Jordan Peterson is a Canadian academic, psychologist, author, podcaster, andsocial media content creator who has achieved global fame for his outspokenviews on today’s most contentious political issues. He is also well known forsomething else – eating nothing but meat. We take a look at Jordan Peterson’scarnivore diet and whether or not it might work for you.
Jordan Peterson is a media personality who has recognized widespread fame as oflate for going against the grain. The author and social commentator has alsoquite literally done so by adopting the carnivore diet.
Jordan Peterson was first introduced to the carnivore diet around 2016 by hisadult daughter, Mikhaila. Having suffered for a lifetime with juvenilerheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory-related autoimmune issues, Mikhailabegan eliminating foods from her diet in an effort to free herself from pain.
Noting that she felt better having eliminated gluten, she tried removing dairy.She then removed processed foods and all carbohydrates from her plate. Herstrict meal plan worked so well that she could stop taking her medication.According to her account, intermittent fasting further improved her health.
Having witnessed his daughter’s profound transformation, Jordan Petersonfollowed suit that same year, eliminating all but meat and a few vegetables fromhis meals. By 2018 he had fully adopted what his daughter refers to as‘The Lion Diet.’ This carnivore-style diet planconsists of nothing more than beef, salt, and water.
In a 2018 appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, Peterson credited his carnivoremeal plan with curing his lifelong depression, anxiety, and auto-immune-relatedissues such as fatigue, psoriasis, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), andgum disease.
As with much of what Jordan Peterson has to say, the statement sparked greatcontroversy. Nutritionists decried the diet as irresponsible, journalists ranwith it, and the media made much ado about the highly restrictive meal plan. Butin 2023, would such claims get the same reaction? Perhaps.
Dr. Shawn Baker’s book,The Carnivore Diet, was releasedin 2019. Dr. Paul Saladino’sThe Carnivore Codecame out in 2020. Since then, the public has had some education on the potentialbenefits of abstaining from plant-based foods.
While we’re still waiting for research on the effects of long-termcarnivore-style eating, those on meat-only diets report the following:1
Improved inflammatory-related issues (including less depression, anxiety, andIBS)
Claims that the diet doesn’t provide enough nutrients, minerals, or fiber orthat it raises cholesterol to dangerous levels have been proven false. Afterfive years on The Lion Diet, you can seeJordan Peterson’s blood test results here.
The Jordan Peterson carnivore diet is more strict than some. Ananimal-based dietincludes healthy fats like avocados and olives. Dr. Shawn Baker’s carnivore dietincludes chicken and fish and limited dairy products like cheese. The JordanPeterson diet, however, includes just ruminant meat (beef, bison, lamb, andgoat), salt, and water. Nothing else.
It’s difficult to say with certainty what any one person eats if we don’tpersonally spend time with them 24/7. Jordan’s daughter Mikhaila has beencriticized for consuming alcohol during her alleged water-only diet. Both JordanPeterson and his daughter have talked publicly about putting vegetables andfruits back into the diet every so often. Jordan, for example, reintroducedvegetables for two years before returning to meat, water, and salt again.
Exactly how strict the meal plan is, however, may not matter. Many people notonly lose weight but find great relief from chronic health issues by restrictingtheir intake of carbohydrates. If the science says carbs are unnecessary,2why not go all the way and eliminate them altogether? Thousands of others havestories to tell about how beneficial it is.
Dr. Shawn Baker's carnivore diet includes chicken and fish and limited dairy products like cheese. The Jordan Peterson diet, however, includes just ruminant meat (beef, bison, lamb, and goat), salt, and water. Nothing else.
Similarly, pop-academic Jordan Peterson has credited his all-beef and salt diet to alleviating his anxiety and depression—not to mention helping him lose 60 pounds.
Joe Rogan has cycled on an off-a-carnivore elimination diet since 2020. His interest in, and successes with the carnivore diet have led to interviews with notable carnivore proponents, including Jordan Peterson, Dr.
Not only does the carnivore diet lack science-backed benefits, butGreene says it could also pose a huge risk to your overall health if you choose to follow it. “Those following the carnivore diet are more at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to the lack of variety in the diet,” Greene says.
Joe Rogan's daily intake, while on the Carnivore Diet, primarily consisted of meat. He often mentioned consuming elk, bison, and other game meats, along with more traditional meats like beef. Organ meats, particularly liver, were also a part of his diet.
Yes, the Carnivore diet can help you lose weight, as Joe Rogan could lose 12 pounds in only 30 days on a Carnivore diet and dropped from 205 to 193 pounds. “Having been fat-shamed several times, I'm proud to say that I lost all my fat around my face, belly, and waist area,” he said.
However, the diet is extremely restrictive and likely unhealthy in the long term. Plus, no research backs its purported benefits. The carnivore diet eliminates all foods except meat and animal products. Thus, it's lacking in numerous nutrients like fiber, loaded with salt and fat, and difficult to maintain.
But personal reports show that Carnivores could lose 7kg (15.4 pounds) in 30 days, 121 lbs in 12 months, and so on. Generally, aiming to lose between 0.5 – 0.75% of your starting body weight can be realistic.
Yes, you can drink coffee on a carnivore diet. Despite its plant origin, many followers of the carnivore diet still consume coffee, considering caffeine's stimulating properties. However, caution must be taken as excessive intake of caffeine may add stress to the body's metabolism and disrupt sleep patterns.
It could be as simple as time - you haven't been on the diet long enough. Or, maybe you're still in caloric surplus despite eating the right foods. It could even be that you're not drinking enough water, you're constipated from the new diet, you're stressed out - or some other unrelated cause.
Joe Rogan: The podcast host has publicized his experience with the carnivore diet, reporting positive changes in his health, including improved energy levels and weight loss.
It may sometimes cause constipation. The diet is contrary to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans , which emphasize the importance of fiber for good health. Some may worry about becoming constipated due to this diet's lack of fiber.
The carnivore diet consists of low-carb, high-protein foods, which can lead to fat and weight loss in the short term. That said, staying on the carnivore diet for too long may lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients, leading to symptoms like fatigue and muscle weakness.
People who follow the carnivore diet avoid fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Here's why: Fruits and vegetables: These foods are high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. However, they also have a higher glycemic index (GI), significantly impacting blood sugar for those with prediabetes and diabetes.
How does the carnivore diet work? The diet is a form of ketogenic diet, and works by eliminating all plant-based foods and solely eating meat, fish, eggs and small amounts of low-lactose dairy foods. Chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, beef, organ meats, oily and white fish, hard cheese, butter and cream are all allowed.
But personal reports show that Carnivores could lose 7kg (15.4 pounds) in 30 days, 121 lbs in 12 months, and so on. Generally, aiming to lose between 0.5 – 0.75% of your starting body weight can be realistic.
The carnivore diet may also improve cardiovascular health. Animal-based foods are good source of healthy saturated fats, which are important for optimal heart function. They also provide important nutrients like iron and vitamin B12, which are important for red blood cell formation and oxygen delivery to the body.
Imagine if you could lose weight and supercharge your health while eating all the ribeye steaks you want—but only if you skip the potato and side salad. That's the promise of the carnivore diet, a weight-loss approach that allows you to chow down on infinite quantities of meat and very little else.
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