Highly processed vegetable oils, derived from seeds and beans, have become a dominant part of modern diets despite significant health concerns. Historical biases in nutrition science, influenced by the vegetable oil industry, have promoted these oils despite evidence from controlled studies showing negative health outcomes. These oils are unstable, prone to oxidation, and can create toxic byproducts, particularly when exposed to heat, contributing to inflammation and chronic diseases. Although they can lower LDL cholesterol, studies have shown that this reduction does not necessarily improve heart health and may increase risks for other conditions like cancer. In contrast, traditional fats like extra virgin olive oil and omega-3-rich foods offer more stability and health benefits, emphasizing the need for a balanced, minimally processed approach to dietary fats.

In this episode, I talk with Nina Teicholz and Max Lugavere to explore the health impacts of different types of fats and oils, debunking misconceptions around cooking with extra virgin olive oil and emphasizing the dangers of industrial vegetable oils.

Nina Teicholz is a science journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller, The Big Fat Surprise, which upended the conventional wisdom on dietary fat—especially saturated fat—and spurred a new conversation about whether these fats in fact cause heart disease. She is also the founder of the Nutrition Coalition, a non-profit working to ensure that government nutrition policy is transparent and evidence-based—work for which she’s been asked to testify before the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Senate.

Max Lugavere is a health and science journalist and the author of the New York Times best-seller Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life, now published in 10 languages around the globe. His sophomore book, also a best-seller, is called The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary and latest book Genius Kitchen. Max is the host of a #1 iTunes health and wellness podcast, called The Genius Life. Max appears regularly on The Dr. Oz Show, The Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. He has contributed to Medscape, Vice, Fast Company, CNN, and The Daily Beast, has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and in The New York Times and People Magazine. He is an internationally sought-after speaker and has given talks at South by Southwest, the New York Academy of Sciences, the Biohacker Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, and many others.

Full length episodes can be found here:

Is Vegetable Oil Good or Bad for You?

Nina Teicholz

The Best Diet for Your Brain

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