Who Is Famous for the Meat Only Diet? The Carnivore Diet Proponents

December 15, 2025 •

4 min read

The carnivore diet, a restrictive plan excluding all plant-based foods, has gained significant mainstream attention thanks to a few famous proponents. Numerous public figures have brought attention to the meat only diet, claiming remarkable health benefits that are debated by medical experts and nutritionists worldwide.

Quick Summary

This article profiles prominent figures who have publicly promoted and followed a meat-only carnivore diet, detailing their experiences and the scientific debate around this extreme dietary approach.

Key Points

Jordan Peterson and Mikhaila Peterson: The family popularized the carnivore diet, particularly the restrictive "lion diet" of beef, salt, and water, claiming it resolved severe autoimmune and mental health issues.
Dr. Shawn Baker: A prominent author and former surgeon who promotes the carnivore diet based on testimonials, advocating for it as a solution for various chronic conditions.
Paul Saladino: Initially a strict carnivore proponent, he evolved his approach to an "animal-based" diet that includes some plant foods, citing side effects he experienced on the stricter version.
Lack of Scientific Consensus: The carnivore diet relies heavily on anecdotal evidence; mainstream medical opinion raises concerns about nutrient deficiencies, high saturated fat, and kidney stress due to the exclusion of plant-based foods.
Historical Precedents: Historically, groups like the Inuit and Masai have consumed high-meat diets, but their approach differs significantly from modern fad versions, often including raw meat and organ meats.
Controversy: The diet is highly controversial, with its proponents' anecdotal successes often overshadowing the potential health risks highlighted by dietitians and scientific bodies.

Prominent Proponents of the Meat Only Diet

Jordan and Mikhaila Peterson

One of the most well-known examples of public figures following a meat only diet are the Petersons, a Canadian family comprising clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson and his daughter Mikhaila Peterson. Mikhaila first adopted the diet to combat severe autoimmune issues, depression, and other chronic health problems. Her success with the regimen, dubbed the "lion diet," which consisted strictly of beef, salt, and water, inspired her father to try it himself.

Jordan Peterson, a celebrated author and public speaker, publicly shared his journey on podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience. He reported losing a significant amount of weight and experiencing substantial improvements in his mood, mental clarity, and physical well-being. The Petersons' high-profile advocacy catapulted the carnivore diet into the public consciousness, leading to significant online discussion and both support and criticism from the health and nutrition communities.

Dr. Shawn Baker

Dr. Shawn Baker, a former orthopedic surgeon, is another highly prominent figure and author in the carnivore diet movement. His 2019 book, The Carnivore Diet, outlined his belief that eating exclusively animal products could resolve a myriad of health issues. Baker frequently uses testimonials from dieters as evidence for the diet's effectiveness in treating conditions like anxiety, depression, diabetes, and obesity. He is known for promoting a diet of red meat, fish, and eggs.

Dr. Paul Saladino

Initially a vocal advocate of a strict carnivore diet, Dr. Paul Saladino has since transitioned to an "animal-based" diet. This evolution came after Saladino reported experiencing side effects, like heart palpitations and low testosterone, which led him to reintroduce certain plant foods. His current approach includes meat, organs, fruit, honey, and raw dairy, representing a slightly less restrictive variation of the meat-only philosophy. He is a social media influencer who has co-founded supplement companies centered around animal-based nutrition.

The Carnivore Diet: A Closer Look

Core Principles and Variations

The carnivore diet eliminates all plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The core foods are typically meat, fish, eggs, and some low-lactose dairy products. Adherents often prioritize fatty cuts of meat and organ meats, believing they offer a more complete nutrient profile. The diet is a form of ketogenic eating, as the severe restriction of carbohydrates forces the body into a state of ketosis, burning fat for energy.

Common variations include:

The Lion Diet: The strictest form, allowing only ruminant meat (beef, lamb), salt, and water.
Standard Carnivore: Includes all animal products like beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy.
Animal-Based Diet: A modified version that includes meat but also adds fruits, honey, and raw dairy, popularized by Paul Saladino.

Historical Context

While the modern carnivore diet is a recent phenomenon, all-meat diets have been recorded throughout history and in various cultures. For example, the Inuit and Chukotka peoples of the Arctic traditionally thrived on diets primarily consisting of meat and fish. The Masai warriors of East Africa also traditionally subsisted on a diet of meat and milk for periods of their lives. However, experts point out that these traditional diets often included raw meat and organs, providing nutrients that modern carnivore diets may miss.

Controversies and Criticisms

Despite glowing testimonials, the carnivore diet faces widespread criticism from the mainstream medical and scientific communities.

Health Concerns

Medical professionals raise several concerns about the carnivore diet, including:

Lack of Fiber: The total exclusion of plant foods results in a complete lack of dietary fiber, which is crucial for gut health and digestion.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Eliminating fruits and vegetables removes essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, potentially leading to deficiencies over the long term.
High Saturated Fat: A diet high in red meat can lead to excessive saturated fat intake, increasing LDL cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
Kidney Stress: Extremely high protein intake can place a burden on the kidneys.

Comparison of Carnivore Diet Proponents


Proponent	Diet Variation	Reported Motivation	Noteworthy Aspect
Jordan Peterson	Strict "Lion Diet" (Beef, Salt, Water)	Autoimmune disease, depression, and weight loss	Famous for dramatic public claims of recovery and well-being.
Mikhaila Peterson	Strict "Lion Diet" (Beef, Salt, Water)	Severe autoimmune issues, joint pain, and mood disorders.	Inspired her father, Jordan, to adopt the diet for his own health struggles.
Shawn Baker	Standard Carnivore (Meat, Fish, Eggs)	General health optimization, weight loss	Promotes the diet with testimonials and authored a book on the subject.
Paul Saladino	Evolved to "Animal-Based" (Meat, Organs, Fruit, Honey, Dairy)	Health issues experienced on strict carnivore diet.	Modified his diet to include some plant foods, acknowledging potential issues with the extreme version.

Scientific Evidence vs. Anecdotal Experience

The primary basis for carnivore diet promotion, especially from figures like the Petersons and Shawn Baker, relies heavily on anecdotal evidence. Followers point to personal testimonials and individual health improvements. However, robust clinical research on the long-term effects of a meat-only diet is lacking. A 2021 study, heavily criticized for its methodology, surveyed self-reported health improvements among adherents but lacked medical verification. While high-protein diets can lead to short-term weight loss due to satiety, the restrictive nature makes long-term adherence difficult and potentially unhealthy.

Conclusion

The meat only diet, or carnivore diet, has gained significant attention through the high-profile advocacy of individuals like Jordan Peterson, Mikhaila Peterson, and Shawn Baker. Their reported health improvements, particularly for autoimmune and mental health conditions, have sparked widespread public interest. However, this anecdotal evidence contrasts sharply with the cautious stance of the mainstream medical and nutrition communities, who cite concerns over saturated fat intake, kidney health, and nutrient deficiencies. As with many highly restrictive diets, the carnivore approach lacks long-term scientific backing, and figures like Paul Saladino demonstrate the personal need for modification over time. For anyone considering such a restrictive change, consulting with a healthcare professional is essential to weigh the potential risks against the reported benefits.

Explore the potential dangers of the carnivore diet according to Harvard Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

While indigenous populations have historically followed meat-heavy diets, the modern carnivore diet was popularized by figures like Dr. Shawn Baker, Jordan Peterson, and Mikhaila Peterson, who promoted it heavily through social media and podcasts.

The carnivore diet is based on the principle of consuming only animal products and eliminating all plant-based foods. It is an extreme form of a ketogenic diet, which prompts the body to burn fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.

The safety of the meat only diet is highly debated. Mainstream medical and nutrition professionals warn of potential risks, including high saturated fat intake, a complete lack of fiber, and potential nutrient deficiencies over the long term.

The "lion diet" is an extremely restrictive version of the carnivore diet, popularized by Mikhaila Peterson, which consists exclusively of beef, salt, and water. Experts have called it potentially very unhealthy and difficult to sustain.

There is a significant lack of robust clinical evidence supporting the carnivore diet. Some observational studies exist, primarily based on self-reported data from participants, which have been criticized for their limited and anecdotal nature.

Dr. Paul Saladino transitioned from a strict carnivore to an "animal-based" diet after experiencing negative symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, and low testosterone, which he believed were related to the total exclusion of plant foods.

Many famous proponents have modified their dietary approaches over time. For example, Paul Saladino no longer follows a strict carnivore diet, and Brian Johnson ("Liver King") has publicly denounced it. Jordan and Mikhaila Peterson, however, have largely continued their advocacy.