Why I Quit the Carnivore Diet-Twice

If you’ve ever felt desperate enough to try just about anything to feel better, I see you. I’ve been there. That’s what led me to try the carnivore diet—not once, but twice.

Spoiler: I quit both times.

This post isn’t meant to bash or promote any particular diet. I’m simply sharing my honest experience as someone navigating chronic illness, histamine intolerance, mast cell issues, and autoimmune symptoms. This is my story—not medical advice. Always talk to your provider before starting any new diet.

Attempt #1: Desperate Times, Desperate Measures

My first go at the carnivore diet was somewhat impulsive. I was dealing with worsening histamine intolerance and mast cell activation after moving into a moldy home. On top of that, I had developed severe recurring chronic pain and nausea I later discovered were from kidney stones.

Thinking that my new GI symptoms might be an autoimmune issue like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), I hesitated to see a doctor due to past experiences of medical gaslighting.

My had been doing carnivore for a while and was experiencing some amazing results. I started seeing more stories online—people with autoimmune conditions and gut issues finding relief on carnivore.

I didn’t do much prep or research. Feeling desperate for relief, I jumped in head first without doing enough research and was not prepared for what my body would go through as I transitioned.

On the fourth day, I woke up feeling absolutely wrecked: dizzy, weak, nauseated, heart racing, and seriously close to fainting. I almost went to the ER. Instead, I ate some carbs (a sweet potato) and almost immediately felt better.

Looking back, I suspect electrolyte imbalance or oxalate dumping might have been to blame. I was breastfeeding at the time, which probably made the typical “keto flu” much worse. Now that I know that I had kidney stones and learning about the emerging information on oxalates, that is also suspect. I did jump right in from a high oxalate diet.

Regardless, I abandoned the carnivore diet experiment.

Attempt #2: A Year Later, Wiser but Still Hopeful

A year later, after multiple kidney stone surgeries and a hospital stay that left me shaken, my urologist suggested cutting oxalates. That put carnivore back on my radar.

This time, I did my homework. I watched the videos. I joined the Facebook groups. I learned that I needed to cut oxalates slowly, so I took my time lowering my oxalate foods before another attempt at carnivore.

My husband wanted to try it too, so we gave it a real shot.

The first few weeks were rough—low energy, brain fog, and digestive changes—but I pushed through. Around the three-week mark, I started feeling better: clearer head, more energy, reduced histamine symptoms. I was committed to stick with it for at least 90 days.

I started to feel hopeful that my chronic health struggles were behind me.

But the weight kept coming off. I had started at around 110lbs and was now in the low 90s.

In an attempt to keep my calories up, I added 10% fat Greek yogurt (delicious). That’s when things started going downhill again. Fatigue, brain fog, and hair loss came creeping back. My IBS symptoms returned, and joint pain started creeping in.

I abandoned the diet, but after two weeks, wasn’t feeling any better. Blood tests revealed I was low in iron—despite all the red meat and liver.

I suspect that the yogurt might’ve interfered with iron absorption. Toward the end, it became my main calorie source, which probably wasn’t ideal considering my underlying issues.

It was a disappointing end to my carnivore diet experiment, and I wondered if I should have stuck it out.

Would I Try Carnivore Again? Probably.

Is it foolish for me to consider giving the carnivore diet another try? Maybe. I’ve seen how well my mom has done with it—her chronic health symptoms improved drastically. I keep hearing stories from others with similar conditions who’ve had success.

And I felt *amazing* before adding in dairy.

If I can keep my weight up on a meat only diet, I’m all in.

Looking back, increasing my red meat intake rather than reintroducing dairy, which is a common trigger for people with mast cell and autoimmune conditions and may have contributed to my low iron, might have helped me maintain the progress I had made.

If I do try again, I’d take a different approach:

• No yogurt. I know it’s a trigger and when I eat greek yogurt, it ends up being my main calorie source.
• More red meat. To be sure I am getting enough iron.
• Higher fat, more calories. So I don’t lose too much weight again.
• Go clean. Less “dirty carnivore” with spices and extras, and more of a true elimination approach.

For now, I’m not sure when, or if, I’ll try again. But I’ve learned a lot from both experiences. And if you’re someone navigating histamine intolerance, mold illness, or autoimmune issues, and considering the carnivore diet for healing, maybe this helps you feel a little less alone and you can avoid the mistakes I made.

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Final Thoughts

The carnivore diet didn’t give me the long-term relief I was hoping for—but it did teach me a lot about my body. If I ever do go for round three, it’ll be with more strategy, more support, and a better understanding of what my body actually needs.

Thanks for reading my story. I’d love to hear yours—have you tried carnivore diet for healing chronic health issues (or thought about it)? What helped you the most on your healing journey?

PS: If you’re considering trying the carnivore diet, do your homework first. Everyone’s body is different and what works for one person might not work for another.

Related post: Losing too much weight on the carnivore diet