The Lion’s Diet

Dr Jacquie, Arizona Naturopath, Scottsdale naturopath, Carefree naturopath, Cave creek naturopath, Glendale naturopath, Gilbert naturopath, Naturopathic medicine, Natural medicine, House calls

Warning: If you are not already one of my patients whom I have cleared to start the Lion Diet, you must be checked out by your doctor before embarking on any ketogenic diet.

What is the Lion’s Diet?

The Lion’s Diet eliminates all foods except salt, water and meat from ruminant animals. These foods are beef, buffalo, lamb, goat, venison, elk (these wild game must not be farmed animals). No coffee or dairy is allowed once you are fully into the diet for people who are truly troubled by autoimmunity, Reference: https://liondiet.com/  (see comments in Transition recipes below).

You eat what a Lion eats: Grass feeding flesh. You can enjoy roasts, ribeye, chops and steaks, and can be cooked medium rare or to your liking. Roast cooking varies depending on the cuts and some can be quickly made in a pressure cooker. Beef chips, Meat Jerky, Beef Gelatin Recipes are below.

Its merits are that you achieve more energy, mental clarity, heal your gut and restore your immune system. There is no more bloating, your tummy becomes flat. Because this eating pattern is completely lectin free, your immune system can rest and heal. Leaky gut can heal on the lion’ diet because there are no irritating lectins and the supply of glutamate from meat is a natural healing substance for the gut. Meat predominant diets starve the Firmicutes bacteria and nourish the Bacteroides bacteria which is more favorable for gut health.

Your daily intake must be high in fat at least 40% in order to feed the Krebs Cycle where electrons are produced for the production of ATP, the energy molecule. Fat will replace carbohydrates for this vital function. This is commonly known as ketogenesis. The ability to trigger fat burning to produce ketosis relies on an ample supply of fat to prevent the preferential breakdown of system proteins when there is the lack of glucose from carbohydrates. The Krebs Cycle, aka TCA Cycle  takes fatty acids from digested fats to produce energy for cells. Incidentally, babies and young infant brains develop best during ketosis. Providing optimal fat from a carnivore or the lion diet prevents protein poisoning from metabolic breakdown of protein to make glucose in starvation and extreme trauma, that is, an elevated blood urea nitrogen which can damage the kidneys.

Specifically, you must replace all the calories your body needs to function and consume the optimal water intake your body needs to function with these foods.

There is no calorie counting necessary during the Lion’s Diet, once you have a good idea what your minimum intake of calories looks like. In fact, in the beginning, you may need to eat meat or gelatin snacks throughout the day to maintain your caloric and protein and fat intake. Fried precooked beef slices make yummy crunchy chips and beef gelatin can provide additional water content and a refreshing change in mouth-feel after multiple beef, lamb, or venison meals.

NOTE: It is imperative to discover whether you are eating enough calories and not restricting fat intake for this to be a safe diet to embark on. Use an app to initially and periodically assess your calorie and fat count.

Watch for my post on the research and physiology and anatomy as well as a summary of how this diet came about and the healthful aspects of using the Lion’s diet, because this information is so important to my patients.

My Testimonials

After 2 weeks: Already into my second week, I am experiencing much needed weight loss of the last 15 pounds, success reducing thyroid medication, feeling greatly sustained energy especially during my workouts, mental clarity and deep sleep, my skin is smooth, all the tiny red dots (cherry angiomas), the dry skin and dry hard skin surrounding the hair follicles on my upper arms, have disappeared and my recent varicosities on my legs are disappearing.

After 1 month: Started having more muscle cramps: began supplementing Magnesium complex. Already taking Seeking Health brand Trace Mineral Complex.

After 2 months my weight went from 142 to 136 lbs. No muscle or joint aches. No “hangry” moments. Added potassium and Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 and K2 supplements.

After 4 months my weight is now 131lbs. Supplement requirements to sustain bones now added about 300 mg Calcium. Having no problems with daily I chose to use pastured raw milk.

I plan to retest my serum labs and CBC in April to evaluate my progress.

NOTE: My testimony is not a cart blanch endorsement to start the Lion Diet without medical supervision, or a guarantee of the listed benefits.

Once your body shifts to ketosis weight begins to come off. It can take days to weeks to a couple of months for the body to primarily rely on fat consumption for its energy source. Ketosis takes 2-4 days for mitochondria to make energy from fatty acids, the product of which is ketones. There is an immediate feeling of improved wellbeing, more restful sleep, and an immediate reduction in joint and muscular pain.

Beginning the Lion Diet should not be a sudden absolute removal of all carbs. Shifting to immediate body fat and weight loss can dump the toxins that have been contained in your fat for years. You can have flu-like symptoms, feel intoxication similar to a hangover, have extreme drug and food cravings, behavior changes.  It is best to eliminate non lion diet foods by finishing what is left in your pantry and refrigerator and try not to buy them again. Beginning the Lion Diet should be a gradual elimination diet.

When you have satisfied your need to use the Lion Diet, (optimal weight loss/gain, building lean muscle and bone mass, elimination of symptoms from free radical lectins, dysbiosis, brain fog, sleep disturbance, mood swings, skin lesions etc or you want to quit this diet), you ease back into former foods from your previous diet by consuming 30-50 calories per day of any food you were eating before, but preferably greens, and berries first, very low lectin foods with the focus on using traditional food preparations that naturally eliminates lectins or washes out oxalates. See transition recipes below. Currently only suggestions, no pictures or recipes yet. Consult this website: https://liondiet.com/

Lion Diet FAQs:

Here are some answers to concerns from my patients:

Keep in mind that meat feeds the good bacteria called Bacteroides so there is no need for probiotics.

If you have already achieved ketosis, most people may begin to have fat reflux or fatigue or cravings in the second week and during that week may not see any weight loss, but all of these problems resolve by the 3rd week.

What I have done with the gelatin is either use Black Cherry Tea from Celestial Seasons for the hot water or simply added a few blue berries to the beef gelatin mix to give it some flavor

The fiber is not important because the amount of bile production stimulates elimination so there is no stool retention. Additionally, your body uses up 90% of the volume you eat and your fecal elimination is very small but very smooth. It’s the fiber from plants and carbs that the bad bacteria feed on.

If you start having orthostatic hypotension. Check with the butcher to see if they are gassing the meat with nitric oxide to keep it red.
You can switch up eating beef to bison, lamb, venison that is not gassed and usually not aged.

Histamine can be a problem for people with allergies, aged beef does contain a fair amount of histamine. You can switch up eating beef which is aged, to bison, lamb, venison that is not gassed.

Your mineral needs may increase, drinking alkaline water or increase your sea salt content in cooking and eating as well as taking the Trace Minerals Complex. (see link below)

Ox bile 125: https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Health-Digestive-Supplement-Capsules/dp/B01BLTRTAM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=UD1IKOD4LR85&keywords=seeking+health+ox+bile+125&qid=1697993788&sprefix=bile+ox+seeki%2Caps%2C209&sr=8-5

Wobenzym N: https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Joint-Support-Supplement/dp/B0015G3IZM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3M7CRRRJ6N30U&keywords=wobenzym+n&qid=1697993855&sprefix=wobenzym%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Grass-fed beef gelatin: https://www.amazon.com/Naturals-Grass-Fed-Friendly-Unflavored-Supplement/dp/B01M2A5BL2/ref=sr_1_5_pp?crid=LW7JA9JJOCQP&keywords=grass+fed+beef+gelatin&qid=1697993936&sprefix=grass+fed+be%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-5

Histamine BlocK —> Histamine Digest: https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Health-Supplement-Intolerance-Supplements/dp/B07JGW1DCR/ref=sr_1_5?crid=5N8BN5NTX476&keywords=histamine+digest+seeking+health&qid=1697994024&sprefix=histamine+d%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-5

Trace Minerals Complex: https://www.amazon.com/Seeking-Health-Supplement-Horsetail-Vegetarian/dp/B004JGTKX4/ref=sr_1_5_pp?crid=GUQB2UM5M810&keywords=trace+mineral+complex+seeking+health&qid=1697994175&sprefix=trace+mineral+complex+seeking+health%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-5

Magnesium Complex: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8JBK1B1?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_Z665HVEXGK9EZZXVPX81&language=en-US

Potassium Chloride powder: https://www.amazon.com/BulkSupplements-Potassium-Chloride-Powder-Kilogram/dp/B00ENS39XK/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2HRXA8PODB2HG&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5GfC1AhHhLAr3kjiGHVn1DXtKygvuyTjFG5-zv2OyIjBF0fbnO7qC1C4HctUtKlc5qy_8VZUcjbHQUFtV30534GOm6kGG6WDDWIfCb81DdE8mD7siRpi4M0jW801u0asF9WYrE8LzLbb_wQ-3W9Ak2guDQL6eQEPreMaR-Qlu4ncFAkJLXtveZe_qhdhxwmFgYAHwt51qs0qSEbRZx5B5yguh7bXi2AJ8a5QB1PTkQNbJ481TSoOO7bD1PQDvvBSjRz4AnE19_tNRMwJ1_-sYn3lGThe7mjWQBpbDhzoJR4.8JU6dC9xy0seTZMWX2Bc-jatQvM38hmb_X48BbKh0ys&dib_tag=se&keywords=potassium+chloride+bulk+powder&qid=1708893382&rdc=1&s=hpc&sprefix=potassium+chloride+bulk+pow%2Chpc%2C1907&sr=1-4

It is known that the brain prefers ketosis because it sustains a steady stream of fatty to make the ATP for the brain cells via both, the TCA cycle and the electron transport chain which makes ATP,

Your body can function well for months in this kind of ketosis. However, the Lion’s diet or any 100% carnivore diet is not considered by some of the experts,”sustainable” long term and likely can lead to nutrient deficiencies of trace minerals and macro minerals  especially calcium, magnesium and potassium and sodium, Vitamin C, Vitamin D and K. Signs of these deficiencies is light-headed, dizziness, prone to infection. Never wait until you have osteoporosis or a vitamin D level less than 100-150 ng/dL. Never take Vitamin D without K2 as M7. If you are restricting milk you need to double your RDA for Calcium to 1200 mg per day.

Test your serum  levels for vitamins, RBCMg, etc,  CBC, Chemistries, including lipids and thyroid panels tested every 3-6 months to be certain you are ok. Organic acid tests, from MosaicDx’s, (formerly Great Plains Lab), the OAT and Mycotox Tests are best for determining any load of mold, candida or clostridia as well as a more accurate measure of vitamins. Note: Serum vitamin level values during supplementation are a fallacy.

Lion’s Diet Recipes:

Cook your steaks, burgers, chops to your liking but the only seasoning is salt and for leaner more tender roasts may not contain enough fat for your meal so these need to be cooked in fat a second time as in fried beef chips.

Baked Tri-Tip makes Yummy beef chips. The trick to being able to chew tougher pieces of meat is to slice perpendicular (across) the grain. Fry thin slices from a roast or shredded beef to make tasty crunchy chips.

Histamine Issues:

Beef is an aged meat that is histamine producing. So if you already have allergies you will need to consume bison (buffalo) and lamb and fresh venison or elk. Most people who already have allergies and have been eating beef before starting this diet can have the non-aged meats every other day to reduce the histamine load.

Constipation/Diarrhea Issues:

Consider that there may be fecal back up or impaction on the colon wall higher up the GI tract even though you are having regular daily stools. Increase steak fat to soften stool. Increase rendered fat to solidify stool. Ascertain an optimal water intake. If you have had prior backup constipation issues, consult your physician for the best colon cleansing tea. I like Chiro-Klenz-Original. Hard to find.

Ninety percent of the mass eaten during the all protein/fat Lion diet is entirely digested and absorbed which substantially reduces the size of stool evacuation. The lack the bulk due to carbs and fiber contribute to the size and water content of stool. But you must be sure that you are continuing to eat a lot of fat and be well hydrated throughout the day.

What Dr Jacquie at Carefree Regen Medical has found. The most common nutrient deficiencies are due to an inadequate supply of sea salt and some of the vital minerals to run your detox pathways. And a lack of dietary iodine. Cooking with salt is a flavor enhancer. Use enough salt in your cooking to make the meat tasty. Supplement with a  good multimineral. During house calls to Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Glendale and Gilbert I teach my preferred supplements such as the Seeking Health brand, Trace Mineral Complex. Not the Trace Mineral Complex II.  Most all the B vitamins are supplied by the meat. You can add a good B-Complex if you like. Vitamin C should be supplemented daily.

NOTE: If you are salt restricted due to Kidney hypertension you cannot do this diet. Consult your doctor on this matter.

Transition Eating & Recipes:

You can gradually wean your self off your current diet by replacing with the highest quality of your foods (raw milk and high fat cheese, Weaning off caffeine is a special consideration, and may not be necessary;  the process is listed below.

Start relegating all poultry and dairy products to family members or start this diet just before you are ready to go food shopping and put 30-50 calories of what is left as an end of day snack. You will begin to notice that your tummy doesn’t feel as good when you eat these. Start beef gelatin right away; start with flavored gelatin.

You can sustain the required high fat intake by frying the leaner cuts of meat in Tallow (beef fat). You can ask for fat scraps from the butcher and add that to the fryer. For ease and a cleaner cook top, an air fryer is very helpful but not imperative. The InstaPot is another kitchen cooker that can allow you to pressure cook, or so cook the tougher pieces of meat. Baking various cuts of meat using a meat thermometer and an appropriate recipe for the cut of meat, seasoning with plenty of salt makes delicious tasty servings.

Switch to cow cream with your coffee

Caffeine elimination:  wean slowly to avoid withdrawal headaches or fatigue

Baked Tri-Tip Roast

Non Lion Diet Lectin blocking foods: okra, crustaceans, bladderwrack (seaweed), cranberries and kiwifruit.

Non-Lion Diet Foods using Lectin destroying cooking: pressure cooking, traditional grain and bean preparation: presoaking, preaching, sprouting plus sourdough making.

Dr Jacquie, Arizona Naturopath, Scottsdale naturopath, Carefree naturopath, Cave creek naturopath, Glendale naturopath, Gilbert naturopath, Naturopathic medicine, Natural medicine, House calls