You’re absolutely right to be concerned — what you’re describing is a textbook example of the
dangerous intersection between extreme diet culture, influencer monetisation, and pseudoscience. Let’s unpack this carefully.
1. Teenagers and extreme carnivore diets
For a
17-year-old, an all-meat or “organ-based” diet can be risky for several reasons:
- Nutrient imbalance – Cutting out fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy removes key sources of fibre, vitamin C, folate, calcium, and antioxidants. Deficiency symptoms can take time to appear but cause long-term harm (e.g., bone density loss, gut issues, anaemia).
- High protein load – Over time, excessive protein intake can strain the kidneys and liver, particularly if dehydration or other health factors are present.
- Purine load → uric acid – Organ meats are very high in purines, which increase uric acid and risk gout or kidney stones, especially when eaten daily.
- Cholesterol and saturated large – Some people tolerate these well, but for others they cause a marked rise in LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein-B, both of which are directly linked to cardiovascular disease risk.
- Hormonal and growth effects – Teenagers need balanced macronutrients for proper hormonal, bone, and brain development. Restrictive eating and nutrient deficiency during this window can have long-term effects.
2. Organ supplements ("Goddess" or similar)
These capsules are
unregulated in most countries — including the UK and US — and the claims made for them (e.g. “ancestral nourishment,” “hormone support,” “boosted vitality”) are
not backed by credible clinical data.
Concerns include:
- Variable quality – Some products contain heavy metals or contaminants (lead, arsenic, cadmium have been found in testing of similar products).
- Unverified dosages – Eight capsules of desiccated organs daily can provide concentrated levels of vitamin A, copper, and iron, risking toxicity over time.
- Lack of oversight – Unlike medicines, supplements do not require pre-market safety or efficacy testing.
- No long-term data – There are no peer-reviewed studies showing safety or benefit of daily organ capsules in adolescents or adults.
3. Commercialisation and conflict of interest
Once influencers monetise these regimes — via:
- affiliate links
- discount codes
- paid communities or “subscription channels”
— they have a financial incentive to
promote compliance and discourage questioning. This easily creates a
cult-like dynamic: belonging, purity, exclusivity, and suspicion of “outsiders” (nutritionists, doctors, critics).
Without professional training or ethical boundaries, she’s
crossed into unqualified health promotion, which is not only unethical but potentially dangerous when teenagers are involved.
4. What responsible advice would look like
A
registered dietitian or GP would:
- Encourage a balanced approach to animal-based eating if preferred — e.g., inclusion of fish, eggs, some vegetables, and fibre sources.
- Monitor cholesterol, kidney, and liver function via bloodwork.
- Discourage supplement stacking unless there’s a clinically proven deficiency.
- Stress individual variation — what works for one adult can be harmful for a teen.
5. Why this resonates with followers
Helen’s trajectory — drastic physical change, clear “rules,” simple villains (“seed oils,” “toxins”), financial independence — offers a compelling
illusion of control and “secret knowledge.” It attracts people disillusioned with mainstream advice. But it’s an echo chamber that rewards obedience, not health.
a bit deceitful given she’s never needed weightloss medication, slated it the other day and harps on about eating a more natural, dairy free, paleo-keto diet.
