Imagine stripping your diet down to its most primal form: only natural foods from animals and the earth. Two eating approaches that follow this principle are the Lion Diet and the carnivore diet. Both have attracted everyone from biohackers to those desperate for relief from chronic conditions. 

Think of these diets as cousins in the meat-only family, as both are zero-carb, high-protein eating approaches. 

These two diets embrace our ancestral roots as meat-eaters but with some distinct differences. If you're considering taking the plunge into all-animal territory, read on to discover what each of these diets involves and what sets them apart from one another.

What Is the Lion Diet?

The Lion Diet is an elimination diet that drastically simplifies food intake and focuses exclusively on ruminant meats (beef, lamb, goat), salt, and water.  It's essentially a completely plant-free, ketogenic diet that only includes certain types of meat.

The primary goal of the Lion Diet is to reduce inflammation and identify food sensitivities by eliminating potential dietary triggers. 

Advocates argue that it can help reset the body’s immune response and alleviate symptoms of certain chronic conditions. For example, the diet eliminates eggs, dairy, and even seafood, as these can potentially be hard for some people to digest.

What Is the Carnivore Diet?

The carnivore diet is slightly less restrictive than the Lion Diet. It encompasses all types of animal products, including all meats, organ meats, fish, poultry, eggs, and sometimes full-fat dairy, depending on someone's preferences and tolerance to different foods. 

The carnivore diet excludes all plant foods, including fruits and vegetables. It positions itself as a solution for those who are seeking to improve their digestion and reduce symptoms like bloating, indigestion, allergies, or autoimmune responses. And because the carnivore diet is a zero-carb diet, it puts someone into the metabolic state of ketosis, often leading to weight loss.

Overall, the diet is intended to improve someone's health through a zero-carb, high-protein diet that eliminates common food triggers and allergies.

Key Differences Between the Lion and Carnivore Diets

As mentioned above, these two diets have many things in common—especially the fact that they include no plant foods or carbohydrates. But, they're not exactly alike, so here are the key differences between the two:

1. Variety of Foods

The Lion Diet is more restrictive, limiting consumption to ruminant meats and excluding poultry, fish, and dairy, which are included in the carnivore diet. Ruminant animals include cows, bison, deer, moose, sheep (lamb), and goats.

The carnivore diet allows for foods like eggs, chicken, turkey, and fish, while the Lion's Diet does not.

Foods Allowed on the Lion Diet:

• Ruminant meats (such as beef, lamb, and goat)

• Salt

• Water

Foods Allowed on the Carnivore Diet:

• All types of meat (including poultry and fish)

• Eggs

• Animal fats (such as lard and tallow)

• Organ meats

• Limited dairy (such as butter and hard cheeses, depending on individual tolerance)

• Salt and pepper (some versions allow small amounts of other non-carb spices)

2. Health Objectives and Goals

Both diets aim to reduce inflammation and other health issues stemming from food sensitivities and digestive issues. The Lion Diet is specifically designed as an elimination diet to identify and remove dietary triggers.

The carnivore diet, which can also help to manage many digestive issues, is often followed for broader health benefits, including help with rapid weight loss due to the fact that it's filling and curbs hunger.  

3. Flexibility

The carnivore diet offers more flexibility in terms of food choices compared to the Lion Diet. 

This means that "going carnivore" (or following a modified carnivore diet) might make it more sustainable for some people over the long term compared to the highly restrictive Lion Diet, given that it keeps the door open for more variety (while still sticking with animal-only foods with no plants).

Which Diet Leads to Greater Health Benefits?

People following both diets have reported significant health benefits, including improved energy levels, weight loss, and reduction in inflammation and digestive issues. 

However, the Lion Diet’s more restrictive nature may lead to more noticeable improvements in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions due to its strict elimination approach. 

While the Lion Diet might be the best approach for someone primarily focused on limiting autoimmune responses, the carnivore diet has some advantages of its own. 

The inclusion of a broader range of animal-based nutrients in the carnivore diet could offer a more balanced nutrient intake. This may lead to a lower risk for nutrient deficiencies and can potentially support energy, muscle recovery and growth, and overall health somewhat better.

Potential Challenges and Side Effects

As you can see, the Lion Diet and carnivore diet can potentially contribute to a number of benefits, depending on the person. That said, there are some side effects to be aware of:

• Nutritional deficiencies: Both diets, being very restrictive, run the risk of nutritional deficiencies—such as low intake of vitamin C and fiber as well as other vitamins and minerals. However, these can often be mitigated with careful planning and possibly supplementation to bridge the gap in terms of nutrient intake. For instance, one study found that many people following a carnivore-type diet did not experience adverse effects due to deficiencies.

• Social and lifestyle considerations: The restrictive nature of these diets can make social engagements and dining out more challenging. Planning ahead and sticking with mostly meat and protein foods when eating out can help, although this aspect is a deal breaker for some people.

• Adaptation period: Some people following these diets experience symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or digestive changes as their bodies adapt to a high-protein, nearly zero-carb diet. These symptoms are nicknamed the "carnivore diet flu" or the "keto flu" and are due to the body adapting to a very low carb intake, which changes how the body uses energy.

If you're worried about experiencing side effects from the Lion or carnivore diets, you can consider following a more moderate low-carb diet instead, such as the ketovore diet. The ketovore diet is more permissive than the zero-carb carnivore diet, providing a middle ground for those seeking the benefits of a primarily animal-based diet without completely eliminating plant foods.

So, Which Diet Is Right for You?

Ultimately, choosing between the Lion Diet and the carnivore diet depends on your health goals, as well as your medical history and preferences. 

If you're dealing with severe autoimmune issues or food sensitivities, the Lion Diet might provide the clarity you need by strictly limiting dietary variables. If you're looking for a less restrictive form of eating that still reduces carbohydrate intake and potentially improves health markers, the carnivore diet might be a more suitable option.

Always consult with a healthcare provider to be sure your diet aligns with your needs and to plan appropriately to avoid nutritional deficiencies.