Netflix documentary claims eating eggs is as bad as smoking
What the Health, a popular Netflix documentary, has be slammed by health experts for its claims that eating eggs is as bad for you as smoking cigarettes.
Popularised by the likes of Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, What the Health encourages viewers to adopt and embrace a vegan lifestyle by exploring the links between common diseases and the consumption of animal products.
The film makes claims like one serving of meat a day can increase the risk of developing diabetes by 51 per cent, and eating an egg is as bad as smoking five cigarettes.
But health experts have hit back, accusing the documentary of cherry-picking data and information to support its arguments.
New York City dietitian and nutritionist Mary Jane Detroyer said, “It’s distorted science, and if you misrepresent something like that, I just can’t trust anything you tell me.”
One of Australia’s leading dietitians, Susie Burrell, elaborated further, telling News.com.au, “The issue is that all studies are linked to relative risk. This means the chance you will get ill.
“It does not mean that every person who consumes processed meat (for which there is relatively strong evidence a high intake is linked to an increased risk of developing colon cancer), will actually get cancer. Such data also does not take into account dietary patterns.
“Human beings do not eat one food, they eat a range of foods, and when it comes to nutrition, things are complicated. For example, cultures who have a high intake of processed meat, may also have very high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, which appears to negate the risk.”
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