Welcome to the summer of sauerkraut.
Several prominent men in President Donald Trump's cabinet — including Vice President JD Vance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick — have been loading up on the fermented food lately in an effort to slim down and improve their gut health, The Wall Street Journal reported.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he lost 20 pounds and shed 40% of his visceral fat on his version of the sour meal plan, which he previously told USA Today consists only of "meat or fermented foods."
According to the Journal, the growing interest in sauerkraut among Trump's cabinet is all part of a diet strategy from Dr. Sean O'Mara, who encourages his elite clients in business and politics to eat more fermented foods and meat, while shunning sugary treats and alcohol.
Joining in on Sauerkraut Summer could benefit your gut health — as long as you don't overdo it. Here's what to know.
Sauerkraut and other fermented foods nourish the gut microbiome
Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir typically contain beneficial microorganisms like live bacteria, the active ingredients that feed off of sugar in raw foods to turn them tangy.
Some of the most common bacteria in fermented foods, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, are considered good for the gut. They aid digestion, help the body produce essential nutrients like vitamins, kill off pathogenic bacteria, and can decrease inflammation. Though they're not a magic wand for weight loss, they can improve the overall composition of your gut, leading to better blood sugar control, more satiety, and improved nutrient absorption.
Just don't overdo it — too many fermented foods can lead to gastrointestinal issues like gas, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
Nutrition experts generally suggest adding more fermented foods into your diet slowly, alongside fiber from nuts, seeds, vegetables, and whole grains, to nurture a healthy, well-balanced gut microbiome.
Scientists have been studying how the gut microbiome may play an underestimated role in certain diseases. They are uncovering how diets high in ultra-processed foods may foster certain strains of toxic bacteria in the gut that can increase the likelihood of diseases like colon cancer.
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Hilary Brueck is a Health Correspondent at Business Insider, where she covers longevity and the quest to improve human aging. She also writes regularly about the complexities of diagnosing and treating cancer, the evolving landscape of GLP-1 drugs, new developments in exercise science, and expert-backed nutrition advice. In general, she relishes any opportunity to unpack scientific discoveries or examine the latest consumer trends. Her reports have ranged from exploring how sherpas effortlessly climb into the thin air 29,029 feet above sea level to summit Mount Everest, to trudging along a Jersey shore beach with scientists fighting killer pandemic flu viruses by studying bird butts.She spoke with Dr. Anthony Fauci about his vitamin and supplement routine over a cold slice of pizza, and chatted with the world's oldest Nobel Prize winner in his basement solar lab. She also went an entire month without eating any ultra-processed foods (yes, it was time-consuming and challenging). A graduate of Columbia Journalism School and former Peace Corps Volunteer, Hilary speaks English, French, and Malagasy. Previously, Hilary reported for ABC News Radio, Fortune, Forbes, and Al Jazeera America. In her spare time, she likes to run, hike and she is also an aspiring (but very bad) surfer. If you've got a pressing health question, tip, or concern, reach out to [email protected]Expertise
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Awards
- 2026 National Headliner Award: first place for online beat reporting in health & science for a series on young colon cancer.
- 2025 North American Travel Journalists Association silver award for sports, recreation, and adventure writing.
- 2024 New York Press Club award for best online infographic: What loneliness does to your body and brain
- 2024 James Beard nominee for health and wellness reporting: Long-Lived Loma Linda
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