Debunking the Great Food Myths, with Tim Spector and Dan Saladino
Apr 13, 2022
Join the fascinating discussion on how much of our dietary advice is misleading. Tim Spector argues that our unique genetic makeup means we react differently to food, challenging one-size-fits-all myths. Dan Saladino highlights the urgency of protecting rare foods and biodiversity. Explore the impact of ultra-processed foods on health and the journey towards embracing whole foods. Dive into the importance of grain and microbial diversity for gut health, while discovering fun ways to experiment with your diet.
59:31
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Food Information Wars
The food industry manipulates the narrative around food and nutrition for commercial gain.
Doctors, scientists, and governments may also offer flawed dietary advice.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Grazing vs. Gorging
The advice to graze instead of gorge, promoted by the food industry, lacks scientific backing.
A poorly conducted study on a small group of students was misrepresented to support this idea.
insights INSIGHT
Bad Science and Marketing
Bad science and the simplification of complex issues have fueled misleading food marketing.
Nutrition is a relatively young science, leading to misunderstandings and misinterpretations.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Why Almost Everything We’ve Been Told About Food is Wrong
Tim Spector
In this book, Tim Spector challenges the conventional wisdom on food and nutrition by exposing the lack of good scientific evidence behind many medical and government food recommendations. Through twenty short, myth-busting chapters, Spector highlights how the food industry significantly influences these policies and our dietary choices. The book encourages readers to rethink their relationship with food, emphasizing its importance not just for individual health but also for the future of the planet.
Eating to Extinction
Dan Saladino
In 'Eating to Extinction,' Dan Saladino explores the world's vanishing foods, documenting his travels to experience and preserve these endangered culinary treasures. The book delves into the consequences of globalization and industrialization on food systems, noting that only a few crops and breeds dominate global food production. Saladino argues that this homogenization threatens not only traditional foodways but also the flavors, smells, and textures associated with diverse foods. He profiles heroic individuals dedicated to preserving these foods and provides a roadmap to a healthier, more robust, and flavorful food system. The book is a mix of culinary exploration and a warning about the future of food production in the face of climate change, pests, and parasites[1][3][5].
Food is the best medicine, believes genetics expert Tim Spector, but most of the dietary advice that we are given is wrong, he claims. In his latest bestselling book, Spoon-Fed: Why Almost Everything We’ve Been Told About Food Is Wrong, he argues that the most dangerous myth of all about food is the assumption that we all respond to the same foods in the same way and the food industry's oversimplified approach to diet. For this discussion, Tim is joined by Dan Saladino, the award-winning food writer and broadcaster. Dan's new book, Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them, is a love letter to the world’s great food traditions and a wake-up call to protect the planet’s genetic biodiversity.
Intelligence Squared 
