Jenny McCarthy says she 'almost died' going vegan

When it comes to diets, everyone has an opinion, and finding out what works for your body is important. For Jenny McCarthy, she says one diet almost killed her. 

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At 52, the former Playboy star has always been open about her health. In a recent episode of the Heal Squad x Maria Menounos podcast, she shared that she had a shocking experience with veganism, becoming "so ill."

McCarthy realized she has Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that prevents you from properly digesting gluten. “I tried vegan, and I almost died. I literally almost died,” McCarthy told host Maria Menounos. 

For McCarthy, the plant-based diet didn’t work at all. "I can’t have carbs, and everything is a carb," she explained, noting that her celiac, dairy, and soy allergy also made veganism difficult. "I was exhausted and fatigued. I was a mess," she said. 

McCarthy has faced multiple health challenges over the years, including Candida, Hashimoto’s disease, and Leaky Gut syndrome. "Healing leaky gut and Candida can take years — it 100 percent takes years," she admitted. 

She also has Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), which causes histamine intolerance, leading her to try various restrictive diets to heal her body. “I went on every one of them,” she said, recounting how nothing seemed to work. But last year, her “functional medicine doctor” suggested something radically different: the carnivore diet.

“I was like, ‘Ugh, okay,’” McCarthy recalled. “I mean I’m from Chicago, so I can handle it, but it just felt very low vibrational [and] heavy for me. Like I was kind of more eating salmon and very light things like that, but I was like, ‘I might as well give it a try.'”

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Although she initially viewed it as a "last resort diet," McCarthy says it's completely changed her energy levels and digestion. "I have been a constipated little girl since I was younger … like from the time I was young, I’d have to get enemas." But after switching to a carnivore diet, she proudly shared that she now goes to the bathroom every day without the help of a laxative.

While McCarthy’s success on the carnivore diet has been life-changing, she’s careful to point out that it might not work for everyone. "Some people work [and] heal better on a vegan diet, and some people don’t,” she acknowledged. 

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While the carnivore diet has yielded positive results for McCarthy, it’s important to understand the risks associated with such an extreme eating plan. A diet that consists solely of meat, poultry, eggs, and fish may lack essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which are typically found in plant-based foods. 

It can also increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems if not carefully managed. It’s crucial to consult with a healthcare provider before making any drastic dietary changes, especially with a restrictive diet like the carnivore plan.