When something has been around for over 40 years and 100 years, it definitely is not a fad.
And anyway the point is not the diet, it's the marketing. That's what people fall for.
Marketing
Yes, it's the marketing, not the diet.
I worked in Radio and TV Advertising for 15 year. My degree is in Radio-TV; which included marketing/advertising.
Advertising
Advertising is a form of "Brainwashing"; "If you scream it long enough and loud enough, people will believe it".
That doesn't mean the "Brainwashing" all bad.
We learn out ABC and multiplication table via "Brainwashing" and everything else, via repetition.
it's a myth that dieticians and nutritionists lack information about keto.
Lack of Knowledge
Nutritionist are familiar with the Ketogenic Diet. They are have some knowledge about it. However, few are well versed in the nuances of it.
Since I am well versed in the Ketogenic Diet and not Paleo, so I'll focus on Keto.
Specialist
Nutritionists are like Physicians, Exercise Physiologist, Lawyers, etc.
The majority fall into the area of "General Practitioner"; "Jack of all trade, master of none". They know a little about everything. However, they lack the enough knowledge in specific areas.
The Ketogenic Diet is a "Specialty Diet", requiring a Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist.
Even within the Ketogenic Specialty Diet there's a subdivision of specialis
t.
Continuum of Care | The University of New Mexico
The New Mexico Continuum of Care Department specializes in prescribing the Ketogenic Diet and working with individual with epilepsy.
I've hosted the non-profit, sanctioned Albuquerque Strength Clinic since 2012, coming up on 8 years. It is primarily geared toward Personal Trainers and Strength Coaches who need to obtain Continuing Education Units.
I contacted the the Registered Dietitian at New Mexico Continuum of Care Department about speaking on the Ketogenic Diet.
In speaking with the Registered Dietitian, she informed me that her expertise was the application of Keto for epileptics, rather than other uses for the diet. I wanted something more general.
General Nutrition Practitioners
In 2016, a Registered Dietitian spoke at my clinic. In a brief conversation with her, she stated she'd tried the Ketogenic Diet and could not do it. Her failure in part was her lack of knowledge.
I've attended two additional Strength Clinics that she's spoken at. For some reason she always finds a way to bash the Ketogenic Diet. It comes across as her blaming the Ketogenic Diet for her failure.
My nephew has a Master in Nutrition. He bashed the Ketogenic Diet for years. Some of the research information that I've sent him over the years has led him to see that the Ketogenic Diet provides some health benefits.
Rather than ramble on with other examples, I'll stop there.
It's something fitness people love to say because it makes them feel like they have the same knowledge as a trained specialist.
The Issues
1) The majority of Registered Dietitians and Nutritionist are not "Specialist" when it come to the Ketogenic Diet. They are in the "General Practitioner" category; "Jack of all trades..."
2) Let me emphatically state that I have more knowledge that the majority of Nutritionist and definitively more that physicians.
One of my other degrees is in Exercise Science, I am certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength Coach (Strength Coaches with Universities and Professional usually have this certifications), etc. More my background is listed on "Information" on this site.
What's Irritating
What irritates me is when speaking with a Nutritionist, Physician, Physical Therapist etc. and finding out that I know more than they do.
Their irritation of my probing appears to be drive by the fact that they don't know and are embarrassed to admit is.
Rather than them simply stating it isn't their area (which is fine) they derail the topic. In trying to discuss the cholesterol issue on my last visit with my doctor, he quickly shut it down with...
"I am not going to argue with you about this". Ended of conversation. It reminded me of when I'd ask my mother why I had to do something. Her reply, "Because I said so!"
I never did that with my son. I view it as a learning experience. If I didn't know, I have him look it up and report back to me. What he enjoyed was in demonstrating that he knew more than I did on it, which he did.
As you know from teaching at a university, the best way to learn something is to teach it.
The doctor viewed "The discussion" as a challenge to knowledge; which was true.
In probing a Physical Therapist with a PhD on something, her parting shot was, "You know I am a Dr of Physical Therapy"? That told me she didn't know and felt challenged.
Summary
1) My knowledge base supersede the majority of Nutritionist and Physicians.
2) Snowman/Matt, who post on this site, is one of the other definitive knowledgeable individual on Keto. He's a pre-med student who has employed the diet and researched it.
Matt has a more extensive science background that I do. So, when I have a question, I often "Start A Conversation" with Matt on this board and get his feed back.
Final Thought
"Stay in your lane": I make an effort not to venture into an area that I am unfamiliar with and lack knowledge in.
Venturing into an area that you aren't well versed with amount to trying to walk through a "Minefield".
Unfortunately, that isn't the case, especially with Physicians and some Nutritionist.
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count all the "Experts" that I've run across.
Kenny Croxdale
