Have Health "Experts" Led Us Astray?

by Tim Tialdo on

For decades, we've trusted health authorities to guide our eating habits. After all, who wouldn’t want to follow the advice of a neatly dressed "expert" with a clipboard? But what if much of what they’ve told us about food is, well, entirely wrong? If the results in your mirror or your health records are less than stellar, it might be time to question the "rules."

Let’s dig in, unearth some truths, and serve up practical solutions—minus the jargon and guilt. Spoiler alert: This isn’t about willpower; it’s about waking up to how your food choices have been manipulated.

The Great Pyramid Scheme

Illustration of the traditional food pyramid from the 1990s, highlighting grains as the foundation and fats at the top, with the caption questioning its role in rising obesity and diabetes rates.

Remember the trusty food pyramid from the '90s? You know, the one that told us to shovel down 6-11 servings of grains daily while shying away from animal fats? Well, as it turns out, that pyramid may have been less a map to health and more a shortcut to chronic illness. Obesity and diabetes rates skyrocketed after its introduction. Coincidence? Not quite. (Read more about the food pyramid’s flaws).

Instead of leading us toward leaner, healthier bodies, the pyramid helped create a population of carb-loaded, insulin-resistant individuals. And that term "prediabetes"? It’s just a sneaky way of saying, "Congratulations, you’re diabetic… almost."

Why It Matters: Insulin resistance—a precursor to diabetes—is linked to everything from weight gain to chronic inflammation, heart disease, and even some cancers. And guess what fuels this metabolic chaos? Those "healthy whole grains" the pyramid lauded.

Why Nutrition Science Took a Wrong Turn

A historical chart from Ancel Keys' Seven Countries Study showing cherry-picked data linking saturated fat intake to heart disease, often criticized for its selective methodology.

To understand how we got here, we have to rewind the clock to the mid-20th century, when influential figures like Ancel Keys promoted the idea that dietary fat—particularly saturated fat—was the root of all evil. This theory, later debunked, laid the groundwork for decades of flawed dietary advice. (Explore Ancel Keys’ flawed research).

Keys’ Seven Countries Study suggested a link between saturated fat and heart disease. However, what often gets glossed over is that this study cherry-picked data, conveniently ignoring countries where people consumed high-fat diets but had low rates of heart disease.

Why It Matters: This misinformation paved the way for the rise of low-fat, high-carb diets—and the chronic health conditions that came with them.

The Hidden Villain in Your Kitchen

Close-up of a kitchen countertop with bottles of common seed oils like canola, sunflower, and soybean oil, highlighting their role in health issues like inflammation and chronic disease.

Enter the seed oils: seemingly innocent cooking staples like canola, sunflower, and soybean oil. Sold to us as "heart-healthy alternatives," they’re more like the food world’s version of a bad ex—toxic, inflammatory, and hard to get rid of. (Learn why seed oils are harmful).

Back in the early 20th century, scientists discovered that these oils, when consumed by animals, caused developmental issues and chronic illnesses. Yet, rather than banning them, Big Food and Big Government cozied up, replacing traditional fats like butter and lard with these chemically processed impostors. (Read more on the rise of seed oils).

Historical chart from E.V. McCollum’s 1918 research showing the negative effects of seed oils on animal development and health.
A scientific chart from 1918 by E.V. McCollum documenting experiments on seed oils and their harmful impact on animal growth.
Photo Courtesy: Rise of The New Media

Today, seed oils are in nearly everything: salad dressings, crackers, even your so-called "healthy" snack bars. And their effects on your body? Think inflammation, oxidative stress, and a one-way ticket to chronic disease city.

Why It Matters: Chronic inflammation is the silent saboteur behind everything from joint pain to autoimmune diseases. By ditching seed oils, you’re not just cooking healthier meals; you’re disarming a major health hazard.

Why Grandma’s Diet Was Better

A chart comparing obesity and chronic illness rates from the 1950s to present, highlighting the shift from traditional whole foods to processed diets.
Graph illustrating the dramatic increase in obesity and chronic diseases as traditional diets were replaced by processed and seed oil-laden foods over time.

Take a trip down memory lane to the 1940s and 1950s. People cooked with butter, ate eggs like they were going out of style, and didn’t stress about "calories in, calories out." Yet, waistlines were slimmer, and chronic illnesses were far less prevalent. (Discover the benefits of traditional diets).

Fast-forward to today. Despite all our "advances" in dietary science, we’re more overweight, inflamed, and fatigued than ever. So, what changed? Hint: It wasn’t just the portion sizes.

The rise of highly processed foods laden with sugars, refined carbs, and—you guessed it—seed oils played a starring role. Meanwhile, natural fats and proteins—the cornerstones of our ancestors’ diets—were vilified. Turns out, Grandma knew best all along.

The "Healthy" Food Myths Debunked

Here are seven dietary myths that have led us astray:

  1. Cholesterol is the enemy. Nope. Your body actually needs it to produce hormones and maintain cellular health. (The truth about cholesterol).

  2. Salt is bad for you. Only if you’re overdoing it. Natural, unrefined salts are essential for proper hydration and nerve function. (Why salt is necessary).

  3. Animal fats clog arteries. False. The real culprits? Refined carbs and seed oils. (Debunking fat myths).

  4. You need fiber to "stay regular." Think again. Too much fiber can irritate your gut and cause bloating. (Fiber myths explored).

  5. Seed oils are heart-healthy. See above: toxic sludge.

  6. Frequent meals boost metabolism. Actually, constant eating spikes insulin, leading to weight gain and energy crashes.

  7. Whole grains are superfoods. Super misleading is more like it. They’re high in carbs, low in nutrients, and not as "whole" as advertised.

Why It Matters: By reevaluating these "truths," you can start making food choices that genuinely support your health and vitality.

The Power of One Meal a Day (OMAD)

Let’s talk about OMAD—One Meal a Day—a dietary approach gaining traction for its simplicity and effectiveness. By eating once within a 4-hour window, you give your body time to rest, repair, and regulate insulin levels. The result? Weight loss, better digestion, and clearer thinking. (Explore OMAD benefits).

Here’s what an OMAD plate might look like:

  • Protein: Grass-fed beef, pastured chicken, or wild-caught salmon.

  • Healthy fats: Butter, avocado, or olive oil.

  • Low-carb veggies: Think spinach, zucchini, or broccoli.

  • Optional carbs: Sweet potatoes or fruits in moderation.

Why It Works: Unlike the "3 meals plus snacks" model that keeps insulin levels perpetually high, OMAD allows your body to burn fat for fuel, promoting better energy and focus.

Europe vs. America: A Tale of Two Food Systems

Europe Vs America: What Chemicals are banned there that arent here

Ever wonder why you can devour croissants in Paris without gaining weight, but a single bagel in the U.S. feels like it added five pounds? The difference lies in food quality. (Why Europe bans harmful ingredients).

Many ingredients banned in Europe—like certain preservatives and artificial colors—are staples in American processed foods. Over there, you’ll find higher standards for food production and fewer toxic additives. (Discover Europe’s food standards).

What You Can Do: Whenever possible, opt for organic, minimally processed foods. Better yet, cook at home using fresh, whole ingredients. Your body—and taste buds—will thank you.

Steps to Reclaim Your Health

Ready to take control? Here’s your action plan:

  1. Ditch the seed oils. Replace them with butter, tallow, or cold-pressed olive oil.

  2. Focus on protein. Make it the star of your meals, not the sidekick.

  3. Go low-carb. Reduce your intake of bread, pasta, and sugary snacks.

  4. Try fasting. Experiment with OMAD or intermittent fasting to reset your metabolism.

  5. Read labels. If you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.

Sources and References

  1. The Weston A. Price Foundation

  2. The Fat Emperor

  3. Dr. Cate Shanahan

  4. Zero Acre Farms

  5. Robb Wolf

  6. Chris Kresser

  7. Siim Land

  8. Food Democracy Now

  9. The Ancestral Health Society

  10. The Cornucopia Institute

  11. What If Everything They’ve Been Telling You About Food Is… WRONG?