The Evolution of the 'Carnivore MD'
Paul Saladino's journey is a notable example of a health influencer publicly evolving their dietary principles based on personal experience. Initially a leading advocate for the strict, meat-only carnivore diet, Saladino gained a large following through his book The Carnivore Code and his social media presence. He based this philosophy on the idea that plants contain harmful compounds, or 'anti-nutrients,' and that an all-meat diet was optimal for human health. However, after years on this restrictive regimen, he began to face significant health challenges, including drops in testosterone, poor sleep quality, heart palpitations, and muscle cramps. His transparency about these issues led him to reconsider his approach, ultimately transitioning to his current 'animal-based' diet around 2022.
The Shift from Strict Carnivore
Saladino's move away from strict carnivory was a direct response to his body's feedback. He admitted that long-term, deep ketosis was likely not beneficial for him or for most people in the long run. This realization pushed him to find a way to reintroduce carbohydrates without compromising his overall philosophy of avoiding what he considers harmful plant compounds. This led him to the inclusion of certain fruits and raw honey, which he argues provide carbohydrates with fewer 'plant toxins'.
What Does Paul Saladino Eat Now?
Saladino's current diet, which he labels 'animal-based,' is a significant departure from his former strictly meat-and-organs approach. It includes a variety of foods, with a focus on nutrient density and what he considers evolutionarily consistent food choices.
The primary components of his animal-based diet are:
- Meat and Animal Organs: He still prioritizes high-quality, grass-fed red meat and organ meats, particularly liver and heart, for essential nutrients. Organ meats are a staple, sold through his company, Heart & Soil.
- Fruit: Fruits, particularly those with lower 'defense chemicals' and those that are seasonal and local, serve as his primary source of carbohydrates. Examples from his documented grocery hauls and videos include watermelon, strawberries, and mangoes.
- Honey: Raw, organic honey is a key source of carbohydrates for energy and glycogen replenishment. He believes it is a superior energy source to processed sugars and starches. Some sources suggest he consumes large amounts of honey daily.
- Raw Dairy: Raw milk, cheese, and kefir are included for additional animal-based nutrients and probiotics. He has faced criticism for promoting raw dairy due to potential bacterial risks.
- Selected Vegetables: While still largely avoiding most vegetables, he has been seen consuming certain items like cucumbers and pickles, justifying the latter as 'animal-based' due to its ingredients.
The Philosophy Behind the 'Animal-Based' Shift
Saladino's current diet is based on a few core principles that evolved from his strict carnivore days. He maintains his view that many plants contain antinutrients and other potentially harmful compounds. However, he now distinguishes between what he considers more and less benign plant foods. His focus is on maximizing nutrient intake from animal sources while utilizing fruit and honey as clean carbohydrate sources to avoid the negative side effects of extreme ketosis.
He argues that humans have historically consumed fruit and honey, aligning with what he calls 'The Remembering'—an ancestral way of eating. This contrasts sharply with the modern-day consumption of processed foods, grains, and refined sugars, which he continues to demonize as contributors to chronic disease. He also heavily emphasizes other lifestyle factors, such as optimizing sleep, getting morning sunlight, and avoiding seed oils, as part of his holistic health protocol.
Comparison: Strict Carnivore vs. Animal-Based Diet
| Feature | Strict Carnivore Diet (Pre-2022) | Animal-Based Diet (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Carbohydrates | Excludes all carbohydrates, resulting in prolonged ketosis. | Includes carbohydrates from specific sources: fruit and honey. |
| Plant Foods | Zero tolerance for plant foods, viewing them as toxic. | Includes fruit and potentially some vegetables like cucumbers or fermented pickles. |
| Dairy | Often limited or completely excluded to avoid lactose and casein. | Includes raw dairy like milk, kefir, and cheese. |
| Main Protein Source | Meat and organ meats, particularly beef. | Same, prioritizing grass-fed sources. |
| Energy Source | Ketones from fat metabolism. | Combination of animal fats and carbohydrates from fruit and honey. |
| Reported Benefits | Weight loss, reduced inflammation. | Improved hormone balance, better sleep, electrolyte regulation, and muscle cramps resolution. |
| Reported Drawbacks | Low testosterone, sleep disturbance, low energy, muscle cramps, high LDL cholesterol. | Potentially high LDL cholesterol initially, bacterial risk from raw dairy. |
Criticisms and Context
While Saladino is transparent about his dietary changes, his shift has drawn criticism from both within and outside the health and nutrition community. His promotion of raw dairy, which carries a risk of bacterial infection, is a point of contention with most mainstream health experts. Furthermore, some argue that modifying a carnivore diet with fruit and honey still does not address the fundamental risks associated with a highly restrictive and imbalanced approach to nutrition. Critics emphasize that his approach, even with the addition of carbohydrates, still ignores the vast body of evidence supporting the health benefits of a diverse, whole-foods diet that includes a wide array of vegetables, legumes, and grains. The initial spike in his LDL cholesterol upon reintroducing carbs also highlights the metabolic complexity of these rapid dietary changes. His diet's effectiveness, especially for those who are not as active as him, remains a subject of ongoing debate.
Conclusion
To answer the question what does Paul Saladino eat now?, he has moved beyond a strict carnivore approach to an 'animal-based' diet that includes meat, organs, fruit, honey, and raw dairy. This shift was motivated by personal health issues experienced on his former restrictive regimen. His current diet prioritizes animal-derived nutrients while using fruit and honey as sources of carbohydrates. While he presents this as an optimal and evolutionarily consistent way of eating, the diet remains highly controversial and lacks robust scientific support, particularly regarding its long-term safety and efficacy for the general population. His experience serves as a powerful reminder for individuals to be mindful of dietary dogma and to listen to their own bodies, rather than blindly following even charismatic health influencers.
