March 26, 2025

Is "Make America Healthy Again" Actually Helping Public Health?

1 hour 45 minutes

Is America REALLY less healthy than it used to be? Or is that just a myth?

Lately, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement has been romanticizing the past—but was it really a "healthier" time? 🤔 Higher infant mortality, shorter life expectancy, and limited medical advancements suggest otherwise.

Today, I’m joined by Nini Munoz, Science & Risk Communicator, and Dr. Jessica Knurick, Dietitian & Nutrition Scientist, to break down:

The myth of the 'healthier past'—why public health was worse, not better.

Misinformation & fear-based narratives—how MAHA spreads harmful myths about vaccines, food, and disease.

The real problem with food policy—why fixating on seed oils & food dyes distracts from real issues like ultra-processed food and food deserts.

The wellness industry’s role—how influencers profit off fear with detoxes, supplements, and misinformation via predatory wellness.

What actually improves health—real solutions like healthcare access, school lunch reform, and food subsidies.

It’s time to stop falling for misguided nostalgia and start focusing on evidence-based solutions that actually improve public health. Tune in now!

To connect with Jessica Knurick follow her on Instagram @drjessicaknurick and check out all her resources at https://linktr.ee/drjessicaknurick

To connect with Nini Munoz follow her on Instagram @niniandthebrain and join her on Substack: https://techingitapart.substack.com/

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00:00 — Misleading Comparisons: Japan, Fluoride, and Health Outcomes

00:00:52 — Welcome to the Show: What MAHA Gets Wrong

00:01:39 — Fear-Based Distractions vs. Real Public Health Solutions

00:02:53 — Meet the Experts: Dr. Jessica and Nini Munoz

00:03:23 — Are Americans Less Healthy Now? Breaking Down the Data

00:07:01 — Why Living Longer Means Facing Chronic Disease

00:09:51 — Screening, Diagnostics, and Better Detection—Not a Health Decline

00:11:13 — The Missing Conversation: America’s Broken Food Environment

00:14:15 — Red Dye 40 & Skittles: Why This Isn't Solving Chronic Disease

00:17:39 — Targeted Marketing & Food Access: A System Built Against Low-Income Families

00:22:00 — Poverty, Policy, and Public Health Failures

00:27:01 — Lessons From Colombia: How Classism and Privatization Worsen Health Outcomes

00:31:31 — Vaccines, Autism, and Recycling Disproven Theories

00:37:08 — Why Some Pediatricians Push Alternative Schedules

00:39:10 — Predatory Wellness: The Business of Fear and False Solutions

00:43:13 — The Wellness Industry Formula: Scare, Distract, Sell

00:46:30 — When Wellness Fails: Who Do We Turn To?

00:49:10 — Healthcare Reform & Public Trust: Fixing the Root Problems

00:51:12 — Final Thoughts: Real Solutions for a Healthier America

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By Dr. Mona Amin

4.9

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