One scroll through social media and you’ll find people claiming oats are toxic, seed oils are destroying your health, high cholesterol is actually protective, and saturated fat should make up the majority of your diet. The problem is that many of these conversations are happening without context, without nuance, and without a real understanding of what the research actually says.
In this episode of Everyday Epigenetics: Raw. Real. Relatable., Susan Robbins sits down with physician, researcher, and science communicator Dr. Gil Carvalho to unpack some of the biggest myths dominating the wellness world right now and why so much of this misinformation is creating fear, confusion, and real health consequences.
When “Healthy” Trends Start Causing Harm
One of the biggest topics discussed in this episode is the growing trend of dismissing high cholesterol and cardiovascular risk markers entirely. Susan and Dr. Gil break down why looking deeper than a standard cholesterol number matters and why markers like ApoB, Lp(a), LDL particle size, inflammation markers, and insulin resistance tell a much bigger story about what is happening inside the body.
The conversation also explores how certain diet trends, particularly extreme versions of carnivore, keto, and high saturated fat approaches, are leading some people to ignore warning signs in their lab work because they’ve been told those markers “don’t matter.”
Dr. Gil explains the difference between correlation and causation in research, why certain studies are being misrepresented online, and how influencer culture often oversimplifies complex health science into catchy but misleading sound bites.
Oats, Seed Oils, and the Fear Economy of Wellness
Susan and Dr. Gil also tackle two of the internet’s favorite villains: oats and seed oils.
From claims that oatmeal is “the worst breakfast you can eat” to viral posts calling seed oils toxic, they discuss what the actual evidence shows and why context matters so much. The reality is far more nuanced than social media makes it seem.
This episode highlights an important truth that often gets lost in wellness conversations: different people respond differently to foods. Genetics, environment, lifestyle, movement, stress, sleep, and metabolic health all play a role in how the body functions.
Personalized Health Over Fear-Based Health
At the center of this conversation is one major theme: people need to stop outsourcing their thinking to influencers and start learning how to understand their own bodies.
Lab work matters.
Lifestyle matters.
Stress matters.
Sleep matters.
Individual biology matters.
Health is rarely black and white, and the loudest voices online are not always the most accurate.
This episode is a grounded, refreshing reminder that true wellness is not built on fear, rigid rules, or extreme thinking. It’s built on understanding your body, looking at real data, and making informed decisions that support long-term health.
Dr. Gil Carvalho
Dr. Gil Carvalho is a Portuguese physician, research scientist, and science communicator known for his work in nutrition, longevity, and evidence-based health education.
Born in Portugal, he earned his MD from the University of Lisbon and later obtained a PhD in Biology from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he trained under pioneering geneticist Seymour Benzer.
Carvalho’s research spans genetics, molecular biology, nutrition, behavior, aging, and neuroscience, with contributions including the identification of genetic and nutritional mechanisms underlying longevity; his work has been cited over 4,130 times as of 2023 according to Google Scholar.
He has collaborated with neuroscientist Antonio Damasio on neural signal transmission and the basis of interoception, and his publications appear in prestigious outlets such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Nature Methods.
In addition to his academic career at the University of Southern California, Carvalho is a prominent science communicator, founding the YouTube channel Nutrition Made Simple in 2018, which has amassed over a million monthly viewers by simplifying complex dietary science for lay audiences.
He contributes to organizations including the Institute of Limbic Health, and his expert insights have been featured in media like Quanta Magazine and ScienceDaily.
Carvalho has received awards such as the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics and a Mathers Foundation grant, underscoring his impact in bridging clinical practice, rigorous research, and public health education.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Dr. Gil Carvalho:
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@NutritionMadeSimple
tiktok.com/@nutrition.made.simple
Connect with Susan:
- Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
- Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach
Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins
Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
