Man says meat-only 'lion diet' cleared psoriasis covering 90% of his body, ended decades of depression

A 50-year-old Florida man who says he spent decades battling severe psoriasis, pain and depression credits an extreme "lion diet" with saving his life.

Stephen Lashbrook, of Pensacola, told Fox News Digital that his depression began at just 4 years old.

In his teens, it was compounded by chronic pain, sleeplessness and, in his early 20s, he was diagnosed with psoriasis, an immune-mediated skin disease.

"I was probably 90% covered in psoriasis," Lashbrook said.

"My body was just one big, giant, itchy, flaky scab." DOCTORS DIVIDED OVER NEW DIET TREND THAT HAS BABIES LICKING BUTTER AND GUMMING RIBEYE STEAK Creams, steroids and other medications did not help, he said.

Doctors recommended expensive, long-term injections to combat his inflammation, which left Lashbrook feeling hopeless and suicidal .

Then, he came across a TED Talk from Mikhaila Peterson, an influencer and the daughter of Canadian psychologist and author Jordan Peterson, who used a meat-only elimination diet to tackle her own health issues.

"It gave me a whole new lease on life," he said.

RED MEAT CAN HELP YOUR MOOD IF PART OF A HEALTHY, BALANCED DIET, STUDY SUGGESTS Lashbrook said he initially cut sugar, grains, fruits and vegetables from his diet.

On Jan.

1, 2024, he committed to the "lion diet," a strict carnivore diet variation centered on ruminant animal meat, "your cow, your buffalo, your lamb, your goat," he told Fox News Digital.

Within a week, Lashbrook said his itching and suicidal thoughts stopped and, within a month, his skin began to clear up and his pain subsided.

"I haven't had one suicidal thought.

I haven't had any depression.