The Red Meat, Salt, and Water Reset (aka the Lion Diet)
The red meat, sea salt, and water reset is a 30 day Carnivore elimination diet, also known as the Lion Diet, designed for troubleshooting food intolerances.
It is a very restrictive diet that includes only red meat, salt, and water. It is a type of ketogenic diet that features a high fat and protein content and very low carbohydrate content. The idea behind this diet is to identify food intolerances by eliminating all other foods from the diet.
The lion diet may be a way to treat chronic health conditions. This type of diet has been the subject of much research in recent years, with many people claiming it can help with autoimmunity, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, leaky gut, and stubborn health problems that would just not go away.
This elimination diet is not for everyone. You need to be committed to it and also have an understanding of what you are going through in order to see results. When you are done with this elimination diet, you will have an idea of which foods your body doesn't react well to; this way you can avoid these foods in the future.
The process of elimination and reintroduction
An elimination diet in general is a process that allows you to figure out which foods you are sensitive to. The process starts by removing all the common food sensitivities from your diet. In this particular case: all plants, dairy, processed foods, eggs, and all animal meats and fats other than beef.
After 30 days, you then reintroduce the eliminated foods back one at a time, every few days, and wait for a few days after testing to make sure of no delayed reaction. Starting with the foods least likely to trigger a reaction (like egg yolks or ground seed spices) and working your way up to the most inflammatory foods (like chilis or grains, if your goal is to ever reintroduce them), is a good rule of thumb.
Different preparations of beef and how you can prepare them
The lion is the king of the jungle, so it makes sense that this diet would be heavily centered around animal protein. There are many different cuts of beef you can enjoy on the lion diet. You can enjoy steak, ground meat and roast beef. You can also include organ meats in your diet such as liver, heart, or kidney.
You can use beef bones and sea salt to prepare a large pot of bone broth. For a burger patty, you only need to mix ground beef with sea salt, then shape this into patties before frying them in tallow.
For pan seared steak, you simply need to season it with salt before cooking it on both sides for about 3 minutes each side until it is cooked through. Roast beef is made by slicing the meat into thin slices before cooking on a rack over an open fire or in an oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for around 45-60 minutes.
Finally, Lion Diet-friendly beef tartare is made by grating raw beef tenderloin then mixing it with salt. And don’t forget to enjoy your offal as well! All the organ meats of the cow are game for the Lion Diet.
What kind of fat can I cook in?
Beef tallow is the only fat allowed on the lion diet since it comes from the cow. It is recommended to avoid butter and fruit oils like olive oil during the elimination trial.
Seed oils like canola or sunflower oil should be avoided for the long term because they are rancid, inflammatory, and high in omega-6 fatty acids.
Sea salt is an essential part of the Lion Diet
This is the only seasoning allowed for 30 days, since even bulb, seed, fruit-based, nightshade based spices, and the like can be culprits behind pesky heath road blocks. Sea salt brings out the flavor in your red meat, as well as may help to keep electrolytes balanced.
Avoid the most common type of salt, table salt, and instead choose high quality inland sea salts like Redmond Real Salt if possible. This particular brand offers different grinds from powdered to coarse to rock. There are also other types of salts like Celtic gray sea salt and Maldon large flake salt which you can try if you are feeling adventurous and looking for a change. You can also find liquid trace minerals that come in a jar or bottle with a dropper top.
Who should avoid a red meat, salt, & water reset?
This elimination diet is a restrictive and therapeutic diet that is only meant for the short term. This diet may not be for everyone, but if you are looking to troubleshoot some lingering health issues or break past fitness stalls, then it might be worth considering. Though there are some reasons why certain people may want to avoid this diet.
The lion elimination diet can be a tough adjustment for the body and mind. It can lead to worsening of pre-existing adrenal fatigue, hormone imbalance, and cortisol dysregulation because it removes all sources of carbohydrates from the diet. A lack of electrolytes in the lion elimination diet may worsen symptoms in those with existing mineral imbalance. Finally, there is always a risk of triggering a previously recovered eating disorder when you restrict food variety.
Medications and your doctor come first
The Lion Diet is a diet that tries to eliminate the most common food sensitivities. The idea behind this diet is that by eliminating these foods, you will be able to identify which one is causing your symptoms. Though it can be beneficial for many people, we are all quite unique in our health journeys, so there is always potential for risk with any dietary or lifestyle change.
Medications should never be stopped without first consulting with your prescriber. Talk to your competent practitioner before starting the lion elimination diet and confirm with them whether or not it's safe for you to do so.
Sources
https://www.doctorkiltz.com/lion-diet/