A woman who has lived off a diet of just meat, eggs and butter for the past four years has revealed the shocking impact it's had on her body.
When it comes to diet and lifestyle, most of us will be familiar with the images of food pyramids promoting the importance of variety and moderation in our eating habits.
But what would happen if you decided to cut out several food groups altogether?
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This is something which mum Rachel Ashby decided to do when switching to the controversial carnivore diet - and it's a move which she says has overhauled her life entirely.
The 41-year-old mother of four revealed that after spending years struggling to shed the pounds she came across a video from Dr Shawn Baker, who claims such a diet can 'reverse' chronic, autoimmune, and mental illnesses.
Curious about his claims, Rachel made the switch and has never looked back.
She explained that her daily intake is around 5,000 calories of meat, eggs and butter.
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Starting with breakfast, Rachel eats 10 eggs alongside a 'chunk of butter and salt' this is followed by a lunch of chicken wings and finally two or three rib-eye steaks for dinner.
"I literally eat fat for taste, so when fat stops tasting good, that’s when I stop eating it, because that’s when my body’s had enough," she said of the unusual meal plan.
Rachel also explained that three of her four children also dip in and out of the carnivore diet, adding: "They just kind of sometimes decide by themselves to do it, and then other times they decide to not do it.
"But they always say that their health increases when they do do it."
What does the NHS say about the carnivore diet?
Despite Rachel's claims that cutting out all plant-based food items has drastically improved her health, the carnivore diet is not one which is recommended by the NHS and other health organisations.
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Guidance from the NHS says a healthy and balanced adult diet should consist of at least five portions of fruit and vegetables, high fibre foods such as potatoes, rice or bread, dairy (or dairy alternatives), a source of protein and unsaturated oils.
Meanwhile, overconsumption of red meat has been linked to a greater chance of developing bowel cancer, with Cancer Research UK advising people to limit their intake to around 70g per day.
Despite health warnings, Rachel insists that she's only seen benefits from the diet, adding that she's been able to lose around four stone and develop muscle mass from the switch.
The mum has since expanded her carnivore lifestyle to include the usage of beef tallow in her beauty products as well as documenting her lifestyle on TikTok to 'annoy the vegans'.
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"I never have to go hungry or feel like I need to starve myself," she continued.
"I can just eat until I’m full and satisfied, whereas before, I would ignore my body’s hunger cues."
Topics: Food And Drink, Lifestyle
Brenna Cooper