How Darin Olien Is Unmasking The ‘Fatal Conveniences’ In Everyday Life To Try And Save Our Health

Darin Olien, the renowned Superfood Hunter, co-host of the Emmy-Award-Winning Netflix docuseries "Down to Earth | FATAL CONVENIENCES

Darin Olien, the renowned Superfood Hunter, co-host of the Emmy-Award-Winning Netflix docuseries "Down to Earth," and original formulator of Shakeology, has been on a lifelong quest to uncover hidden dangers in our everyday lives. As a New York Times bestselling author and host of the widely popular podcast The Darin Olien Show, he curiously explores people, solutions, and health as well as life’s Fatal Conveniences™ – a segment of the show uncovering modern-day flaws and challenges that may be undermining our health and our environment, which he also explores in his new book ‘Fatal Conveniences’.

Olien’s groundbreaking work sheds light on what he terms 'Fatal Conveniences'—everyday products and habits that silently undermine our health and environment. From laundry detergent, tap water, ultra-processed food, cheap clothing/fast fashion, slippery dental floss, cell phones, lotion, makeup, shampoo, deodorant, and cleaning products, among many others, these conveniences contain a myriad of chemicals, with minimal safety testing performed.

Olien's message is clear: it's time for brands and corporations to prioritize safety over profits.

Darin Olien's journey into the world of health and wellness was significantly influenced by a personal tragedy. When he was at university in the 90s, his father began experiencing sensitivity to common chemical smells and fragrances from everyday products, like laundry detergents, shampoos, soaps, paints, and the list goes on. Even the off-gassing of a ‘regular’ T-shirt affected him. Through working closely with his doctors, they determined he had a condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)—meaning low levels of everyday-type chemicals found in everyday products can trigger physical symptoms. Symptoms can include headaches, brain fog, fatigue (the latter were the majority of what his father experienced), memory loss, joint-muscle aches, as well as potentially asthma.

The startling prevalence of MCS in the United States, affecting one in four Americans, underscores the urgency of the issue. With an estimated 55 million adults experiencing chemical sensitivity, the impact of everyday chemicals on our health cannot be ignored.

As a result of his condition, Olien’s father was forced to retire from being a professor and counselor at the University of Minnesota. “In my view, his worsening health condition led him to break his sobriety of 30 years and losing his life to alcoholism. The book, “Fatal Conveniences”, is dedicated to him. Even though most people are not suffering from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, they are still suffering and feeling the effects of these everyday chemicals, albeit maybe not as intensely. These products and chemicals are still hurting all of us,” Olien shared.

Olien’s groundbreaking work sheds light on what he terms 'Fatal Conveniences'—everyday products and habits that silently undermine our health and environment. | PHOTO BY SVITLANA ON UNSPLASH

Of the approximately 80,000 chemicals used in consumer products, only a small fraction, barely 10 % have undergone safety assessments. The cumulative body burden from exposure to these potential carcinogens and toxins has led to lower fertility rates, links to various disorders, and widespread health issues.

One of the most alarming aspects of this issue is the regulatory gap in assessing the real-world impact of these toxins. “From the FDA, USDA, FCC, EPA, NIH, and so on, there are many agencies that have good people in them trying to do the right thing—however, the system is upside down. When the real-world data and interactions don’t line up with what is really going on, and only upon overwhelming evidence does a policy then change, that is upside down,” Olien explained.

Most products don’t have to be proven safe before companies sell them. One of the worst examples of products using known harmful ingredients is the over 9,000 different forms of PFAS, a forever chemical that is within a class of chemicals created from derivatives of Teflon. PFAS are heat-resistant, stain-resistant, and slippery, and are found in things like food containers, rubber, stain-resistant shirts, leather, fire foam, bedding, carpets, couches, and even baby bibs. An advisory board to the EPA called them a “likely” carcinogen in humans. According to the Environmental Working Group, “the PFAS pollution crisis is a public health emergency.”

PFASs have been linked to kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, difficulties during pregnancy, suppressed immune systems in children, and low birth weight, among other problems and conditions. “And don’t forget phthalates, pesticides, EMFs, parabens, and hundreds more that we are exposed to every day that add up to many unnecessary stressors on our bodies,” he added. 

His call to action demands that companies prove the safety of their products and ingredients before bringing them to market. Accountability is key, and companies must take responsibility for the impact of their products on human health, the environment, and animals. Olien urges companies to steer away from greenwashing marketing tactics and embrace a commitment to immediate change. Delaying action is no longer an option, as the effects of harmful products are already taking a toll on people and the planet.

In "Fatal Conveniences," Darin Olien aspires to reach billions of people, “I hope the information in my book, gets out to the billions of people on this planet so they can make more informed choices because we are suffering unnecessarily. The more we are aware of this pollution on our bodies and in the environment, the more choices we have. If we don’t make people aware, then there will continue to be more people suffering. Suffering people have a hard time living a great life, and I think life is a miracle, so let’s give people a greater chance to live a happy and fulfilling life. We the people can make the changes and put the pressure on companies to do the right thing!”

By increasing awareness of the pollution affecting our bodies and the environment, he believes we can collectively make better choices and pressure companies to prioritize safety and health over profits. Ultimately, Olien's message is a call to action for individuals, brands, and corporations to join forces in a shared mission: creating a world where health and well-being are valued above all else. The journey may be challenging, but it is a necessary one to ensure a healthier, happier future for us all.