Celebrity chef Pete Evans has responded to the growing popularity of plant-based diets, saying that going vegan once left him in the worst shape of his life.

The paleo diet advocate said he had been bombarded with questions about Netflix documentary 'The Game Changers', produced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, that touts the benefits of plant-based eating for athletes.

The My Kitchen Rules Judge said he decided to give up meat and dairy 25 years ago to pursue a plant-based diet for four years but didn't experience the positive effects others have reported.

'I felt wonderful for the first year then my health deteriorated to the worst it had ever been,' Evans told his 1.5 million Facebook followers.

'So I adapted and adapted to where I currently am.'

The TV presenter has since been on a strict paleo lifestyle for nearly 10 years.

'After nearly a decade of following paleo/keto diets, I am in the best shape of my life physically, mentally and also spiritually,' Evans said.

Australia celebrity chef Pete Evans (pictured) has revealed what really happened to his body after following a vegan diet for four years

What's the difference between Paleo and a plant-based diet? The Paleo style of eating has been sweeping across the globe with its focus on high intake of meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, some fruit, seeds and nuts. Paleo, also known as the 'caveman diet', cuts out grains, legumes, sugar and dairy. Vegan, otherwise known as a plant-based diet, cuts out all animal products, including meat, eggs and dairy. People adopt veganism for many reasons, including ethical to environmental concerns or to improve their health. Advertisement

'Everyone is entitled to follow what ever brings them joy and peace and great health and I encourage people to explore that for themselves.'

'The best news about a plant-based diet is it is only one step from paleo and that can only be a great thing, as the current Australian or western diet is many many steps away from paleo so keep exploring and being open to all possibilities,' he said.

'If paleo/keto/carnivore stops delivering for me then I will continue to adapt also.'

The celebrity chef shared his views on the plant-based movement after his fans asked him what he thought.

'My advice is always to get your blood tests done prior to any dietary change so you have a starting point, then adopt your chosen dietary principle based on the best available non bias research,' Evans told his fans.

'And then go for it with continued blood tests every three to six months to monitor what is happening in your own body with an up date medical practitioner.

'If after some time you are not getting the results you are after then you may wish to adapt your dietary principles as well as looking at the other pillars of health.'

The My Kitchen Rules judge said he decided to give up meat and dairy 25 years ago to pursue a plant-based diet

The paleo style of eating has been sweeping across the globe in recent years, with its focus on high intake of meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, some fruit, seeds and nuts.

'Paleo is very beneficial,' Evans previously told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's a way of returning to a far more natural way of eating and a way of using the foods you eat to drive optimal health and balance in your body.

'By ditching refined carbohydrates and sugars and replacing them with moderate amounts of protein, good-quality fats and lots of nutrient-dense vegetables, you'll have energy to burn.

'And you can concentrate for long periods without experiencing the brain fogginess and blood sugar roller-coaster ride that comes with eating a diet full of refined carbs and sugars.'

But after his health deteriorated on a plant-based diet, the TV presenter has since been on a strict Paleo lifestyle for nearly 10 year - and he's in the 'best shape' of his life

For the past few years, the paleo advocate has been promoting the 'caveman diet' that cuts out grains legumes, sugar and dairy, even sparking a food war against concerned health experts.

'Critics don't really seem to grasp what paleo is,' Evans previously told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's not a diet, nor is it nutritionally incompetent nor is it a fad. All these labels serve to do is disconnect paleo far away from its reality.

'At its heart, paleo is a way of life and a balanced approach to returning to eat the most natural foods available, straight from the source.

'Scientific research shows that by consuming what our ancestors and modern-day hunter-gatherer tribes continue to consume today, we can take back control of our health and live a life of optimal wellness.

'These societies don't tend to suffer from the modern chronic diseases that plague the developed world and for me that's powerful information worth investigating.'