Ask Me Anything (AMA): Saturated fat, metabolic syndrome, and probiotics

Jun 24

Welcome to the first Ask Me Anything session, where I answer popular questions from our community about all things food and health and what’s seen on social media. Have questions about nutrition and what you should be eating? Who doesn’t?? Read the full Q&A here!

Introduction

Welcome to my Ask Me Anything (AMA)! If we haven’t met before I’m Lisa, functional nutritionist who can’t stand 99% of social media and loves to break science and health down into actionable, no-nonsense steps. I compiled a list of the most common burning questions about nutrition that I’ve gotten from clients recently and decided that hey, maybe the broader world has the same questions.

From avoiding subscription supplements that promise to change your life to the MAHA movement, we covered it all. Whether you're here to learn more about metabolic syndrome, gut health, healthy eating, or just browsing for insights, there’s something valuable here for you. So grab some sparkly (or spicy as my niece says) water or tea and let’s get started.

🧠 Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Question 1: What is saturated fat and how concerned should I be about it?

Answer:
What’s crazy is that this is a subject that has been studied since the dawn of time (probably) yet there is no concise or clear answer. Saturated fats are a type of fatty acid that are full up on hydrogen atoms, which means that they are solid at room temperature. They are also delicious- primarily found in animal products, butter, coconut products, red meat, cheese, whole fat dairy, ice cream, etc. The idea is that the more you eat saturated fats, the more they start to clog up the arteries and contribute to your LDL cholesterol production. There is truth to this, but the nuance is that genetics, overall diet, and lifestyle are the biggest factors in how you respond to saturated fat and if it impacts your heart or metabolic health. Nutrition is nuanced people! I like to recommend doing a deeper dive into your cholesterol panel to see what your risks are, the types of foods you are consuming, and overall what role this plays in your life.

❓ Question 2: Will probiotics cure my gut and also my entire life?

Answer:
The ads told me that they would! As long as I signed up for the subscription!

Short answer, no they will not cure your everlasting gut issues on their own. Probiotics play an important role in populating the gut microbiome and regulating everything from digestion to your immune system to mental health. However, this does not always mean a probiotic you found on the shelf or were advertised is going to be a good fit for you. In fact, in some cases you might have too many bacteria in your gut, so adding more is like trying to fit more cars onto I-5 at rush hour. It’s just not pretty and involves a lot of cursing.

I always recommend starting with incorporating fiber, prebiotic and probiotic foods like these:

Fermented veggies like kimchi, sauerkraut, or fermented carrots and beets
Yogurt
Kefir
Kombucha
Onions, garlic, and leeks for prebiotic fibers!
Oats
Asparagus
Apples
Jicama

❓ Question 3: What is metabolic syndrome? Why am I seeing it all over social media?

Answer:
Blame the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement for making this one viral right now. Metabolic syndrome is a blanket diagnosis for co-occurring high blood pressure, high blood sugar, obesity, and high triglycerides (a type of cholesterol). The main players in MAHA are active proponents of fighting metabolic diseases (and indeed make money through their companies that have a financial stake in doing so). It’s kind of like the firefighters starting a fire that only they can put out for a hefty fee (I definitely stole this metaphor from somewhere but don’t remember where! My bad).

Metabolic syndrome and metabolic issues affect a large percentage of the population and are drivers for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. I absolutely believe this greatly affects quality of life and can be prevented. Preventing metabolic syndrome is at the heart of what inspires my work. That being said, I take a lot of issue with how this is presented in the media. First and foremost, dietary patterns that lead to metabolic syndrome are usually driven by inequality and poor access to nutritious foods and healthcare. Secondly, Well Fed believes in Health at Every Size where our size does not determine our metabolic destiny. Thirdly, I don’t know about you but I just don’t want the government involved in my nutrition unless they are funding equitable access to healthy, nutritious food and not restricting what we can and can’t eat. I got pretty passionate about this one so I wrote a whole blog post on it. Check it out here.

🔍 Key Takeaways

Main takeaway 1: Don’t listen to everything you read. Figure out what works for you, your lifestyle, your dietary pattern, and your genetics.
Main takeaway 2: Incorporate probiotic rich foods and fiber to support long-term gut health.
Main takeaway 3: Look at your personal risk factors and lifestyle for clues into your metabolic health, not what social media tells you.