RFK Jr. Said This Diet Could 'Cure' Mental Illness. Here's A Fact Check.

Experts explain why the health and human services secretary's claims should be carefully examined.

In Nashville, Tennessee, on the first stop of his “Take Back Your Health” tour, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made big claims about the impact of diet on mental health.

In a speech meant to promote the country’s new dietary guidelines, the health and human services secretary insinuated that the food we consume could cause ― and cure ― certain conditions.

“We now know that the things that you eat are driving mental illness in this country. And Dr. Pollan, up at Harvard, has cured schizophrenia using keto diets,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy appeared to misspeak, potentially meaning to credit Dr. Chris Palmer, who has published research about the effects of the ketogenic diet (a high-fat, low-carb eating plan) on mental illness.

Kennedy continued, “There are studies right now that I saw two days ago where people lose their bipolar diagnosis by changing their diet. It’s not only affecting our physical health; it’s affecting our mental health as well, and we’re asking people now, eat real food — eat protein. Eat fruit, eat vegetables, eat high-fiber grains.”