Haven't finished watching (made it to the 12 minute mark) but she is 100 percent correct about nutrition knowledge. We know far less about diet and nutrition than what we do know. I toured the University of Wisconsin-Madison lab where vitamins were discovered back in the 1910s and 1920s. Not much progress has been made since that time. Once I figured that out, it made diet decisions much easier. I have never been on a "diet." I determined what works for me. I've never followed a diet with restrictions. "Dieting" is likely the most expensive, unsuccessful industry: $89 billion spent in 2023. Yet our weight and health is not good and getting worse.
I really love Tamar's advice after making the point about how little we know. Given the uncertainties, it makes sense to hedge your bets by eating a range of food that's mostly minimally processed.
This was absolutely amazing. I've been in the industry for 25 years and even have written a book on debunking nutrition myths and misconceptions. Incredibly well-balance and enough nuance to keep the talk lively and interesting.
Great discussion. I love Tamar's no-nonsense but empathetic approach. There is definitely a tendency out there today for people to sell the "one right way" and/or lean towards puritanical conclusions about food and behavior. They then often view scientific studies and anecdotal evidence only through the lens of supporting those beliefs and conclusions. Tamar and yourself are both refreshing because you both seem open-minded and aren't hesitant to have your assumptions proven wrong.
Glad to hear another authority dispels the notion that you can exercise your way to weight loss. It is *possible* but not for most people. The reality is that the amount of calories you burn during exercise is just not sufficiently high. A two hour intense weight lifting session in the gym is 150-250 calories based on your weight. Walking, running and rucking burn a lot more calories per unit time, but for most people that's still not enough to offset the increase in hunger that comes from regular training.
Exercise is the number one thing you can do for health and longevity, but controlling your calorie intake is the much easier way to control your weight.
Great info, but it’s so challenging to figure out which info/stance to follow and which to ignore. I’m currently reading Good Energy, and the author is adamant about a bunch of things that Tamar is not. Makes it difficult 🙂
I don't think Tamar made an argument stating that ethics impacts health. I.e., she separated those two topic. She also separated anything climate-related from health.
The difference is comes down to objectivity and ability to hammer out nuance. Tamar is objective, Casey Means is a quack. Casey makes a lot of unverified and outright nonsensical claims. In addition to this, her organic-only stance is elitist and fear mongering. There is a clear winner here in terms of who to listen to.
Thanks for your perspective on it. I don’t have all the background on these various authors…just trying to figure out the best decisions for me and my family.
Yes for sure. I think so many mainstream diet book authors come from positions of fear-based elimination. They make for more compelling soundbites, but hard-lined universal qualifying language serves only to confuse.
The (almost) universally agreed upon stuff will work 95% of the time for 95% of the people:
Happy to say that I can cross most of those things off. The social relationships part isn't easy, but the others I've been able to manage for quite a while now.
Great discussion and info. Quick question: I get that various types of eggs are indistinguishable by taste, but is that the metric we care most about? I've always heard that the yokes of free-range, wild fed chickens are darker/richer and more "nutritious", I guess implying more vitamins and minerals. Do you know if there's any good data on this front? Is that just marketing or confirmation bias at work?
Great conversation and helped reset some of my own thinking on nutrition. Did you happen to get what's in Tamar's spice mix for her pork sausage? Keep up the good work.
Great interview! I thoroughly enjoyed Tamar’s information and her objectivity. Can you provide her Lentil and Pork Sausage soup recipe, to include her special italian spice mix?
I'm not an expert, but I know my dentist has a chart of different beverages and their acidity. It has diet soda on the list and the impact it causes to enamel.
Great conversation. Clearly an intelligent person. Not agreeing on everything - but that's why we listen and learn. Almost choked on the comments regarding "Ozempic for everyone & for life". This is disturbing and flying in the face of more information coming to light all the time.
Good episode. I agree with much of what was said, but I wouldn’t say I liked that she started with we don’t know much about nutrition then spoke as if she had all the facts. Several studies she mentioned (about fake meat) were short-term studies. I don’t think we can get the information she stated from those studies. If you look at studies on, say, statins for 16 weeks, you will see zero benefit and zero risk. However, looking at the same research over 20 or 30 years, you will see benefits and risks. It is hard to derive information from short-term studies in nutrition or life sciences, which she attempted to do several times.
Haven't finished watching (made it to the 12 minute mark) but she is 100 percent correct about nutrition knowledge. We know far less about diet and nutrition than what we do know. I toured the University of Wisconsin-Madison lab where vitamins were discovered back in the 1910s and 1920s. Not much progress has been made since that time. Once I figured that out, it made diet decisions much easier. I have never been on a "diet." I determined what works for me. I've never followed a diet with restrictions. "Dieting" is likely the most expensive, unsuccessful industry: $89 billion spent in 2023. Yet our weight and health is not good and getting worse.
I really love Tamar's advice after making the point about how little we know. Given the uncertainties, it makes sense to hedge your bets by eating a range of food that's mostly minimally processed.
What a brilliant episode. Common sense and empathy all brought together. I’ll definitely get her book.
That's what I really like about Tamar.
Really enjoyed this entire conversation. Adding lentils and chicken sausage to my grocery list!
Haha I did the same after speaking with Tamar. Enjoy!
Helpful conversation! Happy for the lentil tip! Getting my crew to eat them has been an unsuccessful endeavour up to this point. Bring in the pork!
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.
This was absolutely amazing. I've been in the industry for 25 years and even have written a book on debunking nutrition myths and misconceptions. Incredibly well-balance and enough nuance to keep the talk lively and interesting.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Great discussion. I love Tamar's no-nonsense but empathetic approach. There is definitely a tendency out there today for people to sell the "one right way" and/or lean towards puritanical conclusions about food and behavior. They then often view scientific studies and anecdotal evidence only through the lens of supporting those beliefs and conclusions. Tamar and yourself are both refreshing because you both seem open-minded and aren't hesitant to have your assumptions proven wrong.
Glad to hear another authority dispels the notion that you can exercise your way to weight loss. It is *possible* but not for most people. The reality is that the amount of calories you burn during exercise is just not sufficiently high. A two hour intense weight lifting session in the gym is 150-250 calories based on your weight. Walking, running and rucking burn a lot more calories per unit time, but for most people that's still not enough to offset the increase in hunger that comes from regular training.
Exercise is the number one thing you can do for health and longevity, but controlling your calorie intake is the much easier way to control your weight.
You nailed it. I think it is possible to lose weight with exercise, but it takes an insane amount of exercise.
E.g., I've lost weight on outdoor trips where I'm eating more calories than I normally do everyday at home, but I'm hiking basically 10 hours a day.
Great info, but it’s so challenging to figure out which info/stance to follow and which to ignore. I’m currently reading Good Energy, and the author is adamant about a bunch of things that Tamar is not. Makes it difficult 🙂
Agreed. And when climate change and treatment of chickens is part of the calculus, her view (at least for me) becomes less persuasive.
I don't think Tamar made an argument stating that ethics impacts health. I.e., she separated those two topic. She also separated anything climate-related from health.
The difference is comes down to objectivity and ability to hammer out nuance. Tamar is objective, Casey Means is a quack. Casey makes a lot of unverified and outright nonsensical claims. In addition to this, her organic-only stance is elitist and fear mongering. There is a clear winner here in terms of who to listen to.
Thanks for your perspective on it. I don’t have all the background on these various authors…just trying to figure out the best decisions for me and my family.
Yes for sure. I think so many mainstream diet book authors come from positions of fear-based elimination. They make for more compelling soundbites, but hard-lined universal qualifying language serves only to confuse.
The (almost) universally agreed upon stuff will work 95% of the time for 95% of the people:
- move as much as you can.
- lift at least 2x/week.
- eat (mostly) minimally processed, nutrient dense foods.
- adequate protein + fiber
- drink water
- optimize sleep
- frame stress productively.
- nurture your social relationships.
- enjoy your favorite foods sometimes.
The rest is details. ; )
Happy to say that I can cross most of those things off. The social relationships part isn't easy, but the others I've been able to manage for quite a while now.
Awesome! I hear you there on the social relationships part. I think if you can tick most of those boxes you're doing something right.
Great discussion and info. Quick question: I get that various types of eggs are indistinguishable by taste, but is that the metric we care most about? I've always heard that the yokes of free-range, wild fed chickens are darker/richer and more "nutritious", I guess implying more vitamins and minerals. Do you know if there's any good data on this front? Is that just marketing or confirmation bias at work?
I had the same question; I hope we can get an answer
Great conversation and helped reset some of my own thinking on nutrition. Did you happen to get what's in Tamar's spice mix for her pork sausage? Keep up the good work.
I'd also love to see a written recipe for this!!
Great interview! I thoroughly enjoyed Tamar’s information and her objectivity. Can you provide her Lentil and Pork Sausage soup recipe, to include her special italian spice mix?
Great to know I can enjoy a diet soda! But are there not implications for teeth still? Yes no sugar but fizzy and acidic? Would like to know thanks
Great question! I'll see if I can find out for you.
I'm not an expert, but I know my dentist has a chart of different beverages and their acidity. It has diet soda on the list and the impact it causes to enamel.
This episode made me stop worrying about using one packet of stevia a couple times a week. Thank you!
Great conversation. Clearly an intelligent person. Not agreeing on everything - but that's why we listen and learn. Almost choked on the comments regarding "Ozempic for everyone & for life". This is disturbing and flying in the face of more information coming to light all the time.
Keep up the good work!
Good episode. I agree with much of what was said, but I wouldn’t say I liked that she started with we don’t know much about nutrition then spoke as if she had all the facts. Several studies she mentioned (about fake meat) were short-term studies. I don’t think we can get the information she stated from those studies. If you look at studies on, say, statins for 16 weeks, you will see zero benefit and zero risk. However, looking at the same research over 20 or 30 years, you will see benefits and risks. It is hard to derive information from short-term studies in nutrition or life sciences, which she attempted to do several times.
This was a fantastic conversation; thanks so much for bringing her on! I'd love to pick up her book sometime.