Interview with Joel

1) Introduce Yourself.

My name is Joel Caron.  I’m a 37-year-old musician and graphic designer, living and working in Toronto, Canada.  I’ve been on an animal based diet for the past 2 years and 8 months.

2) How did you eat before Carnivore?

Growing up in a rural agricultural town, I mostly ate a standard American diet, including vegetables, fruit, nuts, tons of milk, sugary cereal and other processed foods containing grains and seed oil.  I ate very little meat, especially red, because of a cultural fear of red meat and animal fats.  In adulthood, I went through periods of restricting the consumption of specific foods to address my gastrointestinal problems and gut pain; more recently, I reduced my intake of bread, pasta and foods with added sugar, many years ago, I tried a mostly raw fruitarian diet for a few months (until I wasted away), and then a low FODMAP diet for a few years.  These approaches benefited me in some ways, but seemed to damage me in others; I could not resolve the digestive discomfort.

3) Why did you try Carnivore to begin with?

I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at age 27.  Unhappy with the inefficacy of the medication I was prescribed (and the bill), I became desperate to find a sustainable lifestyle that would stop the pain, discomfort, and urgent trips to the toilet.  After years of reading about health and nutritional “science”, and failing to see results in my own experience, I felt hopeless – so hopeless that I shifted my focus to other areas of unrelated interest, such as cosmology and modern physics.  For context, I was raised in a Catholic family and community, and as I learned more about the scientific method and developed skepticism, I applied it fairly to religious beliefs.  Eventually, I found the work of neuroscientist and philosopher, Sam Harris, I watched all of his talks and debates on YouTube, and eventually, I saw his appearance on Joe Rogan Experience.  This sparked recommendations for more JRE videos with other influential figures.  Then, one day, I just happened to watch the episode with Dr. Shawn Baker, who opened my mind to the carnivore diet.  Dr. Baker mentioned people using an “all meat” diet to effectively treat IBD and for other health benefits.  I ditched the plant foods that very day.

4) How do you personally approach the Carnivore Diet?

When I started, I was eating beef, pork, eggs, butter, a little old cheddar, and the occasional seafood and chicken, always salting everything.  For the past year, my diet has consisted mostly of those same things, but with the addition of daily coffee, heavy cream, and a bit of honey (because I enjoy it and still feel pretty great).  I don’t count macronutrients or calories but I feel best on fatty cuts of meat to satiety, so I do that as much as possible.  When eating leaner meat, I add grassfed butter or any other animal fat source on hand.

5) What benefits have you seen since starting the Carnivore Diet?

Immediately, I experienced a significant reduction in gut pain and in frequency and urgency of bowel movements.  Interestingly though, it did take around two years for my stools to take shape and become firm on a regular basis; now, it’s rare to have loose stools.  Also, I went into the diet with bad heartburn which took a few months to resolve without medication.  On top of these major benefits, an animal based diet improved my skin, musculature, joints, circulation, eye sight, oral health, and overall cognitive function.

6) What negatives have you found with the Carnivore Diet?

I can’t say there are any negatives in my experience.

7) Do you exercise on the Carnivore Diet, if so how do you find it and what do you do?

I have been exercising as a carnivore, getting better results both in appearance and in strength.  I do full body workouts on most days of the week, involving various callisthenic exercises and light dumbbell work.

8) What piece of advice would you give someone who is interested in trying this diet, but hasn’t taken the leap yet?

Follow other carnivores on Instagram and join carnivore Facebook groups, a variety of them, and take note.  You will quickly see how beneficial this diet is for treating a plethora of ailments and even for improving body composition.

9) Do you think Carnivore will ever be accepted as a mainstream diet?

I think it could become a mainstream diet if carnivores continue promoting and demonstrating its benefits.  This noise could spark greater scientific interest and lead to more clinical trials and concrete evidence.  And If we generate enough of this, I believe it will break into the mainstream.

10) Anything you would like to add, and where can people follow you?

Follow my carnivore lifestyle account on Instagram @joelcaronivore

Ketogenic Endurance – I hoped you enjoyed this post.

If you like what I am about, check out the below.

Amazon

Carnivore Fit Expanded edition – my eBook and Paperback looking at why meat is good for you, why plants are bad, and how to exercise on zero carbs.

Low Content Books – Carnivore & Keto inspired Journals, Notebooks, Diaries, and Planners.

Media

• The majority of my personal journey is documented on Instagram.
• Carnivore Diet Success Stories Facebook group.
• Carnivore Diet Success Stories Newsletter.
• I am an ambassador for the lifestyle brand Descended From Odin, have a look at their apparel and accessories: Click here and get 10% off with the code “ketogenicendurance”