Background
Throughout my youth, I had never suffered from any inflammatory conditions, let alone an autoimmune disease.
But, in the spring of my final year in medical school, I was diagnosed with what is generally known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Specifically, ulcerative colitis.
Biopsy confirmed. Twice. Once in Toronto. Once in NYC. Gastrointestinal Doctor trained right in the belly of the Crohn’s/IBD hub.
This was the first time I had come face-to-face with what I was taught to believe was a chronic disorder that would require a lifetime of treatment, follow-ups, and most worryingly of all: early cancer screening.
With the advice of reputable and well-respected gastroenterologists from two major academic medical centers, I proceeded with the recommended “treatment” and management.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, IBD treatment can involve drugs which suppress the immune system all the way to surgical removal of diseased bowel. Fortunately, the disease was not severe enough to warrant surgery. Only immune system suppression.
Standard Management Protocol
Like many who have been diagnosed with IBD, I was given the usual song-and-dance about its cause, and guideline-recommended treatment approach.
It is an autoimmune condition
Your body is attacking the bowel for unknown reasons
Eat vegetarian heavy diet
There are genes which are correlated with the disease
You will need early and regular screening, because of increased risk of colon cancer
Treatment involves immune suppression and “disease-modifying” drugs
That last part is really amusing, because part of the definition of disease-modifying drugs (DMARD) is that they allegedly address the underlying cause of disease. This is contrasted with symptomatic treatment, which only suppress symptoms.
This is amusing because DMARDs do not actually address the real cause of disease. They simply interact with biologic markers which are correlated with the disease. Such as the targeting of tumor-necrosis factor, which is a critical compound produced by our immune cells. But, it also happens to be present during the inflammatory phase of “autoimmune” conditions. You can think of this as symptomatic treatment of lab tests results.
I digress.
Attempted Treatments
When I was first diagnosed with IBD, my doctor prescribed mesalamine (AKA mesalazine or 5-ASA). After several weeks of use, many of my symptoms had improved.
I was told I would need to undergo this treatment every couple of months - for life.
This did not sit well with me, so I did some reading and asked my doctor several questions:
What lifestyle factors can I change?
Should we get a microbiome analysis of my stool?
How can I adjust my diet?
All of these were met with a combination of dismissal or skeptical shoulder-shrugs.
Instead, I was told that if I avoid red-meat and eat a fiber-rich plant-based diet, it will reduce my chances of colon cancer decades down the line.
In fact, my gastroenterologist was quite adamant about the plant-based diet part. So much so that, at one point, both my wife and I tried a vegetarian diet.
Unfortunately, it hadn’t improved my symptoms or frequency of flare-ups.
Fast-Forward 4 years
This cycle of flare-up, check-up and treatment continued for 4 years.
I had switched doctors twice.
Each one attempting a slight modification on the prior’s “management strategy.”
This brings us to the year of the covid shot mandates. For those who have been reading this publication, you will know that I started writing after being fired for refusing the covid shot.
As you would imagine, this would be an incredibly stressful time for my family - especially with the imminent delivery of our first child. You can read the full story here:
Needless to say, this stressful period was accompanied by the worst flare-up I had ever experienced.
My gastroenterologist was of little help.
“Your disease is progressing.”
“We need to try stronger medications.”
Alright, chief.
With covid as the straw which broke the camel’s back, my skepticism and resentment of the medical industry was at all time highs.
So, I decided to take my fate into my own hands.
How I Cured My IBD
First, I had to tame the flare-up.
During my years as a student, I recall reading that tobacco use was associated with less severe symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease.
After some further reading, it seemed like nicotine may have been the active component which imparted the benefit.
What’s more, since it was such a stressful time I decided to try smoking tobacco to see what impact it may have.
Of course, I did not want to smoke the cigarettes that dominate the smoking market. So, I bought cigarettes that are made only from tobacco. No other ingredients.
Smoking 1-2 cigarettes per day resulted in noticeable improvement of my symptoms within a few short weeks. Much more improvement than the two medications (mesalazine and steroids) my doctor had prescribed.
Once the symptoms were somewhat under control, I decided to take more drastic measures.
Sidepoint: I recently learned that even cigarettes which are pure tobacco can be very bad for your health, and to a large degree because of the radioactive contents in the leaves that are a result of fertilizer use. In any case, every time you puff a smoke, you combust radioactive elements to start decaying and irradiating your lungs from the inside.
By then, I had been reading and researching about the carnivore diet for a couple of years.
At the time, I wasn’t so sure that eating meat was ‘the cure’ per se. What was more obvious for me, was that a carnivore diet was an easy to follow elimination diet.
Another important thing to consider is that ulcerative colitis primarily (or at first) impacts the large bowel or colon.
On the other hand, meat is initially broken down in the stomach and then digested/absorbed in the small intestine.
Most of this food is taken care before it reaches the colon.
This gives the colon time to rest and recover.
Furthermore, plant material and fiber do not get easily digested/absorbed and make their way to the colon. Causing further irritation and inflammation as it scrapes the inner walls.
I avoided all plants when trying to tame my IBD.
Second, when someone says “keto,” for example, it can be a bit vague. There are keto-friendly processed packaged foods, too. But, carnivore is carnivore. Just eat meat or anything that is as direct a product from the animal.
Beef. Bacon. Butter. Eggs. Raw milk. Honey.
Easy.
Within a matter of weeks, all of my symptoms had subsided.
To my pleasant surprise, it worked.
Out of fear of another flare-up, I decided to keep up the carnivore diet for several months. I figured that my bowel had been through a lot of stress. It would need more time to rest and repair.
Many months and eventually a year passed by.
No symptoms. No discomfort. No sign of the disease whatsoever.
This was the first time in my life that I had become a keen observer of my bowel movements. Every morning I would wake up, and be grateful for beautifully formed stool in the bowl.
As lame as it sounds, these moments would put a smile on my face. Relief would wash over me, every time.
But, what do I do next? Just eat meat forever?
Post-Carnivore Diet
Some people continue the strict carnivore diet for years and years. More power to them.
As someone who continued to research the relationship between nature and our health, this was not enough. I knew there are several cultures with impeccable health who have incorporated other foods into their diet.
This phase of my life was incredibly informative. One of the most important lessons was realizing what is possible with a naturalist approach to life and health.
The treatment effect of any of the medications my doctors prescribed was laughably weak compared to a few consistent behavior changes.
This opened my mind to further study. These studies led to more comprehensive health strategies which include a robust and complete diet, amongst other lifestyle changes.
We are now approaching the third year of being completely symptom free.
I have not had any of the symptoms of IBD, including:
Foul smell
Loose stool
Thin-caliber stool
Mucus and blood in stool
Chronic abdominal discomfort & pain with defecation
Now, many would argue with the word cure.
In fact, some of my past doctors would insist that I am in “remission.”
I disagree. When I was given immune-suppressing drugs to manage my symptoms, I was in remission.
As far as I’m concerned, I am as close to “cured” as one can get.
When I tell my colleagues my story, they can scarcely believe it. Especially since I had “biopsy-proven” IBD. For some reason, this makes it more intriguing for them. Probably because they don’t understand the significance of “biopsy-proven.”
I wish a carnivore diet would work for me, as animal based products are the only ones that don’t cause severe bloating. Unfortunately the diet also puts a complete kibosh on BMs. Congratulations on the healing! It’s wonderful to read the work and thoughts of such an anomaly: a logical, scientific-minded healthcare professional!
Interesting view of carnivore being an elimination diet that facilitates high compliance. Makes too much sense.
I've been dealing with bowel issues since 2021 (spastic colon). I'll pick up some raw milk this week and see if carnivore isn't the way to solve my problem. I noticed that my problems started when my wife and I decided to reduce the amount of meat we consumed (and that wasn't the only problem that I noticed).