Jenny McCarthy Credits Carnivore Diet for Remarkable Health Turnaround After Near-Fatal Vegan Experiment
Jenny McCarthy, the multifaceted entertainer and advocate, has publicly detailed a harrowing health journey that led her to embrace a highly restrictive carnivore diet. The actress, model, author, and “The Masked Singer” judge revealed she “literally almost died” after attempting a vegan lifestyle, ultimately discovering a complex web of autoimmune conditions and food sensitivities that required drastic dietary intervention.
McCarthy shared her story in a March 2025 appearance on the “Heal Squad” podcast, hosted by Maria Menounos, recounting a frightening experience with a plant-based diet. “I became so ill from being a vegan,” she stated. “I tried vegan, and I almost died. I literally almost died.”
Further investigation revealed a celiac disease diagnosis, an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten – a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. This condition prevents the small intestine from properly absorbing nutrients. However, the issues extended beyond gluten. McCarthy discovered she also had a significant sensitivity to dairy, prompting her to eliminate carbohydrates entirely from her diet. “I didn’t know I had a gluten and dairy problem. I thought everyone got sick when they ate,” she explained, as reported by PEOPLE magazine. “I can’t have carbs, and everything is a carb.”
The list of dietary restrictions continued to grow, with McCarthy identifying allergies to soy and a host of other foods. “I’m also, like, allergic to soy and everything — I was literally dying,” she confessed, describing a state of exhaustion and fatigue. “I was a mess.”
Desperate for relief, McCarthy turned to what she called her “last resort diet”: the carnivore diet. This extremely restrictive regimen consists solely of animal products – meat, fish, seafood, eggs, and limited dairy like butter. Initially hesitant, McCarthy admitted the diet proved surprisingly effective. “It has been f-cking incredible for me,” she said, emphasizing the personalized nature of her experience. “Again, I stress things as for me.”
The carnivore diet has not only improved her overall energy levels but has also dramatically resolved chronic digestive issues. McCarthy revealed she had been reliant on seven to ten aloe pills daily just to achieve bowel movements every four days. Now, she reports regular daily bowel movements without the need for laxatives. In a May 2025 interview with PEOPLE magazine, she candidly shared the severity of her previous constipation, stating she previously went 14 days between bowel movements and her doctor had even discussed the possibility of a colostomy bag.
Despite the positive results, McCarthy doesn’t envision adhering to the carnivore diet indefinitely. She does, however, incorporate some unconventional foods. While primarily consuming grass-fed beef, she has also embraced organ meats like kidneys and liver, acknowledging they “sound gross, but you can’t tell.” She also includes avocado for fiber.
McCarthy openly discussed the multitude of health challenges she faces, including Hashimoto’s disease, Candida overgrowth, leaky gut syndrome, celiac disease, and histamine intolerance. She stressed the importance of strict adherence to the diet, noting, “You can’t half-ass” it. “But if I showed you a picture of my face from even a year ago, it’s so different. I didn’t realize how swollen I was all the time.”
The journey underscores the complex relationship between diet and autoimmune health, and highlights the power of personalized nutrition in managing chronic illness.
