Nutritionist urges Aussies to be guided by science when it comes to heath

Chris Hemsworth mate and top nutritionist Simon Hill has shared his thoughts on former My Kitchen Rules judge Pete Evans’ dubious health advice.

Nutritionist Simon Hill has slammed controversial chef Pete Evans for dishing out dubious health advice.

Former My Kitchen Rules judge Evans has been widely criticised for his anti-vax stance, as well as claiming COVID is a hoax to benefit certain industries.

Hill, who is the plant-based expert on Chris Hemsworth’s fitness and wellness app, Centr, warned Australians to be more discerning with the advice they listen to.

“We have to be careful,” he said.

Simon Hill, author of The Proof is in the Plants, is also a contributor to Chris Hemsworth's health and fitness app.

Celebrity Chef Pete Evans in Byron Bay. Pic Nathan Edwards

“If what we are saying is not backed by the very highest quality of evidence that we have today, we have to be careful about giving public health recommendations. Ultimately we are talking about people’s health and we are talking about chronic diseases and there is sound evidence to show people how they can reduce the risk of that.”

Evans profiles were removed by social media sites as a result of his outspoken views.

Among other things, he has been vocal against the use of face masks and in April last year was fined more than $25,000 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) over claiming a ‘Bio Charger’ device had magical coronavirus eradication properties.

“There are claims that Pete makes that are unscientific and that are not based on the very best science that we have available to us today,” Hill said.

Simon Hill and partner Tanya Smart. Matrix.

“I have met him before and he seemed like a great guy, we had a nice conversation so I have got nothing against him personally.”

While vegan himself, Hill does not advocate for an exclusively plant-based diet and outlines his approach in a new book titled The Proof Is In The Plants.

“Where we are doing it a bit backwards in Australia is meat is the hero of the plate and the three veg is an afterthought,” he explained. “We have got things upside down. I think there is a bit of room for us to improve our overall diets and feel the benefits.”

Hill also warned people to be wary of fad diets like paleo without doing their research.

Evans was famously nicknamed paleo Pete for pushing the high protein diet.

Pete Evans is seen leaving Hyde Park with his minders after attending the Millions March Against Mandatory COVID Vaccinations in Sydney in February. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jenny Evans

“I am just not sure that speculating what our ancestors ate is the best way for us to move forward to determine what is the most optimal diet for us today,” Hill said.

“The paleo diet is much better than the standard Australian diet and the one thing that I agree on is that they are not for ultra-processed foods that are full of salt, sugar, oil and all of those additives.

“Where we disagree is that I believe even if you are doing a paleo style diet, you would want it to be more plant dominant.”

Originally published as Nutritionist urges Aussies to be guided by science when it comes to heath