Stories, Science & Surprising Results

The idea of eating only meat to improve your health might sound extreme—especially if you’ve been told that red meat causes high cholesterol and heart disease.

But a growing number of people are reporting the opposite: after switching to a carnivore diet, their cholesterol profiles improved, inflammation dropped, and overall health markers stabilized.

So what’s going on here? Let’s explore the science behind the carnivore diet and why, for some people, it may actually help improve cholesterol levels.

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🔍 What Is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet is a zero-carb, all-animal-product eating plan. It typically includes:

• Red meat
• Organ meats
• Eggs
• Animal fats (like tallow or butter)
• Salt and water

It excludes all plant foods, grains, sugars, and processed carbohydrates.

Some see it as an extreme form of keto or paleo. Others view it as an elimination diet for autoimmune conditions, gut issues, or chronic inflammation.

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📉 Real People, Real Results: Cholesterol Going Down?

There are thousands of anecdotal stories online of people claiming improvements in cholesterol after going carnivore. While not peer-reviewed, these stories point to a fascinating trend.

For example:

• Dave Feldman, a software engineer turned citizen scientist, saw dramatic shifts in his cholesterol numbers when experimenting with a high-fat, low-carb carnivore-style diet. He developed the “Lean Mass Hyper-responder” theory, explaining why some people see higher LDL but improved HDL and triglycerides.

✅ Source: Dave Feldman – Cholesterol Code

• In the Revero Carnivore Community (formerly MeatRx), users report dropping triglycerides and increasing HDL while eating only red meat and eggs—despite often having higher total or LDL cholesterol.

✅ Source: Revero.com Success Stories

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🧬 How Can a Meat-Only Diet Improve Cholesterol?

At first glance, it seems contradictory—but here’s how the carnivore diet may improve certain cholesterol markers:

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1. Lower Triglycerides

Triglycerides are often elevated due to high sugar and carbohydrate intake. By removing all carbs, the carnivore diet often rapidly reduces triglycerides, a key marker of metabolic health.

✅ Study: Low-carb diets consistently show lower triglycerides and improved HDL:
Nordmann AJ et al. Arch Intern Med. 2006 – Low-carb vs. low-fat diet

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2. Higher HDL (“Good” Cholesterol)

HDL often increases on the carnivore diet—especially when it includes plenty of healthy animal fats.

Higher HDL is generally protective and helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream.

✅ Study: Krauss RM et al. – Saturated fats in meat can improve HDL
Link to study summary

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3. Improved LDL Particle Size

Carnivore may raise LDL cholesterol in some people—but it also shifts LDL particle size from small/dense to large/fluffy, which are considered less atherogenic (less likely to cause heart disease).

✅ Study: Musunuru K, et al. J Clin Lipidol. 2010 – Small, dense LDL vs. large, buoyant LDL
Link

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4. Reduced Inflammation = Less Cholesterol Damage

High-sugar and seed-oil-heavy diets promote inflammation, which causes cholesterol particles to oxidize and damage blood vessels. Carnivore eliminates inflammatory foods, often leading to lower CRP levels (a marker of inflammation).

✅ Source: Volek & Phinney, The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Living

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⚖️ What Do Doctors Say?

Many mainstream cardiologists remain cautious, especially if LDL cholesterol increases. But there’s a growing number of doctors (especially in the low-carb and functional medicine space) who believe context matters more than total cholesterol.

Dr. Paul Saladino, a leading voice in the carnivore movement, says:

“High LDL doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy. If your triglycerides are low, HDL is high, and inflammation markers are down, you’re probably in good shape—even with elevated LDL.”

✅ Source: Dr. Paul Saladino – The Carnivore Code

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🧠 Important Considerations

• The carnivore diet isn’t for everyone. It’s restrictive and can be difficult to sustain.
• Some people see an increase in LDL, even if other markers improve. That may or may not be a concern depending on individual risk.
• Always consult a healthcare provider, especially if you have existing heart conditions or genetic cholesterol disorders like familial hypercholesterolemia.

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✅ The Bottom Line

The idea that red meat causes high cholesterol is outdated. In fact, some people are seeing better cholesterol numbers, lower inflammation, and improved metabolic health on an all-meat diet.

The carnivore diet is still controversial and needs more long-term studies—but it’s opening up important conversations about how we define “healthy” cholesterol and what really causes heart disease.

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Thinking about trying carnivore or curious if it’s right for you?

Let’s chat—drop a comment or message, and I’ll help you navigate it safely and smartly.