#dietitians

I'm on tour with my new, nationally bestselling novel The Bezzle! Catch me in NEXT THURSDAY (Apr 11) in BOSTON with Randall "XKCD" Munroehttps://cockeyed.com/lessons/viagra/viagra.html, then PROVIDENCE, RI (Apr 12), and beyond!

Steve Bannon isn't wrong: for his brand of nihilistic politics to win, all he has to do is "flood the zone with shit," demoralizing people to the point where they no longer even try to learn the truth.

This is really just a more refined, more potent version of the tactical doubt sown by Big Tobacco about whether smoking caused cancer, a playbook later adopted by the fossil fuel industry to sell climate denial. You know Darrell Huff's 1954 classic How To Lie With Statistics? Huff was a Big Tobacco shill (his next book, which wasn't ever published, was How To Lie With Cancer Statistics). His mission wasn't to help you spot statistical malpractice – an actual thing that is an actual problem that you should actually learn to spot. It was to turn you into a nihilist who didn't believe anything could be known:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/01/04/how-to-truth/#harford

Corporations don't need you to believe that their products are beneficial or even non-harmful. They just need you to believe nothing. If you don't know what's true, then why not just do whatever feels good, man? #YOLO!

These bannonfloods of shit are a favored tactic of strongmen and dictators. Their grip on power doesn't depend on their citizens trusting them – it's enough that they trust no one:

http://jonathanstray.com/networked-propaganda-and-counter-propaganda

Bannonflooding is especially beloved of the food industry. Food is essential, monopolized, and incredibly complicated, and many of the most profitable strategies for growing, processing and preparing food are very bad for the people who eat that food. Rather than sacrificing profits, the food industry floods the zone with shit, making it impossible to know what's true, in hopes that we will just eat whatever they're serving:

https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.2003460

Now, the "nothing can be known" gambit only works if it's really hard to get at the truth. So it helps that nutrition and diet are very complex subjects, but it helps even more that the nutrition and diet industry are a cesspool of quacks and junk science. This is a "scientific discipline" whose prestigious annual meetings are sponsored (and catered) by McDonald's:

https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/05/my-trip-mcdonalds-sponsored-nutritionist-convention/

It's a "science" whose most prominent pitchmen peddle quack nostrums and sue the critics who point out (correctly) that eating foods high in chlorophyll will not "oxygenate your blood" (hint, chlorophyll only makes oxygen in the presence of light, which is notably lacking in your colon):

https://www.badscience.net/2007/02/ms-gillian-mckeith-banned-from-calling-herself-a-doctor/

When the quack-heavy world of nutrition combines with the socially stigmatized world of weight-loss, you get a zone ripe for shitflooding. The majority of Americans are "overweight" (according to a definition that relies on the unscientific idea of BMI) and nearly half of Americans are "obese." These numbers have been climbing steadily since the 1970s, and every diet turns out to be basically bullshit:

https://headgum.com/factually-with-adam-conover/what-does-ozepmic-actually-do-with-dr-dhruv-khullar

Notwithstanding the new blockbuster post-Ozempic drugs, we're been through an unbroken 50-year run of more and more of us being fatter and fatter, even as fat stigma increased. Fat people are treated as weak-willed and fundamentally unhealthy, while the most prominent health-risks of being fat are roundly neglected: the mental health effects of being shamed, and the physical risks of having doctors ignore your health complaints, no matter how serious they sound, and blame them on your weight:

https://maintenancephase.buzzsprout.com/1411126/11968083-glorifying-obesity-and-other-myths-about-fat-people

Fat people and their allies have banded together to address these real, urgent harms. The "body acceptance" movement isn't merely about feeling good in your own skin: it's also about fighting discrimination, demanding medical care (beyond "lose some weight") and warning people away from getting on the diet treadmill, which can lead to dangerous eating disorders and permanent weight gain:

https://www.beacon.org/You-Just-Need-to-Lose-Weight-P1853.aspx

Fat stigma is real. The mental health risks of fat-shaming are real. Eating disorders are real. Discrimination against fat people is real. The fact that these things are real doesn't mean that the food industry can't flood the zone with shit, though. On the contrary: the urgency of these issues, combined with the poor regulation of dietitians, makes the "what should you eat" zone perfect for flooding with endless quantities of highly profitable shit.

Perhaps you've gotten some of this shit on you. Have you found yourself watching a video from a dietitian influencer like Cara Harbstreet, Colleen Christensen or Lauren Smith, promoting "health at any size" with hashtags like #DerailTheShame and #AntiDiet? These were paid campaigns sponsored by General Mills, Pepsi, and other multinational, multibillion-dollar corporations.

Every Bit of Magnesium Counts For a Healthy Body and Mind, Dietitians Say. Fruits with Magnesium Can Be an Accessible Way to Consume More of the Nutrient.

— April 23, 2025 | Source: USA Today | By A. Pawlowski

Don't forget to turn to fruit if you need more magnesium, a crucial nutrient that helps regulate everything from muscle function and heart rate to bone health and even mood.

The mineral is involved in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body, says Patricia Bannan, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles and author of “From Burnout to Balance.”

Magnesium helps maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a steady heart rhythm, regulates blood sugar and blood pressure, and plays a role in bone strength and energy production, she notes.

It’s also needed for immune health, glucose metabolism, insulin function and for the body to build protein.

Since magnesium is important for nerve transmission, it has a “critical role” in brain function and mood, researchers note. Magnesium also diminishes the body’s stress response, studies have found.

“Despite its importance, about half of U.S. adults don’t get enough magnesium from food,” Bannan tells TODAY.com.

“Low levels can lead to muscle cramps, fatigue, irritability, irregular heartbeat, and have been linked to higher risks of osteoporosis and Type 2 diabetes.”

While fruits aren’t the highest source of magnesium compared to leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains, every bit counts toward meeting the daily recommended amount, Bannan says.

Adult men should get at least 400 milligrams of magnesium per day, while women should consume at least 310 milligrams, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“Fruits can be a helpful, accessible way to close small gaps in magnesium intake — especially when combined with other nutrient-dense foods throughout the day,” Bannan advises.

Here are nine fruits highest in magnesium:

Passion Fruit

Dragon Fruit and Passion Fruit. Courtesy Of Palm Springs Cultural Center

1 cup of raw passion fruit, 68 grams of magnesium

Passion fruit has vitamin C, dietary fiber, B vitamins, niacin, iron and phosphorus, studies have found. Researchers are looking into its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, among other benefits.

The pulp of the aromatic fruit can be eaten raw, as a yogurt topping, or added to juices and drinks.

Passion fruit also tops the list of fruits with the most protein.

Guava

Guava Fruit

1 cup of raw guava, 36 milligrams of magnesium

The nutrients in guava, including vitamin C and fiber, can help boost gut health, heart health and immunity, dietitians say. The fruit can be added to sweet and savory dishes, plus smoothies and salads.

Guava is also among fruits highest in vitamin C.

Banana

Photograph of Bananas 🍌

1 medium banana, 32 milligrams of magnesium

1 cup of raw sliced plantain, 53 milligrams of magnesium

Bananas are known for being potassium stars, but they contain plenty of magnesium, too.

They’re naturally sweet and provide fiber, which makes them a satisfying snack. Bananas also deliver carbohydrates for energy needed to exercise and perform everyday activities.

Plantains are in the banana family, though they’re larger, starchier and less sweet. Both bananas and plantains are among fruits highest in potassium.

Papaya

Papaya Fruit

1 cup of raw papaya, 30 milligrams of magnesium

The tropical fruit is also packed with potassium, folate, lycopene, and vitamins A, C, E and K.

Papaya’s vibrant orange color comes from carotenoids, natural plant pigments that have antioxidant effects and may help to prevent some types of cancer.

Papaya is also among fruits lowest in sugar.

Blackberries

Blackberries

1 cup of raw blackberries, 30 milligrams of magnesium

The deep dark color of blackberries comes from anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with health-promoting effects. The fruit is high in antioxidants and comes with benefits for gut and cardiovascular health.

Eating berries of all kinds is a “plausible and potentially useful dietary strategy to reduce risk of cancer,” studies have found.

Kiwi

Kiwi Fruit 🥝

1 cup of raw kiwi, 29 milligrams of magnesium

Bright green with small crunchy seeds, sweet-tart kiwis are nutritious and “exceptionally high” in vitamin C, researchers note. They also come with plenty of fiber, potassium and antioxidants.

Eating fresh kiwi improves constipation and abdominal comfort, studies have found.

Dried Figs

Dried Figs

¼ cup or about three to five dried figs, 27 milligrams of magnesium

Dried fruits like figs are more concentrated in magnesium due to their lower water content, Bannan says.

High in fiber, dried figs make a satisfying and sweet snack.

Figs are also among fruits with the most sugar, which can provide energy because it comes with many other nutrients that are found in fruit.

Avocado

Avocado 🥑

1/3 of avocado, 19 milligrams of magnesium

The deliciously creamy fruit comes with impressive health benefits. Avocado contains unsaturated fat, which has been linked to lowering the risk of heart disease, plus vitamin E for healthy skin and fiber for gut health. Avocado is also among fruits highest in iron.

The fat in avocados is part of what helps people stay fuller longer and may actually cause them to eat less overall, says registered dietitian Natalie Rizzo, nutrition editor for TODAY.

It’s easy to eat too much avocado, so stick to a serving size of one-third of a medium fruit.

Prunes

Prunes. Dionisvero/Getty Images

¼ cup or about five prunes, 18 milligrams of magnesium

½ cup of prune juice, 18 milligrams of magnesium

Prunes are among fruits highest in antioxidants, and their juice comes with similar benefits.

Juice can be a valuable contributor to magnesium intake, particularly 100% fruit varieties like prune juice, but whole fruit delivers more fiber, Bannan notes.

“Smoothies made with whole fruits offer an excellent compromise, especially when combined with magnesium-rich ingredients like leafy greens or seeds,” she says.

There I was, doing my annual re-watch of Bridget Jones's Diary because a) it's hilarious, and b) Colin Firth.

But I almost immediately became disturbed by a little detail I had never really noticed before. We all know that the movies set unrealistic body expectations for women. But maybe because I've been a Dietitian for a little over a year, it's hit me lately how often I'm watching a movie and they say a woman's weight, and it's an absurd number. Take Bridget Jones; one of her main personality traits is that she's "fat" - at a whopping 136 pounds.

First of all, there is no ideal weight, everybody is different. But let's get one thing perfectly clear! Renee Zellweger is 5'4", and 136 pounds is NOT a heavy weight for that height. I can't tell you how many times I have been watching something and a FULL GROWN WOMAN said she was 120 pounds or less, which could fall into the unhealthy/potentially malnourished range for a lot of people. Stop letting media make you feel bad about your weight in general, but especially don't let them lie to you like this.

Am I going to stop watching this movie around the holidays? No, it's not Bridget's fault that she was a character made for the nineties, one of the worst diet culture decades in recent memory. But I'm not going to let it make me feel bad about myself anymore, either.

Physicians in the United States receive minimal nutrition training. Like, I believe a semester is required during their undergrad class work, and I’m not sure what else after that, but it isn’t much.

Physicians in the United States are not required to take continuing education courses in nutrition, which means their information is about as old as their medical career.

I have been handed more fad diet suggestions from physicians than I have from my friends.

Registered dietitians (not nutritionists) are actual nutrition specialists who have to take exams as well as a minimum number of continuing education credits yearly to maintain their licensing, so I go to an RD. I wouldn’t go to my GI for cardiac issues; why would I go to some unrelated medical professional for dietary advice?

I just realized this today: in all my time (20+ years) of being clinically overweight, clinically obese, clinically “normal”, having an eating disorder, having disordered eating habits, having weight fluctuations that really should have concerned some people, etc., etc., I have never had a doctor ask me what my standard diet looked like before handing me diet advice. Like, I do truly feel like some physicians are like, “Oh, she’s overweight, so obviously it’s her diet. No need to ask any questions. This will fix what ails her.” And then we have to have discussions about how I am doing x or I am positive y makes me feel like garbage because I’ve tried it before and I haven’t ever been able to find evidence-based research to indicate that z will fix what I’m dealing with. Like…why would you not ask what someone’s diet looks like before handing them advice that they may already be doing??? It just seems very backward to me

Things I already knew, but god does it feel great to have it all validated!

Including:

-Keto is NOT the solution

-BMI is shit

-Not everyone can loose weight the same

-Weight is NOT necessarily an indicator of health

-Gluten is NOT the enemy unless you have an actual intolerance or celiac disease

Happy Feast Day Saint Martha of Bethany

Feast Day: July 29 Patronage: butlers; cooks; dietitians; domestic servants; homemakers; hotel-keepers; housemaids; housewives; innkeepers; laundry workers; maids; manservant; servants; servers; single laywomen St. Martha of Bethany is a biblical figure described in the Gospels of Luke and John. Together with her siblings Lazarus and Mary, she is described as living in the village of Bethany near Jerusalem. She was witness to Jesus' resurrection of her brother, Lazarus.