The Empowering Neurologist Podcast

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 We are certainly all aware of the health consequences associated with consumption of ultra processed foods. And this discussion always moves to the role of the sugars and refined carbohydrates in these foods in terms of threatening our metabolic health - and rightfully so. But there’s another threat associated with these and other foods that is equally important. And that’s the type of oils they contain. In this episode of The Empowering Neurologist, I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Cate Shanahan, a groundbreaking physician and the author of the eye-opening book Dark Calories. Dr. Shanahan dives deep into a topic that is often overlooked in conversations about nutrition: the dangers of seed oils and their pervasive presence in our diets. In Dark Calories, Dr. Shanahan reveals how seed oils—despite being marketed as healthy alternatives—can have detrimental effects on our brain and overall health. We explore the science behind these oils, explaining how they can lead to inflammation, oxidative stress, and toxicity, and how these mechanisms threaten our health. By bringing awareness to the hidden dangers of these ubiquitous ingredients, Dr. Shanahan encourages us to reconsider what we think we know about healthy eating. What makes this episode truly valuable is not just the scientific insights Dr. Shanahan shares but also the wealth of actionable material she provides. Throughout our conversation, we discuss practical steps listeners can take to reduce seed oil consumption and make healthier food choices. From understanding food labels to selecting healthier cooking fats, Dr. Shanahan equips us with the tools we need to nourish our bodies and brains effectively. She emphasizes the importance of whole, nutrient-dense foods, urging us to prioritize traditional fats over industrial seed oils that can contribute to chronic inflammation and cognitive decline. Whether you’re a health enthusiast or simply looking to improve your diet, this episode is packed with invaluable tips, like what to order when you go out to eat, that you can implement immediately. ==== 00:00 Introduction to Cate + the Dangers of Seed Oils 03:18 The 'Hateful Eight' Oils Explained 06:20 Origins of Vegetable Oils in the Food Supply 10:47 Toxicity of Refined Oils 15:03 Health Risks of Heated Oils 18:01 Medical Industry Conflicts 32:12 Strategies for Avoiding Harmful Oils 37:03 Comparison of Saturated vs. Unsaturated Fats 40:35 Impact of Toxic Oils on Chronic Diseases 53:00 Summary and Closing Out ==== Cate Shanahan, MD, has shaped the best parts of today’s food and health landscapes. Her books and other publications have taught a generation of health influencers what an ideal human diet looks like and the damaging effects of a collection of 8 common seed oils (“The Hateful 8”), informing the full spectrum of nutrition leaders, including keto, carnivore, functional medicine and more. Her science backed diet advice has inspired food entrepreneurs to make billions, including bone broth, live-culture ferments, and seed-oil-free business empires like the Primal Kitchen and Bulletproof brands. As a family physician, she has personally worked 1:1 with thousands of patients to improve energy metabolism and reduce fatigue, cellular inflammation, and organ dysfunction. Through her works and influence, she has helped millions escape the vicious cycle of sickness and drug dependence.  Dr. Cate’s Monthly Newsletter signup: https://drcate.com/newsletter-signup/  About Dr. Cate’s Books https://drcate.com/which-drcate-book-should-i-buy/ LinkedIn: @DrCateShanahan X: @DrCateShanahan Instagram: @DrCateShanahan  ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 What can we do to improve our brains? This is clearly a topic that is central to our messaging. And we have focused on a variety of levers to pull, including exercise, sleep, dietary changes, nature, connection, etc. But we've now learned about a powerful input that has proven incredibly effective in improving brain function, especially in a variety pathological situations like cognitive decline, anorexia, depression, and even autism. This innovative approach has been called olfactory enrichment. And basically, this involves stimulating the brain with various types of scents. Perhaps the top researcher on the planet exploring this subject and creating innovative ways for us to take advantage of olfactory enrichment is Dr. Michael Leon.He received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the professoriate at the young age of 24. He is currently Professor emeritus in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California Irvine. He has received the Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute for Mental Health for his work on the neurobiology of early learning, the D.G. Marquis Award from the American Psychological Association for developing an effective treatment for children with autism, and the Healthcare Technology Acceleration Award from the California HealthCare Foundation for his work on body weight normalization. In a recent analysis from the Stanford University, he was ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world. On the podcast we review this empowering science in detail and I am certain you will be you captivated by the therapeutic potential of this intervention.Also, we’ll explore the device Dr. Leon has created so that everyone can take advantage of these exciting developments.  ==== 0:00 Intro 2:48 Researching Olfactory Enrichment  7:25 Impact of Olfaction on Disease 13:47 Relationship Between Inflammation & Sense of Smell 16:27 Study of Olfactory & Memory Loss 19:41 Losing Sense of Smell In Covid 24:01 Relationship of Taste to Olfaction 26:04 Impact on Depression  27:26 Difference Between this and Aromatherapy  31:59 Treating Anorexia with This 33:11 How This Works on a Subconscious Level 34:50 Memory Air Device  36:25 Conclusion ==== Michael Leon received his PhD from the University of Chicago and joined the professoriate at the age of 24.  He is currently Professor emeritus (recalled) in the Department of Neurobiology and Behavior at the University of California Irvine. He also is a member of the Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, as well as the Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders at UCI.  He has received multiple awards for teaching undergraduates, including the Professor of the Year Award as the best teacher on the UCI campus. He has received the Research Scientist Development Award from the National Institute for Mental Health for his work on the neurobiology of early learning, the D.G. Marquis Award from the American Psychological Association for developing an effective treatment for children with autism, and the Healthcare Technology Acceleration Award, from the California HealthCare Foundation, Booz Allen Hamilton, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for his work on body weight control. In a recent analysis from the Stanford University School of Medicine, he was ranked among the top 2% of scientists in the world for the impact of his research. He is a partner in Science Lab 3 and the Mando Group. ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 Our lifestyle choices are fundamental as it relates to the health of our brains. Who knew? Well one person who knows this information and has done an amazing job getting this out to public awareness is Louisa Nicola, neurophysiologist, human performance coach and  founder of Neuro Athletics, a human performance coaching firm that supports the highest performing athletes and executives in the world. This organization bring science-based solutions to elite performers who want to perform at their highest level. Luisa graduated from the university of Sydney medical school and specializes in Neurophysiology. She is currently completing her PhD and has recently published fascinating report on the benefits of resistance exercises as it relates to Alzheimer's disease. The podcast that you were about to watch extremely empowering. What you will find in Louisa’s messaging is a heartfelt devotion to empowerment for all who will listen that truly, our brain’s destiny is something we can control. I'm very grateful that she joined us on the podcast today. ==== 0:00 Intro 2:37 How Louisa Got Started 5:00 Exercise’s Impact on Brain Health 11:37 Aerobics vs Strength Training  14:56 Wearable Devices to Track Exercise  19:53 What Happens in the Brain During Exercise  25:11 Importance of Restorative Sleep 30:42 Best Type of Diet for the Brain 33:09 Phd: Resistance Training & Alzheimer’s 36:28 Conclusion ==== Neurophysiologist and human performance coach, Louisa Nicola is the founder and head performance advisor of Neuro Athletics - a human performance coaching firm that boasts the highest performing athletes and executives in the world. Neuro Athletics brings science based solutions to elite performers who want to perform at their peak. Louisa graduated from the University of Sydney Medical School and specialises in neurophysiology.  https://www.instagram.com/louisanicola_/ https://apple.co/3H02jPa  https://neuroathletics.substack.com/subscribe  https://www.neuroathletics.com.au/ ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1

🧠 Stay ahead with the latest in science, nutrition, and wellness by subscribing to Dr. Perlmutter’s newsletter at: www.drperlmutter.com. ✉️🌱 Around 60 million people around the world have dementia. 300 million have depression, and billions of people are experiencing brain problems due to chronic stress. These conditions are partially preventable, but most people don’t know the steps to take to decrease their risk and protect their brains. It turns out that the place where our brains are at the highest risk for being damaged is actually in our homes, and that we have an incredible amount of control over what happens here. But sadly, most of us are being unintentionally exposed to things in our houses that are poisoning our brain health. In this episode, we’re going deep into the science that examines those factors in our environments that are damaging our brains. We connect with an expert in environmental and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Austin Perlmutter. We’re going to explore exactly what we are exposing ourselves to, in our homes, cars and offices, that threaten to worsen our cognitive and mental health. And, importantly, Dr. Perlmutter will reveal simple steps we can employ, today, to reduce this threat.  ==== 0:00 Intro 3:06 How our environment threatens our brain 8:18 Health Begins in the Kitchen 12:10 Air Pollution in the Kitchen 18:13 Pollution in our World Today 23:23 Hidden Sources of Pollution: Vacuums & Incense 28:34 Effectiveness of N95 Masks 31:00 We Can’t Overlook This 35:00 Air Fresheners & Perfumes  39:13 Indoor Filtration & Ventilation  46:40 Other Pollutants to Watch Out For 49:25 Conclusion ==== Here's more about our guest, and yes, my son: Dr. Austin Perlmutter is a board-certified internal medicine physician, New York Times bestselling author, published researcher and international educator. His mission is to help people improve their health by targeting the biological basis of “stuckness” in our brains and bodies. His writings, presentations, podcasts, and online educational programs explore how environmental factors influence our cognitive and mental state and have reached millions. Dr. Perlmutter has been featured on PBS, Rolling Stone, MedPage today, Newsweek, Medical News Today, NPR and a wide range of other media outlets. He is a co-producer of the Alzheimer’s, the Science of Prevention series, and host of the Better Brain Blueprint series. Dr. Perlmutter currently serves as the managing director at Big Bold Health, a food-as-medicine company focused on helping people rejuvenate health through better immune function, where he is running a first-of-its kind study exploring the effects of plant nutrients on human aging through epigenetic modulation. ___________________________ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidperlmutter/ Website: https://www.drperlmutter.com/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRl_UAXxbHyOOjklnA0dxQ/?sub_confirmation=1