Vinnie Tortorich

Vinnie Tortorich (1962–) is an American fitness trainer, cholesterol denialist, anti-sugar campaigner, low-carb high-fat advocate and proponent of vitamin woo. He operates the Fitness Confidential podcast (formerly called Angriest Trainer) that often features conspiracy theorists and low-carb fanatics who reject conventional medical advice.

Vinnie Tortorich
Potentially edible!
Food woo
Fabulous food!
Delectable diets!
Bodacious bods!
v - t - e
Style over substance
Pseudoscience
Popular pseudosciences
Random examples
v - t - e
“”STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR AND GRAINS
—Vinnie Tortorich[1]

Tortorich advertises himself as the "World's Celebrity Fitness Trainer" and charges $195 for an hour phone consultation.[2] He founded the Pure Vitamin Club to sell his vitamin supplements.[3] Tortorich's irrational criticisms of whole grains are entirely unfounded.

No Sugar, No Grains

Tortorich is a promoter of a fad diet known as "No Sugar, No Grains" (NSNG), which consists of eliminating all processed sugars and grains from the diet.[4] It is a low-carb high-fat diet based on ketogenic principles. Tortorich describes ‪NSNG as a "lifestyle", but like all fad diets there is a list of foods you can and cannot eat.[4] Tortorich's strange idea of a healthy snack on his NSNG diet is beef jerky, full fat cheese, 85% or greater dark chocolate and pepperoni slices. On the plus side at least he encourages people to consume vegetables.[4]

Tortorich's criticisms of processed sugar are quite accurate. For example, the association between a high-sugar diet and a greater risk cardiovascular disease has been scientifically established.[5] Unfortunately Tortorich goes woo woo in his outright rejection of whole grains.

The NSNG diet does not allow the consumption of whole grains. This is despite the fact, there are many health benefits from eating whole grains and they offer a good source of fibre, nutrients and minerals.[6] The consumption of whole grains can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, chronic inflammation and obesity.[7] The NSNG diet entirely forbids the consumption of barley, oats, rice and wheat. In reality, all these foods have proven health benefits. According to one review, "research has shown that consumption of wheat fiber leads to increased laxation, decreased gut transit time, and a potential reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer."[8] A 2016 systematic review concluded that "whole grain intake is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disease, and total cancer, and mortality from all causes, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, diabetes, and all non-cardiovascular, non-cancer causes."[9] Tortorich does not appear to be interested in this evidence.[citation NOT needed]

Tortorich's criticism of whole grains is not based on their phytic acid content because his NSNG diet allows the consumption of legumes.[4] He opposes consumption of grains because of their high glycemic index and their ability to make blood sugar spike.[10] However, this is not accurate because many grains have a very low glycemic index. For example, brown rice and whole wheat pasta have a low GI score.[11]

Cholesterol denialism
“”There is no concrete evidence that high serum cholesterol is even the cause of heart disease. That’s right – you heard THAT!
—Vinnie Tortorich.[12]

Tortorich is a cholesterol and statin denialist who denies that blood LDL cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease. He is a supporter of Malcolm Kendrick's unproven ideas.[13][14]

Reminiscent of the Quack Miranda Warning, he lists a disclaimer on his website stating, "Do not disregard any professional medical advice you have received, nor delay in seeking such advice because of something you have read on this website."[15] However, his podcast interviews often recommend listeners to avoid taking medication. Tortorich interviewed Kendrick who said that statins are useless to any patient and are a massive Big Pharma con.[14] On his website, Tortorich sells the "Cholesterol Collection" for $10, a bunch of his interviews with cholesterol denialists.[12] Unsurprisingly, he is a fan of Gary Taubes.[16][17]

Low-carbers that have appeared on his podcast
gollark: I think quite a lot of tutorials will be HTML and CSS together, which is helpful.
gollark: HTML is probably good to learn, although it's a markup language, not a programming one.
gollark: CSS is important for styling webpages, HTML is for... well, content, mostly, JS for interactivity on the client side (and server now).
gollark: Eh. It's improved. Still problematic though, but I like it.
gollark: Well, it's poorly designed, more so than JS in my opinion.

References
  1. Celebrity Trainer Vinnie Tortorich on What Works for Weight Loss
  2. Phone Consultation. Vinnie Tortorich.
  3. Pure Vitamin Club
  4. No Sugar No Grains (NSNG) Frequently Asked Questions
  5. The sweet danger of sugar
  6. Health Benefits of Grains
  7. 9 Legitimate Health Benefits of Eating Whole Grains
  8. Potential Health Benefits of Whole Grain Wheat Components
  9. Whole grain consumption and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all cause and cause specific mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. British Medical Journal.
  10. Vinnie Tortorich: No Sugar, No Grains
  11. Myth: All Grains Make Your Blood Sugar Spike
  12. THE CHOLESTEROL COLLECTION THE ALL NEW 10 FOR $10. Vinnie Tortorich.
  13. Depression, Type 2 Diabetes, Happiness and the The Great Cholesterol Con with DR. MALCOLM KENDRICK. Vinnie Tortorich.
  14. BEST OF: Dr. Malcolm Kendrick and the Great Cholesterol Con – Episode 1247. Vinnie Tortorich.
  15. Disclaimer for VinnieTortorich.com
  16. The Obesity Epidemic with Gary Taubes. Vinnie Tortorich.
  17. Gary Taubes and The Case Against Sugar – Episode 731. Vinnie Tortorich.
  18. Dr. William Davis On Becoming “Undoctored” – Episode 838. Vinnie Tortorich.
  19. Zoë Harcombe PhD Finds No Evidence! – Episode 824. Vinnie Tortorich.
  20. Fast Food, Obesity, Documentaries and Fat Head with Tom Naughton. Vinnie Tortorich.
  21. Timothy Noakes Trial Recap with Marika Sboros – Episode 819. Vinnie Tortorich.
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