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 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 real and promising role that food can play in managing illness.
"Food is medicine, and you can heal yourself with a good diet," Kennedy said on comedian Theo Von's "This Past Weekend" podcast in February.
The talking point aligns with an idea from Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" allies that has gotten some bipartisan support: The role of food in health deserves more attention.
Scientists agree that diet can contribute to some diseases and also can be valuable in treating them. But public health advocates say Kennedy's exaggerations are part of a pattern in which he cherry-picks and misrepresents scientific research.
Dr. Theresa Miskimen Rivera, president of the American Psychiatric Association, fears the language could drive patients to self-medicate with food alone.
"The concern always is that people can have hope and they might interpret that as, 'Well, I don't need medication. I do not need treatment. I just need to follow the diet,'" Rivera said.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives before President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 24.
Kennedy oversteps the evidence on diet and psychiatric disorders
In an early February speech at the Tennessee Capitol, Kennedy cited the work of Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard Medical School researcher who in 2019 wrote about two patients with schizophrenia who experienced remission of their symptoms following a high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet.
Kennedy said Palmer had "cured schizophrenia using keto diets."
Palmer has called that inaccurate. He told The Associated Press that "as much as I wish we had cures for mental illness or other chronic diseases, it is important that we use more precise language." Palmer prefers the word "remission."
During the same speech, and later on Joe Rogan's podcast, Kennedy referred to studies "where people lose their bipolar diagnosis by changing their diet."
Kennedy spokesman Andrew Nixon said those comments referred to a "growing body of research" on the issue, including a University of California, Los Angeles, study investigating the effect of a keto diet on teenagers with bipolar disorder.
That study is still recruiting patients and will not be completed until March 2027, according to a posting on a federal website.
Rivera said Kennedy's claims exaggerate the evidence. Studies testing the role of the ketogenic diet on mental health conditions have been small, anecdotal or pilot studies, she said. Many did not include a control group of patients following a regular diet.
"At this point, it's premature. We cannot draw definitive conclusions," Rivera said. "There is not enough evidence to recommend a specific diet or as a standalone, without medication such as antipsychotics or mood stabilizers."
It is true that research into the effects of ketogenic and other diets on psychiatric disorders is accelerating, Palmer said, noting 20 controlled clinical trials on the subject are underway.
He said he is "very enthusiastic" about diet as a promising therapy for serious psychiatric disorders, but that patients with mental illness should still talk with their doctors.
"I want to implore patients: Please do not stop your medications on your own," he said. "Please do not even try a ketogenic diet on your own as a treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder."
Diabetes experts are split on the impact of Kennedy's words
Kennedy's comments on Von's podcast that "most diabetes can be cured through diet" also have been scrutinized.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be cured by diet alone, said Dr. Willa Hsueh, an Ohio State University endocrinologist and researcher. A healthy diet and exercise are keys to managing Type 2 diabetes, but it can be difficult to use those tools alone to reverse the disorder, she said.
"The secretary is not wrong that it can work," Hsueh said. "But it's not common for people to cure themselves ... by diet alone."
Others defended Kennedy's claims.
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and director of the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University, said a healthy diet could help "most individuals" with Type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels, reverse symptoms and allow them to stop taking medications for the condition.
"Whether you consider that a cure or remission, that's medical speak, right?" Mozaffarian said.
He acknowledged that Kennedy is not "always perfectly precise in the terminology and there could be risks to that." But he welcomed the high-level focus on the role of diet in improving chronic disease.
"I'd rather exaggerate and get some attention and action than keep doing what we're doing, which is have millions of Americans suffering from diet-related diseases," Mozaffarian said.
Mark Gorton, president of the Kennedy-aligned MAHA Institute, said he was not familiar with the studies Kennedy referenced, but that nutrition has been "an incredibly overlooked area in our medical system for decades."
"I think to the extent that it is possible, we should be prioritizing focusing on diet and getting back to living healthy rather than taking sick people and medicating them forever, which is the current way our system works," Gorton said.
What's in America's medicine cabinets? A look at what families buy
What's in America's medicine cabinets? A look at what families buy
Updated
From sniffles in the winter to sunburns in the summer, every season brings its own set of minor health concerns—and with them, a steady stream of over-the-counter (OTC) medications into the family medicine cabinet. But how much is too much? What are parents really keeping on hand, and how often do they actually use it?
In this article, SaveHealth takes a peek into America's medicine cabinets to understand what families are stocking, why they're stocking it, and what this means for both household safety and seasonal health preparedness.
A Cabinet Full of Comfort: The Average Family's OTC Inventory
According to a 2023 report from the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the average U.S. household spends around $442 annually on OTC medications. This translates into between 15 to 30 distinct products in the home at any given time. These include:
- Pain relievers (e.g., ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
- Allergy medications (antihistamines like loratadine or diphenhydramine)
- Cough and cold treatments (decongestants, throat lozenges, cough syrups)
- Digestive aids (antacids, laxatives, anti-diarrheals)
- Topicals (antibiotic ointments, hydrocortisone, anti-itch creams)
- First aid staples (bandages, antiseptics, burn gels)
- Sleep aids and supplements
Parents often maintain different versions of the same medication for different family members—such as chewables for kids and tablets for adults. In multigenerational households, the need for varied medications can further inflate the volume of stocked items.
Why We Over-Stock: Convenience, Safety, and the Fear of "What If"
1. Parental Preparedness
The instinct to prepare for every possible scenario drives parents to keep medications on hand, even if rarely used. A survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that 78% of parents keep a "'just in case" stash of fever reducers and cold medicines.
2. Seasonal Buying Patterns
Pharmacies and big-box retailers align their marketing strategies with seasonal illnesses. For instance:
- Spring: allergy meds, eye drops, nasal sprays
- Summer: burn relief, insect repellents, bandages
- Winter: cold/flu medications, vapor rubs, thermometers
3. Pandemic Habits
The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped consumer behavior. A 2021 McKinsey report found that 43% of Americans began stockpiling household and medical supplies, and many of these habits persisted even after lockdowns ended. This includes medications for flu-like symptoms, vitamins, and sanitizing products.
What's Actually Being Used?
Despite the abundance of medications, studies show that most families only use a fraction of what they store. The CHPA notes that fewer than 10 OTC products are used on a monthly basis by the average household. Seasonal use spikes are short-lived, meaning that many items expire before they are fully used.
Additionally, a 2022 report from Safe Kids Worldwide revealed that 67% of parents admitted to finding expired or unidentifiable medications during an annual clean-out. This not only represents financial waste but raises safety concerns around accidental ingestion or improper dosing.
The Risks of Overstocking
- Overstocking can feel like a safeguard, but it carries significant risks:
- Expired medications may lose effectiveness or cause adverse reactions.
- Medication mix-ups can occur, especially when different brands or generics look similar.
- Child safety risks increase when medications are not stored securely. According to the CDC, more than 50,000 children under 5 are seen in emergency departments annually due to accidental ingestion of medications.
- Wasted money from buying in bulk or buying redundantly, only to throw items away months or years later.
Building a Smarter Medicine Cabinet: Tips for Families
Here are steps to help families maintain a safe and efficient medicine cabinet:
- Inventory Regularly: Conduct a quarterly check to remove expired or unneeded items.
- Organize by Category: Use bins or labels to sort by symptom (e.g., pain relief, digestion) or age group.
- Match to the Season: Keep only relevant items at the forefront based on the time of year.
- Prioritize Safety: Use child-proof containers and store medications high up or locked away.
- Dispose Responsibly: Take advantage of local medication take-back programs or follow FDA disposal guidelines.
Expert Insight: What Pediatricians and Pharmacists Recommend
Pediatricians recommend keeping only essential medications that are age-appropriate and have clear dosage instructions. Pharmacists stress the importance of not combining multiple products that contain the same active ingredient, such as acetaminophen, which could lead to accidental overdose.
Final Thoughts: Less Is More, But Smart Is Best
A well-stocked medicine cabinet should reflect your family's specific health needs and seasonal lifestyle. It's not about having everything—it's about having what works, when you need it, and ensuring it's stored safely and responsibly.
As we enter allergy season and gear up for summer adventures, consider taking stock. A little organization now can mean faster relief later—and peace of mind all year long.
This story was produced by SaveHealth and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
