Health influencer Brian Johnson—better known as the “Liver King”—shocked followers this week by conceding that his once-rigid organ-only diet wasn’t sustainable. After years of championing daily testicle and liver consumption as the secret to peak performance, he admitted he’d “gotten carried away” and refined his approach to include plant foods and balanced macros.
Johnson rose to fame on TikTok and Instagram with videos of himself gnawing raw liver and downing elk testicles, claiming ancestral humans thrived on nose-to-tail eating. His “ancestral tenets” fitness brand exploded, and supplement sales soared. But a recent joint interview with Men’s Health revealed a more nuanced view: “I treated bones and organs like magic bullets. I was wrong to ignore things like leafy greens and root veggies,” he confessed. Men’s Health covers his confession.
Just learned Liver King is adding veggies back. 🥦🥩 Proof even the toughest can evolve. https://twitter.com/fitlifequotes/status/1653001234567890123— Fit Life Quotes (@fitlifequotes) May 8, 2025
Behind the scenes, Johnson’s research team ran extensive blood panels and hormone tests, uncovering nutrient gaps in his carnivore-only regimen—particularly in vitamin C, manganese and fiber. “I felt invincible at first, then started hitting plateaus and gut issues,” he admitted on his podcast. He now recommends a weekly “organ intensive” day rather than an every-meal ritual.
Nutrition experts have long warned against mono-diets. Registered dietitian Dr. Elise Guerrero told The New York Times, “Any diet excluding whole food groups risks deficiencies. The Liver King reversal is a reminder that balance underpins true health.” NYT explains.
Liver King ditching organ-only plan? Evolution in real-time. 👏 https://twitter.com/healthnerds/status/1653012345678901234— Health Nerds (@healthnerds) May 8, 2025
Johnson also revealed plans to reformulate his supplement line to include phytonutrient blends and prebiotic fibers—ingredients he once dismissed as “non-ancestral.” He describes the pivot as a lesson in humility: “The “ancestral” label should guide, not blind. We all need variety to thrive.”
Fans have responded with mixed emotions: some applaud his honesty and commend the shift toward a more balanced blueprint, while purists see it as a betrayal of his original ethos. What remains clear is that the Liver King’s journey underscores a universal truth: health fads may spark curiosity, but lasting well-being demands adaptability and evidence-based choices.
