Health
Top influencers in the Make America Healthy Again movement: See the list
“Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) became a rallying cry during the final months of the 2024 presidential election, after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed President Donald Trump and joined his campaign.
A little over a week after Election Day 2024, Trump announced Kennedy as his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Under Kennedy’s leadership, the MAHA movement aims to improve nutrition in America, eliminate toxins, preserve natural habitats and fight the chronic disease epidemic, according to its website.
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Read on to learn more about some of the key players behind the MAHA movement.
Read on to learn more about some of the key players behind the MAHA movement. (Fox News/Getty/AP Photo/Turning Point Action)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a former presidential candidate, son of former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and President Trump’s pick for HHS secretary.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a former presidential candidate and President Donald Trump’s pick for HHS secretary. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images)
Kennedy has said he aims to make America healthy again through strategies such as focusing on food and nutrition, targeting chronic diseases, changing FDA policies and raising awareness of alternative health treatments.
‘GOD-INTENDED FOODS’ ARE KEY TO A HEALTHIER AMERICA, EXPERT SAYS
Jessica Reed Kraus
Jessica Reed Kraus is the author of “House Inhabit,” one of the top culture Substack blogs.
The California-based influencer previously described herself as “super liberal,” but her politics shifted during the coronavirus pandemic.
Jessica Reed Kraus, author of the “House Inhabit” substack, spoke to Fox News Digital during RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing. (Fox News Digital)
Kraus worked with both the Trump and RFK Jr. presidential campaigns, and she wrote glowingly about the MAHA Inaugural Ball in her Substack.
Marla Maples
Mother of Tiffany Trump and ex-wife of President Donald Trump, Marla Maples was among the supporters who appeared on Capitol Hill this past Wednesday during the confirmation hearing for HHS secretary nominee RFK Jr.
Marla Maples shared support for the MAHA movement and her hopes for a healthier America with Fox News Digital at the RFK Jr. hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 29, on Capitol Hill. (Fox News Digital)
The Georgia native, also a co-founder of the Global Wellness Forum, shared her excitement for the MAHA movement and her hopes for a healthier America.
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“I have to support America’s health, our children’s health … We suffered [for] so long with what they’re putting in our food supply without having consent on what we’re getting medically,” she told Fox News Digital in an interview.
Jillian Michaels
Renowned fitness expert Jillian Michaels is based in Miami, Florida.
As a certified personal trainer and nutrition specialist, she takes a no-nonsense approach to health and wellness.
In Sept. 2024, Michaels (shown above) appeared in a “Make America Healthy Again” ad with Brigham Buhler. (Donald Kravitz/Getty Images)
In Sept. 2024, Michaels appeared in a “Make America Healthy Again” ad with healthcare entrepreneur Brigham Buhler.
Alex Clark
Alex Clark is the host of the “Culture Apothecary” podcast.
She speaks with guests who share their own healing remedies for those seeking alternative healthcare methods.
IT’S HERE 🥳💚🌿🌱: Elated to announce ‘Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark’, where each guest provides their own remedy to heal a sick culture- physically, emotionally/relationally, and spiritually…TWICE A WEEK! Same show new name. An apothecary was the original place in the… pic.twitter.com/1wKcjWioUV
— Alex Clark (@yoalexrapz) September 9, 2024
A contributor to the nonprofit political organization Turning Point USA, the Arizona-based Clark has over 120,000 followers on X and nearly half a million Instagram followers.
Vani Hari (‘Food Babe’)
Known as the “Food Babe,” Vani Hari has been raising alarms about chemicals in food, water and the air for over a decade.
Vani Hari is a food activist who attended the confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., prospective secretary of Health and Human Services. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)
Based in North Carolina, the mother of three is the author of several books and the “Food Babe” blog.
As a food activist, Hari aims to influence major food giants to adopt healthier policies.
Caitlin Sinclair
Caitlin Sinclair, spokeswoman for the American Values PAC, spoke with Fox News Digital about her personal connection to the MAHA movement.
Pictured with RFK Jr., Caitlin Sinclair told Fox News Digital that the “MAHA movement is very personal to me.” (Turning Point Action)
Sinclair experienced a “dark, seven-year odyssey” of wrongful diagnoses, she shared.
The MAHA movement is part of a “spiritual awakening” in the U.S. that is key to helping people achieve the American dream, she said.
Calley Means
Calley Means is a New York City-based entrepreneur, author and advocate for healthcare reform, focusing on the intersection of food, policy and chronic disease.
Calley Means is an entrepreneur, author and advocate for healthcare reform, focusing on the intersection of food, policy and chronic disease. (Fox News Digital)
Means co-founded TrueMed, a company in Washington, D.C., that helps Americans use health savings accounts (HSAs) and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) for preventative health measures like nutrition and fitness.
He also co-wrote the book “Good Energy” with his sister, Casey Means, M.D.
Casey Means, MD
Dr. Casey Means is a Stanford-trained physician and metabolic health expert based in Los Angeles.
Casey Means attended the confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom President Trump has nominated to be secretary of HHS. (Fox News Digital)
Formerly a surgeon, she shifted her focus to preventive medicine, emphasizing the role of diet and lifestyle in combating chronic disease.
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Means focuses on metabolic health, highlighting the connections between blood sugar, inflammation and long-term wellness.
She was among the supporters who attended the confirmation hearing for RFK Jr. on Jan. 29, 2025.
Nicole Saphier, MD
Nicole Saphier, M.D., a board-certified radiologist with advanced fellowship training in breast imaging, is a Fox News medical contributor and bestselling author.
Dr. Nicole Saphier wrote the book “Make America Healthy Again” in 2020, spearheading the MAHA movement. (Fox News)
The New York City-based doctor also wrote the book “Make America Healthy Again” in 2020, spearheading the MAHA movement.
Liana Werner-Gray
An Australian who today calls Los Angeles home, Liana Werner-Gray said her life changed dramatically in 2009 at age 21, when she was told she had cancer in her lymphatic system.
After a cancer diagnosis, Liana Werner-Gray embarked on a “massive detox” by carefully choosing what foods to consume. (Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Eschewing traditional medicine, Werner-Gray embarked on a “massive detox” and changed her diet. She is the author of “The Earth Diet” and several other books.
The wellness advocate spoke with Fox News Digital about her personal health journey while attending RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing.
Courtney Swan
Integrative nutritionist Courtney Swan states that she is “on a mission to change America’s broken food system.”
Integrative nutritionist Courtney Swan discussed the Senate confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on “Fox & Friends Weekend.” (Fox News)
Founder of the podcast and food blog Realfoodology, Swan has voiced her support of the MAHA movement and for RFK Jr., describing the prospective HHS head as a “mountain-mover and a nation-shaker.”
“His genuine love for the American people inspires a future brimming with promise and hope for generations to come,” she wrote on Instagram.
Mehmet Oz, MD
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, award-winning author and former daytime television host, has been outspoken about the increasing sickness in America, largely caused by unhealthy foods.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, award-winning author and former daytime television host, has voiced his support of RFK Jr. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
“The current healthcare system in this country is unsustainable,” the Pennsylvania-based doctor told Sean Hannity in November 2024. “We’re six years shorter in our life expectancy than Europeans — they’re very strict about what they put in their bodies, for very good reason.”
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Oz also said that Trump was “wise” in recommending RFK Jr. to lead HHS and the MAHA movement.
President Trump has selected Oz as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Daphne Oz
Daphne Oz is an Emmy-winning TV host, author and wellness advocate known for her expertise in healthy living, nutrition and balanced lifestyle choices.
She is based in Florida.
Daphne Oz has grown her career by focusing on healthy living and nutrition. (Brad Barket/Getty Images)
As the daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz, Daphne Oz has built a career emphasizing the importance of nourishing foods, mindful indulgence and wellness.
She was recently spotted at the MAHA inaugural ball held in celebration of RFK Jr. on Jan. 20.
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After a season of bingeing and drinking, your body may feel like it needs a break from the party.
Dry January — a modern trend that challenges people to abstain from drinking for the first month of the year — has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note.
Research has linked alcohol to a variety of health conditions, ranging from hangovers to higher cancer risk.
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In a recent podcast episode of “The Dr. Mark Hyman Show,” Dr. Mark Hyman, chief medical officer of Function Health, shared how 30 days of not drinking alcohol can transform health.
Hyman, who is based in Massachusetts, called Dry January a “powerful way to see in real time how alcohol affects nearly every system of your body and how quickly those systems can recover.”
Dry January has become a popular way to “detox” from the holidays and start the new year on a healthy note. (iStock)
Alcohol’s toll on the brain and body
Hyman acknowledged that most people drink to feel happier and more comfortable in social situations. This effect is caused by the main ingredient in alcohol, called ethanol, which can also have toxic effects.
Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions. “You feel more relaxed, more social, more confident, maybe you feel a little euphoric,” Hyman said.
Alcohol’s effect on the brain can also lead to poorer decisions and slower reflexes, the doctor cautioned.
Drinking alcohol can cause cognitive decline and brain fog, experts warn. (iStock)
Drinking also impacts the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which Hyman described as “the adult in the room,” responsible for judgment, planning and restraint. “It goes offline early in drinking, which explains why people feel freer or act impulsively when they drink,” he said.
Even moderate drinking can cause metabolic stress, inflammation, impaired detoxification and hormonal shifts, Hyman said, which can impact nearly every organ system in the body.
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Alcohol consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of cancer, metabolic dysfunction, gut microbiome disturbances and mitochondrial toxins.
It can also prevent the body from falling into REM sleep, which is the deep rest recovery period when the immune system cleans out the day’s toxins, according to Hyman.
Alcohol can impact deep rest and mental health, according to experts. (iStock)
Memory loss, cognitive decline, anxiety, sleep disruption, dementia and cardiovascular disease are all known risks of long-term alcohol use, as well as liver complications like fatty liver disease.
“Bottom line, alcohol taxes every major system in your body, especially your liver, your brain, your gut, your hormones,” Hyman said.
The effects of 30 days with no alcohol
The first week after your last drink, the body begins to detoxify and reset, according to Hyman. Blood sugar and cortisol stress hormones level out, and the liver begins to process a “backlog of toxins.” The body also re-hydrates and re-energizes.
The first 30 days with no alcohol allows the body to balance itself out. (iStock)
The second week, the gut and brain will begin to re-balance, as hormones like serotonin and dopamine stabilize, gut inflammation drops and the microbiome begins to heal. Cravings for sugar and alcohol will wane and mental clarity returns, the doctor said.
Week three is marked by further decreases in inflammation, fatty liver and blood pressure. This can be noticeable in the skin, as puffiness and redness are reduced. Mood also begins to stabilize, with lower anxiety levels.
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In week four, the body experiences additional metabolic and immune benefits, Hyman shared, including more insulin sensitivity, which makes it easier to lose weight.
“You have a stronger immune response. You’re not getting sick as much. You have better deep sleep, balanced hormones, especially cortisol and testosterone,” he said. “And you see a big change in energy, confidence and focus.”
Abstaining from alcohol can help restore energy, according to experts. (iStock)
Dr. Pinchieh Chiang, a clinician at Circle Medical in San Francisco, said that Dry January isn’t a “detox,” but rather provides “feedback” from the body.
“It gives the body time to show people how it feels without alcohol. For many, that insight alone changes their relationship with drinking,” she said. “The biggest surprise isn’t what people give up, it’s how much better they feel.”
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The doctor confirmed that the first few days of not drinking may feel harder than expected, sometimes causing restlessness, cravings or disrupted sleep, but Dry January can ultimately change drinking habits for the remainder of the year.
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After a full year without alcohol, Chiang noted that health improvements are more profound. “We see sustained improvements in blood pressure, liver function and inflammation,” she said. “Those changes directly affect long-term heart disease and stroke risk.”
The risks of ‘all or nothing’
Some experts warn that adopting the Dry January trend could strengthen the urge to drink more in the other months, noting that some drinkers may find more success by slowly consuming fewer drinks per week.
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Thomas Stopka, Ph.D., an epidemiologist and professor in the public health and community medicine department at Tufts University School of Medicine in Massachusetts, shared in a Futurity report that for some people, “damp January” may be more suitable.
One expert warned that not all drinkers should quit “cold turkey,” as it could lead to severe withdrawals. (iStock)
“Dry January is well-intentioned, and it may work really well for the people who can stick to it, maybe even beyond January,” he said. “Other people may be more inclined to cut down on alcohol consumption rather than quit drinking completely for the month.”
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Stopka noted that successful harm-reduction approaches “aim to be judgment free.”
“Substance use disorder is a disease,” he said. “It takes time to treat the disease and to stay connected to the continuum of care — from prevention to treatment initiation to sustained therapy, whether through medication, self-help, or individual therapy or group support.”
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Those struggling with signs of alcohol use disorder should consult a medical professional for personalized guidance.
Fox News Digital reached out to several alcohol industry associations requesting comment.
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