Ep 9: Fear Is Not a Food Group - The Truth Behind the 2025 Dietary Guidelines

The 2025 Dietary Guidelines are here… and we have thoughts. In this episode, registered dietitians Rachel and Ilkay break down what the new guidelines actually say, why the image and the written document are telling two different stories, and why going back to a pyramid is a step backward for public health. We also tackle the bigger picture: the culture of food fear driving nutrition misinformation, what chronic stress and food anxiety actually do to your body, and the very real mental health consequences of treating your dinner plate like a minefield.Nutrition fear mongering has a real cost. And we think it's time to talk about it.Whether you're a nutrition professional, a health-conscious eater, or someone who has ever felt anxious about what's on your plate… this one is for you!Time Stamps:(00:00) Intro(01:00) Social media claims. Who is they??(07:31) Is nutrition research biased?(08:45) Why does fear based messaging perform better on social media?(13:30) Dietary Guidelines: their history and purpose(17:30) A look at MyPlate: why we lost and why it worked well(21:27) The new guidelines: let’s dive in(43:28) Conversation on food fear and food restriction (Trigger warning - talk about eating disorders)(53:11) How to make sure information is truthful(55:13) Final thoughts and Dietitian word of wisdomConnect:A huge thank you to our listeners for supporting us on this new adventure! We’re still figuring things out, so if you hear strange audio or a few awkward pauses… just know it’s part of the real, unfiltered journey :)Want to stick with us as we grow? Hit the follow button to catch every new episode every other Wednesday and get more real talk on nutrition and mental health!You can also follow us on instagram or TikTok!Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listening does not establish a provider–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized guidance.Research:Nutrition Fact Checker from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. https://www.eatrightpro.org/nutritionfactcheck#upfAND Evidence Analysis Library. https://www.andeal.org/The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietitics.https://www.jandonline.org/The USDA 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americanshttps://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/The Uncompromised Dietary Guidelines for Americans https://www.cspi.org/UncompromisedDGAThe impact of stress on body function: A review. PMID: 28900385Orthorexia and Orthorexia Nervosa: A Comprehensive Examination of Prevalence, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Treatment. PMID: 37686883Risk factors for eating disorders: findings from a rapid review. Doi: 10.1186/s40337-022-00717-4The characteristics and extent of food industry involvement in peer-reviewed research articles from 10 leading nutrition-related journals in 2018. PMCID: PMC7743938Personalized Nutrition Advice: Preferred Ways of Receiving Information Related to Psychological Characteristics. PMCID: PMC8258260Fear, anger, fruits, and veggies: interactive effects of emotion and message framing on health behavior. PMCID: PMC3134586