Summary of Versión Completa. Mitos y realidades sobre la alimentación saludable. J.M. Mulet, científico

00:00:00 - 00:55:00

J.M. Mulet, a scientist, shares his thoughts on what constitutes a healthy diet, advising that it should be based on fruits and vegetables and smaller amounts of grains and animal protein that are not overused. He also advises against the consumption of alcohol, processed foods, and pastries, and recommends maintaining an active lifestyle. However, he acknowledges that various nutritional theories and misinformation in the market make it challenging to apply this knowledge, leading to widespread confusion. He advises against fad diets, but rather working with a professional nutritionist and debunking myths, such as those surrounding paleo diets and vitamin and protein supplements, and sugar. Additionally, Mulet discusses the importance of vaccinations, evidence-based therapies, and encourages young students to pursue science careers as there is no other profession as personally satisfying as making a new discovery or confirming a hypothesis.

• 00:00:00 In this section, J.M. Mulet, a scientist, shares his thoughts on what constitutes a healthy diet. He believes it should be based on fruits and vegetables, with smaller amounts of grains and animal protein that are not overused. He also cautions against the consumption of alcohol, processed food and pastries, and recommends maintaining an active lifestyle. However, applying this knowledge is challenging since there are various nutritional theories and misinformation in the market, leading to widespread confusion. Additionally, he thinks the notion that people ate better in the past is a myth and that the variety of food in today's world is much greater than before, although he acknowledges that people in the past adhered to the availability of seasonal products.
• 00:05:00 In this section, the scientist highlights the importance of eating fruits and vegetables that are in season, as they are at their best and are often cheaper. He then discusses the issue of child obesity, stating that parents and educators need to prioritize teaching children good eating habits instead of succumbing to peer pressure and allowing unhealthy snacks. The scientist also analyzes the Mediterranean diet, explaining that it was originated by Ancel Keys but was based on a study from post-WWII Crete. While the Mediterranean diet has been extensively studied, the scientist argues that previous studies may have overlooked other factors contributing to the health of the Cretan population, such as their low calorie intake and high levels of physical activity.
• 00:10:00 In this section, Dr. José Miguel Mulet, a Spanish scientist, explains that a balanced diet is not a one-size-fits-all approach and that genetic adaptations need to be taken into account. He points out that people living in the Mediterranean region adapt well to the Mediterranean diet, which is still the best option for them. Additionally, he cautions against fad diets, which may be dangerous, and recommends that people work with a professional nutritionist to obtain a personalized diet. Finally, he debunks the paleo diet and warns against diets that lack scientific credibility.
• 00:15:00 In this section, J.M. Mulet, a scientist, discusses the use of vitamin and protein supplements. He advises that if someone has a good diet, they do not need any supplement. If a person needs to take supplements, then that is the first signal that their diet is not good. He warns that a protein-rich diet in excess can cause long-term kidney problems, bone decalcification, and gout. Moreover, while a vegetarian diet can be good with proper supervision, a vegan diet will require closer supervision due to potential problems with vitamin B12 and iodine deficiencies. Mulet suggests that a vegetarian diet should include eggs and milk to achieve nearly everything they need, but still recommends seeing a dietitian.
• 00:20:00 In this section, the scientist explains that the main issue with vegan diets is the lack of vitamin B12 since the majority of sources come from animal products. He also discusses the problems with the consumption of sugar and its relation to health, explaining that it is a nutrient that provides energy to the body, but it has been abused in the past due to an increase in ultraprocessed products. He advises against demonizing sugar or completely eliminating it but warns against consuming products that contain high amounts of sugar. He also talks about the safety and benefits of sugar substitutes such as saccharin and stevia, but warns against the overuse of these substitutes, which may lead to a preference for sweet tastes and ultimately encourage the consumption of high-calorie products. Lastly, the scientist debunks the myth that children need high doses of glucose to aid learning, stating that the brain only requires a small amount of glucose, and the metabolism helps to maintain a balance of glucose in the body, regardless of diet variability.
• 00:25:00 In this section, J.M. Mulet, a scientist, talks about how the human metabolism is adapted to manufacture the glucose that the brain needs, even when one is on a zero-carbohydrate diet. He then highlights that children should be given a balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, so they do not become accustomed to sugar and eventually face weight-related problems. Mulet notes that sugar plays an important psychological and emotional role during down or anxious moments, which makes people turn to it. He explains that since sugar was scarce during the era when humans were hunter-gatherers, the brain is wired to accumulate any excess sugar. However, now with modern diets where food is readily available, this predisposition has led to a significant increase in diabetes and obesity. Mulet goes on to clarify that while palm oil is not a nutritional wonder, studies have shown that it does not cause cancer, as was widely believed last year.
• 00:30:00 In this section, the scientist explains that while palm oil is not a poison, it's often found in unhealthy, ultra-processed foods that contain high amounts of sugar or saturated fats. Additionally, the widespread panic surrounding palm oil is largely due to a lack of understanding of the findings of the study it was implicated in. The study in question did not say that palm oil was carcinogenic, but rather it looked at one of the components of palm oil, an amino acid called palmatic acid, and its potential impact on rats. Furthermore, the importance of breakfast is rather controversial as research has found that when the diet is fairly balanced, the distribution of food throughout the day does not have a significant impact on overall health. What is important is that people consume a nutrient-rich, well-balanced diet.
• 00:35:00 In this section, scientist J.M. Mulet discusses the misconceptions surrounding GMOs or transgenic organisms. He explains that a transgenic organism is simply an organism that carries a piece of DNA from another organism for the purpose of improving it. For example, a plant with a protein that can resist a certain pest can be a transgenic organism with that protein inserted into its DNA. Mulet argues that transgenic technology is widely used in many industries such as medicine and textiles but is being restricted in the food industry due to a lack of understanding and fearmongering. He emphasizes that if transgenic organisms do not work, they would not have been bought and further used in society.
• 00:40:00 In this section, the speaker argues that labeling products as transgenic or not, referring to the method used to obtain the organism, is an ideological rather than a scientific or nutritional issue. He explains that the improvement obtained in the organism through genetic engineering can also be done through classical genetics, and in the end, it is the method used to obtain the organism that is defined. The speaker suggests that the focus should be on labeling products as safe and as having less environmental impact, regardless of the method of production. Furthermore, he states that the current regulation of organic farming does not necessarily ensure that products are better for the environment or healthier.
• 00:45:00 In this section, the scientist J.M. Mulet discusses the herbicide glyphosate which was developed in the 1970s by Monsanto and had a lot of success because its toxicity is lower than caffeine or aspirin. Monsanto developed genetically modified crops that are resistant to the herbicide, making it easier for farmers to manage weeds. The controversy surrounding glyphosate came about because it was added to a list of potentially carcinogenic substances by the World Health Organization. However, Mulet argues that the category is qualitative and not quantitative and that there is no scientific justification for prohibition. He points out that there are many other chemicals that are potentially harmful, and that glyphosate is just one of many that have been the focus of campaigns based on questionable scientific evidence.
• 00:50:00 In this section, scientist J.M. Mulet discusses the controversy over processed red meat and its link to colorectal cancer, comparing it to the much stronger link between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer. He also addresses the myth that modern tomatoes have lost their taste, clarifying that taste is impacted by the maturity and seasonality of the fruit. Later, Mulet emphasizes the importance of vaccinations, pointing out that failing to vaccinate children is not only irresponsible parenting but can also lead to the resurgence of deadly diseases such as diphtheria, which recently caused its first casualty in Spain since the 1980s.
• 00:55:00 In this section, J.M. Mulet talks about the clear line between evidence-based therapies that have been scientifically proven to work and those that haven't. He explains that when a therapy has gone through rigorous testing and has been proven to work better than a placebo, it is considered valid and is included in medical protocols. However, there are many therapies like homeopathy, acupuncture, and other eastern practices that have no scientific evidence proving their effectiveness. The problem isn't just about the money, but it also has to do with the fact that patients who rely on non-effective treatments may worsen their health conditions. Mulet encourages young students to pursue science careers, despite the challenges and low pay, as there is no other profession as personally satisfying as making a new discovery or confirming a hypothesis.