The Truth About Sweeteners, Seed Oils, and Building Real Strength | Nick Barringer, PhD

This week in the studio, I'm joined by Dr. Nick Barringer—Army Ranger, performance nutrition expert, and one of the sharpest minds in military and metabolic health. Together, we cut through the noise around today's most controversial nutrition topics. If you’ve ever felt whiplash trying to make sense of conflicting headlines, this episode is your science-based compass.

What’s really going on with artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame? Are seed oils toxic—or just misunderstood? And what’s the actual science behind popular supplements like creatine, testosterone boosters and fat burners?

Dr. Barringer brings two decades of elite military and research experience to help us separate hype from evidence—while sharing real-world tools that help people perform, think, and feel better.

We cover:

• Whether sucralose and other artificial sweeteners damage DNA or gut health
• What to actually worry about with food dyes
• Seed oils, inflammation, and what most people get wrong about them
• Protein and carb dosing for people over 40 (and how to think about fiber and fat)
• Why creatine is still the most underrated supplement for muscle and brain function
• Tactical hydration tips (and how sweat composition varies with diet)
• Hidden risks in testosterone boosters and “fat burners”
• Practical takeaways for elite performance, healthy aging, and being stronger at any age

Who is Dr. Nick Barringer?

Nick Barringer, PhD, is a Nutritional Physiologist with deep experience in both applied and academic settings. He directed the U.S. Military-Baylor Graduate Program in Nutrition, taught at West Point, and was the first active-duty dietitian to graduate U.S. Army Ranger School and serve with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He holds a PhD in kinesiology from Texas A&M, and his research on tactical nutrition has been featured in outlets like Science Daily and Men’s Journal.

This episode is brought to you by:

• ARMRA - Use code DRLYON for 15% off your first order → tryarmra.com/DRLYON
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• Ned - 15% off with code DRLYON → helloned.com

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