Is all hope lost when beloved natural foods' companies are bought out by Big Food? In today's episode of Blasphemous Nutrition, Aimee dives headfirst into the heated discussions from the natural health community, dissecting the nuanced implications of PepsiCo's buyout of Siete Foods and urging listeners to look beyond surface-level reactions. As she navigates through consumer fears and industry realities, Aimee brings her trademark candidness to the forefront, challenging black-and-white perceptions with well-articulated clarity.

Aimee elucidates how acquisitions by multinational food corporations have become a pattern in the industry, citing examples like General Mills acquiring Annie's Homegrown and Hormel's purchase of Applegate Farms. The episode reveals her skepticism about the true intentions of such behemoths, while also encouraging a broader perspective on potential benefits like improved distribution and stable product pricing. According to Aimee, the ultimate power rests with informed consumers – one who remains vigilant, continues to scrutinize labels, and leverages purchasing power to hold corporations accountable.

Key Takeaways:

• Siete Foods' acquisition by PepsiCo has sparked debate within the natural foods community, raising concerns over product quality and corporate ethics.
• Despite skepticism, there are potential benefits to the acquisition, including better distribution and stable pricing.
• Consumers are urged to maintain vigilance and exercise their power through informed purchasing choices.
• Aimee warns against demonizing families behind such businesses and advocates for understanding the complexities of such decisions.

Find Research Citations and Transcript at Blasphemous Nutrition on Substack

Work with Aimee

Photography by: Dai Ross Photography

Podcast Cover Art: Lilly Kate Creative

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Avoiding seafood due to mercury concerns? What you think you know is more damaging than what you don't know! In this episode of "Blasphemous Nutrition," Aimee delves into the scary topic of mercury exposure through seafood consumption. She breaks down the concerns around mercury and highlights the importance of understanding the interaction between essential minerals and heavy metals to inform better dietary choices. Aimee seeks to offer clarity amid widespread misconceptions and equip listeners with the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding their health.

The episode offers a comprehensive look at the numerous benefits of including seafood in your diet despite concerns about mercury levels. Aimee emphasizes that seafood is packed with vital nutrients, such as omega-3s, selenium, and essential minerals, which are difficult to obtain from other sources. Through this discussion, listeners are educated on how mercury exposure occurs, the benefits of consuming various seafood, and the body's natural mechanisms for dealing with metals like mercury. Aimee presents practical advice for minimizing mercury intake—such as choosing low-mercury and high-selenium seafood—and backs her points with research, illustrating the resilience of the human body in coping with potential toxicity.

Key Takeaways:

• Seafood provides essential nutrients that are hard to find elsewhere, making it crucial for a balanced diet.
• Mercury and other heavy metals can be buffered by sufficient intake of essential minerals like selenium.
• Different species of fish contain varying levels of mercury, with smaller fish generally presenting lower risk.
• A high intake of selenium with seafood can counteract mercury exposure and aid in its excretion.
• A diet rich in antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress and potential cellular damage from heavy metals.

Notable Quotes:

• "Seafood is chock full of amazing nutrients that are challenging to get elsewhere unless you're a fan of organ meats."
• "Avoiding seafood altogether due to mercury concerns is missing out on a nutrient powerhouse."
• "A diet low in essential minerals leads to increased absorption of toxic metals into the cell."

Resources:

Find Research Citations and Transcript at Blasphemous Nutrition on Substack

Work with Aimee

Photography by: Dai Ross Photography

Podcast Cover Art: Lilly Kate Creative

CHAT ME UP: let me know what's on your mind by texting here!

How to Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Via iOS Device
1. Open Apple Podcast App (purple app icon that says Podcasts).
2. Go to the icons at the bottom of the screen and choose “search”
3. Search for “Blasphemous Nutrition”
4. Click on the SHOW, not the episode.
5. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews” section
6. Click on “Write a Review” (if you don’t see that option, click on “See All” first)
7. Rate the show on a five-star scale (5 is highest rating) and write a review!
8. Bask in the glow of doing a good deed that makes a difference!

Dr. Sarah Ballantyne, PhD is a name you may know if you’ve been in the ancestral or paleo circles for any length of time. This woman is now considered straight-up blasphemous in these circles for her bold willingness to challenge her own biases and go back to the research to revisit some strongly held beliefs in the health and wellness communities.

In today's conversation, Dr. Sarah shares how she came to realize she needed to go back to the drawing board, the never-before revealed moment she made a decision that would forever change the trajectory of her career, what she discovered, and how she manages to stay strong in the face of all the hate and vitriol from the community that once held her dear.
She clears us some cognitive dissonance I had regarding vegetable oils and we dive into what she, myself, and others have experienced when we started taking a nutrient-first approach to what we eat and how we can increase our nutrient density without breaking our food budget. You won’t want to miss this!

"Foods are chemically complex. There's lots of different things in them. And just because one compound might not be beneficial, that doesn't mean the whole food is bad." - Dr. Sarah Ballantyne

"If someone with a PhD in medical biophysics who was a medical researcher can fall for nutrition misinformation and pseudoscientific thought patterns, then anyone can." - Dr. Sarah Ballantyne

Resources:

Nutrivore.com

5 Free Nutrivore Guides

The Nutrivore book

Dr. Sarah’s Social Media

TikTok

Instagram

Threads

Facebook

YouTube

Pinterest

Work with Aimee

CHAT ME UP: let me know what's on your mind by texting here!

How to Leave a Review on Apple Podcasts
Via iOS Device
1. Open Apple Podcast App (purple app icon that says Podcasts).
2. Go to the icons at the bottom of the screen and choose “search”
3. Search for “Blasphemous Nutrition”
4. Click on the SHOW, not the episode.
5. Scroll all the way down to “Ratings and Reviews” section
6. Click on “Write a Review” (if you don’t see that option, click on “See All” first)
7. Rate the show on a five-star scale (5 is highest rating) and write a review!
8. Bask in the glow of doing a good deed that makes a difference!