In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Paul Mason cuts through the noise on diet, cardiovascular disease, and the forces shaping medical guidelines. He explains the critical difference between soft and hard plaque, why saturated fat has been unfairly blamed, the role of microbes and biofilms in arterial disease, and how industry funding, publication bias, and cognitive dissonance keep outdated advice alive. You’ll also hear practical insights on the limits of “calories in, calories out,” the risks of GLP-1 drugs, nutrient bioavailability, and how to break free from ultra-processed food addiction. Essential listening for anyone interested in low-carb/ketogenic/paleo/carnivore nutrition, metabolic health, and evidence-based medicine. In this episode:• Cognitive dissonance in medical practice• Why dietary guidelines fail sick patients• Soft vs hard plaque and what CT calcium scores really mean• Misconceptions about saturated fat and heart disease• Limitations of Mendelian randomisation studies• Microbes, biofilms and cardiovascular risk• Industry influence, hidden research and publication bias• Nutrient density, cost and accessibility of real food• GLP-1 drugs and muscle/bone loss• Breaking addictive eating patterns• Ketosis vs ketoacidosis and metabolic health Chapters00:00 – Introduction and context02:06 – Cognitive dissonance: why doctors struggle with diet advice04:00 – Why official dietary guidelines fail sick patients05:11 – Using CT scans to assess coronary plaque06:55 – Soft plaque vs hard plaque: what actually matters11:56 – Risks of angiograms and calcium scoring14:49 – Saturated fat and heart disease: the big misconceptions20:06 – Genetic studies and the limits of proving causation25:11 – Microbes, biofilms and cardiovascular disease29:56 – Publication bias and research that never sees the light of day34:52 – Industry influence and societal factors shaping health advice39:50 – Cost and accessibility of nutrient-dense diets45:13 – GLP-1 drugs: effects on muscle and bone50:04 – Addiction to processed foods and societal drivers55:03 – Breaking the cycle of addictive eating59:53 – Scientific integrity and the importance of accurate information01:04:55 – Why “calories in, calories out” falls short01:08:03 – Ketosis, ketoacidosis and true metabolic health01:09:56 – Final thoughts on health, industry and moving forward KeywordsDr Paul Mason, low carb, ketogenic diet, saturated fat, coronary plaque, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, nutrition science, food industry, dietary guidelines, inflammation, soft plaque, hard plaque, GLP-1, processed food addiction, carnivoreThis episode is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before changing your diet, medication, or treatment.
