Unpacking the Question: Is Paul Saladino on TRT?
For years, physician Paul Saladino has been a prominent and often controversial figure in the world of nutrition and biohacking. His initial advocacy for a strict carnivore diet and his transparent approach to his personal health journey have drawn both a large following and intense scrutiny. Among the most persistent questions from his audience, the query, “Is Paul Saladino on TRT?” has stood out, leading him to directly address the speculation in 2022.
To put the rumors to rest, Saladino publicly shared his bloodwork, showing robust testosterone levels for his age without the use of exogenous hormones. His total testosterone levels were reported to be around 700 ng/dL in 2022, an impressive number for a man in his mid-40s. He also shared his follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which further indicated that his natural hormonal axis was functioning normally. This disclosure was a direct challenge to the notion that his impressive physique and energy levels were due to pharmaceutical intervention.
The Hormonal Impact of His Dietary Evolution
Saladino's journey to optimal hormonal health was not without its challenges. His own experience offers a compelling case study on how diet can directly impact testosterone levels. His path can be broken down into two distinct phases, each with its own set of hormonal outcomes.
The Strict Carnivore Phase (2018-2020)
For several years, Saladino was a leading advocate for a meat-only, or strict carnivore, diet. This phase, however, was not without its metabolic and hormonal downsides, as he later admitted. During this time, he experienced unpleasant symptoms that he attributed to long-term ketosis, including sleep disturbances, heart palpitations, and, notably, a significant drop in his testosterone levels. This revelation was a crucial turning point in his dietary philosophy and demonstrated his willingness to adapt in the face of negative health outcomes.
The Shift to an Animal-Based Diet (2020-Present)
Recognizing the need for a change, Saladino evolved his dietary approach away from a strict carnivore protocol. His current “animal-based” diet still centers on animal products but reintroduces carbohydrates through fruit and honey. This change led to a marked improvement in his health, with the reported reversal of the sleep issues and heart palpitations. Crucially, his testosterone levels rebounded, which he credits to the inclusion of carbohydrates and the cessation of the restrictive, long-term ketogenic state. This experience highlighted his belief that a balanced intake of protein, fat, and carbohydrates is vital for optimal hormonal function.
Comparison of Saladino's Diet Phases and Their Hormonal Effects
| Diet Phase | Key Characteristics | Reported Hormonal Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Strict Carnivore | Zero carbohydrates, meat-only, long-term ketosis. | Drop in testosterone levels, sleep disturbances, heart palpitations. |
| Animal-Based | Meat, organs, fruit, honey, some vegetables (low toxin). | Rebound of testosterone levels, improved sleep, resolution of palpitations. |
Saladino's Approach to Natural Hormone Optimization
Since moving away from his strict carnivore days, Saladino has focused on a holistic, natural approach to maintaining optimal hormone levels. His advice goes beyond just diet and incorporates a range of lifestyle strategies.
Here are some of the natural methods he champions:
- Prioritize Sleep: Adequate, high-quality sleep is crucial for testosterone production, which is primarily synthesized during the sleep cycle.
- Get Sunlight Exposure: Regular sun exposure helps optimize vitamin D levels, a key nutrient for hormone synthesis and overall health.
- Eat Nose-to-Tail: Consuming nutrient-dense animal organs, in addition to muscle meat, provides essential vitamins and minerals like B12, which are important for hormonal pathways.
- Include Carbohydrates: His personal experience demonstrated the importance of carbohydrates for maintaining healthy testosterone levels, reversing the negative effects of prolonged ketosis.
- Engage in Strength Training: Regular exercise, including resistance training, is well-established as a potent tool for supporting hormonal health and boosting testosterone.
- Manage Stress: Keeping stress hormones, particularly cortisol, in check is vital for testosterone optimization, as high cortisol can suppress sex hormones.
The Broader Context of TRT and Nutritional Strategies
While Saladino’s personal journey and transparent bloodwork provide an answer to the specific question, “Is Paul Saladino on TRT?”, his experience also serves as a broader reminder. His initial dietary dogma, which later proved hormonally detrimental for him, illustrates the importance of individual variability in nutritional needs. It highlights that even a diet rich in cholesterol and saturated fat, often associated with higher testosterone, can have negative effects if other critical macronutrients are neglected.
Saladino's ultimate stance on TRT is that it should be a last resort, reserved for men with genuinely low testosterone due to injury or other serious medical conditions. For the majority of men experiencing age-related decline or lifestyle-induced hormone issues, he advocates for first addressing foundational pillars of health: diet, sleep, and exercise. His journey from a restrictive carnivore diet to a more balanced animal-based one, which includes carbohydrates, is a powerful endorsement of this natural, holistic strategy for hormonal health.
Note: For further information on the potential impacts of dietary changes on hormonal health, a reputable medical resource like the Cleveland Clinic can offer guidance on TRT and related issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Paul Saladino is not on TRT and has publicly provided bloodwork to demonstrate his commitment to a natural approach. His personal health evolution, which saw him abandon a strict carnivore diet after experiencing a drop in testosterone, offers valuable insights. By reintroducing carbohydrates and adopting a more holistic focus on lifestyle factors like sleep and exercise, he was able to optimize his hormone levels without resorting to pharmaceutical interventions. His journey underscores the complex interplay between diet, lifestyle, and hormonal health and serves as a testament to the power of addressing the root causes of metabolic and endocrine issues.
