I’ve always been on board with Robert Kennedy Jr’s vision and passionate commitment to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA). As Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), he has an extraordinary opportunity to improve health within the US and worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases—also known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for approximately 41 million deaths per year worldwide, accounting for about 74% of all deaths.
The WHO dashboard, which tracks officially reported deaths from governments worldwide, states there were approximately 7 million confirmed COVID-19 deaths from 2020 to 2023. When we compare the two statistics, 41 million annual chronic disease deaths would total 123 million deaths for the same 3-year Covid period (2020 to 2023).
What should raise eyebrows is that although there were 17 times more yearly deaths from chronic diseases than from Covid, healthcare practitioners paid very little attention to the chronic disease pandemic. This fact led to countless people suffering from chronic diseases during Covid who were unable to receive the proper medical attention care they required due to the emphasis on Covid cases.
THE HEALTH CRISES IN AMERICA
- Chronic Disease Prevalence: 6 in 10 US adults have at least one chronic condition; 4 in 10 have two or more.
- Declining Life Expectancy: Before COVID, US life expectancy (78.8 years) lagged behind peer nations (82.6 years).
The following Kennedy Health Directives and Policies indicate that the Make America Healthy Again (MAGA) movement will significantly improve over past health policies.
- Transparency & Research Integrity – Ensure open access to health data and eliminate conflicts of interest in federally funded research.
- Focus on Root Causes – Prioritize research on why Americans are becoming sick instead of just treating the symptoms of disease.
- Healthier Food Supply – Work with farmers to improve the affordability and quality of food.
- Expanded Treatment & Prevention – Increase flexibility in health coverage for lifestyle-based disease prevention.
- Health Education – Informing the public on risks of ultra-processed foods, food toxins, glyphosate, unsafe and mandatory vaccines
SO WHAT IS MY CONCERN?
Kennedy is a fan of the Paleo Diet, similar to other high-fat/low-carb diets, emphasizing that most of our calories should come from protein and that animal protein is the best source. As an authority on the benefits of plant-based nutrition, I don’t have a problem with Kennedy’s personal nutrition preferences. As Secretary of the HHS and his skill as a convincing orator, I am concerned that he will use his high-level position to promote his nutrition beliefs to the American public.
I grew up on animal products. Since my father, brother, and several uncles and cousins were butchers, our family ate meat at least once daily. During the late 1940s, our teachers taught us the “Basic 7 Food Guide.” It was created by the Department of Agriculture in 1943 and was the precursor of the Standard American Diet (SAD). Since then, the SAD was and still is what most Americans consume. Although the names changed and there were variations (i.e., Atkins, South Beach, Zone, Carnivore, Paleo, Ketogenic), the essence was the same: “A rose by any other name is still a rose.”
WE NEED TO BE INFORMED TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE
Our food choices are the primary factor for achieving optimal health and well-being. Other lifestyle practices are important, but food is at the top of the list because of its intimate contact with our bodies. It is the fuel that keeps us going. Just as gasoline is the correct fuel for our car to run smoothly, what we put in our mouths should be the right fuel for a well-functioning body, not only today but for the long term. The public must have access to relevant information on various nutrition alternatives. Whether we decide on the Paleo, omnivore, Keto, plant-based, or any other diet, our decision should be founded on solid and factual information.
I propose open-ended debates where experts from different nutrition perspectives have equal opportunity to present their case to the people. As a result, the public will be informed and decide which diet is ideal for them and their families.
A FINAL THOUGHT
A low-fat/high-carb diet is preferred by the healthiest and longest-living people on the planet (i.e., The Blue Zones and rural areas of Japan, China, and Africa). It is scientifically proven to prevent and reverse chronic diseases like cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity. Isn’t that enough reason for the Department of Health and Human Services to recommend that we check it out?
