You know that heavy, bloated, “I just swallowed a brick” feeling after smashing a carb- or protein-loaded meal? Yeah, that is not happening to me anymore. So I ditched the rules and went full “Eat Whatever the Fuck I Want” — and for me, that means going Ray Peat/ paleo.
This is not some calorie-counting prison or macro-obsessed cult. It is a pro-metabolic, bioenergetic middle finger to the standard “choke down kale” or chicken breasts for every meal bullshit. Basically it is a scientific excuse for me to indulge in my dainty way of enjoying all sorts of goodies.
Developed by the late biologist Dr. Ray Peat, it is all about cranking your metabolism, supporting your thyroid, balancing hormones (more progesterone, less estrogen and cortisol chaos), and keeping inflammation down.
Peat basically said most of our problems — fatigue, stubborn fat, hormonal issues, premature aging — boil down to one thing: a sluggish metabolism. I am 100% on board with that diagnosis.
The goal is to create a safe, energy-rich environment inside your body with easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense foods that let your cells actually produce energy instead of just being stressed.
The Core Rules (that I mostly follow when I feel like it):
- Carbs are king. Simple sugars from fruit, juice, honey, and sugar. Enough of the “sugar is poison” crowd — I am loading up on orange juice, mangoes, papayas, cherries, melons, ripe berries, and apples. I adore fruits! Fast fuel, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants. Tastes like victory.
- Saturated fats over everything. Butter, coconut oil, ghee, full-fat dairy, cocoa butter. Seed oils (canola, soy, sunflower, corn) are straight-up toxic according to Peat. I avoid that industrial sludge (I write about this, here).
- Smart sources of protein: This is an aspect of my diet that I do not particularly prioritize. I am not some big hulking man Gelatin, collagen, bone broth, shellfish, oysters, eggs, and dairy. I could see myself enjoying a nice cup of bone broth for lunch.
- Dairy is back and might be a new favorite: Milk, cheese, ice cream — preferably full-fat and high quality. Cheese. My new obsession.
- Root veggies and well-cooked starches. Potatoes, sweet potatoes (I LOVE ME SOME SWEET POTATO!), carrots, squash. Cooked fully so your gut will not throw a tantrum.
- Coffee, salt, sugar (in reason), and constant fluids. My black espresso still fits. Peat loved it with milk and sugar anyway.
- Avoid the inflammatory: Most grains, legumes, raw cruciferous veggies, fatty fish, and all that processed garbage loaded with iron and additives.
Peat said eat frequently — no fasting, no severe restriction — to keep blood sugar and energy steady. Here is where we clash: I still love fasting and eating like a dainty fairy princess who barely needs calories to look after her man, run the house, and do activaties like Pilates. But I am playing with the Peaty principles because they feel better for me.
He wants you eating to appetite, 4-6 times a day, pairing protein with carbs and fat. I love to get these protein and fats in through avocado and nut butters for dipping, but I will never eat more than once a day (plus an evening snack). Plus, he suggests cooking everything well. I will cook most things well… but tartare and sushi still hit my personal menu because rules are suggestions when they taste good.
People on this way of eating report better energy, thyroid function, digestion, skin, hair, hormones, and way fewer cravings. Ray Peat himself lived to 86, slamming orange juice and ice cream while most diet gurus look like they are one kale smoothie from the grave.
Critics scream it is”too much sugar,” lacks big clinical trials, and laughs in the face of mainstream advice to avoid sat fat and eat more fiber. I love that part. If the mainstream says it, I am already suspicious.
It might not work for everyone — dairy issues, specific conditions, etc. Talk to a doctor before you go full rebel, blah blah.
Bottom line: This is a flexible framework inspired by Peat’s work (raypeat.com has the deep dives). I am not following it like scripture — I am stealing the parts that make me feel alive, energetic, and less bloated while still indulging my sweet tooth (plus I am stealing most of my dietary “rules” from the cavemen— paleo— but with a bit more sweetness).
So I stopped feeling weighted down. I would rather feel light, sharp, and fueled by fruit, ice cream, and spite.
Kat’s Musings 