It happened on a regular Wednesday afternoon, with little to no fanfare. An episode drops on The Goop podcast, titled ‘For the Love of Food’. At 36 minutes and eight seconds, its duration is relatively short in contrast to Gwyneth Paltrow’s other recordings, which touch on a variety of wellness industry related topics such as colostrum consumption and hormonal alignment. And yet, it’s safe to say that its impact is keenly felt, spurring countless articles and news features that bear the same headline. The bombshell, summarised: Gwyneth Paltrow is eating carbs and cheese again.
In the wild world of wellness, Paltrow is a figure of mythical proportions. She is revered and reviled in equal measure for her extremist approach, often exhorting practices that are both kooky and untested. Think vaginal steaming, bee-sting facials and even libido-enhancing sex dust, all of which pale in comparison to her rigorous diet.
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“I went into hardcore macrobiotics for a certain period of time. That was an interesting chapter where I got obsessed with eating very, very healthily,” Paltrow states in her podcast. “I really deepened my connection with food and the whole philosophy around macrobiotics, which is essentially just how they eat in the mountains of Japan. So it’s very local, very seasonal. Lots of fish, vegetables and rice. No dairy and no sugar.”
In actuality, her daily meals prove to be more of a spartan affair. According to Paltrow’s Instagram stories, breakfast consists of nothing but black coffee. As for lunch? A bowl of bone broth: one of the many health foods that have been causing a stir within the beauty sphere—though not entirely for the right reasons.
The edible beauty boom
Touted as a superfood, bone broth is purportedly an all-natural solution to a bevy of issues ranging from poor digestion to low immunity. Or, at least, that’s what the wellness industry wants you to think.
“I believe that people are turning to holistic, alternative therapies because of dissatisfaction towards mainstream methods, where they don’t address beauty and wellness needs in a quick enough fashion,” states Derrick Ong, accredited dietitian and founder of Eat Right Clinic and Nutrition Consultancy. “Ultimately, because conventional tactics have a lot to do with lifestyle changes, it can take a longer time to see results. [This is something that] we don’t see reflected much in the media.”
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Jessica Woodruff, an accredited nutritionist at New Leaf Counselling & Integrative Health, agrees. “The media definitely plays a significant role as to why people are looking to unorthodox health practices. Wellness influencers and television shows have popularised alternative health practices, contributing to the growing sentiment that health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. The understanding is that while people may require conventional medication and treatments, there are also beneficial adjunct therapies,” she elucidates. “Add a growing mistrust towards scientists and health practitioners as well as pharmaceuticals due to escalating anti-vaccine sentiments, and there you have it—a booming wellness sector.”
You are what you eat
To some, this phenomenon presents nothing but positives. There are little to no downsides in having autonomy over one’s health, and it’s hard to find an argument against a way of life that champions one’s mental and emotional well-being. Be that as it may, however, the wellness industry is still, at its core, a profit-driven business—a fact which dedicated advocates often choose to overlook.
“It’s a slippery slope. For instance, things can become problematic when individuals go down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and dismiss established treatments in favour of alternative medicine,” muses Woodruff. “The wellness industry is even larger than the pharmaceutical industry, so it’s crucial to remember that they don’t always want what’s best for you. The industry endorses diet culture, for one, encouraging the notion that you should invest your time, energy and money in achieving a specific appearance or body size. Additionally, there is an intersection between wellness culture and privilege that concerns me as someone educated in public health. It implies that individuals must have the financial means and time to pursue wellness, signalling an ability to afford a particular lifestyle. This dynamic can disproportionately benefit those with advantages while potentially excluding or marginalising others.”
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Disordered eating, misdiagnoses and the spreading of false claims, too, are some of the other outcomes that could arise from an unquestioning belief in the wellness realm and its advocates. To counter this, Ong recommends exercising caution and critical thinking when engaging with newfangled products and services.
“Don’t believe everything you read online. You could utilise AI to get a more informed decision on health matters, for instance, but don’t just use a singular AI tool. Compare a few as the algorithms are different,” he instructs. “When in doubt, seek the advice of the appropriate healthcare professional.”
Woodruff adds: “Another tip I have is to avoid extremes, for example, diets or trends that can negatively impact your mental and physical health. Consuming nothing but juice for a week won’t give you glowing skin. Always prioritise sustainability over quick results; otherwise, you may find yourself right back where you started.”
This story appears in Vogue Singapore’s June ‘Gold’ issue, available online.
