A Farmer's Take on Healing with Food

For anyone else out there navigating autoimmune issues, this one's for you.

About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Since then, I've been on a long journey of trying to figure out how to manage it. Medication, diet changes, stress management, you name it. Some things have helped more than others.

Six days ago, Andrea and I started the most extreme elimination diet I've ever tried: the carnivore diet. For those who haven't heard of it, it's exactly what it sounds like: eating only animal products. No plants, no grains, no vegetables. Just meat, eggs, and sometimes dairy.

I'll be honest, it feels a little odd eating meat all the time. But the carnivore community keeps talking about how it helps with autoimmune issues, and after trying just about everything else over the years, I figured it was worth a shot.

The first few days have been... a ride. Not much hunger, but I've been moodier than a wet hen at times, and my energy's been bouncing around all over the place. Pretty sure we're working through what they call the "keto flu" right now.

Here's what struck me though: when you're trying to heal through food, you realize how much trust you're putting in your plate. At least I know the whole story of what I'm eating.

I have no idea if this experiment will help with my autoimmune symptoms or not. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. I'm committing to at least 14 days. If I'm seeing positive changes, maybe we'll push it to 30. I'll update you along the way.

If any of you out there have dealt with autoimmune issues, whether through carnivore, AIP, elimination diets, or anything else, I'd love to hear what's worked for you. Managing these things can feel pretty isolating, and sometimes just knowing someone else gets it makes all the difference.

Your farmer (currently living on steak and eggs),
Cody