The carnivore diet, promoted by influencers like Liver King and Joe Rogan, has surged in popularity, with online searches tripling between 2022 and 2025. Advocates argue it’s more biologically appropriate, claiming our ancestors primarily consumed meat. However, experts and archaeological evidence suggest this view is deeply flawed.
Dr Emma Pomeroy of Cambridge University and Prof Dorian Fuller of UCL explain that early humans were not strict carnivores. The misconception stems from archaeological bias—animal bones and tools preserve better than plant matter. Modern techniques, including isotope analysis and dental plaque DNA, reveal that ancient diets were rich in plant foods such as acorns, oats and pistachios.
A 2024 study from the Max Planck Institute found that Palaeolithic people in Taforalt, Morocco, were predominantly plant-eaters. Ethnographic studies also show that modern hunter-gatherer societies consume a wide variety of plant-based foods. These diets were shaped by local environments—from nut-rich diets in Sri Lanka to meat-heavy ones in the Arctic.
The idea of a single “Palaeolithic diet” is a myth. Early humans adapted to diverse landscapes, and their diets varied accordingly. Moreover, the foods they ate no longer exist in their original forms. Agriculture has transformed fruits, grains and vegetables into sweeter, starchier versions, and livestock into meatier animals. True ancestral eating involved consuming whole animals, including organs and bone marrow—far removed from today’s steak-heavy plates.
Human bodies have also evolved. Traits like lactase persistence and increased amylase enzymes show adaptation to dairy and starch-rich diets. These genetic shifts reflect thousands of years of agricultural living.
While carnivore and Paleo diets highlight valid concerns about modern processed foods and reduced dietary diversity, their solution—cutting out entire food groups—is misguided. Experts argue for more variety, particularly in plant foods, whole grains, nuts and seeds. These provide essential fibre and nutrients that are lacking in Western diets, and are crucial for gut and heart health.
Ultimately, our ancestors ate for survival, not aesthetics. Their diets were diverse and environment-dependent. As we face modern health and environmental challenges, the lesson isn’t to mimic the past, but to adapt wisely—just as they did.
