The Nutrition Diet Shift: Why is Bear Grylls no longer vegan?

November 6, 2025 •

4 min read

After years of publicly promoting a plant-based lifestyle, and even authoring a vegan cookbook, Bear Grylls shocked many by revealing his dramatic dietary reversal. Citing personal health struggles and a belief that his well-being had 'tanked' on the all-plant regimen, he detailed why is Bear Grylls no longer vegan. This controversial U-turn led him to embrace an ancestral, meat-heavy approach to nutrition.

Quick Summary

Bear Grylls transitioned from a vegan to an ancestral, meat-heavy diet after experiencing negative health effects, including kidney pain, which he attributed to his former lifestyle. He now consumes red meat, organs, eggs, and dairy, while actively avoiding processed foods and most vegetables.

Key Points

Health Tanked: Bear Grylls experienced significant health issues, including kidney pain and low energy, which he attributed to his vegan diet.
Vegan Embarrassment: He expressed embarrassment over having previously promoted veganism and authored a plant-based cookbook, feeling he was wrong about its benefits for health and the environment.
Ancestral Switch: Grylls adopted a new diet focused on "ancestral foods," including red meat, liver, eggs, dairy, and animal fats.
Anti-Vegetable Stance: As part of his new regimen, Grylls avoids most vegetables, nuts, grains, and highly processed foods, believing they harm his gut health.
Controversial Outcome: While Grylls claims to feel stronger and healthier, his new diet faces criticism from nutritionists who cite evidence of potential heart health risks associated with high red meat consumption.
Heart Scan Claim: Grylls publically cited a heart scan showing 'zero inflammation' to defend his diet, but critics argue such individual results don't override broader scientific consensus.

From Plant-Based Advocate to Carnivore Convert

Bear Grylls's journey from committed vegan to meat-focused eater is a personal health anecdote that has generated significant public debate. In the past, the adventurer was a vocal supporter of plant-based eating, publishing a cookbook promoting a dairy, wheat, and sugar-free diet. However, his perspective shifted dramatically following a period of ill health.

His turning point arrived when he contracted COVID-19. As he explained to GQ, he intensified his focus on what he thought was a healthy vegan diet, including raw juices and vegetables. Instead of recovering, his health worsened, culminating in intense kidney pain that he believed was related to his plant-heavy diet. This negative experience led him to re-evaluate his entire dietary philosophy.

The Health Concerns That Triggered the Switch

For Grylls, the decision was driven by his body's reaction to the vegan lifestyle. He described a list of issues he experienced while on the diet:

Kidney Pain and Potential Kidney Stones: He reported experiencing severe kidney pain after doubling down on raw juices and vegetables during his COVID-19 recovery.
Poor Gut Health: Grylls stated that his gut health was not at its best while on the vegan diet and has improved significantly since changing his eating habits.
Low Energy and Lethargy: Initially feeling a surge of energy on the vegan diet, this feeling faded over time, and he began to feel weak and lethargic.
Nutrient Density Concerns: He felt he was not receiving adequate nutrients from vegetables compared to the nutrient-rich sources found in meat, blood, and bone marrow.

These concerns led him to embrace a diet he calls the "ancestral way of living". This approach emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods, mirroring the diets of human ancestors.

Bear Grylls's 'Ancestral' Diet: The New Reality

In stark contrast to his former eating habits, Grylls's current diet is heavily animal-based. It involves a mix of meat, organs, and dairy products. His typical meals might include a burger made from grass-fed mince with cheese and an egg, cooked in tallow. He also incorporates a scoop of bone marrow, Greek yogurt, and honey with berries. Other key elements of his diet are:

Red Meat and Organ Meats: He focuses on high-quality, grass-fed red meat and liver, which he consumes every few days, believing that organ meats are particularly rich in nutrients.
Full-Fat Dairy and Eggs: Salted butter, Greek yogurt, and multiple eggs are staples in his daily routine.
Natural Carbohydrates: He consumes small amounts of fruit, honey, and white rice, but avoids most other vegetables, grains, and nuts.
Hydration: Electrolyte water is a reported part of his daily regimen.

Comparing Grylls's Vegan and Ancestral Diets


Aspect	Vegan Diet (Grylls's Past)	Ancestral Diet (Grylls's Present)
Protein Source	Plant-based sources, possibly including legumes, grains, and processed substitutes.	Red meat, organ meats (liver, bone marrow), eggs, dairy.
Fat Source	Plant-based oils, nuts, seeds.	Grass-fed butter, tallow, animal fats.
Carbohydrates	Raw vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, juices.	Mostly avoids grains and vegetables; includes fruit, honey, and some white rice or potatoes.
Health Experience	Reported declining health, gut issues, and kidney pain.	Claims to feel stronger, with better gut health and skin.
Primary Motivation	Initially believed it was better for health and the environment.	Personal health improvement and a belief in eating naturally.

The Backlash and Scientific Debate

Grylls's diet change has not been without controversy. He has faced criticism from nutritionists and dietitians, who point to scientific evidence supporting the health risks associated with heavy red meat consumption. A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, according to many health experts. In response to his wife's concern about cholesterol, Grylls stated that a coronary CT scan revealed no inflammation and a "zero calcium score," leading him to believe his heart was in excellent condition. However, health professionals stress that anecdotal evidence and individual results do not negate the larger body of scientific research on the effects of a meat-heavy diet.

For more insight into Grylls's transition, his interview with GQ provides a direct account of his motivations and experience.

Conclusion: A Personal Nutrition Journey

Bear Grylls's reversal of his dietary stance serves as a potent reminder that nutrition is highly personal. His experience highlights the fact that what works for one individual may not work for another, and that health trends and popular beliefs can sometimes be at odds with an individual's unique biology. While his ancestral diet has drawn criticism from many in the health community, Grylls firmly believes it was the necessary change for his vitality and well-being. Ultimately, his story emphasizes the importance of listening to one's own body and making informed decisions about diet, while also acknowledging the broader scientific context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bear Grylls gave up his vegan diet primarily due to personal health problems, including kidney pain and a general feeling of declining health, which he experienced while adhering to a plant-based diet.

While following a vegan diet, Bear Grylls reported experiencing significant kidney pain, which he attributed to consuming large amounts of raw vegetables and juices. He also claimed his health 'tanked' and he felt low on energy.

Bear Grylls now follows an animal-based diet, which he refers to as an 'ancestral' way of eating. It focuses heavily on red meat, organs (like liver and bone marrow), eggs, dairy, and animal fats, while avoiding grains, nuts, and most vegetables.

Yes, Bear Grylls wrote and published a vegan cookbook in 2015 titled Fuel for Life, which promoted dairy, wheat, and sugar-free recipes. He later expressed embarrassment about his previous advocacy.

No, Bear Grylls states he no longer eats vegetables, believing they caused him poor health and gut issues. He also avoids grains, nuts, and seed oils.

Critics, including nutritionists, point out that a diet high in red meat and saturated fats is associated with health risks, particularly for heart health, contrary to Grylls's personal claims. Many also argue that his experience does not invalidate the benefits of a well-planned plant-based diet.

Yes, Bear Grylls claimed on Instagram that a coronary CT scan showed 'zero inflammation' and a 'zero calcium score,' supporting his view that his diet is healthy for his heart. However, nutritionists caution against using this personal anecdote to make general health claims.

Yes, Bear Grylls has described his new eating pattern as following an 'ancestral way of living,' drawing parallels to the diets of human ancestors who thrived on meat and organs.