Bear Grylls's Dietary Journey: From Veganism to Meat-Eater
Bear Grylls's dietary habits have captured public attention for years, not only because of his televised consumption of bizarre survival foods, but also due to his personal nutritional choices. His journey has taken a surprising U-turn, moving from advocating a plant-based lifestyle to embracing one dominated by animal products. Understanding this shift requires looking back at his earlier promotion of veganism and comparing it with his current, widely debated dietary philosophy.
The Vegan Years and 'Fuel for Life'
Several years ago, Bear Grylls was a vocal supporter of a plant-based diet, going so far as to release a cookbook called Fuel for Life in 2015. During this period, he publicly promoted the benefits of veganism, believing it was better for both his health and the environment. He often discussed consuming a diet that avoided dairy, wheat, and sugar, and reportedly ate a significant amount of vegetables and juices. However, he has since looked back on this period with regret.
He revealed in interviews that he felt his health 'tanked' while following the vegan lifestyle, citing issues like kidney pain. This led him to question his previous dietary beliefs and ultimately re-evaluate his relationship with food.
The Move to an Animal-Based Diet
Around 2022, Grylls made his shift to a meat-heavy diet public, causing a stir among his followers and media outlets. This change was heavily influenced by proponents of the carnivore and 'ancestral' diet movements, including Paul Saladino. Instead of a strictly carnivorous diet, Grylls describes his new approach as 'animal-based,' incorporating meat, organs, eggs, dairy, and select fruits and honey.
He claims that since making the switch, he feels stronger, his skin has improved, and his gut health has never been better. He no longer experiences the intense junk food cravings he associated with his vegan years, attributing it to the increased satiety from consuming animal fats and proteins.
Key components of Bear Grylls's current diet:
- Red Meat: High-quality, grass-fed steak forms the foundation of many of his meals.
- Organ Meats: He incorporates nutrient-dense organ meats, such as liver and bone marrow, multiple times a week.
- Eggs and Dairy: His daily diet includes eggs and full-fat dairy like Greek yogurt and copious amounts of grass-fed salted butter.
- Fruit and Honey: He includes fruit and honey as sources of carbohydrates and natural sugars.
- Limited Plants: He has expressed skepticism about the benefits of many vegetables, believing some contain defensive chemicals harmful to the human gut.
A Tale of Two Diets: Grylls's Vegan vs. Animal-Based
| Feature | Former Vegan Diet | Current Animal-Based Diet |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Plant-based foods (vegetables, juices, nuts, grains) | Animal-based foods (meat, organs, eggs, dairy) |
| Carbohydrates | Primarily from grains, fruits, and vegetables | Primarily from fruits, honey, and some white rice |
| Dairy | Avoided | Emphasized, including butter and yogurt |
| Health Claims | Promoted for environmental and health benefits | Claims to have improved vitality, gut health, and strength |
| Environmental Views | Believed it was better for the planet | Now believes processed vegan alternatives are worse |
Controversy and Critiques
Bear Grylls's reversal has not been without significant controversy. Many nutrition and health experts have criticized his promotion of a meat-heavy diet, highlighting that it contradicts mainstream dietary recommendations. Dietitians note that diets rich in red meat and saturated fats are linked to an increased risk of heart disease, certain cancers, and other chronic conditions. Critics also point out that his claims regarding the health benefits of meat and the harms of vegetables lack scientific consensus.
Environmentally, many conservationists and experts have condemned his diet, particularly his advocacy for grass-fed beef, as unsustainable and harmful to the planet. This stands in stark contrast to his earlier pro-environmental stance when he was vegan.
Conclusion
So, is Bear Grylls still carnivore? While he doesn't adhere to a strict carnivore diet, his current eating pattern is heavily animal-based, with meat, organs, eggs, and dairy forming the core of his meals. He has decisively moved away from his former vegan lifestyle, citing personal health improvements as the motivation behind this controversial change. Though his shift has drawn significant criticism from the scientific and environmental communities, Grylls continues to advocate for what he considers a more 'ancestral' way of eating. For a detailed look at his dietary insights, read the full interview he conducted with GQ magazine(https://www.gq.com/story/real-life-diet-bear-grylls).
