Paleo? Keto? Carnivore? Vegan? Plant-based?

I’m honestly losing my mind a little over here trying to figure out which way to go with my diet. I’ve been going back and forth—hard—between trying a carnivore diet and maybe doing something more plant-based. I’m genuinely confused and exhausted by all the conflicting advice.

The carnivore approach is appealing because when I tried it (sort of) before—just a month, not even strict—I noticed something amazing: my sugar cravings almost completely disappeared. I didn’t care about pastries at a hotel breakfast buffet!!! I mean, wow. That has never happened to me before. So that was a big deal. But I didn’t stay with it, partly because I started spiraling into doubt: is this actually healthy? Are my arteries going to clog up? Are there cancer cells growing inside me? (We all have cancer cells inside us, but our immune system generally manage to keep them in check.)

Then I look at plant-based or mostly plant-forward eating—so many claims about longevity, fiber, polyphenols, disease prevention, etc. Plus it feels more socially normal and varied. Not to mention, I really hate killing animals. Really do. (And I buy only grass-fed and pasture-raised, and avoid factory-farmed livestock because of the unbelievable cruelty of that system.)

One issue is that when I eat vegetarian or more plant-focused, I don’t feel great. Cravings come back. Energy gets wonky. I feel more bloated and foggy.

What’s driving me nuts is that everyone online has a different opinion—and they all sound so sure of themselves. You’ve got people saying meat is the most nutrient-dense, natural, ancestral food… and then others citing studies saying meat increases XYZ risks and that even grass-fed beef is problematic. Then the carnivore crowd says plants are full of anti-nutrients and inflammation triggers. And round and round I go.

I don’t really trust influencers because most of them are monetizing their message. I also don’t fully trust mainstream doctors because, let’s be real, most were barely trained in nutrition and don’t stay current with the latest research. So… who do I trust? (God—but God and I aren’t on speaking terms.)

I feel like I’ve read so much I can now argue both sides and psych myself out of any decision.

I have both vegan and carnivore friends and they all swear their way works great—for them.

So right now, I’m just trying to listen to my own body and consider doing a short-term experiment, but even that feels overwhelming some days. I don’t want to mess up my health long-term, but I also can’t live in indecision and craving misery forever.

If anyone else has been stuck in this kind of “analysis paralysis,” I’d love to hear how you found your way forward—or if you’re in the same loop with me.

And—I really would like to hear about your experiences. What have you found helpful? I know everyone is different and there's no one optimal diet for everyone.

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