How Do YOU Carnivore? Exploring The Lion Diet, Carnivore Diet, and Meat-Based Diet For Long-Term Health

How Do YOU Carnivore? Exploring The Lion Diet, Carnivore Diet, and Meat-Based Diet For Long-Term Health

The carnivore diet and its many variations, such as the lion diet, have gained popularity as ways to address a wide range of health concerns, from autoimmune conditions to digestive issues. At their core, these diets focus on one simple premise: eliminating plant foods in favor of animal-based nutrition.[1]

Here, we discuss the nuances of these different lifestyles: the lion diet, the broader carnivore, and meat-based approaches. We also look at some pros and cons of adding dairy and honey, focusing on bio-individuality—the idea that no single dietary solution works for everyone. Yet, we can all agree that animal-based nutrition is the best way to lifelong health. 

What is the Lion Diet?

The lion diet, a strict elimination version of the carnivore diet, emphasizes simplicity and focuses exclusively on ruminant animals such as beef and lamb, along with salt and water to drink. This simple approach is often embraced by individuals dealing with autoimmune conditions, chronic inflammation, and severe digestive issues because of its potential to reduce the body’s exposure to irritants found in plant foods.

By reducing the diet to its most basic components, the lion diet aims to cleanse the body of allergens, inflammatory compounds, and problematic proteins that might contribute to chronic illness. One of the key benefits of this diet is its ability to act as a reset, allowing people to reintroduce foods and identify which ones trigger symptoms slowly.

The lion diet can offer relief by reducing systemic inflammation for those suffering from autoimmune diseases. The lack of plant toxins, such as lectins, oxalates, and phytic acid, means the immune system may become less reactive, which can lead to a reduction in symptoms. The lion diet may be particularly important for those with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis, where inflammation plays a critical role in disease progression.

Why Elimination Diets Like the Lion Diet Matter

An elimination diet like the lion diet is one of the most powerful tools for identifying food intolerances or allergies. By removing all plant foods and focusing on a narrow range of animal products, the body has time to heal from the possible irritants and antinutrients in many vegetables. Over time, individuals can begin to reintroduce foods to gauge their body's response.

Plant-based foods often contain defense mechanisms—natural compounds designed to protect the plant from predators. These can include lectins, oxalates, and phytic acid, which can interfere with nutrient absorption and contribute to digestive discomfort. Additionally, modern farming practices have depleted the soil of critical nutrients, leading some carnivore enthusiasts to argue that the nutritional value of plant-based foods is no longer what it once was.

Carnivore Diet for Long-Term Sustainability

While the lion diet can be a temporary, therapeutic elimination protocol, the broader carnivore diet offers a more sustainable long-term approach for those who thrive on animal-based nutrition. The carnivore diet allows for more variety, including ruminant meats and poultry, pork, fish, and animal-based fats.

One of the main reasons people turn to the carnivore diet is its simplicity and focus on nutrient-dense foods. Meat, organs, and animal fats provide all the essential nutrients the body needs, from complete proteins to healthy fats and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K.[2] For many, this diet provides stable energy, improved mental clarity, and better overall health.

Why Some People Add Fruit and Honey

Although the carnivore diet traditionally excludes plant foods, there is a growing trend among some followers to incorporate small amounts of fruit and honey into their meals. This approach is often called an "animal-based" diet rather than strictly carnivore. But why add fruit and honey?

• Digestibility: Certain fruits and honey are easier to digest compared to vegetables, grains, and legumes, making them suitable for those who want a small amount of natural carbohydrates without the risk of triggering inflammation or digestive issues. In fact, honey can even help nourish our gut microbiome[3]
• Athletic Performance: Adding small amounts of fruit or honey can offer quick energy and improve workout performance for individuals who engage in high-intensity exercise or endurance activities. These natural sugars provide a rapid source of fuel that can be helpful during workouts.[4] On the other hand, proponents of strict carnivore prefer to stay in a deeper state of ketosis, relying on fat as their primary fuel source. They believe that this fat-adapted state offers sustained energy without the need for quick sugar fixes.
• Metabolic Health: While fruit and honey may benefit some, they can also have downsides for individuals with underlying metabolic issues. For those who are insulin-resistant or not metabolically healthy, adding sugar—whether from fruit or honey—can spike glucose levels and increase inflammation. Avoiding fruit and honey for this reason, is a consideration for anyone managing chronic conditions, such as type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome, where blood sugar control is crucial. With that said, recent studies are showing that fruit and honey may actually reduce inflammation and metabolic syndrome, and even increase good cholesterol, another reason many carnivores are embracing this addition![5],[6]

Ultimately, whether or not to include fruit and honey depends on individual needs and how your body responds to these foods.

The Role of Dairy in a Meat-Based Diet

Dairy is another area where the concept of bio-individuality shines. For some people following a carnivore or meat-based diet, dairy provides a rich source of fat, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals. Full-fat dairy products like butter, cream, and cheese are often staples in the diets of those who can tolerate them.

However, dairy isn’t suitable for everyone. Some individuals experience adverse reactions to lactose, the sugar found in milk, or casein, the protein found in dairy. These reactions can include digestive upset, skin breakouts, and inflammation, all of which can negate the benefits of a carnivore diet. For others, eliminating dairy leads to better digestion, clearer skin, and improved overall health.

For individuals who can tolerate dairy, raw dairy can offer additional benefits. Raw, unpasteurized dairy contains enzymes and probiotics that can improve digestion and support gut health. These enzymes are often destroyed during pasteurization, which is why some people find raw dairy more easily digestible and less likely to cause digestive issues.[7] However, raw dairy is not legal in all areas, so research where you can find the best source.

There’s also the issue of modern dairy farming practices, which can affect the quality of dairy products. Conventional dairy products may contain traces of hormones, antibiotics, or inflammatory omega-6 fats, particularly in milk from grain-fed cows.[8] For these reasons, many carnivore followers opt for organic, grass-fed, raw dairy products as a cleaner, healthier option.

As with fruit and honey, whether to include dairy in your diet depends on how your body responds to it and what works best for your health.

Bio-Individuality: No One Way is Best

Bio-individuality is a recurring theme in the carnivore, lion, and meat-based diets. What works for one person may not work for another, and that’s perfectly fine. For example, some people thrive on a strict lion diet, while others do well with a more flexible carnivore diet that includes fruit, honey, or dairy.

The goal of these diets is to help individuals find a way of eating that supports their unique health needs, whether that’s reducing inflammation, healing autoimmune conditions, or simply feeling better overall. By focusing on nutrient-dense, animal-based foods and eliminating the common culprits of inflammation—whether plant toxins, sugars, or processed foods—these diets provide a solid foundation for health.

Conclusion: A Meat-Based Approach for Long-Term Health

Whether you choose the lion diet, the carnivore diet, or a more flexible meat-based approach, the emphasis on increasing meat and saturated fat in the diet is a great starting point for many to regain their health. Each variation of the carnivore diet has helped countless individuals manage autoimmune conditions, improve digestion, and support long-term metabolic health.

The beauty of these diets lies in their simplicity: start with the basics, listen to your body, and adjust as needed. There’s no right way to do carnivore, lion, or meat-based eating. The key is finding what works best for you and recognizing that bio-individuality is crucial in shaping your journey toward optimal health.

Citations:

1. McAuliffe, Liam. ‘The Harvard Carnivore Diet Study: Findings and Takeaway’. Dr. Robert Kiltz, 21 Dec. 2022, https://www.doctorkiltz.com/the-harvard-carnivore-diet-study/.
2. National Research Council (US) Committee on Diet, and Health. Fat-Soluble Vitamins. National Academies Press, 1989, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218749/.
3. Schell, Kathleen R., et al. ‘The Potential of Honey as a Prebiotic Food to Re-Engineer the Gut Microbiome toward a Healthy State’. Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 9, Frontiers Media SA, July 2022, p. 957932, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.957932.
4. Hills, Samuel P., et al. ‘Honey Supplementation and Exercise: A Systematic Review’. Nutrients, vol. 11, no. 7, MDPI AG, July 2019, p. 1586, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11071586.
5. Mohd Ramli, Elvy Suhana, et al. ‘Direct and Indirect Effect of Honey as a Functional Food against Metabolic Syndrome and Its Skeletal Complications’. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, vol. 14, Informa UK Limited, Jan. 2021, pp. 241–256, https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S291828.
6. Sadeghi, Fatemeh, et al. ‘The Effects of High Fructose Fruits and Honey on the Serum Level of Metabolic Factors and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease’. Journal of Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, vol. 20, no. 2, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Dec. 2021, pp. 1647–1654, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00916-x.
7. Butler, Mary I., et al. ‘Recipe for a Healthy Gut: Intake of Unpasteurised Milk Is Associated with Increased Lactobacillus Abundance in the Human Gut Microbiome’. Nutrients, vol. 12, no. 5, MDPI AG, May 2020, p. 1468, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12051468.
8. Manzi, Pamela, and Alessandra Durazzo. ‘Organic vs. Conventional Milk: Some Considerations on Fat-Soluble Vitamins and Iodine Content’. Beverages, vol. 3, no. 3, MDPI AG, Aug. 2017, p. 39, https://doi.org/10.3390/beverages3030039.