So I've been carnivore for about 4 years now. It's done wonders to my sleep, neck and wrist pains, brain fog and physical performance.

But the whole time my BP slowly rised, I used to be about 100/65, 2 years ago 110/72, and now last week i hit 120/80 so I'm starting to get a bit worried. It's a bit confusing since I see everyone reporting the opposite, so I'm wondering if I've been doing something wrong. Despite this, my resting heart rate hasn't budged, still 59-64.

I'm 32. My diet consists of no supplements, beef (daily), turkey (1/3 days), salmon (1/3 days), bacon (daily), eggs (daily), butter (daily), cheese (1/2 days) and about 3-4g of pink salt (daily), macros balanced at about 50/50 protein/fat by weight (so like 25/75 by calorie). I usually do a small fast on Sundays (skip breakfast and lunch). I do about 4hrs cycling a week (roughly 30min commute to work a day) and 3000-4000 steps a day (I like going on an evening walk with an audiobook).

I still "feel" really good so I'm very reluctant to change my diet, but if I can't turn this trend around I might not have a choice. So I'm posting this here hoping maybe some people in the community might have some insight on what's up. Any ideas?

Edited May 17, 2025May 17 by Chiptune

120/80 is considered normal. It seems that you were low, perhaps this is a sign that your thyroid has healed. I wouldn't worry unless it continues to trend up

So it only took you four years for your BP to become normal then.

It sounds like you are eating right and living right so I can’t see anything wrong there.

As long as your BP is normal I wouldn’t concern myself with it. I definitely wouldn’t consider quitting the best human diet there is My BP came down when I started carnivore and I’m at 120/80 all of the time now

I was going by the recommendations of the AHA (which are backed by a Harvard study), where "120" is precisely the turning point between "normal" and "elevated" which wouldn't have me worried yet on it's own. But the "80" is considered stage 1 blood pressure hypertension and is treated as a risk factor that requires attention.

But following your replies I looked around a bit trying to find sources for alternative opinions but the only thing I could find is a recent Chinese study that recommends even lower, and the KHS (Korean AHA) mirroring the exact same results as the Harvard study in a separate study 😅

When you guys say "normal", do you mean it in the sense of "normal for carnivores", or, "generally normal"?

Edited May 18, 2025May 18 by Chiptune

120/80 has been engrained in my mind as normal. So either this is an example of "Mandela effect" or they have been fussing with the standard of care to sell more drugs. I wouldn't worry about it if it stays there at 120 over 80.

Aha advice for diet...so yeah ..since were not really taking their advice for that, than why worry about. If it makes you feel better keep monitoring it. But try not to worry. I can't emphasize this enough. Worrying will elevate it for sure.

I like take things on a case by case basis. I don't like to abide to generalization. By this I mean, just because one of the studies the AHA uses is flawed I don't think this means they're all flawed. Also, it's not only the AHA reporting these numbers to begin with.

We all agree here that AHA's guidelines on LDL are flawed. The reason for this is we can trace back the sources and see the research backing it up are only talking about "correlation". It's a strong correlation (~95%), but there's still plenty of room for exceptions. None of these studies take metabolic state into account, and the percentage of people in ketosis is probably like 0.5% of the population; this fits easily into that 5% of exceptions. On top of this, there's also the LEM (Liquid Energy Model) that's been challenged multiple times but yet to be debunked, that supports that higher LDL in ketosis is "normal". There's also a study on LMHR (Lean Mass Hyper-Responders) that also supports this.

If we agree that their findings on LDL can potentially not apply to people in ketosis, this also extends to the diet they recommend. Since their only reason to restrict fat intake is yet another correlative study about fats raising LDL.

Blood pressure however, is different. We're seeing Harvard, China and Korea reporting similar numbers. I cannot find potential counter-arguments to support higher blood pressures while in ketosis (like with the LEM / LMHR), and this is despite my extremely biased diggings hoping to find something to support me not having to change anything.

I agree that where I'm at now isn't worth panicking about. But also think now's the time to start experimenting and trying things out pre-emptively before things actually get bad. I do have a bit more cause of concern than most, considering the rate of CVD in my dad's side of the tree is very high and not particularly due to unhealthy lifestyles.

If there's not really any direct recommendations to lowering BP on carnivore, I think I might try lowering my salt intake. The link between sodium and blood pressure hasn't been entirely debunked, as there is a subset of sodium sensitive people that has objectively seen a direct response. I had this "4g a day" in mind since Koreans have one of the lowest rate of CVD and they average 4g a day. But I'm not Korean so maybe genetics are at play and the 3g recommended by the AHA was more appropriate for me.

Edited May 18, 2025May 18 by Chiptune

3 hours ago, Chiptune said:

I was going by the recommendations of the AHA (which are backed by a Harvard study),

The AHA and Harvard are both funded by the big food industry as well as big pharma. Definitely not a good resource for anything.

3 hours ago, Chiptune said:

When you guys say "normal", do you mean it in the sense of "normal for carnivores", or, "generally normal"?

No, not carnivores normal but normal in general. It has always been that way as long as I can remember. When I studied medicine back in the 70’s and nothing has changed. I have been 120/80 all of my life except for that period in my life when I was sick and fat. Then it was around 135/ 90 and even though that is elevated not one time did any doctors ever try to put me on medication. It just wasn’t that big a deal…yet. You don’t really start getting into the danger zone until you hit the 140’s. The big emphasis these days about high BP comes from the same place as high cholesterol and that’s the people making the most profits off of selling you a drug to “fix it”. I’m not discounting the dangers of high BP I’m just saying that being at 120/80 is absolutely nothing to fear. If you can get it lower that’s great. As low as you can go and still function is probably ideal.

2 hours ago, Chiptune said:

The link between sodium and blood pressure hasn't been entirely debunked,

Nor has it been proven. The biggest reasons we inject plenty of salt in the carnivore lifestyle is that we are no longer eating a bunch of processed foods that are loaded with sodium. We no longer have any fiber in our bodies retaining sodium and as such we tend to flush out sodium as well as other minerals from our bodies. We can use more sodium than non carnivores so the AHA guidelines are no good for us.

With everyone being different with different physiology’s it’s hard to say what might work for you but the average person lowered their BP just by eating a pure carnivore diet. You may be one of those that doesn’t respond the same way.

You might want to get a blood test to see what your sodium, potassium and magnesium levels are. If you are deficient in any of those it might help if you ate foods that could bring them up or take a supplement.

20 hours ago, Miranda said:

or they have been fussing with the standard of care to sell more drugs.

Yes.

On 5/17/2025 at 2:43 PM, Chiptune said:

I used to be about 100/65, 2 years ago 110/72, and now last week i hit 120/80 so I'm starting to get a bit worried.

I wouldn't worry too much yet. Worry and stress will raise it even more, lol.

But seriously, blood pressure is expected to go up as we age. In adolescents, the systolic pressure is expected to be between 112 and 128, and the diastolic pressure to be between 66 and 80. As you age this is likely to creep into the 130's (top number).

On 5/18/2025 at 10:53 AM, Miranda said:

or they have been fussing with the standard of care to sell more drugs

This is the truth right here. The AHA recently lowered their guidelines and started saying under 120/80 is optimal. Before it was 140/90. Interestingly, the American Association of Family Physicians (AAFP) still sets 140/90 as the target for treating hypertension, and even states that lowering it to 135/85 saw no additional benefits.

Hypertension - Clinical Practice...

Hypertension

Access evidence-based guidelines for managing high blood pressure in adults, developed by the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) and endorsed by the AAFP.

I would also make some adjustments now before waiting to see how much more it rises.

Since your numbers have trended up, and not the result of a sudden shift, I would think you can make some adjustments and maybe lower it a few points.

When I started carnivore, I went in headfirst with no foresight or insight. I had salt and electrolyte issues in several different ways. I made an electrolyte drink mix and went that route a couple days. It tasted like crap, so for me it was easier just to put a gram or two in my mouth and chase it with water. I would do that a couple three times per day. It corrected a lot of things.

Not by intention, or for any particular reasoning, that sort of faded. Now I salt my food to taste with that same electrolyte mix and am finding I don't require near as much salt as I did during the transitioning (as Geezy said, the dumpster diet I was on had enormous amounts of sodium, and I am sure I had a sodium crash early in the change).

My blood pressure has always been around 100/65, give or take a few numbers here and there. About 8 months in I got a 110/70, which for me was "high" and then I see a 120/75 for the first time ever.

I had not linked salt and blood pressure for me, and it is not like I made a purposeful decision, but now I hardly use salt at all. I may salt my eggs but that is not every time, and I am nowhere near the 4g you mentioned.

This past Monday while prepping for my infusion my blood pressure was 100/65 and once even 100/55 during the infusion.

Again, I have no idea if there is a link between the two for me as an individual, and even less about your situation, but a daily 4g sounds like a lot.

With all that said, I have always had a relatively low blood pressure and I am not sure if the rise over those few months was part of the carnivore healing phase, it was the first time I had ramped things up in the gym in years (and years) or if I hadn't totally dialed back in from the headfirst dive into carnivore.

Interesting topic. I hadn't thought much about it til reading this post.

Scott

I am 77 year old female. Been on strict carnivore for 6 months and have been feeling some dizziness for a couple months now. Today I went by a blood pressure machine at Walmart and took it and it was extremely high for me, 150/82!! I am also taking iodine and salt loading and have so much trouble regulating salt and iodine.

That’s good.

10 hours ago, Monica Beauchane said:

I am 77 year old female. Been on strict carnivore for 6 months and have been feeling some dizziness for a couple months now. Today I went by a blood pressure machine at Walmart and took it and it was extremely high for me, 150/82!! I am also taking iodine and salt loading and have so much trouble regulating salt and iodine.

Congrats on the six months.

I think my first step would be to get it checked elsewhere with another machine. I'm no sure about your Walmart but i see kids playing and tugging on the cuffs quite a bit. I'd get it checked again somewhere, one you have had some dizziness, and two, I'm not sure I would put a lot of faith in that cuff. It could be accurate but I would want to be sure.

My mom is going thru some of the same things. her blood pressure was dropping to very ow numbers and then started to rise to where it has been somewhat high as of late. She has some kidney issues and the medicine she was taking for her kidneys has been either impacting her blood pressure or conflicting with her heart medicine. Between the two they have made a couple of adjustments her blood pressure is much closer to normal.

Six months carnivore is a lot of time for healing (for most) and you may not be the same patient today you were six months ago. If you are on any kind of medicine there may need to be some adjustment. You may be taking something you no longer need or do no need as much of.

I'm not much on heart health as @Geezy is our resident 'cardiologist'. He has far more knowledge and experience than me in this area and will do a much better job commenting/helping.

Again, congrats on the 6 months.

Scott

18 hours ago, Monica Beauchane said:

I am also taking iodine and salt loading and have so much trouble regulating salt and iodine.

How do you know you need to supplement iodine? What is your reason for salt loading? Are you aware that salt loading is should only be done over a short period of time and not something you maintain at length?

Before anyone starts supplementing iodine, I recommend you get some lab work to see if you even need to. BOTH iodine deficiency AND excess iodine can cause high blood pressure. That salt/sodium also increases blood pressure is pretty well known also. As carnivores we don't usually care because 1) we're getting a lot less sodium now that we have abandoned fast food and dining out for the most part, so we are actually getting less even if we salt to taste, and 2) the rise in blood pressure is temporary and comes back down. But if you are constantly salt loading you might night be giving your body and kidneys enough time to excrete the excess.

I had a 24 hour urine loading test run, prescribed by my holistic practitioner and it came back very deficient. Then was put on iodine and salt loading. I felt worse as time went on and then checked my bp.

On 8/8/2025 at 6:01 PM, Monica Beauchane said:

I had a 24 hour urine loading test run, prescribed by my holistic practitioner and it came back very deficient. Then was put on iodine and salt loading. I felt worse as time went on and then checked my bp.

Did you get a loading dose of iodine BEFORE you started your 24 hour urine collection? The idea is to give you a loading dose, and then see how much is excreted over the next 24 hours. If very little is excreted, then this indicates most of it was absorbed which may signal iodine deficiency. But if you never received the loading dose, the urine collection tells us nothing.

The next question then becomes 'How much iodine are you taking? What kind? Brand? and concentration?'. And also "How much salt are you loading up with? What kind? What brand?"

You could be overdoing/overdosing both.