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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
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Natasha May

A meaty topic: what is the carnivore diet and why do so many influencers seem to swear by it?

Composite showing a woman biting into a raw steak and a block of butter on a dish
Let’s not mince words: a carnivore diet as promoted by some online influencers may lead to vitamin deficiencies or gastrointestinal issues due to lack of fibre. Composite: Guardian Australia

Ex-vegan turned carnivore Isabella Ma, better known to her nearly half a million followers on Instagram as @steakandbuttergal, has glowing skin and a flat stomach. She looks directly at the camera as she chomps down on an entire stick of butter. It’s part of her “high fat carnivore diet” to which she attributes a whole host of health benefits, not least of which is the claim she “literally never fart[s] any more” and has a single “scentless” bowel movement a week.

A lot of gym bros also back the diet touted for helping people lose weight and build muscle, such as Antonio Angotti, who says the fat in red meat “includes almost every nutrient humans need to thrive” and invokes religion as part of his dietary choices, saying he eats “just foods God will actually bless”. It’s also been platformed by Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson.

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