Episode #266. Learn the key pillars for a healthy diet from the world’s most cited nutrition scientist, Dr Walter Willett. In this two-hour exchange, Dr Willett shares the cornerstones of a healthy diet, providing the practical guidance you need to live a long, healthy life.

We discuss:

Introduction (00:00)
Which Foods Should You Eat to Stay Healthy? (04:10)
Does the Quality of Foods Matter? (06:39)
The Impact of the Average American Diet on Health (08:29)
Do We Have Sufficient Evidence on How Nutrition Impacts Our Health? (11:05)
Key Tasks/Leaves to Make Healthy Choices (14:03)
How Diet Patterns Have Changed from the 70s till Now (15:09)
Walter Willet: A Nutrition Story (18:20)
Ancel Keys' Research on Fat (19:40)
Three Large Observation Studies by Walter Willet and His Team (27:19)
Advantages of Large Observation Studies over Randomized Control Trials (32:45)
Correlation and Causation in Nutrition (39:15)
Food Frequency Questionnaire: Importance of Methods for Measuring Dietary Intake (50:58)
Biochemical Analysis in Three Cohort Observations of Walter Willet's Studies (55:18)
Are Low-Fat Diets Good for Cardiovascular Health? (1:00:37)
Polyunsaturated Fats and Cardiovascular Disease (1:02:21)
Benefits of Switching from Saturated Fat to Unsaturated Fats (1:08:31)
Is Dairy Bad or Good? (1:09:04)
Should You Consume Full-Fat or Low-Fat Dairy? (1:11:29)
Daily Recommendation for Dairy Consumption (1:16:03)
Can You Be Healthy Without Consuming Dairy? (1:20:42)
Confusion Surrounding Unprocessed Red Meat (1:23:00)
What is Substitution Analysis? (1:25:55)
Insights into the Research Process (1:27:45)
Contrast and Exposure in Research (1:29:33)
Safe Intake of Red Meat (1:33:02)
Is Grass-Fed Beef Good for Me? (1:33:51)
Is White Meat Better Than Red Meat? (1:35:57)
Fish vs. Legumes: A Comparison (1:36:37)
Dietary Cholesterol and Its Impact on Human Health (1:40:08)
The Best Diet for a Healthy Life (1:43:28)
Outro (1:52:01)

To learn more about Dr Walter Willett and read his studies, head to his Harvard Academic Profile. Dr Willett has also published four books; you can find his bestseller, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating here.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

Want to support the show?

The best way to support the show is to use the products and services offered by our sponsors. To check them out, and enjoy great savings, visit theproof.com/friends. You can also show your support by leaving a review on the Apple Podcast app and/or sharing your favourite episodes with your friends and family.

Simon Hill, MSc, BSc (Hons)

Creator of theproof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

Watch the episodes on YouTube or listen on Apple/Spotify

Connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

Nourish your gut with my Plant-Based Ferments Guide

Download my complimentary Two-Week Meal Plan and high protein Plant Performance recipe book

Late Night Tacos

Late Night Tacos

Episodes

Clips featuring Late Night Tacos

For the best of Hark in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.