Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has come under fire again for saying that a diet change can "cure" mental illness.
Speaking at the Tennessee State Capitol as part of a "Take Back Your Health" tour on Feb. 4, Kennedy touted the new food pyramid unveiled by the Department of Health and Human Services in January, which drew a mixed bag of praise and caution from experts, and attributed the prevalence of mental illness in America to food quality.
The updated dietary guidelines place a newfound emphasis on red meats, fats and dairy, much like Kennedy's own diet, which he has described as "carnivore." They are also friendly to the low-carb, high-fat diet known as keto, which Kennedy told his Tennessee audience has "cured schizophrenia" and helped mental health patients "lose their bipolar diagnosis." He later repeated the statements in a Theo Von podcast appearance.
While early studies show some promise, Kennedy's statements don't fully align with emerging evidence in a growing field of study, health experts said.
"There have been a few small trials which test the ability of keto diets to reduce symptoms of schizophrenia. These studies have shown improvements in psychiatric symptoms. This data does not mean the condition has been cured," Dr. Alison Steiber, Chief Mission, Impact and Strategy Officer for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told USA TODAY. "However, the diet may be a promising therapy which could be used to help manage symptoms in people living with schizophrenia."
