76 | Abfluencers and nutrition myth busting with Laura Ligos Laura Ligos of the Sassy Dietitian is back on the podcast and we’re both so pumped to be doing some serious nutrition fad de-bunking today to help you guys sort through the massive garbage pile of nutrition and fitness information that is currently going around out there. We know it can be really tough to decipher what’s real and what’s not, what’s actually backed up by real, evidence-based and researched nutrition science vs. bro science vs. the stuff that people are just spouting out on instagram LIKE it’s science when really they have no background or credentials or business talking about it (especially when they’re trying to say it’s the one and only way for everyone).

The point of this is not just to rant. We’re not going to spend the next hour just saying how stupid everyone and all these trends are (even though they make our blood boil). We’re going to talk about the current biggest offenders we’re seeing in the social media world around nutrition, and how you can de-bunk them to know how they may or may not apply to your own life – basically we’re giving you some evidence-based nutrition BS-spotting glasses that will allow you to see more clearly when something is a scam, someone is trying to make money off you by playing off your insecurities, and how to figure out which ‘influencers’ on nutrition and fitness culture out there (on social media, in regular media, in person and in your own life) you might not want to be listening to and WHY.

PS – Just because we are experts in the field of nutrition and dietetics does NOT mean we are aware of every last thing or claim out there and as scientists our job is never ending and we are constantly learning—not constantly being perfect. We are not perfect and we have never claimed to be.

Discussed on today’s episode:

“Abfluencers” & Macro coaches – who are NOT experts but DO claim to be
Who to NOT listen to in the social media/influencer world of nutrition and fitness and WHY
De-bunking online nutrition certification programs
How to figure out who is the expert and who isn’t
Just because you are a fit person and you eat every day, it does not mean you have the right, credentials, background to give any kind of nutrition advice.
The “do no harm” principle in the fields of medicine, nutrition and dietetics
When tracking goes wrong
That time when myfitnesspal went down and people were freaking out – and what that means about their relationship with food and exercise
The cult mentality of nutrition programs and diets, and when it becomes toxic to your mental and physical health
Dietitians vs. Nutritionists: credentials, education, and how to figure out who’s who, and who is the right type of clinician for you to work with. Dietitians aren’t all food pyramid pushers and not all people who call themselves nutritionists are 1) legally allowed to do so and 2) have the education and background of clinical experience to actually be giving nutrition advice.