What is the Panthers Carnivore Diet and Is It Effective?

December 5, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2024, Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary was among several players who reportedly embraced an extreme, meat-focused eating plan. This regimen, known as the Panthers carnivore diet, is a strict, all-animal-product diet that fueled the team’s quest for a fourth consecutive NRL title.

Quick Summary

The Panthers carnivore diet is a highly restrictive, all-animal-product eating plan adopted by some NRL players, including Nathan Cleary and Izack Tago. It is a zero-carb diet that excludes plant-based foods in favor of meat, fish, and eggs.

Key Points

Origin: The 'Panthers carnivore diet' refers to the high-protein, meat-focused regimen adopted by some players of the Penrith Panthers NRL team, not the wild animal.
Premise: It is a zero-carb diet that eliminates all plant-based foods, though some players modified it to include small amounts of vegetables.
Claimed Benefits: Proponents and players reported benefits like weight loss, increased energy, and reduced inflammation, though these are largely anecdotal.
Major Risks: Health experts warn of significant risks, including nutrient deficiencies (fiber, Vitamin C), potential heart issues from high saturated fat, and stress on kidneys.
Limited Evidence: There is a lack of long-term scientific evidence to support the safety or effectiveness of the carnivore diet, making long-term adherence unadvisable without supervision.
Not for Everyone: Given its highly restrictive nature and health concerns, the diet is not a sustainable or healthy long-term solution for most people and requires expert consultation.

What is the Panthers Carnivore Diet?

The "Panthers carnivore diet" is a specific application of the broader carnivore diet, gaining attention in 2024 due to its adoption by prominent players of the Penrith Panthers NRL team, including Nathan Cleary and Paul Alamoti. This eating plan is an extreme form of a low-carbohydrate diet, with the most stringent versions permitting only animal products such as meat, fish, eggs, and certain dairy. Unlike the keto diet, which allows for some plant-based foods, the strict carnivore diet eliminates all plant matter, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Some of the Panthers' regimen appeared to include small amounts of plant-based foods like sweet potato, pumpkin, and avocado, indicating a potentially modified version. The core principle remains centered on consuming high amounts of protein and fat from animal sources to fuel performance and recovery.

A Look at a Typical Panthers Player's Meal Plan

A typical day on the modified Panthers carnivore diet, as reported in a media outlet, might look like this:

Breakfast: Five scrambled eggs, a meat patty, and half an avocado.
Lunch: A generous 350g steak, five lamb cutlets, and half an avocado.
Dinner: Chicken breast or salmon, with a small serving of sweet potato and pumpkin.

This pattern emphasizes nutrient-dense animal foods, rich in protein and fats, with minimal carbohydrates. The inclusion of small amounts of plant-based items differentiates it from a purist carnivore diet.

The Reported Benefits and Expert Concerns

The carnivore diet has been lauded by its proponents and adherents for numerous potential benefits, which reportedly inspired some Panthers players to try the restrictive regimen.

Potential Benefits

Weight Loss: High-protein and high-fat diets can be very satiating, helping to reduce overall calorie intake and promote weight loss. In the absence of carbs, the body enters a state of ketosis, burning stored fat for energy.
Increased Energy and Mental Clarity: Many followers report enhanced mental focus and sustained energy levels without the crashes associated with high-carb intake.
Reduced Inflammation: By eliminating processed foods and plant-based items, some experience relief from inflammatory conditions, allergies, and skin issues.

Significant Concerns from Health Professionals

Nutrient Deficiencies: A diet composed exclusively of animal products is naturally low or absent in essential nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, and potassium, leading to potential deficiencies over the long term.
Digestive Issues: The complete lack of fiber can cause constipation and disrupt the gut microbiota, which is crucial for overall health.
Heart Health Risks: A high intake of saturated fats and cholesterol from red meat could increase the risk of heart disease.
Kidney Stress: The large amount of protein consumed can put extra strain on the kidneys, especially for individuals with pre-existing kidney issues.
Lack of Long-Term Evidence: High-quality, long-term studies on the carnivore diet are scarce, meaning the full health consequences of long-term adherence are not yet known.

Carnivore vs. Keto: Comparing the Diets

While both the carnivore and ketogenic diets are low-carb, they differ significantly in their approach and allowed foods.


Feature	Panthers Carnivore Diet (Strict)	Ketogenic Diet
Food Variety	Highly restrictive, limited to animal products only (meat, eggs, fish, some dairy).	More flexible, includes animal products plus low-carb vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils.
Carbohydrate Intake	Zero carbs (0-5g per day).	Very low carb (typically under 50g per day).
Macronutrient Ratio	High fat and high protein, with a focus on animal sources.	High fat, moderate protein, very low carb. Ratio is strictly monitored.
Micronutrient Profile	Lacks certain vitamins, minerals, and fiber found in plants.	Provides a broader range of micronutrients due to the inclusion of vegetables and nuts.
Ease of Adherence	Simpler food tracking (no carb counting) but extremely restrictive socially and difficult to sustain long-term.	Requires careful carb counting but offers more variety, potentially making it easier to stick with over time.

What the Science Says (or Doesn't)

Despite the anecdotal success stories shared by some athletes, there is limited scientific research to validate the effectiveness or safety of the carnivore diet, particularly over the long term. Much of the evidence comes from self-reported data and is not backed by robust, controlled clinical studies. Experts are concerned that while the diet might offer short-term benefits related to weight loss and inflammation reduction by eliminating processed foods, these gains could be overshadowed by long-term health risks. Studies on high red and processed meat intake have also linked it to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including colorectal cancer and cardiovascular disease. Nutritionists widely consider the diet unbalanced and potentially harmful due to the extreme exclusion of entire food groups. A balanced, nutrient-diverse diet is still the general consensus for optimal, sustainable health.

Conclusion: The Final Verdict on the Panthers Carnivore Diet

For elite athletes like the Penrith Panthers, a highly specialized, supervised diet might offer temporary performance-boosting effects, as reported by players experiencing increased energy and feeling fresher. However, the Panthers carnivore diet, like the broader carnivore trend, is highly controversial among health experts. While some short-term benefits like weight loss and reduced inflammation are anecdotally reported, significant risks including nutrient deficiencies, digestive problems, and potential long-term impacts on heart and kidney health remain a serious concern. The lack of robust scientific evidence supporting its safety or efficacy over the long run means it is not a universally recommended approach. For the average person, the extreme restrictions make it difficult to sustain and potentially detrimental to health. Anyone considering this diet should first consult a healthcare professional or a registered dietitian to discuss potential risks and ensure nutritional needs are met, possibly through supplementation.

Visit Healthline for more detailed information on the carnivore diet's potential risks and benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Panthers carnivore diet gained fame after being adopted by several players from the Penrith Panthers NRL team, most notably halfback Nathan Cleary and centre Izack Tago, during their 2024 season.

While based on the carnivore principle of high animal product intake, the version followed by some Panthers players is a modified one, reportedly including small amounts of plant-based items like avocado and sweet potato.

The diet primarily consists of animal products such as eggs, steak, lamb cutlets, chicken breast, and fish like salmon. Some players also included limited amounts of avocado, sweet potato, and pumpkin.

Major health risks include nutrient deficiencies (lack of fiber, vitamin C), digestive problems like constipation, high saturated fat intake potentially harming heart health, and increased strain on the kidneys due to high protein.

Some athletes, including the Panthers players, reportedly follow the carnivore diet believing it boosts energy, aids muscle recovery, improves mental clarity, and reduces inflammation that can hamper performance.

No, the carnivore diet lacks robust, long-term scientific evidence supporting its health claims. Much of the support is anecdotal, and health experts cite numerous potential risks and long-term consequences.

It is not necessarily better and is more restrictive. While both aim for ketosis, the ketogenic diet allows for a wider variety of foods, including vegetables, nuts, and seeds, which provide crucial fiber and micronutrients missing from a strict carnivore diet.