America's Favorite Cooking Oil Shows Strong Link to Obesity

America's Favorite Cooking Oil Shows Strong Link to Obesity

Author: Dr. Mercola January 22, 2026 Duration: 7:41
  • Soybean oil dominates the U.S. food supply. Americans' intake has increased from about 2% to nearly 10% of calories over a century, alongside sharp rises in obesity and diabetes
  • A recent study published in the Journal of Lipid Research found soybean oil drives obesity independent of calories by generating liver oxylipins that track with weight gain, revealing LA metabolism, not food intake, as the key driver of fat accumulation
  • Soybean oil promotes oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, gut permeability, and long-lasting inflammatory byproducts that continue to affect your metabolism for years due to LA's extended half-life in body fat
  • Soy contains additional disruptive compounds, including phytoestrogens, phytic acid, enzyme inhibitors, lectins, saponins, and goitrogens, along with frequent glyphosate residues
  • Reducing LA intake means eliminating sources of soybean and other vegetable oils from your diet, and replacing them with stable fats like ghee, tallow, butter, or coconut oil

Each week, Dr. Joseph Mercola-Take Control of Your Health offers a direct conversation about navigating the often-confusing world of wellness. Dr. Mercola brings decades of experience as a natural health advocate to these discussions, focusing on practical strategies that go beyond conventional approaches. The episodes dig into the interconnected areas of holistic health, physical fitness, and alternative methods for building resilience. You’ll hear detailed explorations of how everyday choices impact long-term vitality, with an emphasis on personal agency and evidence-informed alternatives. This isn’t about quick fixes but about understanding the underlying principles that can help you make better decisions for yourself and your family. The tone is straightforward and investigative, aiming to equip you with knowledge that is frequently overlooked. Tuning into this podcast feels like accessing a deep resource of non-mainstream health perspectives, all centered on the fundamental goal of sustainable well-being. It’s for anyone who feels that managing their health requires looking at the full picture, from nutrition and movement to the less obvious environmental factors. Dr. Mercola’s weekly insights serve as a catalyst for taking a more active, informed role in your own health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health
Podcast Episodes
Low Lycopene Intake Tied to Higher Risk of Severe Gum Disease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:26
Severe gum disease reflects chronic inflammation and strongly links to broader health risks, including heart disease and diabetes, not just tooth loss Older adults with low dietary lycopene intake face a much higher risk…
Exploring the Link Between Niacin and Fatty Liver Disease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:19
Fatty liver disease is the most common liver disorder, driven by obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance. It often progresses silently for years before symptoms appear Niacin helps your body use energy better. I…
Reaching the Right Vitamin D Level Cuts Breast Cancer Risk in Half [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:35
Blood vitamin D levels, not supplement dose, determine breast cancer risk, with studies showing roughly a 40% to 50% lower risk once levels rise into protective ranges Women who maintain blood vitamin D levels around 50…
Astaxanthin — A Therapeutic Agent in Cardiovascular Disease [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:37
Heart disease develops quietly over years as blood vessels lose resilience under oxidative and inflammatory stress, long before symptoms appear Astaxanthin supports heart health by protecting cell membranes and blood ves…
[not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Gestational diabetes now affects nearly 1 in 10 U.S. pregnancies and raises long-term metabolic risks for both mother and child Research shows that exposure to PFAS, common industrial chemicals found in most people's bod…
New Study Shows Hobbies Help People Find More Meaning in Their Jobs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
A five-week study of nearly 200 working adults found that leisure crafting, using hobbies more intentionally, boosted creativity and meaning at work, often more strongly than benefits seen in participants' personal lives…
Arthritis Is Forcing Millions of Americans Out of Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:16
Arthritis-related disability remains high, with nearly half of adults with arthritis struggling to perform basic daily movements that affect independence, mobility, and quality of life About 40% of working-age adults wit…
Aspartame's Hidden Effects on Your Heart and Brain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:46
Long-term, low-dose aspartame intake caused measurable changes in heart structure and brain energy use in mice, even at amounts far below current safety limits Weight and body fat dropped with aspartame use, but this cam…