The Carnivore Diet: Eating Like a Lion (Living Like a Human?)

If you’ve been anywhere near health TikTok, Instagram, or a podcast hosted by someone shouting into a microphone, you’ve probably heard about the carnivore diet.

The promise is simple:

Eat only animal foods.

Lose weight.

Feel amazing.

Fix everything from digestion to your personality.

Which sounds bold.

And simple.

And… slightly suspicious.

Let’s unpack it properly — without shouting, evangelising, or pretending vegetables are the enemy.

What Is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet is exactly what it sounds like:

• Meat

• Fish

• Eggs

• Sometimes dairy

And that’s it.

No fruit.

No vegetables.

No grains.

No legumes.

No fibre.

Some versions allow coffee and seasoning.

Stricter versions don’t even allow pepper.

Because apparently flavour is also a threat.

It’s often described as:

• Keto… but angrier

• Paleo… but with trust issues

• An elimination diet that forgot to stop eliminating

Why Do People Lose Weight on It?

Short answer: calorie reduction via food boredom and protein dominance.

Longer answer:

• Protein is very filling

• Meat digests slowly

• Removing carbs and ultra-processed food cuts easy overeating

• Many people eat less without trying

That doesn’t make it magical.

It makes it restrictive.

You’re not burning fat because steak has special powers.

You’re burning fat because eating only ribeye and eggs eventually makes you pause and think,“Do I actually want more food right now?”

The Claimed Benefits (and the Reality)

✔ Appetite control

Yes — high protein diets often reduce hunger.

✔ Short-term weight loss

Yes — especially at first.

✔ Simplicity

Also yes. No tracking apps. No recipes. No decisions.

❌ “Fixes everything”

No. That’s where it falls apart.

Claims around gut healing, hormone repair, inflammation cures and mental clarity are mostly anecdotal, not backed by robust long-term evidence.

The Big Missing Piece: Fibre

Fibre isn’t a trendy superfood.

It’s basic plumbing.

Removing fibre entirely can lead to:

• Digestive issues (yes, even if TikTok says otherwise)

• Reduced gut microbiome diversity

• Long-term bowel health concerns

• A digestive system that works until it suddenly doesn’t

Some people feel fine initially.

That doesn’t mean it’s optimal — it means the body is adaptable.

Until it isn’t.

Socially… It’s a Nightmare

Let’s be honest.

• Eating out becomes awkward

• Holidays become complicated

• Family meals turn into negotiations

• Someone always asks, “So… you don’t eat vegetables at all?”

If a diet only works when you’re alone with a frying pan, it’s not a system — it’s a phase.

Is It Ever Useful?

Yes — temporarily.

The carnivore diet can work as:

• A short-term elimination diet under guidance

• A reset for people overwhelmed by constant food noise

• A stepping stone back to a more balanced approach

But as a forever plan?

For most people?

No.

Not because you’ll instantly implode.

But because long-term health is built on variety, sustainability, and normal life.

The Scrummy Take

You don’t need to eat like a caveman to feel good.

You don’t need to fear plants.

And you definitely don’t need a diet that requires a manifesto.

If eating more protein helps you — great.

If simplifying meals helps you — even better.

But a diet that only works by banning half the food system isn’t freedom.

It’s just control dressed up as discipline.

Eat food.

Eat varied food.

Build habits you can repeat when life is busy, messy, and social.

That’s how you get results that actually stick.