Is The Lion Diet Safe? We Asked A Nutritionist

First we had the carnivore diet, a type of eating focused solely around consuming animal products. And now an even more restrictive trend has emerged: the lion diet, which involves consuming only ruminant meat alongside salt and water. It’s gaining traction on TikTok, but unsurprisingly, nutritionists are warning against it. Here’s everything you need to know.

What Is The Lion Diet?

The lion diet is an extreme way of eating which bills itself as a ‘healing elimination diet’. It involves consuming just meat from ruminant animals (beef, lamb and bison), and eliminating chicken, fish, vegetables, fruit and dairy, for a set period of time. 

The movement’s biggest advocate is podcaster and media personality Mikhaila Peterson – the daughter of controversial Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson – who claims following this diet cured her chronic and autoimmune health issues. On her website, she claims: ‘It can help the gut to heal the leakiness that can be caused by years of accidental abuse. It also avoids allergens that can bother people who have nervous system and immune system damage.’

Devotees claim following the lion diet helps with health issues including allergies, skin problems and inflammation. However, there is no scientific evidence to back this up, and elimination diets are generally not recommended without the help of a professional – particularly with something as restrictive as this.

Lion Diet: A Nutritionist’s Take

We asked nutritionist Kim Pearson for her expert take on the viral diet.

What Are The Risks Of The Lion Diet?

The lion diet is a very restrictive diet, so before delving into the potential for nutrient deficiencies, it’s important to recognise the impact that could have on someone’s mental health. Very restrictive diets can cause anxiety and lead to an unhealthy relationship with food in susceptible individuals. The lack of variety can lead to feelings of deprivation and can make it challenging to eat outside of the home, potentially compromising the ability to connect with others. 

Nutritionally speaking, excluding plant foods and other animal products can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients including certain vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. The lack of fibre from fruits and vegetables can lead to constipation and other digestive issues. While some people digest red meat well, others struggle to digest large quantities and find that the food sits heavy in their stomach, causing discomfort. 

@theliondiet How I got started on the Lion Diet. #theliondiet ♬ original sound – The Lion Diet

What Are The Benefits Of Red Meat?

Red meat provides high quality protein which is required by every cell in the body. It is essential for muscle growth and repair, as well as bone and immune system health. It contains vital nutrients like iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, which support energy levels, immune function, and red blood cell formation. Red meat provides heme iron, a form which is more easily absorbed by the body compared to non-heme iron from plant sources. I always recommend opting for traditionally reared, free range meat, grass fed beef, organic if possible. 

Is The Lion Diet Safe?

The lion diet is unlikely to cause serious health issues if followed short term. However, if followed for sustained periods of time, it has the potential to lead to the physical and mental health issues we discussed earlier.

While it does have the potential to support healing, it is not something that I would recommend to my clients. Other dietary approaches are available that are far less restrictive yet are still able to facilitate healing via similar mechanisms.  

Kim Pearson qualified as a nutritionist at London’s Institute for Optimum Nutrition in 2008 and has worked in the field of nutrition and health for 20 years. She specialises in weight loss, metabolic health, and longevity. Find out more about her work at kim–pearson.com.