Headlines love to stir outrage—especially when it comes to food. In this episode, I unpack a recent study that may spark people to claim that plant-based diets are just as bad as eating meat, and explains why that framing misses the point.

Drawing from decades of nutrition research and a new large French cohort study, I explore how ultra-processed foods—whether plant-based or animal-based—are the real issue, not vegetables, beans, or whole grains. A “plant-based” label alone doesn’t guarantee health, especially when it’s built on processed meat substitutes, refined carbs, and industrial food chemistry.

Through personal stories (including my own years of eating “vegetarian junk food”) and practical, non-dogmatic guidance, I break down what actually supports heart health: minimally processed, whole foods; fiber-rich plants; and thoughtful context rather than rigid rules. This episode is a reminder to look past clickbait headlines, read the science carefully, and make food choices that balance health, ethics, and real life—without fear or absolutism.

You can find a little more detail about this Lancet study on my Steel & Sage Substack.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit steelandsage.substack.com