Darin Olien (born November 4, 1970) is an American author, TV and podcast host known for his advocacy of alternative medicine and whole food plant-based nutrition. He co-starred and produced the Netflix docuseries Down to Earth with Zac Efron in 2020.[2][3] Olien describes himself as a "superfood hunter".[4]
Darin Olien | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1970 |
| Alma mater | University of St. Thomas (BA) University of Santa Monica (MA, unaccredited) |
| Television | Down to Earth with Zac Efron |
| Spouse | |
| Website | darinolien |
Biography
editOlien obtained a B.A. in exercise physiology from University of St. Thomas and an M.A. in psychology from University of Santa Monica in 2002. The University of Santa Monica is a private unaccredited graduate school.
In 2017, he authored SuperLife: The 5 Simple Fixes That Will Make You Healthy, Fit and Eternally Awesome.[5] His 2023 book, Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That Are Making You Sick—and the Simple Changes That Will Save Your Health offers advice on how to limit exposure to carcinogens, PFAS, and endocrine disruptors in everyday products. Olien has created many botanical supplements one of which was Shakeology for company BODi (formerly Beachbody) which is a nutrient dense shake sourced from botanicals all over the world. He also founded Barukas featuring a wild nut called Baru sourced from the Brazilian Cerrado.[4] He advertises it as a "super nut".[6]
In December 2014, actress Eliza Coupe and Olien were married in New Zealand.[7] The couple divorced in 2018.[8] He claims to have become interested in alternative medicine after a football injury in college.[6] Olien is an advocate of whole food plant-based nutrition.[9][10] He is the formulator of the plant-based, “Ultimate Reset” 21-day detoxification program.[10] He is the host of the podcast, The Darin Olien Show.[11]
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
editOlien starred in Down to Earth with Zac Efron a documentary television series that premiered on Netflix on July 10, 2020. The series has been criticized for promoting dubious health advice and pseudoscientific claims.[3][12][13] Olien promotes the discredited alkaline diet of Robert O. Young.[14]
The documentary series advocates numerous pseudoscientific claims such as chlorine in tap water causing cancer, filtered water leaching nutrients from the human body and grounding resets the circadian rhythm.[12]
Selected publications
edit- SuperLife: The 5 Simple Fixes That Will Make You Healthy, Fit, and Eternally Awesome (2017)
- Fatal Conveniences: The Toxic Products and Harmful Habits That Are Making You Sick—and the Simple Changes That Will Save Your Health (2023)
References
edit- ^ Rainbow, Sophie (July 14, 2020). "Who is Darin Olien? Meet the author and Zac Efron's pal". standard.co.uk. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Ryan, Gary (August 6, 2020). "'Down To Earth': it's time to put celebrity travelogues on a no-fly list". NME Music, Film, TV, Gaming & Pop Culture News. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Lange, Maggie (2020). "What's Up With All The Sketchy Pseudoscience On Netflix?". www.vice.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Schatz, Robin D. (2019). "Can A New 'Supernut' Help Reforest Brazil's Savanna? The Cofounders Of Barùkas Are Betting On It". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 24, 2024.
- ^ Freedman, Adrianna (July 10, 2020). "Darin Olien is More Than Zac Efron's Travel Partner in Netflix's 'Down to Earth'". Men's Health. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ a b Spencer, Samuel (July 13, 2020). "Meet Zac Efron's 'Down to Earth' co-host Darin Olien". Newsweek. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Eliza Coupe Marries Darin Olien In New Zealand". ABC News. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ Fernández, Alexia (April 3, 2018). "Happy Endings Star Eliza Coupe and Husband Darin Olien Split After Nearly 4 Years Together". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Darin Olien: The Superfood Mindset: Enhance Your Brain, Body, & Life". Lewis Howes. 2021. Archived from the original on February 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Darin Olien". The Ready State. 2021. Archived from the original on April 21, 2024.
- ^ "Darin Olien". HarperCollins. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024.
- ^ a b Dodgson, Lindsay (August 3, 2020). "All the problematic pseudoscience shared by Zac Efron's health guru and guests in his new Netflix show 'Down to Earth'". Insider.
- ^ Weisenstein, Kara (2020). "Pseudoscience in pop culture is extra dangerous right now". Mic. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023.
- ^ McLaughlin, Rosanna (2020). "Debunking the Bogus Science Behind Male 'Wellness'". Frieze. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023.