-
READ MORE: Woman Admitted to Hospital Due to Unknown Illness Linked to Red Meat Consumption
Jake Moscato opted to adopt a red meat regimen for two months to find out if it would transform him into something akin to ‘a superhero’ or alternatively ‘ruin’ his physique.
The 28-year-old YouTube creator started adhering to the
‘The Lion’ Approach to the Carnivore Diet
– which means only consuming beef and salt. But just a few days in, he realized it was far harder than he anticipated.
While on vacation in
California
Just four days into the challenge, he struggled to find dining options and ended up skipping meals when meeting a friend for lunch and dinner.
Unable to adhere to his rigorous eating plan and facing uncomfortable—yet bothersome—digestive issues, he gave in and consumed fast food, ice cream, and highly processed treats just a week into the diet.
He stated: “The major downside is the lack of convenience when you’re away from home. For instance, I can’t head over to Chipotle, nor can I visit an arbitrary taco place like Taco Spot. Attending events means missing out on places like Dave’s Hot Chicken or Chick-fil-A. So basically, I end up having to prepare my own meals.”
Apart from the restricted menu choices and frequently skipping meals, his health began deteriorating.
After just one week into his trip, Moscato started feeling uneasy, suffering from chest pain along with an unusual discomfort in his abdomen, and he also slipped into mild depression.
Understanding that this regimen was not sustainable, he opted to ease the dietary constraints and began including pork and certain fruits in his daily intake by the third week.
The New Yorker mentioned at some point during the initial three days, “I’m not anticipating anything positively. I’ve had enough of this; I’m really tired of eating meat. It’s possible I’ll skip it.”
vegan
after this.’
His new diet was
In ’95 and ’97, make it mostly red with some additions like fruits, eggs, and pork.
Once he introduced additional food options into his regimen, the YouTube personality started savoring his dishes once more—commenting that a blend of beef and pork had an enticing aroma.
Upon reaching the 60-day milestone, Moscato noted that his mood, energy levels, and concentration had markedly enhanced.
After finishing the challenge, Moscato got blood tests to check how significantly his physique had transformed.
Compared to his pre-challenge tests, results showed he had managed to reduce his body fat from 16 to 14.6 percent and drop his body weight from 208lbs to 202lbs.
Significantly, he added approximately 2 pounds of muscle to each arm and gained an additional 2 pounds in his chest area, resulting in a total increase of around 6 pounds in muscle mass.
Nevertheless, the test outcomes indicated an increase in his cholesterol levels by 12mg, rising from 157 mg to 169mg. His LDL cholesterol, which is considered harmful, escalated from 67mg to 92mg, whereas his beneficial HDL cholesterol decreased from 81mg to 69mg.
High levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein), often referred to as bad cholesterol,
can accumulate within the arterial walls, creating plaques.
This plaque can constrict the arteries and elevate the chances of experiencing heart attacks and strokes.
Conversely, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is referred to as the ‘good’ cholesterol since it aids in eliminating other types of cholesterol from the blood circulation, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing heart disease.
Specialists state that for individuals over the age of 20, optimal cholesterol levels fall within a range of 125 mg to 200 mg. Additionally, LDL levels ought to stay under 100 mg, with HDL levels needing to be 40 mg or more—suggesting that Moscato did not face an elevated risk of heart disease.
His testosterone levels rose significantly from 748 ng to an even higher 800 ng, whereas his iron levels climbed from 88 micrograms to a concerning 176 micrograms.
Too much iron, also known as iron overload, can harm important organs such as the liver, heart, and pancreas, resulting in issues like liver diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems.
Although Moscato expressed his dislike for adhering to the carnivore diet throughout the challenge, he intends to keep enjoying it and add fruits and avocados to his meals following receipt of his results.
Even though he has achieved certain results, physicians recommend adopting a plant-based diet like the
The Mediterranean diet, which is abundant in fruits,
, veggies, entire grains, and pulses.
A vast body of research has identified it as the optimal and most comprehensive diet for promoting health and longevity, reducing the likelihood of conditions ranging from dementia to heart disease.
In a 2018 study featured in JAMA, researchers examined over 26,000 women following the Mediterranean diet and discovered that participants who strictly maintained this eating pattern for as long as 12 years experienced up to a 28 percent lower chance of developing heart disease.
The ability of the diet to enhance heart health stems from its focus on reducing saturated fats, which usually originate from animal-based items such as meat and butter.
Polyunsaturated fats, found in Mediterranean diet-recommended items like olive oil, nuts, and fish, assist in reducing levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream. This reduction helps prevent the accumulation of fat deposits within arteries.
As these fatty deposits expand, they obstruct the proper flow of blood through the arteries, significantly raising the chances of experiencing a heart attack or stroke.
Specialists have frequently cautioned against the hazards of overindulging in red meat and neglecting to include vegetables and grains in one’s diet.
Foods rich in red meat contain high amounts of saturated fats, potentially leading to increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. This elevation may contribute to an enhanced risk of various cardiovascular conditions such as coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer similarly categorizes red meat as a Group 2A carcinogen (substances capable of causing cancer), which might increase the risk of developing breast, colorectal, and lung cancers when consumed excessively.
In addition, a 2025 study published in Neurology revealed that individuals consuming large amounts of red meat are at an increased risk of experiencing cognitive decline and dementia when compared to others.
The research found that individuals consuming 0.25 or more servings daily faced a 13% increased chance of dementia development and a 14% greater likelihood of cognitive decline when contrasted with people eating below 0.10 servings.
To maintain a healthy diet, specialists suggest restricting your intake of red meat to less than 12-18 ounces (prepared) each week, which equates to roughly three portions.
Read more
