I've been intrigued with the idea of the "carnivore diet" and have been puzzled by its amazing healing abilities, specifically with auto-immune diseases. But I recently learned that the main protagonist for increased stomach acid production IS protein and while pondering this fact in the shower, the puzzle starting falling in place.

By taking out all other foods but proteins, and their associated fats it primarily increases stomach acid (decreasing pH) meaning that the gateway to the intestines (the stomach) starts to strengthen. With that strength comes its purifying effects on everything that enters your mouth, killing microbes, and pathogenic bacteria. This also increases absorption of key minerals necessary to produce more stomach acid (zinc, and chloride - from salts) leading to a positive feedback loop.

Further down, in this new protected space (your intestines) a new simpler ecosystem develops that exists solely off of proteins, and fats; no longer providing habitat for quick growing, quick dying carbohydrate loving bacteria. This environment gets a chance to stabilize, and the excess protein allows regeneration of the gut lining. Which, in many autoimmune cases was leaking toxins and residue into the bloodstream, poisoning you.

Taken together this reprieve and regeneration of the digestive system allows the body to recalibrate, and once that happens, you can slowly start to reintegrate other foods. The reason why this diet works, instead of simply fasting is that, if you're missing key nutrients for the creation of stomach acid, fasting can further reduce your bodies need to make stomach acid, and while it can also give you gut time to heal...it doesn't build up its defenses like the carnivore diet can.

Just like everything else...this is a tool...