Dr. Saladino's Evolution from Carnivore to Animal-Based
Dr. Paul Saladino, a double board-certified MD, first gained prominence in the health and wellness sphere for his staunch advocacy of the carnivore diet. His book, The Carnivore Code, became a manifesto for many looking to improve their health by eating only meat, fish, and other animal products. However, his dietary journey took a public turn around 2020, and by 2023, he fully disclosed his transition away from a pure carnivore approach. He cited personal health struggles as the catalyst for this change, including plummeting testosterone levels, persistent sleep issues, heart palpitations, and muscle cramps. Saladino concluded that long-term ketosis, the state achieved on a zero-carb diet, was likely not optimal for him or most humans.
The Shift to an Animal-Based Framework
Today, Dr. Saladino follows what he calls an "animal-based" diet. This framework remains heavily centered on animal products but reintroduces a select few plant-derived foods. The core of his diet is built around the most nutrient-dense animal foods, while strategically adding carbohydrates from sources he considers low in plant toxins. This philosophy is a direct result of his personal health setbacks and ongoing research into ancestral eating patterns, famously referencing the Hadza people of Tanzania. He believes this modified approach addresses the nutritional deficiencies and metabolic downsides he experienced on the stricter carnivore regimen.
What Makes Up Dr. Saladino's Current Diet?
Dr. Saladino's present-day diet is a thoughtful curation of animal and specific plant-based foods. It moves beyond the binary of meat or no-meat, focusing instead on nutritional density and minimizing perceived "plant defense chemicals".
Animal Products:
- Meat and Organs: The foundation of his diet continues to be meat, with a strong emphasis on nutrient-dense organ meats. He is the founder of Heart & Soil, a supplement company that encapsulates organ meat for consumption. Examples include beef, lamb, pork, and poultry, along with liver, kidney, and heart.
- Raw Dairy: A significant addition to his current diet is raw dairy, specifically raw kefir and raw milk. He praises raw dairy for its probiotic content and overall nutritional profile, despite widespread health warnings about potential risks associated with unpasteurized products.
Permitted Plant Foods:
- Fruits: He incorporates fruit into his diet as a source of carbohydrates, arguing that fruit contains fewer "plant toxins" compared to other plant foods. Examples include watermelon, mangoes, and strawberries.
- Honey: Raw honey is another key carbohydrate source in his animal-based framework. He often includes it in drinks and his Erewhon market smoothie collaboration.
- Other Carbs: While less emphasized, some accounts mention the inclusion of cooked carbohydrates like plantains.
Dr. Saladino's Carnivore vs. Animal-Based Diet
| Feature | Strict Carnivore Diet (Past) | Animal-Based Diet (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrate Sources | None. Completely zero-carb. | Primarily fruit and honey. Occasionally cooked plantains. |
| Fats | Animal fats only (tallow, lard, butter). | Animal fats plus fats from raw dairy and avocados. |
| Dairy | Minimal, often limited to butter or hard cheese. | Includes raw milk, raw kefir, and raw cheeses. |
| Vegetables | Strictly avoided, believed to contain harmful compounds. | Generally avoided, though some cooked vegetables may be included cautiously. |
| Health Symptoms | Experienced sleep disturbances, low testosterone, muscle cramps, and heart palpitations. | Reported improvement in negative symptoms after reintroducing carbs and raw dairy. |
How Saladino's Diet Differs from Other Low-Carb Plans
Unlike standard ketogenic or paleo diets, Dr. Saladino's animal-based plan maintains a unique, highly restrictive approach to plant foods. A typical keto diet permits a wide range of low-carb vegetables, nuts, and seeds, which Saladino largely omits. Similarly, while paleo diets often include vegetables, legumes, and grains, Saladino's method retains the belief that many plant compounds are detrimental to health, limiting his plant intake to specific fruits and honey. This distinction highlights his persistent focus on minimizing exposure to what he considers plant "anti-nutrients," even after expanding beyond pure carnivory.
Conclusion
Dr. Paul Saladino's dietary journey is a story of evolution based on personal experience and persistent self-experimentation. Moving away from the rigid constraints of a pure carnivore diet, his current animal-based protocol incorporates nutrient-dense animal foods with strategic additions of fruit, honey, and raw dairy to mitigate previous health setbacks. While he continues to advocate for a diet heavily rooted in animal products, his willingness to modify his approach based on personal outcomes underscores a more nuanced, though still controversial, perspective on human nutrition. For followers, understanding this shift is crucial for appreciating his current nutritional recommendations.
: Paul Saladino Changed His Diet: Should You? - Gene Food https://www.mygenefood.com/blog/paul-saladino-changed-his-diet-should-you/
