So, what exactly is the Lion Diet, and how does it work? Let's dive in and explore everything you need to know about this intriguing eating plan.
What is the Lion Diet?
The Lion Diet is a meat-based eating plan that focuses on eliminating most ingredients from your diet to identify potential food sensitivities. This diet, popularized by lifestyle blogger and podcast host Mikhaila Peterson, revolves around consuming only salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals like cows, sheep, and deer. By restricting your diet to these specific foods, the Lion Diet aims to help you identify and eliminate foods that may be causing inflammation and other health issues.
How Does It Work?
The premise of the Lion Diet is simple: eliminate all foods except salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals. By doing so, you remove potential triggers for inflammation and other health problems, allowing your body to heal and recover. Once your symptoms subside, you can slowly reintroduce other foods to pinpoint which ones may be causing issues for you.
Guidelines of the Lion Diet
If you're considering giving the Lion Diet a try, here are some guidelines to keep in mind:
Foods to Eat:
- Meat from ruminant animals such as beef, lamb, goat, bison, and deer.
- Salt
- Water
Foods to Avoid:
- Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, legumes, and dairy products.
- Meat from nonruminant animals, poultry, and seafood.
- Fats, beverages, and processed foods.
- Benefits of the Lion Diet
Will the Lion Diet help me lose weight?
Well, the Lion Diet isn't exactly designed to make you shed pounds, but if you stick to it for a while, you'll probably notice some weight loss.
Here's why: the Lion Diet cuts out a lot of foods, like snacks, sugary stuff, and processed foods, which are often packed with calories. Plus, the meat you eat on this diet tends to be pretty low in calories.
For instance, a small piece of cooked bison ribeye has about 150 calories, and the same amount of cooked beef flank has around 224 calories.
But here's the catch: the diet might not give you enough calories to keep you going throughout the day. And if you don't get enough calories, your metabolism can slow down, and your hunger and appetite hormones might get out of whack, making it more likely for you to gain weight back later on.
Here are the steps to follow for the Lion Diet:
1. Understanding the Basics: Familiarize yourself with the core principles of the Lion Diet. This includes knowing that you will primarily be consuming meat from ruminant animals like cows, deer, moose, and sheep, along with salt and water. Remember, this diet is highly restrictive, so be prepared to eliminate most other foods from your meals.
2. Start with the Elimination Phase: For the initial three months, strictly adhere to the Lion Diet's guidelines. Focus solely on consuming ruminant meat, salt, and water. This phase is crucial for allowing your body to adapt to the new eating plan and for identifying any potential food sensitivities.
3. Reintroduction Phase: After completing the three-month elimination phase, you can gradually reintroduce certain foods back into your diet. Begin by incorporating foods like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and honey. Then, gradually introduce peeled and cooked-in-broth fruits and vegetables such as apples, pears, carrots, parsnips, beets, and turnips. You can also include coconut, duck, and pasture-raised chicken at this stage. Take note of how your body reacts to each food reintroduction and adjust accordingly.
4. Consideration for Transitioning: If transitioning directly into the Lion Diet feels too abrupt, you have the option to ease into it gradually. Start by eliminating grains, dairy, soy, and legumes from your diet over a two-month period. Once you've completed this transition, assess whether the Lion Diet is still necessary for your health goals. If so, proceed with the elimination and reintroduction phases as outlined above.
5. Monitor Your Progress: Throughout the entire process, keep track of your progress and any changes in your health or well-being. Maintain a food diary to record what you eat and how you feel afterward. This will help you identify any patterns or triggers and make informed decisions about your diet.
6. Consult with a Healthcare Professional: Before starting the Lion Diet or making any significant changes to your eating habits, it's essential to consult with a healthcare professional. They can provide personalized guidance based on your individual health needs and ensure that you're approaching the diet safely and responsibly.
By following these steps and staying committed to the process, you can effectively implement the Lion Diet and potentially reap its benefits for your health and well-being.
Here are some tips to help you succeed with the Lion Diet:
- Clear out unwanted food: Get rid of the foods you're not supposed to eat from your house to avoid tempting cravings like sweets, pasta, junkfood etc.
- Don't worry about eating too much: It's not as easy to overeat on this diet as you might think, so don't stress about it.
- Stock up on electrolytes: Your body might need extra sodium, potassium, and magnesium when you first start the diet. You can buy pure powders online and mix them yourself. (example: Ultima Replenisher Daily Electrolyte Drink Mix)
- Avoid eating out initially: For the first few weeks, stick to preparing your meals at home so you have full control over what you're eating. When you do start eating out again, choose steakhouses and ask for just meat.
- Consider histamine intolerance: Some people with gut issues also have trouble with histamine intolerance. You can try taking an enzyme before meals to help your body break down histamine in foods. Fresh, unaged meat may also be better for you. And don't forget to check for water damage in your environment, as it can contribute to histamine issues.
- Check for mold and water damage: Once you've started the diet and are feeling some relief, check your home for water damage and mold. It's essential to make sure your environment isn't making you sick. Consider doing a thorough clean and investing in air purifiers to improve air quality. (Check out some Best-selling Purifiers on Amazon)
- Monitor your symptoms: Keep track of how you're feeling every day in a diary. Wait until you start feeling better before slowly reintroducing foods back into your diet.
Is the Lion Diet Supported by Science?
In 2020, a group of scientists at Harvard University took a close look at the carnivore diet, which is similar to the Lion Diet. They wanted to see if there was any evidence to back up its claims.
This study was a big deal because it was the first time such a study had been done on this kind of diet. They talked to over 2,000 people who were following the carnivore diet and asked them questions about their experiences.
The results of the study were published in a scientific journal called Current Developments in Nutrition in November 2021.
This study is the most extensive one done so far on the Lion Diet. It involved 2,029 people who had been following the diet for at least six months.
The researchers, Dr. Belinda Lennerz and Dr. David Ludwig, found something interesting. They expected to see some negative effects from following such a strict diet, but instead, they found that most people reported feeling better and were happy with their health.
In other words, this study suggests that the Lion Diet might actually have some health benefits, according to the people who tried it.
While the Lion Diet may seem extreme, many followers have reported numerous benefits, including:
- Decreased inflammation
- Improved mood
- Relief from issues like headaches, insomnia, and allergies
- Increased energy levels
- Better mental health
- Symptom relief for digestive and autoimmune conditions
Pros and Cons of the Lion Diet
Pros:
- Potential for Weight Loss: By eliminating most food groups, the Lion Diet may lead to weight loss.
- Identification of Food Sensitivities: The diet allows you to identify which foods may be causing health issues.
- Improved Overall Health: Many followers report improvements in various aspects of their health, including inflammation and mood disorders.
Cons:
- Nutritional Deficiencies: The diet is extremely restrictive and may lack essential nutrients.
- High in Saturated Fat: Since the diet consists mainly of meat, it can be high in saturated fat, which may not be ideal for heart health.
- Unsustainability: Following the Lion Diet long-term may be challenging and unsustainable due to its restrictive nature.
Is the Lion Diet Safe?
While the Lion Diet has its proponents, it's essential to approach it with caution. Consulting with a healthcare professional before starting any new diet plan is always advisable, especially one as restrictive as this. Additionally, the diet may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with certain health conditions or dietary restrictions.
The Lion Diet offers a unique approach to weight loss and health improvement by focusing on eliminating potential food triggers. While it may not be suitable for everyone, some individuals may find success with this meat-based eating plan. However, it's essential to weigh the potential benefits against the risks and consider consulting with a healthcare professional before making any significant dietary changes.
Whether you're intrigued by the idea of the Lion Diet or prefer to explore other options, remember that finding the right eating plan for you is a personal journey. Listen to your body, seek guidance when needed, and make choices that support your overall health and well-being.
On their website they also recommended things that you need to purchase for this diet:
Instant Pot - for making Instant Pot Beef Pot Roast. Cheaper option here: Proctor-Silex Simplicity 4-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
Dehydrator - for making your own beef jerky this is a great way to get a quick shot of protein and is also so much better than the store bought jerky. Cheaper option: COSORI Food Dehydrator Machine for Jerky
Soda Stream - instead of driking softdrinks that contains tons of sugar or diet sodas with artificial sweetener, it best to drink carbonated water. Cheaper option: Rollibot Sparkling Water Maker Soda Maker
Ninja Air Fryer - this is great for making quick air-fried steak. Cheaper option: BELLA 2 qt Manual Air Fryer Oven and 5-in-1 Multicooker
Chef's Knife 8" - a good knife for cutting and slicing steak. Cheaper option: Amazon Aware Classic 8-inch Chef’s Knife
Redmond Salt - If you've been curious about the carnivore diet, you've probably heard of Redmond Real Salt. On a carnivore diet, you cut out most processed foods that have lots of sodium. But your body still needs sodium to stay healthy and energized. That's where Real Salt comes in. It's 100% natural and comes from mines in the USA. This salt is pure, just like nature intended, with no added or removed ingredients. Packed with over 60 trace minerals, Real Salt is the real deal. And it doesn't just add flavor to your food - it enhances it, making every bite delicious.
Keto Mojo - the Keto Mojo system is super helpful for people on a keto diet. It helps you check your ketone levels and adjust your diet to stay on track.
Air Purifier - Along with following the lion diet, you must also ensure that you're not breathing in mold or biotoxins from the air. It's important to address this issue at the same time. A good starting point is to clean your environment. The Toxin Absorber Filter targets smog, toxins, and VOCs, while the Smoke Remover filter focuses on wildfire smoke and other pollutants. Cheaper option: AROEVE Air Purifiers for Home
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