Why Do Most Diets Fail? The Science of Nutrient Deficiencies | Ty Beal PhD

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Medicine, Science, Health & Fitness, Life Sciences

4.6 • 911 Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Ty Beal—global nutrition researcher and Senior Technical Specialist at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)—to uncover the hidden epidemic of micronutrient deficiencies worldwide. From food access and affordability to ultra-processed diets and nutrient bioavailability, we explore how modern food systems are failing billions and what needs to change to truly make the world healthier.

We cover:

Why 3 billion people can’t afford a healthy diet—and how that affects nutrient status
The most common global and U.S. micronutrient deficiencies (and why they’re often overlooked)
Why women and children are especially vulnerable during pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence
The role of ultra-processed foods in displacing nutrient-rich options
How bioavailability, anti-nutrients, and the “food matrix” impact your real nutrient intake
Why plant-based diets aren’t always safer—and the hidden risks of nutrient shortfalls
The science behind biofortification, food system reform, and why animal-source foods stil matter
What the U.S. gets wrong about food guidelines, global trade, and nutritional equity

Whether you care about maternal health, child development, or just making better nutrition decisions, this is a vital conversation about nutrient density, food justice, and global health.

Who is Dr. Ty Beal?

Dr. Ty Beal is a Senior Technical Specialist and global nutrition scientist at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) where he leads research on global food systems, nutrient inadequacy, and diet quality. His work bridges science and policy to help address the world’s most pressing nutrition challenges—especially among vulnerable populations. He’s published extensively on micronutrient gaps, ultra-processed foods, and global dietary patterns, and is one of the most cited voices on nutrition equity in developing nations.

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Find Dr. Ty Beal at:

GAIN Health - https://www.gainhealth.org/ty-beal
Google Scholar - https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=3y5uHRIAAAAJ&hl=en
X (Twitter) - https://x.com/TyRBeal
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tybeal/

Find Me at:

Instagram:@drgabriellelyon
TikTok: @drgabriellelyon
Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

Transcript

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0:00.0	Everyone's talking about making America healthy again,
0:03.0	but we can't fix the system if we don't understand the root cause.
0:08.0	Today's guest, Ty Beale, is one of the most respected researchers in global nutrition,
0:14.0	and he's here to reveal how ultra-processed foods, nutrient deficiencies,
0:18.0	and food misinformation are quietly sabotaging the
0:22.5	health of millions.
0:23.6	Three billion people worldwide can't afford a healthy diet.
0:28.6	What happens in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia and many countries, they're going to be
0:32.9	micronutrient efficient.
0:34.1	So they're just struggling to get their energy needs.
0:36.9	If we want to reverse this crisis, this is where we start.
0:40.3	Dr. Ty Biel, welcome to the show.
0:43.3	Thanks for having me.
0:44.3	So you are head of food systems data and analytics at the Gain,
0:50.3	which is Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
0:55.0	And the reason I wanted you to come on the show is, number one, you are deeply respected by your colleagues.
1:01.0	So that means you are a great and humble scientists.
1:05.0	And one of the things that you offer uniquely to the listener or the viewer is you're very interested in global nutrition.
1:14.7	And I think as Americans or just individuals in their perspective or prospective countries
1:22.1	that they are really micro-focused on their close demographic. But you bring it all together.
1:29.3	Yeah, that's right.
1:30.3	It's really hard to get an understanding of what your situation is in the context of the whole globe.
	...

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