Reversing Digestive Issues With A Low-Carb Diet

Digestive issues are incredibly common, yet many people continue to suffer without realizing that simple dietary changes can provide substantial relief. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Ken Berry, a physician with 20 years of clinical experience, provides guidance on using low-carb diets like keto and carnivore to resolve many gastrointestinal problems.

Problems Start In The Mouth

Troubles can begin right at the lips and mouth. Many experience frequent fever blisters and canker sores when eating a standard high-carb diet. However, by removing processed foods and excess carbs, these annoying and painful issues often disappear entirely.

Cavities are also far more prevalent with a diet high in sugars and grains. Starchy carbohydrates get broken down by enzymes in your saliva, forming sugars that damage tooth enamel. Before agriculture, analysis of ancient skeletons reveals a striking lack of cavities, even into old age.

Acid Reflux And Heartburn Vanish

Further down, acid reflux is incredibly common today. But it’s not normal! Both Dr. Berry and his wife, Nisha, a registered nurse, used to suffer from severe reflux. With a low-carb approach, their symptoms improved 80-100%.

The same is true for many others who share their stories in the comments. By removing processed foods and excess carbs, heartburn and reflux often disappear.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

In the small intestine, SIBO is a frequent issue on the standard American diet. When you reduce carbs substantially, the bacterial balance normalizes. Symptoms of gas, bloating, and inflammation calm down because the problematic bacteria lose their favorite food source.

The Gallbladder Needs Fat

Your gallbladder’s role is to store and concentrate bile to help digest dietary fats. When you eat a low-fat diet, bile becomes overly concentrated, leading to gallstones. Despite myths, eating meat does not cause gallbladder problems – not consuming enough fat does.

And you absolutely can follow keto and carnivore without a gallbladder. Many in the comments share their success. Without a gallbladder, take ox bile supplements with meals to optimize digestion.

Carnivore Shines For Bowel Disorders

Further down, the carnivore diet has provided incredible relief for many suffering from IBS, Crohn’s, colitis and other bowel issues. The success stories are astounding.

Why does it work so well? Because the underlying cause is often a reaction to plant compounds. On carnivore, which eliminates all plants, the gut can heal and symptoms resolve.

A Vicious Cycle With Carbs

A high-carb diet also harms the pancreas over time. Excess carbohydrates increase insulin resistance, which raises insulin levels. This contributes to inflammation, fatty liver, fatty pancreas, and eventually diabetes.

Reducing carbs gives your pancreas a break. Your cells become more sensitive to insulin, lowering your risk for metabolic disease.

Additional Tips For Gut Health

A few other areas where a low-carb approach provides benefits:

• Better digestion and less straining – which helps avoid hemorrhoids
• Less inflammation, so fewer polyps
• Improvement in diverticulitis flares
• Reduced mucus production and post-nasal drip

Guidance For Making Changes

Transitioning to keto and carnivore can dramatically improve gut health. But how should you make the change? Here are some key tips:

• Go step-wise – start with basic keto, monitor your symptoms, then try carnivore if still having issues
• Avoid highly processed keto treats and baked goods if gut problems persist
• Include plenty of fat from quality animal sources
• Watch out for sneaky carbs sabotaging your efforts
• Let symptoms guide you on which plant foods to exclude
• Experiment and find what works best for your body

With patience and diligence, you may resolve long-standing digestive troubles and restore a healthy gastrointestinal system. Give keto and carnivore a try – you have nothing to lose except your discomfort!