, grass-fed beef, bacon, and eggs. He also supplemented with fish oil, vitamin C, and vitamin D.

What Benefits Did He Experience?

The most significant benefit, according to Joe, was his increased energy levels and mental clarity. Not only was his energy levels felt higher, but it was also more stable. This is because the carnivore diet removes all carbs, which tend to spike blood glucose and insulin levels.

That’s why after you eat high-carb foods like rice and potatoes, you feel tired. And all you want to do is sleep.

On the carnivore diet, Joe cut out all carbs, which led to more stable blood glucose and energy levels.

In one episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Joe mentioned how he went to Disneyland with his family and ate ice cream and other junk food. When he came home, he experienced back pain for the first time in ages. He attributes this to inflammation, and he’s right.

When you eat junk food, your body sees it as a toxin and triggers inflammation to fight it. This inflammation can cause serious back, knee, and joint pain.

And lastly, Joe credits his improved Vitiligo to the carnivore diet. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that causes the skin to lose pigmentation in its cells. This results in discolored patches. Joe’s Vitiligo had significantly improved when he tried the 30-day challenge, and this shouldn’t be a surprise since the carnivore diet is famous for managing and even curing autoimmune disorders.

Now that we know all the benefits he experienced let’s look at the problems he faced.

What Problems Did He Face?

Joe complained about explosive diarrhea at the beginning of his 30-day challenge. But after a few weeks, his body got used to the new diet, and his diarrhea disappeared. 

The lack of fiber can be the reason for his diarrhea in the carnivore diet, which can only be found in foods like broccoli and other dark leafy greens.

If you’re starting or you’ve started a carnivore diet, just know that diarrhea will go away after a few weeks because your body will become used to your dietary changes.

Now let’s talk about a man that many people look up to and admire.

2. The Carnivore Diet Cured Jordan Peterson’s Depression

Jordan Peterson’s daughter, Mikhaila Peterson, had severe arthritis, depression, and anxiety since she was a child. When she started college, she tried removing certain foods like gluten and sugar from her diet, and her health improved. 

After a few years of removing and adding foods to her diet, she only ate beef, salt, and water. And all her symptoms disappeared.

She recommended her version of the carnivore diet to her father since he had similar symptoms and his results were astonishing.

What Benefits Did He Experience?

During an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, Jordan Peterson mentioned the following benefits;

  1. His anxiety decreased. After a week, he felt 25% less anxious in the morning. Two weeks in, he felt 75% less anxious.
  2. He also stopped taking his anti-depression pills because his depression was a thing of the past. Depression can be managed or even cured with a carnivore diet because it’s caused by chronic inflammation and a carnivore diet removes all dietary inflammation. 
  3. Jordan’s favorite benefit was that it cured his gum disease. He has been suffering from gum disease since the age of 25, and after a few months on a carnivore diet, his gum disease was no more.
  4. He lost 50 pounds and said he’s 70% less hungry between meals.
  5. Lastly, his mental clarity is through the roof. This is important because he is always having debates and needs to think sharp.

But what problems did he face?

What Problems Did He Face?

In an interview with Joe Rogan, he hints that his version of the carnivore diet is boring and restrictive. And that’s true; imagine only eating beef, salt, and water. I’d go crazy.

Start mixing things up, eat some fish, eggs, organ meats, and milk. The carnivore diet is restrictive, but it doesn’t have to be boring.

Now, let’s talk about the man who popularized the carnivore diet. If it wasn’t for him, you probably wouldn’t even know what the carnivore diet is.

3. Dr. Shawn Baker (The Original Carnivore)

At 45 years old, Dr. Baker weighed over 300 pounds, suffering from back issues, sleep apnea, joint pain, and hypertension. 

One day after hitting the gym and feeling burnt out, Dr. Baker decided to experiment with different diets. He removed certain foods while adding others to see how his body reacts. 

He started with a Paleo diet and quickly discovered the benefits of eating a ketogenic diet. While eating low-carb, he lost over 50 pounds but still felt tired, drowsy, and sore. This is when he came across Vince Gironda, a famous bodybuilder who advocated for a steak and eggs diet. He gave it a try, and within days he felt better. He started introducing plant foods back into his diet a few months later and noticed his gut issues and joint pains return.

And since 2017, Dr. Baker has been eating a strict carnivore diet.

He now helps others who suffer from autoimmune diseases, diabetes, chronic inflammation, and joint pains, manage and cure their ailments.

What Benefits Did He Experience?

Dr. Shawn Baker lost over 50 pounds, cured his digestive issues, lowered his blood pressure, and healed his back and joint pains all while eating a carnivore diet.

He experienced these benefits because the carnivore diet reduces inflammation, increases nutrient density, and puts your body in a state of ketosis which leads to better weight loss, healthy blood pressure levels, and fewer joint pains.

What Problems Did He Face?

What I like about Dr. Shawn Baker is that he realizes carnivore isn’t the perfect diet. There’s no such thing. Everybody reacts differently to different foods, and Dr. Baker even said that most people could experience benefits from eating a carnivore-ish diet. For example, 80% meat and 20% of plant foods.

But he does realize that people suffering from autoimmune disease, leaky gut, and depression can be negatively affected by eating even a small amount of plant foods.

Conclusion

By learning from other people’s experiences, we can prepare for and avoid the problems they ran into. And who better to learn from than people who’ve actually tried the carnivore diet. 

All Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, and Dr. Shawn Baker’s benefits came from experimenting with different foods and seeing how their body reacts to those foods.

Normally they are left with only eating animal products because it’s nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory, and causes your body to burn fat for energy.