Real World Nutrition Podcast
Move past the fads, gimmicks, trends, detoxing, cleanses, fasting, and other unrealistic ideas about eating in the real world. If you want to eat and enjoy food without feeling deprived, join Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Shelley A. Rael as she cuts through the hype and gives real talk about eating healthier.
Launched in 2021 and with over 250 episodes in the library, new episodes drop weekly, every Friday.
Available on your favorite podcast app/platform, including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, PodBean, Spotify, and Stitcher.
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What Actually Matters? Finding an Eating Pattern That Works for You
What's the best diet? The answer depends on more than the latest trend. After six episodes exploring diets, from Mediterranean and DASH to quick-fix plans and therapeutic diets, this episode brings the discussion together.
Learn how to evaluate nutrition advice, match an eating pattern to your health goals, and prioritize sustainability over rigid rules. Discover why consistency matters more than extreme changes, what to consider before following the next nutrition trend, and how to find an approach that fits your health needs, preferences, budget, and everyday life.
No single diet works for everyone, but practical, evidence-informed choices can help you build an eating pattern that supports your health over time.
When Diets Go Sideways: Keto, Carnivore, and Other Diet Trends
Some popular diets began with very different purposes than the ones they are associated with today. The ketogenic diet was developed as a medical therapy for epilepsy, elimination diets are used as short-term diagnostic tools, and Whole30 was designed as a temporary elimination and reintroduction program. Meanwhile, carnivore have become a major social media trend despite limited long-term research.
This episode explores what happens when dietary approaches are simplified, repackaged, and promoted for weight loss, wellness, or a wide range of health concerns. The discussion looks at the difference between the medical ketogenic diet and modern keto, the purpose of elimination diets, how temporary programs can become long-term restrictions, and why social media often turns nuanced nutrition questions into simple answers.
Low-Carb and No-Carb Diets: What Works and What Nutrition Science Says
Low-carb diets are everywhere, but what do they actually mean and do they work long term?
This episode breaks down the science behind low-carb and no-carb diets, including what they get right, where they fall short, and why carbohydrates are often misunderstood. Topics include weight loss, blood sugar, fiber, and the role of carbohydrates in overall health.
Part of an ongoing series on carbohydrates, this episode connects the dots between common nutrition advice and evidence-based recommendations.
Part of the ongoing carbohydrate series.
Diet Trends, Food Fear, and Food Freedom
From keto to intermittent fasting to plant-based diets, it feels like diet trends never stop evolving. But do these diets really hold the answers to better health, or are they just recycling old ideas with new names? In this episode, we explore the truth about diet trends, why so many foods are labeled “bad,” and how fear-based messages about food are hurting more than helping. Learn how to cut through the confusion, stop labeling foods, and focus on consistent eating patterns that actually support long-term health.
Episode 179: The Lifespan of a Diet Trend – Why Some Stick and Others Fade
Episode 179: The Lifespan of a Diet Trend – Why Some Stick and Others Fade
Diets come and go, but why do some trends stick while others fade into obscurity? In this episode of the Real World Nutrition Podcast, take a deeper dive into diet trends through the decades—from the Grapefruit Diet of the 1950s to the rise of keto and intermittent fasting. What have we learned from these trends? Do people respond better to strict rules or flexibility? How do social trends and marketing influence what we eat?