The hottest Dietary Guidelines Substack posts right now

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can be convenient and affordable, but they are often linked to health issues like obesity and heart disease. It's important to know that not all processed foods are bad; some can actually be nutritious.
Research shows that diets high in UPFs may lead to overeating and poorer health, but the exact reasons for this aren't fully understood yet. The type of UPF matters, with sugary drinks and processed meats being the most harmful.
To eat healthier, you can look for foods with lower added sugars and sodium, while being mindful of marketing claims. Sometimes, it’s okay to include UPFs in your diet, especially when they meet your specific needs.

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines are based on low-quality science that is hard to replicate. This raises questions about their reliability for healthy eating.
A new study found serious flaws in how the USDA reviews the research for these guidelines, including mistakes in their search strategies and lack of transparency.
Despite criticism and calls for improvement, the USDA has not made the necessary updates to ensure the guidelines are trustworthy and based on solid research.

Many clinical trials show that the recommended dietary changes may not actually improve health. In fact, some guidelines might worsen our health.
The expert committee ignored strong evidence for reducing ultra-processed foods while pushing for less evidence-based recommendations on meat and dairy.
Conflicts of interest within the expert committee raise questions about the validity of the guidelines, suggesting that politics may influence dietary recommendations over solid science.

The US Dietary Guidelines have some serious flaws that need addressing. Many people think these guidelines aren't based on solid science.
Experts are suggesting changes to improve the guidelines. They believe the rules should be more flexible and better reflect current nutrition research.
There's a call for a broader discussion on diet recommendations. It’s important for everyone to have a say in what healthy eating looks like.

A new book discusses personalized nutrition for mental health.
An NPR story highlights the use of ketogenic diets for mental health issues.
Critique and skepticism are raised towards outdated nutritional information in mainstream media.

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Seed oils are linked to obesity because they might harm thyroid function and slow down metabolism. This means they can make it harder for people to maintain a healthy weight.
Unlike sugar, which is often blamed for weight gain, research shows that high consumption of seed oils could be driving people to store more fat, almost like hibernation mode.
It's important to be aware of what we eat; cooking with traditional fats like butter or coconut oil instead of seed oils could help improve health and combat obesity.

Harvard longevity expert David Sinclair faced challenges in his career due to questions about the science behind his longevity claims for resveratrol, affecting his reputation and leading to his resignation.
Recent dietary guidelines in Germany emphasizing less meat and dairy in favor of grains and vegetables have raised concerns among experts, including questioning the soundness of these plant-based recommendations.
A study using data from the influential Nurses Health Study at Harvard School of Public Health revealed that even those who followed U.S. dietary guidelines on fat consumption still gained weight, shedding doubt on the effectiveness of these dietary recommendations.

Seed oils, like soybean and sunflower oil, may lead to inflammation and worsening chronic pain because they are high in omega-6 fatty acids.
Eating a lot of seed oils can create an imbalance with omega-3 fatty acids, which is important for keeping inflammation in check.
Shifting towards whole, minimally processed foods and healthier fats could help reduce pain and dependence on painkillers like opioids.