“Phenomenal” is how Ray Hicks (above, before and after), an influencer who has become famous by sharing his experiences on a strict meat-only diet, described his bloodwork results after unveiling them on social media. The 27-year-old from Nashville expressed delight at the outcome of his test, which revealed strong red and white blood cell counts and healthy insulin and thyroid hormone levels. Other parameters, such as testosterone, were not only good but optimal for a man his age. Despite these positive results, his cholesterol levels were abnormally high, and indicators related to liver function raised concern. Hicks, who claims to have eaten only meat and eggs for one full year, credits his diet with helping him drop an astounding 90 pounds, going from 295 at his heaviest to 205. Hicks explained his diet as consisting of 12 eggs daily, red meat, and copious amounts of butter. Despite showing positive numbers on blood sugar levels, liver and kidney function, insulin, thyroid function, blood cell counts, Vitamin D, and others, Hicks expressed concern at a variety of signs that could point to issues with his liver and heart. One of these was his cholesterol level, which, at 275 mg/dl, was higher than the recommended 125-200 mg/dl range for men. Hicks remained unfazed, focusing on his favorable HDL and the triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, which experts suggest is a better indicator of heart disease risk. According to Dr. Philip Ovadia, cholesterol alone doesn't tell the whole story regarding heart disease, explaining that the health of other factors, such as insulin resistance and inflammation, are equally important, if not more important, in determining a patient’s potential risk. Other interesting details of Hicks’ blood test were his normal sodium and glucose levels, which surprised the influencer due to his heavy use of salt. His creatinine levels were also higher than normal, which could point toward kidney issues. The compound is a leftover from energy-producing processes in muscles that the organ naturally filters out of the blood. Despite claiming he’s not concerned about the abnormalities present in his results, Hicks said he will move away from the diet temporarily to add fruits to his diet. Experts warn of the adverse effects the diet could have long-term, despite the potential short-term benefits.
