M.A.H.A. and the Call to Personal Responsibility for Health
Ellie McKenzie • February 3, 2025
M.A.H.A. and the Call to Personal Responsibility for Health
by Ellie Bishop McKenzie
First off, this is NOT a political post. It is about what we need to pay attention to regarding our health and freedoms right now.
Last September a monumental non-partisan Senate hearing brought together health “influencers”, doctors and experts to address a concerning trend: Americans are getting sicker than ever before despite having access to the world’s greatest healthcare and the most most abundant resources. In America we are 4 percent of the world’s population, 75 percent of worldwide pharmaceutical profits and 60th in life expectancy. This hearing sought answers and proposed solutions to reverse this alarming pattern. There were many important takeaways including taking responsibility for our own health as individuals, and a delicate balance of freedoms and power for change.
Don’t Miss The Forest For The Trees
One of the most discussed issues was the presence of red dyes in food—a topic that has since dominated both social media and news headlines. Thanks to pressure from these hearings and widespread public advocacy, some red dyes, including Red 3, have now been banned in the United States.
Why does this matter? While studies show that red dyes can cause cancer only in extremely high doses, many parents and health-conscious individuals believe they have no place in food marketed to children. And they’re right. But the larger issue isn’t just about red dyes—it’s about the highly processed foods that dominate American diets.
The Real Solution: Eat Whole Foods
If you focus on eating real, natural foods—fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, and seeds—you won’t need to worry about chemical additives or dyes. Processed foods are the real threat. Yes, making the switch to whole foods is challenging, but it’s possible and essential for long-term health.
Another important note on this topic is buying your real foods from a reputable source. For instance, I personally source my beef, pork, chicken, and eggs from Prairie Farmstead
in Sherman, TX. They deliver fresh, local products right to our gym every two weeks. It is also a regenerative farm so the animals are ethically raised and the earth is cared for. You don’t have to be a member to participate—this is about promoting health for everyone.
Freedom and Health: The Right to Choose
Another critical takeaway from the hearing is the importance of personal freedom. In the U.S., we have the right to make choices—even unhealthy ones. You can drink alcohol, smoke, skydive or even eat ice cream if you choose. It also means we get to choose our religion, pick our careers, and decide how we raise our children. However, with freedom comes personal responsibility.
The right to make bad decisions is an extremely valuable right in this country and one not to be forfeited easily. After all, who gets to decide what is “bad”? Our government shouldn’t get to dictate what we consume, but that does not absolve us of the responsibility for those decisions. If you want to eat and drink like a drunken sailor on his last voyage before death, you get to do that. And you get to pay the price for doing it. And no one, including our government (who is made up of other humans just like you), gets to decide that for you. But you must remember, your health is in your hands—no one else’s.
Power For Change
Despite the criticisms, the Senate hearing proved one crucial point: we can make a difference. After this hearing ended there was a lot of mockery about how silly this caucus was. But it got enough people paying attention and signing petitions to remove potentially harmful ingredients, that last week our government finally banned Red 3 from our foods. The ban on Red 3 demonstrates that public voices matter. Petitions, advocacy, and collective action can influence government policy. This means that as a people, we have power.
However, real change doesn’t just come from the government—it starts with us. We must never forget that we are a country that is OF the people, BY the people, FOR the people. Our government is just people. And sometimes they get things wrong. Educate yourself, speak up, and demand that your government works in your best interest.
A Vision for a Healthier Future
There is still much work to do to get us to a healthy society. Imagine if:
- Government subsidies supported regenerative agriculture rather than monocrops like corn and wheat, encouraging healthier food production. This would provide ethical treatment of animals, be better for the Earth and provide all of us with healthier options at a better price.
- Insurance companies covered nutritionists, physical therapy and gym memberships, making access to health resources available to everyone. At CrossFit Odyssey we work with a company called True Med, partnering with CrossFit Headquarters to recognize fitness as preventative medicine. If you have an FSA or an HSA, you can use those funds for your CrossFit membership. Follow THIS LINK to learn more.
The responsibility is Yours
While we can advocate for better laws and government support, the ultimate responsibility lies with you. No one but YOU can or should make you healthy. YOU must choose to eat right and exercise.
WE are THE PEOPLE.
WE are America.
It’s time to step up and take control of our health. Let’s get to work America!
