Animal Protein and Cancer Risk: What the Science Really Says

Recently, Mark Hyman posted on X (formerly Twitter) that a new study suggests eating more animal protein might actually lower your risk of cancer. The study he pointed to came from the NHANES dataset—a U.S. survey of diet and health. It sounded reassuring, but it doesn’t line up with the bulk of the evidence. Here is the story about Animal protein and cancer risk:

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When Green Tea Isn’t Chemotherapy

Introduction

Food is powerful. Eating well lowers your risk of many diseases, including cancer. Yet food is not chemotherapy. Still, the idea that broccoli or green tea could replace cancer treatment is tempting. It feels safe, natural, and hopeful.

However, cancer is not treated with vegetables or tea. Cancer is treated with medicine. Let’s break down what food can and cannot do whe...

Food Is Powerful, But It’s Not Enough

Food shapes our health. Eating beans, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can lower the risk of diabetes and other chronic conditions. Yet food does not replace medicine. Clearly, diets high in ultra-processed foods make diabetes worse. And yes, eating better is the most empowering thing anyone can do.

Still, some claim that modern food is the only reason we have chronic diseases like d...

When Salmon Isn’t a Stent

Heart disease was four times more deadly than it is today. In those days, we had no statins, no stents, and no bypass surgery. Food was the only weapon doctors had.

Pharmacies in Rome and Greece even stocked extra virgin olive oil for patients with “hardening of the arteries.” Doctors sent people to pick up bottles, almost like prescriptions. Olive oil wasn’t curing clogged arteries, but it showed a...

When Bananas Aren’t a Beta Blocker

People love to believe that food can replace medicine. We talked about this in Episode One, where I explained that Hippocrates never said “let food be thy medicine.” Still, the myth endures.

Food does matter. The right eating pattern can lower blood pressure. One of the best-studied is the DASH Diet—short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is often called America’s version of t...

When Tofu Isn’t a Statin

People love to say “food is medicine.” Some even claim Hippocrates himself said it. But here’s the thing: he didn’t. The phrase does not appear in any of his surviving writings. In fact, historians believe the line was created centuries later and then falsely attached to Hippocrates to give it weight.

Still, the idea persists. Even the current head of HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has repeated the myth...

Milk: Life, Death, and the Paradox

Milk has always been central to survival. When mothers died in childbirth—and this happened often before modern medicine—infants survived only if they had access to another nursing mother or wet nurse. When that wasn’t possible, families sometimes turned to the milk of other mammals.

That discovery helped keep our species alive. However, milk’s role in human survival carried a hidden danger...

Protein Powders: What’s Real, What’s Hype, and Why It Matters

Protein powders are everywhere. Walk into a gym, scroll through social media, or visit a health food store, and you’ll see tubs of whey, egg, pea, and soy protein. Add buzzwords like “isolate,” “hydrolysate,” and “grass-fed,” and suddenly these powders sound like liquid gold. But how much of this is science—and how much is hype?

From Surgeons to Shakers

Su...

Make America Healthy Again? Hyman’s Half-Truths Exposed

Mark Hyman loves a soundbite. One of his favorites is:

“If doctors were trained in nutrition, we could prevent 90% of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.”

It sounds inspiring. Unfortunately, it isn’t true.

Nutrition Is Powerful — But It’s Not Magic

I’m certified in culinary medicine, and I live the Mediterranean diet. Good nutrition matters...

Carter’s Little Liver Pills: The Original Detox Scam and Its Modern Cousins

For more than a century, people have searched for quick fixes to “cleanse” the liver. From old‑time laxatives to today’s wellness shots and hangover probiotics, the promise is the same: remove toxins, feel better, live longer. However, as science catches up with marketing claims, we learn a hard truth — most of these cleanses never did what they pro...

Goat Glands, Chloroform, and the City That Saved Surgery

(How Edinburgh dragged American medicine out of the Wild West)

 When we think about modern surgery, it’s easy to imagine it has always been clean, safe, and scientific. However, that could not be further from the truth. Surgery was more like a horror show just over 150 years ago. Patients faced unbearable pain, filthy instruments, and shocking guesswork.

Today, we’...

A Hole Lot of Nonsense: Surgery Before Science

People once drilled holes in skulls to cure madness

And in some cases… it actually helped. Well, if you consider madness what happens if you get a stroke from too much pressure in your brain from trauma

That’s the wild part.

While visiting the Surgeons’ Hall Museum in Edinburgh, I saw ancient skulls with round holes cut into them—evidence of trepanation, one of the world’...

A Shocking Health Trend from the Past

Today, you might see ads for detox teas, liver cleanses, and even hydrogen water. These products promise energy, better health, and a longer life.

But strange health trends are nothing new.

In the 1920s and 1930s, people paid good money to drink radioactive water. They believed it gave them energy, cured pain, and even helped them live longer. One brand, called Radithor, was sold as “perp...

Who Was Dr. Salisbury?

First, let’s meet the man behind the meat.

Dr. James Henry Salisbury was a doctor during the American Civil War. He worked hard to understand why so many soldiers got sick. He noticed that stomach problems like diarrhea and dysentery were everywhere in the army camps.

Because of this, he believed the problem came from food. But instead of looking at germs, he blamed vegetables.

That’s right—he thought ve...

The Smoothie That Changed My Mornings (And the Appliances That Helped)

Let’s talk about kitchen appliances.

Yes, those gadgets sitting on your counter—or hiding in a cabinet—can either make your life easier... or drive you nuts. Today, I want to share how two small appliances completely changed my mornings. And no, I’m not paid to say any of this.

It Started With the Air Fryer

First, let’s be honest: nothing has broug...

🥣 The Curious Case of Dr. Kellogg: Surgeon, Cereal, and a Whole Lot of Enemas

When you think of Kellogg, you probably picture cereal—maybe a sweet bowl of Frosted Flakes or Corn Flakes. But the real story behind Kellogg is far weirder than breakfast. It starts with a doctor. A good one. A very strange one.

Meet Dr. John Harvey Kellogg

Dr. John Harvey Kellogg wasn’t just any doctor. He was a skilled surgeon, and even...

What Is Ozempic or Zepbound, Really?

You’ve probably heard about Ozempic or Zepbound. Maybe from a friend, a celebrity, or a TikTok ad. These are powerful medicines used to help people lose weight and manage diabetes. But what do they actually do?

Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor agonist—a type of drug that helps control hunger, improve blood sugar, and lower the risk of heart disease.

But here's the big surprise: the real power o...

Longevity Without the Grift: What Actually Helps You Age Better

Everyone wants to live longer. That’s why people are plunging into ice baths, sweating in infrared saunas, and rubbing beef tallow on their faces like it’s a miracle cream. Meanwhile, supplement companies make billions selling capsules that promise eternal youth.

But here’s the thing: we don’t need to chase immortality. We need to focus on healthspan—the number ...

Hi, I'm Dr. Terry Simpson, your chief medical explanationist. Welcome to another edition of FORK U—where we bust myths, make sense of the madness, and teach you a little about food and medicine.

Today, let's explore how our food choices impact the environment and our health. We'll discuss lab-grown meat, grass-fed beef, and sustainable seafood.

🍔 Lab-Grown Meat: The Future of Food?

Imagine enjoying a burger that didn't requi...