#91: The Worst Health Trends of 2022 with Kyle Mamounis and Pedro DoAmaral
Dec 14, 2022
auto_awesome
Guests Kyle Mamounis and Pedro DoAmaral discuss the worst health trends of 2022. Topics include paleo/low-carb diets, the memeification of seed oils, the dilution of Ray Peat's ideas, the toxicity of vitamin D, the influence of gigantic health influencers, lazy health influencers, structured water charlatans, niacin, methylation, and blocking cortisol.
Mineral balancing is a vague and ineffective trend in the health industry, lacking a clear definition or method.
The concept of easy water has been misrepresented and exploited by health influencers, leading to overpriced products and a misunderstanding of the scientific concept.
The Ray Pete-inspired trends of B vitamin restriction and niacin flush need better understanding and evidence-based information, as their effects and benefits are often unclear.
Deep dives
Podcast Trends: Mineral Balancing as a Health Trend
One of the worst health trends of 2022 discussed in the podcast is mineral balancing. The hosts highlight the lack of clarity around the concept, with no clear method or definition of what exactly mineral balancing entails. They express skepticism about the effectiveness of trying to achieve health through mineral balancing, stating that it doesn't address the underlying factors that determine overall health. Additionally, they criticize the emergence of devices and products claiming to aid in mineral balancing, considering them unnecessary and overpriced. The hosts argue that the health world deserves better influencers who provide evidence-based information rather than relying on vague trends and pseudoscience.
Podcast Trends: Easy Water and Health Influencers
Another trend discussed on the podcast episode is the focus on easy water, based on the work of Dr. Gerald Pollack. While acknowledging the quality of Pollack's research, the hosts express concern about how the concept of easy water has been misrepresented and exploited by health influencers. They question the need for expensive devices to create easy water when natural exposure to sunlight can naturally induce its formation. The hosts highlight the misunderstanding and overpriced products associated with this trend, emphasizing the importance of critically analyzing scientific concepts in the health world.
Podcast Trends: Ray Pete Inspired B Requirement and Niacin Flush
The podcast episode delves into the Ray Pete-inspired trends of B vitamin restriction and niacin flush. The hosts briefly explain that the B requirement refers to the daily amount of B vitamins one needs, and the discussion around it lacks clarity and explanation. They introduce a group called Ray Pete-Inspired B Restriction that celebrates reducing B vitamin needs, but without further explanation. Regarding the niacin flush, the hosts acknowledge its side effects, such as histamine and nitric oxide release, but note that it is a short-term event lasting approximately 30 minutes. They propose that the flush's effects, including increased glucose in the blood and enhanced concentration, may result from the stress response associated with niacin rather than the flush itself. They highlight the need for a better understanding of these trends and the importance of evidence-based information in the health industry.
The Importance of Macronutrients and Micronutrients
Macronutrients and micronutrients both play crucial roles in the body. While there is a common belief that empty calories from processed foods are bad, it is equally important to understand that calories are necessary for utilizing minerals and vitamins. Calories are needed for processes like digestion, absorption, and cellular functions. Just as micronutrients are required to utilize calories effectively, calories are necessary to utilize micronutrients.
Concerns about the Mainstreamification of Health Trends
With the rise of health trends and influencers, there is a growing concern about the potential hollowing out and dilution of valuable information. Some popular health trends, like the adoption of Ray Peat's ideas, may become mainstream but may lose their depth and scientific accuracy in the process. The risk is that these ideas could be co-opted by marketers or those seeking to create influencer careers, leading to potential misinformation or misinterpretation of original concepts.