Op-Ed: Caroline Carralero: RFK Jr.’s leadership at HHS is the health revolution America needs

RFK Jr. is nothing short of essential because he is singularly driven to challenge the status quo by posing the hard questions, Caroline Carralero writes in her latest op-ed.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would prove seminal for American health policy. RFK Jr.’s relentless, lifelong focus on health and wellness is a much-needed shift from reactive care to root-cause solutions. He signals hope for millions of Americans burdened by chronic illness, an obesity epidemic, and preventable diseases, all exacerbated by decades of neglect and the outsized influence of Big Pharma.

Even before the inauguration, RFK Jr.’s impact was being felt. His push to ban Red Dye No. 3 — an ingredient prohibited in cosmetics like lipstick 30 years ago but still found in medications such as Tylenol — highlights his commitment to scrutinizing what we put into our bodies. RFK Jr. is nothing short of essential because he is singularly driven to challenge the status quo by posing the hard questions about the substances in our food, medicine, and environment.

His crusade couldn’t come sooner.

Today, 38 percent of American children are considered prediabetic. Among 11- and 12-year-olds, the numbers are even more alarming. Without serious intervention, the implications are grim. Fertility, productivity, military readiness, and overall quality of life are all at stake.

RFK Jr. grasps that solving America’s health crises requires going beyond band-aid solutions. For example, consider the skyrocketing use of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic. While heralded as a miracle cure for obesity, these drugs come with staggering costs — an estimated $3 trillion to provide them to 74 percent of overweight or obese Americans. Worse, two-thirds of users reportedly regain the weight.

RFK Jr. has called for a smarter approach. He wants to tackle the root causes of obesity through lifestyle changes, which he estimates would cost one-fifth as much and yield far greater long-term results.

This focus on prevention resonates with those of us who’ve built businesses around empowering Americans to proactively take control of their health. My own journey, starting a nutritional supplements company from my kitchen table, has shown me the desire Americans have for options that address the core of their struggles, not just their symptoms.

Under RFK Jr., HHS could also usher in a new era for the vitamins and supplements industry. For too long, this sector has been sidelined in favor of pharmaceutical solutions that often create lifelong dependencies. Imagine an HHS that prioritizes clinically supported approaches to health by elevating the role of supplements. This could mean giving vitamins and other natural products a seat at the table alongside corporate medicine, finally providing consumers genuine choice.

RFK Jr.’s incoming team has the knowledge to strike the balance of promoting access to effective supplements while cracking down on bad actors and ineffective products. Done right, this would give Americans tools to improve their health while maintaining rigorous standards to protect consumers.

But we shouldn’t be naïve. The same forces that have corrupted America’s health system for decades will not go quietly. Big Pharma has already demonstrated its ability to infiltrate and co- opt movements that threaten its bottom line. The “Make America Healthy Again” initiative is no exception.

The energy and star power witnessed at the MAHA inaugural ball in Washington, D.C. underscores the immense potential of this movement — but also make it a prime target for those who fear its success. Vigilance will be key.

For entrepreneurs who’ve built businesses on the belief that health starts with empowerment and prevention, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. RFK Jr.’s vision for a healthier America is audacious, but it’s also practical. If he succeeds, the benefits will ripple across generations, creating a future where better health is a reality for millions.

Caroline Carralero is Founder and CEO of Daily Nouri.