'Cheese, Beef, and Butter Diet' Left This Man Oozing Yellow Gunk

A Florida man took the "carnivore diet" to an extreme, consuming nothing but beef, cheese, and entire sticks of butter for eight months. His goal? Better health, more energy, and weight loss. But instead of peak performance, he ended up in a Tampa hospital with an unsettling problem: yellow, oozing lumps covering his hands, feet, and elbows.

A Diet of Fat, Meat, and Dairy — With Unexpected Consequences

The unnamed man followed a hardcore version of the popular carnivore diet, which emphasizes meat, eggs, and dairy while cutting out all fruits, vegetables, and grains. His daily intake included up to nine pounds of cheese, several hamburger patties, and whole sticks of butter.

He reported feeling fantastic — at first. He lost weight, felt sharper mentally, and had more energy. But after a few months, his skin began to change. Small, painless yellow bumps appeared on his palms. Soon, they spread to his feet and elbows. Then, they started to ooze.

The Medical Mystery: What Was Happening to His Skin?

By the time he sought medical attention, his cholesterol levels had skyrocketed past 1,000 mg/dL — five times the healthy limit. For comparison, anything above 240 mg/dL is considered high. Doctors diagnosed him with xanthelasma, a condition where excess cholesterol in the blood causes fatty deposits to form under the skin. These deposits usually appear around the eyes but, in his case, had spread to other parts of his body.

Before his drastic diet change, his cholesterol had fluctuated between 210 and 300 mg/dL. While still high, it was nowhere near the life-threatening levels he reached after months of consuming pure animal fat.

The Risks of an Extreme Carnivore Diet

The carnivore diet has gained traction among fitness enthusiasts and influencers who claim it can help with weight loss, mental clarity, and even autoimmune conditions. However, health experts warn that eliminating entire food groups — especially fiber-rich fruits and vegetables — can lead to serious health issues, including high cholesterol, heart disease, and nutrient deficiencies.

As reported by the New York Post, some people like Isaiah Caldwell have lost dramatic amounts of weight on the diet, but not everyone experiences positive results. Caldwell, who lost 210 pounds over two years following a strict meat-and-egg diet, eventually had to reintroduce fruit and dairy to maintain his health.

What's Next for the 'Butter Man?'

Doctors didn't disclose whether the man recovered from his alarming symptoms, but they did issue a warning: extreme diets can have extreme consequences. Managing cholesterol levels is critical to preventing life-threatening conditions like heart disease and stroke.

Despite the growing popularity of carnivore-style eating, mainstream health organizations like the CDC and USDA continue to recommend a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. If nothing else, this man's bizarre medical case serves as a cautionary tale for those considering ditching plants in favor of an all-meat lifestyle.

References: Man Who Only Ate Cheese, Beef and Sticks of Butter for 8 Months Suffers Shocking Side Effect | I Lost 210 Lbs in Two Years on This Risky Diet — I Did It for My Wife and Future Child Total Cholesterol as a Risk Factor for Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke