Set Point Theory. It’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in both diet and wellness culture and suggests that our bodies have a genetically predetermined weight range. But where did this term come from? And what evidence do we have to support theoretical models of body weight regulation? Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we explore the intri…

In today’s episode, we are joined by a titan in the anti-diet social media space, Shana Minei Spence. Healthism and social determinants of health are lesser discussed, albeit incredibly important, aspects of how people feed themselves. Shana feels passionate about bringing awareness to these ideas and calling out how nutrition and wellness is often…

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It’s not a diet! Or is it? The Whole30 burst onto the wellness scene in the late aughts and became hugely popular. Its creators claim it’s not a diet, but instead a short term reset that will not only help you feel better but also create a path to food freedom. But are elimination diets like The Whole30 necessary for everyone? And is the path to fo…

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Over the last few years sales of raw, unpasteurized milk have skyrocketed. Raw milk advocates claim that pasteurization destroys key nutrients in milk and reduces important health benefits. But beyond the health claims, raw milk has become a symbol of consumer choice and a protest against government oversight and intervention. It may seem like a si…

Ultra-processed foods are an ultra-hot topic currently in the world of nutrition. Headlines abound suggesting that any consumption of ultra-processed foods will destroy our health and cause a multitude of chronic diseases. But what makes a food ultra-processed? And does current research on ultra-processed foods and health risks support these extrem…

This is a re-release of an episode originally shared 11/01/2023 Jen and Matt are on summer break drinking Mai Tais on the beach. Or wait, no, I think we said we're floating around on the International Space Station. We're losing the thread at this point! In reality we're working hard on future episodes and seeing clients. New main feed episodes ret…

What a rollercoaster! To hear the rest of the episode head on over to our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals

This is a re-release of an episode originally shared 7/26/2023 Jen and Matt are on summer break drinking Mai Tais on the beach. Or wait, no, I think we said we're floating around on the International Space Station. We're losing the thread at this point! In reality we're working hard on future episodes and seeing clients. New main feed episodes retu…

This is a re-release of an episode originally shared 11/15/2023 Jen and Matt are on summer break drinking Mai Tais on the beach. Or wait, no, I think we said we're floating around on the International Space Station. We're losing the thread at this point! In reality we're working hard on future episodes and seeing clients. New main feed episodes ret…

Do ya’ll remember Wheat Belly?! To hear the rest of the episode head on over to our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals

This is a re-release of an episode originally shared 09/20/2023 Jen and Matt are on summer break drinking Mai Tais on the beach. Or wait, no, I think we said we're floating around on the International Space Station. We're losing the thread at this point! In reality we're working hard on future episodes and seeing clients. New main feed episodes ret…

Space, the final frontier! Have you ever wondered how the nutrition needs of an astronaut change when they enter space? Or whether or not Matt Damon really could survive on potatoes grown in Martian soil? How about making cricket bread and cultured meat in space? Well join us, two Registered Dietitians and NASA Nutritionist Dr. Scott M. Smith as we…

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Diet foods have been around in some shape or form for well over a hundred years. Whether they are low-calorie, low-fat, low-carb, or claim to possess some type of magical fat-burning property, diet foods are staple of diet culture. But just how have diet foods changed throughout the decades? And how exactly might they impact our relationship with f…

In the final installment of this three-part series we’re digging into the world of metabolic response testing. Currently, there seems to be increasing emphasis on the importance of understanding your unique response to macronutrients, especially carbs and fat. Companies like Zoe are encouraging everyone to wear continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) wh…

In the second of this three part series, we’re digging into the world of nutrigenetics. Over the last several years, there has been a huge uptick in companies offering personalized diet recommendations ‘based on your own unique DNA!’. But how evidence-based are companies like GenoPalate? And are there potential downsides of over-focusing on how you…

A trip to Banana Island, anyone? To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals

In the first of this three part series, we dive into the world of personalized nutrition starting with the microbiome. Most of us have seen companies like Viome, promising that their revolutionary microbiome test can help us "optimize" our gut and consequently improve our overall health. But how much do we actually know about the microbiome? And ar…

For decades the advice around saturated fat seemed clear: lowering your intake of saturated fat would lower your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. But about a decade ago, things changed. The carnivore diet gained popularity, Time Magazine featured ‘Butter is Back’ on their cover, and social media became awash with influencers claiming that…

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Join us, two registered dietitians (and friends!) as we watch (and talk through) the popular documentary "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.”

The words “overweight” and “obesity” are used both colloquially and throughout the healthcare establishment. But what impact does this language have on us? And how do these words hold the power to stigmatize and cause harm? Matt had the pleasure of speaking with Ragen Chastain, a speaker and writer who focuses on the intersection of weight science,…

Weight Watchers has been around for decades. Generations of individuals have attended meetings, logged their food and counted points. But is Weight Watchers as effective as it claims to be? And what does the science behind the program actually tell us? Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we examine the world of WW and ultimately answer the quest…

Listen to the full episode (and all of our past and future bonus episodes) by joining our Patreon. By supporting us on Patreon you'll get a special podcast feed right in your favorite podcast app that will update automatically every time a new bonus episode is released. We donate 20% of our Patreon proceeds to The Hunger Project. https://www.patreo…

How much protein do we need? Seems like a simple enough question, right? Well, in the world of nutrition, few questions are more fraught than this one. So join us, two Registered Dietitians (and friends!) as we navigate these treacherous waters and attempt to come out the other side with some useful information for our own lives. #rollininthebeef W…

Body mass index or BMI is a metric that most of us are familiar with. It’s recorded on our health charts, can dictate how much we pay for insurance or even determine whether or not we can access medical care. But how did the BMI become so integrated into healthcare? And what, if anything, does BMI even tell us about our health? Join us, two Registe…

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Remember in 2015 when news reports were full of claims about the magic of chocolate in weight loss efforts? Well, there is SO much more than meets the eye with this story. This is a wild ride.. we hope everyone enjoys this (sort of) Valentine's-theme…

Functional Medicine is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. More and more individuals are embracing this contemporary approach to medicine with hopes of feeling better and accessing more personalized care. But what are the origins of functional medicine? And are there concerns with this emerging discipline? Join us, two Registered Di…

Most of us have heard about MSG, that amazing flavor enhancer often used in a variety of Asian cuisines. But MSG has a surprising backstory, one filled with racism, bad science, and xenophobia, which all contributed to one of the most enduring misconceptions in food history. So join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we explore MSG’s sordid past and…

We had the immense honor of being joined by Intuitive Eating co-creator, Evelyn Tribole. We covered a ton of ground in our conversation including: how diet culture has co-opted Intuitive Eating, common misconceptions of Intuitive Eating, and exciting new research being done on the benefits of Intuitive Eating. So join us, three (!) Registered Dieti…

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Join us, two registered dietitians (and friends!) as we run down the Unfortunate Nutrition Trends of 2023. We also tackle a listener question about calorie labeling on restaurant menus!

Heavy metal detoxes, mercury in seafood, colloidal silver. There is a ton of buzz about heavy metals currently in the world of nutrition. But are the foods we eat really packed with toxic heavy metals? And do these metals accumulate in our bodies in a way that’s impacting our health? Join us, two registered dietitians, as we dive into the world of …

Episode 24: Coffee Wars: Part Two In the second episode of this two part series, we dig into the countless health claims associated with coffee: Is coffee dehydrating? Does it cause bone loss over time? Will it really stunt your growth? Does it mess up your cortisol levels? How much is too much? So join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we answer t…

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Join us, two registered dietitians (and friends!) as we watch (and talk through) the popular documentary "How Ultra-Processed Food is Slowly Killing Us."

Want to support the show and get bonus episodes? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and it also comes with a variety of health claims attached to it.. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, an anti-coffee movement began that still influences our current cultural discou…

Want to support the show and get bonus episodes? Join our Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals Optavia is a nutrition MLM that markets itself as a complete transformational system. But is this program really different from a fad diet? And how do programs like these impact our relationship with food? Join us, two Registered Dietitian…

Join us, two registered dietitians (and friends!) as we ask the question: do you really want to live forever? (It's Bryan Johnson BTW) To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals

Increasing metabolism is often a central focus of diet and wellness programs. But do the foods we eat actually impact our metabolic rate? And what about supplements that claim to "burn and melt fat?" Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we debunk common metabolism myths and ultimately answer the question: Can you really hack your metabolism? Want…

In our modern world of wellness, it feels impossible to avoid the barrage of content focused on achieving purity of the gut. While our gut is truly an amazing ecosystem, is it really necessary for us to engage in juice detoxes or colon cleanses in order to improve how our gut functions? Join us, two registered dietitians, as we dive into the world …

Diet drugs have been marketed and sold in some shape or form for well over a hundred years. Some of these drugs have been simply ineffective while others have had devastating side-effects. Join us, two registered dietitians, as we take a look at the fascinating history of weight loss drugs and discuss our current cultural moment with medications li…

Social media influencers disseminate massive amounts of nutrition and health related content daily. But just how accurate is this information? And what are the consequences of constantly exposing ourselves to all this nutrition-related messaging? Join us, two registered dietitians, as we explore the problems with nutrition-related social media, dis…

The phrase "balance your hormones" is popping up everywhere. Social media influencers are pushing raw carrot salad for estrogen balance and convincing women to eat differently during the distinct phases of their menstrual cycles. But is there validity to hormone balancing or are we once again dealing with another unhelpful wellness trend? Join us, …

Just like in the world of nutrition, the fitness industry is rife with misinformation and toxic messaging. Today we are joined by our first ever guest on the show, Michael Ulloa. Michael is a weight neutral personal trainer who works hard to combat the massive amounts of erroneous information rampant in the exercise and fitness world. So join us, t…

Noom! The app that has revolutionized weight loss by using psychology! But has it? Most of us have seen Noom ads on social media, on television, or as part of a workplace wellness program, but is Noom really as innovative as it claims? Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we explore the Noom app, dig into the ‘psychology’ of the program and discu…

The carnivore diet has recently been gaining popularity... But why? Are there truly aspects of plant foods that can harm our health or is this just another fad diet trend? Join us, two registered dietitians, as we discuss anti-nutrients, lectins, and seed oils in an attempt to quell the recent ‘plant panic’ once and for all. Don’t want to miss any …

Vitamin C and the common cold have been inexorably linked for decades. Because of this, many of us tend to down some OJ or mix up some Emergen-C when we’re under the weather. But does Vitamin C actually cure the common cold? And how did our understanding of Vitamin C evolve over time? Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we dig into the history a…

Cancer! Alzheimer’s! Heart Disease! Diet soda has A LOT of health risk claims swirling around it. So much so that it feels really hard to know whether drinking diet soda (or consuming artificial sweeteners in general) is actively harming our health. So join us, two registered dietitians, as we dig into both the history of diet soda and the research…

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Let Food Be Thy Medicine’. Besides being a classic opening for many wellness speeches, this phrase is often used to justify why people should take a ‘foods first’ approach to health. But should we really try and ‘let food be our medicine’? Or can this approach backfire and cause more harm than good? Join us, two register…

Ingredient Households. Almond Moms. The Clean Plate Club. Most of us have seen these buzzwords floating around on social media. But more than hashtags, these phrases all describe consequential ways people can be raised to think about or interact with food. So join us, two registered dietitians, as we explore how early language and modeling with eat…