Your Diet Sucks

In this episode, Kylee and Zoë dive into the evolving conversation around Orthorexia—a term for an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating. We explore the impact of societal norms, social media, and misinformation on people's relationship with food, particularly athletes. As more people seek to "clean up" their diets, we’re seeing how rigid rules and an obsession with food purity can disrupt lives. We’ll unpack how Orthorexia isn't officially recognized in the DSM but still significantly impacts mental and physical health, drawing from professional insights and research. We also chat through how athletes and active folks can work towards a more balanced approach to nutrition, and avoid the pitfalls of over-restriction.  References Conviser JH, Fisher SD, McColley SA. Are children with chronic illnesses requiring dietary therapy at risk for disordered eating or eating disorders? A systematic review. Int J Eat Disord. 2018; 51: 187–213. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22831 Scheiber R, Diehl S, Karmasin M. Socio-cultural power of social media on orthorexia nervosa: An empirical investigation on the mediating role of thin-ideal and muscular internalization, appearance comparison, and body dissatisfaction. Appetite. 2023 Jun 1;185:106522. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106522. Epub 2023 Mar 8. PMID: 36893917. Turner PG, Lefevre CE. Instagram use is linked to increased symptoms of orthorexia nervosa. Eat Weight Disord. 2017 Jun;22(2):277-284. doi: 10.1007/s40519-017-0364-2. Epub 2017 Mar 1. PMID: 28251592; PMCID: PMC5440477. Lakritz C, Tournayre L, Ouellet M, Iceta S, Duriez P, Masetti V, Lafraire J. Sinful Foods: Measuring Implicit Associations Between Food Categories and Moral Attributes in Anorexic, Orthorexic, and Healthy Subjects. Front Nutr. 2022 Jun 13;9:884003. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.884003. PMID: 35769379; PMCID: PMC9234570. Mai Adnan Abdullah, Huda Mustafa Al Hourani, Buthaina Alkhatib, Prevalence of orthorexia nervosa among nutrition students and nutritionists: Pilot study, Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, Volume 40, 2020, Pages 144-148, ISSN 2405-4577, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2020.09.175. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405457720303624) Koven NS, Abry AW. The clinical basis of orthorexia nervosa: emerging perspectives. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2015 Feb 18;11:385-94. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S61665. PMID: 25733839; PMCID: PMC4340368. Michaela J. Barnett, Weston R. Dripps, Kerstin K. Blomquist, Organivore or organorexic? Examining the relationship between alternative food network engagement, disordered eating, and special diets, Appetite, Volume 105, 2016, Pages 713-720, ISSN 0195-6663, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.07.008. Niedzielski A, Kaźmierczak-Wojtaś N. Prevalence of Orthorexia Nervosa and Its Diagnostic Tools—A Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(10):5488. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105488 Foyster M, Sultan N, Tonkovic M, Govus A, Burton-Murray H, Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR. Assessing the presence and motivations of orthorexia nervosa among athletes and adults with eating disorders: a cross-sectional study. Eat Weight Disord. 2023 Dec 9;28(1):101. doi: 10.1007/s40519-023-01631-7. PMID: 38070009; PMCID: PMC10710386. Foyster M, Sultan N, Tonkovic M, Govus A, Burton-Murray H, Tuck CJ, Biesiekierski JR. Assessing the presence and motivations of orthorexia nervosa among athletes and adults with eating disorders: a cross-sectional study. Eat Weight Disord. 2023 Dec 9;28(1):101. doi: 10.1007/s40519-023-01631-7. PMID: 38070009; PMCID: PMC10710386. Hafstad, S.M., Bauer, J., Harris, A. et al. The prevalence of orthorexia in exercising populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Eat Disord 11, 15 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00739-6

Kylee and Zoë dive into the Wild West of supplementation for athletes. We unpack the history of how athletes have been trying to gain an edge since the very first Olympics (with figs!) and how a lack of regulation makes it tough to know what substances are backed by evidence and what supplements belong in a gas station bathroom. We discuss what athletes should know about contamination and competition and what questions everyone should ask themselves if they're considering taking a supplement. Plus - the many uses of Horny Goat Weed!

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. Reach out here.  At least 30 million Americans have an eating disorder, but only 1 in 10 people gets the treatment they need. Why? Kylee and Zoë debunk common myths about eating disorders, from who they affect to how they’re treated. We dive into the history of eating disorders and how common misbeliefs about mental illness shape their treatment today. We examine how weight stigma impacts treatment and why so many EDs are considered “atypical.” Then, we offer some practical solutions for fixing a f*cked-up system by debunking common misconceptions.  REFERENCES: Kazdin, C. (2023). What’s eating us. St Martin’s Press.  Dell'Osso L, Abelli M, Carpita B, Pini S, Castellini G, Carmassi C, Ricca V. Historical evolution of the concept of anorexia nervosa and relationships with orthorexia nervosa, autism, and obsessive-compulsive spectrum. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2016 Jul 7;12:1651-60. doi: 10.2147/NDT.S108912. PMID: 27462158; PMCID: PMC4939998. Niedzielski A, Kaźmierczak N, Grzybowski A. Sir William Withey Gull (1816-1890). J Neurol. 2017 Feb;264(2):419-420. doi: 10.1007/s00415-016-8250-9. Epub 2016 Aug 8. PMID: 27502084; PMCID: PMC5306080. Harrop EN, Hutcheson R, Harner V, Mensinger JL, Lindhorst T. "You Don't Look Anorexic": Atypical anorexia patient experiences of weight stigma in medical care. Body Image. 2023 Sep;46:48-61. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2023.04.008. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37236121; PMCID: PMC10524894. Beaumont, P. J. V. (1994). Diagnoses of Eating Disorder or Dieting Disorders: What may We Learn from Past Mistakes? International Journal of Eating Disorders, 16(4). Beres, D. (2024, February 27). Eating disorders in men and boys aren’t rare, but they may be harder to diagnose. Teen Vogue. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/eating-disorders-in-men Eating disorder statistics. National Eating Disorders Association. (2024, April 30). https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/statistics/ Guest, Lawson, N., Burak, E. W., Kaneb, N., & Mondestin, T. (2023, November 2). New federal rules seek to strengthen mental health parity. Center For Children and Families. https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/11/02/new-federal-rules-seek-to-strengthen-mental-health-parity/ Heiden-Rootes, K., Linsenmeyer, W., Levine, S., Oliveras, M., & Joseph, M. (2023). A scoping review of research literature on eating and body image for transgender and nonbinary youth. Journal of Eating Disorders, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00853-5 The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). CMS.gov. (n.d.). https://www.cms.gov/marketplace/private-health-insurance/mental-health-parity-addiction-equity Ramaswamy, N., & Ramaswamy, N. (2023, July 1). Overreliance on BMI and delayed care for patients with higher BMI and disordered eating. Journal of Ethics | American Medical Association. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/overreliance-bmi-and-delayed-care-patients-higher-bmi-and-disordered-eating/2023-07 Why BMI is a flawed health standard, especially for people of color. (n.d.). https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/healthy-bmi-obesity-race-/2021/05/04/655390f0-ad0d-11eb-acd3-24b44a57093a_story.html

Kylee and Zoë take a magic school bus ride into the microbiome! We go back (waaay back) into the origins of the human microbiome and examine the research on how gut biota affects and interplays with athletic performance. Put your gloves on, because we’re digging into Zoë’s microbiome to get to know her on a very, very intimate level (the microbial level!). We also discuss common and uncommon causes of GI distress and what athletes can do to support their gut health (spoiler alert: you probably don’t need all that kombucha). Yong, E. (2018). I contain multitudes: The microbes within US and a grander view of life. Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers.  Mohr, A.E., Jäger, R., Carpenter, K.C. et al. The athletic gut microbiota. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 17, 24 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-020-00353-w Bressa, C., Bailén-Andrino, M., Pérez-Santiago, J., González-Soltero, R., Pérez, M., Montalvo-Lominchar, M. G., Maté-Muñoz, J. L., Domínguez, R., Moreno, D., & Larrosa, M. (2017). Differences in gut microbiota profile between women with active lifestyle and sedentary women. PLOS ONE, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0171352  Clarke SF, Murphy EF, O'Sullivan O, et alExercise and associated dietary extremes impact on gut microbial diversityGut 2014;63:1913-1920. Estaki, M., Pither, J., Baumeister, P. et al. Cardiorespiratory fitness as a predictor of intestinal microbial diversity and distinct metagenomic functions. Microbiome 4, 42 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-016-0189-7 Jang, LG., Choi, G., Kim, SW. et al. The combination of sport and sport-specific diet is associated with characteristics of gut microbiota: an observational study. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 16, 21 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-019-0290-y Petersen, L.M., Bautista, E.J., Nguyen, H. et al. Community characteristics of the gut microbiomes of competitive cyclists. Microbiome 5, 98 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40168-017-0320-4 Flint, H. J., Scott, K. P., Duncan, S. H., Louis, P., & Forano, E. (2012). Microbial degradation of complex carbohydrates in the gut. Gut Microbes, 3(4), 289–306. https://doi.org/10.4161/gmic.19897 Scheiman J, Luber JM, Chavkin TA, MacDonald T, Tung A, Pham LD, Wibowo MC, Wurth RC, Punthambaker S, Tierney BT, Yang Z, Hattab MW, Avila-Pacheco J, Clish CB, Lessard S, Church GM, Kostic AD. Meta-omics analysis of elite athletes identifies a performance-enhancing microbe that functions via lactate metabolism. Nat Med. 2019 Jul;25(7):1104-1109. doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0485-4. Epub 2019 Jun 24. PMID: 31235964; PMCID: PMC7368972. Marttinen, Maija, Reeta Ala-Jaakkola, Arja Laitila, and Markus J. Lehtinen. 2020. "Gut Microbiota, Probiotics and Physical Performance in Athletes and Physically Active Individuals" Nutrients 12, no. 10: 2936. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12102936

Zoë and Kylee break down why diets feel so...culty lately. From Paleo bros to Keto fanatics, we dive into why people are drawn to rigid ways of eating, and how to know if you just might be in a diet cult yourself!

In this episode, Kylee and Zoë explore the complicated history that humans have with alcohol and athletics. We dive into the deep past (shoutout to our simian ancestors!) and see why scientists think humans developed a taste for something that seems counterproductive to passing on our genes (looking at you, Smirnoff blue raspberry). We try to parse out why alcohol is so closely tied to endurance sports and take a deep dive into what the research says about this substance (spoiler alert: three shots of whiskey do NOT make you better at running on a treadmill.) References: Slingerland, E. (2022). Drunk: How we sipped, danced, and stumbled our way to civilization. Little, Brown Spark. Popovic, Dejana; Damjanovic, Svetozar S.; Plecas-Solarovic, Bosiljka; Pešić, Vesna; Stojiljkovic, Stanimir; Banovic, Marko; Ristic, Arsen; Mantegazza, Valentina; Agostoni, Piergiuseppe. Exercise capacity is not impaired after acute alcohol ingestion: a pilot study. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine 17(12):p 896-901, December 2016. | DOI: 10.2459/JCM.0000000000000151  The prohibited list. World Anti Doping Agency. (2024, January 1). https://www.wada-ama.org/en/prohibited-list  The scientific history of why Humans love drinking booze. (n.d.-a). https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a47449/alcohol-science-history-vice-evans/  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Major depression. National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression   Prentice, C., Stannard, S. R., & Barnes, M. J. (2015). Effects of heavy episodic drinking on physical performance in club level rugby union players. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 18(3), 268–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.04.009  Castaldo L, Narváez A, Izzo L, Graziani G, Gaspari A, Minno GD, Ritieni A. Red Wine Consumption and Cardiovascular Health. Molecules. 2019 Oct 8;24(19):3626. doi: 10.3390/molecules24193626. PMID: 31597344; PMCID: PMC6804046. Ragland G. (1990). Electrolyte abnormalities in the alcoholic patient. Emergency medicine clinics of North America, 8(4), 761–773.  https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-2/101-109.htm  Nam, Y. S., Lee, G., Yun, J. M., & Cho, B. (2018). Testosterone Replacement, Muscle Strength, and Physical Function. The world journal of men's health, 36(2), 110–122. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.182001 Judelson, D. A., Maresh, C. M., Anderson, J. M., Armstrong, L. E., Casa, D. J., Kraemer, W. J., & Volek, J. S. (2007). Hydration and muscular performance: does fluid balance affect strength, power and high-intensity endurance?. Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 37(10), 907–921. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200737100-00006  Sullivan, E. V., Harris, R. A., & Pfefferbaum, A. (2010). Alcohol's effects on brain and behavior. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 33(1-2), 127–143.  National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2022). Alcohol and the Brain: an Overview | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Www.niaaa.nih.gov. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcohol-and-brain-overview  Stein, M. D., & Friedmann, P. D. (2005). Disturbed sleep and its relationship to alcohol use. Substance abuse, 26(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1300/j465v26n01_01 Shirreffs, S. M., & Maughan, R. J. (2006). The effect of alcohol on athletic performance. Current sports medicine reports, 5(4), 192–196. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.csmr.0000306506.55858.e5 Onate J. (2019). Depression in Ultra-endurance Athletes, A Review and Recommendations. Sports medicine and arthroscopy review, 27(1), 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSA.0000000000000233

Would you run 100 miles with zero calories? Should you? In episode two, we break down the history - and the science - of fasting. We dive into why athletes seem drawn to a mentality of doing more with less fuel and the potential benefits of fasting compared with the downsides. Melin A, Tornberg ÅB, Skouby S, Møller SS, Sundgot-Borgen J, Faber J, Sidelmann JJ, Aziz M, Sjödin A. Energy availability and the female athlete triad in elite endurance athletes. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2015 Oct;25(5):610-22. doi: 10.1111/sms.12261. Epub 2014 May 30.  Fensham NC, Heikura IA, McKay AKA, Tee N, Ackerman KE, Burke LM. Short-Term Carbohydrate Restriction Impairs Bone Formation at Rest and During Prolonged Exercise to a Greater Degree than Low Energy Availability. J Bone Miner Res. 2022 Oct;37(10):1915-1925. doi: 10.1002/jbmr.4658. Epub 2022 Aug 10. Vilaça-Alves J, Muller F, Rosa C, Payan-Carreira R, Lund R, Matos F, Garrido N, Saavedra FJ, Machado Reis V. Cardiorespiratory, enzymatic and hormonal responses during and after walking while fasting. PLoS One. 2018 Mar 1;13(3):e0193702. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193702. PMID: 29494664; PMCID: PMC5833199. Roche, D. (2021, June 11). Fasted training may have long-term risks, especially for female athletes. Trail Runner Magazine. https://www.trailrunnermag.com/training/trail-tips-training/fasted-training-may-have-long-term-risks-especially-for-female-athletes/ Oakes, John. The Fast: The History, Science, Philosophy, and Promise of Doing Without. United States, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster, 2024. The works of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. xi letters and MISC. writings 1784-1788: Online library of liberty. The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. XI Letters and Misc. Writings 1784-1788 | Online Library of Liberty. (n.d.). https://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/franklin-the-works-of-benjamin-franklin-vol-xi-letters-and-misc-writings-1784-1788 Sandip T Gaikwad, "Apprehending Concept, Canons and Types of Fasting in Buddhism", International Journal of Innovative Research and Creative Technology vol. 2, issue 4, pp. 164–168. 2017.

Welcome to episode one! Get to know hosts Kylee Van Horn and Zoë Rom and why they’re endlesslessly fascinated with food. In this episode, we ask why athletes seem so prone to diet bullsh*t and pseudoscience. We discuss how social media has hastened the spread of pseudoscience and why “experts” tend to overstate their experience. We conclude with a discussion of Bullsh*t Red Flags to help you identify diet nonsense in the wild.  References: Melin A., Tornberg Å.B., Skouby S., Møller S.S., Sundgot-Borgen J., Faber J., Sidelmann J.J., Aziz M., Sjödin A. Energy availability and the female athlete triad in elite endurance athletes. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports. 2015;25:610–622. doi: 10.1111/sms.12261 Ashwanden, C. (2018, January 3). Tom Brady is drowning in his own pseudoscience. FiveThirtyEight. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/tom-brady-is-drowning-in-his-own-junk-science-advice/  Fitzgerald, M. (2015). Diet cults: The surprising fallacy at the core of nutrition fads and a guide to healthy eating for the rest of Us. Pegasus Books.  Lacke, S. (2023, April 10). The fight against pseudoscience, bad training advice, and bullsh*t. Triathlete. https://www.triathlete.com/culture/the-fight-against-pseudoscience-and-bad-training-advice-in-endurance-sports/  Bailey RP, Madigan DJ, Cope E, Nicholls AR. The Prevalence of Pseudoscientific Ideas and Neuromyths Among Sports Coaches. Front Psychol. 2018 May 2;9:641. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00641. PMID: 29770115; PMCID: PMC5941987. Powell, M. (2022, November 10). Is sport a breeding ground for pseudoscience?. Skeptical Inquirer. https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/is-sport-a-breeding-ground-for-pseudoscience/  Tiller NB, Sullivan JP, Ekkekakis P. Baseless Claims and Pseudoscience in Health and Wellness: A Call to Action for the Sports, Exercise, and Nutrition-Science Community. Sports Med. 2023 Jan;53(1):1-5. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01702-2. Epub 2022 Jun 10. PMID: 35687251.Chrzan, J., & Cargill, K. (2022). Anxious eaters: Why we fall for fad diets. Columbia University Press.

Introducing Your Diet Sucks: A podcast about how we can unf*ck food. Registered dietitian nutritionist Kylee Van Horn and Journalist Zoë Rom are teaming up to demystify the science and dive into the cultural stories that make it so damn hard to just eat food. Episodes 1&2 drop July 24.