In Episode #227, I sit down with Drew Harrisberg and Alan Flanagan, PhD to discuss the carnivore diet and veganism, assessing many of the popular claims made by health and nutrition “influencers”.
“The primary determinant of our health now, of health generally, is not outlier behaviours. It is diet and lifestyle and exercise — and if we go one step back from that… the biggest driver of health or ill health in society is all of these kinds of socioeconomic and environmental factors.” – Alan Flanagan, PhD
In the current social media climate, it is crucial that we develop the skills necessary to analyse the validity of nutritional claims. During this week’s episode, The Proof welcomes two fan favourites to the show to cover a broad scope of topics in a well-rounded discussion, uncovering the reasoning behind a number of these claims and informing listeners on how to assess them.
Alan Flanagan, PhD is a researcher and science-based nutrition educator. He recently featured on the show in Episode #225, analysing the health implications of dairy consumption. Drew Harrisberg is exercise physiologist, sport scientist, and diabetes educator. Both guests bring extensive knowledge and an educational, research-backed lens to this conversation, placing public health at the forefront.
“You can feel good, but what’s going on inside that you can’t see, or measure… is completely different to the subjective experience.” – Drew Harrisberg
This episode is absolutely packed with information, offering you tools for assessing individual claims for validity and misinformation. We discuss Big Pharma, social media censorship, the carnivore diet, and vegan protein intake. We also zoom in on the ethics of veganism, spotting a legitimate academic, and why socioeconomic and environmental factors impact nutrition decisions.
Specifically, we cover:
- Intro (0:00)
- Training Injuries (7:40)
- Climate Change (14:44)
- Misinformation & Liver King (18:54)
- Should Platforms Censor? (30:25)
- Mark Zuckerberg on Rogan (35:30)
- Paul Saladino & Trusting Science (39:50)
- Big Pharma/ Big Food (50:14)
- How to Communicate with Transparency, Asking the Right Questions (57:35)
- Danger of Bodybuilding (1:09:13)
- Socioeconomic Barriers to Healthy Living (1:16:38)
- Identifying with Diet (1:32:39)
- Vegan Protein Intake (1:39:20)
- Well-Planned Veganism (1:57:53)
- Habits of Social Media Quacks (2:00:29)
- Alan’s Diet (2:16:00)
- Canola oil in a healthy diet? (2:28:17)
- Seed Oil Debate Episode (2:32:08)
- Veganism & Ethics (2:36:33)
- Red Meat & Carnivore Diets (3:00:22)
- Meal Timing & TRE (3:27:45)
- Supplement Recommendations (3:39:07)
- Conclusion (3:41:46)
As two scientists with a passion for education and public health, Alan Flanagan and Drew Harrisberg help bring incredibly important topics to light in this episode. I hope this conversation assists you in navigating the world of online nutrition information.
To connect with Drew, you can reach him via his Instagram or website, Drew’s Daily Dose. Listen to his previous appearances on the show on your favourite podcast app. To connect with Alan Flanagan, PhD you can do so via his Instagram. You can also learn more about Alinea Nutrition, an online nutritional education hub founded by Dr Flanagan, at https://www.alineanutrition.com/.
The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends.
Enjoy, friends.
Simon
More about Alan Flanagan, PhD
Alan is currently a PhD candidate in nutrition at the University of Surrey, having completed his Masters degree in nutrition science at the same institution. Alan is the founder of Alinea Nutrition, an online education hub dedicated to providing impartial, science-based nutrition analysis. Alan is also Research Communication Officer for Sigma Nutrition, creating educational resources for nutrition science. Originally a lawyer by background in Dublin, Ireland, Alan spent a decade practicing as a barrister before moving into science.
More about Drew Harrisberg
Drew Harrisberg is an exercise physiologist, sports scientist, has a graduate certificate in diabetes education and management, and most importantly — is a happy and healthy guy thriving with type 1 diabetes. After being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 22, Drew made it his mission to regain control of his health by making positive changes to the way that he lives, eats, moves, and the mindset in which he approaches life. Drew has not only accepted living with diabetes but has also learned to manage it so that it doesn’t manage him.
Drew’s background as a qualified health professional and his personal experience living with type 1 diabetes for over 10 years is what fuels his passion to share everything he learns along the way, which is why he created Drew’s Daily Dose – a home that inspires, empowers, and enables people to thrive rather than simply survive.
Drew is a voice for the diabetes community and is an ambassador for Diabetes NSW. He has also presented a motivational TEDx talk.
Supporting studies
- The effects of Canola oil on cardiovascular risk factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis with dose-response analysis of controlled clinical trials • PMID: 33127255
- The effects of canola and olive oils consumption compared to sunflower oil, on lipid profile and hepatic steatosis in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a randomized controlled trial • PMID: 33127255
