In the Trump administration’s campaign to promote healthy eating, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not stopped at his slogan urging people to “eat real food” to prevent disease.
In recent speeches and podcast appearances, the nation’s health secretary also has claimed that diet can “cure” schizophrenia and diabetes and allow people to rid themselves of bipolar disorder diagnoses. Researchers say the comments overstate current evidence about the role that food can play in managing these illnesses.
“Food is medicine, and you can heal yourself with a good diet,” Kennedy asserted on comedian Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” podcast in February.
This message aligns with ideas from Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” allies, highlighting a bipartisan agreement that dietary influences on health deserve more attention. While researchers acknowledge that diet can contribute to conditions and is valuable in treatment, public health advocates criticize Kennedy's exaggerated claims.
Kayla Hancock of Protect Our Care labeled Kennedy's comments as “incredibly careless and irresponsible” regarding health issues.
Dr. Theresa Miskimen Rivera, president of the American Psychiatric Association, underscored that Kennedy's language could drive patients to self-medicate with food alone, potentially leading them to avoid essential medications.
Kennedy Oversteps Evidence
Kennedy has referenced the work of Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard researcher who noted remission in two schizophrenia patients on a ketogenic diet. However, Palmer disputed Kennedy's claim of a “cure,” advocating for more precise language, such as “remission.”
Rivera also criticized Kennedy's assertion that dietary changes could eliminate bipolar diagnoses, pointing out that evidence is anecdotal and lacks rigorous clinical backing.
Mixed Reactions on Diabetes Claims
Kennedy's assertion that “most diabetes can be cured through diet” has elicited mixed reactions. Experts acknowledge that while diet plays a crucial role in managing Type 2 diabetes, it cannot replace medication alone for all individuals.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian from Tufts University supports a diet's potential impact but warns of overstating claims without substantial evidence.
Supporters of Kennedy's stance, such as Mark Gorton of the MAHA Institute, argue it emphasizes an overlooked area in healthcare, advocating for a stronger focus on diet rather than solely relying on medications.
A mental health advocate raised concerns that Kennedy's comments might discourage patients from adhering to their necessary medical treatments, highlighting the severe nature of schizophrenia.
