What Meat Does Joe Rogan Eat? Exploring His Controversial Carnivore and Animal-Based Diets

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

Influenced by guests on his podcast, Joe Rogan has publicly documented his dietary choices, notably including his carnivorous eating experiments. This has led to widespread public interest in the specific types of meat he consumes, such as his well-known preference for wild game.

Quick Summary

A detailed overview of the different meats, including wild game like elk and bison, that are staples in Joe Rogan's cyclical carnivore and animal-based dietary patterns.

Key Points

Favored Meat: Joe Rogan's protein sources predominantly consist of red meat, especially wild game like elk and high-quality, grass-fed beef.
Wild Game Preference: He often hunts his own wild game, including elk, moose, and deer, believing it to be a healthier protein source.
Carnivore Cycle: Rogan experiments with the strict carnivore diet (meat, eggs, and water only) for periods, but otherwise maintains a meat-heavy, animal-based diet.
Fat is Key: To counteract the leanness of wild game, Rogan deliberately adds fat to his meals using beef tallow and bacon to avoid issues like 'rabbit starvation'.
Reported Benefits: He has reported positive outcomes from his diet experiments, including weight loss, increased mental clarity, and improved energy levels.
Side Effects: Rogan experienced significant digestive issues, namely explosive diarrhea, during the initial adaptation phase of his carnivore diet.
Nutritional Concerns: Mainstream medical experts express caution about the long-term sustainability and nutritional completeness of the carnivore diet, citing potential health risks.

Joe Rogan's Journey: From Carnivore to Animal-Based

Joe Rogan's dietary habits have been a topic of frequent discussion, particularly his notable experiments with the carnivore diet, where he consumed nothing but animal products for 30-day periods. While he has cycled on and off a strict, all-meat regimen, his overall food philosophy leans heavily towards an animal-based diet rich in red meat and wild game. For Rogan, the goal is often centered on eliminating processed foods and reducing inflammation. His approach is not rigid but rather an ongoing experiment in finding what makes him feel his best, often incorporating other elements like intermittent fasting.

The Prized Protein: What Meat Does Joe Rogan Eat?

Rogan's meat choices are not random; they reflect a conscious preference for wild game and high-quality, grass-fed sources. He regularly shares his meals on social media, showcasing a variety of animal proteins.

Elk: Famously, Rogan regards elk meat as one of the best and healthiest meats available. He often hunts his own elk and praises its lean, nutritious, and delicious qualities. When preparing lean cuts like elk, he adds fat by cooking it in grass-fed beef tallow or with fatty bacon to ensure a balanced nutritional intake.
Beef: Grass-fed beef is another staple in his diet, whether in the form of ribeye steaks for breakfast or other cuts for dinner. He prefers grass-fed beef over grain-fed, aligning with his belief that wild or naturally-raised animals provide a healthier source of protein.
Bison: As a fellow proponent of wild game, bison meat also features prominently in Rogan's meals. It is a lean, nutrient-dense red meat that fits his dietary framework.
Other Wild Game: In addition to elk and bison, his freezer is reportedly stocked with a variety of other wild game he has hunted, including moose, deer, and pig.
Salmon: Rogan has also mentioned consuming wild King salmon, noting its rich omega-3 content and other essential nutrients like magnesium.

Balancing Lean Protein and Essential Fats

When following a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet like carnivore, ensuring adequate fat intake is crucial to prevent a condition known as "rabbit starvation". This syndrome occurs when a person consumes too much lean protein without enough fat, leading to fatigue, nausea, and other severe health issues. Rogan consciously addresses this by adding fat from sources like beef tallow, bacon, or butter when eating leaner game meats.

Reported Benefits and Documented Side Effects

Rogan has been transparent about his experiences on the carnivore diet, reporting both positive outcomes and significant initial drawbacks. On the one hand, he reported losing weight (around 12 pounds during his first 30-day stint), gaining more stable energy levels, experiencing improved focus, and noting positive changes in his autoimmune condition, vitiligo. On the other hand, he famously documented suffering from severe, explosive diarrhea for the first two weeks as his body adjusted to the drastic dietary change. This initial side effect eventually subsided.

Expert Concerns and Nutritional Considerations

While Rogan and other proponents praise the perceived benefits of the carnivore diet, medical and nutritional experts raise significant concerns. The diet eliminates essential nutrients found in plant-based foods, including fiber, beneficial plant compounds, and certain vitamins and minerals. This can lead to risks like nutrient deficiencies, increased cholesterol levels, and potential kidney issues. For this reason, many experts do not recommend the carnivore diet as a sustainable, long-term eating plan for the general population.

It is essential to consult with a healthcare professional before attempting any highly restrictive diet. For more information on the potential risks and benefits, reputable sources like WebMD offer insights into the carnivore diet's health implications.

Comparison: Wild vs. Domesticated Meat in Rogan's Diet


Feature	Wild Game (Elk, Moose, Deer)	Domesticated Meat (Grass-fed Beef)
Sourcing	Often hunted by Rogan; free-roaming animals	Raised on pasture, fed grass for most of its life
Fat Content	Typically very lean, requiring added fat for balance	Varies by cut; can be leaner or fattier, often with good marbling
Nutritional Profile	Generally high in protein and omega-3s, low in saturated fat	Good source of protein, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and healthy fats
Perceived Health	Believed to be healthier due to lifestyle and diet of the animal	Considered cleaner and more nutritious than conventionally-raised alternatives

Conclusion: The Evolving Diet of Joe Rogan

In conclusion, what meat does Joe Rogan eat is a dynamic question, as his diet has evolved from strict carnivore challenges to a more sustained animal-based lifestyle. The foundation of his diet is undeniably meat, with a strong emphasis on wild game like elk, bison, and deer, supplemented by high-quality grass-fed beef. He purposefully manages fat intake and has consistently reported benefits in energy and focus during these eating cycles. However, his journey also highlights the significant challenges and potential health concerns associated with a highly restrictive diet, particularly the initial digestive issues. While Rogan takes supplements to mitigate potential nutrient deficiencies, it is important for anyone considering a similar path to understand the limitations and risks involved and seek professional medical advice before making any drastic dietary changes.

Visit WebMD for more information on the carnivore diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

The carnivore diet that Joe Rogan has followed is an all-animal product eating plan consisting of meat, fish, and eggs, while eliminating all plant-based foods like vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Joe Rogan prefers wild game because he believes animals that live and eat naturally in the wild are healthier than those raised in conventional feedlots. He feels these animals are free of growth hormones and antibiotics.

While Rogan has done strict carnivore diet challenges where he ate only meat and animal products for 30 days, his regular diet is more of a 'dirty' carnivore or animal-based diet, meaning he sometimes incorporates fruits and vegetables.

When he first tried the diet, Joe Rogan experienced severe diarrhea for about two weeks as his body adjusted to the lack of fiber and new nutritional intake. He also noted a drop in high-intensity training performance during one strict carnivore phase.

Joe Rogan reported several benefits, including weight loss, improved energy levels, better focus and mental clarity, and positive changes in his autoimmune condition, vitiligo.

No, many medical and nutritional experts express significant concerns about the carnivore diet, noting that it can lead to nutrient deficiencies, potential kidney stones, and increased cholesterol and heart disease risk due to the elimination of essential plant-based nutrients.

When cooking lean game meat like elk, Rogan adds additional fat by cooking it in grass-fed beef tallow or with fatty bacon to ensure his body receives the necessary fat-to-protein ratio.