ReThink Health with Dr. Autumn Smith

IN THIS EPISODE What if one of the most widely accepted pieces of nutrition advice was never backed by solid evidence? In this episode of the ReThink Health Podcast, I sit down with Nina Teicholz, investigative journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller The Big Fat Surprise. It's one of my favorite books. In fact, it was the first one I read that pulled together the full history of how saturated fat, animal foods, and vegetable oils came to be viewed the way they are today. Nina wasn't always a critic of low-fat diets. She was a vegetarian for more than 20 years and struggled with her weight. When a magazine assigned her a story on trans fats, she began calling researchers and found that many were afraid to talk to her. That fear sparked nearly a decade of research and thousands of scientific studies. In our conversation, Nina traces the story from the arrival of Crisco in 1911 to today's dietary guidelines. She explains how vegetable oils went from industrial byproducts to "heart-healthy" staples, how one charismatic scientist shaped national policy, and why large clinical trials that challenged that policy were left unpublished or ignored for decades. You'll learn: Why researchers have been afraid to question the low-fat, low-saturated-fat message, and what happens to those who do The flaws Nina found in the Seven Countries Study, the main evidence behind early fat guidelines The large clinical trial whose results went unpublished for 17 years, and what it found What more than 20 recent scientific reviews have concluded about saturated fat and heart disease How conflicts of interest may shape the committees that write national nutrition policy The food rating system that scored sugary cereals higher than eggs and beef What Nina believes the research shows about seed oils, oxidation, and inflammation Why dietary cholesterol is no longer listed as a "nutrient of concern," and why most people never heard If you've ever felt confused by conflicting nutrition advice, this episode will help you understand where it came from, and give you better questions to bring to your healthcare provider. HELPFUL RESOURCES Paleovalley 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks >>> Enjoy a nutrient-dense, protein-packed snack made from 100% grass fed and grass finished beef, with no seed oils or added sugar. Save up to 20% on Paleovalley 100% Grass-Fed Beef Sticks.

IN THIS EPISODE Is grass fed beef really worth the extra money? And how do you know you're getting what you pay for? In this episode of the ReThink Health Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Lucas Krusinski, an assistant professor of animal science whose research looks at how farming practices change the nutrients in our food. I read many of his papers while preparing for my own dissertation on beef nutrient density, so this conversation has been a long time coming. Dr. Krusinski explains why not all beef is created equal. He walks us through how a cow's diet, pasture diversity, and feed supplements can change the omega-3s and plant compounds that end up on your plate. He also shares findings from his newly published paper on a surprising gap in the food system: many labels promise better nutrition, but almost none actually test for it. He even shares early results from a study in which he tested 40 brands of beef liver supplements. What he found may change how you shop for them. You'll learn: Why "grass fed" and "pasture-raised" labels may not tell you as much as you think The one nutrient Dr. Krusinski would use to judge the quality of beef, and why How a national survey found huge differences in the omega-3 content of beef that was all labeled "grass-finished" The levers ranchers can pull to raise omega-3s in beef, including pasture diversity, hay, fermented forage, and flaxseed What testing 40 beef liver supplements revealed about vitamin A, minerals, and quality How eggs, chicken, and pork compare to beef when animals are raised on pasture How Dr. Krusinski shops for beef, including the visual clues he trusts more than labels Whether you're a conscious meat shopper or a rancher who wants to raise more nutritious food, this episode will help you look past the label to make more informed decisions. HELPFUL RESOURCES Paleovalley Beef Organ Complex >>> Support energy, immunity, and overall vitality with pure, grass fed organ meats. Save up to 20% on Paleovalley Beef Organ Complex.

IN THIS EPISODE What if we've been looking at cancer the wrong way for more than 70 years? In this episode of the ReThink Health Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Thomas Seyfried, a professor of biology at Boston College and author of Cancer as a Metabolic Disease. For decades he has asked a question most of oncology stopped asking long ago: what if cancer isn't driven mainly by bad genes? This conversation is deeply personal for me. My dad battled cancer three times, and I recently lost him. Two of my close friends, one in her 40s and one in his 50s, are facing cancer right now. Dr. Seyfried's work was a source of hope for our family, and I know cancer touches almost everyone's life. Dr. Seyfried explains why he believes cancer is primarily a mitochondrial metabolic disease. His argument builds on the work of Nobel laureate Otto Warburg and on his own lab's research into how cancer cells rely on two fuels: glucose and glutamine. He walks us through the nuclear transfer experiments that challenged the gene-centered view of cancer. He also explains why cancer cells "ferment" for energy instead of "breathing" like healthy cells. You'll learn: Why Dr. Seyfried believes the gene mutations found in cancer are an effect of the disease rather than its cause The difference between fermentation and respiration, and why cancer cells keep fermenting even when oxygen is present Why he says glucose and glutamine must be targeted together, and how his "press-pulse" strategy works How to use the Glucose-Ketone Index to see where your metabolism stands Why ketones are often called a "super fuel" for healthy cells How alcohol, portion size, exercise, stress, and fasting affect your glucose ketone index (GKI) What forever chemicals and rising childhood obesity may mean for cancer rates in kids What a day of eating and living looks like for a researcher who has studied cancer for 40 years If you or someone you love has been touched by cancer, this episode offers a different perspective and practical tools to bring to your conversations with your healthcare team. HELPFUL RESOURCES Paleovalley Essential C Complex >>> Support immune health and antioxidant defenses with full-spectrum vitamin C, sourced from three organic superfoods. Save up to 20% on Paleovalley Essential C Complex.

IN THIS EPISODE What if the most overlooked nutrient in your diet isn't a vitamin or a mineral, but a simple amino acid your body already makes? In this episode of the ReThink Health Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Joel Brind, a biochemist with over 50 years in medical research and the author of The Glycine Miracle. Dr. Brind has spent nearly two decades studying glycine, and he makes the case that this "nonessential" amino acid may actually be the body's primary regulator of inflammation. Unfortunately, most of us are falling short by as much as 10 grams a day… which translates to a shockingly wide range of health problems today. You'll learn: Why glycine is technically "nonessential," and why your body likely can't make nearly enough of it on its own Why meat eaters surprisingly have less glycine in their blood than vegans How glycine acts as a molecular gatekeeper, controlling whether immune cells stay calm or launch a full inflammatory response Which modern eating habits may be driving a glycine deficiency Why higher natural glycine levels translate to a lower risk of major cardiac events New research on how restoring glycine to aging cells can reverse markers of mitochondrial aging Why Dr. Brind believes chronic, unresolved inflammation after everyday injuries like sunburns or sprains isn't actually "normal" The difference between getting glycine from food, collagen, magnesium glycinate, or a standalone supplement, and what each does and doesn't provide Practical, everyday ways to close the "glycine gap" without overhauling your entire diet If you've ever wondered why nagging aches, poor sleep, or slow recovery seem to be your "normal," this conversation offers a compelling, science-backed reason why they might not have to be. HELPFUL RESOURCESPaleovalley Bone Broth Protein Powder >>> Support your body's daily glycine needs with Paleovalley Bone Broth Protein Powder. Save up to 20% on Paleovalley Bone Broth Protein.