Microbiome & Carnivore diet

[Cocosilk]

It's interesting. In the last year or so, something changed. For breakfast I began eating 2 instead of 1 egg with my bacon and vegetables. After a while I didn't want the bacon anymore and now I skip breakfast 3 to 5 days a week. Not sure why. After 4 years my body's needs continue to change.

It's good you're listening to your body. That's the main thing. I've read different things about skipping breakfast from there being a higher correlation with metabolic dysfunction in those who (can) do it (includes me), which I don't think is exactly true. But even if it were, if you are listening to your body, you are healing it by extended fasting anyway, right? So I think it's the body's message to us if there is a metabolic dysfunction rather than something that causes it.

My 81yo father has been a breakfast skipper (if you don't count coffee and cigarettes) for a great part of his life. At the moment he only eats one proper meal a day, somewhere around lunch time, and that's because he's listening to his body. He doesn't have diabetes. He does have a few other health issues but still seems pretty spritely to me that I would safely copy (some of) his lifestyle if it got him to the 80s.

 

[Winnie53]

Yes, I think you're right. By skipping some breakfasts, I'm extending the fast. And it sounds like what your father is doing works fine for him.

I'm going to hazard a guess that those who do not have problems eating carbs from grains and starches do better, particularly during the first half of their lives, eating all three meals with snacks if needed. I have numerous friends like this who are metabolically healthy.

I haven't figured out what works best for me yet, so I continue to learn and experiment, and I'm far, far better off now than I was 4 years ago with an a1c of 9.9% (US). I manage with the keto diet, supplements, and walking. No medication or insulin. My current a1c is hovering around 6%. My goal is to get it back down to 5.4%, which is what it was within a few months of starting the keto diet 4 years ago.

It's good you're here. I've gotten excellent information and insights from forum members here.

 

[Member496333]

I typically eat breakfast at around noon. Sometimes mid afternoon if it’s likely to be OMAD. The major exception is if I lift weights in the morning, after which I become almost immediately ravenous and will then normally destroy some liver or eggs. Basically I eat when I’m hungry and not before. Seems to work for me so far

 

[Cocosilk]

Yes, I think you're right. By skipping some breakfasts, I'm extending the fast. And it sounds like what your father is doing works fine for him.

I'm going to hazard a guess that those who do not have problems eating carbs from grains and starches do better, particularly during the first half of their lives, eating all three meals with snacks if needed. I have numerous friends like this who are metabolically healthy.

I haven't figured out what works best for me yet, so I continue to learn and experiment, and I'm far, far better off now than I was 4 years ago with an a1c of 9.9% (US). I manage with the keto diet, supplements, and walking. No medication or insulin. My current a1c is hovering around 6%. My goal is to get it back down to 5.4%, which is what it was within a few months of starting the keto diet 4 years ago.

It's good you're here. I've gotten excellent information and insights from forum members here.

Yes, I've only been hanging around here for a few months and I've learned so much already !

I wonder what makes certain people be able to eat grains and starches better. Is it the part of the world your ancestry is from? My father's side are from ex-Yugoslavia. He said ever since that boat ride from Europe to Australia when he was about 12yo, he was as seasick as hell and when he finally was able to eat, he managed to keep down bread and apple, and has pretty much eaten them ever since. I think he probably has some insulin resistance though but not to diabetic levels.
He stopped smoking over 40 years ago I think but he was still never big on eating breakfast and it doesn’t sound like he snacked between meals much either until more recently when he stopped being able to play table tennis and started watching more TV.
I think the skipping meals and not overeating has been one of the things that has got him to his age.
His sister (my aunt) is 83 and despite having gestational diabetes in the 1950s, she's been lucky not to develop T2 even though she eats museli most mornings and loves her fruit. Again, I'm not sure if she would have some level of insulin resistance by now but she seems pretty healthy for her age too.
I'll say also that at least my father never did the low fat thing. He would always soak up the drippings from a pork roast and eat butter in thick slices on his bread. He just probably didn't have a biscuit habit like I did for years. Low quality biscuits made with seed oils too probably.

 

[Winnie53]

Yes, I think limiting or eliminating processed starches, sugars, and seed oils works best for most of us. Wish only I ate a real, whole food diet much earlier in my life!

Last week, I donated blood to find out what blood type I am. I was so excited to finally have that information to see what diet is best for me using the "eat 4 your blood type" website. Then I was disappointed to discover that my diet is vegetarian with seafood, no dairy, no tomatoes. Eek! I love vegetables and seafood, but don't take away my meat, dairy, or tomatoes. I love them! And I'm of Danish heritage too. And even more surprising, my best friend who eats a vegetarian, diet should eat animal protein. Really not sure what to think at this point!

 

[Brunneria]

Yes, I think limiting or eliminating processed starches, sugars, and seed oils works best for most of us. Wish only I ate a real, whole food diet much earlier in my life!

Last week, I donated blood to find out what blood type I am. I was so excited to finally have that information to see what diet is best for me using the "eat 4 your blood type" website. Then I was disappointed to discover that my diet is vegetarian with seafood, no tomatoes. Eek! I love vegetables and seafood, but don't take away my meat, dairy, or tomatoes. I love them! And I'm of Danish heritage too. Really not sure what to think at this point.

I am afraid that those ideas about 'eat right for your blood group' don't hold water for me.

Have seen too many people thriving on the 'wrong' diet and failing on the 'right' diet to give it any credence at all. Several friends fell for the hype about 20 years ago, and supported each other in it for years. Interesting to observe the outcomes. As far as I know, they have all discarded it as a way of eating.

Pity, because I can see how it seems credible to some people, and I think they can end up following unwise diet advice for a looooong time, with possible health consequences, especially knowing what I do now about cholesterol, red meat soya, dairy. fibre and gut permeability..

 

[Winnie53]

Brunneria, I agree. I think a better approach to diet is monitoring how your body is responding to the foods you eat over time.

That said, after watching the Kick Sugar Summit this week - (please note, ALL interviews are available to view today; see the Kick Sugar Summit thread here on the forum) - I was reminded that sometimes we need to eliminate foods from our diet to know how they are effecting us.

To illustrate, I did not know how addicted I was to wheat and sugar until I went gluten free in 2011. Wheat and sugar both have an opiod effect on the brain. I was still going through withdrawal 2 to 3 weeks after removing wheat and sugar from my diet.

The solution? I called the facilitator of our local gluten-free group and she hooked me up with a gluten free baker. I spent the next couple of months buying four dessert type bakery items each week just so I could feel normal again. Today, I'm mostly grain and sugar free, but still eating small amounts of fresh fruit daily.

I have a friend who is having horrible gastro-intestinal symptoms, has been as long as I've known her. She's starting to seek help, but until she does an elimination diet, I'm doubtful she'll make much progress. Ironically, the authors of The Elimination Diet live and work in our community. Hoping someday she'll work up the nerve to seek their help. Arguably, she might benefit from doing a carnivore diet on a short term basis, then adding one food back a week to see what she's reacting to, but not sure she'd be willing to do that either.

I myself should do one or the other, but I've become a bit of a foodie. Perhaps in time, I'll be more motivated...