In this discussion, Nick Pell, a writer and researcher known for debunking misconceptions, explains the truth behind fad diets like keto and paleo. He emphasizes that these diets often lead to temporary results through caloric restriction rather than any magical metabolic process. Pell challenges the myths surrounding dieting, including the role of seed oils and the supposed health benefits of detox diets. By highlighting the importance of sustainable nutrition over quick fixes, he encourages listeners to rethink their dietary choices and understand the real foundation of health.
56:36
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Carnivore Diet Experiment
Jordan Harbinger tried the carnivore diet for a month, eating steak and eggs daily.
He also ate other foods to maintain regular bowel movements.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Intermittent Fasting Experience
Nick Pell tried intermittent fasting but found it incompatible with his bodybuilding schedule.
He acknowledges it's not a miracle weight-loss solution.
insights INSIGHT
Carbs as the Bogeyman
Many fad diets, like keto, demonize carbs.
Carbs themselves aren't the issue; overconsumption and lack of satiety are the problems.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Fad diets work — until they don't. On this Skeptical Sunday, Nick Pell reveals why a sustainable regimen always beats restriction for lasting weight loss!
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Nick Pell!
Most fad diets work primarily through inadvertent caloric restriction, not some kind of metabolic magic. When you eliminate entire food groups (per keto's commandments) or shrink eating windows (as with intermittent fasting), you're essentially performing a disappearing act on hundreds of daily calories. The weight loss isn't mysterious — it's mathematical.
These diets often resemble nutritional extreme sports — thrilling at first, but impossible to maintain over the long term. Like trying to hold your breath underwater, eventually you come up gasping for carbs.
The Standard American Diet (ironically abbreviated S.A.D.) sets such a dismally low nutritional baseline that almost any structured eating plan looks miraculous by comparison. When researchers celebrate a diet's success, they're often comparing it to a nutritional landscape where frozen pizza qualifies as a vegetable serving.
Many of these diets carry surprising biological price tags — keto's potential kidney damage, carnivore's digestive rebellion (pooping "once every three days" is less a feature than a warning sign), and nutritional blind spots that could leave your body wondering what happened to all those essential micronutrients it once enjoyed.
The most effective diet isn't the most restrictive or trendy, but simply the one you'll actually maintain. Like finding your soulmate, the best nutritional approach matches your lifestyle and preferences while gently steering you toward better choices. The best diet is the one that you'll stick with. Consider finding your personal sweet spot between nutrition science and real-life application by making modest, consistent improvements rather than dramatic overnight overhauls. Your future self will thank you for the balanced approach.
The Jordan Harbinger Show 