Bear Grylls shares his daily diet, including eating one steak, six eggs and drinking electrolyte water - after he admitted he now cringes that he once promoted veganism

The TV action man shared his own hacks for a 'healthy, happy life' Read more: Russell Brand hugs pal Bear Grylls in the River Thames in newly released picture - after scandal-hit comic revealed he'd been baptised

Bear Grylls, who once wrote a vegan cookbook, has revealed how he says he stays in optimum health - and it involves a lot of red meat.

The TV explorer has turned his back on his former plant-based diet, something he recently admitted he's now 'embarrassed' to have promoted to his fans, and swears by eating a steak a day.

On his Instagram account, Grylls, 50, shared his regime, covering everything from diet to sleep and exercise.

The explorer, a former Etonian who became one of the youngest people to climb Everest, told his 7.5million followers this week: 'Some hacks for healthy, happy life… I get asked about this stuff more and more. I can only speak to what works I think for me.'

How to Build-a-Bear!  The TV adventurer, pictured on location in Costa Rica, posted details of the regime he follows to maintain health

Menu du jour: What Bear says he does every day to stay healthy

Last year, Grylls shared a snap of his 'breakfast of champions', which included  steak, bacon and avocado

The father-of-three then revealed that the daily regime that he follows involves consuming a steak a day, three to six eggs and Greek yoghurt and fruit.

A fan of electrolyte water, which helps maintain hydration and replace lost minerals, he recommends drinking around 450ml (16oz) daily.

Grylls, who stepped down from his role as Chief Scout this month after holding the position since 2009, also suggests 'walking 30 to 60 minutes per day', sleeping 7 to 8 hours and getting 20 minutes of sunlight on your body every day.

Exercise? Lifting weights four times a week for 45 minutes. The star added in the caption that he'd also recommend that people: 'Get barefoot, get cold, get healing lion’s mane and chaga cacao?!'

Many nutritionists recommend Lion's Mane Mushroom for supporting 'brain and neurological health', while Chaga Cacao is a blend of superfood fungus extract, cacao powder and ceylon cinnamon. It contains beta-glucans, naturally occurring carbs, and can, it's claimed, help with your immune system.

Exercise: The father-of-three says he uses weights four time a week to keep his muscle tone strong

The 50-year-old showed off this photo of his toned back during a recent weights session on Instagram

Grylls recently said he now feels 'embarrassed' that he used to promote veganism - and has now shunned vegetables completely in favour of red meat

Grylls, pictured with Benedict Cumberbatch on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, stepped down from his role as Chief Scout this month after holding the position since 2009

In 2022, Grylls posted a picture of bacon, sausages and scrambled egg on X, with the caption: 'Solid feed up before speaking at an event! Ready to go.' Right: The same year, Grylls shared a photo of his 'dream lunch' on X - which consists of grass-fed beef and live, eggs, rice, butter, cheese and bone marrow supplement

In May last year, Grylls opened up in an interview with PA about how he largely shuns vegetables now after turning his back on his vegan diet.

He claimed that he'd 'never felt stronger' and that his skin and gut have 'never been better' after binning the plant-based diet.

He said: 'I was vegan quite a few years ago – in fact I wrote a vegan cookbook, and I feel a bit embarrassed because I really promoted that,' Grylls said in an interview with PA.

'I thought that was good for the environment and I thought it was good for my health.

'And through time and experience and knowledge and study, I realised I was wrong on both counts.'

Inspired by how our ancestors survived for millennia, Grylls now eats red meat, blood, bone marrow, as well as salted butter, eggs, fruit and honey.

As well as veg, he avoids processed foods, bread and pasta.

But while Grylls claims the science stacks up, experts insist that vegan diets can be perfectly healthy and vegetables are key for a balanced diet.

Experts also say that despite red meat being a good protein source, too much can increase the risk of bowel cancer, while a recent Harvard University study found low-carb diets can increase the risk of early death.

The 50-year-old said that since switching to a red meat-focused diet, he no longer craves junk, and slammed his previous plant-based diet as 'such an unhealthy way to live.'

He said: 'I was having salads every day, I would really crave junk food and once or twice a week have cheat meals – a real blow-out of whatever you want, burgers, pizzas, etc'.

He added: 'You're basically starving for 80 per cent of the time and then you're bingeing for the rest. That's not good for the body.'

Grylls added: 'I find now I'm always full when I'm eating so much meat and eggs and butter and fruit and honey – I'm never hungry.'