Jordan Peterson is a Canadian academic, psychologist, author, podcaster, andsocial media content creator who has achieved global fame for his outspokenviews on today’s most contentious political issues. He is also well known forsomething else – eating nothing but meat. We take a look at Jordan Peterson’scarnivore diet and whether or not it might work for you.
Jordan Peterson is a media personality who has recognized widespread fame as oflate for going against the grain. The author and social commentator has alsoquite literally done so by adopting the carnivore diet.
Jordan Peterson was first introduced to the carnivore diet around 2016 by hisadult daughter, Mikhaila. Having suffered for a lifetime with juvenilerheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory-related autoimmune issues, Mikhailabegan eliminating foods from her diet in an effort to free herself from pain.
Noting that she felt better having eliminated gluten, she tried removing dairy.She then removed processed foods and all carbohydrates from her plate. Herstrict meal plan worked so well that she could stop taking her medication.According to her account, intermittent fasting further improved her health.
Having witnessed his daughter’s profound transformation, Jordan Petersonfollowed suit that same year, eliminating all but meat and a few vegetables fromhis meals. By 2018 he had fully adopted what his daughter refers to as‘The Lion Diet.’ This carnivore-style diet planconsists of nothing more than beef, salt, and water.
The Carnivore Diet and Controversy#
In a 2018 appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast, Peterson credited his carnivoremeal plan with curing his lifelong depression, anxiety, and auto-immune-relatedissues such as fatigue, psoriasis, gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), andgum disease.
As with much of what Jordan Peterson has to say, the statement sparked greatcontroversy. Nutritionists decried the diet as irresponsible, journalists ranwith it, and the media made much ado about the highly restrictive meal plan. Butin 2023, would such claims get the same reaction? Perhaps.
Dr. Shawn Baker’s book,The Carnivore Diet, was releasedin 2019. Dr. Paul Saladino’sThe Carnivore Codecame out in 2020. Since then, the public has had some education on the potentialbenefits of abstaining from plant-based foods.
While we’re still waiting for research on the effects of long-termcarnivore-style eating, those on meat-only diets report the following:1
- Weight loss (without muscle loss)
- Reduced systemic inflammation
- Lower blood pressure
- Improved insulin response
- Less hunger
- Fewer energy and mood fluctuations
- Improved inflammatory-related issues (including less depression, anxiety, andIBS)
Claims that the diet doesn’t provide enough nutrients, minerals, or fiber orthat it raises cholesterol to dangerous levels have been proven false. Afterfive years on The Lion Diet, you can seeJordan Peterson’s blood test results here.
The Jordan Peterson carnivore diet is more strict than some. Ananimal-based dietincludes healthy fats like avocados and olives. Dr. Shawn Baker’s carnivore dietincludes chicken and fish and limited dairy products like cheese. The JordanPeterson diet, however, includes just ruminant meat (beef, bison, lamb, andgoat), salt, and water. Nothing else.
It’s difficult to say with certainty what any one person eats if we don’tpersonally spend time with them 24/7. Jordan’s daughter Mikhaila has beencriticized for consuming alcohol during her alleged water-only diet. Both JordanPeterson and his daughter have talked publicly about putting vegetables andfruits back into the diet every so often. Jordan, for example, reintroducedvegetables for two years before returning to meat, water, and salt again.
Exactly how strict the meal plan is, however, may not matter. Many people notonly lose weight but find great relief from chronic health issues by restrictingtheir intake of carbohydrates. If the science says carbs are unnecessary,2why not go all the way and eliminate them altogether? Thousands of others havestories to tell about how beneficial it is.
