Nutrition For Mortals

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 return in September! If you'd lik...

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 return in September! If you'd lik...

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 answer these questions (and more!) and learn all...

To hear the rest of the episode, support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nutritionformortals

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 food? Join us, two Registered Dietitians, as we ans...

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) while influencers like the Glucose Goddess are extol...

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 your DNA interacts with the foods you eat? Join us,...

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 are these tests really reliable? Join us,...

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 everything we knew about saturated fat was wrong....

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 stigma, and healthcare practice. Matt and...

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 question: Is Weight Watchers truly unique in the diet s...

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.patreon.com/nutritionformortals In 2012, an artic...

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 Want to support the show and get bonus episodes? Jo...

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 Registered Dietitians, as we do a deep dive into the scie...

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-themed episode. 

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 Dietitians, for a frank discussion about the world o...

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 answer the question: Is MSG bad for us?! Want to...

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 Dietitians, as we discuss and explore all things Intuit...

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 heavy metals (guitar riff!). Want to support the s...

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 these questions and finally get to the bottom of wh...

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."