Since I’ve followed the carnivore diet over the past 9 months, I’ve experienced some unexpected physiological changes. I’ve written before about stomach issues resolving, headaches diminishing, maintaining high energy levels, and clarity of mind. Here are a few of the unexpected side effects:
- My vision has improved. I have worn glasses my entire life for nearsightedness. I need glasses to see clearly for distances ranging from laptop distance to driving. Now I find myself needing my glasses less at closer distances like working on the computer and reading music. My night vision has improved as has my long distance vision.
- My reflexes are faster. This is most noticeable when I am working out in the garage where I am a favorite target of North Carolina’s State Bird – the mosquito. In the past, I would wait for a mosquito to land. Then I would slowly try to sneak up and swat it. Most times, the mosquito would see me, fly off and come bite me later.. Now, I see a mosquito buzzing in the air, track it with my eyes and catch them midair at least 50% of the time. If I see one on me, my hand strikes out with no hesitation and kills it 9 out of 10 times.
- I catch things faster. I have tipped over a full glass of ice tea, caught it before it hit a 45 degree angle, and uprighted it before a single drop spills. If this happened once, I’d say I was lucky. But it’s happened multiple times for me. If I drop an object like my phone, keys or a tool, I often snag it before it hits the floor.
Are these coincidences? Am I attributing causing to the diet when it could be correlation? Or, even worse, is this just magic thinking?
Maybe. Here’s what I’m thinking:
Regarding my vision, I am aware that nearsightedness can improve with aging as our eyeballs get flatter due to gravity. That could explain some of my vision improvement. However, the overall improvement in visual acuity is something else. I can feel myself opening my eyes wider and focusing more intently when tracking mosquitos and flies, looking for something in the dark and or reactive to a sudden noise.
As for reflexes, I’ve always been slow to react. I suck at races because I am slow to get off at the start. I’d hear go and would look up to see everyone else 10 feet ahead of me while I hadn’t even pushed off the starting line yet. I was never any good at sprints, baseball, football, shuttle running, swim sprints, etc. that required quick reactions. I attribute my reaction time and reflex improvements to the diet.
When I started the carnivore diet, my thinking was, “This sounds crazy, but why not give it a shot and see what happens?”“
I have remained on it because it delivers me nearly indefatigable energy and clarity of mind. I’ve gotten super lean without being hungry all the time (or much at all). All of my stomach issues with bloat, digestion and headaches have dissipated. And I continue to realize other improvements like these.
It’s a strange way to eat. But then again, I live a strange life.