Carnivore Questions LIVE & Giveaways!
In a Nutshell
Hosts of the Healing Humanity documentary promote their film screenings, community membership, and upcoming carnivore conferences while answering viewer questions about diet implementation. Key takeaways include focusing on triglycerides-to-HDL ratio rather than total cholesterol or LDL, avoiding artificial sweeteners and carbs completely for 30 days to break sugar addiction, and prioritizing stress management through movement and scheduled downtime alongside carnivore eating.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
The session is a weekly Thursday night carnivore questions live stream featuring giveaways. The hosts include Carrie, Lynn, and Barb. They encourage viewers to post questions or testimonies using the hashtag #ribeye for a chance to win a blue Healing Humanity shirt.
Recent screenings took place in Chicago and Orlando. Upcoming screenings are planned for the UK and additional locations across the Midwest and Texas. The team is working on finalizing dates for new screenings. Viewers can visit healinghumanity.movie and click "to watch" or sign up for the free newsletter to receive screening date updates. Getting films into theaters requires renting venues and managing complex logistics.
The Healing Humanity team will attend Low Carb for Better Health in the UK on September 26-27, where Dr. Ken Berry will also be present. The team will also attend Meatstock, described as a favorite conference with 1,600 attendees last year and exceptional speakers. The next Meatstock is scheduled at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, which features a water park and will accommodate approximately 2,500 people. The speaker lineup includes Jason Fung, Candy with Primal Bod, Loris Bod (who will serve as MC), and Judy Cho. Tickets are available at meatstockconvention.com with discount code "healinghumanity."
Ivy asked how to arrange a Healing Humanity screening at an old-fashioned drive-in theater. The recommended process is to visit healinghumanity.movie, navigate to the "where to watch" section, then click the button to become a screening captain and submit the form. Messages left directly at theaters may be missed.
Sue, identified as a "Smokey Bear lover," shared that she recommitted to eating beef and eggs starting June 6th after attending the Montello showing. She reports feeling great and having lost 9 pounds.
Lynn identified getting back to nature and physical movement as the top longevity factor outside of nutrition. She emphasized being outdoors in sunshine and fresh air, walking barefoot on the ground, and noted that movement may be more important than sleep, with outdoor activity potentially improving sleep quality downstream.
Barb identified stress management as the primary factor. She clarified that stress cannot be eliminated but must be managed through walking, movement, sleep, fun activities, and intentionally scheduling "do nothing" time as protected calendar blocks. She stressed that without proactive stress management, stress will manage you.
Lynn's favorite meal is a version of burgers made with 2 pounds of ancestral blend ground beef (containing liver and heart), one egg per pound of beef, smoked sea salt from the San Juan Islands, black cumin seed as a pepper substitute, and pork rind panko. She forms these into patties, grills them in batches, and enjoys the leftovers.
Barb's current favorite is New York strip cooked rare with lots of butter. Her close second is picanha. She notes that preferences can shift over time on carnivore.
Carrie's frequent favorite is the power bowl containing beef, butter, bacon, eggs, and blue cheese crumbles. He also enjoys T-bone steaks.
Carnivore Jim joined as a new member. Members-only live streams occur every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. All membership revenue supports the Healing Humanity Project, including promotion and marketing of the documentary series.
Carrie confirmed being in the new Dodge house, having closed on it precisely one week prior to the stream.
Thomas, known as Target Prime Rib, shared his journey healing insulin resistance. He previously lost five right toes and experienced temporary paralysis, unable to sit, stand, or move for nearly four months. He now walks significantly more and shares his story through YouTube interviews.
Lynn explained that sugar cravings are strongest initially due to dopamine hits and energy spikes the body is accustomed to receiving. Cold turkey avoidance is essential. Substitution strategies include drinking water, taking walks, keeping hands busy during evening TV time, ensuring adequate food and fat intake, and consuming a teaspoon of butter if cravings hit. She discovered that San Pellegrino mineral water tasted sweet during her early carnivore phase and helped eliminate cravings. She recommends committing to at least 30 days of strict avoidance, noting it took her approximately three weeks for cravings to subside.
Lynn shared a personal story from a bunco group Christmas event where she realized halfway through the evening that candy bowls were on every table, yet she had not noticed them—an impossibility before carnivore when she would have been eating from each bowl.
Carrie emphasized that complete abstinence works better than moderation attempts. People who allow occasional cheats or artificial sweeteners struggle more because addiction cannot be moderated. Setting a strict 30-day trial period helps cravings disappear through complete abstinence.
Both hosts promote the membership site's breaking addictions group for support and accountability partners, noting that community support is essential when dealing with addiction.
Barb noted that accidental fasting occurs naturally on carnivore because the foods are more satiating, reducing meal frequency. This provides digestive system breaks and healing time. Fasting periods reaching 18 hours trigger autophagy, during which cells turn over and the body heals. Carnivore makes forgetting to eat common, unlike on the standard American diet.
Lynn advised focusing on triglycerides and HDL rather than total cholesterol. The optimal triglycerides-to-HDL ratio is below 2, better if below 1.5, and optimal around 1. LDL often increases on carnivore, but this is not concerning if the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio improves. LDL functions as a transporter molecule essential for healing, cell membranes, nerve myelin sheaths, and brain function.
If physicians express concern about elevated LDL, request an advanced lipid panel to assess particle size. Carnivore diets typically produce fewer small dense LDL particles (associated with cardiovascular risk) and more large fluffy particles (not associated with risk). Additional recommended tests include apoA.
Anna inquired about future Healing Humanity screenings at the Montello Theater, located three hours from her location. The film has been shown there for test screenings and the hometown/world premiere. No current screenings are scheduled, but upcoming Midwest screenings will be announced at healinghumanity.movie.
Artificial sweeteners can trigger sugar cravings. The sweet taste alone can spike insulin, as even looking at food causes insulin to rise in anticipation. This occurs despite zero glycemic impact because the body prepares for incoming food.
Lynn described avoiding looking at problematic foods entirely, including running in the opposite direction from ice cream at a farm stand. She applies this strategy to baked goods as well, only allowing herself to look at Dr. Kiltz's carnivore ice cream, which she made the previous week.
Chris Turnes' strategy involves verbally labeling problematic foods as "poison" when passing them, which helps rewire neural pathways away from craving responses.
The group discussed practical approaches for avoiding baked goods and other non-carnivore foods. One strategy involves labeling tempting items as "poison" out loud when encountering them, which helps repave neural pathways and reduce cravings. Another approach uses a biblical reference to Joseph fleeing from Potiphar's wife, emphasizing the importance of physically removing oneself from temptation situations.
A blue Healing Humanity shirt was awarded to Mighty Metal, who can claim it at healinghumanity.movie/giveaway. A separate giveaway was announced for a 30-day membership to healinghumanity.life, the community's online platform. The community hosts over a dozen weekly Zoom calls featuring doctors and experts, plus Q&A sessions. The Thursday night "Inspired Together" call was highlighted as particularly inspiring. The platform functions similarly to Facebook but focuses on healing, proper human diet, community connection, recipes, and courses. Non-winners can access 50% off membership using a promo code displayed on screen.
For cheeseburgers without buns and chicken wings as carnivore takeout options, several cautions were noted. Chicken wings should be checked for frying medium, as Buffalo Wild Wings uses beef tallow while many other establishments use seed oils. Burger preparation varies by location, with McDonald's and Burger King mentioned as acceptable while Sonic cooks burgers in oil. Cheese quality can also be questionable at some establishments.
The discussion emphasized that these options are significantly better than cookies, donuts, or pizza when traveling or when limited choices are available. Fast food establishments are becoming more accommodating to carnivore requests, making burger patties a la carte or patties with cheese more common and less unusual than in the past.
Thomas Target Prime Rib shared that telling his story and allowing others to share on his channel helps with his depression. The panel emphasized that personal stories have greater impact than medical information alone. When people watch the Healing Humanity documentary, they connect more with the stories than the doctors' information. People have a strong desire to share their healing journeys specifically to help others.
Carrie shared her experience as a nurse, noting that taking time to listen to patients made significant differences in their healing processes. Patients often expressed surprise at being truly heard, particularly in outpatient settings where doctors typically rush through appointments.
Cranky Carnivore Cutler noted that Lynn appeared much younger, slimmer, and happier compared to when they met at the Phoenix, Arizona Healing Humanity Meetup. Lynn reflected that she was still dealing with orthostatic intolerance and dizziness at that time, which likely showed on her face. She confirmed continued weight loss and feeling healthier as her carnivore journey progressed.
When asked what advice they would give their pre-carnivore selves, Barb immediately responded "Stop eating carbs." She wished she had known about carnivore 20-40 years earlier, particularly when diagnosed with autoimmune issues. While she understood sugar was pro-inflammatory, she never imagined carnivore would eliminate her need for medications.
The panel discussed whether they would have listened to such advice earlier. Lynn suggested she might have been more receptive in her late 30s when diagnosed, but possibly not in her 20s. The group emphasized avoiding regret and being grateful for discovering carnivore when ready to receive the message.
John asked about cooking sirloin steak blue rare. Dr. Kilts was mentioned as preferring blue rare preparation. The group noted that longer time on carnivore tends to shift preferences toward rarer preparations. At home, medium to medium-rare is common, while dining out allows for more adventurous choices.
Lynn described using an air fryer at 450 degrees for a short time to achieve blue rare steak that's still warm in the center. Barb struggles with rare preparations and typically settles for medium rare. One panelist expressed complete flexibility, eating steak regardless of doneness level.
Manda the carnivore mentioned six tickets sold for a Madison, Wisconsin showing, with family interest in the Madison-Milwaukee area. The panel confirmed plans for Milwaukee and noted cool older theaters in the area, having conducted a test screening in Watertown outside Milwaukee. Wisconsin has a significant carnivore community.
John inquired about Ireland meetups, particularly Dublin venues. While no Ireland plans exist, UK events are scheduled as the closest option. The nutrition network cohort includes participants from Ireland, where maintaining carnivore eating presents challenges.
Lions Den of Awesomeness Podcast asked why people accept lifelong medication but hesitate to change diet for 30 days. The response indicated that when doctors present diet as an option, they typically recommend the wrong diet. GI patients are often willing to try dietary changes due to the personal nature of digestive issues, but many become demoralized after unsuccessful attempts with inappropriate dietary recommendations.
The energy required for recommended diets (chopping, washing, peeling vegetables for salads) can be overwhelming when feeling unwell. Taking a pill, despite side effects, often seems easier than the work required for dietary changes that may not produce results.
A question about triglycerides being slightly high with overall cholesterol at 68 prompted clarification that total cholesterol includes LDL, VLDL, and HDL but not triglycerides. An overall cholesterol of 68 was noted as incredibly low. The panel recommended examining component ratios rather than total numbers, particularly the HDL-triglyceride ratio.
Low cholesterol was identified as a significant health concern linked to increased heart disease, Alzheimer's, strokes, and all-cause mortality. Cholesterol serves important bodily functions, and low levels warrant attention. The recommendation was to reduce carbs, consume fatty meat to increase cholesterol naturally, which would lower triglycerides and raise HDL levels.
Pharmaceutical industry incentives for statin prescriptions were mentioned as creating resistance to understanding low cholesterol's health risks, despite scientific studies supporting these concerns.
David, carnivore for over one year, reported an A1C of 5.8 that hasn't decreased despite losing 65 pounds, going off blood pressure medications, feeling great, and working out 2-3 times weekly. Recommendations included obtaining a continuous glucose monitor to understand food impacts on blood sugar and using a Keto Mojo to confirm time spent in ketosis.
The possibility of excessive protein relative to fat was suggested, as this could trigger gluconeogenesis where protein converts to glucose. Tracking macros for several days was advised, aiming for minimum 65% fat, with 70-75% being optimal. A continuous glucose monitor would provide precise data on how the body processes consumed foods.
RJ asked about potential deficiencies from eating only eggs. While eggs are considered nature's superfood, the protein content is approximately 6 grams per egg, requiring substantial quantities to meet minimum 100 grams daily protein requirements.
John inquired about doctors unwilling to provide hard copies of blood work. The recommendation was to contact the medical records department, which handles such requests. Patients have the right to their medical records, which can be printed and either mailed or picked up. Many facilities now offer online request forms.
[ 50:31] Cheese Preferences Among Panelists
Cheese preferences varied among panelists. Barb loves cheese but cannot tolerate dairy. Lynn avoids most cheese due to digestive issues but favors Swiss cheese despite her daughter's description of it tasting like earwax. Another panelist prefers blue cheese, typically consumed as a condiment with burger patties, particularly bacon burgers.
Bill Cook asked about fasting preferences. The panel expressed mixed feelings, with some appreciating the post-fast feeling but not the fasting process itself. Intermittent fasting (16+ hours between meals) is common, with some having attempted 36-hour fasts. Extended fasting beyond intermittent approaches presents challenges, with energy dips reported during longer fasts.
Gender differences in fasting tolerance were noted, with men generally finding it easier than women. Menopause may require special considerations for women's bodies regarding fasting practices.
Speaking in front of a carnivore crowd is a really good way to break the ice with public speaking because everyone's great. It's not like a comedian going into a rough crowd. It's really hard to not have an amazing reaction because there are no haters in the crowd.
The first time speaking in front of a group was at Hack Your Health, and after getting done Adam and I were like, "That was awesome. Can we do that again? Like when can we do this some more? This is pretty cool."
Meditation is not regularly practiced. Prayer is considered a form of meditation in the traditional sense, though taking prayer out to a quiet spot on the land would make it even more meaningful.
Meditation is valuable but tough to do because it requires a lot of practice. When sitting to make the mind still, 5 million things come into the mind. Getting to the place where breathing and calming can occur helps manage stress and helps the parasympathetic nervous system.
Lynn has been enjoying time with a new granddaughter as a distraction from creating content. A daughter and son-in-law live in the same house, allowing grandma time to hold the baby when needed. There have been some breakthroughs in health that haven't been reported on the channel yet.
Barb does not have any new interviews currently scheduled. There will be some awesome movies to see in some cities, so stay tuned for that.
A couple months into carnivore, considering one meal a day but wondering how to avoid under-eating when doing OMAD. It seems inevitable, but the question is whether it matters less because of the fasting component.
Be careful not to under-eat if doing OMAD as a female because a lot of people have trouble eating enough volume of food. If trying OMAD, track what is being eaten, and if not taking in enough calories, then rethink that or slowly build up the amount. It's tough for a lot of people to eat that much at one sitting.
If tending to under-eat, do not do OMAD. Make sure to get at least a couple meals a day because it can be difficult to eat enough in one sitting to meet nutritional needs. The goal is to get adequate nutrition so the body can heal, and fasting can be added later.
The winner of the Healing Humanity 30-day membership was Amanda the carnivore, who was already a member. The prize was changed to a free t-shirt, which can be claimed at healinghumanity.movie/giveaway.
The promo code "life 726" is available at healinghumanity.life for those who did not win and would like to join or try it out. The calls happen every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Links to Lynn and Barb's YouTube channels are in the description below.
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