We should get to know each other better

Welcome to Truth Be Told, the food and health journalism publication published by The Whole Truth Foods.

Dear readers,

This is Samarth Bansal, your Editor. No article today. Because today I want to have a conversation. And make some asks. And announce one new thing we’re experimenting with.

I’m doing this because we’ve had thousands of new subscribers after our two-part investigation on eggs, and around 50 new folks have filled our feedback form. Which, first, is so heartwarming and reassuring—to see, again, what this publication means to our readers. And second, it’s also a renewed push to do even better. So thank you!

Three things:

1. Our editorial mix is what makes us, us. And we want you to explore it.

I loved seeing all the reader feedback asking for more investigations. As an investigative journalist—yes, that was my full-time thing before I joined TWT to work in the food industry — I know there is so much to be rigorously explored about the food we eat and the safety systems around it. And we’re at it.

But our editorial philosophy has always worked on a mix, from science explainers to history to how-to guides to deeply personal essays. What does working out do on a cellular level? Are your sugar cravings a you problem or an industry problem? How to be a more empowered consumer?

Forget weight loss. Exercise fights a hidden enemy. Read full story

Dopamine Decoded: The Chemical We Blame But Don't Understand. Read full story

How The World Got High On Sugar. Read full story

The Definitive Guide To Smart Food Shopping. Read full story

No One Tells You How Hard PCOS Really Is. Read full story

A Letter to Anyone Walking Through Grief. Read full story

Do read through our archives. All of it is evergreen.

2. We’re launching a curated edition. Starting April.

I moved our cadence from weekly to fortnightly last year. This was primarily due to my bandwidth constraints—and that will continue to be the cadence for our original reporting and writing. But starting April, we’re experimenting with a new format: a curated edition in the week we were skipping.

The purpose is simple. We’re living amid AI-slop, and there is just no dearth of content anymore. And the more there is, the harder it is to find signal amid all the noise.

Allow us to help. We will sift through the internet, books, podcasts, and archives, and apply our editorial filter and judgement to bring you a curated edition that genuinely adds to your understanding and delight.

This new product will be anchored by Jaanvi Advani—TBT’s commissioning editor, growth strategist, and producer, all packed into one. So now you’ll be hearing from both her and me, every fortnight. I’m so excited about bringing this to you.

3. We want to hear your stories. For real.

We’re trying something new: using our reader community as a source for richer reporting. Here are three themes we’re actively exploring, and we need your help.

One, GLP-1 drugs: what’s actually happening?

I’ve already written about GLP-1s. But the conversation has moved fast, and we want to go deeper. With real stories.

Are you on Ozempic or Mounjaro? Is anyone from your family on either? What changed: in your body, your relationship with food, your social life? Did it work the way you expected? Did anything surprise you or worry you? We want to hear the unfiltered version.

Second, fitness and identity: is being healthy making you a worse person?

You’ve cleaned up your diet, you work out regularly, you feel great. But has it quietly made you judgemental—of friends who don’t, of what people order at restaurants, of how strangers look? Has it changed who you want to date, who you respect, how you see yourself?

We want to explore the uncomfortable edges of the “fitness lifestyle.”

Third, staying healthy through chaos: how do people actually do it?

You moved cities. Or countries. Your routine fell apart: the gym was too far, the food was different, the stress was new. And then, somehow, you rebuilt it.

How? What broke first? What did you let go of? What was the one thing that pulled you back? We’re looking for notes, anecdotes, and hard-won advice from people who have been through transitions and come out the other side still taking care of themselves.

For each of these, if you have something to share, please send a short note to Jaanvi at jaanvi@thewholetruthfoods.com. Even two short paragraphs are enough to start. We’ll set up a call and use what you share for our reporting. (Full anonymity, if you want it.)

This is entirely experimental. Let’s see how it goes. But I want to find out how we can bring our readers into the storytelling process.

That’s it for today. Thank you for your attention. See you in your inbox next week!