Mikhaila Peterson

Early Life and Health Challenges

Mikhaila Peterson was born in Toronto in 1992, the daughter of author and psychologist Jordan Peterson and Tammy Peterson. From a very young age, she faced significant and chronic health problems that would later shape her public career. She was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at the age of two, a condition that led to severe bone erosion. This deterioration resulted in her requiring a total hip replacement and an ankle replacement by the time she was seventeen years old. During her adolescent years, she also experienced clinical depression and severe nightmares, compounding her physical struggles. Peterson has stated she grew up in an agnostic household but converted to Christianity as a young adult following her mother's cancer diagnosis. For her post-secondary education, she initially studied psychology at Concordia University in Montreal before transferring to George Brown College and ultimately graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in biological and biomedical sciences from Ryerson University.

Advocacy for the Carnivore and Lion Diets

In 2018, after years of struggling with autoimmune and joint conditions, Mikhaila Peterson adopted what she described as a carnivore diet. She began documenting this lifestyle on an Instagram account and through an online blog titled 'Don't Eat That.' Her approach evolved into what she termed the 'Lion Diet,' which she presented as the most restrictive version of the carnivore diet. This regimen limited food intake to primarily ruminant meat (such as beef), salt, and water, excluding all other food groups. Peterson credited this diet with resolving her arthritis pain, depression, and other health issues, claiming it offered a cure where conventional medicine had failed. She maintained this strict dietary protocol for approximately eight years, from 2018 until 2026. Her advocacy extended to parenting, as she publicly recommended the diet for children, stating that the first solid food she fed her own baby daughter was meat and that she continued this practice for several years. In 2026, Peterson announced she was 'no longer carnivore' after eight years, having begun a process of food reintroduction.

Her dietary claims and health advice have been met with significant criticism from medical and nutritional professionals. Pediatric gastroenterologists and nutrition committees, such as those within the American Academy of Pediatrics, have warned that such restrictive diets can lead to deficiencies in essential nutrients like vitamin C and fibre, which are critical for child development. Science communicators and plant-based health professionals have repeatedly challenged the evidence base for the carnivore diet, describing its promotion as misguided. Critics have also noted that many proponents, including Peterson through sponsorships and her own ventures, benefit financially from promoting these dietary lifestyles. Peterson's specific recommendations and assertions regarding childhood nutrition have been a focal point of debate. In a 2026 podcast episode, she cited a single 2006 randomized controlled trial to support her view that infants fed meat had a greater increase in head circumference between seven and twelve months compared to those fed fortified cereal. She interpreted this as a positive developmental outcome, though the study's authors did not conclude that larger head circumference was inherently superior or that an all-meat diet was advisable. Peterson has advised parents of children with autoimmune disorders to consider the Lion Diet, stating they can feed their child 'only meat.' This advice contrasts sharply with mainstream pediatric guidance emphasizing balanced, nutrient-dense diets for growth.

Podcasting and Digital Media Career

Peterson's primary public platform is The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast, which she hosts and produces. The podcast, available primarily on YouTube, features interviews with a wide range of guests, including CEOs, fitness enthusiasts, spiritual guides, and nutrition researchers. Discussions frequently centre on health, diet, science, and personal wellness philosophies. The podcast quickly garnered sponsorship from companies aligned with her dietary views, such as Ancestral Supplements and Brooklyn Biltong. Through this medium, Peterson has expressed scepticism toward conventional medical interventions, including vaccines and standard newborn procedures like the vitamin K shot. Science communicator Jonathan Jarry characterized the podcast as a venue where Peterson 'gets free appointments with people she mistakenly regards as health experts.' Episodes often address specific health topics. For instance, a 2026 episode titled 'Pregnancy Q&A and Advice' addressed her views on childhood nutrition and diet. The podcast serves as the central hub for her public communication and business activities. Its content strategy and guest selection reflect her core interests in alternative health, personal responsibility, and critiques of institutional science. Following her appearance on popular shows like The Joe Rogan Experience, her profile and the reach of her own podcast increased significantly, though it also attracted more scrutiny. A full YouTube version of her 'Pregnancy Q&A' episode was later made private, though excerpts remained in her YouTube Shorts. The podcast's commercial model relies on direct sponsorships from companies whose products dovetail with the content, creating an integrated ecosystem of advocacy and commerce.

Business Ventures and Commercial Activities

Beyond podcasting, Mikhaila Peterson has launched several business initiatives tied to health and education. Her commercial activities span direct product promotion, educational resources, and platform leadership. She founded the online resource associated with The Lion Diet, providing information targeting autoimmune conditions and mood disorders. Following her 2023 diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), she established Biotoxin.com, a website compiling scientific papers on mold illness. That same year, she co-founded Peterson Academy with her father Jordan Peterson and was appointed its CEO, leading the online education platform that aims to provide 'ideology-free' higher education. After an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, she announced plans to launch a health supplement brand named Fuller Health. Her podcast has been sponsored by companies including Ancestral Supplements, which sells beef organ supplements, and Brooklyn Biltong, a maker of meat snacks. The Guardian also reported she briefly offered private health consultations, though much information is available for free on her websites.

• The Lion Diet Resource: She founded the online resource associated with The Lion Diet, providing information targeting autoimmune conditions and mood disorders.
• Biotoxin.com (2023): Following her diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), she established this website to compile scientific papers on mold illness.
• Peterson Academy (2023): Co-founded with her father Jordan Peterson, she was appointed CEO of this online education platform aiming to provide 'ideology-free' higher education.
• Fuller Health: After an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, she announced plans to launch this health supplement brand.
• Podcast Sponsorships: Her podcast has been sponsored by companies including Ancestral Supplements (beef organ supplements) and Brooklyn Biltong (meat snacks).
• Private Consultations: The Guardian reported she briefly offered private health consultations, though much information is free on her websites.

Her ventures demonstrate a business model where her health advocacy directly supports commercial products and services. Critics, such as science communicator Jonathan Jarry, argue this model monetizes doubt in conventional medicine by vaccines. He states she receives sponsorships from companies selling beef organ supplements and mould detection kits. The launch of Peterson Academy marked a significant expansion from health into the education sector. Peterson Academy is an online education platform she co-founded with her father.

Public Reception and Criticism

Mikhaila Peterson's work has positioned her as a polarizing figure in the health and wellness space. Her advocacy for extreme dietary restrictions, particularly for children, has drawn sustained criticism from medical experts who warn of nutritional deficiencies and the dangers of applying adult dietary experiments to developing infants. Media outlets like The Guardian have characterized her blog's advice as needing to be taken with a 'pinch of salt' and accused it of 'promulgating quackery.' Following her appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, this criticism intensified. Molecular biologist Jonathan Jarry, writing for McGill University's Office for Science and Society, summarized her public promotions as 'misguided notions regarding the carnivore diet, mould, mitochondria, and psychiatric drugs.' Critics argue that her platform monetizes doubt in established medicine through sponsorships from companies selling beef organ supplements and mold detection kits. In 2025, Dr. Shireen Kassam, director of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, explicitly criticized the idea of raising children on animal-source prioritized diets, stating it lays 'the foundations of poor health.' Despite this, she maintains a substantial online following and her views resonate with a segment of the population seeking alternatives to conventional health advice. Her status as the daughter of a famous cultural commentator also contributes to her public profile, as evidenced by Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre's 2026 public congratulations to the Peterson family.

The core critiques from the scientific and medical community can be summarized as follows. Jonathan Jarry summarized his take by writing she has publicly promoted misguided notions regarding the carnivore diet, mould, mitochondria, and psychiatric drugs. A pediatric gastroenterologist stated vitamin C and fiber are essential for kids and rare in a carnivore diet. Dr Shireen Kassam said it makes no sense to raise children on a diet that prioritizes animal-sourced foods.

1. Nutritional Inadequacy: Experts state the diet lacks essential nutrients like vitamin C and fibre, crucial for children and adults.
2. Misinterpretation of Science: Critics say she misrepresents studies, such as the 2006 head circumference trial, to support extreme conclusions.
3. Financial Conflict of Interest: Her income streams from sponsorships and her own brands are seen as incentivizing the promotion of unproven diets.
4. Erosion of Trust: Her regular promotion of doubt in doctors, vaccines, and standard medical interventions is viewed as dangerous.
5. Lack of Expertise: She provides specific medical and nutritional advice without formal clinical or dietetic qualifications.

These points form the basis of the ongoing controversy surrounding her public work and recommendations. Her blog was criticized for promulgating quackery and that its advice should be taken with a pinch of salt. The purported benefits of the carnivore diet have been repeatedly debunked. Many of its proponents also benefit financially by promoting the diet.

Personal Life and Family

Mikhaila Peterson is married to Jordan Fuller, and the couple has four children. She has lived in several locations throughout her adult life, including Miami and Arizona, before returning to Canada. Her family life is occasionally discussed on her podcast, particularly in the context of dietary choices for her children. In 2026, Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre publicly extended congratulations to Jordan Peterson and the 'wonderful Peterson family,' indicating the public profile of the family unit. Peterson's conversion to Christianity and her experiences with her mother's illness have been noted as significant personal milestones that she references in discussing her worldview. Her approach to parenting, especially regarding diet, is a direct extension of her public advocacy. She has detailed feeding practices for her children that align with her dietary philosophy, stating the first solid food she fed her baby daughter was meat. She fed her daughter primarily meat 'for the first three years,' until the child was about two-and-a-half or three, starting with beef before later introducing some fish and chicken, but sticking mostly to 'fatty beef.' She cites a belief that children starting with meat have better developmental outcomes, referencing head circumference studies, and noted the sequence for her children was 'breast milk, and eventually, they start with meat.'

• First Foods: She stated the first solid food she fed her baby daughter was meat.
• Duration: She fed her daughter primarily meat 'for the first three years,' until the child was about two-and-a-half or three.
• Progression: She started with beef before later introducing some fish and chicken, but stuck mostly to 'fatty beef.'
• Rationale: She cites a belief that children starting with meat have better developmental outcomes, referencing head circumference studies.
• Breastfeeding: She noted the sequence for her children was 'breast milk, and eventually, they start with meat.'

These practices, shared publicly, have contributed significantly to the controversy surrounding her work. She has said that the first solid food she fed her baby daughter was meat. She stated she did meat with her daughter for the first three years, sticking mostly to fatty beef. She has advised that young children with autoimmune disorders can do The Lion Diet, meaning only meat. Her family's high profile ensures that these personal choices are often part of the public discourse about her.

Questions about Mikhaila Peterson

What is Mikhaila Peterson's Lion Diet?

The Lion Diet is an extremely restrictive version of the carnivore diet developed and promoted by Mikhaila Peterson. It involves consuming only ruminant meat (such as beef), salt, and water, excluding all other foods including other meats, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Peterson credited this diet with resolving her own severe autoimmune arthritis, depression, and other health issues after years of suffering. She maintained this diet for eight years, from 2018 until 2026, when she began reintroducing other foods. The diet is marketed through her online resources for those with autoimmune and mood disorders.

What health issues did Mikhaila Peterson experience growing up?

From early childhood, Mikhaila Peterson faced significant health challenges. She was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at age two, which caused progressive bone erosion. This damage became so severe that she required a total hip replacement and an ankle replacement by the age of seventeen. During her adolescence, she also struggled with clinical depression and severe nightmares. She has cited these chronic conditions as the primary motivation for her later exploration of radical dietary interventions like the carnivore diet.

Why is Mikhaila Peterson controversial?

Mikhaila Peterson is controversial primarily for advocating extreme and medically unorthodox health practices. Her promotion of the all-meat Lion Diet for adults and children has been criticized by pediatricians and nutrition experts who warn of serious nutrient deficiencies. Science communicators have accused her of spreading misinformation about mold, mitochondria, and psychiatric drugs. Her podcast platform, which questions vaccines and conventional medical interventions, and her financial ties to supplement companies selling products aligned with her views, have further fueled criticism that she monetizes health misinformation.

Does Mikhaila Peterson have a podcast?

Yes, Mikhaila Peterson hosts and produces The Mikhaila Peterson Podcast, which is a central part of her public persona. The podcast is primarily distributed on YouTube and features long-form interviews with guests from various fields, including health, science, business, and spirituality. Common topics include dietary science, personal wellness, and critiques of mainstream medicine. The podcast has been commercially successful, securing sponsorships from companies like Ancestral Supplements and Brooklyn Biltong.

What is Peterson Academy and what is Mikhaila Peterson's role?

Peterson Academy is an online education platform co-founded by Mikhaila Peterson and her father, Jordan Peterson, in 2023. The platform was created to make higher education ideology-free. Upon its founding, Mikhaila Peterson was appointed the chief executive officer (CEO) of the venture. As CEO, she is responsible for the overall leadership and strategic direction of the academy. This role represents one of her primary business ventures alongside her health-focused podcast and dietary advocacy work. The academy is a significant part of her professional identity as a Canadian businesswoman.

Is Mikhaila Peterson still on a carnivore diet?

As of 2026, Mikhaila Peterson has announced she is no longer strictly carnivore after following the diet for eight years. She began a process of food reintroduction, marking a significant shift from her previous long-standing dietary protocol. This change was announced publicly, indicating an evolution in her personal health journey. Peterson had previously followed a highly restrictive version called the Lion Diet, which limited intake to just meat. Her initial adoption of the carnivore diet in 2018 was linked to her reported improvements in health conditions including arthritis and celiac disease.

Sources and further reading

• Mikhaila Peterson (Wikipedia)
• Mikhaila Peterson Says The First Thing She Fed Her Baby ... (plantbasednews.org)

Checked by the Novello Desserts desk. Last updated 2026-10-28.