Florida Man Attributes Decades of Depression and Psoriasis to 'Lion Diet'

A 50-year-old Florida man has attributed his recovery from decades of severe psoriasis, chronic pain, and depression to a restrictive "lion diet" consisting solely of meat.

Stephen Lashbrook, of Pensacola, told Fox News Digital that his struggles began in childhood with depression at age four. By his teenage years, he experienced chronic pain and insomnia. In his early twenties, he was diagnosed with psoriasis, an autoimmune skin condition. At its worst, Lashbrook reported that 90% of his body was covered in psoriasis, describing his skin as "one big, giant, itchy, flaky scab."

He stated that conventional treatments, including creams and steroids, were ineffective. Doctors suggested expensive, long-term injections for inflammation, which he said left him feeling hopeless and contemplating suicide.

Lashbrook's approach changed after discovering a TED Talk by Mikhaila Peterson, who discussed using a meat-only elimination diet to manage her own health problems. Inspired, Lashbrook began by removing sugar, grains, fruits, and vegetables from his diet.

On January 1, 2024, he adopted the "lion diet," a variation of the carnivore diet that emphasizes ruminant meats such as beef, lamb, and goat. Lashbrook reported that within a week, his itching and suicidal thoughts subsided. Within a month, his skin began to clear, and his pain diminished. "I haven’t had one suicidal thought. I haven’t had any depression. I haven’t had any pain. All my skin issues cleared up," he stated.

His current diet consists of grass-fed ground beef and steak, typically one meal per day, comprising 1.5 to 2 pounds of meat cooked in an air fryer. Lashbrook feels he is "reverse aging" and experiencing significant improvements based on his subjective experience. He has not undergone follow-up medical tests or consulted a doctor since adopting the diet, preferring to rely on how he feels.

Medical professionals offer a more cautious perspective. Dr. Michael Aziz, an internist and regenerative medicine specialist in New York City, noted that while eliminating sugar and ultra-processed foods can lead to improvements for some, it does not validate the carnivore diet as a treatment for chronic conditions like psoriasis. "Many people judge this diet by their success, by their weight loss, but they don’t look long-term at their lifespan, how it can be affected by those diets," Aziz told Fox News Digital.

Aziz highlighted potential risks associated with carnivore-centered diets, including a lack of fiber, which can lead to constipation, kidney stones, and increased risks of heart attack and stroke. "They can lead to problems like constipation. They can lead to kidney stones. They can lead to increased risks for heart attack and stroke," he said.

Mixed public figures, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have publicly supported carnivore-based diets, citing benefits like weight loss and improved mental clarity. However, medical experts caution that the long-term effects of such restrictive diets remain largely unknown.

Lashbrook is scheduled to share his experience at Carni-Con, a virtual convention focused on carnivore diets, held from September 18-20, which features various diet advocates and medical professionals. "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."