'The Masked Singer' judge Jenny McCarthy thought going vegan was a healthy choice until it nearly cost her life. The former Playboy star shares how she found her way back to health.
- March 30, 2025
AceShowbiz - Jenny McCarthy's dietary experiments have been as dramatic as her career in the entertainment industry. The 52-year-old star of "The Masked Singer" recently opened up about her harrowing experience with a vegan diet and her surprising shift to an all-meat lifestyle during an episode of the "Heal Squad x Maria Menounos" podcast.
"I tried vegan and I almost died. I literally almost died," McCarthy confessed to host Maria Menounos.
Her venture into veganism proved catastrophic due to undiagnosed food allergies. "I didn't know I had a gluten and dairy problem. I thought everyone got sick when they ate," she admitted, explaining that she has Celiac disease, a disorder affecting her reaction to gluten found in wheat, rye, and barley.
The challenges compounded with her being allergic to soy and unable to tolerate carbs due to her health conditions, which also include Candida, Hashimoto's disease, Leaky Gut syndrome, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). "I was exhausted and fatigued. I was a mess," McCarthy described her state after adopting a plant-based diet.
After trying numerous diets to no avail, McCarthy's "functional medicine doctor" eventually suggested the carnivore diet, a drastic shift from her previous eating habits. While initially skeptical, she decided to give it a shot. "I was like, 'Ugh, okay,' I mean I'm from Chicago so I can handle it but it just felt very low vibrational [and] heavy for me," she recounted.
Despite her reservations, this "last resort diet" has been nothing short of transformative for McCarthy. "It has been f***ing incredible - for me. Again, I stress things as for me," she emphasized, noting a significant boost in energy and improved digestion.
McCarthy added, "Now that I started carnivore, I literally go every day without a laxative," a stark contrast to her previous dependency on aloe pills to alleviate constipation.
However, McCarthy is cautious about recommending the carnivore diet universally. "Some people work [and] heal better on a vegan diet and some people don't," she acknowledged. She pointed out the importance of listening to one's body and consulting healthcare providers before making drastic dietary changes.
While McCarthy has found success with her meat-heavy diet, it's crucial to consider the potential risks. The carnivore diet can lack essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals and could increase the risk of heart disease if not carefully managed. Thus, professional medical advice is paramount.
