Is Dr. Weil a Vegetarian? An Overview of His Evolving Diet

November 14, 2025 •

2 min read

In a 2011 YouTube video, Dr. Andrew Weil explained that he initially stopped eating meat in 1970 and became a lacto-vegetarian for about 15 years. This article explores his dietary evolution and answers the key question: is Dr. Weil a vegetarian today?

Quick Summary

Dr. Andrew Weil has shifted his diet over the decades. After an initial period as a vegetarian, he later adopted a pescetarian diet that includes fish, while remaining focused on an anti-inflammatory, whole-foods approach to eating.

Key Points

Not a vegetarian currently: While Dr. Andrew Weil was a vegetarian for about 15 years, his current diet is best described as pescetarian, which includes fish.
Evolved from lacto-vegetarian to pescetarian: He initially eliminated all meat and eggs in 1970 for health and philosophical reasons, but later added fish back to his diet based on emerging nutritional science about omega-3 fatty acids.
Focuses on an anti-inflammatory diet: His core dietary philosophy emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods and healthy fats to reduce chronic inflammation.
Includes fish for omega-3s: Dr. Weil specifically incorporates smaller, wild-caught fish like salmon, sardines, and herring for their anti-inflammatory and heart-protective properties.
Emphasizes plant-based nutrition: Even with the inclusion of fish, his diet is heavily plant-based, featuring plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains.
Allows other proteins sparingly: His diet guidelines also permit limited, occasional use of other animal proteins, such as eggs and dairy, though not a daily focus.

Dr. Weil's Early Vegetarianism

Following his time at Harvard, Andrew Weil experimented with various lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications. In 1970, he chose to eliminate meat, poultry, and fish from his diet, becoming a lacto-vegetarian for approximately 15 years. During this period, he consumed dairy but abstained from all meat and eggs. According to a 1971 report, this change contributed to weight loss and improved health.

Transition to a Pescetarian Diet

While lacto-vegetarian, Dr. Weil became aware of the health benefits of certain fish, particularly the anti-inflammatory and heart-protective omega-3 fatty acids found in varieties like salmon, sardines, and herring. This evidence, coupled with travel experiences, led him to reintroduce fish into his diet, transitioning to a pescetarian eating pattern. A pescetarian diet includes fish and other seafood but excludes other animal flesh. He continues to make mindful choices, preferring smaller, wild-caught fish while avoiding larger, potentially contaminated species.

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet: His Core Philosophy

Dr. Weil's dietary recommendations consistently align with the principles of his Anti-Inflammatory Diet. This approach, inspired by Mediterranean and Asian diets, aims to minimize chronic inflammation through food. It is a sustainable, whole-foods lifestyle, not a restrictive diet. Key elements include prioritizing plant-based foods, healthy fats, and minimizing processed ingredients. He advocates for abundant fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy oils like extra-virgin olive oil.

A Guide to Dr. Weil's Recommended Foods

Vegetables: Emphasizes a wide variety of fresh, colorful vegetables.
Fruits: Recommends 3–4 daily servings of diverse fruits.
Healthy Fats: Includes avocados, nuts, seeds, and extra-virgin olive oil.
Fish: Consumes 2–6 servings per week of small, wild-caught fish.
Legumes: Encourages 1–2 daily servings of beans and lentils.
Whole Grains: Favors options like brown rice, quinoa, and barley.
Dairy: Recommends limited consumption of full-fat, organic dairy.
Herbs and Spices: Promotes unlimited use of anti-inflammatory spices.

Vegetarian vs. Pescetarian: Dr. Weil's Dietary Evolution

Dr. Weil's diet has evolved based on research and personal health considerations. The inclusion of fish was a personal choice, but the central theme of his recommendations remains consistent.


Feature	Early Vegetarian Diet	Current Pescetarian Diet
Meat and Poultry	Avoids all types	Avoids all types (special occasions only in his restaurants)
Fish and Shellfish	Avoids	Includes (especially small, wild-caught, oily fish)
Dairy	Includes (initially as lacto-vegetarian)	Includes (limited, full-fat, and organic)
Eggs	Initially avoided, later included in his guidelines	Includes (omega-3 enriched eggs as a protein source)
Emphasis	Plant-based for health and yoga philosophy	Anti-inflammatory properties based on evolving research
Omega-3s	Primarily plant-based sources like nuts and seeds	Fish-based sources emphasized for anti-inflammatory benefits

Conclusion: The Bigger Picture

To answer "Is Dr. Weil a vegetarian?" – no, he is not currently, although he was for a period; his present diet is pescetarian. His dietary philosophy centers on an anti-inflammatory approach rich in whole, plant-based foods. While his personal diet includes fish for its health benefits, his core message emphasizes a sustainable lifestyle of nourishing the body with fresh, unprocessed foods.

For more details on his recommendations, consult Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid on his official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Dr. Andrew Weil is not currently a vegetarian. He is a pescetarian, meaning he consumes fish and seafood in addition to a plant-based diet.

Dr. Weil was a lacto-vegetarian, meaning he ate dairy but no meat or eggs, for about 15 years starting in 1970.

He decided to add fish back into his diet after learning about the cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, which are abundant in certain fish.

A pescetarian diet is a type of vegetarian diet that includes fish and other seafood. Dr. Weil's current diet is pescetarian.

His diet emphasizes consuming whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and fish to reduce chronic inflammation, while limiting refined sugars, processed foods, and unhealthy fats.

Dr. Weil avoids red meat and poultry in his personal diet. While his restaurants may serve meat, he views it as a 'special occasion food' and not part of a daily eating pattern.

No, while he emphasizes a plant-based approach, he does not insist everyone become a vegetarian. He focuses on reducing overall animal product consumption while highlighting the health benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet.