Épisodes

  • Unpacking the Paleo Diet
    Nov 26 2025

    Support us on Patreon, and see our full list of references on our website!

    Do you need to eat like a caveman to unlock your ancestral potential? Spoiler: no, and also, which caveman? The whole premise falls apart the second you ask a follow-up question.

    This week, we're taking on the Paleo Diet, not just what it says you should eat, but why it exists in the first place. Turns out the history goes way deeper than CrossFit bros and beef sticks. We trace the roots of "ancestral eating" back to 19th-century wilderness cults, Gilded Age masculinity panic, and a 1975 diet book with...some pretty dark roots.

    From there, we dig into why Paleo took off in Silicon Valley and the manosphere, how it became a $500 million industry selling you a return to nature via Amazon Prime, and what the research actually says about eliminating grains and legumes. Spoiler: your gut bacteria are not thrilled.

    Kylee breaks down the science on whole grains, the microbiome, and why the "mismatch hypothesis" doesn't hold up to evolutionary scrutiny. Zoë gets lost in Paleo subreddits, finds some surprisingly chill Burning Man content, and connects the dots between diet ideology, gender anxiety, and consumer capitalism.

    If you've ever wondered why some guy at your gym is very passionate about seed oils, this one's for you.

    This episode is brought to you by:

    Janji — Up to 30% off sitewide through December 1st. Code YDS for 10% off your first order at janji.com

    Osmia — 20% off Friday through Monday. Code YDS20 at osmiaskincare.com

    Tailwind Nutrition — Code YOURDIET20 for 20% off your first order at tailwindnutrition.com

    Microcosm Coaching — Book a free consultation at microcosmcoaching.com


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    1 h et 10 min
  • Do You Actually Need Electrolytes?
    Nov 12 2025

    Support the show and get bonus content! Join the N of One Club on Patreon for bonus episodes, monthly blogs, and a community of people who also think the wellness industry is full of shit. Starting at just $3/month.

    Do you really need that $5 mojito-flavored electrolyte packet to survive your morning Zoom meeting? Spoiler: probably not.

    This week we're talking salt. From ancient Romans literally getting paid in it to the absolute shitshow that was the 1904 Olympic marathon (two water stations for 26 miles—Google it). Kylee breaks down what electrolytes actually are and who actually needs supplemental sodium (endurance athletes sweating buckets) versus who doesn't (everyone sitting at a desk).

    We cover sweat tests, sodium replacement strategies, and the deeply annoying fact that the symptoms of too much sodium and too little sodium are basically identical. Plus: the explosion of boutique electrolyte brands, IV drip bars, and why everyone has an emotional support Stanley cup. The wellness industry wants to sell you a crisis and then the cure, and electrolytes are having a serious moment.


    This episode is brought to you by:

    Osmia – Science-backed skincare. Use code YDS20 at osmiaskincare.com

    Tailwind Nutrition – Endurance fuel that won't wreck your stomach. Code YOURDIET20 at tailwindnutrition.com

    Microcosm Coaching – Sports dietitians who understand endurance athletes. microcosmcoaching.com

    Janji – Running gear with purpose. Code YDS at janji.com

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    1 h et 9 min
  • How Nutrition Guidelines Became Political
    Oct 29 2025

    Support us on Patreon!⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠Get YDS tees, mugs, hats and more on Tee Public!

    This week on Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee dive headfirst into the messy, fascinating world of food policy, the history, politics, and corporate influence that quietly shape what ends up on your plate. From the creation of the first dietary guidelines to the low-fat craze that reshaped grocery store shelves, we unravel how government agencies, industry lobbyists, and “expert” committees turned nutrition advice into a political negotiation.


    • Tailwind → tailwindnutrition.com, code YOURDIET20 = 20% off first order.
    • Janji → janji.com, code YDS = 10% off first order.
    • Microcosm Coaching → ⁠⁠microcosm-coaching.com⁠⁠, book a free consultation call.

    We talk about how the USDA’s dual role, both promoting agriculture and protecting public health, set the stage for decades of conflict, and how the sugar and processed food industries learned to play the game better than anyone. It’s a story full of backroom deals, scientific sleight of hand, and the kind of marketing spin that turned “moderation” into the most profitable word in nutrition.

    Thanks to Janji for supporting YDS!

    Your Diet Sucks is hosted by Zoë Rom and Kylee Van Horn, RDN, and brings a skeptical, evidence-based lens to the big stories shaping how we eat, move, and live.

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    1 h et 14 min
  • Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Explained: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Recover from REDs
    Oct 15 2025

    Support us on Patreon!⁠

    ⁠Want to help with a book project? Share Your Story⁠

    ⁠Get YDS tees, mugs, hats and more on Tee Public!

    This week, Zoë and Kylee dig into one of the most misunderstood topics in endurance sports: RED-S, Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. We break down what it actually is (spoiler: it’s not just “overtraining”), how to recognize early warning signs, and what the latest science says about recovery.

    From the old-school concept of the female athlete triad to the 2024 “Does RED-S Exist?” paper, we trace how the conversation around under-fueling has evolved, and why so many athletes are still falling through the cracks. We’ll unpack how RED-S affects everything from hormones and metabolism to bone density, mood, and performance, and why it doesn’t just happen to women or elite runners.

    This episode separates evidence from internet rumor and offers real talk on what it takes to recover: eating enough, resting enough, and understanding that being tired, cold, and cranky isn’t “just part of training.” Whether you’re an endurance athlete chasing PRs or someone just trying to feel good in your body again, this one’s for you.

    • Tailwind → tailwindnutrition.com, code YOURDIET20 = 20% off first order.
    • Janji → janji.com, code YDS = 10% off first order.
    • Microcosm Coaching → ⁠microcosm-coaching.com⁠, book a free consultation call.
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    1 h et 35 min
  • Cannabis, Culture, and the Runner’s High
    Oct 1 2025

    Support us on Patreon!

    Want to help with a book project? Share Your Story

    Get YDS tees, mugs, hats and more on Tee Public!

    This week on Your Diet Sucks, we’re digging into cannabis, how a plant got tangled up in politics, culture wars, and moral panic, and how that continues to shape the way we study it, regulate it, and talk about it today. We trace the science, the stigma, and the shifting rules, from Harry Anslinger’s racist propaganda campaigns to today’s confusing contradictions (why is cannabis still banned in sport while alcohol isn’t?).

    We’ll also talk about what current research actually says about cannabis and performance, what gaps remain, and how athletes can think about using it.

    • Eternal → eternal.co, code YDS = 10% off membership.
    • Tailwind → tailwindnutrition.com, code YOURDIET20 = 20% off first order.
    • Janji → janji.com, code YDS = 10% off first order.
    • Microcosm Coaching → microcosm-coaching.com, book a free consultation call.
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    1 h et 14 min
  • Menopause, Diet and Body Image
    Sep 17 2025

    ⁠Support YDS on Patreon!⁠

    ⁠Check out our new T-shirts!

    Your mom probably didn’t sit you down to explain hot flashes, vaginal atrophy, or why your metabolism doesn’t suddenly tank the second you hit menopause. That’s where we come in. In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee dig into the messy, complicated, and very normal reality of perimenopause and menopause—because more than half the population will experience it, and yet nobody talks about it. We trace the wild history of “treatments” like leeches and arsenic, unpack the real science around carbs, protein, strength training, sleep, and HRT, and roast the diet-culture nonsense that convinces athletes to fear their own bodies.

    From “menopause belly” panic to the myth that performance ends at 50, we’re breaking down what actually matters for athletes, what doesn’t, and how to navigate this transition without falling for the gimmicks. Consider this the talk your mom never gave you—and the one your Instagram feed definitely won’t.

    Support the Show

    ⁠⁠Eternal – To check out Foundations, use the promo code YDS for 10% a one year membership.⁠⁠

    • ⁠⁠Tailwind Nutrition offers science–backed endurance fuel that actually works. Try our favorite, Blueberry Lemonade Endurance Fuel - Get 20% off your first order with code YOURDIET20⁠⁠

    • ⁠⁠Janji – Adventure-ready running gear with pockets that actually work. Use code YDS for 10% off your order.⁠⁠

    • ⁠⁠Microcosm Coaching – Human-first, athlete-centered coaching for every runner, from 5K to 100 miles and beyond.⁠


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    1 h et 21 min
  • What's the Best Diet for the Environment?
    Sep 3 2025

    ⁠Support YDS on Patreon!

    Check out our new T-shirts!

    See our full list of 22 references for this episode on our website!

    What does your dinner have to do with the climate crisis? In this episode of Your Diet Sucks, Zoë and Kylee dig into the science, the politics, and the messy cultural baggage around food and the environment. From beef’s outsized carbon footprint to the confusing debates over almond milk vs. oat milk, we break down what actually matters for athletes and active people who want to fuel performance without trashing the planet.

    We trace the history of meat, dairy, and industrial agriculture, explain why food waste is one of the biggest hidden drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, and talk about whether “grass-fed” beef or “sustainable” seafood really lives up to the hype. Plus, we get real about the politics behind dietary guidelines, the myth of the carbon footprint, and why Fox News thinks burgers are freedom.

    Spoiler: we’re not here to take away your mozzarella or your post-run burrito, we’re here to help you make sense of the science, push back on diet-culture guilt trips, and show how small, practical choices add up when athletes use their voices for systemic change.

    Support the Show

    Eternal – To check out Foundations, use the promo code YDS for 10% a one year membership.⁠

    • Tailwind Nutrition offers science–backed endurance fuel that actually works. Try our favorite, Blueberry Lemonade Endurance Fuel - Get 20% off your first order with code YOURDIET20

    • Janji – Adventure-ready running gear with pockets that actually work. Use code YDS for 10% off your order.⁠

    • Microcosm Coaching – Human-first, athlete-centered coaching for every runner, from 5K to 100 miles and beyond.



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    1 h et 10 min
  • The Carnivore Diet
    Aug 20 2025
    Support YDS on Patreon!This week, Zoë and Kylee tackle the carnivore diet, the internet’s most extreme eating trend. From raw liver smoothies at Erewhon to shirtless influencers promising that “meat heals everything,” the carnivore diet has exploded in popularity. But what really happens when you cut out all plants and live on ribeye steaks, bacon, and bone broth?We explore the strange history of meat-only diets, from 1920s Bellevue experiments to modern influencers like Shawn Baker and Paul Saladino. We unpack the claims about plant “toxins,” the allure of ketosis, and why athletes, especially women, need carbs for performance, recovery, and hormone health. And we dig into the environmental cost of ribeye-heavy eating, why beef is one of the most resource-intensive foods on the planet, and how climate denial often gets wrapped into carnivore culture.So should you go full T-Rex? Probably not. But understanding the hype—and the risks—shows why restrictive food fads keep spreading, and why carbs are still essential for endurance athletes and long-term health.Support the ShowEternal – To check out Foundations, use the promo code YDS for 10% a one year membership.Tailwind Nutrition offers science–backed endurance fuel that actually works. Try our favorite, Blueberry Lemonade Endurance Fuel - Get 20% off your first order with code YOURDIET20Janji – Adventure-ready running gear with pockets that actually work. Use code YDS for 10% off your order.Microcosm Coaching – Human-first, athlete-centered coaching for every runner, from 5K to 100 miles and beyond.REFERENCESBurke, L. M., Ross, M. L., Garvican-Lewis, L. A., Welvaert, M., Heikura, I. A., Forbes, S. G., ... & Hawley, J. A. (2017). Low carbohydrate, high fat diet impairs exercise economy and negates the performance benefit from intensified training in elite race walkers. The Journal of Physiology, 595(9), 2785–2807. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP273230Cordain, L., Eaton, S. B., Sebastian, A., Mann, N., Lindeberg, S., Watkins, B. A., ... & Brand-Miller, J. (2005). Origins and evolution of the Western diet: Health implications for the 21st century. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81(2), 341–354. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn.81.2.341Hall, K. D., & Guo, J. (2017). Obesity energetics: Body weight regulation and the effects of diet composition. Gastroenterology, 152(7), 1718–1727. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.01.052Jönsson, T., Granfeldt, Y., Lindeberg, S., & Hallberg, A. C. (2009). Subjective satiety and other experiences of a Paleolithic diet compared to a diabetes diet in patients with type 2 diabetes. Nutrition Journal, 8(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-8-35Lerner, R. (1930). Adventures in diet. Harper’s Monthly Magazine, 161(962), 509–518.Micha, R., Michas, G., & Mozaffarian, D. (2012). Unprocessed red and processed meats and risk of coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes: An updated review of the evidence. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 14(6), 515–524. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-012-0282-8O’Hearn, A., Tro, K., & Naiman, D. (2021). Clinical experience of medical doctors with a carnivore diet. Current Developments in Nutrition, 5(Supplement_2), 393. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdn/nzab044_067Stefansson, V. (1946). Not by bread alone. New York, NY: Macmillan.UN Food and Agriculture Organization. (2013). Tackling climate change through livestock: A global assessment of emissions and mitigation opportunities. Rome: FAO.Zhang, Y., Pan, X. F., Chen, J., Xia, L., Cao, A., Zhang, Y., ... & Pan, A. (2021). Associations of red meat, processed meat, and poultry consumption with risk of colorectal cancer: A prospective cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults. International Journal of Cancer, 149(5), 979–989. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.33694
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    1 h et 20 min