What Led Me to An Animal Based Diet?

My diet wasn’t far from being animal-based.  I always ate quality meat, eggs, berries and some veggies. Typically just green beans, asparagus, or the occasional salad with romaine or arugula.  

Sounds like a pretty clean and healthy diet, right? No processed foods, only whole-foods, no seed oils, no gluten, no grains, no sugar. Yet despite my clean diet, I still experienced bloating. It was beyond frustrating, especially when I was convinced I was doing everything right.

Full disclosure - My gut health had been a rollercoaster for a year, with no real explanation other than some dysbiosis that was found by testing. I tried countless supplements and made numerous changes to my diet.  Which helped significantly – I felt about 90% better overall. In fact, all of my diet testing, trial and error is what inspired me to create The Healthy Skin eBook.

How I came across the animal-based diet - 

I was already a fan of Dr. Paul Saladino because he has always been anti seed oils and processed foods. One thing that caught my attention was his explanation about how plants and vegetables contain toxic chemicals used to defend themselves from being eaten. It made me think about the vegetables I was consuming, and how I never considered them to be problematic.

Then, Paul’s supplement company,  Heart & Soil,  announced a 30-day Animal Based Challenge (AB30). I saw this as the perfect opportunity to fully embrace the animal-based lifestyle. It just made so much sense to me, especially since it aligned with everything I was already doing. The only changes I would need to make were completely eliminating veggies, and adding in raw dairy, more fruits, and raw honey into my diet. The Animal-Based Challenge seemed like the perfect next diet/gut test.

I am now on day 9 and here's a brief overview on my diet so far: (you can find more of my meals on my IG: @jamieanneaesthetics)

- Breakfast: 

Pasture raised, NO corn, NO soy eggs cooked in ghee, ½ avocado A side of A2 yogurt or raw kefir and fruits like peaches, banana, grapefruit, berries, and mango.

- Lunch/Snack: 

Grass-fed/finished burger patties topped with raw cheddar cheese, olives, raw parmesan cheese, raw honey, and more fruit.

- Dinner: 

Grass-fed/finished ribeye steaks or pasture-raised, corn and soy-free chicken with avocado or sweet potato. All cooked with beef tallow and grass-fed butter.

- Dessert:

Milkshake with raw milk, raw honey, dates, and banana. (Recipe coming soon.)

These meals were BEYOND satisfying!  And guess what? No more bloating! It reinforced what Paul had been saying - vegetables have defense chemicals to prevent predators from eating them. It just made sense, and now I've experienced it firsthand. So far, I feel amazing on this diet. After just one week, my energy levels have improved, my stomach is flatter, and most importantly, my bloating is gone. I will have a follow-up to this once I hit 30 days, as well as a grocery list and meal plan to follow if you want to give this diet a try, so stay tuned!

Let’s talk about some of the other benefits you experience by eating an animal-based diet:

MEAT:

Animal-based diets are rich in essential nutrients that our body needs to function properly. Grass-fed meat is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for brain health, as well as the health of our skin, nails, and hair. Pasture-raised meats are much higher in antioxidants and minerals that protect our body from free radicals that cause aging.

ORGANS:

Organ meats provide an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals that support good health. Liver, for example, is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. It's high in vitamin A, B vitamins, iron, zinc, and many more nutrients important to women's health.

RAW MILK:

Raw milk is another animal-based food that women can benefit from. It's full of healthy bacteria that help support a healthy gut microbiome. Raw milk also contains enzymes that aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients. Women who consume raw dairy products have numerous health benefits such as reduced inflammation, stronger bones, and clearer skin!

RAW HONEY:

Raw honey is a natural sweetener that is rich in antioxidants and provides many health benefits such as improving digestion, boosting the immune system, and providing energy. Raw honey also has antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects (perfect for acne).

The Problem with Plants:

Natural Toxins:

Vegetables contain many toxins that can be bad for your gut health. These toxins, such as lectins, glucosinolates, and saponins, are designed to protect the plant from being eaten by animals or insects. Unfortunately, these same compounds can also have a negative effect on your gut health if consumed in large amounts. Lectins can cause small tears in the lining of the gut which cause inflammation and can lead to leaky gut. Glucosinolates can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals, while saponins can irritate the lining of the gut and cause inflammation. Vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers contain toxins called alkaloids, which can also be harmful if consumed in large quantities. (Some of these toxins can be eliminated from cooking but this also eliminates nutrients)

Oxalates:

Oxalates are compounds found in some vegetables that can bind to calcium and other minerals in the gut, making them unavailable for absorption. This can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Additionally, oxalates can accumulate in the body over time and may contribute to kidney stones or other health problems. Oxalates are highest in leafy greens like Spinach and Kale.

FODMAPs:

FODMAPs are short-chain carbohydrates found in some vegetables that are not easily digested by humans. As a result, they tend to ferment in the gut which can cause bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Common vegetables high in FODMAPs include garlic, onions, artichokes, asparagus, mushrooms, cauliflower and broccoli.

Resistant Starch:

Resistant starch is a type of starch that is not easily digested by humans due to its structure; it passes through our digestive system without being broken down into simple sugars like glucose or fructose. While this may sound beneficial at first glance (as it does not raise blood sugar levels), consuming too much resistant starch can lead to an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut which may cause digestive issues such as bloating or gas. 

MYTHS AND FACTS:

Myth: A Plant-Based Diet Is Healthier Than An Animal-Based Diet

Contrary to popular belief, a plant-based diet is not healthier than an animal-based diet. As noted above most plants and vegetables are full of toxins that can cause digestive issues when eaten. There are also some important nutrients that can only be obtained from animal products, such as vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. Plant-based diets also tend to be high in processed foods and sweets, which can lead to health issues if consumed in excess.

Myth: Animal-Based Diets Are Unhealthy 

It's often assumed that animal-based diets are unhealthy due to the high levels of saturated fat found in meat and dairy products. However, this isn't necessarily true if you choose grass-fed, grass-finished meats instead of conventionally raised animals that have been fed a diet full of grains, antibiotics, and hormones. Grass-fed meats contain higher levels of healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids which can help promote heart health while also providing essential vitamins and minerals. 

Myth: Grass-Fed Meat Tastes Bad

Grass-fed meat does not have to taste bad! In fact, many people find that grass-fed beef has a richer flavor and texture than grain-fed beef due to its higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial compounds. Additionally, grass-fed animals are typically raised on smaller farms with more humane practices than conventional feedlot operations. 

Myth: Eating Animals Is Cruel

Many people believe that eating animals is cruel because they have to be killed in order for us to consume them. While this may be true for some animals raised in factory farms where they are treated poorly, it does not apply to all animals raised for food. Animals raised on sustainable farms are treated humanely throughout their lives before being humanely slaughtered at the end - this ensures that they experience minimal stress during their life cycles which reduces their suffering significantly compared to factory-farmed animals who endure horrible conditions throughout their lives before being slaughtered inhumanely without proper care or consideration for their wellbeing. 

Myth: Eating Animals Is Unsustainable

Another myth about animal agriculture is that it's unsustainable due to its environmental impact. This simply isn't true either - when done responsibly, animal agriculture can actually be beneficial for the environment by helping to restore soil health through natural fertilizers like manure and helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through rotational grazing methods which mimic natural herd movements across large areas of land instead of confining them into small pens with limited space or access to fresh grasses/plants for nourishment. Additionally, pasture-raised animals provide more nutritious food sources than grain-fed animals while also reducing water pollution caused by runoff from traditional feedlots filled with grain waste products.

Fact: Unsustainable Farming Practices Are Bad for The Environment

Plant-Based diets are often touted as being more environmentally friendly than diets that include meat, but this is not necessarily true. The production of plant-based foods requires large amounts of water and energy, and many vegan products are made from crops that are grown in unsustainable ways. For example, soybeans are often grown using monoculture farming techniques, which can deplete the soil and lead to increased runoff of pesticides and fertilizers into nearby bodies of water.

Fact: Plant-Based Diets Cause Animal Deaths Due to Crop Production

In addition to the environmental damage caused by crop production for plant-based diets, there is also the issue of animal deaths due to crop production. Many animals, such as birds and small mammals, are killed or injured when farmers clear land for crop production or use machinery for harvesting crops. This is particularly true in areas where large quantities of land must be cleared for monoculture farming practices used in producing vegan foods such as soybeans or corn.

For more on my animal-based diet, I have more info on my IG: @jamieanneaesthetics