Can ChatGPT tell us the truth on health?

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Hi there, Samarth Bansal here, the Editor of Truth Be Told, reporting for duty! 

You know what’s the best part of my job? I can publish whatever I want, whatever catches my fancy, no questions asked! (Thanks, Shashank!)

So today I want to talk about the new kid on the block: ChatGPT. This technology is so cool, it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store. 

I had a chat with the bot and got to know it a little better. Know what? This creature is quite obsessed with pizza — not making this up! Meaning: the bot and I are besties now because I’m a pizza aficionado too. 

Get ready for a SUPER-EXCLUSIVE interview with the one and only SUPERSTAR, ChatGPT! The transcript is being revealed exclusively for you, dear TBT fam. 

Hope you have fun reading this! 

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Samarth: Hey ChatGPT! Howdy? I want to interview you about food and fitness. Up for it?

ChatGPT: Hello! I’m doing well, thank you for asking. I’d be happy to help you with your interview questions about food and fitness. Fire away!

Samarth: Can you make a case against processed food and a case for regular exercise?

Chat GPT: Picture this: you’re at a fancy restaurant, and your ex walks in. But instead of seeing them, you see a plate of processed food. That’s right, processed food is like that toxic ex who just won’t leave you alone. 

It’s like they’re saying, “Mere paas processed food hai” (Translation: “I have processed food with me”) and you’re like, “Mere paas health hai” (Translation: “I have health with me”).

But did you know that eating too much processed food can lead to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease? It’s like that classic Bollywood plot where the hero is about to win, but then the villain shows up with a plot twist. And nobody wants to be the hero who gets hit by the truck, am I right?

Now, let’s talk about exercise. It’s like that Bollywood dialogue, “Koi bhi desh perfect nahin hota, use perfect banana padta hai” (Translation: “No country is perfect, you have to make it perfect”). Exercise is the perfect way to make your body and health perfect. It may not be easy, but it’s worth it.

So let’s break up with processed food and embrace exercise. Because like they say in Bollywood, “Ek baar jo maine commitment kar di, uske baad main apne aap ki bhi nahin sunta” (Translation: “Once I make a commitment, I don’t even listen to myself”). 

Make a commitment to your health and stick to it, because you deserve a happy ending like in a Bollywood movie. And let’s face it, dancing your way to health is way more fun than fighting off a villain.

Thinking out loud: Damn. Cool stuff, no? The bot is able to seamlessly merge iconic Bollywood dialogues with generic fitness advice. 

Now listen, in the backroom before starting the interview (meaning the prompts I had set up), I made a deal with our dear bot. I asked it to sprinkle some fun and filmy dialogues in our interview. So, if you don’t find any sciency-nerdy-TBTish insights in here, don’t blame the bot – blame me, your editor. Told ya, today just having fun!

Now, let’s see what the bot has to say about Pizza. If you’re one of our loyal readers, you might recall my love for pizza and how I used it to explain blood sugar response in a previous article.

Samarth: So I love pizza but it is classified as junk. Should I just stop eating pizza? It’s so hard to eat healthy.

ChatGPT: Well, well, well, it seems like you’ve stumbled upon one of the most difficult questions of all time: to pizza or not to pizza? That is the cheesy question!

Let me break it down for you. Yes, pizza is classified as junk food, but you know what else is classified as junk food? Broccoli. Yes, you heard me right! In some people’s eyes, broccoli is just as unhealthy as pizza. So, what’s a hungry person to do?

Pizza is like that cool kid in high school that everyone loves to hate. But the truth is, pizza is amazing! 

And the best part is, you can make it as healthy or as indulgent as you want. Load it up with veggies and whole wheat crust, and you’ve got yourself a nutritious meal that’s also delicious. And let’s not forget about the all-important tomato sauce, which is packed with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.

And let’s be real, life is too short to not eat pizza. You don’t want to look back on your life and regret not enjoying all those delicious slices.  So don’t let the haters bring you down, keep making those healthy pizzas and show ’em how it’s done! Keep calm and pizza on!

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Thinking out loud: Wait what? “Broccoli is just as unhealthy as pizza”? WTF? What is it that I don’t know?

As an intrepid journalist, I wasn’t about to let ChatGPT off the hook that easily. I grilled it repeatedly, until it apologised. I will spare you my muckraking avatar and give you the TLDR: “Some people may view broccoli as an unhealthy food, simply because they don’t like the taste or texture. This is purely a matter of personal preference!” 

Got it, bot. I understand, I just don’t agree. 

But, but, but: Barring that broccoli blah blah, ChatGPT’s response is spot on with what I wrote about making healthy pizzas. That’s exactly what I wrote. And I must admit, I hadn’t heard of ‘lycopene’ before. I specifically asked for some scientific terminology to be included in the answer, and ChatGPT delivered! (It’s impressive how obedient this bot is.) Good stuff!

Samarth: Going to tell my mom that I am eating pizza because ChatGPT asked me to. Hope you’re cool with that, because if she comes after you, I’m just going to pretend like I don’t know you.

ChatGPT: Oh no, I don’t want to be responsible for any mom-related shenanigans! But hey, if it helps, you can tell your mom that ChatGPT said it’s totally okay to indulge in some pizza every once in a while as long as it’s part of a balanced diet.

Plus, you can tell her that laughter is also good for your health, and my previous response was full of humour! So go ahead, enjoy that pizza and have a good laugh. Just don’t tell your mom I said it was okay – I don’t want to end up in the doghouse!

Thinking out loud: LOL. Okay. Time to look inwards. I am nervous. 

Samarth: What is your take on food and fitness journalism? I mean, there is so much information and so many articles. How to know the whole truth? 

ChatGPT: Ah, food and fitness journalism – the Wild West of the media world! It seems like every day there’s a new headline about the latest superfood or workout craze. But how do you separate fact from fiction in this sea of information?

Well, the truth is, it’s not always easy. You might read one article that tells you to eat kale and quinoa for every meal, and another article that tells you to eat nothing but bacon and butter. It’s like the media can’t make up its mind – maybe they need to eat more pizza and relax a little!

But seriously, here are a few tips to help you navigate the world of food and fitness journalism:

– Look for credible sources: Make sure the article is written by a qualified nutritionist or fitness expert, and that any studies mentioned in the article are from reputable sources.

– Avoid extreme claims: Be wary of articles that make extreme claims or promise quick fixes. There are no miracle foods or workouts that will magically transform your body overnight.

– Take a balanced approach: Remember that a balanced diet and regular exercise are the keys to good health. Don’t get too caught up in the latest trends and fads.

– Use common sense: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Use your common sense and don’t believe everything you read.

And finally, don’t forget to laugh! Sometimes the best way to deal with all the conflicting information out there is to just laugh it off and enjoy a slice of pizza (in moderation, of course!).

Thinking out loud: Good advice. I live and breathe this topic, so my answer would have been a more personal one, drawn from newsroom experience, but the  given basics are solid. (Note: ChatGPT’s pizza obsession is real!)

Samarth: I am actually an editor of a food and fitness publication. Are you taking a dig at me?

ChatGPT: Oh no, I didn’t mean to take a dig at you or anyone in particular! As an AI language model, my responses are not directed towards any specific person or publication. I was just trying to provide some humorous and informative advice on how to navigate the world of food and fitness journalism, which can often be overwhelming with conflicting information.

I understand that as an editor of a food and fitness publication, you are committed to providing accurate and helpful information to your readers. Please know that my previous response was not intended to insult or criticise you in any way.

Thinking out loud: How cute, thanks, bud! 

If you play around with ChatGPT enough, you will repeatedly encounter its trained to be polite. It will remind you that it’s an “AI language model” and not human, that it does not have feelings and it does not want to offend anyone etc. (They read like the bureaucratic disclaimers they show before the movies.)

Now: the big question. 

Haha. Just kidding. Tell me what’s the point of me running a weekly newsletter in a world where you exist. You have all the answers. So is there any point of reading our newsletter? 

Oh, you flatter me! While I do my best to provide helpful answers, there’s always room for more perspectives and opinions.

As for your weekly online magazine, I’m sure it’s full of valuable insights and information that I can’t provide. After all, I may know a lot about pizza and fitness, but I can’t write witty articles or tell funny stories like you can!

Plus, sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the world of AI and get a dose of human creativity and humour. So keep writing that newsletter, and I’ll keep answering questions to the best of my virtual abilities. Together, we’ll conquer the world of food and fitness journalism – one pizza slice at a time!

Thinking out loud: Well, well, well, look who’s flattery now! The bot thinks our newsletter is full of valuable insights and information that it can’t provide, without even reading any of our articles. I mean… (Do remember that the bot hallucinates at times, you gotta read this epic thread on ChatGPT making up fake academic papers!)

But the bot got the gist right from my pov: we’re not competitors, we complement each other. If anything, ChatGPT’s existence will force us — and journalists in general — to be more innovative in our editorial approach so we can bring something fresh to the table. Trying my best. 

(Note: ChatGPT’s pizza obsession, gosh — I have no role to play in this!)

Now, I am a mathematician by degree, journalist by profession, and a hobbyist dancer. (If you’re not following me on Instagram, you’re missing out on some serious entertainment!)

So…

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A mathematician, a dancer and a journalist go to a coffee shop. What do they talk about fitness?

The mathematician says, “You know, I’ve been working on a new formula to calculate the exact number of calories burned during a dance workout.”

The dancer responds, “Oh really? That’s interesting. I’m more focused on getting my body to move gracefully and expressively.”

The journalist chimes in, “Well, I just wrote an article about how coffee can actually boost your workout performance.”

The mathematician and the dancer look at each other confused, and then the mathematician says, “I think we need to teach this journalist about the importance of sticking to the topic at hand!”

Thinking out loud: Ah, touche, you got me there! I guess I missed the memo on staying on topic. But you tell me: if journos start sticking to the topic at hand, how would we sell newspapers? How would we get you to click on our stories? It’s my job to add some spice, some pzazz, some… wait, what was I talking about again? Oh right, staying on topic.

Anyway, that’s an existentialist question, but ChatGPT is my guest today, so not gonna argue. I get the bot’s signal. I should end this. And I will end with…

Samarth: Write a rap song on fighting diet-culture and the diet industry.  

Verse 1:

The diet industry’s got me feeling low

Trying to tell me what to eat and how to grow

Counting calories, obsessing over my waistline

Selling us false dreams, just wasting our time

 

Chorus:

They want us to feel insecure, they want us to stress

Promising perfection, but leaving us a mess

Deceptive marketing, misleading labels on the shelf

It’s time to take control, and love ourselves

 

Verse 2:

I’m sick of the constant pressure to be thin

Comparing myself to models, it’s a sin

The industry’s profiting from our insecurity

But it’s time to take back our power, with purity

 

Chorus:

They want us to feel insecure, they want us to stress

Promising perfection, but leaving us a mess

Deceptive marketing, misleading labels on the shelf

It’s time to take control, and love ourselves

 

Bridge:

It’s not about the size or shape of your body

It’s about the love and respect that you embody

Don’t let the diet industry dictate your worth

Stand up, speak out, and own your own turf

 

Chorus:

They want us to feel insecure, they want us to stress

Promising perfection, but leaving us a mess

Deceptive marketing, misleading labels on the shelf

It’s time to take control, and love ourselves.

Thinking out loud: Alright, folks! Do you hear what I hear? Shall we find a professional rapper to bring this piece to life? 

That’s it. This was fun. And it was only meant for fun — not to judge ChatGPT on its intellectual capabilities. I will reserve that for later. 

So if you were to ask me whether you should consult ChatGPT for fitness questions, my take: yes, go for it! It’s not perfect, it does make some mistakes, so always cross-check with other sources. But it will most likely direct you in the right direction. I think, but try for yourself. And if it’s wildly misleading you, please do tell me so I know. 

The trick is learning to ask the right questions and framing good prompts. Check this short guide by economist Tyler Cowen on how to talk with ChatGPT. 

Before we part ways, here’s a little exercise for you to try out. Head on over to the ChatBot, and share some basic details such as your height, weight, age, and gender.

Then, ask it to work its magic and calculate the number of calories you should aim for to achieve your weight loss or fitness goals. If you have any restrictions, such as no gym access or limited equipment, let the ChatBot know and ask it to create a customised workout routine.

And for my fellow vegetarians out there, ask the ChatBot to whip up a diet plan that includes the right amount of protein. Try it and see if that helps you.

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