Carnivore?

[4Crew]

I'm not going to tell my story - no time or bandwidth (you know ...).

I'm here to ask if anyone has tried the Carnivore Diet and had so many of the common symptoms clear? Dr. Jordan Pederson's stuff on YouTube about his experience (and his wife, Tammy's) ... is impressive.

There definitely seems to be a tie between our diet and nutrition and the uptick of ADHD (diabetes/dementia, auto-immune dis-ease). Any honest comparison to EU vs US in matters of food additives, processing, etc ... is revelatory. I'm hopeful more attention is brought to this. Certainly the US Medical World is hamstrung by Big Pharma from promoting nutrition and functional medicine.

I'd love to hear anyone's experience with trying Carnivore for ADHD. Any details. Length of time, what was improved, how strict were you following? (with greens, without; etc?). Thanks!

[STEM_Dad]

I've read a number of claims that the carnivore diet helps ADHD, but I haven't found any research studies to back up this claims. It may be that the research hasn't caught up. There are also claims that the keto diet (which was developed to help treat epilepsy) also helps with ADHD.

ADHD can be improved by making adjustments to diet. Many people eat a diet that is insufficient in essential nutrients. Meat is a good source of certain nutrients, including many amino acids (which the body uses to make proteins and other compounds it needs). It can be easier to get certain nutrients from meat than from plant-based foods.

However, doctors and nutritionists would be quick to encourage eating a diet that includes a variety of healthy foods, in order to best meet our dietary needs.

The carnivore diet might be just what you need for a while. It might have the benefit of an "elimination diet" to remove foods that you are sensitive or reactive to. (For instance, removing heavily processed foods, highly refined grains, and food with a lot of excess sugar might benefit anyone. Removing any food ingredients that you, in particular, are sensitive to will definitely help you.)

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{EDITED to make a correction. In my original reply, I had repeated a rumor that I had read a while ago that there is red dye #40 in packaged meat, but when I searched for confirmation later in the day, I found that the claim is not true. According to sources which appear to be accurate, there are no artificial dyes in meat.]

[STEM_Dad in reply to STEM_Dad]

Dr. Jordan Peterson's daughter, Mikayla , had to go on the Lion Diet (even more restrictive than the carnivore diet, mainly red meat) because of an autoimmune digestive condition.

When your gut is in rebellion, as it seems hers was because of her bad reactions to many common foods, your brain won't work very well, either.

She noticed that her brain worked better on the Lion Diet. But I think at least the main reason why was that her digestive tract was finally delivering adequate nutrients to her body and brain as a result of eliminating all her food sensitivities.

~~~~~

I'd be curious to know if the carnivore diet helps improve your ADHD symptoms.

[4Crew in reply to STEM_Dad]

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn't know they were using the dye in meat. Yeesh. I have a small street cat rescue and I can promise you, the animal food industry is up to all the nonsense the human food/drug/medical is as well. Not the least of which are the dyes and constant changing of protein sources/types/preservations. I was glad to see I get an email telling me when there's activity here. So I'll definitely come back and report IF, in fact, I am able to do the Carnivore (right now it's a financial thing as I've been reduced to foot stamps at 54 and they were wrongfully cut off 60 days ago; whole new application to do since no word on my Appeal Hearing). Anyway, I plan to talk to a local beef rancher to see if they can cut me a deal for 30-40 days (and I can't store it all, so we'll see if they can meet me with some items). It'll be VERY hard for me. I don't do diets. I don't have discipline. But I also need all these benefits ... just to know and hopefully lose weight, too. Will let others know here if it happens and helps.

[STEM_Dad in reply to 4Crew]

I have to apologize and make a correction. I was sure that I had read before that red 40 was used on meat, but I guess that was just rumor.

I looked for information about it, and everything that I found said that dyes are NOT used in meat packing.

[Babyjane1980]

I think Stem_Dad makes great points below. The bottom line is that a lot of folks have a lot of inflammation, which makes depression, anxiety, adhd worse. But different people react to different foods differently, and carnivore diets leave out a lot of essential nutrients.... certainly there isn't enough fiber in it. And adhd meds tend to be constipating for some folks... Also, I would point to how badly Peterson's mental health deteriorated before I followed his example: newrepublic.com/article/156...

[STEM_Dad in reply to Babyjane1980]

Thank you for summing it up so well! (I do tend to drone on and on. 😋)

...

(Wow, that's an eye-opening article! I have respect for Dr. Peterson for some of the things he has said. But according to Dr. Russell Barkley, what Dr. Peterson has said about ADHD is all wrong.)

[4Crew in reply to STEM_Dad]

Never know with competiting "experts" in the age of personal branding. I do see Dr. P has having integrity. I don't know this other Dr. but the mentioning is helpful. Thank you.

[STEM_Dad in reply to 4Crew]

Both Drs. have been college professors as well as clinical psychologists.

Dr. Peterson is a psychologist whose academic work focused a lot on "psychopharmacology, the psychology of religion, and personality psychology", according to Wikipedia. I think that his expertise in personality psychology in particular comes through in his public speaking.

Dr. Barkley is a neuropsychologist whose research and clinical work focused primarily on ADHD. I have learned a lot about ADHD from videos featuring him, which were especially helpful when I first got diagnosed. (Now that he's retired, he started his own YouTube channel.)

I have respect for both for their particular expertise.

I also have respect for Dr. Peterson for not backing down from his beliefs and standpoints, even with his career and professional reputation on the line.

[KentuckTD in reply to 4Crew]

Dr. Barkley is the OG researcher on ADHD and WELL-respected in ADHD circles. Now that he’s retired he still has a YouTube channel where he posts on ADHD-related studies and findings. I would implicitly trust what he says about ADHD.

[4Crew in reply to Babyjane1980]

Thank you! I'll check it out when I have a moment. I have a lot of trauma impacting my brain, too. But I believe after two yrs trying to get access to answers (not much resulting and can't get a fresh Rx to Addarall which I used to have before the now GREATER notable need for)(I don't have insurance or any "cash pay" left; nor qualify for medicaid)... I do truly believe, having eliminated SO much else, that I really do lack dopamine production. Perhaps much worse now than 30 yrs ago when I had other ways to cope. Those being gone => "Oh!"