Pensacola, FL — A Florida man who says he spent decades dealing with severe psoriasis, chronic pain and depression believes an extreme meat-only diet gave him a new lease on life.
Stephen Lashbrook, 50, told Fox News Digital that his depression began when he was just 4 years old. As he grew older, he said chronic pain and sleeplessness added to his struggles, and he was diagnosed with psoriasis in his early 20s.
At one point, Lashbrook said, his psoriasis covered nearly his entire body.
“I was probably 90% covered in psoriasis,” Lashbrook said. “My body was just one big, giant, itchy, flaky scab.”
He said creams, steroids and other medications failed to provide the relief he was looking for. Doctors eventually recommended expensive long-term injections to control his inflammation, he said, leaving him feeling increasingly hopeless.
He discovered the “lion diet”
Lashbrook said his approach changed after he watched a TED Talk featuring Mikhaila Peterson, who has publicly discussed using a meat-only elimination diet to address her own health problems.
Inspired by the story, Lashbrook first removed sugar, grains, fruits and vegetables from his diet.
Then, on Jan. 1, 2024, he said he committed fully to what is commonly called the “lion diet,” an extremely restrictive form of carnivore eating centered on ruminant meat such as beef, buffalo, lamb and goat. Lashbrook said the changes he noticed came quickly.
Within about a week, he said his itching and suicidal thoughts stopped. Within a month, he said his skin began clearing and his pain had subsided.
“I haven’t had one suicidal thought. I haven’t had any depression. I haven’t had any pain,” he said. “All my skin issues cleared up.”
His diet now centers on beef
Lashbrook said his current menu is limited primarily to grass-fed ground beef and steak. He generally eats one meal each day, consuming roughly 1.5 to 2 pounds of high-fat ground beef, which he usually prepares in an air fryer.
“I feel like I’m reverse aging,” he said.
However, Lashbrook also acknowledged an important limitation to his story: He has not had follow-up blood work or visited a doctor since making the dietary change. His assessment is based largely on how he says he feels.
“Everyone’s different,” he said. “Not everybody needs to be on a lion diet. … I’m a very specific case.”
Doctors caution against treating his experience as medical evidence
Dr. Michael Aziz, a New York City-based internist and regenerative medicine specialist, told that some people may feel better after cutting sugar and ultra-processed foods, but that does not prove a carnivore diet treats psoriasis or other chronic conditions.
The American Academy of Dermatology similarly says there is no single diet that works for everyone with psoriasis and recommends a healthy, balanced diet. Its guidance notes that evidence for specific dietary approaches remains limited and advises people to speak with their dermatologist before making major dietary changes.
Aziz also raised concerns about the lack of fiber in carnivore-style diets.
That concern is consistent with broader dietary guidance from the American Heart Association, whose 2026 recommendations emphasize vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy protein sources and fiber as components of a heart-healthy eating pattern.
Carnivore diets continue to attract attention
Despite the medical uncertainty, meat-focused diets have gained significant attention online and in popular culture as people look for alternatives to highly processed foods.
Lashbrook’s story is another example of how individual experiences can fuel interest in restrictive diets, although one person’s improvement cannot establish that the same approach will work for others.
He is scheduled to share his experience this week at Carni-Con, a virtual event focused on carnivore diets running from Sept. 18–20 and featuring doctors, creators and diet advocates.
“The stories are what’s most important,” Lashbrook said.
“If people don’t hear that these healings are possible, they’re not going to know.”
What do you think about Lashbrook’s experience with the “lion diet”? Share your thoughts in the comments.
