A nutrition consultant who swapped vegan lifestyle for for an offal-laden diet with dishes including animal brains says she has 'never felt better'.

Natalie Daniels, 38, from Budapest, Hungary, grew up following a modern Mediterranean diet with lots of pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, vegetables, lean meat and olive oil.

But in her late teens, Natalie started to notice a connection between the foods she ate and the way they made her feel, and decided to explore different diets.

But after embracing veganism for three years, she found herself struggling with a range of health complaints, including joint pain so severe that she couldn't hold a glass of water.

In 2015, she decided to start eating animal products again, and now feels better than ever on her carnivore diet, and even consumes a lot of her meat raw.

Natalie Daniels, 38, from Budapest, followed a largely vegetarian diet for 12 years and was vegan for three, but in 2015 she decided to re-introduce animal products into her diet, and now eats only meat. Pictured now

Natalie Daniels grew up following a modern Mediterranean diet with lots of pasta, bread, rice, potatoes, vegetables, lean meat and olive oil but swapped her diet for veganism in her twenties. Pictured: Natalie while she was vegan

Before becoming vegan, Natalie was first eating a pescatarian diet before stripping out fish, eggs and dairy too.

She cooked her meals from scratch and took vitamins and other health supplements but instead of feeling better in herself, her appearance started to change, she lost muscle tone, became pale and had sunken eyes with dark circles.

Natalie was diagnosed with a thyroid condition, had constipation, was bloated, suffered from hair loss, scalp eczema, sensitive teeth, brain fog and developed joint pain so severe she struggled to hold a glass of water in her hands.

Natalie followed a largely vegetarian diet for 12 years and was vegan for three, but in 2015 she decided to re-introduce animal products into her diet.

While she was vegan (pictured), Natalie cooked her meals from scratch and took vitamins and other health supplements but instead of feeling better in herself, her appearance started to change, she lost muscle tone, became pale and had sunken eyes with dark circles

She said: 'When I first went vegan, I felt good at the very beginning but then I started to feel weak, constipated, bloated, slow (mentally and physically), emaciated, emotionally unstable and mentally confused. I started having skin issues, lost my menstrual cycle and started binge-eating as I would never feel satisfied with what I was eating,' said Natalie.

'I got scalp eczema, skin rashes, itchiness, allergies, insomnia, nutrient deficiencies, hair loss, water retention, restless leg syndrome, extreme teeth sensitivity and receding/bleeding gums, cavities and was often depressed.

'The joint pain in my fingers got worse to the point I couldn't even hold a glass of water in my hands.

'There are many dangers of following a vegan diet. Excess consumption of carbohydrates will eventually give rise of health issues.

'There will most likely be nutritional deficiencies which will impact the body in different ways and intestinal permeability which will give rise to inflammation and a variety of immune reactions and diseases. The body can compensate to an inadequate nutrition only to a certain extent and for a limited amount of time, after that disease may develop.

Natalie's diet now consists of raw meat, including lamb brains (left) and raw steak, lamb kidney, beef liver and marrow (right)

Natalie also makes broth from scratch, pictured is two lamb's heads she purchased to cook

What is the Paleolithic Ketogenic diet and is it healthy? The paleo keto diet is a modified version of the ketogenic diet, where followers cut out carbohydrates and eat a fat:protein ratio of nearly 2:1. The concept is that the diet combines the advantages of the paleo diet, which is also known as the 'caveman diet' and the classic ketogenic diet, which should help lower insulin. Those following it tend to get at least 70 per cent of their food from meat including fat and offal and will also eat animal byproducts including eggs. Very few scientific case studies regarding the paleo keto diet have been published to date and it is not conclusive as to whether it is a healthy diet to follow. Advertisement

In January 2018, she discovered the carnivore diet and adopted the Paleolithic ketogenic diet (PKD), a type of meat-only diet where she eats solely animal products at a 2:1 fat to protein ratio.

She now eats a wide range of animal products from liver, brain, ribeye steak, beef tartare, raw lamb, pork crackling, pork ribs and broths made from boiling animal offcuts including the head.

In a year Natalie has gone from 5st 11lb to 6st 10lb and says all her previous health symptoms have been alleviated and says that without this diet she would not be able to have the same quality of life.

Natalie was diagnosed with a thyroid condition, had constipation, was bloated, suffered from hair loss, scalp eczema, sensitive teeth, brain fog when she was vegan. Pictured left is her scalp before and right is her scalp now

'I discovered the carnivore diet in January 2018 through Shawn Baker. What attracted it to me was desperation. I had absolutely nothing to lose by giving carnivore a chance. I do not follow a conventional carnivore diet now; I follow a Paleolithic ketogenic diet.

'A meat-based diet is what humans are designed to eat. A Paleolithic ketogenic diet provides the body with all the nutrients it needs to optimally function without having to take artificial supplements and allowing the body to do its healing work process. It healed me one hundred per cent, I am now totally symptom-free.

'I explain and share my knowledge and personal experience, but I never try to convince anyone. People who have known me for many years cannot argue with the fact that I look healthy now, compared to my plant-based years.'

Natalie, pictured now, today eats a wide range of animal products from liver, brain, ribeye steak, beef tartare, raw lamb, pork crackling, pork ribs and broths made from boiling animal offcuts including the head

A typical carnivore meal for Natalie includes offcuts of meal and eggs

Is a vegan diet healthy? The NHS says an adult can get all the nutrients they need from following a varied and balanced vegan diet. To keep healthy while following an plant-based diet, the NHS recommends: eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day

base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)

have some dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts (choose lower fat and lower sugar options)

eat some beans, pulses and other proteins

choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat in small amounts

drink plenty of fluids (the government recommends 6 to 8 cups or glasses a day)

If you choose to include foods and drinks that are high in fat, salt or sugar, have them less often and in small amounts. See the Eatwell Guide for more information about a healthy diet. The only group the diet is not suitable for is children under the age of 2, as they have different needs. Advertisement

Natalie usually eats around twice a day, or whenever she is hungry as she doesn't stick to a strict schedule.

Sharing her advice to others, she said: 'My body dictates my schedule. Usually my two meals are composed of either raw or cooked muscle and/or organ meats with a good amount of animal fat (no dairy) as PKD is a high fat diet'.

'I also consume eggs, cured meats (additive free) and broths. I usually do not snack in between my two meals as I am not hungry.

'If I am hungry though, I consume something small, like a few slices of cured sausage or ham with lard or tallow or a small handful of pork cracklings for example.

Natalie, pictured while she was vegan, has since gained almost a stone after adding meat to her diet

Natalie now, since going carnivore, says 'I also consume eggs, cured meats (additive free) and broths. I usually do not snack in between my two meals as I am not hungry.

'Do something for yourself and try it, commit to the diet for six months or even better a full year.

'It takes time to fully adapt to a diet change, especially if the body is not healthy and all transitions can bring some struggle. Be patient and do not expect to see a miracle after a few weeks but be sure that great and positive changes will happen.

'Seek professional advice, find a specialist on the diet with clinical experience who can guide you personally.

Natalie eats a lot of steak, and often keeps them raw

Natalie often makes bone broth for her meals, and said her health issues only went away when she changed her diet

'There are no shortcuts for health, so do not look for quick fixes, be patient with yourself and the process and avoid following mainstream and Facebook groups' suggestions.

'To my absolute mind blowing, removing plants was key to successfully turn my health around.

'I was able to quit my thyroid medication, painkillers and all the supplements I was taking.

'My health issues resolved only by changing the foods I was putting into my body. Emotional eating habits naturally disappeared, and I now follow my real hunger to decide how many times and how much food to eat every day. This, to me, is freedom!

'I got my health and life back thanks to a hundred per cent animal-based diet and now feeling better than ever.'