“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”
Sound familiar?
It wasn’t a scientist, nutritionist or doctor that said it- It was Kellogg’s and General Mills
To sell more breakfast cereal- the two industry giants managed to convince the entire world something that isn’t true.
It’s not the first-time good marketing has worked.
From the 1920s to the 1960s, tobacco companies paid doctors to reassure us that smoking was safe. They said it relieved stress, helped digestion and kept you slim. Their brand ambassadors weren’t celebrities – they were doctors and even Santa Claus
Fast-forward to the ‘Got Milk?’ campaign. Every celebrity with a face wore that stupid white moustache, and suddenly milk was “essential.” The entire campaign was funded by the dairy industry.
‘Gluten Free is healthier’ is not true. If you don’t have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, then it’s placebo bread. Of course, all of you tested yourself for Gluten sensitivity before buying Gluten free bread, right? …..Didn’t think so.
Butter has gone from good to bad to good again so many times that I’ve lost track. At this point, the belief on butter changes more often than Trump changes tariffs.
For decades humans have been misled in to eating what are being called ‘superfoods’, taking various supplements’. And over the years most of things being sold to you eventually get debunked. Just ask the Collagen supplement companies.
What has evolved is the marketing.
Back in the day you needed to pay off a doctor and create a well-funded (but dummy) research report based on sketchy data.
Today all you need is someone presentable who speaks well. You then make them sit in front of a camera, at a side angle, and have them say one of the following hook lines-
*“This is one food you need to include in your daily diet…”
*“If you do these 3 things, you will never have gut issues….”
* “Here are 3 lies that the food industry is telling you….”
Post this on Instagram and you’re set. You can sell anything. No one will think to question the qualifications of the speaker. The more views- the more the evidence of what the person is saying is true. Apparently, the only data you need in science today is shares and likes.
Here’s my take:
The product, food or supplement that is ‘must-have’ at the moment is directly related to the strength and ad budget of the industry lobby that is pushing it.
So what are we being sold today? Well, it depends on what lobby is strong.
Protein- It used to be 0.8 g/kg of body weight is required per day. Then it moved up to 1 g. Now it’s 1.2 g if you’re “active.” That’s a neat 50% bump = 50% more protein powder/bars sold.
Magnesium- Apparently you can’t sleep without it now
Omega 3 and Fish Oil, gut cleanses, intermittent fasting vs six meals. Be vegan, be vegetarian, be gluten free.
Drink Almond Milk, no drink Soy milk, no wait, drink Oat milk. Take Ice baths and Cryo therapy and do an Infra Red Sauna. Walk 10,000 steps, but buy my product that will help you count it. If you aren’t having matcha you should, but, have it with moringa powder. Take your Chia seeds, bone broth, sea moss algae, and okra water.
Know your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resting Heart Rate (RHR), because suddenly we are all Virat Kohli.
Let me not forget sleep and recovery. God help us if we wake up in the morning and don’t know our recovery- I don’t know how my grandparents did it.
To be clear- I am not saying any of the above are scams, all I am saying is- lets talk in a few years and see what still holds true.
I know what you are thinking- ‘Shut up PRG- these things have changed my life, I feel different.’
Call me a cynic- but it is called a placebo
Three final thoughts- from a complete non-health expert
- Eat everything in moderation- you will be fine
- Exercise- mix up strength with cardio and some mobility- you will be fine
- Laugh every day – you will be fine
Not everything is a scam, but not everything is real either.
Photo Credit- Images are linked to their original sources for credit.
