In an interview, a woman revealed her lifelong battle with treatment, hospitals, and psychiatric medications that failed to improve her health. Despite following plant-based diets recommended by hospitals, she faced weight issues and digestive problems. By age 47, she was severely underweight, dealing with fractures, organ prolapse, and declining mental health.
Desperate for a change, she turned to a ketogenic diet after learning about its benefits from metabolic psychiatrists. Embracing animal foods, she gradually reintroduced them into her meals, starting with small portions and steadily increasing her intake. Over time, she noticed remarkable improvements in her mental health, even before experiencing significant weight gain.
As she continued with the diet, her overall health improved, and after a year, she was free from anorexia symptoms and negative thought patterns. Consuming primarily red meat, eggs, and occasional chicken and fish, she gained 50 pounds of muscle and remained free from health issues that had plagued her for years.
For her, the journey was about healing, and she credits animal products in her diet for the transformative change. Dr. Georgia Ede, a psychiatrist specializing in nutritional psychiatry, has supported the role of animal products in promoting overall health and well-being.
Dr. Smith has spoken positively about the benefits of the carnivore diet in treating overeating disorders, such as binge-eating. She shared with Fox News Digital that well-designed carnivore diets have been effective in her clinical practice, helping patients find relief from food-related issues. Since adopting this diet, Dr. Smith has gained 50 pounds of muscle and has not experienced health problems that troubled her for many years. Some patients have reported feeling more satisfied and less consumed by food cravings after following a carnivore diet.
Research indicates that carnivore diets could be particularly beneficial in addressing severe malnourishment in cases of anorexia, according to Dr. Ede. However, she emphasized the need for medically supervised clinical trials to better understand the potential risks and benefits of such diets in anorexia treatment.
Harvard medical student and researcher, Nick Norwitz, has conducted a case study on individuals who successfully overcame eating disorders with the ketogenic diet. Norwitz also debunked common myths surrounding the carnivore diet in a recent video release. He stressed the importance of recognizing that dietary approaches are not one-size-fits-all and must be approached with context and nuance.
Clinical counselor Margot Rittenhouse highlighted the significance of relying on well-researched diets when treating eating disorders. While some studies suggest benefits of a ketogenic carnivore diet for anorexia nervosa, more evidence is needed to validate it as a standard treatment option. Rittenhouse cautioned against relying solely on a ketogenic diet, which eliminates many plant-based foods and carbohydrates, as it may not provide all essential nutrients.
Expert advice emphasizes the importance of seeking professional help when dealing with disordered eating. Dietitian Tanya Freirich does not recommend the carnivore diet for treating eating disorders, as it excludes important food groups that offer essential nutrients for overall health. She emphasized the importance of a balanced diet that includes a variety of foods to support optimal health.
“Eating,” she added. Rittenhouse also cautioned against adopting any type of restrictive diet, which has been shown to create “harmful relationships to food.” “Some patients have reported relief from ‘food noise’ and a welcome sense of satiety, often for the first time in years.”
“Eating only animal proteins is not a complete diet by any means, as one would be consuming nearly exclusively saturated fats and protein,” she said in an interview with Fox News Digital. Experts agree that those suffering from disordered eating should not attempt to treat the condition without professional help. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Rittenhouse recommends seeking support from a multidisciplinary team that includes an eating disorder-informed dietitian, therapist, psychiatrist, and doctor. “These mental illnesses are complex, biopsychosocial disorders and cannot be treated by only one provider or discipline alone,” she said.
Original article source: ‘The carnivore diet saved my life after decades of anorexia’.
