Summary
Chris is on a mission to raise awareness about how nutrient deficiencies are increasing chronic disease, destroying our quality of life, and shortening our lifespan.
The latest statistics suggest that most Americans are falling short on not one but several essential vitamins and minerals. These are not small gaps—they’re at levels that have been conclusively shown to increase the risk of chronic disease and shorten lifespan.
Sadly, hardly anyone is aware of this because doctors don’t routinely test for nutrient levels.
What’s more, the RDA and lab ranges for most nutrients were established to detect/prevent acute diseases like scurvy or rickets, not to promote optimal health and longevity—which is what most people are interested in.
In this interview, Chris will explain why micronutrients are so critical to our health, why nutrient deficiencies are so common (even in people eating a healthy diet), and how to use both diet and supplementation to optimize your nutrient intake.
See below for a list of suggested discussion topics and questions, and of course, we’re also open to your suggestions and input. You know your audience and what’s important to them better than anyone else.
We’ve also provided Chris’s bio and headshots, along with suggested social and email copy to make it easier for you to share this with your audience.
Interview length and format
Chris is available for either audio or video formats.
The interview can be anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your typical show length and preference.
Examples of Chris’s nutrient density podcast appearances
- Why Most Of Us Are Nutrient Deficient And What To Do About It, with Dr. Mark Hyman (Doctor’s Farmacy; video)
- Nutrient Synergy: Why Supplements Can’t Compensate a Poor Diet with Chris Kresser, with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald (New Frontiers in Functional Medicine; audio only)
- The Top 3 Nutrient Deficiencies and How to Fix Them, with Dhru Purohit (Dhru Purohit Podcast; video)
General questions
- Why is nutrient density so important?
- How common is nutrient deficiency?
- Why is the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) inadequate as a standard for nutrient intake?
- Why is nutrient deficiency so common—even in people following a healthy diet?
- Which nutrients are people most likely to be deficient in?
- Which nutrients can people get too much of?
- How have changes in soil quality decreased nutrient availability in food?
- Is supplementation necessary to meet optimal nutrient requirements?
- Which nutrients should people be careful supplementing with?
- How important is the specific form of nutrient (e.g. folate vs. folic acid, tocotrienols vs. tocopherols, etc.) when supplementing
- Are phytonutrients important? What about claims by carnivore diet advocates that we don’t need plant foods?
- What about fiber in general or specific types of fiber like beta-glucan?
- What are the most nutrient-dense foods?
- How can people get more organ meats into their diet?
- What’s the optimal diet from a nutrient-density standpoint?
- What about vegetarian and vegan diets?
Fitness audience questions
- Why are micronutrients so important for athletes?
- Which nutrients are most critical for performance?
- Which nutrients are most critical for recovery?
- Why do athletes tend to overlook micronutrients?
Optional questions
- Why did you decide to create Adapt Naturals?
- What makes Adapt Naturals different from other supplements?
- What is the Core Plus bundle, and how can it help people optimize their nutrition?
The questions above relate to Chris’s new supplement line, Adapt Naturals, which he launched in order to help people to restore optimal nutrient levels.
If you’d prefer not to discuss this on your show—that’s fine!
Chris has written a free eBook on how nutrient deficiencies are sabotaging our health (and what to do about it), and he can provide a link to that at the end of the interview.
Suggested hooks for social and email promotion
- “Did you know that most Americans are deficient in several essential vitamins and minerals? Check out my recent podcast interview with Chris Kresser to find out why nutrient deficiency is so common and what to do about it.”
- “The human body needs over 40 micronutrients to function properly—yet most Americans don’t get enough of several of these vitamins and minerals. Check out my recent podcast interview with Chris Kresser to find out why nutrient deficiency is so common and what to do about it.”
- “Americans are well-fed but undernourished. In the last 50 years, calorie intake has risen by more than 25 percent, but nutrient intake has decreased. Check out my recent podcast interview with Chris Kresser to find out why nutrient deficiency has become an urgent health issue and what to do about it.”
- “Did you know that nutrient deficiencies are common even in people eating a healthy diet—thanks to declining soil quality, a growing toxic burden, and other challenges in the modern world? Check out my recent podcast interview with Chris Kresser to find out why nutrient deficiency has become an urgent health issue and what to do about it.”
Chris’s Bio
Chris Kresser M.S., L.Ac. is the co-founder of the California Center for Functional Medicine, the founder of Kresser Institute, the host of the top-ranked health podcast Revolution Health Radio, the creator of ChrisKresser.com, and The New York Times best-selling author of The Paleo Cure and Unconventional Medicine. He is one of the most respected clinicians and educators in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health and has trained over 2,000 clinicians and health coaches from >50 countries in his unique approach. Chris was named one of the 100 most influential people in health and fitness by Greatist.com and has appeared as a featured guest on The Dr. Oz Show, TIME, The Atlantic, NPR, Fox & Friends, and other national media outlets. He lives in Bend, Oregon with his wife and daughter.
Chris’s Headshots
