The Hard Shoulder The Hard Shoulder

Diet advice - what should you actually follow?

Oct 27, 2026 · 11m

Summary

Professor Christopher Gardner of Stanford University discusses his new book, *Food Sense*, to cut through the noise of conflicting nutritional advice. He argues that while experts largely agree on fundamentals, social media and industry marketing create unnecessary confusion. Gardner advocates for simple, science-backed principles like eating mostly plants and avoiding ultra-processed foods, while cautioning against using superfoods to justify poor dietary habits.

Topics discussed

Introduction and guest welcome Why Professor Gardner wrote Food Sense Consensus among nutrition scientists The garlic study and supplement industry pressure Simplifying advice: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants Ultra-processed foods and food-like substances The concept of cosmetic additives in food Will labeling ultra-processed foods change behavior? Mars reformulating M&Ms and artificial colors Superfoods: helpful or a justification for poor diets? Key takeaway: Context matters (Coffee vs Tea example) Closing remarks and sponsor segment
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