Man Reveals ‘Phenomenal’ Blood Test Results After 1 Year on Carnivore Diet

We’re often told to eat a balanced diet full of fruit and vegetables, but some people opt out and eliminate almost all plant-based foods in favor of meat. Being a carnivore goes against the grain, making it controversial, but Ray Hicks swears by it and after a year on the diet, he underwent extensive blood tests to see if it was doing any harm to his body.

In May, Hicks spoke to Newsweek about his diet, consisting of 12 eggs a day, red meat and slabs of butter. Today, he discusses his results, which included tests for blood sugar (HbA1c), liver and kidney function (Metabolic Panel), cholesterol levels (Lipid Panel), insulin, thyroid function (TSH), blood cell health (CBC), Vitamin D for bone health, and testosterone levels for hormonal balance.

Sharing screenshots of his results on TikTok, the 27-year-old expressed satisfaction with most of the findings, describing them as “phenomenal.” In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Hicks, who lives in Nashville, explained that he was “curious” to know if the diet is affecting his health.

Blood Test Findings

“My complete blood count with differential platelets [was] absolutely perfect,” he said, during a viral TikTok video that has over 1 million views. Noting that 21 different markers were measured, his red and white blood cell counts stood out as particularly strong.

Hicks, a loan officer, told Newsweek: “I was not shocked. They were right on par for ‘good’ results that I had expected.”

However, not all the results were within the normal range. Hicks’ creatinine levels, which measure a muscle waste product filtered out by the kidneys, were elevated at 1.31 mg/dL, slightly above the upper limit of 1.27 mg/dL.

Elevated creatinine levels can signal potential kidney issues as they reflect their ability to filter waste efficiently​. Hicks remained unconcerned about his kidney function, citing his blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels as being within normal limits, which further alleviated his worries. “My BUN levels were fantastic,” he said.

Previously, Newsweek consulted a dietician about Hicks’ diet, and her primary concern was his high daily cholesterol intake. For men aged 20 and older, total cholesterol should be between 125 and 200 mg/dL, but Hicks’ levels were recorded at 275 mg/dL. Blood cholesterol, which includes HDL (“good”) and LDL (“bad”), is one of the eight key heart health indicators identified by the American Heart Association.

According to a Cleveland Clinic chart, LDL levels should be under 100 mg/dL, but Hicks’ exceeded this limit by 85. On the positive side, his HDL was a 85 mg/dL, well above the recommended minimum of 40. While elevated cholesterol is a key marker for heart disease risk, Hicks remains unconcerned.

Rather than focusing solely on total cholesterol, Hicks emphasized the importance of examining the triglycerides-to-HDL ratio, which many experts consider a better predictor of heart disease risk. “You want that number to be 2 or less. For example, my triglycerides are 52 and my HDL is 85. That would give me a ratio of .61. That’s phenomenal and well below the 2 marker,” he explained.

Expert Opinion on Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Dr. Philip Ovadia, a cardiothoracic surgeon at OSF HealthCare in Urbana, Illinois, spoke to Newsweek about cholesterol and more specifically, Hicks’ results.

“Our understanding of the role cholesterol plays in the development of heart disease and the utility of blood cholesterol markers as a predictor of heart disease risk is incomplete,” he said. “The amount of cholesterol containing particles such as LDL, HDL and VLDL in our bloodstream does not tell us the whole story around heart disease. The environment that those lipoproteins exist in and the quality of those lipoproteins is important. Factors such as inflammation and insulin resistance are important determinants of heart disease risk.”

Ovadia, an expert in metabolic health and the owner of ifixhearts.com, which aims to help people prevent and recover from heart attacks, told Newsweek that he agrees with Hicks.

He said: “When interpreting his blood work as presented on TikTok, I agree with his conclusion that because he has very low inflammation markers and no evidence of insulin resistance (based on his low Triglyceride to HDL ratio and low hemoglobin A1c), there is probably little reason for concern about his cholesterol.

“However cholesterol shouldn’t be ignored, but understanding the nuance of cholesterol levels in the context of low carb and carnivore diets is an area of active scientific exploration. There is much evidence that elevations of cholesterol levels in this context may not be the same as those that occur in the context of inflammation and insulin resistance.”

Hicks told Newsweek: “This is strictly my opinion (and it’s a very controversial opinion at that). Heart disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. It’s quite awful really – especially when you consider the fact that it’s largely preventable.”

Among the other tests Hicks had were measures of glucose, sodium and liver function. His glucose came back at 95 mg/dL, well within the normal range, while his sodium levels were also normal, much to his surprise.

“I always salt to taste and encourage others to do the same. Our bodies are really good at telling us what it needs,” Hicks told Newsweek. He cautioned that symptoms such as dizziness or heart palpitations might indicate dehydration and salt deficiency.

One slight cause for concern came from his alkaline phosphatase levels, which were elevated at 124. Although this could indicate potential liver issues, Hicks was reassured by the fact that other markers of his liver health were normal. “I am more intrigued than worried,” he said during the video.

Hicks’ blood work also included tests for HbA1c, a marker for long-term blood sugar control, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), both of which returned normal results​. His testosterone and vitamin D levels were too.

Reintroduction of Plant-Based Foods

Speaking about the dietary choices that have influenced his health, Hicks mentioned that while he had been following a strict carnivore diet, he has started adding fruits, vegetables and dairy back into his diet.

“It is for experimentation to see if I find anything that makes me feel better or worse. So far, nothing has made me feel better than a strict carnivore diet,” he told Newsweek. Although the reintroduction of plant-based foods led to some discomfort, including bloating and joint pain.

Hicks remains open to occasional dietary changes. “I will be back on strict carnivore soon and am excited to feel my best again. I will binge fruit every once in a while.

“Fruit tastes phenomenal – and to me, it’s worth living life every once in a while.”

As Hicks continues to monitor his health, his story highlights the importance of routine blood work in gaining a comprehensive understanding of one’s well-being.

Elevated creatinine levels may suggest kidney concerns​, while elevated cholesterol can be a marker for heart disease. However, with careful monitoring and an informed approach, Hicks remains confident in his health and lifestyle choices.

Is there a health issue that’s worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.