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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