Fork U with Dr. Terry Simpson

(How Edinburgh dragged American medicine out of the Wild West)

 When we think about modern surgery, it’s easy to imagine it has always been clean, safe, and scientific. However, that could not be further from the truth. Surgery was more like a horror show just over 150 years ago. Patients faced unbearable pain, filthy instruments, and shocking guesswork.

Today, we’ll explore how the Scottish city of Edinburgh transformed surgery — and how America, for far too long, ignored the science in favor of quick fixes and fast profits. Along the way, we’ll meet heroes like James Young Simpson and Joseph Lister, as well as villains like John R. Brinkley and Willard Bliss. We’ll also see why modern “wellness influencers” aren’t so different from the quacks of the past.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Edinburgh was the world’s medical capital. Students from across Europe and the American colonies traveled there to study anatomy, surgery, and the latest medical theories.

Because of this, early American physicians like Benjamin Rush and John Morgan brought Edinburgh’s teachings home, helping to found the first U.S. medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. Harvard soon followed with a similar model.

However, while a few elite schools adopted Scottish standards, most of America remained a medical free-for-all. Outside major cities, anyone could call themselves a doctor, and “miracle cures” were everywhere. This was the true “Wild West” of medicine — long before the cowboy era we usually imagine.

Next, let’s fast-forward to the mid-1800s. At this time, one of the greatest problems in surgery was pain. Without anesthesia, operations had to be done quickly, often in less than a minute, and the suffering was unbearable.

That changed in 1846, when ether anesthesia was first used in Boston. News of ether’s success quickly crossed the Atlantic. By the time the next ship arrived in Edinburgh, surgeons were already experimenting with it — and looking for something even better.

Enter James Young Simpson, an obstetrician and, yes, one of my relatives. In 1847, Simpson discovered that chloroform worked better than ether and was easier to use. His famous breakthrough happened during a dinner party experiment, where he and his friends inhaled chloroform, passed out, and woke up amazed. Surgery would never be the same again.

Solving pain was one thing, but there was another huge problem: infection. After surgery, most patients didn’t die from the knife — they died from the germs they couldn’t see.

This is where Joseph Lister changed history. Influenced by Louis Pasteur’s germ theory, Lister realized that microorganisms caused infection. He began using carbolic acid to clean wounds and sterilize instruments. While some of his colleagues mocked him, the results spoke for themselves: surgical death rates plummeted.

Lister’s work eventually led to asepsis, the sterile environments we now take for granted in operating rooms.

Unfortunately, the United States was slow to adopt these life-saving ideas. A tragic example is the death of President James Garfield in 1881. After being shot, Garfield’s wound was not fatal. He should have survived.

However, his doctor, Willard Bliss, refused to believe in germ theory or antiseptic techniques. Bliss and several others repeatedly probed Garfield’s wound with unwashed hands and unsterilized instruments. For seventy-nine days, the president suffered — not from the bullet, but from a massive infection. Bliss then billed the government $25,000 for his “services,” which would be roughly $750,000 today.

Even after American medicine improved — especially after the 1910 Flexner Report, which shut down low-quality medical schools — quackery never fully disappeared. It simply evolved.

In the 1920s and ’30s, John R. Brinkley became famous for implanting goat testicles into men as a cure for impotence. He used radio to market his “miracle” to millions, proving that loud marketing could still beat good science.

Sound familiar? Today’s hucksters may not use goat glands, but they use similar tactics. Some sell expensive stool tests and invent conditions like “leaky gut” to push costly supplements. Others, like the carnivore diet influencers, ignore decades of data on the Mediterranean diet and claim you should eat nothing but steak. They dismiss the science on cholesterol, flaunt their abs, offer life coaching, and sell overpriced “special salt” — even though salt is salt, and plain Pedialyte has been used safely in millions of rehydrations.

People sometimes wonder: If these charismatic figures turned their energy toward research, could they make real progress? The answer is no.

First, most lack the deep scientific training needed to do real work. Second, those who do have training have deliberately left the hard road of science — the years of study, failed experiments, and peer review — for the fast money of “miracle cures.” Their goal isn’t discovery; it’s sales.

Walking through Edinburgh’s Surgeons’ Hall Museum, you see both sides of medical history: the breakthroughs and the blunders, the heroes and the hucksters. It reminds us that progress is fragile and must be defended against those who prefer profit over evidence.

Edinburgh gave the world anesthesia and antisepsis. It gave us the model of evidence-based medicine. And while America eventually followed, the fight against quackery continues — from goat glands to $70 detox supplements.

And in some cases… it actually helped. Well, if you consider madness what happens if you get a stroke from too much pressure in your brain from trauma

That’s the wild part.

While visiting the Surgeons’ Hall Museum in Edinburgh, I saw ancient skulls with round holes cut into them—evidence of trepanation, one of the world’s oldest surgeries. Even more shocking? Many of those patients survived. Some healed so well that they lived for years.

But let’s back up.

It’s the act of scraping or drilling a hole in your skull. Ancient people did it across continents—from South America to Europe.

We don’t know exactly why. Some may have used it to relieve pressure after a head injury. Others might have believed it released evil spirits.

Here’s the thing: it sometimes worked.

Today, we know that pressure in the brain—from a bleed, swelling, or injury—can be deadly. Modern medicine sometimes calls for drilling a hole or even removing part of the skull to save a patient’s life.

The ancients may have stumbled onto something real. Or they may have been guessing.

That’s the danger when we mix luck with ritual. If one patient improves, people assume the treatment works—even if there’s no science behind it.

Jump ahead to the 1900s.

Dr. Henry Cotton believed mental illness came from hidden infections in the body. So what did he do? He had his surgeons remove teeth, tonsils, stomachs, and colons—even when patients showed no symptoms.

Many died. Most didn’t improve.

Still, Cotton was praised in journals and trusted by major institutions. His confidence overshadowed the lack of results.

It’s a painful reminder that being sure of yourself doesn’t make you right. Sounds like modern-day influencers - confidence beyond erudition.

Right now, people are terrified of dementia. That fear fuels a massive market for brain supplements. One of the biggest sellers? Lion’s Mane mushrooms.

They’re in powders, coffees, and pricey pills. Some lab research suggests benefits, but actual human studies? Weak at best.

Meanwhile, studies show that eating a Mediterranean or MIND-style diet can reduce your risk of dementia by up to 50%. But those diets don’t come in fancy bottles.

Instead of focusing on real food, we chase the next shiny pill.

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. Some orthopedic surgeons spin down your blood, pull out platelets, and inject it back into sore joints. They claim it speeds healing.

The truth? There’s little evidence that PRP works for most uses. But it’s expensive. And because it sounds high-tech, people trust it.

The orthopedic surgeon gets the thousands of dollars for it because insurance won't cover it. They won't cover it because it isn't a researched treatment. But if your surgeon says here take this and you will recover faster - what to do?

I should know—I co-authored one of the first papers on PRP for diabetic wounds, where it actually showed benefit.

But that’s a far cry from injecting it into tennis elbows for cash.

We’ve upgraded the tools. Not always the thinking.

When I look around this museum, the lesson is clear:

We’ve always wanted to help. But good intentions without good science can hurt people.

Real medical progress comes from questioning our own assumptions. It comes from saying, “Let’s study this,” instead of, “Let’s just try it.” Whether it’s trepanning or turmeric, we need to ask:

Does this really work—or are we just hoping it does?

• Barnes LL, Dhana K, Liu X, Carey VJ, Ventrelle J, Johnson K, Hollings CS, Bishop L, Laranjo N, Stubbs BJ, Reilly X, Agarwal P, Zhang S, Grodstein F, Tangney CC, Holland TM, Aggarwal NT, Arfanakis K, Morris MC, Sacks FM. Trial of the MIND Diet for Prevention of Cognitive Decline in Older Persons. N Engl J Med. 2023 Aug 17;389(7):602-611. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2302368. Epub 2023 Jul 18. PMID: 37466280; PMCID: PMC10513737. (click here for reference)
• Seitz, D. et al. (2022). “MIND Diet and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.” Nutritional Neuroscience.
• Simpson, T. (1991). “Platelet-derived Growth Factor and Wound Healing.” Journal of Diabetic Complications.

Want to avoid brain fads? Start with whole foods, good sleep, and honest science. The hole in your head should stay in your museum tour, not in your health plan.

Today, you might see ads for detox teas, liver cleanses, and even hydrogen water. These products promise energy, better health, and a longer life.

But strange health trends are nothing new.

In the 1920s and 1930s, people paid good money to drink radioactive water. They believed it gave them energy, cured pain, and even helped them live longer. One brand, called Radithor, was sold as “perpetual sunshine in a bottle.”

Yes—people drank water mixed with radium, the same element now used in cancer treatments and nuclear reactors.

At first, radium looked like a miracle. It glowed in the dark, and doctors were just beginning to understand radiation. Companies saw a chance to make money. So they started selling radium in toothpaste, face cream, chocolate, and, yes, bottled water.

One famous product, Radithor, was sold as a cure for everything from tiredness to “low manhood energy.”

People believed it worked. Why? Because it came from science. It looked exciting. And it was easy to believe a glowing bottle held glowing health.

Even doctors promoted it, just like some do with today’s wellness fads.

Read more on Radithor from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities

One man named Eben Byers became the face of this trend. He was rich, well-known, and loved Radithor. He drank it every day—three bottles a day for years.

For years, he said he felt great. But soon, the side effects started.

• His teeth fell out.
• Then his jaw crumbled.
• Finally, bones weakened and broke.

Eventually, his body became so radioactive that they had to bury him in a lead coffin. It took years for this to take effect. But during the years he was drinking his deadly potion, he claimed improved health and vitality.

This helped end Radithor, but the public didn’t learn the bigger lesson.

Even though we know better, we still fall for bad science with a shiny label.

Let’s look at a few modern examples:

• Gary Brekka sells hydrogen water as a health hack, even though there’s little proof it helps anyone.
• Döse Liver Cleanse is a product that doesn’t actually cleanse your liver.
• And of course, Goop keeps offering “natural” cures like jade eggs and bee-sting facials, with no solid research to back them up.

These trends all follow the Radithor formula:

1. Make a wild claim
2. Add buzzwords like “cleanse,” “cellular,” or “bioavailable”
3. Skip the actual science
4. Sell it fast before the truth catches up

Most modern products won’t melt your jaw. But they can waste your money, give false hope, or delay real care.

Worse, they can make people distrust doctors and trust influencers instead.

Just like Radithor, these products often look scientific, but they skip important steps—like peer review, clinical trials, and safety data.

Instead of chasing magic drinks or secret pills:

• Eat whole foods
• Move your body regularly
• Sleep well
• See real medical professionals
• Ask for evidence—not just stories

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Especially if it comes from someone selling supplements, not science.

We like to believe we’re smarter than the past. But we still fall for the same trick, just with different packaging.

So next time you see a glowing promise in a bottle, ask yourself:

First, let’s meet the man behind the meat.

Dr. James Henry Salisbury was a doctor during the American Civil War. He worked hard to understand why so many soldiers got sick. He noticed that stomach problems like diarrhea and dysentery were everywhere in the army camps.

Because of this, he believed the problem came from food. But instead of looking at germs, he blamed vegetables.

That’s right—he thought vegetables caused disease. To children everywhere, he became a hero. To science? Not so much.

Dr. Salisbury believed that vegetables and starchy foods rotted in the gut. He said they caused inflammation and sickness. He thought the best way to stop disease was to eat meat—and only meat.

So, he created a special food: the Salisbury steak.

This steak wasn’t fancy. He ground up lean beef, shaped it into a patty, and told people to eat it three times a day. With it, they could drink only hot water or black coffee.

No fruit.

Absolutely no sugar.

No grains.

And definitely no vegetables.

At first, some people felt better on the Salisbury diet. But why?

Here’s the real reason: it wasn’t the meat. It was the boiling.

Back then, most water carried bacteria. That bacteria caused all kinds of sickness. When soldiers boiled coffee, they accidentally killed the germs in the water. When they ate fully cooked meat, they avoided raw, dirty food.

So yes, people improved. But not because vegetables were bad.

They got better because boiled water and cooked meat killed bacteria.

Now, let’s talk about what he missed.

• ❌ He didn’t understand germs or bacteria
• ❌ He thought fiber was dangerous
• ❌ He blamed plants, even though they weren’t the problem
• ❌ He didn’t test his ideas—he just believed them

He meant well, but he built a health plan on the wrong cause.

Instead of fixing the real issue, he created a food myth that lasted for years.

Even though Dr. Salisbury lived over 150 years ago, his ideas are back—on TikTok.

Some people today say meat is the only healthy food. They avoid fruits, grains, and vegetables. They blame plants for everything from bloating to brain fog.

Sound familiar?

They’re repeating Salisbury’s mistake. They’re trusting old beliefs instead of new science.

Let’s be clear. Science today tells a different story.

• ✅ Vegetables help your gut, heart, and brain
• ✅ Fiber feeds healthy gut bacteria
• ✅ A variety of foods lowers your risk of disease
• ❌ Eating only meat can cause nutrient problems and long-term risks

Instead of eating like it’s 1863, you can follow a plan that supports your body and your taste buds.

The best example? The Mediterranean diet—with healthy fats, lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and yes… even a little red wine.

Dr. Salisbury had a strong idea—but he missed the mark.

He didn’t know about bacteria. He thought vegetables were the enemy. He gave us Salisbury steak, but also gave us a lasting food myth.

So next time someone says vegetables cause disease, just smile and say:

“We’ve been down that road. It was dusty, undercooked, and came with black coffee.”

Let’s talk about kitchen appliances.

Yes, those gadgets sitting on your counter—or hiding in a cabinet—can either make your life easier... or drive you nuts. Today, I want to share how two small appliances completely changed my mornings. And no, I’m not paid to say any of this.

First, let’s be honest: nothing has brought more people back into the kitchen than the air fryer. It’s fast, easy, and makes food crispy without all the oil. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, the air fryer has become one of the most popular kitchen tools in America in the last few years.¹

This got me thinking—what other simple appliances could actually make healthy habits easier?

For years, I had a fancy coffee routine. I ground my beans fresh. I did pour-overs. I used a timer and scale like I did chemistry. The coffee was great, but the process? Not so much.

Then one day, I tried Nespresso. Just pop in a capsule, push a button, and you get a strong, rich espresso with foam on top. It was so easy that I started enjoying my mornings again.

No, I’m not sponsored by Nespresso—I just like sharing what works.

Next, let’s talk about smoothies.

I have tons of smoothie recipes. I’ve written them, shared them, and even made videos about them. But honestly? I stopped making them for a long time.

Why? Because of one thing: my Vitamix blender.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s a powerful machine. It can crush anything. But it’s big. It’s loud. It has too many parts. Just getting it out of the cabinet felt like a workout. And cleaning it? Forget it.

So even though I wanted to make smoothies, I kept skipping them. It was just easier to grab a banana and move on with my day.

Then everything changed.

I bought a Nutribullet.

It’s small, easy to use, and quick to clean. I keep it on the counter. It takes about 30 seconds to rinse after using. And because of that, I’ve started making smoothies again—almost every day.

Just like that, a healthy habit became simple.

And no—I’m not paid by Nutribullet either. But I believe in sharing the tools that actually help.

Here’s the one I make the most right now. It gives you a little caffeine, some protein, and tastes like a treat.

You’ll need:

• 1 cup cold-brewed coffee (or cooled Nespresso)
• 1 scoop whey protein (vanilla or chocolate)
• ½ banana
• ½ cup almond milk or any milk
• 1 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter (optional)
• 1/2 cup of Greek Yogurt
• Dash of cinnamon or cocoa powder

Optional extras:

• 1–2 dates
• 1 tsp chia or flax seeds
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

Put everything in the blender. Blend until smooth. Pour and enjoy!

Sometimes, the hardest part of a healthy habit isn’t the food—it’s the tool. If your blender is too much work, you won’t use it. If your coffee takes 20 minutes to make, you’ll skip breakfast.

But with the right appliance? You remove the stress. And that makes the habit stick.

If you’re trying to eat better, start by making your kitchen easier to use. Keep the tools you love on the counter. Ditch the ones that frustrate you.

And if you're changing your diet in a serious way? Talk to a registered dietitian and a board-certified doctor, not a chiropractor or some “wellness guru” who learned nutrition on YouTube.

You can find more of my recipes at terrysimpson.com. And if you want more food science and fewer fads, check out my newsletter on Substack at tsimpson.substack.com.

Until then, keep it simple, keep it smart, and keep the peanut butter chunky.

—

Reference:

¹ Consumer Reports – “Why Air Fryers Are Still Flying Off the Shelves” (2023)

When you think of Kellogg, you probably picture cereal—maybe a sweet bowl of Frosted Flakes or Corn Flakes. But the real story behind Kellogg is far weirder than breakfast. It starts with a doctor. A good one. A very strange one.

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg wasn’t just any doctor. He was a skilled surgeon, and even Dr. Charles Mayo—the founder of the Mayo Clinic—called him one of the best abdominal surgeons he had ever seen.

But Kellogg didn’t become famous for his surgery skills. Instead, he became known for his obsession with health, diet, and—believe it or not—poop.

Kellogg ran the famous Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. This health resort attracted celebrities like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and even Amelia Earhart. People came there to “cleanse” their bodies with special diets, exercise, sunlight, and—yes—daily enemas.

He believed almost every illness started in the colon. His solution? Flush it out. Constantly. Sometimes, with yogurt. Sometimes, both ends. I wish I were kidding.

Dr. Kellogg didn’t just worry about digestion. He also believed that pleasure—especially sexual pleasure—was dangerous. In fact, he thought masturbation caused everything from bad digestion to insanity.

To fight back, he recommended boring, bland food. No spices. No excitement. Just plain meals that wouldn’t "stir the passions."

That’s how Corn Flakes were born. Kellogg invented them as a food so bland, they might help people forget about sex altogether.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. Kellogg’s brother, W.K. Kellogg, thought those flakes had potential—but they needed flavor. So he added sugar and started selling them to the public.

Dr. Kellogg was furious. He believed sugar was poison. The two brothers fought in court. W.K. won. And that’s why your breakfast cereal today is sweet and not designed to stop anyone’s libido.

Let’s be clear: Dr. Kellogg got a lot of things wrong.

• You do not need daily enemas. Your colon cleans itself.
• Yogurt goes better in a bowl than through a tube.
• Masturbation doesn’t cause disease. It’s a normal, healthy part of being human.
• And your desire to eat or love has nothing to do with how spicy your dinner was.

While Kellogg’s focus on exercise and plant-based diets was ahead of his time, his fear of pleasure and obsession with “cleansing” caused more harm than good.

Dr. Howard Markel, in his excellent book The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek, dives deep into their story. He shows how Dr. Kellogg's strict health beliefs turned into fads—and how his brother’s sweet-toothed success made cereal a worldwide business. Markel, Howard. The Kelloggs: The Battling Brothers of Battle Creek. Pantheon Books, 2017. 

Kellogg's ideas were extreme, but they still echo today. Whenever someone tells you to "detox," do a cleanse, or eat bland food to fix your hormones—they might not realize they’re following a 19th-century surgeon who really hated fun.

Dr. Markel was a medical school classmate of mine, and his book is excellent.

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg was a brilliant surgeon. But being smart doesn’t mean being right. And it definitely doesn’t mean you should give yourself a yogurt enema.

So next time you reach for a box of cereal, remember: your breakfast has a backstory. And it’s weirder than you think.

You’ve probably heard about Ozempic or Zepbound. Maybe from a friend, a celebrity, or a TikTok ad. These are powerful medicines used to help people lose weight and manage diabetes. But what do they actually do?

Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist—a type of drug that helps control hunger, improve blood sugar, and lower the risk of heart disease.

But here's the big surprise: the real power of these drugs isn’t in your stomach—it’s in your brain.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic work in two big ways:

1. They help you feel full.
2. They slow down how fast your stomach empties, so you stay full longer.
3. They quiet the “food noise” in your brain.
4. That’s the big one. These medicines reach areas in the brain like the hypothalamus and mesolimbic system (which includes parts like the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area). These areas are responsible for cravings, rewards, and motivation to eat.

When GLP-1 hits these areas, it reduces dopamine, the chemical that makes you want things like cake or chips. It also increases serotonin, which helps with mood and feeling satisfied after eating.

This makes it easier to stop eating when you're full and harder to overeat just because food tastes good.

📚 Reference: Mechanisms of GLP-1 receptor agonist–induced weight loss. Am J Med. 2024.

You might see ads for supplements or foods that say they boost your “natural GLP-1.” Some are even called “natural Ozempic.”

Here’s the truth:

• Your body makes GLP-1 naturally.
• Yes, fiber-rich foods help make more of it.
• But no, it does not stay in your system very long—only a few minutes.

That means your natural GLP-1 never reaches your brain like Ozempic does.

Synthetic GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic) are made to last for days. They stick around long enough to enter your brain and turn down cravings.

So no—berberine, vinegar, or sea moss are not the same thing.

📚 Reference: GLP-1 in brain health and food reward. Front Neurosci. 2022.

Let’s talk about a few common myths—and what science says instead:

• ❌ “It’s a cheat code.”
• ✅ It’s not cheating. It helps your brain stop screaming for food all the time.
• ❌ “You’ll lose all your muscle.”
• ✅ Not if you eat enough protein and move your body.
• ❌ “You’ll gain it all back.”
• ✅ Only if you stop all your healthy habits. GLP-1s are tools, not magic.
• ❌ “It’s just for weight loss.”
• ✅ These drugs also lower your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and even possibly dementia.

📚 Reference: Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes. NEJM. 2023.

People on GLP-1s who follow a Mediterranean-style diet lose more weight than those who don’t.

Here’s why:

• Supports your gut health.
• Boosts your own natural GLP-1.
• Helps the medication work better.

What’s in the Mediterranean diet?

• ✅ Vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains
• ✅ Olive oil instead of butter
• ✅ Fish and lean proteins
• ✅ Some fruit and red wine (in moderation)

And yes—less fast food and fewer ultra-processed snacks.

📚 Reference: Combining GLP-1s with dietary strategies. Nutrients. 2023.

Some people still think obesity is about willpower. It’s not.

In 2013, the American Medical Association said obesity is a disease.

It’s caused by a mix of genetics, hormones, environment, and brain chemistry.

Telling someone to “just eat less” is like telling someone with asthma to “just breathe better.”

📚 Reference: Obesity as a chronic disease. Endocr Rev. 2021.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are powerful tools—but they work best with the right support:

✅ Use them with a healthy Mediterranean-style diet

✅ Talk to your doctor and registered dietitian

✅ Don’t fall for “natural GLP-1” scams

✅ Understand: This is real medicine—not a trend

This article was written by Dr. Terry Simpson, a board-certified physician, surgeon, and food science expert.

Everyone wants to live longer. That’s why people are plunging into ice baths, sweating in infrared saunas, and rubbing beef tallow on their faces like it’s a miracle cream. Meanwhile, supplement companies make billions selling capsules that promise eternal youth.

But here’s the thing: we don’t need to chase immortality. We need to focus on healthspan—the number of years we stay active, sharp, and independent. Living longer doesn’t mean much if you can’t enjoy it.

Let’s break it down.

For centuries, people have searched for the secret to living forever. From ancient pharaohs to modern influencers, the idea hasn’t changed much. Today’s gurus don’t wear robes. They wear lab coats on YouTube. They sell methylated vitamins, resveratrol, and supplements with science-sounding names like NMN.

Some of these people—chiropractors, Instagram influencers, even some doctors like Mark Hyman—promise more than science can deliver. What they’re selling often looks more like modern snake oil than real medicine.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: if a product claims to reverse aging and comes with a monthly subscription, it probably doesn’t work.

Thankfully, there are simple steps you can take that do help.

• Sleep: Get 7–9 hours a night. This is when your brain clears out waste and resets.
• Exercise: Move your body. Walk, lift weights, and do balance work. It all adds up.
• Vaccinate: Shingles and COVID vaccines reduce your risk of dementia. Shingrix alone cuts it by 20%.
• Statins: The last 40 studies show that statins reduce dementia risk by up to 20%.  PMID 34871380 

One of the best-studied diets in the world is the Mediterranean diet. It’s not trendy, but it’s powerful. One large study showed that it can increase longevity by up to 9% if you stick with it. Source

Here’s how it works:

• Red Meat: Limit to 4 ounces a day. More than that raises your risk for cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. After 3 ounces, your body stops absorbing more iron anyway.
• Olive Oil: Use it instead of butter. It’s packed with healthy fats and polyphenols like oleocanthal.
• Whole Grains & Legumes: Beans and grains reduce obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. They’re even higher in fiber than most fruits and veggies.
• Fruits & Vegetables: Eat a variety. Colorful foods mean more antioxidants and polyphenols.
• Wine: One glass. That’s 5 ounces. And yes, you still get a full Mediterranean Diet point if you don’t drink at all.

Let’s be honest. Some things are popular, but pointless—or even harmful.

• Drinking alcohol "for your health"
• Avoiding vaccines
• Ignoring blood pressure and cholesterol
• Trusting wellness influencers with no scientific background

Remember: no supplement undoes bad habits. And no guru can out-hack the Hayflick Limit. That’s the scientific cap on how many times your cells can divide.

Gurus love talking about NAD and mitochondria. And yes, NAD can help your cells work better—in a lab dish. But real-life results? Meh.

Instead, support your cells with:

• Movement
• Sleep
• A mostly plant-based diet
• Not eating around the clock

If NAD really worked, I’d give it all to my 15-year-old dog.

We can’t live forever. But we can live better.

Skip the miracle pills. Stick to the basics: move, eat like a Mediterranean, treat your blood pressure, and get vaccinated. And while you're at it, maybe adopt a senior dog. They won't live forever, but they'll give you everything they have.

Dr. Terry Simpson

Board-Certified Surgeon & Longevity Myth Buster

Host of the FORK U Podcast

Hi, I'm Dr. Terry Simpson, your chief medical explanationist. Welcome to another edition of FORK U—where we bust myths, make sense of the madness, and teach you a little about food and medicine.

Today, let's explore how our food choices impact the environment and our health. We'll discuss lab-grown meat, grass-fed beef, and sustainable seafood.

Imagine enjoying a burger that didn't require raising or slaughtering an animal. That's the idea behind lab-grown meat, also known as cultured meat. Scientists grow real animal cells in labs to create meat without the traditional farming process.The Spruce EatsVox

Why consider lab-grown meat?

• Environmental Benefits: It could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96% and use 99% less land compared to traditional meat production. California Management Review+1University of Colorado Boulder+1
• Animal Welfare: No animals are harmed in the process.
• Health Potential: Lab-grown meat can be produced without antibiotics, reducing the risk of antibiotic resistance. California Management Review+1Wikipedia+1

While it's not widely available yet, lab-grown meat is a promising step toward sustainable eating.

Grass-fed beef comes from cows that eat grass instead of grain. Some people choose it for potential health benefits and better animal welfare. Modern Farmer

Pros:

• More Omega-3s: Grass-fed beef has about three times more omega-3 fatty acids than grain-fed beef.
• Better Fat Ratio: It has a healthier balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids. Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative+3Wikipedia+3Understanding Ag+3

Cons:

• Taste Varies: Not all grass-fed beef tastes the same. The flavor depends on the pasture quality, and some might find it less tender.Reddit+8Vox+8Grass Roots Farmers' Cooperative+8
• Cost: It's often more expensive than grain-fed beef.

While grass-fed beef has benefits, it's essential to consider taste preferences and budget.

Seafood is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. However, overfishing and unsustainable practices harm our oceans. Seafood Watch

Tips for Choosing Sustainable Seafood:

• Use Guides: The Seafood Watch provides up-to-date recommendations on sustainable seafood choices.Seafood Watch+4Seafood Watch+4Seafood Watch+4
• Farmed Salmon: While some criticize farmed salmon, it's often a sustainable option. Farmed salmon get their pink color from astaxanthin, a natural compound also found in wild salmon's diet. Modern Farmer
• Wild-Caught Options: Alaskan salmon is a delicious and sustainable choice, rich in omega-3s.

By making informed seafood choices, we can enjoy tasty meals while protecting marine life.

Eating sustainably doesn't mean giving up your favorite foods. It's about making smarter choices:

• Try lab-grown meat when it becomes available. The Guardian+9Nature+9Vox+9
• Choose grass-fed beef if it fits your taste and budget.
• Opt for sustainable seafood using trusted guides. Seafood Watch+1Oceana+1

Every small step contributes to a healthier planet and a better future.

For years, McDonald’s fries ruled the world. They were golden, crispy, salty, and delicious. People called them the best fries ever made. But then something changed. Around the 1990s, fans noticed the fries didn’t taste the same anymore.

What happened?

Let’s dive into the real story of why McDonald’s fries lost their magic—and how the changes didn’t make them healthier. In fact, for a while, they actually made them worse.

Before 1990, McDonald’s cooked their fries in a special mix: 7% cottonseed oil and 93% beef tallow. That’s a fancy way of saying animal fat. This gave the fries a rich, savory flavor you couldn’t find anywhere else.

Why did they use beef fat? Because Ray Kroc, the man who built the McDonald’s empire, wanted fries to taste like the original McDonald brothers’ version. He nailed it.

But not everyone loved the fat.

Phil Sokolof wasn’t a doctor. He wasn’t a scientist. But he was a wealthy businessman from Nebraska who had a heart attack. After that, he became a full-time food activist. Think of him like an early version of today’s online influencers—lots of passion, not much science.

Sokolof spent millions on full-page newspaper ads. His messages sounded scary:

It worked. The public panicked. McDonald’s gave in.

In 1990, the company switched from beef fat to 100% vegetable oil.

At first, this seemed like a healthy change. But here’s what they didn’t tell you: the new vegetable oil was partially hydrogenated, meaning it was full of trans fats—the most dangerous kind of fat for your heart.

Trans fats increase your bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol (HDL). They raise your risk of heart disease way more than saturated fat.

In trying to remove one bad fat, McDonald’s accidentally replaced it with something even worse. FDA, 2015.

They finally banned trans fats in the U.S. in 2018—but for almost 20 years, those “healthier” fries actually hurt people’s hearts more than the original version ever did.

Customers missed the old flavor. So what did McDonald’s do? They added “natural beef flavoring” to the vegetable oil. Yep, they removed the beef fat… and then added beef flavoring back in.

This confused people. Some vegetarians and Hindus believed the fries were plant-based. They weren’t, leading to lawsuits and even more public confusion.

In the United Kingdom, McDonald’s fries are really vegan. But in the United States, that natural beef flavor still makes them off-limits to some groups.

Now fast-forward to today. Steak 'n Shake announced they were bringing back beef tallow for their fries, just like McDonald’s used to. This move caught the attention of RFK Jr., a well-known figure in politics and food activism.

He praised the change. But here’s the problem: RFK Jr. isn’t a doctor. He’s not a nutritionist. In fact, he’s never taken a college-level science course.

RFK Jr has a long history of pushing food myths and anti-science messages, just like early activists who helped ruin McDonald’s fries in the first place.

Let’s be clear: Beef tallow is not healthy. It’s packed with saturated fat and cholesterol, both of which increase the risk of heart disease. AHA, 2021.

Taste nostalgic—but nostalgia won’t protect your arteries.

The story of McDonald’s fries teaches us something important:

👉 Because something is “natural” or “old-fashioned” doesn’t mean it’s healthy.

👉 Just because someone is loud about food doesn’t mean they know science.

👉 And just because something tastes good doesn’t mean it’s good for you.

Before you trust anyone’s food advice, check their credentials. Are they a doctor? A registered dietitian? Or just a loud person with a lot of opinions?

McDonald’s didn’t make their fries healthier in the ‘90s. They made them worse because they listened to fear instead of facts.

• FDA. Final Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils. 2015. FDA.gov
• Chu M, Noh E, Lee KG. Analysis of oxidation products and toxic compounds in edible and blended oil during the deep-frying of french fries. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2024 Jan 17;33(10):2275-2287. doi: 10.1007/s10068-023-01494-9. PMID: 39145121; PMCID: PMC11319563.
• Nestle, M. (2003). Food politics: how the food industry influences nutrition and health. University of California Press.