>> Dr. Terry Simpson: Today we're going to debunk some popular keto and low

carb misconceptions involving the Inuit diet,

longevity claims about Hong Kong dietary myths surrounding the

Maasai people, and unravel the French

paradox, highlighting ultimately why the

Mediterranean diet really deserves the crown.

I am your Chief Medical Explanationist, Dr. Terri Simpson, and

this is is Fork U Fork University,

where we make sense of the madness, bust a few myths,

and teach a little bit about food and medicine.

From a cultural and medical perspective, the Inuit diet

is as intriguing as it is

misunderstood. Traditionally, it's carnivorous,

featuring marine mammals like whales, seals and fish

with a side of nothing green during the winter months.

But come summer, Inuit diets traditionally get more

adventurous, adding berries, seaweed and tubers

to the menu. So much for the keto claims of pure

carnivory. It turns out even the Inuit had a

salad now and then. Ironically,

despite vitamin C from marine

delicacies like muktuk and seal liver,

archaeological evidence from Inuit

mummies reveal they still had vascular

disease. Proof that whale sushi may not be the

magical health potion some keto enthusiasts

suggest. I've even heard that the

keto enthusiasts say that proof

that you get enough vitamin C from animals is the

Inuits who never get scurvy. Completely ignoring that

their traditional marine diet, seals,

whales, have lots of vitamin C in them,

unlike beef, low carb. And

keto followers love oversimplifying the Inuit diet

as proof of their steak only regimen being

superior. But that's as misleading as my own attempts

at, uh, portion control at a buffet. Rigorous

studies like the Seven Country Study demonstrate that

balanced diet, rich in plants, lean proteins, healthy

fats and whole grains, AKA the Mediterranean

diet, deliver far better health results.

Sorry, keto fans, looks like carbs might

not be your mortal enemy after all.

Nowadays, the Inuit communities face disproportionately

high rates of cardiovascular disease, diabetes,

strokes and cancers. Problems that

definitely were not helped by introducing processed,

sugary, fatty Western foods. If you're wondering

how we managed to export our worst dietary habits,

well, that's one American tradition we

nailed. Modern Inuit communities also

struggle with environmental toxins such as Mercury and

PCBs found in marine mammals. Sadly, it seems

that whale blubber isn't as pristine as Instagram keto

influencers would hope. Ancestral diets

may have worked well for centuries ago, but

today's environmental and lifestyle changes have

complicated that equation

significantly.

Next, we're going to go to the French paradox. The idea

that French people eat rich, buttery foods and still

maintain the lowest rates of heart

disease in Europe. But guess

what? It's actually not a

paradox. The French diet isn't all croissants

and cheese. It's also abundant in vegetables,

fruit and healthy fats from olive oil and

seafood. French dining traditions emphasized

smaller portions, savoring food and fewer

processed items. Importantly, France

wasn't excluded from the original seven countries study

due to dietary habits, but rather because of

insufficient funding. Remember, the study

didn't examine entire populations, it didn't examine

the entire country, but rather specific villages

in that area and how the people ate. So the

paradox isn't a paradox, it. It's just sensible

eating dressed up in a stylish

beret.

Switching gears to good science, let's talk about

epic the European Perspective

investigation into cancer and nutrition. This

massive study tracked over half a million people. And guess

what? Eating vegetables, fruits, whole

grains and legumes actually reduced

cancer risks dramatically.

Meanwhile, diets heavy on red meat and

processed foods didn't fare quite as well.

Shocking, I know. Who would have guessed that kale

beats bacon in a fight? The Lyon Heart Study

and the Mediterranean Diet give further proof about the

Mediterranean magic. Even folks who already

had heart disease benefited significantly from

switching to the Mediterranean style of eating, reducing

their risk of a second heart attack by as much as

75% the first year and 67%

over five years. So if you've

already had one health scare, don't double

down with a carnivore diet unless you're looking forward to seeing your

cardiologist more often than your own family.

Another favorite low carb trope is the Hong

Kong longevity myth, which claims that people

in Hong Kong live long because they have the highest

meat consumption in the world. The problem? The

old people in Hong Kong consume less meat, leaning

towards, you guessed it, a Mediterranean style

diet rich in vegetables, fruits and

fish, very low in red

meat. And in fact, the large red

meat consumption is occurring among the younger

men in Hong Kong, not in the

old people that made it that far.

Just another example of bending facts like me

bending dietary guidelines after midnight.

Historically, the Maasai were thought to

be immune from heart disease despite their

rich size saturated fat diet.

Modern research however, confirmed that there's significant

heart disease among the Maasai.

Turns out even warriors can't fend off cholesterol

forever. Saturated fats may be tasty, but the evidence

isn't flying, folks. Yes, they get

atherosclerosis and they are not known

for their longevity. The keto and

carnivore fans, using flawed epidemiologic

studies to justify dietary extremes. This

is like me trusting to skip dessert. It

rarely ends well. True health comes from dietary

balance, variety and scientifically

validated approaches like the Mediterranean diet.

Plus, your taste buds will thank you.

Remember, health is nuanced, eating

should be enjoyable, and science should always be your guide

to the plate. Until next time. Well, stay

curious and always leave room for dessert.

Do check out the website associated with this

blog@yourdoctorsorders.com and my substack,

which is tsimpson.substack.com While

I am a doctor, I am not your doctor. And before

changing your diet, please consult with your Western

trained board certified physician

and a registered dietitian, not with a

chiropractor or some Eastern trained person.

This podcast was researched by me. It's been

distributed by our good friends at Simpler Media and The pod God, Mr.

Evotera. Have a good week everybody.

Hey Evo, have you ever tried seal oil?

It is rich in vitamin C and A and D,

but it tastes kind of like salmon that's been left

out on the counter for a week.

I think we're gonna keep the seals

off the menu when you guys come over.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, uh, sure. Thanks for that,

I guess. Um, also, let me know the next time I

need to have a rim shot queued up for all the jokes you

make in these episod.