Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently pulled back the curtain on his highly restrictive "carnivore" diet. Speaking on USA TODAY’s "The Excerpt" podcast, Kennedy revealed that his daily meals consist almost entirely of animal products and fermented foods. The health secretary, who turned 72 this month, claimed the extreme regimen helped him lose 20 pounds in just 20 days.
Kennedy shared that the primary motivation for the shift was his internal health and mental performance. "That may not be right for other people, but I lost 40% of my visceral fat within a month," Kennedy stated during the interview. He also reported a significant boost in mental clarity, though he candidly acknowledged that some benefits could be attributed to a placebo effect.
To round out his meat-heavy plate, Kennedy relies on fermented staples like sauerkraut, which he often brings to restaurants in his wife’s designer bags. His wife, actress Cheryl Hines, joked about the habit, noting that people often wonder about the unusual smell at their dinner table. Experts note that while fermented foods support gut health, they are not a full replacement for the fiber found in traditional plant-based diets.
"I’m on a carnivore diet," Kennedy confirmed, explaining that he follows the plan "the whole day," every day. This personal lifestyle choice is even more restrictive than the updated federal dietary guidelines he recently helped the Trump administration unveil. Those new guidelines emphasize protein and whole foods while officially ending the "war" on saturated fats like butter and beef tallow.
Despite his personal success, Kennedy was quick to clarify that he does not view himself as a medical role model for the general public. "I don't want to make myself a role model for what people should do and shouldn't do," he cautioned during the podcast. He insisted that the administration’s public policy is driven by "gold standard science" rather than his own private eating habits.
Medical professionals continue to warn that the long-term effects of a strict carnivore diet remain largely unstudied. Dr. Mia Kazanjian warned that eliminating fruits, vegetables, and grains can deprive the body of essential antioxidants and minerals. While the "Make America Healthy Again" movement gains steam, experts recommend consulting a physician before adopting such an extreme nutritional reset.