Find Out What Dietitians Think About the Lion Diet

Meat, salt, water: The solely belongings you’re allowed to eat whereas on the Lion Diet, which is blowing up on TikTookay. Some TikTokers are claiming that the carnivorous food plan has improved their sleep, elevated their vitality and even cured autoimmune illness signs that they’ve struggled with for years.

Before adopting any excessive method of consuming, it’s necessary to look previous viral fads and into the science behind the claims. Whether you’re curious to attempt the Lion Diet or questioning why anybody would do such a factor, right here’s what that you must know.

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What Is the Lion Diet All About?


Like talked about above, the Lion Diet consists of solely consuming meat to your meals, with loads of hydration in between (salt is necessary to maintain your electrolyte ranges balanced). It must be ruminant meat, too — ruminants embrace cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo, deer and elk. “The Lion Diet is basically the closest thing you can get to a whole food elimination diet. It allows the gut to heal the leakiness that can be caused by years of accidental abuse. It also avoids allergens that can bother people who have nervous system damage,” in line with the official Lion Diet website.

An elimination food plan is a course of that entails eradicating meals out of your food plan that you simply suspect you possibly can’t tolerate in an effort to establish meals intolerances, that are exhausting to pinpoint. As for the time period “leaky gut,” it refers to a idea about intestinal permeability. It’s not presently acknowledged as a prognosis, however the thought behind it’s that in case your intestine is extra permeable than it ought to be, it may let toxins into your bloodstream and trigger irritation and different points.

While there’s some logic behind the concept of eliminating doubtlessly irritating meals should you endure from sure signs, reducing out all meals teams aside from meat is an excessive strategy. Plus, there are different methods to analyze a suspected meals intolerance and take care of its signs earlier than happening that route.


What Do Dietitians Think?


There are some potential upsides to a meat-only food plan, equivalent to weight reduction and blood sugar management. It is a high-protein food plan in spite of everything, which might support with these two issues. It’s additionally easy to observe. But though TikTookay is obsessive about the Lion Diet, consultants are skeptical.

“To be frank, there is no instance where I would ever recommend the Lion Diet trend as a Registered Dietitian. There are no notable pros of the Lion Diet, but there’s definitely a long list of cons,” says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Jamie Nadeau.

“Advocates of the Lion Diet claim that it can improve overall health, increase energy levels, and help with weight loss. They argue that humans are carnivorous by nature and that the consumption of animal products is essential for optimal health,” provides Registered Dietician and Nutritionist and cofounder of 120Life Susan Schachter, MSRDN. “However, there is currently little scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, some research suggests that a diet high in red meat may increase the risk of certain health problems, including heart disease and certain types of cancer.”


What Are the Risks of the Lion Diet?


As Nadeau places it, consuming solely meat units you up for main vitamin deficiencies. For instance, you’ll be lacking out on fiber, which has been proven to advertise a wholesome intestine, decrease levels of cholesterol, preserve blood sugar steady, and reduce your threat of illness. “A diet without fiber is simply not a good idea. Eliminating fruits, veggies, legumes and whole grains also cuts out tons of disease-fighting micronutrients and antioxidants from your diet,” says Nadeau.

Schachter agrees: “Excluding fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods from the diet may lead to nutrient deficiencies, such as vitamins C and K, fiber, and phytonutrients.”

There’s additionally the truth that the Lion Diet is extremely restrictive. “Most people are not going to be happy eating nothing but meat all day, which makes it totally unsustainable,” provides Nadeau. Extreme diets can backfire and result in cycles of restriction and overeating that make you are feeling out-of-control round meals.


Should You Adopt the Lion Diet?


Perhaps you’re tempted to attempt the food plan out for your self no matter how drastic it’s. Those TikTookay movies may be fairly convincing. That being mentioned, you must nonetheless preserve the truth that there’s not a lot analysis to again the advantages of the Lion Diet in thoughts — and the potential dangers talked about above.

If you wish to enhance your well being, specializing in a extra balanced strategy is at all times a safer wager. “Instead of following something like this, I recommend focusing on a well-balanced diet with protein, healthy fats, and plenty of fiber from plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes,” says Nadeau. “As with any dietary trend, it’s important to approach the Lion Diet with caution and to consult with a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to your diet,” notes Schachter.

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