Why do we believe rubbish online advice?

Have you been duped by the cult of clean eating? In this week’s Spectator, Lara Prendergast and I delve into the murky world of ‘clean’ diets and Instagram goddesses. These diets are often based on a noble desire to eat more fruit and vegetables and cut out processed food. But they also involve a lot of pseudoscience and quackery, including warnings about certain foods that are just plain wrong.

Take this paragraph from the Hemsley sisters’ website:

‘Gluten is a sticky, water-soluble protein found in many grains (including wheat, rye, spelt and barley). It breaks down the microvilli in your small intestine, eventually letting particles of your food leech into your bloodstream, which is referred to as ‘leaky gut syndrome’. This can cause allergies, digestive disturbances or autoimmune problems. Grains like corn, rice and oats have similar protein composites to gluten that can also be problematic over time.’