Dr. Paul Saladino's Animal-Based Protocol

Dr. Paul Saladino is a board-certified physician, author of "The Carnivore Code," and the most prominent advocate for animal-based nutrition in the health influencer space. After practicing psychiatry and functional medicine, Saladino became convinced that the conventional wisdom about plant foods being inherently healthy was not supported by evolutionary biology or clinical evidence. His protocol has evolved from strict carnivore — only meat and water — to a broader animal-based framework that includes fruit, honey, and raw dairy alongside nose-to-tail animal nutrition.

Overview

Saladino's core argument is that humans evolved eating primarily animal foods, and that our digestive systems, nutrient requirements, and metabolic machinery are optimized for animal-source nutrition. Plant foods, in his view, contain defense chemicals — oxalates, lectins, phytates, goitrogens, and tannins — that can damage the gut lining, impair mineral absorption, and trigger autoimmune responses in susceptible individuals.

His protocol does not eliminate all plant foods. In his current "animal-based" formulation, he includes easily digestible carbohydrate sources like ripe fruit, raw honey, and squash, which he views as low-toxin plant foods that provide glucose for athletic performance, thyroid function, and hormonal health without the problematic compounds found in seeds, grains, legumes, and leafy greens.

The result is a nutrient-dense, whole-food diet that eliminates processed foods, seed oils, grains, and most vegetables while maximizing bioavailable vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids from animal sources.

Organ Meats as the Foundation

If there is a single food that defines Saladino's protocol, it is **organ meats**. He considers them the most nutrient-dense foods available to humans and a non-negotiable part of optimal nutrition. Liver provides preformed vitamin A (retinol), copper, folate, and B12 in concentrations that no plant food can match. Heart is the richest dietary source of CoQ10. Kidney provides selenium and B12. Brain provides DHA in its most bioavailable phospholipid form.

Saladino recommends consuming organ meats 3-5 times per week, either fresh or in desiccated supplement form for those who cannot tolerate the taste. He argues that the modern aversion to organ meats is a cultural artifact, not a biological one, and that ancestral humans prized organs above muscle meat.

Key Foods

**Pasture-raised eggs** are a daily staple, providing complete protein, choline, and fat-soluble vitamins. Saladino emphasizes the importance of pasture-raised sourcing for its superior omega-3 to omega-6 ratio.

**Wild-caught salmon** and sardines provide EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. **Bone broth** supplies collagen, glycine, and minerals in a gut-friendly form. **Grass-fed beef** and lamb make up the bulk of his muscle meat intake.

**Raw honey** is Saladino's preferred sweetener and carbohydrate source, valued for its enzyme content, antimicrobial properties, and ancestral pedigree. He recommends it pre- and post-workout and as a regular part of the diet for those who are metabolically healthy.

**Colostrum** — the first milk produced by cows after birth — is one of Saladino's newer additions, promoted for its immunoglobulins, growth factors, and gut-healing properties. He recommends it as a supplement for immune support and gut barrier integrity.

**Raw dairy** including milk, kefir, and cheese from grass-fed cows provides calcium, vitamin K2, and beneficial bacteria. Saladino distinguishes sharply between raw, full-fat dairy (which he endorses) and pasteurized, low-fat dairy (which he avoids).

Supplement Stack

Saladino's supplement philosophy is minimalist — he believes that a properly constructed animal-based diet should provide most nutrients without supplementation. However, he does recommend several targeted supplements.

**Vitamin D** is recommended at 5,000 IU daily for those without adequate sun exposure, which he considers the preferred source. **Omega-3 fish oil** is suggested for individuals who do not eat fatty fish multiple times per week.

**Creatine** at 5 grams daily supports muscle performance and cognitive function. **Electrolytes** — particularly sodium, potassium, and magnesium — are important for individuals transitioning to a lower-carb diet or those who are physically active.

**Magnesium** in glycinate form supports sleep and recovery. **Zinc** supports immune function and testosterone production, though Saladino notes that organ meats and red meat provide substantial dietary zinc.

What Makes It Unique

Saladino's protocol is radical in its departure from mainstream nutrition advice, which generally emphasizes plant foods and restricts red meat. His willingness to challenge the plant-food orthodoxy — backed by evolutionary biology, anthropological evidence, and his own clinical experience — has made him one of the most polarizing and influential voices in nutrition. Whether one adopts his full protocol or simply incorporates his emphasis on organ meats and seed oil elimination, his message forces a reexamination of assumptions that most people have never questioned.