Degrees of Health Dr Mary Newport | Part 1: Fat, Cholesterol & Metabolic Mayhem: What We Thought We Knew
Part 1 of 2.
For years, fat has been the villain of the food world. We’ve been told it clogs arteries, sends cholesterol through the roof, and leads to heart disease. But is that actually true? It's about time to give fat a fair trial.
Enter Dr Mary Newport. Here, we're discussing Mary's new article (released this month - Feb 2025) analysing 26 studies conducted from 1985 to 2024 with 984 complete datasets - looking specifically at the coconut oil on lipid parameters (total, LDL, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides).
Mary helps us to break down the history of the lipid-heart hypothesis (aka: the idea that fat = heart disease), the fact this remains what it states (a hypothesis) and yet our entire food belief system is built from it, what the research actually says, and why things are not be as black and white as fat=bad=avoid.
🔍 We cover:
✅ The Fat Fear Factor - where did the idea that fat is bad even come from?
✅ Coconut Oil & Cholesterol - should we be worried to incorporate more coconut/MCT/olive oil on a keto diet? 🥥
✅ Cholesterol 101 - is LDL really the “bad guy,” or is there more to the story?
✅ Metabolism & Health - how things like inflammation and blood sugar fit into the picture
✅ Fuel for Thought - why Mary is a big proponent of MCT oil for brain health
Tune in for a research-backed conversation about fat, cholesterol, keto, and heart health and whether we really have any reason to be side-eyeing that extra few servings of olive oil.
The article in discussion:
Analysis of 26 Studies of the Impact of Coconut Oil on Lipid Parameters: Beyond Total and LDL Cholesterol
Find Mary:
Website (also find here how to get started with a ketogenic diet)
Books by Mary:
Alzheimer’s Disease - What If There Was A Cure?
The Coconut Oil & Low-Carb Solution
Find our previous episode with Mary specifically on use of Coconut Oil for Cognitive Function/Decline Prevention - Mary Newport, M.D. | Brain Fuel: How Coconut Oil and MCTs Can Transform the Alzheimer's Brain
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