My Gut Health Journey

Low-Carb, Keto, and Carnivore

Over the years, I’ve tried a bunch of different eating styles, out of a need to improve my health, muscle growth but especially my gut. I’ve dealt with IBS and ongoing digestive issues for what seemed like forever, and food has always been a big trigger. That’s what led me down the path of experimenting with diets like low-carb, keto, and eventually carnivore.

Each one brought something valuable to the table (no pun intended), and helped me learn more about what my body actually needs to feel good. Here’s a breakdown of the three main eating styles I tried and what they did for my gut health and performance.

Low-Carb: The First Big Shift

Going low-carb was my first real step in changing the way I ate with a noticeable difference. I had more energy throughout the day, without the crazy sugar crashes. I dropped a lot of unnecessary water weight and fat that I struggled with before. This path way of eating led me onto mastering metabolic flexibility, this giving me the ability to switch from carb to fat burning for energy. Digestion started to calm down as I cut out unnecessary snacks and starchy carbs. Cutting back on carbs helped stabilize my blood sugar, which in turn seemed to reduce some of the bloating and discomfort I was feeling. It was the first time I felt like my body was working with me instead of against me.

Keto: Clearing the Fog

Next up was keto. This one really stood out for the mental clarity and focus it gave me. I used to deal with brain fog and feeling mentally off. Once I was in ketosis, that completely lifted. On top of that, eating higher-fat meals helped me feel full for longer, so I wasn’t constantly thinking about food or snacking. This gave my gut more time to rest, digest and recover. I maintained 50 gems or below of carbohydrates which is actually easier than it sounds. It also naturally led me into more frequent intermittent fasting with endless noticeable health benefits.

My training was benefitted as I no longer experienced as many issues with past injurys giving me greif. This is common on a keto diet as you are no longer metabolising glucose (sugar) for energy, which has a stress response on the body. By replacing this with ketones, they burn much cleaner than glucose and have anti inflammatory effects on the body.

Carnivore: The Gut Reset

Now let’s talk about the most intense and powerful diet I’ve tried, carnivore. I went fully carnivore when my IBS symptoms were at their worst, bloating, cramping, and heightened food sensitivities. I was reacting to almost everything and felt completely stuck. I turned to carnivore out of necessity, needing something drastic to give my digestive system a complete reset.

As I tracked my reactions, I noticed that animal-based foods were the only ones that didn’t cause issues. The results were like night and day. The bloating disappeared, my stomach felt calm, and for the first time in a long while, I felt like I had control over my gut health again. Carnivore essentially became the ultimate elimination diet for me and it truly worked.

That said, the downsides were pretty clear, no fruits or vegetables. While I’m not a huge fan of them, I do enjoy some carbs in the form of fruits, veggies, and the occasional sweet potato. I found that having a small amount of these in the evening helped with both sleep and recovery. Another challenge was eating too much meat, my protein intake often went over 200 grams a day, which felt like a strain on my body over time.

Final Thoughts: Listen to Your Gut (Literally)

If you’re struggling with IBS or chronic digestive issues, I can’t recommend experimenting with your diet enough. Each of these approaches, low-carb, keto, and carnivore helped me understand my body better and played a massive role in improving my gut health. I’d say try one for 3–4 weeks and see how your body responds. Keep track of your symptoms and energy levels. Everyone’s different, but sometimes the smallest change can make a massive difference.

Not sure where to start? I’m here to help. I offer a free health audit where we can review your situation and figure out the best path forward for your gut health.

👉 Email me directly at info@roadyhealth.co.uk or get in touch through the contact form on my website.