Navigating the nutrition field is challenging to say the least. The science of nutrition is constantly evolving, making it almost impossible to keep up. Add diet culture to the mix and your head will spin when all you want is honest nutritional advice.
Although the best way to navigate the field of nutrition (especially your own personal needs) is to work with a registered dietitian, this is not always possible for everyone. You might also just want to hear what experts have to say about food science, body positivity, sports nutrition And intuitive eating – or all of the above – without meeting face-to-face.
With the help of professional dietitians Katherine Brooking, RD And Jessica Jones, RDNWe’ve rounded up some of the best nutrition podcasts led by dietitians that offer reliable (and free!) information.
How to choose a nutrition podcast
First, you’ll want to check the host credentials. If they’re talking about nutrition science, there should be “RD” after their name, which means “registered dietitian.”
Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, but nutritionists do not have the rigorous training or experience in nutrition and dietetics that registered dietitians do. According to Brooking, registered dietitians must:
- Complete a four-year degree that includes a specially designed and accredited nutrition program
- Complete an extensive supervised practice program in a health care facility, food service organization or community organization.
- Pass a registration exam
- Maintain continuing education credits while practicing
It’s also important to choose a podcast that focuses on evidence-based research, says Jones, the show’s co-host Food heaven podcast. (This, she says, will usually go hand in hand with an RD host.)
Once you’ve narrowed your choices to those offered by registered dietitians, browse the topics and find the ones that interest you and match your nutrition goals, Jones says.
And like any time you watch a show or work with a clinician, you have to love their vibe, Jones says. “Personality plays a big role,” she says, adding that interview style and podcast format are also important.
Here are seven nutrition-focused podcasts that check all the boxes.
The 7 Best Nutrition Podcasts
Hosted by Mary Purdy, RD, The nutrition fairoffers – dare we say – easy-to-digest tips and advice on general nutrition topics and healthy eating.
Purdy, who has extensive experience in natural health, discusses timely topics including nutrition and COVID-19, as well as the effect of our diet on climate change.
“The nutrition fair addresses current issues in a simple, evidence-based way,” Brooking says.
Registered dietitian and race host Heather Caplan, RDN, gets real about nutrition in her highly recommended podcast, RD real talk.
The anti-diet dietitian covers topics like intuitive eating, body image, eating disorder treatments, and sports nutrition. Although the majority of her guests are other dietitians, Caplan also interviews journalists, therapists and doctors.
3. A healthy, drama-free life
Jess Cording, RD, explores diet and health trends and highlights the importance of wellness with A healthy, drama-free life.
Cording, also a writer and recipe developer, speaks with a wide range of guests including foodies, yoga teachers and holistic practitioners.
Like Caplan’sRD real talk, Christy Harrison, RD, tackles heavy topics from the nutrition world, including people’s relationships with food, body image, weight, and the damage caused by diet culture.
Food psychiatrist focuses on the stories of people who unlearn the lessons of unhealthy eating behaviors.
5. Intuitive Eating for Culture
Christyna Johnson, RD, calls herself the “Encouraging Dietitian,” and in a world of body shaming, that’s really comforting, isn’t it?
In his podcast, Intuitive eating for cultureJohnson uses her personal story of overcoming eating disorders, negative body image and anxiety to help inspire others when it comes to food choices and self-image.
Food heaven co-hosts Jones and Wendy Lopez, RD, emphasize the importance of a sustainable and inclusive path to wellness. They interview guests on topics outside of direct nutrition, including sleep, PMS, and body image issues.
As for the latter topic, “So many people — men and women — have issues with weight and body image,” Brooking says of the importance of these types of podcasts. “It is important to address the physiological components of weight loss as well as the psychological issues related to weight and body image.”
Podcast by dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield The kindness of the body, as its name suggests, emphasizes the importance of body acceptance.
“The kindness of the body is a very positive podcast that focuses on self-acceptance as a path to healthier living,” says Brooking. “Rebecca spends a lot of time exploring our relationships with food in a way that I think , can really encourage healthy changes.”
Scritchfield interviews guests from all walks of life, such as Bernie Salazar, who won “At Home” in the NBC show’s fifth season.The biggest loser.