Rachel Ashby, 43, has detailed the physical and mental changes she says followed four years of eating only meat, eggs and butter.
The Hertfordshire, UK, resident said she now consumes up to 5,000 calories daily of animal products after adopting what is commonly called the carnivore diet in 2019. Ashby, who identifies herself as a “Carnivore Coach” on Instagram and founded the tallow-based cosmetics brand Tallow Glow, said she was initially skeptical but has since become a vocal advocate for the regimen.
“The biggest benefit has been the transformation in my mental health,” she said. “Before carnivore, I suffered from severe depression and anxiety. I would make lots of plans and then cancel all of them, and I rarely left the house.”
Ashby described a stark contrast between her past and present self. She said she is “now completely different.”
“I feel comfortable going into studios, being filmed for podcasts, having my picture taken and sharing photographs online. I am confident, I make plans and I actually stick to them. That change alone has had an enormous impact on my life,” she continued.
The dietary shift also brought physical changes, according to Ashby. She listed a series of ailments she said disappeared after eliminating vegetables and carbohydrates from her meals.
“Before carnivore, I struggled with exhaustion, inflammation, joint and knee pain, skin breakouts, thinning hair, weakness, repeated injuries and blackouts at the gym. I had also lost my menstrual cycle and felt cold all the time,” she recalled, saying these problems have now “resolved.”
Her appearance became a particular focus. Ashby claimed the diet “reversed” visible signs of aging, a benefit she said was amplified by her own tallow moisturizer product.
“I reversed a lot of the visible signs of ageing through my diet, and this improved even further with the addition of Tallow Glow, which is a completely natural moisturiser made from purified grass-fed cow fat, known as tallow,” she explained.
“Before changing my diet, my face looked sunken, my hair was thinning and I felt as though I was ageing rapidly. Now my face looks healthier, my skin is clear, my hair is thick and naturally free from grey, and people regularly assume I am much younger than I am.”
Gym performance also improved, Ashby stated. She said she can lift “heavier” and train “for longer” without experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness.
“I don’t even experience DOMS, or delayed onset muscle soreness, the following day. I feel healthier, stronger and more physically capable now than I did when I was much younger,” she said.
The only drawback Ashby acknowledged had nothing to do with food. She pointed to hostility from a specific group online.
“The only negative side effect I have experienced hasn’t come from the diet itself,” she said. “It has come from the abuse I receive from some vegans online.”
Medical authorities have raised concerns about the carnivore approach. The NHS warns that excess red meat consumption can increase bowel cancer risk and recommends a balanced diet incorporating fruits, vegetables and physical activity.