Let’s get this out of the way first. The problem is not that nutrition science is broken. The problem is that gym culture has hijacked it.
Most fitness trainers and entry level nutrition educators are not real nutritionists. They are not required to understand long term metabolic health. They are not trained to assess complex dietary needs. What they are trained to do is make people look good. Thin. Strong. Toned. Marketable. And that is where the problems start.
They are not going to guide you toward deep, sustainable health. They are going to chase fast visual results. And for that, they fall back on the same old formula: more protein, fewer carbs, extreme calorie drops, and almost no nuance.
The Obsession with Protein
Gym trainers will have you believing that protein is the solution to everything. Want to lose fat? Eat more protein. Want to build muscle? Eat more protein. Want to cure your stress, anxiety, brain fog, heartbreak? You guessed it. More protein.
But here’s the problem. Most people are already getting more protein than they need, especially in the West. What they are not getting is enough fiber, enough variety in micronutrients, enough water-rich food, or anti inflammatory support from whole plants.
And when you remove complex carbohydrates, which include some of the most healing and energizing foods on the planet , sweet potatoes, lentils, beans, fruits, whole grains , you don’t get healthier. You get hungry, irritable, and inflamed.
The Fear of Carbs Is Misinformed
Carbs are not the enemy. Processed food is. There is a massive difference between a white bread sandwich and a bowl of quinoa with roasted vegetables. But to the gym crowd, carbs are all one thing. If you listen to them too closely, you will start fearing a banana like it is a donut.
That is not science. That is diet dogma.
Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred energy source. The brain literally runs on glucose. And yes, there is a way to overdo it , just like there is a way to overdo anything , but cutting out whole food carbs is not the answer.
Extreme Diets Create Fragile Results
Gym advice is often centered around short term results. Aesthetic results. Not health outcomes five years from now. Not mental clarity. Not digestive balance. Not healing long term inflammation. Just how to look good in two months.
And so they push extreme calorie deficits. Hardcore intermittent fasting without preparation. Detox teas. Low carb mania. Keto without any real supervision. All in the name of results.
But what they never talk about is sustainability. They do not teach people how to build real patterns. Patterns that support mood. Energy. Immunity. Hormonal function. They just want you to drop pounds. And when the weight comes back, they will say you failed the plan. The truth is, the plan failed you.