Podcast nutrition is more ‘poop’ than ever

Is it really that bad?
 
Another week and another shit nutrition podcast is released and yes, I’m talking about the hotly anticipated second outing of Tim Spector on Diary of a CEO.
 
As I raged on instagram this week, I had a few people slide into my DMs on the premise that, in comparison to other nutrition advice, isn’t advising people eat less ultra-processed foods and drink kefir inoffensive?
 
Isn’t it better than telling people to cut out carbs or count every calorie forever more?
 
 
The problem of being ‘not that bad’
 
The problem I have with this continued echoing of Tim Spector et al’s nutrition advice is although the actual food recommendations aren’t harmful, the overall message and dietary pattern promoted is. It’s elitist, confusing (as it’s muddied with incorrect information like saying that calories don’t matter) and creating a hierarchy of food morality again.
 
I’ve seen parents commenting on reels advising people to avoid oats (OATS) in distress, unsure of what to feed their kids when they’ve got a single parent income and 4 children and until now thought they were doing pretty well giving their kids a high fibre warm meal in the morning.
 
Earlier this week I witnessed a Personal Trainer offering an initial nutrition consultation and the first 3 pieces of nutrition advice were to avoid whole milk (not for calories but for apparent (and untrue) osteoporosis benefits), drink kefir (upwards of £3 a bottle) and stop eating bread from the supermarket.
 
I imagine Brenda on the other end of that zoom call wondering where she’ll find the extra £21 per week for kefir that will do about 0.001% as much for her health as a diet rich in fibre and protein would do, at a fraction of the price.
 
My problem is that some Personal Trainers and others with voices are listening to podcasts like this and using it to inform their practice (instead of doing a legitimate evidence-based nutrition qualification *cough* EIQ nutrition *cough). 
 
My problem is that there’s scaremongering of healthful foods like protein, a macronutrient many people struggle to get enough of as it is (according to actual research 50% of older adults don’t meet the RDA in the UK which is already a lower than optimal target, which is in direct opposition to what Tim said on a recent podcast), that’s directly related to our muscle mass which is directly related to longevity.
 
Of course, if you eat too much protein it leads to fat gain, provided you’re eating in a calorie surplus. But it’s not the protein, it’s the calories. Yet it’s far harder to eat in a calorie surplus if a large proportion of your calories are coming from a satiating macronutrient like protein.
 
My problem is that we’re seeing another surge in a drive to intermittent fast, with this implication (and I quote) “that your body needs time to recover”. From what? There’s zero evidence that your body needs to ‘recover’ from eating, zero evidence that fasting is better for fat loss than a standard calorie deficit, and no solid evidence that it supports your health. Yet it’s being touted as a consideration for those looking to be healthier (above actual energy balance). 
 
My problem is that there’s some really solid pieces of nutrition advice in there, like eating enough fibre and colour and variety and reducing (not excluding) our overall consumption of ultra-processed foods and because of that, we’re supposed to accept the rest like it’s fact (when it’s not).
 
 
The reality is that the evidence isn’t there to suggest our gut rules all
 
Whilst I recognise the importance of the gut to overall health, evidence is in its infancy surrounding the magnitude of its role.
 
Beyond a varied plant-based diet, rich in fibre, stress management, moderating caffeine and alcohol and including food sources of pre and probiotics, there isn’t much more to consider right now. 
 
There certainly isn’t evidence to suggest an entire nutrition protocol based on your individual gut microbiome. 
 
 
There isn’t evidence at all that personalised nutrition based on poop and bloods works. 
 
If you feel better having done a diet like this, it’s likely because you spent time focusing on your health, feeling empowered by doing so, eating more plants and variety and being more mindful on the whole, which is fabulous and something to be proud of. 
 
 
Just because something is less bad, doesn’t make it good.
 
Food morality is a problem for relationships with food on the whole but more so, creates an environment of shame for those doing their best for their families. 
 
Are we really living in a world where, there’s such shit diet advice out there, that the ‘ok’ diet advice should be celebrated?
 
I don’t know about you, but I have higher standards for myself, my business, the people we work with, the coaches I love and those around me.
 
 
Pick the lowest hanging fruit
 
When you study nutrition, one of the first things they’ll tell you when working with people is to pick the lowest hanging fruit. 
 
In my experience, kefir isn’t the thing dangling from the bottom branch of the nutrition tree.
 
We’re far more likely to pick some fruit and veggies, protein, wholegrains and ultra-processed foods (because again, a decent message is there to reduce them, but it’s unrealistic to eradicate and demonise them). 
 
 
There’s a huge potential for creating disordered eating and I fear it’s being driven almost entirely by money
 
Is it the new diet culture?
 
I read an article recently written by a journalist trying out the current personalised nutrition (zoe) protocol and she said, “It becomes strangely addictive checking the glucose sensor after each meal to see how I’m responding to different foods.”
 
That’s what we want, isn’t it? To get addicted to monitoring ourselves after every meal, monitoring markers that unless we live with diabetes or insulin resistance, mean nothing (even in those who do have blood glucose control challenges, one marker of blood glucose after one meal isn’t physiologically relevant).
 
I love the focus on health > calorie counting (although there is space for both), but that’s the extent of my appreciation. 
 
 
Many people might feel empowered by taking ownership of their nutrition in this way, and I’m not here to tell you how to feel.
 
But I am here to ask you to be sceptical of nutrition advice online and where you spend your money. 
 
My distaste and fury at podcast nutrition that ‘isn’t that bad’ is valid. Because in my world, it's a bit of a disgrace.
 
 
I'm always here,
 
Em