Jordan Rubin on Crohn's, Real Food and The Maker's Diet
Garden of Life founder Jordan Rubin tells his story: Crohn's disease at 19, a motor home by the beach, raw dairy and real food, and a promise to grow the world's healthiest food.
By The Meat Mafia (Harry Gray and Brett Ender)
This one was personal for us. Brett read Jordan Rubin's The Maker's Diet in 2019 while dealing with his own ulcerative colitis, and he calls Jordan a lighthouse of hope. Years later we finally sat down in person in Austin.
Jordan was turning 19 when the symptoms started. He was a cheerleader at Florida State, deep in his church and college ministry, and suddenly sick with a disease few people talked about. He describes bloody diarrhea up to 30 times a day.
He remembers his dad, a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor, putting him in a bathtub of ice and leaving the room screaming that he didn't want his son to die. In the hospital, he says, doctors told him he'd need medication for life and likely surgery.
"here I am at 19 having all these limitations put on me of what I can and can't do." (~13:00)
He says he saw doctor after doctor, and what he really wanted was someone who had been through it. He also had his mom take a photo of him at his worst, in boxers and a beard because he couldn't stand long enough to shave. He wanted proof for later.
By his account, he left home in a wheelchair at about 120 pounds, at six feet tall. In San Diego he bought a 1968 Chevrolet motor home, parked by the beach and spent 40 days on sun, ocean air, walks, sauna and cold ocean swims. He ate raw kefir, raw cream, raw cottage cheese, grass-fed meat and sourdough bread, and junk food was off the table.
He says he gained more than 30 pounds in those first 40 days. When his dad got off the plane, he hugged him and said, "there's so much of you to hug." Sitting in that motor home, with no money and no degree, he made a commitment.
"I said one day I'm going to raise and grow the world's healthiest food" (~35:00)
That's the Jordan Rubin we sat down with: the man behind Garden of Life who still talks about food like his life depends on it. Below is the rest of the conversation, from raw dairy to his farm and faith. This is his story, not medical advice. If you have inflammatory bowel disease, work with your own clinician.
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TL;DR: Jordan Rubin was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager and says he left his family's home in a wheelchair weighing about 120 pounds at six feet tall. He describes 40 days in an old motor home by the beach eating raw dairy, grass-fed meat and real food, plus sun, ocean and sauna, and says he gained 30-plus pounds. His story, not medical advice.
Who is Jordan Rubin? The founder of Garden of Life and author of The Maker's Diet. On the episode he describes a farm that raises animals including water buffalo.
Key takeaways
- Jordan was turning 19 when his symptoms started (~05:00).
- He says he spent 40 days in a motor home by the beach focused on real food, sun and ocean air (~33:00).
- He describes raw dairy, grass-fed meat and sourdough as staples of that period (~34:00).
- He says the person you want help from is the one who has been through it (~13:00).
- He suggests intermittent fasting can help some people with inflammatory or bowel conditions who can afford to lose weight (~39:00).
Why he went looking for someone who'd been there
Jordan says he saw doctor after doctor and all he wanted was someone with the same scars. He says that's why he had his mother photograph him at his worst: one day it would be his testimony (~14:00).
The real-food diet he describes
He says he stopped eating pork and shellfish and ate raw kefir, raw cream, raw cottage cheese, grass-fed meat, berries, raw honey and sourdough. He calls it a real food diet and says he made the first stage of The Maker's Diet stricter because many readers had severe gut conditions (~36:00).
Faith through the valley
Jordan is open about his faith and says most of the good things in his life came from low moments (~1:28:00).
(Timestamps are approximate.)
FAQ
Who is Jordan Rubin? The founder of Garden of Life and author of The Maker's Diet, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager.
What did Jordan Rubin eat? He describes raw kefir, raw cream, raw cottage cheese, grass-fed meat, berries, raw honey and sourdough bread, with no junk food (~34:00). His story, not medical advice.
How long did Jordan Rubin spend in the motor home? He describes 40 days by the beach and says he gained more than 30 pounds in that time (~33:00).
Related on The Meat Mafia
- Chris Kresser on autoimmunity and functional medicine
- Joel Salatin on food freedom
- More on Gut Health
- Browse all episodes
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Not medical advice. This post summarizes a podcast conversation for education. The views are the guest's own. Talk to a qualified clinician before you change your diet, supplements or any medication.
