In a remarkable personal health transformation, a professional MMA fighter has seen his severe, lifelong psoriasis clear up almost completely after adopting a controversial animal-based diet.
From Plaques to Clear Skin: A Fighter's Journey
Chad Mendes, a mixed martial artist and health influencer, had suffered from painful plaque psoriasis since childhood. The condition affected his legs, scalp, ears, and torso. Despite years of using conventional prescription creams and pills, he found them ineffective or detrimental to his immune system during intensive training.
His breakthrough came after consulting Dr Paul Saladino, a former psychiatrist who advocates for diets centred on animal products. Mendes transitioned to an extreme regimen, initially a strict carnivore diet before moving to Saladino's more nuanced 'Animal-Based Diet' framework.
What is the Animal-Based Diet and How Could It Help?
This dietary approach prioritises foods derived from animals. It emphasises meats like beef, pork, lamb, and poultry, along with organ meats. The diet favours animal fats such as tallow and butter over vegetable oils and also includes fruit, raw dairy, and honey, while heavily minimising plant-based foods like grains.
Psoriasis is a chronic, incurable autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks its own tissue, causing skin cells to multiply up to ten times faster than normal, forming thick plaques. It affects an estimated 7.5 to 8 million Americans, with dietary patterns playing a significant role.
Proponents argue that by eliminating potential gut irritants found in many plants and processed foods, the diet reduces gut inflammation—a key underlying factor in psoriasis. Mendes reported dramatic improvement within just two weeks of starting the diet, contradicting previous medical advice he had received that diet had little effect.
The Science of Diet and Inflammation
Research indicates that people with psoriasis often have poor dietary habits, high in unhealthy fats, refined carbs, and sugar. These components can trigger the production of inflammatory cytokines, the same chemicals found at elevated levels in psoriasis patients.
Conversely, lean proteins and fruits have been shown to help mitigate flare-ups. Dr Saladino criticised standard Western medical treatment, which often relies on steroids or immunosuppressants without addressing the root cause of the immune system's overreaction.
However, the diet is not without potential drawbacks. Diets high in red meat, particularly processed varieties like bacon and sausage, have been linked to a slight increase in the inflammatory marker CRP. Experts suggest that if choosing animal protein, lean poultry like chicken or turkey is a smarter option than red meat, as it has a milder effect on inflammation.
The case of Chad Mendes highlights a growing conversation about the role of diet in managing autoimmune conditions, suggesting that structured dietary guidance could be a powerful, low-risk intervention for some patients.
