Members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet are turning to sauerkraut in their quest to shed pounds, a dietary shift that has reportedly left the White House grappling with “sulfurous odors” and what one account described as “domestic friction.” Vice President JD Vance, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are among the senior officials loading up on fermented cabbage, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.
The cabinet’s sauerkraut converts
Kennedy, who has experimented with various fad diets over the years, is said to have been the first to adopt the method roughly a year ago. He has previously claimed to have lost 20 pounds in 20 days, attributing the loss partly to a diet of yogurt, kimchi and sauerkraut. Despite being “sometimes turned off by the tangy and pungent taste” of sauerkraut, Kennedy has credited the regimen with easing aches and pains as well as promoting weight loss, according to the newspaper. His wife, the actress Cheryl Hines, revealed on Katie Miller’s podcast last year that he wakes up early each morning to cook steak and eat the fermented cabbage. “He’ll hand me a bag of sauerkraut and say, ‘Can you put this in your bag?’” Hines said. “And I’ll say, ‘I actually cannot.’”
Vance committed to the diet over Lent and has stuck with it. His typical meals, as outlined by the WSJ, include sauerkraut with eggs, pickles and berries for lunch, and beef or lamb with sauerkraut for dinner. Aboard Air Force Two, the vice president has been known to snack on grass-fed beef jerky or a hamburger without the bun alongside fermented vegetables. Lutnick, meanwhile, reportedly makes his own fermented vegetables at home rather than buying them from the store. Duffy is also said to be following the plan. People familiar with the matter told the WSJ that Kennedy, Lutnick and Duffy have all consulted Dr. Sean O’Mara, the physician behind the diet. O’Mara declined to discuss his patients in an interview with the newspaper.
The science behind the diet
O’Mara advises patients to prioritise fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi, alongside grass-fed steak, while avoiding alcohol and sugary foods. The diet is specifically aimed at reducing visceral fat — the fat that surrounds internal organs and is linked to a range of health problems — and supporting digestive health through the gut microbiome. Fermented foods are rich in probiotics, beneficial bacteria that can improve the diversity of the gut microbiome, aid digestion and support immune function. The fibre content in sauerkraut and kimchi also promotes satiety, helping with weight management by making people feel fuller for longer.
Beyond weight loss, proponents point to a range of other possible benefits. Sauerkraut is packed with vitamins C and K, B vitamins, iron, manganese and potassium, along with antioxidants. The diet’s emphasis on grass-fed steak adds further nutritional value: grass-fed beef is richer in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins A and E, and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which may have anti-cancer properties and support heart health. Grass-fed meat is also said to promote a balanced microbiome and be easier on the digestive system than grain-fed alternatives.
However, nutritionists have expressed caution about Kennedy’s reported 20-pound loss in 20 days, and there are potential drawbacks to the diet itself. Sauerkraut is high in sodium, which can be a concern for individuals with high blood pressure or those on a low-sodium diet. It also contains histamine, which can cause digestive issues and allergy-like symptoms in sensitive people. The tyramine in sauerkraut can interact dangerously with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a class of antidepressants. Some individuals may experience increased gas and bloating when first introducing fermented foods, and unpasteurised sauerkraut carries live microorganisms that could pose a risk to those with compromised immune systems. Adherents appear undeterred, reportedly believing the health benefits outweigh the inconvenience — including the “sulfurous odors” that have become a notable side effect in the White House.
The cost of consultation and Trump’s own health
A direct consultation with O’Mara costs $18,000, while his “Optimization Plans” begin at $8,000, according to the WSJ. He also offers international consultations starting at $1,500 for a virtual session without MRI review, and $2,500 with MRI review. His practice focuses on what he calls “biological optimization” for high-performing individuals.
It remains unclear whether President Trump himself has embraced the sauerkraut regimen. The WSJ noted that Trump “has at times resisted cutting out unhealthy foods,” and cited a sighting of the president earlier this month at the NBA finals in New York City eating french fries, pizza and his favourite beverage, Diet Coke. In a recent medical report, White House physician Dr. Sean Barbabella said he had counselled Trump on losing weight by recommending more physical activity and a change in diet. The president’s weight is recorded as 238 pounds (108 kg) at 6’3”, placing him in the “overweight” category with a BMI of 29.7. Trump has previously made a humorous claim about diet soda killing grass, suggesting it could kill cancer cells, a statement his press secretary described as a joke.
