Episode 29: Beware of Food Gurus: Robyn Flipse
Humans evolved in a tumultuous environment. In many cases, our ancestors didn't know where their next meal would come from, or if it might kill them. Accidentally picking some poisonous berries off a bush could have fatal consequences, for example, and this state of food insecurity led to a healthy amount of anxiety about what to eat.
Today we still carry these concerns about food safety and availability with us; the only difference is that food is everywhere in our modern environment. Abundance is great and no one wants to return to a primal setting where a bad day of hunting meant going hungry. However, "food gurus," as my guest today calls them, have learned to tap into our ancient anxieties as a means of scaring us about perfectly safe foods and chemicals.
So, how do we as consumers separate good science from erroneous dietary advice? Registered dietitian and nutritionist Robyn Flipse has a few tips to help us spot the hucksters who want to sell us miracle vegetables and pointless supplements, and see through their science-y sounding propaganda.
As a registered dietitian, Robyn Flipse has headed the nutrition services department in a large teaching hospital and maintained a private practice where she provided diet therapy to individuals and families. Working as a nutrition consultant for over 30 years has allowed her to reach an even bigger audience, writing magazine and newsletter articles and serving as a media spokesperson for numerous food and beverage
companies.
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