Grass Fed/Grass Finished or Grain Fed
I am an avowed consumer of meat and wanted to know if there is ample evidence that grass fed/finished beef (or other meats) is significantly better for you than common grain fed beef. Intuitively, I believe the concepts around grass fed/finished but never have really seen any good studies on the topic.
Zone 2 for women
I listened to the recent Huberman episode with Dr. Stacy Sims regarding exercise in peri/post-menopausal women, and she essentially dismissed Zone 2 training as having no value for body composition or "longevity" in this group (she did not define longevity for what it's worth). Given your recommendations emphasize Zone 2 training as foundational, can you square this circle for your audience? Are the Zone 2 recommendations based on male physiology studies alone, or are there other reasons for the divergent thoughts on this issue? I am asking on behalf of many women who anxiously await your insights. Many thanks.
Daily use of OTC antihistamines
I moved to the pacific northwest from the midwest two years ago. After a terrible first winter in the PNW with continuous congestion in my chest, my doctor prescribed an OTC antihistamine (I take aller-tec) every day and I've been on the anti-histamine consistently for almost 18 months. I do not have any congestion any more. Is this good? Is this bad? What are the negative consequences if any? Thank you.
Red meat consumption and its health impact
Peter, I just read your newsletter addressing (again) the contentious subject of the association between red meat and bad health outcomes (August 26, 2024) Could saturated fat mediate this observed (possible) negative effect of red meat consumption? Despite the inherent limitations of observational data to draw causal inferences, when we add experimental data, it seems to me (and I would love to hear you talk about that with all your habitual methodology rigor despite your food preferences). For example, Luukkonen et al Diabetes Care, 2018 show provocative metabolic results after overfeeding humans with different types of calories: saturated fat, carbs, and other types of fat, see below the abstract: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We overfed 38 overweight subjects (age 48 6 2 years, BMI 31 6 1 kg/m2 , liver fat 4.7 6 0.9%) 1,000 extra kcal/day of saturated (SAT) or unsaturated (UNSAT) fat or simple sugars (CARB) for 3 weeks. We measured IHTG (1 H-MRS), pathways contributing to IHTG (lipolysis ([2 H5]glycerol) and DNL (2 H2O) basally and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia), insulin resistance, endotoxemia, plasma ceramides, and adipose tissue gene expression at 0 and 3 weeks. RESULTS Overfeeding SAT increased IHTG more (+55%) than UNSAT (+15%, P < 0.05). CARB increased IHTG (+33%) by stimulating DNL (+98%). SAT significantly increased while UNSAT decreased lipolysis. SAT induced insulin resistance and endotoxemia and significantly increased multiple plasma ceramides. The diets had distinct effects on adipose tissue gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Macronutrient composition of excess energy influences pathways of IHTG: CARB increases DNL, while SAT increases and UNSAT decreases lipolysis. SAT induced the greatest increase in IHTG, insulin resistance, and harmful ceramides. Decreased intakes of SAT could be beneficial in reducing IHTG and the associated risk of diabetes