Is Bryan Johnson Vegetarian? An Examination of the Biohacker's Diet

December 17, 2025 •

3 min read

Bryan Johnson, the tech millionaire known for his rigorous anti-aging routine, follows a strict vegan diet, not merely a vegetarian one. He chose this path not only for health benefits but also for ethical reasons after a specific hunting experience led to a profound shift in his perspective.

Quick Summary

Bryan Johnson adheres to a strict vegan diet for both ethical and longevity-focused health reasons, not a vegetarian one. His highly structured, plant-based Blueprint protocol is designed for radical life extension, though it includes non-vegan collagen peptides.

Key Points

Vegan, Not Vegetarian: Bryan Johnson follows a vegan diet, which strictly excludes all animal products, including dairy and eggs.
Ethical and Philosophical Motivation: His veganism is driven by both ethical reasons, influenced by a hunting experience, and a philosophical stance regarding future artificial intelligence.
Blueprint Protocol: His diet is a core component of his anti-aging regimen, Project Blueprint, which is meticulously designed and data-driven for maximum longevity.
Exception for Supplements: While primarily plant-based, Johnson does include collagen peptides in his supplement stack, which are typically animal-derived.
Rigid Caloric Intake: His diet adheres to a strict caloric limit of approximately 2,250 calories per day, consumed within a 6-8 hour eating window.
Focused on Whole Foods: Johnson's meals are centered around whole, unprocessed plant foods like lentils, broccoli, nuts, and berries.

Bryan Johnson's Dietary Choice: Vegan with an Exception

While many people wonder, "Is Bryan Johnson vegetarian?" the answer is more precise: he is vegan. A vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and fish, but may include dairy and eggs. A vegan diet goes a step further, abstaining from all animal products and by-products. Johnson's diet falls firmly into the latter category, with the notable exception of supplementing with collagen peptides, which are often derived from animal sources. His meals consist of nutrient-dense, plant-based ingredients optimized for longevity and reversing biological aging as part of his Project Blueprint regimen.

The Ethical and Philosophical Shift to Veganism

Johnson has been public about his decision to transition to a plant-based lifestyle, citing both ethical and futuristic concerns. He explained that a hunting trip where he shot an elk led to a powerful and emotional moment that prompted his change. This personal experience was a turning point, reinforcing his desire to incorporate more compassion into his life. His decision is also influenced by a broader philosophical perspective on the future of artificial intelligence. He believes that as AI becomes more powerful, humanity should demonstrate compassion toward other life forms to set a positive precedent for how a superintelligence might treat humans.

Core Components of Johnson's Plant-Based Diet

Johnson's diet, meticulously tracked and optimized, is built around whole, unprocessed plant foods. His daily meals are remarkably consistent, focusing on a precise caloric intake and macronutrient distribution. A typical day includes three main meals, consumed within a tight eating window that concludes by 11:30 a.m..

Breakfast (Super Veggie): This blended meal includes black lentils, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, and various spices.
Lunch (Nutty Pudding): A mixture of macadamia nuts, walnuts, chia seeds, flaxseed, berries, and pomegranate juice, combined with pea and hemp protein powders.
Dinner (Varies): A rotating selection of vegetable-centric meals from his protocol, such as Buddha bowls, salads, or sweet potato dishes.

In addition to these meals, he consumes a large number of supplements daily and adds extra virgin olive oil and pure cocoa powder to his food. The strict regimen is designed to be highly anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

Comparison: Bryan Johnson's Diet vs. Standard Vegetarianism


Feature	Bryan Johnson's Diet (Vegan)	Standard Vegetarianism
Meat, Poultry, Fish	Excluded	Excluded
Dairy (Milk, Cheese, etc.)	Excluded	Allowed
Eggs	Excluded	Allowed
Collagen Supplements	Included (as an exception)	Can be included or excluded
Focus	Maximized for specific biomarker targets, longevity	Varies widely, can be for ethics, health, or preference
Caloric Intake	Strictly monitored and calorically restricted	Highly variable
Processed Foods	Strictly avoided	Often consumed, depends on personal choice

Why the Distinction Matters for Longevity

The difference between a vegan and vegetarian diet is significant, particularly in the context of Johnson's extreme biohacking. While vegetarianism can be very healthy, a vegan diet removes all animal-derived products, which can eliminate sources of inflammation and provide a different nutrient profile. Johnson’s program is not about casual eating; it is a highly controlled experiment where every calorie serves a specific purpose. The inclusion of supplements like collagen, which technically makes his diet not 100% vegan, highlights the practical compromises made for achieving specific health metrics within his broader ethical framework. He is not dogmatic about the approach for his followers, stating that animal products can be added to the Blueprint recipes if desired, but he personally adheres to the plant-based protocol.

Conclusion: The Vegan Biohacker

To answer the question, "Is Bryan Johnson vegetarian?" definitively, he is not. He follows a vegan diet for specific health and ethical reasons, with the documented exception of consuming collagen peptides. His diet is a cornerstone of his exhaustive Project Blueprint, a system designed for longevity and biological reversal. While his veganism is a personal choice based on compassion and foresight, the overall structure of his protocol is a rigorous scientific experiment focused on extending his life, using plant-based whole foods as the primary fuel. For a deeper look into his detailed health regimen, his website, Blueprint, provides extensive information on his daily protocol.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Bryan Johnson is not a vegetarian; he follows a vegan diet. A vegetarian diet typically excludes meat, while a vegan diet excludes all animal products, including dairy and eggs.

Bryan Johnson became vegan for both ethical and philosophical reasons. A hunting incident involving an elk was a turning point for him, and he also believes it's prudent to show compassion to less intelligent life forms in anticipation of superintelligent AI.

Yes, although he follows a strict vegan diet, Bryan Johnson does consume collagen peptides as part of his daily supplements. Collagen is a non-vegan ingredient, making his diet plant-based with one specific exception.

Bryan Johnson's daily diet consists of three main plant-based meals: a 'Super Veggie' breakfast, a 'Nutty Pudding' lunch, and a variable third meal. These are consumed within a limited eating window.

While Bryan Johnson is personally vegan, he has stated that adherents to the Blueprint protocol can add animal products to the recipes if they wish. The core protocol is plant-centric, but not strictly vegan for those who don't follow his personal choice.

Johnson's diet is packed with vegetables, berries, nuts, and seeds. His regular meals include black lentils, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, macadamia nuts, walnuts, chia seeds, and pomegranate juice.

The distinction is important because his diet is part of a highly controlled scientific experiment. His complete exclusion of animal products, other than collagen peptides, is a deliberate choice for health and longevity reasons, beyond the ethical considerations of standard vegetarianism.