ICYMI: Protein Girlies, Leaky Gut, and the Ozempic Book
Plus: how to talk about pharmaceutical-industry influence without sounding like a conspiracy theorist.
In case you missed it, here’s everything we shared on Rethinking Wellness in the past month. There’s also a little behind-the-scenes commentary for paid subscribers at the end, where I share my thoughts on some of the content and what it sparked for me.
A Popular Protein Myth, and What the Science Really Says
I’ve heard this particular piece of protein advice from multiple sources recently—from my hairstylist to self-described “protein girlies” on social media—and I think it has the potential to harm our relationships with food in ways that might not be so obvious at first glance.
Why You Probably Don’t Have a Leaky Gut, and Other Wellness Misconceptions with Jonathan Jarry
Science communicator Jonathan Jarry joins us to discuss his history of turning to alternative cures for chronic pain, how he came to be skeptical of wellness, the problems with science journalism, why you probably don’t have a leaky gut (despite what many influencers and wellness practitioners claim), the critical article about “leaky gut syndrome” that resulted in death threats, and more.
Ozempic: the Book, Another Fake Anti-Diet, and More
A Paleo influencer changes course, gut-health entrepreneur Tim Spector touts his company's restrictive eating plan as an “anti-diet” (lol), and my take on Johann Hari's new book, which for all its efforts at nuance ends up feeling like a long and complicated love letter to Ozempic.
Weight-Loss-Industry Influence in "Obesity" Research with Alexis Conason
Psychologist Alexis Conason joins us to discuss her background in “obesity” research, the industry influence behind the American Medical Association’s decision to classify obesity as a disease in 2013, how to talk about pharmaceutical-industry influence without sounding like a conspiracy theorist, the discourse around GLP-1 drugs, and lots more.
Do You Really Need a Gluten-Free Diet for These Autoimmune Conditions?
It’s Q&A time! This week I'm answering an audience question about autoimmune diets and celiac disease (available to everyone), and another one about going gluten-free for an autoimmune thyroid condition (for paid subscribers).
Challenging Diet and Wellness Misinformation While Holding Space for People to Evolve with Jess Steier
Dr. Jess Steier of The Unbiased Science Podcast joins us to discuss the need for empathy and bridge-building in science communication, why she’s critical of restrictive diets and other wellness trends while holding space for their proponents to evolve (and why she’s faced backlash for that), our differing views on weight and why she’s open to learning about the weight-inclusive approach, and more.
2 Weird Food Rules I Don’t Follow Anymore (and 4 Other Principles I Try to Live By)
These diets made me feel totally unhinged around food. The first part of today’s answer is available to everyone (about food rules I used to follow), and paid subscribers can read the whole thing (including the eating principles I do try to live by).
Taming Your Ambition Monster, Healing from Overwork, and the Role of "Practical Woo" with Jennifer Romolini
Jenn Romolini, author of AMBITION MONSTER, joins us to discuss how ambition and overwork affected her well-being, why workaholism is often a response to trauma, why she developed an eating disorder as a teenager (and the specific personality trait that helped her recover), what it was like to have her mom get into New Age philosophies, how she’s found healing from trauma and work addiction, and more.