It's only my opinion but I've always felt he has
something of the Gillian McKeith's about him. In fairness to him he's on Ideal World so nobody expects him to be an expert anyway, nobody cares.
Much like Tech Expert Granny Smith 'this is how you mix two faces up' all Nutrionist and Fitness Expert Doddy Flump does is show us what buttons to press on the latest wobbling plinth he's shilling and occasionally shoves some spinach and fruit in a blender.
If I want to listen to a quack I'll watch Donald Duck :mysmilie_59:
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This would be the same Gillian McKeith who was forced to stop using the title "doctor", following complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority. It transpired that her only claim to the title was a qualification from a non-accredited American college. Talking of qualifications, I note that Mr Rick Hay has a diploma in, among other things, iridology-a subject which is not taken terribly seriously by medical science. There are many good articles explaining the deficiencies of this process, but the following is fairly typical of the mainstream consensus
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/iridology/ They conclude that:
"Iridology is an excellent example of pseudoscience in medicine, displaying many of the core features."
It would seem that Rick's qualifications (Dip Nutrition, Dip Botanical Medicine (Western Herbalism), Dip Iridology) are no longer available as study courses, having been removed from the curriculum since December 2015
http://www.cshisc.com.au/develop/industry-qualifications-training-packages/qualifications-under-review/complementary-alternative-health It is presumably these selfsame qualifications that have propelled Rick to his (self-described) role as "The Superfoodist". Whilst a a catchy title, the name would appear to have no meaningful significance outside of a marketing bubble. The whole issue of 'superfoods' is itself deeply controversial, so arrogating the title "Superfoodist" to oneself doesn't really confer any special expertise.
The following comment
http://www.sciencebrainwaves.com/superfoods-myth-or-reality/urges caution when dealing with dubious health claims:
"So the bottom line is simple: Superfood is a myth and the only thing we need to do is just eat a healthy, balanced diet, don’t smoke, or drink in excess, make sure to exercise….and occasionally allow yourself a treat!" (Of course such a pragmatic approach isn't really music to the ears of those selling powders and supplements, and who might have a vested interest in maintaining certain myths, including their own 'expertise' :wink
Rick's website makes the following point about his role as a commentator on health issues:
"Working 1-2-1 with patients over the years has gifted Rick with insight to answer the worries of a magazine’s audience, providing nutritional based treatment options for many of today’s most common health, beauty and fitness concerns authoritatively and in a practical and accessible way. I'm not sure about the use of the word "gifted" in this context, as this (usually) implies a special talent, or something bestowed without effort. I don't think that's what he meant to convey, even if it was a sort of unintended admission.
As an example of Rick's advice/options, he was asked to comment about the activities of
Binky Felstead, a supposed 'star' of Made in Chelsea:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3652237/Are-Chelsea-girls-Binky-Felstead-Stephanie-Pratt-Watsons-flaunt-trim-figures-experts-say-not-healthy-think.html This woman was engaged in extreme dieting and didn't eat before exercising. Rick said that he wasn't a 'fan' of this routine, except in certain circumstances, and he also observed that she didn't need to lose any more weight. Not exactly mind-blowing advice! As regards her obviously very thin condition, saying that she didn't need to lose weight is on the same level as telling Big Brodders that he could do with losing a few pounds...it would seem that supplying banal soundbites can prove a nice little earner.
Finally, Rick makes reference to anti-ageing on his website, calling himself an
"Anti Ageing Food and Fitness Nutritionist". I find the term anti-ageing highly objectionable, as it preys upon our fear of getting older (and ultimately death) and the claim is meaningless. No food, pill, powder, cream, advice, can stop ageing, and in that sense nothing can work against it. Media vita in morte sumus:
In the midst of life we are in death. I know anti-ageing may be a commonly understood term in cosmetics, but it surely has no place in the title of a supposed health 'expert'.
That's enough and my apologies for rambling on (got carried away):mysmilie_10: