The interview with Pennie Roehr on Dr. Anthony Chaffee’s podcast discusses her remarkable journey of managing and significantly improving her multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms through a carnivore diet. Pennie was first diagnosed with MS in her early 20s after experiencing symptoms like numbness, tingling, and vision loss. Despite initially not taking the diagnosis seriously, her condition worsened over the years, leading to multiple relapses and various treatments with immune-suppressing drugs. These medications provided little relief and often came with severe side effects, prompting her to explore alternative approaches.
Throughout her MS journey, Pennie noticed that her symptoms would subside during pregnancy but returned postpartum, which initially led her to rely on a cocktail of medications to manage her condition. However, she began questioning the effectiveness of these drugs, as her relapses persisted. Frustrated with the lack of improvement, she decided to discontinue the medications and sought dietary solutions, initially trying a plant-based approach with smoothies and salads. Despite her efforts, she continued to experience digestive issues, bloating, and frequent MS attacks, which pushed her to explore alternative diets.
Pennie eventually discovered the carnivore diet through Michaela Peterson’s story and decided to give it a try. She went all-in, consuming a high-fat, animal-based diet, which initially led to symptoms like fatigue and digestive distress, commonly referred to as “carnivore flu.” However, after adjusting her fat intake and fully committing to the diet, she started noticing significant improvements in her MS symptoms, including reduced inflammation, better energy levels, and improved cognitive function. The diet also eliminated her issues with constipation and bloating, which had persisted despite previous dietary changes.
A major challenge Pennie faced was staying consistent with the carnivore diet, as she occasionally indulged in sweets and processed foods, leading to symptom flare-ups. She learned the importance of dietary discipline and how even small deviations could trigger severe MS symptoms. Over time, she found that sticking strictly to animal-based foods, including beef, eggs, and some dairy, provided her with the best results. She also discovered that nutrient-dense foods like liver were highly beneficial, though not always enjoyable to consume.
The conversation highlights the potential of dietary interventions in managing chronic diseases like MS, emphasizing the role of essential nutrients such as cholesterol and saturated fats in brain health. Pennie expressed frustration with the lack of dietary guidance from the medical community, as her neurologists never discussed the importance of nutrition in managing MS. She hopes that by sharing her story, others with autoimmune diseases might consider dietary changes as a viable option for improving their health and quality of life.