Sauerkraut diet helps US vice president lose weight

At a White House press conference, vice president JD Vance garnered attention by revealing his weight loss method, attributing it to a sauerkraut diet advised by the health secretary.

US vice president JD Vance recently revealed his weight loss secret during his first official White House press conference, an event also marking the first press briefing since former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt left office last month. Vance attributed his success to a unique sauerkraut diet, developed with advice from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to Fox News.

When asked about his recent weight loss, Vance quipped, "When you are the vice president of the United States and one of the first questions at a White House press conference is how much weight you've lost, it means you must have been quite heavy before."

A devout Christian, Vance explained that he observes Lent "very seriously." He recounted telling his wife on Mardi Gras (the day of feasting before Lent), "maybe I'll cut back on sugar." Knowing that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is knowledgeable about health, Vance consulted him for advice. Kennedy's response was, "No, no, I have a much better and more aggressive method." Vance summarized, "Basically, I eat a lot of high-protein foods and sauerkraut (traditional German fermented cabbage). You could say, if that day was Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday would never come."

Vice president JD Vance speaks at a press conference at the White House, Washington, D.C., on 3/9. *AP/Mark Schiefelbein*

He also offered advice: "If you want to lose weight, call Bobby Kennedy. If you want to enjoy delicious food, absolutely do not call him."

The sauerkraut diet, also known as the probiotic-rich food diet, suggests a menu of fermented foods like German sauerkraut and kimchi to improve gut health, combined with grass-fed meats, according to The Telegraph. Adherents of this diet also abstain from alcohol and ultra-processed foods to reduce belly fat and limit inflammatory responses. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are also reportedly fond of this diet.

Kennedy's dietary approach stems from his own experiences. Previously, in a January interview on USA Today's "The Excerpt" podcast, he mentioned adopting a "carnivore diet," which involves consuming only animal products such as meat, eggs, and dairy. While this method faces opposition from plant-based diet proponents, Kennedy shared his personal success: "That method may not be suitable for everyone, but I reduced my visceral fat by 40% in just one month." Visceral fat, which accumulates around internal organs, is directly linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Kennedy also noted a significant improvement in mental clarity, adding that he lost about 9 kg within 20 days of switching to the new diet, though he acknowledged that some observed benefits might stem from the placebo effect.

Not everyone is convinced by the health secretary's dietary methods. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joked in August that he would never adopt Kennedy's diet. Speaking on "The Katie Miller Podcast" on 11/8, Rubio described Kennedy Jr.'s habit of eating only sauerkraut and meat as an "odd diet," very difficult to sustain long-term, and not something everyone could immediately imitate.

When his wife, Jeanette Rubio, suggested that Kennedy Jr. maintained good health on this diet, Secretary Rubio humorously retorted that his administration colleague had to carry insulated containers of sauerkraut whenever he traveled. Rubio stated that he could not travel the world with a cooler full of pickled cabbage because it was "completely impractical" for him.