Most of you regulars in this blog know that I've battled several health conditions through the years. It's such a long story that it deserves its own post so we will save that discussion for another day.
Because of my health battles and with doctors giving up on me, I decided to take my health into my own hands and studied..a lot! I researched every single day, read as many books as I can about health, nutrition, and body healing. I even got certified in all three and other areas.
Very quick background. I was diagnosed with polymyositis and fibromyalgia in my 20s. I was given a cocktail of prednisone, very strong NSAIDs, and anti-depressants. I wasn't depressed but the doctor said that I needed those to sleep because the pain would keep me up. I healed both of those autoimmune diseases but ended up with chronic idiopathic urticaria. This was a huge problem because, during treatment, I discovered, on my own, that I was highly allergic to antihistamines. The doctors did not believe me when I asked if I could be allergic to antihistamines. They scoffed at the idea but I researched and found people on line that were allergic to them. I also found out that my cousin in the states is allergic to Benadryl. So yes, that sounds contradictory but I am allergic - to all generations of antihistamines. It even got to the point where I had anaphylaxis in the ED of a prominent hospital because they screwed up. I told them I was allergic to antihistamines and they said that they would just follow it up with steroids but they didn't do that and so I almost collapsed in the bathroom. I called the nurse and she rushed me back and that's when panic started. Anyway, that's also another story for another day.
So, it got to the point that all dermatologists and allergists that I saw gave up on me. Even the ER doctors gave up on me. That's when I decided that I will take matters into my own hands and figure this out. With a lot of prayers and guidance from the Lord, the urticaria healed but was replaced by very painful and very large cystic acne. During this time, I decided to be a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian for 2 years and that's when the problem with my skin and everything else started. I became very underweight. I was only 70 pounds at that time. I'm petite at 5 feet but 70 pounds was not good. My skin was inflamed. I had fatigue. I was depressed. I was functioning but I was like a robot. I didn't enjoy life. The Herxheimer I experienced when I shifted to vegetarian was so bad, I thought I was going to die.
My skin, which had always been flawless, was now a mess.
before my period. In fact, when I trained in
During this time, I also discovered that I was (still am as of writing) histamine intolerant. I would get hot and red when it's hot. I would develop rashes on my face when I eat high-histamine foods. I would feel hot and dizzy even when I exercise in an air-conditioned room.
Every time I would go out, my friends would comment how skinny I was. It was annoying. My skin was annoying. Everything was annoying, so I told myself, when I wasn't eating "clean, " my weight was alright, and my skin was beautiful. I'm going back to that. And I did and I gained weight and my skin improved. No more cystic acne but it was replaced by rosacea-like rashes. Until now, as I write this, I'm still experiencing these rashes. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly the cause is. And this figuring-out thing has led me to the carnivore diet.
How I Discovered the Carnivore Diet
I've been praying a lot to God to heal my skin. I asked for permanent healing. I've been a sickly kid and I've been dealing with some form or another of health problems ever since. So, I asked God to tell me what I should do to achieve permanent healing.
One day, I was watching YouTube and a carnivore diet video popped up. It wasn't in my algorithm. I watched other sorts of videos. I tried a high-protein diet before but it didn't work because I did it the wrong way. I'm familiar with the carnivore diet but didn't give it much thought because of my background in nutrition. I watched the video and it opened my eyes. Everything the person said made sense. The video was not full carnivore though. The speaker was talking about the dangers of anti-nutrients, the toxins that plants release in our bodies, and the benefits of a carnivore diet. I could relate to what he was saying because I was experiencing those side effects. So, armed with this new knowledge, I went down the rabbit hole deeper. I came across a video where Kent Carnivore had a segment where he was saying that when he ate a piece of pineapple, it went to his colostomy bag in the same shape, size, and form. But when he ate meat, it was liquified. I was stunned! During my studies for my certifications, I came across a video that said that when we eat meat, it just rots in our large colon and so we need vegetables for their fiber to sweep it out. Oh, my. How we've been lied to! This guy can actually see how his food is digested. He says it's liquified! So that made me even more interested. In the following days, I kept watching more and more videos. I did a lot of research and I'm still doing that now. I ask questions. I want to know as much as I can about this.
I was excited and so I decided to go carnivore slowly. I do this because I've been to one extreme diet before and that didn't go well. I just upped my protein intake one day and the next and the next. I was noticing a lot of healing going on in my body. There was this cyst-like thing or perhaps a waste metabolite on my foot that has been there for months. I tried hot and cold compresses but those didn't work. Then suddenly, on this new diet, the lump just shrank. In about 2 weeks, it was completely gone! This is when I decided to create my own version of the carnivore diet.
What is Carnivore in Harmony?
Carnivore in Harmony is a diet that I developed for myself. Like I said, I've been vegetarian and that didn't work out. Aside from the skin problems, I also developed reflux and alternating constipation and loose stools. I would also get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom or just be jolted awake for no reason. I had trouble going back to sleep. My sleep wasn't deep and restful. I had a lot of hot flashes at night. Yes, I'm perimenopausal (almost 43) but the hot flashes were frequent. I knew this wasn't right.
While developing this diet, I took into consideration a lot of things - my sensitivities, my family's health conditions and diet, my emotional and mental well-being, and my physical health.
Here are some things that I decided on:
1. I will not force this diet on my family. My son is still growing and I will not deprive him of rice and bread. I know hardcore carnivores might be shaking their heads but hear me out. We're Asian so rice is a staple. We are not used to not eating rice. We (my family and I ) can last about a day without rice but our bodies crave it. My son and I are ADHD so rice gives us some fuel. Yes, I know your argument about eating only meat.
2. My husband is special needs. He is in the spectrum. He loves bread. To keep the peace, bread will still show up on the table.
3. Because of the meds I've been on for years, I have developed a lot of sensitivities, mostly to vegetables and some other foods. I don't want to eliminate all vegetables and fruits from my diet. I eliminated beef before and when I ate it, I reacted. I will never do that again. I will still eat some fruits and vegetables from time to time.
4. I still eat a very small amount of pickled cucumbers, radish, and kimchi.
5. I still eat pancakes. My family loves pancakes and weekend breakfasts with my family are special. I will not miss out on those memories because of a strict diet. I eat 1 or 2 small pieces and that's that. Also, I make it from scratch. No boxed mixes so I know exactly what's in it.
6. Do I still eat fast food? Yes, but only when I really need to like when I'm too exhausted to cook or I'm down because of my period, but the frequency of us eating out has been reduced drastically.
7. Do I still eat sweets? Yes, a very small amount and only if I want to. This very high-protein diet has eliminated my craving for sweets and snacks. During my period, I ate about an inch of salted dark chocolate with almonds (Choco Lonely - Tonyās Chocolonely dark chocolate, a Dutch brand). And that was it.
8. I still have some fruits in the fridge and I will incorporate those in our meals. I will add them to dishes or if we're going to eat them, my son and I will share them. For example, half an apple each.
9. What is my goal? Do I see myself going full carnivore in the future? No. But I will continue with my Carnivore in Harmony Diet. I call it in harmony because I believe in balance. I was a martial artist so I believe in the ancient teachings of having everything in balance. I do not want to get a hypersensitive reaction to a certain food because I've completely eliminated it from my diet. I had a classmate in First Aid training. She went "clean" for a while and when she ate a burger, she developed rashes all over her body. I know my body and there is a big possibility that that can happen to me. So I will keep reintroducing different foods to my body from time to time.
10. Do I still eat sugar? We've always used muscovado and honey. That's what I use for cooking.
11. I decided I will not be too strict on myself. I will enjoy food. When my family and I are out and we need to eat at a restaurant, I will make intelligent choices. As much as possible, I will order only meat dishes. If a dish comes with vegetables, I can put those on the side. If my family wants to eat ice cream, sure I'll have some but only if I really want to. As I've mentioned, I no longer crave sweets. When I eat or drink something sweet, I find it too sweet already. The only sweet thing I liked before this diet was dark chocolate. And now, sometimes I find that too sweet, too.
12. In a nutshell, I'd say Carnivore in Harmony is 97% meats and the rest is a mix of rice, bread, pickled vegetables/fruits, some fruits and vegetables from time to time, very little desserts, and some outside food.
What I Eat Now (February 2025)
I eat lots of meat, 3x a day. I still eat some rice but only about 1/2 to 3/4 cup. I eat bread sometimes. I eat pasta sometimes. I also eat tortillas and pitas sometimes. I drink very diluted ice tea. I put lots of ice in it. I sometimes drink iced chocolate that I prepare using full fat milk and Starbucks' chocolate powder. I basically recreate their iced chocolate drink at home.
I eat pizza cheese. I can tolerate some butter. I'm still having problems with butter as sometimes it gives me rashes but I know I'll overcome that soon. I haven't eaten fruits and vegetables in a while but I will use half an apple for a dish I'm going to make for lunch. Oh, I had french fries last night that I cooked along with some homemade burgers. We still eat hotdogs, ham, bacon, luncheon meat, breakfast sausage patties, and canned tuna and sardines. But, we are slowly tapering the amount of processed food in our house.
List of meats that I eat:
1. Thin cuts of beef. We don't eat steak because it's hard to chew. I prefer sukiyaki cut, stroganoff cut, breakfast steaks, big chunks for stewing.
2. Chicken - wings, sometimes drumsticks, breast
3. Seafood - fish, shrimps, crabs, clams
4. Pork - pork chops, thinly sliced, belly
I would love to find some good chicharon. Do you have a recommendation? I don't want chicharon cooked in seed oils or vegetable oils. If you know a brand, kindly leave a comment.
What My Family Eats (February 2025)
My son is only 11 and so I let him eat whatever he wants and how much he wants. He is a very responsible eater. He used to eat vegetables and fruits but because he has watched all those videos with me, he's staying away from them for a while. He said that he will still eat them from time to time. I guess he's the one in this Carnivore in Harmony Diet with me. He still eats a lot of rice and bread. He is also trying to gain weight that's why I'm not restricting him. He's always had trouble gaining weight but when we shifted to Carnivore in Harmony, his appetite surged. He was eating a lot before but now, it's doubled! And he's gaining weight! It used to be a struggle to gain weight. He would gain some then lose it again. But now, I feel that his weight gain is consistent and it will keep moving up.
My husband eats whatever is served to him, so mostly our diet but he also drinks coffee and Coke and has a love for McDonald's. Like I said, to keep the peace, I just let him be.
Benefits That I've Experienced So Far (February 2025)
I accidentally went high-protein on an impromptu trip to Baguio in December 2024 and that's when I started to see the benefits. I didn't eat a lot of vegetables there even though I really love Baguio vegetables (fresh, high-altitude-grown vegetables from Baguio, a mountain region in the Philippines). I was scared of getting a lot of rashes on my face. I've proven that vegetables give me rashes and make my face red but couldn't omit them entirely from fear of being constipated. Boy, was I wrong! Ever since I shifted, my movements have been regular, healthy, and easy. No more alternating constipation and loose bowels.
The reflux is gone. I used to have a hard time going to sleep because when I lied down, I would start feeling tight in my chest. All the gas would build up and I would keep burping. I've been using 2 pillows ever since I was a teenager because my neurologist prescribed them for vertigo and migraines. I've never changed it even after the migraine and vertigo have gone. That didn't help with the reflux. There are times when I couldn't burp the gas out so I had to sit up and drink some water so that I could burp. This went on for about 15 to 30 minutes, sometimes lasting to an hour. My sleep quality was terrible. I would go on for days like this. Sometimes I would sleep it just to make up for the sleep debt but the quality is not there. What you want is good, uninterrupted, deep sleep so that your body can repair and recover. When I did carnivore, lying down is easy. Falling asleep is easy and I don't get up anymore in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. I can sleep for a solid 7-9 hours depending on how tired I am during the day.
Another benefit I'm experiencing is better eyesight. I drank 64 oz of fruit and vegetable juice daily while I was a vegetarian because I was healing something. It was around that time that I started noticing my eyes getting blurry or foggy. It's like a bathroom mirror after you take a hot shower. I even had my eyes checked and had reading glasses made. I had a hard time reading text messages, reading the text on my laptop, and reading e-books. The first week that I was on Carnivore in Harmony, I noticed that my eyes were no longer blurry a few minutes after I woke up. Do you know that feeling when your eyes are blurry when you open them first thing in the morning? It continues for a while, right? Then when you're fully awake or after taking a shower or splashing water on your face, the blurriness disappears. Mine wasn't like that. It was blurry the whole day. It would only feel better if I took a nap. Now, I don't even use my glasses anymore.
I did some digging and turns out that oxalate can accumulate in the eyes, making them blurry. This is insane! Aren't we taught that carrots help give you better eyesight? I chugged a ton of those every day for 2 years! Carrots are high in oxalate. So, connect the dots.
I also noticed that during the first few days on the Carnivore in Harmony Diet that the amount of food that I was taking in did not match what was coming out. I started releasing old waste, toxins, and fiber that had been stuck in my gut for years. Within days, I noticed my stomach shrinkingāeven my love handles got smaller! I started gaining weight when I ate a lot of fruits and vegetables. I got bloated all the time and had different sorts of tummy troubles. I've never been fat in my whole life as I'm a very active person. I was malnourished and underweight during my younger years. It was only in my 40s that I hit the correct weight for my height but now I feel like it's too much weight. Being on Carnivore in Harmony has made me lose those excess things around my stomach effortlessly. I did not say that I released (I say release, not lose because you don't want to find again weight that you already lost) weight because I actually gained some even though my clothes fit better. Without realizing it, I was gaining muscle effortlessly! Now, I have more energy, Iām moving faster, and I can lift things that used to feel heavy. And the best part? No intense workoutsājust everyday life.
Another great thing about this diet is no more brain fog! Not only were my eyes foggy on a ton of vegetables and fruits but my brain was, too! I would forget a lot of things. I couldn't focus for long (I'm already ADHD but the food made it much worse), and my comprehension dipped. Sometimes I'd have to read something over and over to understand it. I also noticed that my thoughts kept wandering when I need to focus. This was troublesome when I am online and teaching a class.
Those are the immediate benefits I got. I will update this post from time to time so please stay tuned!
š¬ Have you ever tried changing your diet for better health?
š Drop a comment below! Let me know what worked (or didnāt work) for you. Iād love to hear your experiences!
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