Has anyone experienced worsening of symptoms following the carnivore diet?

[TwonkleStar]

I started the diet three days ago, the first day was beef and eggs, and yesterday was chicken and eggs. I noticed yesterday the rigidity in my legs felt slightly worse and today they’ve become much worse even extending to my arms. The feeling of being weak has also increased too.

Has anyone who tried the carnivore diet experienced this? I really want to give it a go for a few months but I’m concerned my symptoms will regress if I continue.

On a positive note I have noticed my body doesn’t feel as inflamed as before. I’m even starting to feel the cold nights/mornings more now, of which I’m in two minds about.

[Tinkerbelle55]

similar here. Been on it about a week but aches and pains are beyond belief. Try g to stick with it but going to still take my vitd3

[38yroldmale]

the first couple of weeks can be very difficult, I would actually expect you to get worse for a little while. Have to give it at least a couple of months. Most people up give up on too soon. What you’re feeling is your body switching over from primarily burning carbs to fat. You need to make sure you get enough salt, potassium, and magnesium. More salt than you think. If you have anxiety it’s probably due to lack of potassium. If you have muscle cramps, it’s either magnesium or potassium. If you need more energy, it’s probably you need more fat. I almost gave up a couple of times. At first I’m sure glad I didn’t.

[TwonkleStar in reply to 38yroldmale]

I seriously thought about almost stopping. It’s quite unnerving to not eat any fruit and vegetables. Thanks for breaking down what to address with different symptoms.

I had a bit of diarrhoea last night, is it too much fat or just my buddy still adjusting?

Do you still take your supplements? Because I’m still taking everything. I know the experts say otherwise but I’m worried I’ll become deficient in something. I’d rather be in excess and pee most of it out than be in deficit.

How strict have you been? Do you season with anything outside of salt? Salt is really bland compared with herbs like pepper and chilli. Have you had any cheat days?

[38yroldmale in reply to TwonkleStar]

Yeah, I take all my supplements. I’ve narrowed my supplements to a lot less than I used to. The diarrhea is to be expected, but it will go away. It’s the sodium that you need and I usually have salt and potassium water. I need way more than what I get with food. You can buy a product called NU Salt that’s just straight potassium. Think of it like this, if you’re experiencing a symptom, it’s actually more like a need that your body wants. The carnivore diet is known to heal the gut. I am certain my Parkinson’s started in the gut.

I still use all sorts of seasonings, not just salt. I think as I go along, I might start to cut out seasoning and just use salt but right now I’m relaxed about it. Coffee a big thing that people argue about. I feel better on the days. I don’t drink but if it helps you you can cut it out later.

I do not have cheat days. I did have a weekend a few months back that I cheated, and had the worst constipation of my life. Even without that, I accidentally consume sugar and felt so terrible that I don’t wanna cheat. I’m not even tempted. If you stop eating sweet, you stop getting cravings. I have a friend that’s trying to do keto and he keeps drinking diet soda and wonders why he can’t stick to it. The artificial sweeteners are terrible for the gut and can still raise your insulin.

[TwonkleStar in reply to 38yroldmale]

That’s good to hear you were able to reduce your supplements. I’ve been adding them the more I learn but they’ve started to snowball and become quite expensive.

I’m going to a family bbq this Sunday for Australia Day and will treat myself to some flavoured/marinated meat if there are any.

I can’t tolerate coffee/caffeine anymore since it makes my tremors worse. Sugary foods are a huge temptation for me so This restrictive diet will be good to combat that.

Today my shuffling has improved which is nice but the fatigue is still there. Hoping to see more improvements tomorrow.

On a random note, I think we’re around the same age since my 38th birthday will be next month and was diagnosed a couple of years ago.

[38yroldmale in reply to TwonkleStar]

I was dx at 38, I am actually 44 now. Not to ruin your bbq but some sauces and marinades have carbs. However, it’s not the worst thing if you go over carbs, it will knock you out of ketosis and you will have increased symptoms. You will know because you’ll have cravings. To get back to ketosis just do some cardio

[Bracondale in reply to 38yroldmale]

Glad I saw your comment before I replied....totally agree with all your points!The only thing I'd add, is that to aid the transition to what will be happening on a keto/carnivore diet (ie very low carb) is that taking C8 MCT oil (I use Ketosource who give excellent guidance) for a few weeks prior to starting the diet, will ease the transition by training/stimulating the liver to produce the enzymes needed to make ketones/burn fat as fuel . And for reassurance, part of feeling yuk when starting to burn fat, is that fat cells will start to release fat soluble toxins....this will ease and you'll likely feel all the better for it eventually.

[TwonkleStar in reply to Bracondale]

I never knew about the fat soluble toxins being released, that’s really interesting. As for the MCT oil and ketosis, I’ve been doing OMAD for over a year now and used to regularly take MCT oil but recently stopped.

[Bracondale in reply to TwonkleStar]

Re taking MCT oil, I guess it depends on your goals. I know that it helps when getting into ketosis in the first place. Taken between meals it can help to curb appetite and so help with weight loss. It can help keep you in ketosis if you have a few too many carbs and I think it helps as an anti-inflammatory more at higher levels.

[Fefe09]

I tried it for little over a month. Although I did lose like 15 to 20 pounds I wasn’t feeling too good in my gut. I was like nauseous and didn’t feel right. Had to stop. Could have been other things contributing to it but I couldn’t do it anymore. I believe your body needs some carbs too. You just have to find a balance. Good luck though and hopefully it will get better for you .

[Bracondale in reply to Fefe09]

I'd totally echo all 38yearoldmale's comments. The nausea (and diarrhoea often too) is due to your gut microbiome adjusting to a different food source and releasing toxins as some of them die. Also due to fat soluble toxins being released as fat cells are being drained. Taking a activated charcoal two hours away from prescription meds/supplements can help alleviate some of these symptoms (mid afternoon can be a good time).

I'd agree that some carbs/fibre is a good idea ...and it is possible to have some carbs and still be in ketosis, but it's trial and error to find out your threshold.

[LAJ12345]

the only thing about the meat diet is you will kill off colonies of your fibre eating good bacteria and once they are gone you can’t get them back easily. Personally I don’t think it’s a great idea.

[TwonkleStar in reply to LAJ12345]

Could we get them back from eating fibrous food?

[LAJ12345 in reply to TwonkleStar]

I have watched an expert talking about it ages ago and they said once they are gone the only way to easily get them back is by faecal enema. Fibre feeds any that are still there but if you have starved them you lose the whole colony. Taking probiotics doesn’t really work as firstly there aren’t many in a dose and secondly lots are killed by the digestive system. Probiotics and fermented foods act more like a drug and are transient ie they give an effect but don’t colonise so if you stop taking them the effect wears off.

You are born with your bacteria system which is given to you by your mother.

[JayPwP in reply to LAJ12345]

Avoid Antibiotics, soap and toothpaste 😀😀

[LAJ12345 in reply to JayPwP]

Yes

[LAJ12345 in reply to TwonkleStar]

if I was you and you want to eat meat cut out grains but don’t cut out leafy greens and non starchy vegetables. Eat as many colours as you can. Eg red black and white quinoa all feed different bacteria.

[Allypally49]

Do not cut down on fat intake

[TwonkleStar in reply to Allypally49]

Okay I’ll keep that in mind, currently eating more lamb because it has more fat than beef

[Jimmyalp]

Best diet for parkinson is ayurvedic vegan diet if you can, also Mediterranean options secondly, third intermittent fasting and reducing portions size

[TwonkleStar in reply to Jimmyalp]

I’ll give the Mediterranean diet a go if this diet doesn’t work out after a while

[ktbooks77]

PROTEIN INTERFERES WITH THE ABSORPTION OF LEVEDOPA. ESPECIALLY ANIMAL PROTEIN.

[TwonkleStar in reply to ktbooks77]

I eat only dinner so I’m fasting during the day so I can make the most out of my C/L while I’m working and when I do eat I’ll be at home so I don’t mind having the symptoms then

[goldiewan]

you’re essentially going onto a keto diet or certainly very low carbohydrate. In my own personal experience, it takes about three days to go into a ketogenic state and then a further week or two for increased fat adaption meaning your body is adjusting to burning fat more and more effectively. In This time you may need to drink more water than usual, you may go through some flu like symptoms as well. It’s normal. I also combine this with intermittent fasting as it will give the body a chance for autophagy to occur.

[TwonkleStar in reply to goldiewan]

Thank you so much for the insight, I developed a dry cough out of nowhere when nobody around me is even remotely sick. Yes a very low carbohydrate diet is more accurate because I still take my supplements some of which isn’t completely sugar free but 99% free.