June 26, 2025 • 21 mins
Fibromyalgia affects millions with its relentless mix of chronic pain, exhaustion, and the mental haze known as "fibro fog." For many, traditional treatments offer little relief—leaving patients searching for alternatives. In this episode of The Health Pulse, we explore one of the most controversial yet increasingly talked-about approaches: the carnivore diet.
Can eating only animal-based foods actually reduce pain, clear brain fog, and boost energy for fibromyalgia sufferers? We dig into the science behind the claims, exploring how inflammation, blood sugar, gut health, and ketosis all play a role. We also address common concerns, including nutritional adequacy and long-term sustainability, and provide practical tips for those curious about giving this approach a try.
Whether you're battling fibromyalgia or supporting someone who is, this episode offers a fresh perspective on a condition that too often leaves people feeling hopeless. Tune in to discover whether the carnivore diet might be a path worth exploring.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Nicolette (00:01):
Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for
quick, actionable insights onhealth, wellness and diagnostics
.
Whether you're looking tooptimize your well-being or stay
informed about the latest inmedical testing, we've got you
covered.
Join us as we break down keyhealth topics in just minutes.
Let's dive in.
Rachel (00:26):
Welcome to the Deep Dive , your shortcut to being
well-informed.
Today we're jumping into atopic that well, it touches
millions of lives and, honestly,it sparks some really
fascinating, maybe evencontroversial, conversations.
We're talking aboutfibromyalgia, and this isn't
just, you know, everyday achesand pains.
It's this complex, often reallymisunderstood condition Think
(00:47):
chronic, widespread pain,unrelenting fatigue and just a
whole host of other debilitatingsymptoms that can make daily
life a real struggle.
Buzz, this real curiosity abouthow diet fits into managing
(01:07):
these symptoms.
And this is where it getsreally interesting, maybe even a
bit wild.
We're going to deep dive intothe carnivore diet.
Yeah, you heard that right.
An eating pattern that's onlyanimal products, no plants at
all.
It sounds pretty extreme, right, like a total 180.
Mark (01:18):
It absolutely can feel that way.
But you know, what's trulyfascinating here is that for
some people really strugglingwith fibromyalgia making this
radical shift, they've reportedsome pretty significant
breakthroughs, things like fewerflare-ups, a noticeable boost
in energy and just a much betterquality of life overall.
Now the direct large-scaleresearch specifically on
(01:39):
carnivore for fibromyalgia it'sstill coming along.
But these anecdotal stories,they're really compelling and
the early science does suggestthat certain dietary
interventions, especially whereit's focused on lowering
inflammation or acting as like adeep elimination diet, they
might play a much bigger rolethan we used to think.
Rachel (01:55):
Okay.
So our mission for this deepdive is clear.
Then we're going to try andunearth how this carnivore diet
might actually influenceinflammation, gut health, those
tricky chronic pain pathways infibromyalgia.
We'll look at the evidence wehave, talk about real-world
experiences and, crucially, tryto cut through some of the noise
about potential risks so youwalk away with a really solid
(02:17):
understanding.
Let's unpack this All right.
So, now that we've kind of setthe stage for this pretty unique
dietary approach, let's zoomback in on fibromyalgia itself,
because to really get how thecarnivore diet might help, we
first need to grasp just howcomplex this condition is.
And it's not rare.
The CDC estimates about 4million adults in the US have it
(02:38):
.
The main things widespreadmusculoskeletal pain, often
really severe fatigue, sleepproblems and that frustrating
brain fog people call fibro fogreally severe fatigue, sleep
problems and that frustratingbrain fog people call fibrofog.
Plus, there's this heightenedsensitivity to pain.
Even like a light touch can beagonizing for some.
And what makes it sochallenging for both patients
and doctors is there's no singlecause we can point to, no
simple test.
It seems to be this complex mixof factors.
Mark (02:58):
Exactly.
Think of it like your body'spain messaging system getting
kind of overloaded andhypersensitive.
We call it centralsensitization.
Your brain and spinal cordbasically start amplifying pain
signals instead of calming themdown.
We also often see imbalances inkey brain chemicals,
neurotransmitters like serotoninand dopamine, which you know
manage pain, mood, sleep.
(03:18):
Then there can be hormonalthings going on, maybe altered
cortisol, thyroid issues, evendown to the cellular level,
those tiny energy factories, themitochondria.
They might not be workingefficiently.
That leads to oxidative stress,more inflammation feeding into
the fatigue and pain cycle andincreasingly we're seeing really
strong links to gut dysbiosis.
That's an imbalance in your gutbacteria and it's tied to
(03:41):
inflammation throughout thewhole body.
Rachel (03:42):
Wow, Okay, it sounds incredibly intricate, like a
puzzle with lots of moving parts, and even with standard
treatments things likeantidepressants, nerve pain meds
, exercise, better sleep habits,CBT a lot of patients still
feel like they hit a wall, andit's that struggle right that
pushes people to look forsomething different.
Often, dietary changes are highon that list, which brings us
(04:03):
right back to the carnivore diet.
It might seem totallycounterintuitive I mean it's so
restrictive but it's grabbedattention precisely because of
how it might impact inflammation, gut health, maybe even those
autoimmune-like symptoms thatoften overlap with fibro.
So let's get down to brasstacks.
What is the carnivore dietexactly?
At its core, it's superrestrictive.
You're eating only animal-basedfoods.
(04:24):
So meat, beef, pork, lamb,chicken, fish, seafood, also
eggs, Animal fats like tallowbutter, ghee are usually in and
for people really focused onnutrients, grains, legumes, nuts
, seeds zero, Some people areeven stricter and avoid dairy,
(04:48):
while others might include somelow-lactose options like hard
cheese or butter.
Mark (04:53):
The main argument you know from people who promote it is
that it acts as the ultimateelimination diet.
It just systematically removesa whole bunch of common dietary
triggers.
Rachel (05:02):
Okay, and what kind of triggers are we talking about?
Mark (05:04):
Well, things like oxalates you find those in spinach, nuts
, that kind of thing Lectins,which are proteins, and legumes
and grains that some peoplereact badly to.
Gluten, obviously, Other plantproteins and even things like
fermentable fibers, FODMEPs,Stuff that's often healthy for
most people but can cause majordigestive upset, bloating pain
for others, right.
Rachel (05:24):
So the idea is by stripping it all back to just
animal foods, people report whatkind of improvements.
Mark (05:30):
Anecdotally.
You hear about a lot Joint andmuscle pain easing up
significantly, gut symptoms likebloating or IBS just
disappearing.
People talk about better mentalclarity, like the fibro fog
lifting, yeah, and more stableenergy levels, fewer crashes.
Rachel (05:44):
So these are mostly individual stories, but they've
definitely sparked a lot ofinterest, Using carnivore as
this like radical tool forautoimmune issues, inflammation,
chronic pain like fibromyalgia.
But what's the science?
How could this possibly work?
Mark (05:56):
That's the million dollar question.
Right and look, we have to beupfront Direct big studies on
carnivores specifically forfibromyalgia.
They're pretty limited rightnow, but there are several
really compelling biologicalmechanisms that suggest why it
might actually offer realbenefits for some people dealing
with these kinds of chronicpain and fatigue syndromes.
(06:17):
Okay, so number one probablythe biggest reason it gets
attention for chronic pain isits potential anti-inflammatory
effect.
We know chronic low-gradeinflammation is a big piece of
the fibromyalgia puzzle.
Think about it the standardWestern diet is often loaded
with things that promoteinflammation Refined carbs, seed
(06:40):
oils high in omega-6, additives, sugar, artificial sweeteners
all that stuff.
The carnivore diet just wipesthe slate clean of all of those
and what's more?
Animal foods, especially thingslike fatty fish or grass-fed
meat, are naturally rich incompounds that can fight
inflammation Omega-3s, cla,taurine, carnosine.
These might directly helpmodulate immune responses and
dial down pain signaling.
Rachel (06:57):
Okay, inflammation makes sense.
What else?
Mark (06:59):
Next up, let's talk about gut health.
There's more and more researchlinking gut problems like leaky
gut or just an imbalance inbacteria dysbiosis, to chronic
pain and even neuroinflammationand fibromyalgia.
Now usually we hear about fiberfor gut health right, but for
some people certain plantcompounds, fodmaps, lectins,
(07:19):
maybe nightshades are actuallymajor irritants.
By removing all of those, thecarnivore diet can act like a
powerful gut reset for certainindividuals Better digestion,
less bloating, maybe fewersystemic symptoms that actually
start in the gut.
Rachel (07:32):
Interesting, a gut reset .
Okay, what's mechanism numberthree?
Mark (07:35):
Stabilized blood sugar and insulin.
This is a big one, we know.
Fibromyalgia is often linkedwith issues in how the body
handles glucose, sometimes eveninsulin resistance.
Big blood sugar spikes andcrashes.
They can absolutely worsenfatigue, inflammation and pain
sensitivity.
Because the carnivore diet hasvirtually zero carbs, it
naturally keeps blood sugarsuper stable and lowers the
(07:56):
insulin load.
That alone could have a hugeimpact on energy regulation and
reducing those inflammationcascades tied to metabolic
issues.
Rachel (08:04):
Right Avoiding those sugar highs and lows Makes sense
.
Mark (08:07):
Then there's the potential benefit of ketosis.
When you eliminate carbs, yourbody can switch to burning fat
for fuel and produce ketoneslike beta-hydroxybutyrate or BHB
.
And what's cool here is thatketones themselves seem to have
beneficial effects.
They've been shown to reduceneuroinflammation, make those
cellular power plants, themitochondria, run more
efficiently and even directlymodulate pain receptors.
(08:29):
So this could lead to lessperceived pain and more energy,
hitting two major fibromyalgiasymptoms right there.
Rachel (08:35):
Wow, okay, so ketones aren't just fuel.
They have other effects too.
Mark (08:38):
Exactly.
And finally, we can't ignorenutrient density.
Animal foods are packed withhighly bioavailable nutrients,
things crucial for cell function, managing pain, making
neurotransmitters.
We're talking vitamin B12, ironin the heme form, which is easy
to absorb, zinc, creatine,carnitine, coq10.
The list goes on.
A lot of these are harder toget or absorb well from plants
(09:03):
and there's some evidence thatpeople with fibromyalgia might
actually be deficient in some ofthese key nutrients.
Rachel (09:08):
Okay, so pulling all that together, it really paints
a picture, doesn't it?
A compelling hypothesis atleast, that for some people,
fibromyalgia symptoms mightreally respond well to this kind
of low-inflammatory,nutrient-packed animal-based
approach Makes you think.
Mark (09:21):
And that brings us neatly, to the evidence.
Again got to stress no hugeclinical trials specifically on
carnivore and fibromyalgia yet,but what we do have is growing
indirect evidence supportingthose mechanisms we just talked
about, plus, honestly,incredibly compelling anecdotal
support, especially from peoplewith autoimmune or chronic pain
(09:41):
issues who've tried it.
I mean you can find thousandsof reports online people saying
they've had significantimprovements in their fibro
symptoms after going carnivoreThings like less pain and
tenderness, sleeping better,more energy, clearer thinking,
less bloating and, reallyimportantly, fewer of those
awful flare-ups or crashes.
You see these stories on placeslike Rivero, that health
community.
On Reddit threads our carnivorediet, our fibromyalgia.
(10:03):
Tons of YouTube testimonialstoo People feeling like they've
genuinely gotten their livesback.
Rachel (10:07):
Yeah, those stories are powerful, no doubt, but you know
, for listeners wanting a bitmore concrete data, even if
direct carnivore studies arelacking, is there other science
that kind of backs up why theseexperiences might be happening,
like around the inflammation orgut health links?
Mark (10:24):
Absolutely.
There's definitely a scientificfoundation that supports the
ideas behind it, even if thediet itself isn't named in this
study.
For example, there was a 2017study showing fibromyalgia
patients often have insulinresistance, even if they aren't
diabetic.
That strongly links metabolichealth to chronic pain.
Then, really interestingresearch in the journal Pain
(10:45):
back in 2018 found significantgut microbiome imbalances in
women with fibromyalgia.
That clearly points to a gutpain connection.
And we do have studies onketogenic diets, which are
pretty similar you know, lowcarb, high fat showing they can
reduce pain sensitivity andimprove fatigue and brain
function in chronic painpatients.
Rachel (11:01):
Okay, so the pieces are there, scientifically speaking.
Mark (11:04):
Exactly, if you connect the dots these studies, they
build a scientific rationale forwhy a diet like carnivore might
help, especially if someone'sfibromyalgia seems really driven
by gut issues or inflammationor metabolic stress.
But and this is the crucial,but it's definitely not a
guaranteed fix.
It's not going to be a miraclecure for every single person.
Rachel (11:24):
That's for really important reality check and it
leads us right into thecontroversy, the concerns.
We need to guide people throughthe valid cautions versus maybe
some overstated fears.
Let's start with nutrientvariety and, you know, can
people actually stick with thislong term?
Critics often worry aboutmissing vitamin C, fiber, all
those plant phytonutrients.
Mark (11:43):
Right, and this is where we need some nuance.
It's fascinating, actually,organ meats, especially liver
they do contain vitamin C, alongwith tons of other
micronutrients, so you're eatingtruly nose to tail.
It's not like vitamin C iscompletely absent.
And fiber we've always heardit's essential, right, but it
might not be for everyone.
There was actually a randomizedtrial in 2012 that found
(12:04):
reducing or even eliminatingfiber improves constipation for
some people.
Rachel (12:08):
It kind of challenges that OK, the liver thing is
interesting about vitamin C, butlet's be honest, how many
people are really going to eatliver regularly?
Is that practical and beyondnutrients?
What about the social side?
I mean this diet is sorestrictive it could easily lead
to feeling isolated, makeeating out super hard.
Couldn't it also risktriggering disordered eating for
(12:30):
some people and just be plaindifficult to sustain?
Mark (12:35):
That's an absolutely critical point.
Fibromyalgia patients oftenalready carry a heavy
psychological burden.
Depression anxieties are common.
So you have to ask how do youbalance this kind of dietary
rigidity with mental well-being,with flexibility?
It's a huge factor for stickingwith anything long-term and for
overall quality of life, notjust symptom scores.
Rachel (12:56):
Totally.
And then there's the big oneeveryone hears about the link
between red or processed meatand cancer, especially
colorectal cancer.
Mark (13:03):
Yeah, and this really needs a closer look.
What's interesting is most ofthat research it's observational
.
It can show a link, acorrelation, but it can't prove
cause and effect, and thesestudies often struggle to
properly account for otherlifestyle factors.
Smoking, drinking, beingsedentary, eating lots of
refined carbs All things we knowincrease cancer risk.
(13:23):
Plus, they often lump highlyprocessed meats like hot dogs or
deli meats together withunprocessed meat like a steak,
and those are really differentthings nutritionally and how
they're made.
Nutritionally and how they'remade.
There was a big umbrella reviewin Nature Medicine in 2022 that
looked at all the evidence.
It concluded the certainty of adirect causal link between
unprocessed red meat and chronicdisease was low to very low.
(13:46):
It doesn't mean zero risk,especially with lots of
processed or charred meat, butit strongly suggests context and
quality matter.
It's just not as simple as redmeat is bad.
Rachel (13:55):
That context is so important.
Okay, another common concernkidney strain from all the
protein, especially if someonealready has kidney issues.
But what about?
For healthy people?
Is a high-protein diet reallyhard on the kidneys?
Mark (14:07):
This is a really common misconception.
The overwhelming evidence nowshows that high-protein diets do
not harm kidney function inpeople with healthy kidneys.
Our kidneys are incrediblyadaptive.
Study after study shows healthykidneys just adapt to handle
more protein without losingfunction.
That idea of strain isn'tnecessarily harmful unless you
(14:27):
already have kidney disease ormaybe uncontrolled diabetes or
hypertension.
A 2021 review in a major kidneyjournal confirmed this.
Healthy people on higherprotein diets showed no decline
in kidney function.
When measured accurately,healthy kidneys can handle it.
Rachel (14:42):
Okay, that's a crucial clarification for healthy folks,
but it's absolutely vital tostress if you do have
pre-existing chronic kidneydisease, CKD or any kidney
impairment.
Mark (14:53):
Absolutely.
Rachel (14:53):
Protein intake needs to be carefully managed with your
doctor.
This is not something toexperiment with casually if your
kidneys aren't working well.
Mark (15:00):
Couldn't agree more.
Medical supervision is keythere.
Rachel (15:02):
So, wrapping this section up, it seems clear the
carnivore diet isn't some magicbullet for everyone, but it
could be a really valuable toolfor a specific group of people
with fibromyalgia, especiallymaybe those who haven't found
relief elsewhere or have reallystrong food sensitivities.
Mark (15:18):
Right If we try to picture who might benefit most well,
definitely people with fibro whoalso have major gut issues,
bloating, ibs, lots of foodsensitivities.
This diet might calm thatgut-brain connection down.
Also, maybe those withsuspected autoimmune overlap
things like Hashimoto's, lupus,ra.
Anecdotally some seeimprovements, possibly because
(15:40):
those plant compounds that mighttrigger immune reactions are
gone.
People who already know certainfoods make them worse Grains,
legumes, nightshades, maybe highoxalate foods.
Carnivore gives them a reallyclean baseline.
And maybe folks struggling withenergy crashes, blood sugar
swings.
That metabolic stability couldbe huge for them.
Rachel (15:57):
OK, and on the flip side , who really needs to be
cautious, or maybe avoid italtogether?
Mark (16:02):
Well, anyone with a history of eating disorders
really needs to tread carefully.
The extreme restriction couldbe triggering or reinforce
unhealthy patterns.
Psychological readiness is keyand, as we just stressed, people
with advanced chronic kidneydisease.
High protein is fine forhealthy kidneys, but not
necessarily for damaged oneswithout medical guidance.
Rachel (16:21):
Right.
Mark (16:22):
Pregnant or breastfeeding women too.
Nutritional needs are sky highthen, and we just don't have
long-term safety data.
It might be possible withcareful planning, but it's
probably not ideal.
And finally, if you're oncertain medications diuretics,
blood pressure beds, lithiumdefinitely talk to your doctor
first.
Low carb diets can affect howthese work.
Rachel (16:46):
So what really stands out here is that this carnivore
approach.
It can be seen as a kind oftherapeutic experiment for some
fibromyalgia sufferers, apotential tool, but you
absolutely have to go in withyour eyes open, be flexible and
keep evaluating how it's workingfor you.
It's not a universal fix.
Mark (16:58):
Exactly, and if you're considering trying to manage
fibromyalgia, it's reallyimportant to do it strategically
.
It's not just about cutting outplants.
You need to think aboutnutrients hydration monitoring
First off.
Maybe think of it as ashort-term trial initially, say
two to four weeks.
Treat it like an eliminationprotocol.
See how your symptoms change,reset things, maybe identify
(17:19):
sensitivities if you decide toreintroduce foods later and
track everything your painlevels, energy, mood, digestion
Keep a log.
That way you can look backobjectively and see if it
actually made a difference foryou.
Rachel (17:30):
Good tip Track everything, what else?
Mark (17:33):
Second, prioritize nutrient density.
Don't just eat lean chickenbreasts right To avoid
deficiencies.
You really want to try andinclude organ meats liver, heart
, kidney.
They're powerhouses for vitaminA, b12, iron, choline.
Also, eat fatty cuts of meatfor energy and consider things
like bone broth for collagen,glycine, minerals.
That whole nose-to-tail idea isreally about maximizing
(17:55):
nutrition from the animal.
Rachel (17:56):
Okay, so focus on quality and variety within
animal foods.
Got it.
Mark (18:00):
Third, hydration and electrolytes are key.
When you cut carbs way down,your insulin drops and you can
lose more sodium.
This can lead to fatigueheadaches that keto flu people
talk about.
So make sure you're addingenough salt, like sea salt, to
your food.
Maybe consider magnesium andpotassium supplements,
especially at the start, anddrink plenty of water Super
(18:20):
important that first week or two.
Rachel (18:21):
Right Electrolytes often overlooked.
Mark (18:28):
Fourth, think about getting some lab work done
Before you start.
Maybe baseline tests for kidneyfunction, egfr, maybe cystatin
C, liver enzymes, lipids, maybean inflammation marker like CRP.
Then maybe repeat some key labsafter, say, six to 12 weeks,
see how things are changing.
It gives you objective data andhelps ensure you're doing okay,
especially if you have otherhealth conditions.
Rachel (18:44):
Monitoring labs makes sense for such a big change.
Mark (18:47):
Fifth, and this is probably the most important, try
to work with a knowledgeablehealthcare practitioner if you
can, especially if you have CKD,diabetes, autoimmune issues.
They can help track those labs,adjust medications if needed
because sometimes dosages needto change on low-carb diets and
just help personalize thingsbased on how your body is
responding.
(19:08):
That guidance can be invaluable.
Rachel (19:10):
Yeah, having a partner in this journey seems wise.
Mark (19:13):
And finally, listen to your body Watch for warning
signs.
If you feel persistently awful,really fatigued, lightheaded,
severely constipated, losingappetite, losing weight too fast
, or if your fibro symptomsactually get worse after the
initial adjustment period, thenthis might not be the right
approach for you right now.
It's okay to modify it or stop.
Remember the best diet isalways the one that works best
(19:35):
for you as an individual.
Rachel (19:36):
That's such a crucial final point.
So, pulling all this together,what's the big takeaway?
Fibromyalgia it's undeniablycomplex.
It often sends people down thislong, frustrating road of trial
and error trying to find relief.
The carnivore diet yeah, it'sunconventional, but it offers
this really structured, deeplyanti-inflammatory approach that
honestly seems worth considering, particularly if you're dealing
(19:58):
with major gut issues, maybeautoimmune overlap or just
unrelenting chronic pain thathasn't budged with other
treatments.
Mark (20:05):
I agree.
The emerging science, evenindirectly, plus those thousands
of anecdotal reports.
They point to real, plausiblemechanisms for how carnivore
might reduce fibromyalgia flares, boost energy and genuinely
improve quality of life for someindividuals.
But we have to say it again, itis not cure and it's definitely
not right or helpful foreveryone.
(20:26):
It's a powerful toolpotentially, but needs to be
used wisely.
Rachel (20:30):
So the key advice we've talked through today approach it
with an open mind, but alsowith real strategy.
Think short trial, first trackeverything meticulously, focus
on nutrient density andelectrolytes and please, if
possible, work with aknowledgeable practitioner,
especially if you haveunderlying health conditions.
Mark (20:53):
Absolutely.
And maybe a final thought foryou listening whether going
carnivore ends up being along-term path for you or maybe
just a short-term experiment onyour health journey, you could
offer some really valuableinsights, maybe significant
relief and perhaps mostimportantly, a renewed sense of
control over your fibromyalgia.
Nicolette (21:07):
Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse.
If you found this episodehelpful, don't forget to
subscribe and share it withsomeone who might benefit.
For more health insights anddiagnostics, visit us online at
wwwquicklabmobilecom.
Stay informed, stay healthy andwe'll catch you in the next
episode.
Welcome to the Health Pulse, your go-to source for
quick, actionable insights onhealth, wellness and diagnostics
.
Whether you're looking tooptimize your well-being or stay
informed about the latest inmedical testing, we've got you
covered.
Join us as we break down keyhealth topics in just minutes.
Let's dive in.
Rachel (00:26):
Welcome to the Deep Dive , your shortcut to being
well-informed.
Today we're jumping into atopic that well, it touches
millions of lives and, honestly,it sparks some really
fascinating, maybe evencontroversial, conversations.
We're talking aboutfibromyalgia, and this isn't
just, you know, everyday achesand pains.
It's this complex, often reallymisunderstood condition Think
(00:47):
chronic, widespread pain,unrelenting fatigue and just a
whole host of other debilitatingsymptoms that can make daily
life a real struggle.
Buzz, this real curiosity abouthow diet fits into managing
(01:07):
these symptoms.
And this is where it getsreally interesting, maybe even a
bit wild.
We're going to deep dive intothe carnivore diet.
Yeah, you heard that right.
An eating pattern that's onlyanimal products, no plants at
all.
It sounds pretty extreme, right, like a total 180.
Mark (01:18):
It absolutely can feel that way.
But you know, what's trulyfascinating here is that for
some people really strugglingwith fibromyalgia making this
radical shift, they've reportedsome pretty significant
breakthroughs, things like fewerflare-ups, a noticeable boost
in energy and just a much betterquality of life overall.
Now the direct large-scaleresearch specifically on
(01:39):
carnivore for fibromyalgia it'sstill coming along.
But these anecdotal stories,they're really compelling and
the early science does suggestthat certain dietary
interventions, especially whereit's focused on lowering
inflammation or acting as like adeep elimination diet, they
might play a much bigger rolethan we used to think.
Rachel (01:55):
Okay.
So our mission for this deepdive is clear.
Then we're going to try andunearth how this carnivore diet
might actually influenceinflammation, gut health, those
tricky chronic pain pathways infibromyalgia.
We'll look at the evidence wehave, talk about real-world
experiences and, crucially, tryto cut through some of the noise
about potential risks so youwalk away with a really solid
(02:17):
understanding.
Let's unpack this All right.
So, now that we've kind of setthe stage for this pretty unique
dietary approach, let's zoomback in on fibromyalgia itself,
because to really get how thecarnivore diet might help, we
first need to grasp just howcomplex this condition is.
And it's not rare.
The CDC estimates about 4million adults in the US have it
(02:38):
.
The main things widespreadmusculoskeletal pain, often
really severe fatigue, sleepproblems and that frustrating
brain fog people call fibro fogreally severe fatigue, sleep
problems and that frustratingbrain fog people call fibrofog.
Plus, there's this heightenedsensitivity to pain.
Even like a light touch can beagonizing for some.
And what makes it sochallenging for both patients
and doctors is there's no singlecause we can point to, no
simple test.
It seems to be this complex mixof factors.
Mark (02:58):
Exactly.
Think of it like your body'spain messaging system getting
kind of overloaded andhypersensitive.
We call it centralsensitization.
Your brain and spinal cordbasically start amplifying pain
signals instead of calming themdown.
We also often see imbalances inkey brain chemicals,
neurotransmitters like serotoninand dopamine, which you know
manage pain, mood, sleep.
(03:18):
Then there can be hormonalthings going on, maybe altered
cortisol, thyroid issues, evendown to the cellular level,
those tiny energy factories, themitochondria.
They might not be workingefficiently.
That leads to oxidative stress,more inflammation feeding into
the fatigue and pain cycle andincreasingly we're seeing really
strong links to gut dysbiosis.
That's an imbalance in your gutbacteria and it's tied to
(03:41):
inflammation throughout thewhole body.
Rachel (03:42):
Wow, Okay, it sounds incredibly intricate, like a
puzzle with lots of moving parts, and even with standard
treatments things likeantidepressants, nerve pain meds
, exercise, better sleep habits,CBT a lot of patients still
feel like they hit a wall, andit's that struggle right that
pushes people to look forsomething different.
Often, dietary changes are highon that list, which brings us
(04:03):
right back to the carnivore diet.
It might seem totallycounterintuitive I mean it's so
restrictive but it's grabbedattention precisely because of
how it might impact inflammation, gut health, maybe even those
autoimmune-like symptoms thatoften overlap with fibro.
So let's get down to brasstacks.
What is the carnivore dietexactly?
At its core, it's superrestrictive.
You're eating only animal-basedfoods.
(04:24):
So meat, beef, pork, lamb,chicken, fish, seafood, also
eggs, Animal fats like tallowbutter, ghee are usually in and
for people really focused onnutrients, grains, legumes, nuts
, seeds zero, Some people areeven stricter and avoid dairy,
(04:48):
while others might include somelow-lactose options like hard
cheese or butter.
Mark (04:53):
The main argument you know from people who promote it is
that it acts as the ultimateelimination diet.
It just systematically removesa whole bunch of common dietary
triggers.
Rachel (05:02):
Okay, and what kind of triggers are we talking about?
Mark (05:04):
Well, things like oxalates you find those in spinach, nuts
, that kind of thing Lectins,which are proteins, and legumes
and grains that some peoplereact badly to.
Gluten, obviously, Other plantproteins and even things like
fermentable fibers, FODMEPs,Stuff that's often healthy for
most people but can cause majordigestive upset, bloating pain
for others, right.
Rachel (05:24):
So the idea is by stripping it all back to just
animal foods, people report whatkind of improvements.
Mark (05:30):
Anecdotally.
You hear about a lot Joint andmuscle pain easing up
significantly, gut symptoms likebloating or IBS just
disappearing.
People talk about better mentalclarity, like the fibro fog
lifting, yeah, and more stableenergy levels, fewer crashes.
Rachel (05:44):
So these are mostly individual stories, but they've
definitely sparked a lot ofinterest, Using carnivore as
this like radical tool forautoimmune issues, inflammation,
chronic pain like fibromyalgia.
But what's the science?
How could this possibly work?
Mark (05:56):
That's the million dollar question.
Right and look, we have to beupfront Direct big studies on
carnivores specifically forfibromyalgia.
They're pretty limited rightnow, but there are several
really compelling biologicalmechanisms that suggest why it
might actually offer realbenefits for some people dealing
with these kinds of chronicpain and fatigue syndromes.
(06:17):
Okay, so number one probablythe biggest reason it gets
attention for chronic pain isits potential anti-inflammatory
effect.
We know chronic low-gradeinflammation is a big piece of
the fibromyalgia puzzle.
Think about it the standardWestern diet is often loaded
with things that promoteinflammation Refined carbs, seed
(06:40):
oils high in omega-6, additives, sugar, artificial sweeteners
all that stuff.
The carnivore diet just wipesthe slate clean of all of those
and what's more?
Animal foods, especially thingslike fatty fish or grass-fed
meat, are naturally rich incompounds that can fight
inflammation Omega-3s, cla,taurine, carnosine.
These might directly helpmodulate immune responses and
dial down pain signaling.
Rachel (06:57):
Okay, inflammation makes sense.
What else?
Mark (06:59):
Next up, let's talk about gut health.
There's more and more researchlinking gut problems like leaky
gut or just an imbalance inbacteria dysbiosis, to chronic
pain and even neuroinflammationand fibromyalgia.
Now usually we hear about fiberfor gut health right, but for
some people certain plantcompounds, fodmaps, lectins,
(07:19):
maybe nightshades are actuallymajor irritants.
By removing all of those, thecarnivore diet can act like a
powerful gut reset for certainindividuals Better digestion,
less bloating, maybe fewersystemic symptoms that actually
start in the gut.
Rachel (07:32):
Interesting, a gut reset .
Okay, what's mechanism numberthree?
Mark (07:35):
Stabilized blood sugar and insulin.
This is a big one, we know.
Fibromyalgia is often linkedwith issues in how the body
handles glucose, sometimes eveninsulin resistance.
Big blood sugar spikes andcrashes.
They can absolutely worsenfatigue, inflammation and pain
sensitivity.
Because the carnivore diet hasvirtually zero carbs, it
naturally keeps blood sugarsuper stable and lowers the
(07:56):
insulin load.
That alone could have a hugeimpact on energy regulation and
reducing those inflammationcascades tied to metabolic
issues.
Rachel (08:04):
Right Avoiding those sugar highs and lows Makes sense
.
Mark (08:07):
Then there's the potential benefit of ketosis.
When you eliminate carbs, yourbody can switch to burning fat
for fuel and produce ketoneslike beta-hydroxybutyrate or BHB
.
And what's cool here is thatketones themselves seem to have
beneficial effects.
They've been shown to reduceneuroinflammation, make those
cellular power plants, themitochondria, run more
efficiently and even directlymodulate pain receptors.
(08:29):
So this could lead to lessperceived pain and more energy,
hitting two major fibromyalgiasymptoms right there.
Rachel (08:35):
Wow, okay, so ketones aren't just fuel.
They have other effects too.
Mark (08:38):
Exactly.
And finally, we can't ignorenutrient density.
Animal foods are packed withhighly bioavailable nutrients,
things crucial for cell function, managing pain, making
neurotransmitters.
We're talking vitamin B12, ironin the heme form, which is easy
to absorb, zinc, creatine,carnitine, coq10.
The list goes on.
A lot of these are harder toget or absorb well from plants
(09:03):
and there's some evidence thatpeople with fibromyalgia might
actually be deficient in some ofthese key nutrients.
Rachel (09:08):
Okay, so pulling all that together, it really paints
a picture, doesn't it?
A compelling hypothesis atleast, that for some people,
fibromyalgia symptoms mightreally respond well to this kind
of low-inflammatory,nutrient-packed animal-based
approach Makes you think.
Mark (09:21):
And that brings us neatly, to the evidence.
Again got to stress no hugeclinical trials specifically on
carnivore and fibromyalgia yet,but what we do have is growing
indirect evidence supportingthose mechanisms we just talked
about, plus, honestly,incredibly compelling anecdotal
support, especially from peoplewith autoimmune or chronic pain
(09:41):
issues who've tried it.
I mean you can find thousandsof reports online people saying
they've had significantimprovements in their fibro
symptoms after going carnivoreThings like less pain and
tenderness, sleeping better,more energy, clearer thinking,
less bloating and, reallyimportantly, fewer of those
awful flare-ups or crashes.
You see these stories on placeslike Rivero, that health
community.
On Reddit threads our carnivorediet, our fibromyalgia.
(10:03):
Tons of YouTube testimonialstoo People feeling like they've
genuinely gotten their livesback.
Rachel (10:07):
Yeah, those stories are powerful, no doubt, but you know
, for listeners wanting a bitmore concrete data, even if
direct carnivore studies arelacking, is there other science
that kind of backs up why theseexperiences might be happening,
like around the inflammation orgut health links?
Mark (10:24):
Absolutely.
There's definitely a scientificfoundation that supports the
ideas behind it, even if thediet itself isn't named in this
study.
For example, there was a 2017study showing fibromyalgia
patients often have insulinresistance, even if they aren't
diabetic.
That strongly links metabolichealth to chronic pain.
Then, really interestingresearch in the journal Pain
(10:45):
back in 2018 found significantgut microbiome imbalances in
women with fibromyalgia.
That clearly points to a gutpain connection.
And we do have studies onketogenic diets, which are
pretty similar you know, lowcarb, high fat showing they can
reduce pain sensitivity andimprove fatigue and brain
function in chronic painpatients.
Rachel (11:01):
Okay, so the pieces are there, scientifically speaking.
Mark (11:04):
Exactly, if you connect the dots these studies, they
build a scientific rationale forwhy a diet like carnivore might
help, especially if someone'sfibromyalgia seems really driven
by gut issues or inflammationor metabolic stress.
But and this is the crucial,but it's definitely not a
guaranteed fix.
It's not going to be a miraclecure for every single person.
Rachel (11:24):
That's for really important reality check and it
leads us right into thecontroversy, the concerns.
We need to guide people throughthe valid cautions versus maybe
some overstated fears.
Let's start with nutrientvariety and, you know, can
people actually stick with thislong term?
Critics often worry aboutmissing vitamin C, fiber, all
those plant phytonutrients.
Mark (11:43):
Right, and this is where we need some nuance.
It's fascinating, actually,organ meats, especially liver
they do contain vitamin C, alongwith tons of other
micronutrients, so you're eatingtruly nose to tail.
It's not like vitamin C iscompletely absent.
And fiber we've always heardit's essential, right, but it
might not be for everyone.
There was actually a randomizedtrial in 2012 that found
(12:04):
reducing or even eliminatingfiber improves constipation for
some people.
Rachel (12:08):
It kind of challenges that OK, the liver thing is
interesting about vitamin C, butlet's be honest, how many
people are really going to eatliver regularly?
Is that practical and beyondnutrients?
What about the social side?
I mean this diet is sorestrictive it could easily lead
to feeling isolated, makeeating out super hard.
Couldn't it also risktriggering disordered eating for
(12:30):
some people and just be plaindifficult to sustain?
Mark (12:35):
That's an absolutely critical point.
Fibromyalgia patients oftenalready carry a heavy
psychological burden.
Depression anxieties are common.
So you have to ask how do youbalance this kind of dietary
rigidity with mental well-being,with flexibility?
It's a huge factor for stickingwith anything long-term and for
overall quality of life, notjust symptom scores.
Rachel (12:56):
Totally.
And then there's the big oneeveryone hears about the link
between red or processed meatand cancer, especially
colorectal cancer.
Mark (13:03):
Yeah, and this really needs a closer look.
What's interesting is most ofthat research it's observational
.
It can show a link, acorrelation, but it can't prove
cause and effect, and thesestudies often struggle to
properly account for otherlifestyle factors.
Smoking, drinking, beingsedentary, eating lots of
refined carbs All things we knowincrease cancer risk.
(13:23):
Plus, they often lump highlyprocessed meats like hot dogs or
deli meats together withunprocessed meat like a steak,
and those are really differentthings nutritionally and how
they're made.
Nutritionally and how they'remade.
There was a big umbrella reviewin Nature Medicine in 2022 that
looked at all the evidence.
It concluded the certainty of adirect causal link between
unprocessed red meat and chronicdisease was low to very low.
(13:46):
It doesn't mean zero risk,especially with lots of
processed or charred meat, butit strongly suggests context and
quality matter.
It's just not as simple as redmeat is bad.
Rachel (13:55):
That context is so important.
Okay, another common concernkidney strain from all the
protein, especially if someonealready has kidney issues.
But what about?
For healthy people?
Is a high-protein diet reallyhard on the kidneys?
Mark (14:07):
This is a really common misconception.
The overwhelming evidence nowshows that high-protein diets do
not harm kidney function inpeople with healthy kidneys.
Our kidneys are incrediblyadaptive.
Study after study shows healthykidneys just adapt to handle
more protein without losingfunction.
That idea of strain isn'tnecessarily harmful unless you
(14:27):
already have kidney disease ormaybe uncontrolled diabetes or
hypertension.
A 2021 review in a major kidneyjournal confirmed this.
Healthy people on higherprotein diets showed no decline
in kidney function.
When measured accurately,healthy kidneys can handle it.
Rachel (14:42):
Okay, that's a crucial clarification for healthy folks,
but it's absolutely vital tostress if you do have
pre-existing chronic kidneydisease, CKD or any kidney
impairment.
Mark (14:53):
Absolutely.
Rachel (14:53):
Protein intake needs to be carefully managed with your
doctor.
This is not something toexperiment with casually if your
kidneys aren't working well.
Mark (15:00):
Couldn't agree more.
Medical supervision is keythere.
Rachel (15:02):
So, wrapping this section up, it seems clear the
carnivore diet isn't some magicbullet for everyone, but it
could be a really valuable toolfor a specific group of people
with fibromyalgia, especiallymaybe those who haven't found
relief elsewhere or have reallystrong food sensitivities.
Mark (15:18):
Right If we try to picture who might benefit most well,
definitely people with fibro whoalso have major gut issues,
bloating, ibs, lots of foodsensitivities.
This diet might calm thatgut-brain connection down.
Also, maybe those withsuspected autoimmune overlap
things like Hashimoto's, lupus,ra.
Anecdotally some seeimprovements, possibly because
(15:40):
those plant compounds that mighttrigger immune reactions are
gone.
People who already know certainfoods make them worse Grains,
legumes, nightshades, maybe highoxalate foods.
Carnivore gives them a reallyclean baseline.
And maybe folks struggling withenergy crashes, blood sugar
swings.
That metabolic stability couldbe huge for them.
Rachel (15:57):
OK, and on the flip side , who really needs to be
cautious, or maybe avoid italtogether?
Mark (16:02):
Well, anyone with a history of eating disorders
really needs to tread carefully.
The extreme restriction couldbe triggering or reinforce
unhealthy patterns.
Psychological readiness is keyand, as we just stressed, people
with advanced chronic kidneydisease.
High protein is fine forhealthy kidneys, but not
necessarily for damaged oneswithout medical guidance.
Rachel (16:21):
Right.
Mark (16:22):
Pregnant or breastfeeding women too.
Nutritional needs are sky highthen, and we just don't have
long-term safety data.
It might be possible withcareful planning, but it's
probably not ideal.
And finally, if you're oncertain medications diuretics,
blood pressure beds, lithiumdefinitely talk to your doctor
first.
Low carb diets can affect howthese work.
Rachel (16:46):
So what really stands out here is that this carnivore
approach.
It can be seen as a kind oftherapeutic experiment for some
fibromyalgia sufferers, apotential tool, but you
absolutely have to go in withyour eyes open, be flexible and
keep evaluating how it's workingfor you.
It's not a universal fix.
Mark (16:58):
Exactly, and if you're considering trying to manage
fibromyalgia, it's reallyimportant to do it strategically
.
It's not just about cutting outplants.
You need to think aboutnutrients hydration monitoring
First off.
Maybe think of it as ashort-term trial initially, say
two to four weeks.
Treat it like an eliminationprotocol.
See how your symptoms change,reset things, maybe identify
(17:19):
sensitivities if you decide toreintroduce foods later and
track everything your painlevels, energy, mood, digestion
Keep a log.
That way you can look backobjectively and see if it
actually made a difference foryou.
Rachel (17:30):
Good tip Track everything, what else?
Mark (17:33):
Second, prioritize nutrient density.
Don't just eat lean chickenbreasts right To avoid
deficiencies.
You really want to try andinclude organ meats liver, heart
, kidney.
They're powerhouses for vitaminA, b12, iron, choline.
Also, eat fatty cuts of meatfor energy and consider things
like bone broth for collagen,glycine, minerals.
That whole nose-to-tail idea isreally about maximizing
(17:55):
nutrition from the animal.
Rachel (17:56):
Okay, so focus on quality and variety within
animal foods.
Got it.
Mark (18:00):
Third, hydration and electrolytes are key.
When you cut carbs way down,your insulin drops and you can
lose more sodium.
This can lead to fatigueheadaches that keto flu people
talk about.
So make sure you're addingenough salt, like sea salt, to
your food.
Maybe consider magnesium andpotassium supplements,
especially at the start, anddrink plenty of water Super
(18:20):
important that first week or two.
Rachel (18:21):
Right Electrolytes often overlooked.
Mark (18:28):
Fourth, think about getting some lab work done
Before you start.
Maybe baseline tests for kidneyfunction, egfr, maybe cystatin
C, liver enzymes, lipids, maybean inflammation marker like CRP.
Then maybe repeat some key labsafter, say, six to 12 weeks,
see how things are changing.
It gives you objective data andhelps ensure you're doing okay,
especially if you have otherhealth conditions.
Rachel (18:44):
Monitoring labs makes sense for such a big change.
Mark (18:47):
Fifth, and this is probably the most important, try
to work with a knowledgeablehealthcare practitioner if you
can, especially if you have CKD,diabetes, autoimmune issues.
They can help track those labs,adjust medications if needed
because sometimes dosages needto change on low-carb diets and
just help personalize thingsbased on how your body is
responding.
(19:08):
That guidance can be invaluable.
Rachel (19:10):
Yeah, having a partner in this journey seems wise.
Mark (19:13):
And finally, listen to your body Watch for warning
signs.
If you feel persistently awful,really fatigued, lightheaded,
severely constipated, losingappetite, losing weight too fast
, or if your fibro symptomsactually get worse after the
initial adjustment period, thenthis might not be the right
approach for you right now.
It's okay to modify it or stop.
Remember the best diet isalways the one that works best
(19:35):
for you as an individual.
Rachel (19:36):
That's such a crucial final point.
So, pulling all this together,what's the big takeaway?
Fibromyalgia it's undeniablycomplex.
It often sends people down thislong, frustrating road of trial
and error trying to find relief.
The carnivore diet yeah, it'sunconventional, but it offers
this really structured, deeplyanti-inflammatory approach that
honestly seems worth considering, particularly if you're dealing
(19:58):
with major gut issues, maybeautoimmune overlap or just
unrelenting chronic pain thathasn't budged with other
treatments.
Mark (20:05):
I agree.
The emerging science, evenindirectly, plus those thousands
of anecdotal reports.
They point to real, plausiblemechanisms for how carnivore
might reduce fibromyalgia flares, boost energy and genuinely
improve quality of life for someindividuals.
But we have to say it again, itis not cure and it's definitely
not right or helpful foreveryone.
(20:26):
It's a powerful toolpotentially, but needs to be
used wisely.
Rachel (20:30):
So the key advice we've talked through today approach it
with an open mind, but alsowith real strategy.
Think short trial, first trackeverything meticulously, focus
on nutrient density andelectrolytes and please, if
possible, work with aknowledgeable practitioner,
especially if you haveunderlying health conditions.
Mark (20:53):
Absolutely.
And maybe a final thought foryou listening whether going
carnivore ends up being along-term path for you or maybe
just a short-term experiment onyour health journey, you could
offer some really valuableinsights, maybe significant
relief and perhaps mostimportantly, a renewed sense of
control over your fibromyalgia.
Nicolette (21:07):
Thanks for tuning into the Health Pulse.
If you found this episodehelpful, don't forget to
subscribe and share it withsomeone who might benefit.
For more health insights anddiagnostics, visit us online at
wwwquicklabmobilecom.
Stay informed, stay healthy andwe'll catch you in the next
episode.
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