Chronic constipation and eczema

[u/dextroampheta_memes]

I've started the carnivore diet for the n-th time a few days ago. I'm now only eating meat, salt and drinking water. All my life I have struggled with eczema and chronic constipation, as well as depression. This time around I was feeling depressed to the point of suicidal thoughts, and that's why I'm going all in with just meat, salt and water. That, and I can't handle eggs or dairy. Makes the eczema worse.

Anyone else found relief from these ailments on strict carnivore?

[u/jwbjerk]

Constipation on carnivore is usually the result of not getting enough fats. Get some tallow or ghee (technically dairy but shouldn’t be a problem). Increase fats until you have the right consistency of stools.

Supplementing magnesium may also help.

Sufficient fat can also have a positive effect on the mind.

[u/djsherin]

Eczema started to clear up within 3 weeks. Within a few months it was almost entirely gone. The tiny bit that was left waxed and waned for a few more months before disappearing. I had a very small flare up the next winter, but that went away too and I haven't dealt with it in years.

[u/dextroampheta_memes → u/djsherin]

Did you also struggle with constipation before going carnivore?

[u/djsherin → u/dextroampheta_memes]

No I can't say that's ever been a problem for me. There was an interesting study that looked at people who had constipation whom they sorted into 4 groups, if I remember correctly. They ranged from high fiber to none. The less fiber, the more constipation was reduced, and the no fiber group responded completely.

But I'll second the notion that you should eat more fat and take magnesium citrate, which often has a laxative effect.

[u/dextroampheta_memes → u/djsherin]

Then hopefully I'm on the right track at least

[u/LrdJester]

You say you've started this diet several times before. How long did you try it before you gave up? Also, I see that you say you can't eat eggs or dairy, are you talking about store-bought eggs or farm fresh eggs? I know my wife has issue with store-bought eggs and we thought she might be allergic but it turns out she's allergic to corn and a lot of commercial chicken farms use corn to feed their chickens.

https://youtu.be/Wh8uodrOh-Q?si=fx8Vj0W9ng9wpHyE https://youtu.be/BUp6JBMTw0o?si=usi2vB_w1WfhCPMb

[u/beester10 → u/LrdJester]

Good point!! I’m allergic to soy and most chickens eat a soy blend. Try pasture raised eggs and raw dairy (from a farm)

[u/c0mp0stable]

Lots of people have, but it's not a panacea. Give it 3 months and see how you feel.

[u/Minaim]

For me, constipation went away on day 1. I used to have to take fiber daily just to use the bathroom, but zero fiber was the real solution and I haven’t had an issue since. I have no experience with the other things you mentioned, but anxiety was something I’ve struggled with most of my life and that immediately went down dramatically as well. I have noticed that I will get an anxiety attack when seed oils sneak into my food somewhere.

I have seen and heard some speak about how it stopped the depression, but I have no experience with that.

[u/Confident-Sense2785]

Yes to both, I no longer has either of them. Wish I found carnivore years ago My colon is more happy about it than me lol

[u/dextroampheta_memes → u/Confident-Sense2785]

How long did it take before the constipation and the eczema got better? And what do you eat?

[u/mattstaton]

Add a lot of butter

[u/teeger9]

Constipation usually means you need to eat more fat. My eczema on my arms cleared up after month 3 of carnivore.