This diet has taken social media by storm because of the overly simplified, one-food group nature of the diet. Proponents of the diet claim to have observed improvement in various aspects of their health and lifestyle. But can this exceptionally confining diet actually have transformative benefits for your health? In this article, we explore this unique diet and its functions in further detail. Keep reading to know more.
What Is The Lion Diet?
The lion diet is a restrictive diet that only allows the consumption of meat from ruminant animals, salt, and water. As its name is inspired by the eating habits of lions, earlier variations of this diet focussed on specific cuts of meat for better health benefits. The diet strongly emphasizes eliminating multiple food groups from everyday diets in order to determine potential food sensitivities. It is also roughly based on the premise that earlier human ancestors relied primarily on meat for their sustenance, hence, it might be the most naturally suitable food type for humans. Several anecdotal observations claim that this diet can provide multiple health benefits, including improvement in autoimmune conditionsi Conditions where a weakened or faulty immune system accidentally attacks the healthy cells in the body. , mental health, weight loss, and gastrointestinal functions. However, the lion diet can lead to potential nutrient deficiencies, depriving the body of essential nourishment, and possibly result in negative health implications in the long run. Hence, it is best to approach this diet well-informed and with a properly assessed plan. Now that we know what the diet is all about, let us see how it works for our well-being.
How Does The Lion Diet Work?
As mentioned above, when on the lion diet, you can only consume salt, water, and meat from ruminant animals like goat, beef, bison, or deer. The emphasis on ruminant animals ensures carbohydrate-free and nutrient-dense meal consumption in the absence of core nutrient food groups in the diet. Ruminant meati Meat from hoofed herbivorous animals that get their primary nutrition from plant-based food, therefore providing a comparatively better nutrient profile. is a rich source of premium-quality proteins, B vitamins, and trace minerals. It also has healthy cis-monounsaturated fatty acids which are believed to compensate for omega-3 fatty acids in populations with limited fish consumption (1). The main objective of this diet is to identify food sensitivities as it lacks plant-based foods that are common sources of allergens. There is no official timeline to determine the ideal duration of this diet. Once all allergens and irritants have been dropped from the diet, it may take several weeks to notice visible improvements in health conditions. At that point, all excluded food items may slowly and gradually be added back to the diet to monitor what acts as a trigger for the symptoms. However, there are no hard and fast rules and this diet can be customized per individual preferences and needs, as the strictest version of this diet was tailored to suit Mikhaila’s special health conditions. Let us now take a look at what may be some potential benefits of the lion diet.
Benefits Of The Lion Diet
The lion diet is believed to provide a host of benefits for people with food sensitivities. Now that we know how the diet may help improve certain aspects of our health, let us explore what we can and cannot eat as part of the diet.
Lion Diet Food List
The Lion Diet food list is pretty simple owing to its exceptionally restrictive nature. You may consume only the following –
Meat from ruminant animals (goat, sheep, beef, bison, deer) Salt Water
Anything that is not on the above-mentioned list is off the table, including beverages. However, some variations of the diet allow the consumption of poultry, certain dairy products, and seasoning for flavor. This diet is convenient and easy to plan and follow since it eliminates multiple food groups. Take a look at the sample meal plan in the next section.
How To Follow The Lion Diet Meal Plan
Your lion diet meal plan can include three full meals and a snack meal. Consider the options in the table (select one of the given options for each meal) to plan your diet. Note: The quantities are a basic estimate. On average, followers of the lion diet recommend consuming up to 680 grams (1.5 lbs) of meat for women, and 1133 grams (2.5 lbs) for men. Let us now discuss if you should follow this diet for shedding a few kilos.
Is The Lion Diet Good For Weight Loss?
The lion diet is not intended for weight loss. However, following it for a prolonged period may lead to loss of weight. The diet excludes high-calorie foods like sugary desserts, deep-fried snacks, fatty cheese, and most processed foods, thereby leading to potential weight loss. However, this diet also deprives the body of the required daily calorie intake, making it difficult to maintain weight loss in the long term (7). Additionally, cutting down too heavily on calories can slow your metabolism significantly and also impact hunger-related hormones, leading to a diet relapsei An episode triggered by diet restrictions where one returns to previous unhealthy eating habits that may lead to significant weight gain. that increases the chances of weight regain after the diet. There are not a lot of things that you need to keep in mind while buying ingredients for the lion diet, but we have prepared a list of items along with the quantity for your ease in the following section.
Shopping List For Lion Diet
Owing to this diet’s restrictive nature, the lion diet shopping list is conveniently small. Here is a weekly shopping list: The lion diet is super simplified and does lack variety. But easy-to-cook recipes may make the ordeal convenient. Check out the following recipes and experiment with tolerable food groups for wholesome lion diet meals.
Lion Diet Recipes
Ruminant meats with limited seasonings are fairly easy and quick to cook. Try the following recipes and include them in your lion diet meal plan.
1. Pan-Seared Ribeye Steak
Ingredients
1 ribeye steak Salt and pepper to taste
Prep Time: 10 minutes How To Prepare
2. Salt And Pepper Lamb Chops
Ingredients
4 lamb chops Salt and pepper to taste
Prep Time: 10 minutes How To Prepare
3. Stir-Fried Ground Beef
Ingredients
½ pound ground beef Salt and pepper to taste
Prep Time: 15 minutes How To Prepare
4. Ribeye Steak Salad (For Those Without Vegetable Allergies)
Ingredients
1 ribeye steak (cow or bison) Salt and pepper to taste A cup of mixed greens (like spinach, mustard greens, lettuce, etc.)
Prep Time: 20 minutes How To Prepare This diet can certainly alleviate food allergy symptoms if the specific allergen responsible for it is avoided. However, removing whole food groups from your diet can have potential side effects on your body. Let’s learn more about the negative health implications of the lion diet.
Side Effects Of The Lion Diet
As the diet largely lacks necessary nutrients and calorie intake, there are several side effects associated with it. What is the difference between the lion diet and the carnivore diet? Both Lion and Carnivore diets are restrictive meat-based diets. However, the Lion diet is much more restrictive, as it only allows the consumption of ruminant meat, salt, and water, excluding all other types of meat and animal-based foods generally used in different Carnivore diet recipes. How long does the lion diet take to work? The results of the Lion diet may vary depending on the individual and their special health conditions and food sensitivities. It may take several weeks to notice a visible reduction in food allergy symptoms. Can you drink alcohol on the lion diet? No. The Lion diet does not allow any drinks or beverages except water. The less strict versions of the diet also discourage drinking alcohol due to its negative impact on health. It adds carbs and calories that the diet is trying to avoid and it may also lead to dehydration as it is a diuretic. Can you have coffee on the lion diet? No. As any fluids besides water are not allowed on the Lion diet, coffee is also excluded. Additionally, consuming coffee while on the Lion diet may lead to dehydration as it is a diuretic and it may also cause potential allergies due to its caffeine and other bioactive content. Can you use spices in a lion diet? There are variations of the Lion diet that allow the use of spices and diverse seasonings in the meals. The idea behind their exclusion is that they may be potential allergens, triggering food sensitivities. Therefore, as long as you are not allergic to the spices, you may use them in moderation while on the lion diet.
Illustration: Lion Diet Guide: Benefits Meal Plan And Side Effects
The viral lion diet seems to have many benefits but this ultra-restrictive diet is not easy. Check out the following video for a reviewer’s experience of being on the diet for 72 hours.
