Joe Rogan has admitted he endured diarrhoea so severe it felt like being trapped in a’ fire that appeared from nowhere’ after taking up the trendy carnivore diet.
Social media sites are awash with accounts hyping the eating plan, which sees proponents ditch carbs for animal-based foods like steak, eggs and butter, claiming a range of benefits, including weight-loss.
But diets high in red meat have been linked to multiple health problems including heart disease and cancer.
Experts have also warned that carnivore diet proponents are at higher risk of conditions like scurvy and even cancer due to its lack of vitamin C and fibre.
But the podcaster, who described his grim ordeal online, said diarrhoea was ‘really the only one ‘bad thing’ about the trend.
‘I’ve come to accept that if I keep going with this diet it’s just a matter of time before we lose a battle and I fill my undies like a rainforest mudslide’, he said.
In a post on Instagram that has resurfaced this week, the 57-year-old said he took on the diet in early 2020 in an effort to shed weight after discovering he tipped the scales at 205 pounds (14.6st).
He added: ‘So I did the carnivore diet for all of January, I lost 12 pounds, gained a tonne of energy — my energy levels were completely flat the whole month, no ups and downs from crashing after eating.
Joe Rogan has admitted he endured diarrhoea so severe it felt like being trapped in a’ fire that appeared from nowhere’ after taking up the trendy carnivore diet
The NHS says meat is a good source of protein which the body needs to maintain and build muscle, and can also provide a good source of vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc and B vitamins
‘I lost all my fat, I lost the belly, I lost my love handles. I don’t know if I’m gonna keep eating like this but it was tremendously beneficial.
‘I went into this thing thinking this carnivore diet was wacky and probably thought it was nonsense, but this is as good as I’ve felt in a long time and it’s just one month.
‘There’s really only one ‘bad’ thing, and that thing is diarrhoea.’
He said: ‘It’s a different thing, and with regular diarrhoea I would compare it to a fire you see coming a block or two away and you have the time to make an escape.
‘This carnivore diet is like out of nowhere the fire is coming through the cracks, your doorknob is red hot, and all hope is lost.’
‘I haven’t s*** my pants yet, but I’ve come to accept that if I keep going with this diet it’s just a matter of time before we lose a battle, and I fill my undies like a rainforest mudslide overtaking a mountain road.’
Proponents of the diet have long warned of diarrhoea as a potential short term side effect.
Limited research has suggested this may occur because a shift to a high fat, high protein diet increases the level of bacteria in the gut that produce lactic acid, which disrupts your digestive system.
In a post on Instagram, that has resurfaced this week, the podcaster said he took the diet on in early 2020 in an effort to shed the pounds after weighing in at 205 pounds (14.6st)
Health professionals have long advised Brits consult with a doctor if diarrhea doesn’t improve within one to two days or is accompanied by other symptoms.
These could include a high fever, severe stomach pain, black or bloody stools or excessive thirst, which may be a sign of dehydration.
The NHS also recommends a bland diet as a remedy for digestive issues, given it is thought to help calm the digestive tract and reduce symptoms of stomach upset.
Interest in the carnivore diet has soared in recent years, with clips on the subject reaching over 1billion views on TikTok.
But so have studies warning of the potential hazards.
One 2023 study found people who eat just two servings of meat per week are at an increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
The Harvard University research, which was based on data from over 200,000 people who were followed almost 40 years, found those who ate the most red meat had a 62 percent higher risk compared to those eating the least.
And British research from Oxford University on 1.4million people found higher consumption of red meat increased the risk of heart disease by 18 percent for each additional 50 grams (roughly a quarter of an average-sized steak) eaten per day.
Brian Johnson, better known as the Liver King, has built a following from his raw carnivore diet, mainly filled with meat
Health experts have also warned that people who limit their diet to meat could be at increased risk of cancer due to the lack of fibre.
Fibre, also called roughage, is a term for carbohydrates found naturally in plants that we can’t easily digest.
Instead, it passes to the lower parts of the digestive system, helping bulk out stools and prevent constipation.
Not eating enough fibre is also a known risk factor for bowel cancer — a disease on the rise among young people.
Red meat and animal products like cheese and butter are also high in saturated fat, which can lead to plaque buildup in the arteries.
In the long term this makes the heart pump harder increasing the risk of heart attack and strokes.
However, some experts dispute some of findings of studies about the dangers of eating too much meat.
They highlight that a lot of research fails to distinguish between the impact of processed meat like sausages and burger patties, from less processed cuts like steak.
The NHS says meat is a good source of protein which the body needs to maintain and build muscle, and can also provide a good source of vitamins and minerals like iron, zinc and B vitamins.
However, it advises Brits to choose lean cuts and limit intake of red and processed meat to maximise the health benefits while minimising the negatives like high saturated fat content which can increase the risk of high cholesterol.
