Connecting the Past and Present — Can Ancient Wisdom Help You Reclaim Health?

• The Ancel Keys hypothesis — In the 1950s, Ancel Keys’ Seven Countries Study¹ suggested a correlation between saturated fat intake and heart disease. His findings laid the foundation for dietary guidelines that demonized animal fats and promoted vegetable oils as a healthier alternative. However, the study was purely observational and could not establish causation.

• Flawed science and cherry-picked data — Later reviews revealed that Keys selectively omitted data that did not support his hypothesis. Critics have pointed out major methodological flaws, including cherry-picked data and failure to account for confounding factors. This raised concerns that the war on saturated fat has been based on incomplete or misleading science.^2,3

• The rose corn oil trial exposed the risks — As vegetable oil intake skyrocketed, so did rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. One of the first challenges to the mainstream narrative came in 1965 with the Rose Corn Oil Trial,⁴ which tested the effects of replacing dietary fats with corn oil. The trial found that consuming polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) increased cardiac events and mortality in patients with pre-existing heart disease.

• The safflower oil experiment — A similar pattern emerged in 1978 with the Sydney Diet Heart Study, which evaluated safflower oil, another omega-6-rich vegetable oil. Those who increased their safflower oil intake had higher all-cause mortality rates, including a significant rise in cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease deaths.^5,6

• Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction — A 2016 Pharmacology study⁷ highlighted the dangerously high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in modern diets as a key factor in inflammation and metabolic disorders.

While dietary guidelines long vilified saturated fat, the real culprit appears to be excessive omega-6 intake from vegetable oils like soybean, corn and sunflower oil. These oils promote oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, which are both major contributors to chronic disease.⁸

• Randomized trials linked vegetable oils to higher mortality — The Pharmacology study also referenced previous randomized controlled trials that replaced animal fats with omega-6-rich oils. Despite lowering LDL cholesterol, these trials consistently found increased cardiovascular disease risk and all-cause mortality, refuting the claim that vegetable oils protect heart health.⁹

• The oxidized linoleic acid hypothesis — A 2018 Open Heart study¹⁰ provided further confirmation that excessive vegetable oil consumption fuels coronary heart disease. Researchers found that linoleic acid (LA) oxidizes inside LDL particles, making them unrecognizable to the liver. Instead, oxidized LDL is taken up by macrophages, forming foam cells that accelerate arterial plaque buildup and increase heart disease risk.

• The omega-6 imbalance and OXLAMs — A 2023 Nutrients study¹¹ examined the disproportionate intake of omega-6 to omega-3 fats in the standard American diet. Researchers found that modern diets contain 14 to 25 times more omega-6 than omega-3 fats, with the majority of omega-6 coming from LA in vegetable oils.

This imbalance increases the formation of oxidized linoleic acid metabolites (OXLAMs), which are linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other chronic conditions.

• Linoleic acid’s persistence in the body — One of the most alarming revelations from the 2023 Nutrients study¹² was that LA has a half-life of approximately two years. Unlike other dietary fats, LA lingers in human tissues, meaning its harmful effects persist long-term even after reducing intake. This explains why reversing damage from vegetable oil consumption takes time.

• Endocrine disruptors are pervasive — EDCs mimic, block or alter natural hormones. These chemicals have become nearly impossible to avoid, contaminating food, water, air and even household products. They are found in plastics, pesticides, personal care items, industrial waste and common consumer goods, exposing people through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact.¹⁴

• Environmental toxins accumulate in the body — According to the Endocrine Society,¹⁵ nearly 85,000 synthetic chemicals are in circulation, with at least 1,000 classified as endocrine disruptors. Many of these persist in the environment, accumulating in human tissues. Even low daily exposure compound over time, leading to chronic hormone disruption.

• Food and water are hidden sources of contamination — Common agricultural and industrial chemicals have well-documented endocrine-disrupting effects. For instance, atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicides, has been linked to reproductive toxicity.¹⁶

Perchlorate, found in rocket fuel, explosives and even drinking water, interferes with thyroid hormone production and metabolism,¹⁷ while dioxins, byproducts of herbicide production and paper bleaching, accumulate in fatty tissues and disrupt immune function, fetal development and reproductive health.¹⁸

• Household products fuel hormonal disruptions — Bisphenol A (BPA), commonly found in plastics and canned food linings, has been linked to infertility and metabolic disorders.¹⁹ Phthalates, used in cosmetics, fragrances and food packaging, disrupt testosterone levels and have been associated with reproductive dysfunction.²⁰

Flame retardants like PBDEs, found in furniture and carpets, are known to alter thyroid function and neurodevelopment, while PFAS, “forever chemicals” found in nonstick cookware and waterproof textiles, accumulate in the body and interfere with immune and hormonal function.²¹

• Even banned chemicals and natural compounds pose risks — Despite being banned for decades, PCBs continue to pollute the environment and persist in the food chain, increasing your risk of cancer and neurological disorders.²² Meanwhile, triclosan, once used in antibacterial soaps, has been linked to hormonal imbalances and antimicrobial resistance.²³

Even some naturally occurring compounds, such as phytoestrogens in soy and certain legumes, mimic estrogen and influence hormone-sensitive conditions.²⁴

• Early-life exposure and chronic disease risk — Studies have linked early-life exposure to endocrine disruptors with increased risks of obesity, diabetes, infertility and hormone-dependent cancers. Research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has shown that common EDCs interfere with multiple biological systems, disrupting hormonal balance at vital stages of development.²⁷

• Neurodevelopmental disruptions — A JAMA study²⁸ found that phthalates were strongly associated with ADHD-related behaviors in adolescents. Higher urinary concentrations of certain phthalates correlated with increased impulsivity, difficulty focusing and behavioral dysregulation, suggesting that early-life exposure may interfere with neurodevelopmental processes.

• Epigenetic damage and generational effects — The synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES), once prescribed to pregnant women, has been linked to epigenetic changes that affect multiple generations. Grandchildren of women who took DES show higher rates of ADHD, infertility, structural abnormalities and hormone-related cancers.^29,30

• Metabolic dysfunction and insulin resistance — Research has linked EDCs to metabolic dysfunction, particularly in relation to diabetes and obesity. Long-term exposure to arsenic, a known environmental contaminant found in some drinking water sources, has been shown to disrupt metabolism and increase the risk of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.³¹

• Widespread BPA substitutes and health risks — A 2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health study³² found that bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), commonly used substitutes for BPA, were present in 89.4% of urine samples from U.S. adults and 66.5% of samples from U.S. children. These chemicals, often marketed as safer alternatives, have been linked to a higher risk of obesity and diabetes.

• Chronic inactivity weakens metabolism — Modern life encourages prolonged sitting and minimal movement, disrupting metabolic function. When muscles aren’t used, they weaken, making it harder to regulate blood sugar and sustain energy levels.

Inactivity slows circulation, increases fat storage and leads to declining endurance.^33,34 Over time, even small amounts of exertion feel exhausting, reinforcing a cycle of doing less and feeling worse.

• Ultraprocessed diets fuel mitochondrial dysfunction — Traditional meals that centered around whole, nutrient-dense foods have been replaced by ultraprocessed products loaded with refined sugars and industrial seed oils.

Instead of providing energy, these foods overwhelm your body with inflammatory compounds that disrupt mitochondrial function, impair hormone balance and accelerate metabolic decline.

• Lack of sunlight disrupts circadian rhythms — Natural light plays a vital role in regulating circadian rhythms and hormone cycles.³⁵ Without adequate sunlight exposure, sleep quality declines, stress levels rise and metabolism slows. At the same time, excessive artificial light, especially from screens, confuses the body’s natural day-night signals, leading to restless nights and sluggish mornings.

• Environmental toxins compound the damage — Beyond poor diet and inactivity, daily exposure to toxic seed oils and environmental chemicals further interferes with mitochondrial efficiency.

These compounds damage cellular processes, increase oxidative stress and promote systemic inflammation, making it even harder for your body to produce energy and maintain metabolic stability.

• The consequences are impossible to ignore — The strength and resilience that once defined human health have been replaced by chronic fatigue, metabolic dysfunction and an increasing reliance on medications just to function. The farther people stray from the conditions their bodies were designed for, the harder it becomes to sustain long-term health.

• Mitochondrial health determines longevity — Your body’s ability to repair, defend and sustain itself depends entirely on your mitochondrial function. When mitochondria fail, energy production collapses, setting the stage for chronic disease. Restoring mitochondrial health is the key to reversing metabolic dysfunction and reclaiming long-term vitality.

• Eliminating toxic inputs supports cellular repair — Removing industrial seed oils, processed foods and environmental toxins eliminates the biggest disruptors of mitochondrial efficiency. These substances overload the body with oxidative stress and inflammation, making it harder to generate clean energy and sustain metabolic balance.

• Sunlight and natural rhythms restore balance — Daily exposure to natural light regulates circadian rhythms, supports hormonal function and enhances mitochondrial performance. Unlike artificial light, sunlight optimizes energy metabolism and reinforces the body’s internal clock, improving sleep, mood and overall resilience.

• Whole foods fuel energy production — Traditional diets based on nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods provide the essential building blocks for mitochondrial function. High-quality proteins, healthy fats and bioavailable micronutrients sustain cellular energy production and prevent the metabolic damage caused by modern ultraprocessed diets.