Dr. Anthony Chaffee interviews Dr. Nelson Vazquez, a family medicine practitioner with nearly 40 years of experience, who shares his journey of transforming his health through the carnivore diet. Dr. Vazquez discusses his extensive medical career, which spans across various specialties, including emergency medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine. His medical journey was inspired by a personal tragedy—his brother’s death from epilepsy. Despite facing his own health challenges, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and even a stroke, Dr. Vazquez’s shift to a ketogenic and ultimately carnivore diet dramatically improved his condition.
Dr. Vazquez details his lifelong struggle with weight and metabolic diseases. Growing up in Puerto Rico, his diet was rich in carbs like rice and beans, but over time he consumed more processed foods. Despite understanding low-carb diets for decades, it wasn’t until severe health crises like a stroke and a diagnosis of macular edema that he decided to fully commit to a carnivore lifestyle. His initial steps involved cutting carbs, which led to notable weight loss. However, after learning about the benefits of a carnivore diet, he made a full switch and experienced significant health improvements, including weight loss and a reduction in diabetic symptoms.
One of the most notable transformations for Dr. Vazquez was in his diabetes management. At his peak, he was using up to 300 units of insulin daily, but after transitioning to the carnivore diet, his blood sugar levels improved drastically, reducing his insulin use to just 10 units per day. His A1C, a marker of long-term blood glucose levels, dropped to 5.4, and he even managed to eliminate medications for hypertension, another chronic issue he had dealt with. He attributes these changes to the elimination of carbohydrates and the focus on animal-based foods like beef, chicken, and fish.
Beyond his personal health recovery, Dr. Vazquez shares how he now incorporates these dietary principles into his medical practice. He emphasizes the importance of reducing carbohydrate intake to his diabetic and hypertensive patients, many of whom have seen remarkable improvements. However, he also acknowledges that the success of this approach depends on patients’ willingness to adopt significant dietary changes. He notes that metabolic issues like fatty liver disease, which have become increasingly common, are often linked to excess carbohydrate consumption.
Dr. Vazquez also highlights the broader benefits of the carnivore diet beyond metabolic health, citing improvements in neurological conditions and chronic pain. For example, he experienced relief from long-standing issues like spinal stenosis and even improved his recovery from a stroke. He also noted improvements in conditions such as sleep apnea and neuropathy. Dr. Vazquez’s story, combined with the insights of Dr. Chaffee, underscores the potential of a carnivore diet in reversing chronic conditions and improving overall health outcomes, even after years of medication use and traditional treatment.