Fermented foods are currently having a major moment inside the West Wing. According to recent reports, members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet are walking around with jars of sauerkraut tucked in their bags. The goal? Glowing skin and a slimmer waist.
It sounds absurd. It sounds trendy. It also sounds like a health fad that might not hold up to scrutiny.
Liz Essley Whyte of the Wall Street Journal spoke with Today, Explained co-host Sean Rameswaram about this weird culinary shift. The takeaway? Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik, Transportation SecretarySean Duffy, and Vice President JD Vance seem hooked on an eat-a-lot-of-steak-and-kraut diet.
So, should you be lugging a jar of fermented cabbage in your purse too? Or is this just the new Florsheim shoe trend for the elite?
The “Carnivore” Diet You Don’t Know About
Kennedy calls this regimen the carnivore diet. But if you think that means steak and nothing else, think again. For him, it includes yogurt. A lot of it. Kimchi. Sauerkraut. Steak. Eggs.
He travels with the sauerkraut. His wife claims he’s asked her to carry it in her handbag for him. She told Whyte: “I actually cannot.”
That’s a great phrase. It’s definitive.
The White House crowd seems convinced the diet works. People online have commented that Vance is looking particularly good. Is it the kraut? The steak? Or something else? We don’t have public data on other medications, but we do know Vance eats eggs, sauerkraut, and pickles for lunch. He often has blackberries and raspberries too. Dinner? Beef and lamb with more kraut. On Air Force Two? Beef jerky. Cheeseburger, no bun. Side of fermented vegetables.
Flipping the Pyramid
This isn’t just random snacking. Kennedy and other health officials say they flipped the traditional food pyramid earlier this year. Their recommendation? More fruits and vegetables. Red meat. Whole grains. Whole milk.
For the first time in the nation’s dietary guidelines, they explicitly recommended fermented foods.
Did everyone agree? Not really.
The red meat part sparked controversy. Experts warned it could introduce more cardiac risk and raise bad cholesterol. The fermented food part, however, was generally welcomed. Even people who hated the idea of eating more beef agreed that probiotics and fermentation had their place.
Does It Actually Work?
Is this science-backed wellness or quackery?
There aren’t many rigorous studies proving sauerkraut melts fat. But the benefits for digestion and inflammation are real.
A 2025 study from UCDavis suggests fermented cabbage might protect your gut and ward off illness. The research found that intestinal cells function better when fed sauerkraut. They maintain integrity. Better gut health leads to broader health benefits. Most mainstream scientists and dietitians support eating fermented veggies. It’s not a hotly debated topic anymore. The science is clear on the importance of gut health in overall wellness.
Where things get shaky is the red meat emphasis. The cardiac risks are well-documented. That’s why some dietitians pushed back hard against the new guidelines.
What About the President?
Is this trend at the top of the table? Probably not.
Look at Trump’s public eating habits. He was spotted eating pizza and fries at a Knicks game. His desk still has that Diet Coke button. Push it, and a soda appears. Kennedy once told a podcast host, “I don’t know how he’s alive.”
So the sauerkraut craze stays with the staff. The president stays with the sugar.
What About Parasites?
Fermented foods are often touted for fixing gut issues. Does that extend to severe conditions, like parasites causing explosive diarrhea?
I haven’t seen any studies confirming that fermented foods cure that specific type of diarrhea. If you find evidence otherwise, let me know.
Until then, you’re left with a strange reality: your government officials are eating like Vikings, while you’re stuck deciding if you actually need a jar of kimchi on your commute. Maybe it helps your skin. Maybe it helps your gut. Maybe it just makes your briefcase smell weird.
