I Followed RFK Jr.'s High-Protein Diet Advice for a Week — Here's What Happened

Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been promoting a diet centered exclusively on high-protein foods as part of his "Make America Healthy Again" initiative. WIRED reporter Miles Klee spent one week eating nothing but high-protein foods to test the claims.

RFK Jr.'s dietary philosophy emphasizes eliminating processed foods, seed oils, and sugars in favor of meat, eggs, dairy, and protein-rich whole foods. The approach draws from the growing "carnivore-adjacent" movement that has gained traction among health influencers and certain segments of the fitness community.

The experiment revealed several practical challenges: the diet is significantly more expensive than a standard American diet, with daily food costs roughly doubling. Social dining becomes difficult when restaurant options are limited to specific protein-forward preparations. Energy levels initially dipped before stabilizing after the third day, a pattern consistent with metabolic adaptation to very low carbohydrate intake.

Nutritionists consulted for the piece noted that while high-protein diets can support muscle maintenance and satiety, the extreme elimination of entire food groups carries risks including nutrient deficiencies, gut microbiome disruption, and potential cardiovascular concerns from elevated saturated fat intake, depending on protein source choices.

The piece also explores the broader cultural phenomenon of influential political figures promoting specific dietary approaches, and the tension between personal health optimization and public health messaging when those approaches lack robust clinical trial support.