Joe Rogan first tried the carnivore diet in January 2020.
It helped him:
- Increase focus
- Decrease body fat
- Improve energy levels throughout the day (less ups and downs)
Then in 2023, Rogan decided to go back to Carnivore because he realized it was when he was feeling the best. His brain was performing better and he experienced many health benefits.
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This article will discuss the current Joe Rogan diet, why he’s back on carnivore, what benefits he sees from a carnivore diet, what he typically eats in a day, and the side effects of this eating plan.
Joe Rogan Carnivore Diet Benefits
A carnivore diet consists of eating only animal products. Specifically meat, fish, eggs, and dairy. With a focus on meat – which humans have been eating since their beginning.
On JRE episode #1994 (June 2023) with Theo Von, Rogan announced being back on the carnivore diet and feeling great.
Part of Rogan’s motivation for trying the carnivore diet was listening to Jordan Peterson and his reports on cognitive performance and auto-immune benefits.
Rogan observed similar effects. After eating only meat and eggs for about a week, he started noticing it was much easier to form sentences. He felt more mental clarity and his conversations improved. He remembers thinking that wasn’t how he normally felt, it was him at his peak. But when he was on a carnivore diet, he could sustain that optimal mental performance for days.
Another thing Rogan noticed was how steady his energy levels were. Because of a low carb intake, a carnivorous diet induces ketosis, helping your body use ketones for fuel instead of sugars. As a result, there are fewer energy highs and lows associated with high-carbohydrate diets.
In the podcast episode #1424 with Tom Papa, Rogan discussed the benefits of being on a carnivorous diet for a month. He reported losing seven pounds after 11 days, and 12 pounds after one month. And it was mostly fat.
In the more recent, #1994 episode, he reports losing five pounds in two weeks. Again, it was mostly fat.
Rogan also experienced some improvements with vitiligo (an autoimmune disorder). His white spots filled up, helping his skin look more even.
Regular Diet and Inflammation
Rogan states that one of the reasons he feels better on a carnivore diet is due to lower inflammation. Our regular diets contain many processed and sugar-packed foods, which contribute to overall inflammation.
According to research, higher consumption of processed foods can lead to low-grade inflammation, leading to many chronic conditions.
How processed foods contribute to inflammation – source
A lot of foods we eat contain preservatives and other ingredients that make it harder for our body to process. So our body has to use a lot of resources to digest these foods, becoming overburdened with extra work.
In the #1424 episode, Rogan mentions that he loves pasta so much, but he only feels good for five minutes after eating it. Extra carbs send him on an energy roller coaster, and he usually feels the consequences of inflammation in the following days.
He also explained that some people don’t tolerate leafy greens and other vegetables. They have certain reactions to those foods due to high oxalate levels and other compounds. Research agrees that plant-derived foods are the most common sources of allergens for adults.
What Does Joe Rogan Eat in a Day on a Carnivore Diet?
When Rogan is on a carnivore diet, he mostly eats meat and eggs, with a preference for grass-fed beef and elk.
He continues taking his essential vitamins and other supplements (see the list of Joe Rogan’s supplements).
Rogan explains that elk is very lean meat, so he usually cooks it in grass-fed beef tallow to get some additional fat in. He also eats a lot of bacon for fat.
Initially, he was very strict about eating only meat, fish, and eggs.
But in episode #1994 of his podcast, Rogan explains that he now adds fruits and veggies here and there.
In the #1424 episode, we got a little sneak peek into what Joe Rogan eats in a day on a carnivore diet.
He has breakfast around noon, after training. For breakfast, he normally eats steak or eggs, sometimes with bacon.
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He skips lunch and then eats steak for dinner.
Side Effects of Joe Rogan’s Carnivore Diet
When he first started the carnivore diet, Joe Rogan mentioned one huge side effect – diarrhea. It lasted for about two weeks before his digestion got back to normal.
Rogan also warns against rabbit starvation syndrome (see wikipedia). This phenomenon was first observed in Arctic explorers who only ate rabbits. They ate enough calories, but it all came from protein. So, their body was starving for fat and they experienced side effects like fatigue, nausea, and diarrhea.
The main point is that for people to thrive on a carnivore diet; they need fat. That’s why Rogan adds beef tallow and enjoys fatty bacon.
In episode #1958 of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, in a discussion with Andrew Huberman, Rogan mentioned that his high-intensity training sessions were affected while eating a carnivorous diet. And that’s basically why he added fruit to his routine.
Further Reading
If you have any questions or comments about the current Joe Rogan diet, please leave them below in the comments section.
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