# The Lion Diet > A Healing Elimination Diet — eat only ruminant animal meat and salt to help the gut, body, and brain heal from leaky gut, autoimmune disease, mood disorders, and chronic illness. The Lion Diet is an elimination diet created and documented by Mikhaila Peterson. This site contains her personal experience, hundreds of in-depth FAQs, success stories, recipes, and curated peer-reviewed research supporting carnivore and ketogenic approaches for autoimmune, neurological, and metabolic disease. ## Start here - [Get Started](https://liondiet.com/get-started/): Step-by-step guide to beginning the Lion Diet — what to eat, what to avoid, what to expect, supplements, and timing. - [My Experience](https://liondiet.com/my-story/): Mikhaila's personal story — how the diet healed her severe depression, autoimmune disease, and chronic pain after years of failed conventional treatment. - [FAQ](https://liondiet.com/f-a-q/): In-depth answers to common questions — getting started, symptoms, foods, supplements, specific conditions, and more. ## Recipes - [All recipes](https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-recipes/): The full recipe collection — Lion Diet (just meat + salt), reintroduction dishes, and broader carnivore recipes. - [Beef Broth (Soup)](https://liondiet.com/beef-broth-soup/) - [Instant Pot Ribs](https://liondiet.com/instant-pot-ribs/) - [Air-Fried Korean Short-Ribs](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-korean-short-ribs/) - [Tallow Moisturizer](https://liondiet.com/tallow-moisturizer/) - [Air-Fried Lamb Chop Rack](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-chops/) - [Air-Fried Lamb Racks](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-racks/) - [Air-Fried Lamb Loins](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-loins/) - [Air-Fried Skirt Steak](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-skirt-steak/) - [Fried Steak](https://liondiet.com/fried-steak/) - [Reverse-Seared Steak](https://liondiet.com/reverse-seared-steak/) - [Simple Slow-Cooker Beef Stew](https://liondiet.com/slow-cooker-beef-stew/) - [Better Than Bacon](https://liondiet.com/better-than-bacon/) - [Pan-Fried Collard Greens](https://liondiet.com/pan-fried-collard-greens-2/) - [Duck Confit](https://liondiet.com/duck-confit/) - [Air-Fried Chicken Wings](https://liondiet.com/air-fried-chicken-wings/) - [Better Than Bacon Recipe](https://liondiet.com/better-bacon-recipe/) - [Jerky Recipe](https://liondiet.com/jerky-recipe/) - [Sauerkraut recipe!](https://liondiet.com/sauerkraut-recipe/) ## Research - [Research summaries](https://liondiet.com/research/): Curated peer-reviewed studies on ketogenic and carnivore diets for autoimmune, neurological, and metabolic disease. ## Success Stories - [All transformations](https://liondiet.com/transformations/): Reader-submitted stories of Lion Diet recoveries. - [Kelly, 47](https://liondiet.com/transformation/kelly-47/) - [Angela, 38](https://liondiet.com/transformation/angela-38/) - [Frank, 27](https://liondiet.com/transformation/frank-27/) - [Shad, 26](https://liondiet.com/transformation/shad-26/) - [Karolina, 27](https://liondiet.com/transformation/karolina-27/) - [Colby, 25](https://liondiet.com/transformation/colby-25/) - [Joshua, 28](https://liondiet.com/transformation/joshua-28/) - [Gentian, 20](https://liondiet.com/transformation/gentian-20/) - [Jacian, 21](https://liondiet.com/transformation/jacian-21/) - [Jessica, 39](https://liondiet.com/transformation/jessica-39/) ## Featured blog posts - [Full blog](https://liondiet.com/blog/) - [Lion Diet for Depression: How an Elimination Diet Healed My Lifelong Depression](https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-for-depression/) - [Lion Diet for Autoimmune Disease: Arthritis, IBD, Psoriasis, MS, and More](https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-for-autoimmune-disease/) - [Lion Diet vs Carnivore Diet: Side-by-Side Comparison and How to Choose](https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-vs-carnivore-diet/) - [The Paleo Elimination Diet (That "Cured" Me Before the Lion Diet)](https://liondiet.com/the-list/) - ["I'm too busy to eat like this, it's too expensive," and other excuses](https://liondiet.com/im-busy-eat-like-expensive/) - [Simplified Science Behind Gluten](https://liondiet.com/simplified-science-behind-gluten/) - [How is it normal to feel after cutting out foods?](https://liondiet.com/normal-feel-cutting-foods/) - [Probiotics And Problems That Can Come With Them](https://liondiet.com/probiotics-problems-can-come/) - [Baby!!](https://liondiet.com/baby/) - [My Labour Experience - Seriously successful hypnobirthing homebirth](https://liondiet.com/labour-experience-seriously-successful-hypnobirthing-home-birth/) - [Jordan Peterson's Diet - September 2017](https://liondiet.com/jordan-petersons-diet/) - [Top foods to avoid (if you don't want to do an elimination diet)](https://liondiet.com/top-foods-avoid-dont-want-elimination-diet/) - [What Vitamins and Supplements to Take](https://liondiet.com/vitamins-and-supplements/) - [How to Gain or Maintain Weight Weight On An Elimination Diet](https://liondiet.com/gain-weightmaintain-weight-elimination-diet/) - [What Living with Depression and Anxiety Is Like (Throw Some OCD Symptoms in There Too)](https://liondiet.com/living-depression-anxiety-like-throw-ocd-symptoms/) ## In the News - [Media coverage](https://liondiet.com/news/): Every news article about the Lion Diet — positive coverage and critical hit pieces, with direct links. ## Resources - [Lion Diet resources](https://liondiet.com/resources/): Curated tools, equipment, supplements, books, and links Mikhaila uses or recommends. ## Author Mikhaila Peterson — creator of the Lion Diet, host of the Mikhaila Peterson Podcast, advocate for elimination dieting for chronic disease. --- # Detailed entries ## Featured recipes ### Beef Broth (Soup) URL: https://liondiet.com/beef-broth-soup/ ### Instant Pot Ribs URL: https://liondiet.com/instant-pot-ribs/ ### Air-Fried Korean Short-Ribs URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-korean-short-ribs/ Your browser doesn't support video playback. Download the video . ### Tallow Moisturizer URL: https://liondiet.com/tallow-moisturizer/ ### Air-Fried Lamb Chop Rack URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-chops/ ### Air-Fried Lamb Racks URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-racks/ ### Air-Fried Lamb Loins URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-lamb-loins/ ### Air-Fried Skirt Steak URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-skirt-steak/ ### Fried Steak URL: https://liondiet.com/fried-steak/ ### Reverse-Seared Steak URL: https://liondiet.com/reverse-seared-steak/ ### Simple Slow-Cooker Beef Stew URL: https://liondiet.com/slow-cooker-beef-stew/ The lowest-effort meal on the site. Throw beef, sweet potato, parsnip, broth, and a few spices in a slow cooker before bed and wake up to hot food. Works as a reintroduction dish or any low-effort day. ### Better Than Bacon URL: https://liondiet.com/better-than-bacon/ ### Pan-Fried Collard Greens URL: https://liondiet.com/pan-fried-collard-greens-2/ ### Duck Confit URL: https://liondiet.com/duck-confit/ ### Air-Fried Chicken Wings URL: https://liondiet.com/air-fried-chicken-wings/ ### Better Than Bacon Recipe URL: https://liondiet.com/better-bacon-recipe/ It's actually fried jerky with fat (trust me it's amazing), but better than bacon. Dad agrees. He named the title and came up with the recipe. Approximate time: 15 minutes We eat a lot of fatty cuts of steak (rib steak for instance). If you save the fat instead of cutting around it and throwing it out (and store it… ### Jerky Recipe URL: https://liondiet.com/jerky-recipe/ 2019 UPDATE: Here's a YouTube video showing how to make jerky Lion Diet style. No need for spices if you're not eating them :) I make a batch of these once a week to keep in the freezer. You can bring it out with you so you have something portable to eat. It's really satisfying. Ingredients/ stuff you need: Dehydrator… ### Sauerkraut recipe! URL: https://liondiet.com/sauerkraut-recipe/ Here are some pickling products to make your life much easier (I own all of the Canadian version products so I can vouch for em!): 1 L jar set (32 oz)- grab it at any home hardware or Canadian tire or pretty much any hardware store. Or amazon. I'm using wide mouth jars extra pickling lids glass weights and squisher… ## Featured blog posts ### Lion Diet for Depression: How an Elimination Diet Healed My Lifelong Depression URL: https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-for-depression/ How the Lion Diet healed Mikhaila Peterson's lifelong depression — her timeline, why an elimination diet works for mood disorders, critical safety warnings if you're on psychiatric medication, plus success stories from the Lion Diet community. ### Lion Diet for Autoimmune Disease: Arthritis, IBD, Psoriasis, MS, and More URL: https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-for-autoimmune-disease/ How the Lion Diet helped Mikhaila Peterson recover from lifelong autoimmune arthritis — the mechanism (type III hypersensitivity), what to expect for arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, IBD, MS, Hashimoto's, and alopecia, plus dozens of success stories from the Lion Diet community. ### Lion Diet vs Carnivore Diet: Side-by-Side Comparison and How to Choose URL: https://liondiet.com/lion-diet-vs-carnivore-diet/ The Lion Diet is the strictest version of the Carnivore Diet — only ruminant meat, salt, and water. Side-by-side comparison of foods allowed, use cases, restrictiveness, and how to choose between them. ### The Paleo Elimination Diet (That "Cured" Me Before the Lion Diet) URL: https://liondiet.com/the-list/ Hi! My name is Mikhaila Peterson. I’m a 26 year old mother (and loving it!). I live in Toronto. Short background on me: I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 7 years old. My parents think it started when I was around 2 noticing the way I walked. I was the first child in Canada to be… ### "I'm too busy to eat like this, it's too expensive," and other excuses URL: https://liondiet.com/im-busy-eat-like-expensive/ "I'm too busy" If you're too busy (and you're not THAT sick), cut out gluten and dairy. If you live in a big city this is usually fairly easy. If you think that's too difficult, cut out gluten. But you have to be strict about it. Do it for a month, reintroduce it, and when you realize how awful it's… ### Simplified Science Behind Gluten URL: https://liondiet.com/simplified-science-behind-gluten/ I typed up a short intro on why gluten is bad for you and what it's doing to peoples' bodies. Zonulin is a protein that modulates the permeability of tight junctions between cells in the digestive tract. (See tight junction below.) Tight junctions stop macromolecules from leaking into your body from your gut. They're supposed to be pretty much impermeable… ### How is it normal to feel after cutting out foods? URL: https://liondiet.com/normal-feel-cutting-foods/ You won't feel better right away. The first two weeks can be hard. Sugar cravings (carbs, chips, soda, sugar) and dairy cravings (cheese) are intense. I also had soy cravings. These fade off in a couple of weeks but don't underestimate them. Make sure you eat enough. If you're craving foods just eat more. It doesn't get rid of the… ### Probiotics And Problems That Can Come With Them URL: https://liondiet.com/probiotics-problems-can-come/ If you've read my other blog posts, I've mentioned a bad reaction to probiotics. I was hoping it was the strands that I was taking because the reaction has happened a number of times. This is what happens I start a high dose of probiotics (generally acidophilus is the main strain) - don't do this if you're sensitive 2-3 days… ### Baby!! URL: https://liondiet.com/baby/ I've been gone from the blog for over a month because I had a baby!! It's been crazy and exhausting and wonderful. Elizabeth Scarlett Peterson Korikova everyone ( a pic from a couple of days old): She was born August 6, at 3:21 am. 7lbs 6 oz with a full head of hair. Me being extremely thrilled not to be… ### My Labour Experience - Seriously successful hypnobirthing homebirth URL: https://liondiet.com/labour-experience-seriously-successful-hypnobirthing-home-birth/ I wrote this the day I gave birth. So it was fresh in my mind. It's pretty detailed so only read it if you're super interested haha. It also needs to be heavily edited so take it with a grain of salt. Haphazardly written but here goes. So I started getting things that were pretty menstrual crampy Thursday night. Then… ### Jordan Peterson's Diet - September 2017 URL: https://liondiet.com/jordan-petersons-diet/ Dad suffered from a number of health problems. He had GERD, minor psoriasis, mouth ulcers, fatigue and had an extremely hard time losing weight. He stopped eating desserts, went without sugar, and tried exercising. The worst health problem was severe depression. It seems to run in our family. When I started figuring out my problems were caused by food, and… ### Top foods to avoid (if you don't want to do an elimination diet) URL: https://liondiet.com/top-foods-avoid-dont-want-elimination-diet/ If doing an all out elimination diet isn't feasible for you, or if you're relatively healthy and just looking to improve your energy or lose a few pounds, avoid these foods: Gluten - You know those stereotypical Californian girls who don't eat gluten "because it makes you fat" but they don't exactly know what it is? Well they were right… ### What Vitamins and Supplements to Take URL: https://liondiet.com/vitamins-and-supplements/ I've had a bad reaction to a couple of multivitamins (most of them contain soy derivatives), so I don't take a multivitamin. Beware of prenatal vitamins too. If you end up being extremely sensitive, steer clear of either. Just so everyone knows, unfortunately, none of these reactions are caused by low vitamins or minerals. I had all those checked out… ### How to Gain or Maintain Weight Weight On An Elimination Diet URL: https://liondiet.com/gain-weightmaintain-weight-elimination-diet/ I've had a number of people reach out to me asking about how to gain or maintain their weight on a diet that cuts carbs like this one. Here are some things you can do to make sure you get the calories you need. (I'm writing this post because I just counted the number of calories I'm getting a day… ### What Living with Depression and Anxiety Is Like (Throw Some OCD Symptoms in There Too) URL: https://liondiet.com/living-depression-anxiety-like-throw-ocd-symptoms/ I was put on antidepressants at a young age. Severe depression runs in my family and thankfully my dad had realized what it was and saw it early in me. (It is controllable by diet but there seems to be a genetic component as well). I can barely control it with diet. Messing up is so easy and if I… ## Featured success stories ### Kelly, 47 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/kelly-47/ Health problems resolved:
- Psoriatic arthritis gone
- Bulimia gone
- Much less joint pain
More... ### Angela, 38 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/angela-38/ Time on diet: 3 years Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
- Neurological Lyme disease
- CIRS, Mold, Coinfections Babesia and Bartonella
More... ### Frank, 27 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/frank-27/ Time on diet: 7 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Very over weight
-Sluggish
More... ### Shad, 26 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/shad-26/ Time on diet: 8 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-RCPD
-Brain fog
More... ### Karolina, 27 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/karolina-27/ Time on diet: 3 years Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Chronic migraines
-Painful periods
More... ### Colby, 25 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/colby-25/ Time on diet: 3 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Improved sleep
-Reduced joint pain
More... ### Joshua, 28 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/joshua-28/ Time on diet: 18 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Asthma
-Severe eczema
More... ### Gentian, 20 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/gentian-20/ Time on diet: 1 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Lost 20kg in 3 months
-Brain fog
More... ### Jacian, 21 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/jacian-21/ Time on diet: 2 months Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-Lost 16lbs in 2 month
-Anxiety
More... ### Jessica, 39 URL: https://liondiet.com/transformation/jessica-39/ Time on diet: 104 days Lion Diet
Health problems resolved:
-MDD (major depressive disorder)
-IBS
More...