HoldsUp

The Diary Of A CEO · 2026-02-26 · Steven Bartlett (host), Jessie Inchauspé

They're Lying About 'Healthy' Foods & Sugar! Shocking New Research That's Harming You

55 research-tied claims examined: 3 contradicted 4 overstated 4 context 39 supported 5 unverified

3 Contradicted by research
0:03:39Jessie Inchauspécontradictedhigh

Unsteady blood glucose levels impact the brain neurotransmitter tyrosine, which manages mood.

"And scientists then found that when you have very unsteady glucose levels, it impacts this neurotransmitter in your brain called tyrosine that manages your mood." (said at 0:03:39)

The speaker's statement contains fundamental biochemical errors. Tyrosine is a dietary amino acid and a precursor for catecholamine neurotransmitters (such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine), not a neurotransmitter itself. Furthermore, there is no established scientific evidence showing that 'unsteady glucose levels' directly act on a 'neurotransmitter called tyrosine' to manage mood. While acute changes in glucose and insulin can affect plasma amino acid competition across the blood-brain barrier, the specific mechanism described by the speaker misstates basic neurobiology.

0:32:21Jessie Inchauspécontradictedmoderate

Adults have approximately 100 billion neurons in their brain and they are the exact same neurons present at birth because neurons are never replaced.

"And today, Steven, you have about 100 billion neurons in your brain, and they are the exact same neurons that you had the day you were born. Neurons never get replaced." (said at 0:32:21)

The speaker's assertion that the neurons in an adult brain 'are the exact same neurons that you had the day you were born' and that 'neurons never get replaced' is contradicted by evidence of adult neurogenesis in humans. While most neocortical neurons are generated around the perinatal period and do not turn over in adulthood (PMID: 16901981), neurogenesis continues throughout adulthood in discrete regions of the human brain. Notably, retrospective 14C birth dating demonstrated that approximately 700 new neurons are added daily to each hippocampus, with about one-third of hippocampal neurons undergoing turnover throughout adult life (PMID: 23746839).

0:47:06Jessie Inchauspécontradictedmoderate

Approximately 90% of people do not consume enough choline, 75% do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids, and 70% do not get enough protein.

"Your baby will probably be okay even if, like 90% of us, you don't have enough choline, even if, like 75% of us, you don't have enough omega-3s, even if, like 70% of us, you don't have enough protein" (said at 0:47:06)

The speaker's claim bundles three statistics with very different degrees of accuracy: 1) Choline: Supported. Nationally representative survey data (NHANES 2009–2012) show that only ~10.8% of Americans aged ≥2 years meet the Adequate Intake (AI) for choline, meaning roughly 90% consume less than recommended. 2) Omega-3s: Approximately accurate in broad terms, as large proportions of the population fall below recommended dietary intakes for long-chain omega-3s (EPA/DHA). 3) Protein: Contradicted. In the United States and other developed nations, the vast majority of the population meets or exceeds the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for protein; typical rates of inadequate protein intake are under 5–10% (primarily seen in frail older adults), nowhere near 70%. Because the claim states that 70% of people do not consume enough protein, the statement as a whole is contradicted.

4 Overstated
0:24:35Jessie Inchauspéoverstatedlow

Visual processing reaction time in infants during their first year of life is correlated with adult IQ.

"flash images on that screen and you measure how quickly the baby reacts to the new images. So, how quickly he moves his eyes. And the reason they do this is because this test is correlated to adult IQ." (said at 0:24:35)

The speaker accurately describes infant visual reaction time / visual anticipation paradigms (where eye movement latency to flashing or alternating images on a screen is recorded), but overstates the evidence by claiming direct correlation with adult IQ. Longitudinal studies (such as Dougherty & Haith, 1997) demonstrate that visual reaction time and anticipation measured at 3.5 months correlate with visual reaction time and intelligence quotient (IQ) in early childhood (e.g., at age 4), rather than adulthood.

0:42:41Jessie Inchauspéoverstatedmoderate

Studies demonstrate that performing 5 to 10 squats every 5 minutes after eating significantly reduces postprandial glucose spikes.

"there's some studies showing that if you do, I think it's five squats or 10 squats every 5 minutes, that is a very powerful way to get your glucose spike down." (said at 0:42:41)

Studies evaluating brief bodyweight resistance exercise to break up postprandial sedentary time typically use intervals of every 20 to 30 minutes (such as 10–15 chair squats or 3 minutes of simple resistance activities), not 'every 5 minutes'. Furthermore, in healthy and overweight adults without diabetes, intermittent chair squats consistently reduce postprandial insulin concentrations without significantly altering postprandial blood glucose levels. Significant attenuation of postprandial glucose excursions with intermittent bodyweight resistance breaks has been demonstrated primarily in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

1:14:33Steven Bartlett (host)overstatedvery low

Being breastfed as an infant epigenetically programs higher leptin production that can persist for life.

"And leptin is the hormone we talked about at the beginning, which when you're breastfed as a baby, you're epigenetically making more leptin. And this setting can stay with you for life." (said at 1:14:33)

The speaker's claim is overstated. Small observational studies in infants (such as Obermann-Borst et al., 2013) have found an association between longer duration of breastfeeding and lower DNA methylation of the leptin (LEP) gene promoter at 17 months of age, which correlates with higher circulating leptin levels in early childhood. However, these studies are preliminary, cross-sectional, and limited to infancy/toddlerhood. There is no empirical longitudinal evidence demonstrating that breastfeeding epigenetically locks in permanently higher leptin production across the human lifespan.

1:18:27Steven Bartlett (host)overstatedhigh

Humans share approximately 98% of their DNA with orangutans.

"Did you consider, I don't know, the orangutan where we share most of our DNA? I think it's like 98% of our DNA." (said at 1:18:27)

Humans do share a high degree of sequence similarity with orangutans, but the ~98% figure applies to our closer great ape relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos (~98.8%) and gorillas (~98.4%). Comparative genomic sequencing shows that humans share approximately 97% (about 96.9% nucleotide identity in alignable regions, or a ~3.1% divergence rate) of their DNA sequence with orangutans (Pongo abelii and Pongo pygmaeus), reflecting their status as the most phylogenetically distant of the great apes from humans.

4 Needs context
0:05:22Jessie Inchauspéneeds contexthigh

The World Health Organization recommends a limit of 25 grams of sugar per day or less.

"The World Health Organization recommends 25 g of sugar per day or less." (said at 0:05:22)

The statement is partially accurate but requires important qualification. The World Health Organization (WHO) guideline on sugar intake sets guidelines as percentages of total energy intake specifically for 'free sugars' (added sugars plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices), not total dietary sugars. The WHO makes a strong recommendation to limit free sugars to less than 10% of total daily energy intake (approximately 50 g/day for a standard 2,000 kcal diet) and a conditional recommendation to reduce them to less than 5% of total daily energy intake (which corresponds to roughly 25 g or 6 teaspoons per day for an adult consuming 2,000 kcal). In addition, fixed daily limits such as 25 g/day are formally stated by other organizations, such as the American Heart Association (for children and women).

0:35:42Steven Bartlett (host)needs contextmoderate

A Diabetes Care study of 700 women found that continuous glucose monitoring in the first trimester accurately predicted who would develop gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks.

"I was reading about a study from Diabetes Care that stated they put these continuous glucose monitors on 700 women and found that if they did it in the first trimester, they could accurately predict who would develop gestational diabetes at 24 to 28 weeks." (said at 0:35:42)

Studies published in Diabetes Care have evaluated first-trimester continuous glucose monitoring (CGM at 10–14 weeks) to predict gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed at the standard 24–28 weeks. The large multi-center GO MOMs study (PMID 42251767, n=2,178) found that adding first-trimester CGM data to clinical risk factors modestly improved GDM prediction (positive predictive value 19.8% vs. 12.2% for clinical factors alone at a fixed negative predictive value ≥96%), though early oral glucose tolerance testing was superior (PPV 26.5%). A smaller cohort in Diabetes Care (PMID 39235839, n=103) also found higher predictive discrimination with CGM metrics. While the host correctly identifies the journal, timing (first trimester), and target outcome (GDM at 24–28 weeks), describing CGM as being able to 'accurately predict' overstates the modest clinical predictive value observed in large prospective cohorts.

  • partial: Utilizing Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Early Detection of Gestational Diabetes Mellit… (Diabetes care 2024) · cited 25x in the literature
    "All of them had worn blinded CGM devices in early pregnancy and underwent the universal GDM screening at 24-28 gestation weeks. Models were selected based on early pregnancy risk factors and CGM-derived parameters to compare their respective predictive values for GDM and pregnancy outcomes... CGM-derived novel parameters demonstrated greater performance (e.g., area under the curve: 0.953 vs. 0.722) for predicting incident GDM compared with the model using traditional risks." (abstract, results, passage verified)
    pubmedfull study (doi)
  • context: Early Pregnancy Glycemic Testing for Prediction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Large… (Diabetes care 2026)
    "In the Glycemic Observation and Metabolic Outcomes in Mothers and Offspring (GO MOMs) study, a prospective observational study at nine U.S. sites (2021-2025), participants with singleton gestation and without preexisting diabetes underwent blinded 75-g OGTT and CGM at 10-14 weeks' gestation. Predictive models for GDM at 24-28 weeks' and LGA were developed using these data and clinical factors (maternal age, BMI, GDM or macrosomia history)... At NPV ≥96% and 8.3% GDM prevalence, PPV for GDM was 12.2% (95% CI 11.0-13.3%) for clinical factors alone, 26.5% (23.1-30.3%) for OGTT plus clinical factors, and 19.8% (17.2-22.5%) for CGM plus clinical factors." (abstract, results, passage verified)
    pubmedfull study (doi)
0:40:44Jessie Inchauspéneeds contextmoderate

Performing soleus calf raises after eating reduces postprandial blood glucose spikes.

"So, this muscle is very good at soaking up glucose from your bloodstream. So, an easy hack you can do after you eat something sweet is you just do some calf raises at your desk like this. Nobody can notice. 5 minutes, and that's going to help reduce the glucose spike of what you just ate." (said at 0:40:44)

Performing seated calf raises/soleus contractions (known as the 'soleus push-up') has been shown in acute crossover human trials to substantially reduce postprandial glucose excursions (by approximately 32% to 52%) and insulin responses. However, context is required regarding the duration: the foundational studies demonstrating these large reductions had participants perform continuous or prolonged soleus contractions over the 2- to 3-hour postprandial testing window, rather than a brief 5-minute bout.

1:00:18Jessie Inchauspéneeds contextmoderate

Methylated folate is better absorbed than standard folic acid.

"a type of folic acid called methylated folate, which is better absorbed." (said at 1:00:18)

The claim states that methylated folate is a type of folic acid that is better absorbed. Pharmacokinetically, synthetic folic acid (pteroylmonoglutamic acid) and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF, methylated folate) are both well-absorbed through the intestinal proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). Clinical crossover trials evaluating bioavailability show that 5-MTHF results in equal or higher plasma folate area-under-the-curve (AUC) and peak concentrations compared to equimolar folic acid, partly because 5-MTHF does not require hepatic reduction by dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) or conversion via MTHFR. However, stating simply that it is 'better absorbed' conflates intestinal absorption with post-absorptive systemic bioavailability and metabolic processing, and strictly speaking, methylated folate is the biologically active form of folate rather than a 'type of folic acid'.

39 Supported by research
0:00:00Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Approximately 90% of pregnant women do not get enough choline during pregnancy.

"For example, 90% of moms are not getting enough choline during pregnancy." (said at 0:00:00)

Nationally representative dietary data from NHANES in the United States demonstrate that approximately 90% or more of pregnant women fail to meet the established Adequate Intake (AI) recommendation for choline (450 mg/day during pregnancy). Analyses of NHANES cohorts find that only about 8% of pregnant women meet or exceed the AI for choline from food and dietary supplements.

0:00:00Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

High maternal glucose levels during pregnancy cause epigenetic switches in fetal DNA that program a higher vulnerability to diabetes, obesity, and psychiatric disorders.

"Because if you have very high glucose levels during pregnancy, scientists have found that your baby's DNA will have epigenetic switches that are programming them towards having a higher vulnerability to develop diabetes, obesity, and psychiatric disorders." (said at 0:00:00)

Epidemiological and epigenetic studies in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) literature support the claim. Intrauterine exposure to maternal hyperglycemia and gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with altered cord blood DNA methylation profiles. These epigenetic modifications have been linked to increased offspring vulnerability to obesity, insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, and neurodevelopmental or psychiatric conditions (including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and cognitive impairments).

0:01:09Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Studies demonstrate that low-protein diets during pregnancy lead to smaller babies and epigenetic programming to stay smaller throughout life.

"Because the studies show low protein diets lead to smaller babies. And potentially, this epigenetic programming of staying smaller throughout life." (said at 0:01:09)

Extensive experimental and epidemiological literature within the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework confirms that maternal protein restriction during gestation leads to reduced birth weight / small-for-gestational-age infants and intrauterine growth restriction. Furthermore, research demonstrates that gestational low-protein diets induce epigenetic alterations (such as DNA methylation and histone modifications) affecting one-carbon metabolism, endocrine signaling, and lifelong growth/metabolic trajectories.

0:02:53Jessie Inchauspésupportedlow

In a study of married couples using voodoo dolls, participants with the lowest glucose levels placed the most pins in the voodoo doll representing their spouse.

"They found that the people who had the most glucose lows had put the most pins in the voodoo doll representing their spouse." (said at 0:02:53)

A 2014 study by Bushman et al. tracked 107 married couples over 21 days, measuring evening blood glucose levels and aggressive impulses via the number of pins stuck into a voodoo doll representing their spouse (0-51 pins). As stated by the speaker, participants with lower blood glucose levels stuck significantly more pins into the voodoo doll and exhibited more aggressive behavior in a subsequent noise-blast task.

0:05:22Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

A standard glass of orange juice contains the same amount of sugar as a can of Coca-Cola, about 25 grams.

"If you compare a glass of orange juice to a glass of Coca-Cola, it's the same amount of sugar, about 25 g." (said at 0:05:22)

Standard nutritional analyses and experimental profiling confirm that 100% orange juice and regular cola have very similar sugar concentrations (roughly 9–11 g of sugar per 100 mL, equivalent to ~9–11% total sugar). Consequently, a standard glass (typically 200–250 mL or ~8 fl oz) of either orange juice or cola provides approximately 20–26 grams of sugar, matching the speaker's figure of about 25 grams.

0:18:51Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

In the first trimester of pregnancy, the embryo receives nutrition from uterine milk secretions rather than the placenta.

"In the first trimester, your baby's getting food from the sort of milk that your uterus creates. So, it's uterine secretions." (said at 0:18:51)

During the first trimester of human pregnancy, the maternal intraplacental blood circulation is not yet fully established. Instead, early embryonic nutrition is histiotrophic, derived from the secretions of the maternal endometrial/uterine glands (historically referred to as 'histiotrophe' or 'uterine milk'). These secretions, rich in glycoproteins and glycogen breakdown products, are released into the intervillous space and taken up by the developing trophoblast and yolk sac until approximately 10 to 12 weeks of gestation, when hemotrophic placental blood flow fully begins.

0:21:25Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

A single egg contains approximately 125 milligrams of choline.

"So, that egg that you're holding contains about 125 mg of choline." (said at 0:21:25)

Standard nutritional reference data (such as USDA FoodData Central) establish that a single whole egg provides approximately 125 mg to 150 mg of choline depending on size (a large egg provides approximately 147 mg, while medium eggs contain around 115-125 mg, predominantly concentrated in the yolk). Scientific reviews evaluating dietary sources identify eggs as one of the primary rich dietary sources of choline in human nutrition.

0:21:25Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that failure to provide choline during early development can result in lifelong brain deficits in the baby.

"So much so that the American Association of Pediatrics says failure to provide choline during this time can result in lifelong brain deficits in the baby." (said at 0:21:25)

The claim accurately reflects the official 2018 policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Nutrition ('Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health', published in Pediatrics). The AAP explicitly identified choline as one of several critical neurodevelopmental nutrients and concluded that failure to provide adequate key nutrients during the first 1,000 days of life can lead to lifelong deficits in brain function, even if nutrient repletion occurs later.

0:21:25Jessie Inchauspésupportedvery low

Animal studies show that depriving pregnant mothers of choline causes fetal brain development to stop earlier and leads to babies born with fewer neurons.

"And scientists do these animal studies where they deprive moms from choline and they look at the impact on the brain. And they see that brain development in the baby stops earlier than it should. And those babies are born with fewer neurons." (said at 0:21:25)

The speaker explicitly framed the claim around animal research. Rodent studies demonstrate that maternal dietary choline deficiency during pregnancy impairs neural progenitor cell self-renewal/proliferation and prematurely reduces neurogenesis, resulting in offspring with significantly fewer cortical neurons that persist into adulthood. Because the evidence is derived entirely from animal models, the GRADE certainty is rated as very low.

0:24:03Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

In a Cornell study, infants born to mothers who took double the minimum recommended choline during pregnancy had 10% faster visual processing reaction times during their first year.

"And so, they were wondering, could we see a difference in the baby's reaction time depending on the mom's choline level in the womb? And they found that the babies who were born to the high choline moms had 10% faster reaction time to this test." (said at 0:24:03)

In a randomized, double-blind controlled feeding trial conducted at Cornell University (Caudill et al., 2018), pregnant women in their third trimester were randomized to either 480 mg choline/day (approximating the recommended Adequate Intake of 450 mg/day) or 930 mg choline/day (approximately double the recommendation). Infants were evaluated at 4, 7, 10, and 13 months of age using a visual attention task measuring information processing speed. Mean reaction time across the first year was significantly faster in infants of mothers in the 930 mg/day group compared to the 480 mg/day group. The certainty is rated moderate due to the small sample size (n = 24 completing testing).

0:26:22Steven Bartlett (host)supportedlow

A 2013 Dutch study of 120 children published in Pediatric Research found that shorter breastfeeding duration was associated with epigenetic silencing of the gene for leptin.

"I was reading about a study in the Pediatric Research Journal that says a 2013 Dutch study of 120 children found that less breastfeeding was linked to a silencing of the gene for leptin, the hormone that signals fullness." (said at 0:26:22)

A 2013 observational study published in Pediatric Research (Obermann-Borst et al., Erasmus MC, Netherlands) evaluated 120 17-month-old children and found that a shorter duration of breastfeeding was significantly associated with higher DNA methylation (epigenetic silencing) of the leptin (LEP) gene.

0:27:19Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

People in the UK who were in utero during the 1940-1953 sugar rationing period had a 15% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life compared to those conceived just after rationing ended.

"And they saw that the babies who were born and who were in the mother's womb during the sugar ration had 15% lower likelihood of having developed type 2 diabetes in their lifetime." (said at 0:27:19)

A 2024 quasi-experimental study by Gracner et al. published in Science used UK Biobank data to examine the end of UK sugar rationing in September 1953. The authors found that rationing in early life (first 1000 days) reduced type 2 diabetes risk by approximately 35%, with in utero exposure alone accounting for about one-third of that reduction (~15% lower risk).

0:11:16Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

The protein leverage hypothesis posits that the human body maintains appetite and drives food-seeking behavior until an adequate target intake of dietary protein is achieved.

"There's this theory called the protein leverage hypothesis, and this theory says that your body will keep you hungry and keep you seeking food until you've given it enough protein." (said at 0:11:16)

The speaker accurately defines the core premise of the protein leverage hypothesis (originally formulated by David Raubenheimer and Stephen Simpson). The hypothesis posits that humans prioritize protein intake over other macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and fats, leading to increased appetite and overall food/energy intake when dietary protein concentration is diluted until a specific protein target is met.

0:22:58Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

The recommended dietary intake of choline for pregnant women is approximately 450 milligrams per day.

"I was giving my baby all the choline that he needed, which is about 450 mg per day." (said at 0:22:58)

The claim accurately reflects established nutritional reference standards. The Institute of Medicine (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) established the Adequate Intake (AI) recommendation for choline during pregnancy at 450 mg/day (compared to 425 mg/day for non-pregnant women and 550 mg/day during lactation).

0:23:36Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Eating liver is restricted during pregnancy because high levels of vitamin A can cause developmental harm to the fetus.

"So, liver contains a lot of vitamin A, quite high levels of vitamin A. And there are some older studies that show that liver and high vitamin A can cause issues to the baby. That's why liver is not usually recommended during pregnancy." (said at 0:23:36)

The speaker's claim is supported by epidemiological and nutritional evidence. Preformed vitamin A (retinol) is abundant in liver, and excessive maternal intake of preformed vitamin A during early pregnancy is well-established to be teratogenic, significantly increasing the risk of cranial-neural-crest defects. Because a single serving of liver often exceeds safe upper intake levels, public health guidelines routinely advise pregnant women to avoid eating liver.

0:30:39Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

The World Health Organization recommends limiting sugar intake to 25 grams per day.

"the WHO recommends 25 g of sugar per day." (said at 0:30:39)

The statement is supported with important context regarding the exact recommendation format. In its official 2015 dietary guideline, the World Health Organization (WHO) strongly recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total daily energy intake in both adults and children, and makes a conditional recommendation for a further reduction to below 5% of total energy intake. For an adult on a standard 2,000-calorie daily diet, a 5% limit translates precisely to about 25 grams (approximately 6 teaspoons) of free sugars per day. Additionally, the American Heart Association (AHA) explicitly recommends a limit of 25 grams (100 calories) of added sugar per day for women and children.

0:30:45Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Most pregnant mothers consume approximately 80 grams of sugar per day.

"But most moms are eating 80 g of sugar per day. 80 g, which is usually more than what they eat when they're not pregnant" (said at 0:30:45)

Nationally representative dietary data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2003–2012) show that pregnant women in the United States consume an average of approximately 85.1 g/day (95% CI: 77.4–92.7) of added sugars, which is higher in absolute grams than the average intake among nonpregnant women of reproductive age (76.7 g/day, 95% CI: 73.6–79.9).

0:31:20Steven Bartlett (host)supportedmoderate

A Danish study in JAMA Network found that children born to mothers with diabetes had a 15% higher risk of psychiatric disorders, a 55% higher risk of schizophrenia, a 29% higher risk of intellectual disability, and associations with autism and ADHD.

"There's a study here in the JAMA Network. It says a Danish study found that children born to mothers with diabetes had a 15% higher risk of psychiatric disorders with schizophrenia risk being 55% higher, intellectual disability 29% higher, and a connection to autism and ADHD." (said at 0:31:20)

A 2021 nationwide Danish registry cohort study published in JAMA Network Open evaluated 2,413,335 individuals over up to 39 years of follow-up. The study found that maternal diabetes during pregnancy was associated with a 15% higher hazard of any psychiatric disorder (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.10-1.20), a 55% higher hazard of schizophrenia (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.15-2.08), and a 29% higher hazard of intellectual disability (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.11-1.50), along with elevated risks for developmental disorders (which include autism spectrum disorders) and behavioral disorders (which include ADHD).

0:31:40Steven Bartlett (host)supportedmoderate

A 2025 review of 200 studies involving 56 million mother-infant pairs in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found a 25% higher risk of autism when mothers had diabetes during pregnancy.

"A 2025 review of 200 studies, which is 56 million mother-baby pairs, found a 25% higher risk of autism when mothers had diabetes during pregnancy. ... From the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology report." (said at 0:31:40)

The claim precisely describes the findings of a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. The study synthesized data from 202 observational studies covering approximately 56.1 million pregnancies and found that maternal diabetes was associated with a 25% increased risk of autism spectrum disorder in children after adjusting for multiple confounders (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20–1.31).

0:32:40Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Neurons are formed in the fetal brain at a rate of 250,000 per minute during pregnancy.

"Now, you have these neurons in the baby's brain being formed 250,000 per minute." (said at 0:32:40)

The rate of 250,000 neurons (or neural cells) generated per minute in the fetal brain is a widely recognized estimate in neurobiology. It derives from the production of approximately 86 to 100 billion neurons over the course of human gestation, with peak neurogenesis rates estimated around 250,000 cells per minute during embryonic and fetal brain development.

0:37:27Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

The standard fasting blood glucose cutoff between healthy and prediabetes is 100 mg/dL in non-pregnant adults, whereas in pregnancy a fasting level above 92 mg/dL indicates gestational diabetes.

"if you're not pregnant, like you and I, 100 mg per deciliter is the cutoff between healthy and prediabetes. ... If you're pregnant, that changes. Anything above 92 mg per deciliter is considered diabetes of pregnancy." (said at 0:37:27)

The speaker's statement accurately reflects standard diagnostic guidelines. In non-pregnant adults, the American Diabetes Association defines impaired fasting glucose (prediabetes) starting at 100 mg/dL (100–125 mg/dL). In pregnancy, under the widely adopted International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) and ADA one-step criteria, a fasting plasma glucose level of ≥92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L) is diagnostic for gestational diabetes mellitus.

0:39:15Jessie Inchauspésupportedlow

Having higher muscle mass during pregnancy is protective against developing gestational diabetes.

"And that's why we see that even during pregnancy, having high muscle mass is protective against diabetes. So, women with higher muscle mass in pregnancy are less likely to have gestational diabetes." (said at 0:39:15)

Observational cohort studies evaluating body composition in early pregnancy support the claim. Higher skeletal muscle mass (SMM), skeletal muscle mass percentage (SMMP), and higher skeletal muscle-to-fat mass ratios (SMM/FM) measured in the first trimester are significantly associated with improved insulin sensitivity and a lower risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Because the available evidence is derived from observational cohorts and bioelectrical impedance body composition analyses, certainty is graded as low.

0:41:13Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Eating vegetables at the beginning of a meal creates a fiber mesh in the intestine that slows glucose absorption and reduces postprandial glucose spikes.

"the glucose hack of having your vegetables at the beginning of your meal. This is incredibly powerful, pregnancy or not pregnancy, because vegetables contain fiber. And when you have them at the beginning of your meal, they create this protective mesh in your intestine that slows down the glucose molecules from carbs and makes the glucose molecules arrive more slowly into your bloodstream, meaning smaller spike." (said at 0:41:13)

Multiple randomized crossover trials demonstrate that consuming vegetables (fiber) prior to carbohydrates significantly flattens postprandial glucose excursions and reduces insulin spikes. This effect has been confirmed in healthy individuals, individuals with prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and pregnant women with gestational diabetes. Mechanistically, soluble and insoluble dietary fibers form a viscous matrix or barrier in the upper digestive tract and delay gastric emptying, slowing the enzymatic breakdown and intestinal absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream.

0:45:04Jessie Inchauspésupportedvery low

In a rodent study, pregnant rats exercising on treadmills for 30 minutes a day gave birth to pups that solved mazes twice as fast, had lower anxiety symptoms, and had higher brain BDNF levels.

"one group also had these tiny little treadmills that they had to walk on for 30 minutes a day every day during pregnancy. ... They found that the babies that were born to the moms who were exercising solved the maze twice as fast and had fewer anxiety symptoms. ... in these pregnant rats, they found not only were the moms' BDNFs higher, but the babies' BDNF levels inside of the wombs was also higher." (said at 0:45:04)

The speaker explicitly describes findings from preclinical rodent experiments. Published animal studies confirm that maternal treadmill exercise during pregnancy enhances spatial learning and memory in offspring (e.g., in water or radial maze tasks), reduces anxiety-like behaviors in behavioral paradigms, and increases offspring brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in brain regions such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Because the available evidence consists entirely of animal models, the GRADE certainty is very low.

0:51:36Steven Bartlett (host)supportedlow

A University of Melbourne 3D imaging study showed that low maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes alterations in offspring facial morphology persisting up to age eight and weaker connections in the right anterior cingulate cortex.

"There was actually a study that came out in February last year, which is quite recent, from the University of Melbourne, where they used high-resolution 3D imaging to reveal that even low doses of alcohol cause facial morphing, consistent changes in the shape of the eyes and nose at 12 months persisting up to age eight, and weaker connections in the right anterior cingulate part of the brain" (said at 0:51:36)

The speaker accurately describes the findings of research from the prospective Asking QUestions about Alcohol (AQUA) cohort study led by researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute / University of Melbourne. Using 3D craniofacial photogrammetry, the researchers demonstrated that low-to-moderate prenatal alcohol exposure was associated with subtle morphological changes in the eyes and nose at 12 months that persisted at age 6 to 8 years (PMID 39928322). In a neuroimaging sub-study of the same cohort at age 6 to 8 years, low-to-moderate exposure throughout gestation was associated with reduced right caudal anterior cingulate cortex volume and area, as well as smaller right cingulum tract cross-sectional area (PMID 38555806). Because these are prospective observational cohort studies rather than randomized experiments, they demonstrate statistical associations rather than definitive direct causation, giving an overall GRADE certainty of low.

0:52:38Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

Alcohol levels in breast milk match maternal blood alcohol levels, clearing approximately 2.5 to 3 hours after consuming a single glass of wine.

"the amount of alcohol in your breast milk mirrors the amount of alcohol in your bloodstream. So, for example, if you have a glass of wine, 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours later, you have pretty much no more alcohol in your bloodstream, which means your breast milk is also pretty much devoid of alcohol." (said at 0:52:38)

Alcohol easily diffuses between maternal blood and breast milk, so alcohol concentrations in breast milk closely mirror maternal blood alcohol levels in real time. Pharmacokinetic evidence and clinical reviews establish that maternal alcohol concentrations parallel breast milk concentrations and that for a standard drink (such as a single glass of wine), blood and milk alcohol clear within approximately 2 to 3 hours depending on maternal body weight and food intake.

0:54:41Steven Bartlett (host)supportedhigh

The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women consuming more than 300 mg of caffeine per day reduce their intake.

"And the World Health Organization recommends that women who consume more than 300 mg of coffee a day, which is roughly three cups, reduce their daily intake during pregnancy." (said at 0:54:41)

The World Health Organization (WHO) antenatal care guidelines recommend that pregnant women with high caffeine intake (more than 300 mg/day) reduce their daily caffeine intake during pregnancy to lower the risk of pregnancy loss and low birth weight neonates. While the speaker verbally misspoke slightly by saying '300 mg of coffee' instead of '300 mg of caffeine', the context ('roughly three cups') and guideline details (threshold of >300 mg/day for intake reduction during pregnancy) accurately reflect official WHO guidance.

0:54:11Steven Bartlett (host)supportedvery low

Animal studies show that maternal caffeine consumption during pregnancy causes smaller offspring, altered cardiac development, and delayed fetal brain growth.

"In certain animal studies they show drinking pregnancy leads to smaller offspring, altered heart development, and delayed brain growth." (said at 0:54:11)

The speaker specifically framed the claim around animal models ('In certain animal studies they show...'). Rodent studies have demonstrated that maternal caffeine administration during gestation causes embryonic growth restriction (reduced fetal crown-rump length and body weight), hemodynamic and structural cardiac alterations, and neurodevelopmental alterations (including delayed GABAergic neuronal migration). Because the evidence base evaluated here consists of preclinical animal experiments, the GRADE certainty is rated very low.

1:02:53Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

One in five pregnancies end in miscarriage, with most occurring in the first trimester.

"One in five pregnancies end in miscarriage. ... In the first trimester. But it can happen later also." (said at 1:02:53)

Large systematic reviews and epidemiological data indicate that approximately 10% to 20% (around 1 in 5 to 1 in 7) of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage (spontaneous abortion), with a global pooled estimate of 15.3% (95% CI 12.5–18.7%). The vast majority of these losses occur during the first trimester (before 12–14 weeks of gestation).

1:14:47Steven Bartlett (host)supportedlow

Stanford University studies show that sleeping for only 5 hours increases ghrelin by approximately 15%.

"Studies from Stanford University show that sleeping for only 5 hours increases ghrelin by approximately 15%." (said at 1:14:47)

A landmark 2004 study co-authored by Stanford University researchers (Taheri et al., analyzing 1,024 participants from the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study) found that short sleep duration was associated with higher morning ghrelin levels, with a predicted 14.9% (approximately 15%) higher ghrelin for 5 hours of nocturnal sleep compared to 8 hours, independent of BMI. Because this finding is derived from observational and regression modeling rather than an experimental trial, certainty regarding direct causality is low.

1:14:55Steven Bartlett (host)supportedmoderate

Sleeping for only 5 hours decreases leptin by approximately 15%.

"The same sleep loss decreases leptin by approximately 15%." (said at 1:14:55)

The claim directly reflects findings from the landmark Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study (Taheri et al., 2004, n=1,024), which analyzed the relationship between sleep duration and appetite-regulating hormones. In multivariable regression models adjusted for confounders including BMI, habitual sleep duration of 5 hours compared to 8 hours was associated with a predicted 15.5% reduction in morning leptin levels.

1:18:14Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Excluding water, a newborn baby is composed of approximately 50% protein.

"By the time your baby's born, he is about 50% protein if you exclude water." (said at 1:18:14)

According to standard physiological reference models of neonatal body composition (such as the Fomon reference infant model), a healthy term newborn consists of approximately 73–75% total body water, 11–12% protein, 11–14% fat, and 2–3% bone mineral/ash. When water is excluded, total dry mass represents roughly 25–27% of body weight, of which protein comprises approximately 45–50% (with fat representing most of the remaining dry mass). Thus, the speaker's assertion that a newborn is about 50% protein excluding water is accurate.

1:18:30Jessie Inchauspésupportedvery low

Animal studies show maternal protein restriction during pregnancy triggers epigenetic changes that program offspring to have smaller muscle mass throughout life.

"And animal studies show something fascinating, Steven. They show that when a mom is slightly protein restricted, meaning she's eating a bit less protein than she needs to, there's a little epigenetic switch happening in the baby that says, "Dear baby, keep your muscles small, because there's not a lot of protein in the world you're about to be born into." ... And so, these animal studies suggest that if you have a low protein diet, your baby will be programmed to stay smaller and have smaller muscle mass throughout his life." (said at 1:18:30)

Animal models (including rodents, sheep, and cattle) confirm that maternal protein or nutrient restriction during pregnancy induces enduring epigenetic modifications (such as genome-wide DNA methylation changes) and altered myogenic gene expression in fetal and postnatal skeletal muscle. These developmental programming changes lead to reduced muscle fiber number, altered muscle cross-sectional area, and persistent reductions in muscle growth throughout life. Because the evidence is derived from preclinical animal models, the GRADE certainty is very low for human translation, though the speaker explicitly restricted the claim to animal findings.

1:20:10Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Pregnant women require approximately 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day in the third trimester.

"So, you need about 1.6 g of protein per kilo of body weight per day in the third trimester of pregnancy." (said at 1:20:10)

Direct metabolic testing using the indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method indicates that protein requirements in the third trimester of pregnancy (late gestation, ~31-38 weeks) are approximately 1.52 to 1.66 g/kg/day (an Estimated Average Requirement of 1.52 g/kg/day and a Recommended Dietary Allowance equivalent of ~1.66 g/kg/day). While legacy dietary guidelines (such as the 2005 Institute of Medicine DRIs) recommended 1.1 g/kg/day based on factorial calculations from non-pregnant adults, subsequent clinical research demonstrated that actual third-trimester physiological protein requirements are significantly higher, matching the claimed ~1.6 g/kg/day.

1:20:30Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Across studies in pregnant women, low-protein diets lead to smaller babies.

"And this is why we see across all women, all studies, low protein diets lead to smaller babies and potentially this epigenetic programming of staying smaller throughout life." (said at 1:20:30)

Substantial evidence from systematic reviews and large prospective cohort studies indicates that maternal protein undernutrition or restriction is associated with lower birth weight and increased risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or low-birth-weight neonates. A Cochrane systematic review of randomized trials found that balanced energy and protein supplementation in pregnant women significantly increased mean birth weight (mean difference +40.96 g) and reduced the risk of SGA births (RR 0.79). Similarly, large cohort analyses (such as pooled Danish and Norwegian cohorts) show that very low maternal protein intake is associated with higher odds of low-birth-weight infants.

1:22:20Jessie Inchauspésupportedvery low

Animal studies demonstrate that high maternal sugar intake during pregnancy triggers epigenetic changes in fetal DNA that promote fat storage.

"So, in animal studies, when a mom has a lot of sugar during pregnancy, there's little epigenetic switches in the baby's DNA that encourage fat storage." (said at 1:22:20)

The speaker specifically framed the claim around animal research. Preclinical rodent studies and narrative reviews confirm that maternal high carbohydrate and sugar (e.g., fructose and sucrose) intake during gestation induces epigenetic modifications, such as altered DNA methylation patterns and microRNA regulation, that program increased adiposity, hepatic lipid accumulation, and metabolic dysregulation in the offspring.

  • supports: Parental overnutrition by carbohydrates in developmental origins of metabolic syndrome. (Physiological research 2021) · cited 2x in the literature
    "Parental diet has been shown to affect offspring metabolic health via multiple epigenetic mechanisms. Excess carbohydrate intake is one of the driving forces of the obesity and metabolic syndrome pandemics. This review summarizes the evidence for the effects of maternal carbohydrate (fructose, sucrose, glucose) overnutrition on the modulation of metabolic syndrome components in the offspring. Despite substantial discrepancies in experimental design, common effects of maternal carbohydrate overnutrition include increased body weight and hepatic lipid content of the "programmed" offspring." (abstract, background and results, passage verified)
    pubmedfull study (doi)
  • supports: Dietary nutrients during gestation cause obesity and related metabolic changes by altering… (Frontiers in endocrinology 2024) · cited 19x in the literature
    "With our literature search, we found evidence for the association between alterations in DNA methylation pattern of different genes caused by maternal under- or overnutrition of several nutrients (protein, fructose, fat, vitamin D, methyl-group donor nutrients) during 3 critical periods of programming (preconception, pregnancy, lactation) and the development of obesity or related metabolic changes (glucose, insulin, lipid, leptin, adiponectin levels, blood pressure, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) in offspring." (abstract, results, passage verified)
    pubmedfull study (doi)
1:23:11Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Studies show that babies born to mothers with high glucose levels during pregnancy are more likely to develop obesity in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

"Studies show that this continues. Babies born to high glucose mothers are more likely to have obesity as children, as teenagers, and as adults." (said at 1:23:11)

Extensive observational literature and systematic reviews support the claim that intrauterine exposure to maternal hyperglycemia (such as gestational diabetes or maternal type 1/type 2 diabetes) is associated with an increased risk of obesity and abnormal glucose tolerance across childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Meta-analyses show elevated BMI z-scores and increased rates of overweight/obesity in offspring across these developmental stages, although part of the association in gestational diabetes is confounded by maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.

1:27:24Jessie Inchauspésupportedhigh

Ingredients on packaged food ingredient lists are legally ordered by weight, with the predominant ingredient listed first.

"Because in the ingredients list, things are ordered by weight. So, the first ingredient is going to be what there is the most of in that food." (said at 1:27:24)

Food labeling regulations worldwide (including US FDA regulations under 21 CFR 101.4, Codex Alimentarius, and international equivalents) mandate that packaged food ingredients be listed in descending order of predominance by weight. Therefore, the first ingredient listed is the predominant component of the product by weight.

1:33:44Jessie Inchauspésupportedmoderate

Approximately 90% of pregnant mothers do not consume enough choline.

"So, for example, choline, you know, I said 90% of moms are not getting enough." (said at 1:33:44)

Nationally representative analyses of US dietary intake data (NHANES) consistently demonstrate that approximately 90% to 92% of pregnant women do not meet the Adequate Intake (AI) recommendation for choline (450 mg/day during pregnancy). Analyses of NHANES data show that only about 7.9% to 8.5% of pregnant women meet or exceed the AI for choline, even when accounting for dietary supplement use.

5 No source found (not proven false)
0:13:12Jessie Inchauspéunverifiedvery low

The human sperm turnover cycle is approximately 3 months.

"So the sperm turnover is about 3 months." (said at 0:13:12)

Due to technical retrieval limitations during the record fetch step, no primary published records could be fetched and verified in this session. Consequently, the claim that the human sperm turnover cycle is approximately 3 months remains unverified under the strict citation requirements.

0:55:26Jessie Inchauspéunverifiedvery low

A developing human fetus requires approximately 70 grams of glucose per day during the third trimester of pregnancy.

"Your baby needs about 70 g of glucose per day at the very end of pregnancy. So, as a pregnant mom, you should be eating 70 g of glucose more than you usually do at the end of pregnancy." (said at 0:55:26)

No published literature matching the specific claim that a human fetus requires ~70 grams of glucose per day in late gestation or that a mother must increase intake by 70 grams of glucose per day was identified within the fetched records. In mammalian and human metabolic physiology, term fetal glucose utilization rates are typically calculated at approximately 4–6 mg/kg/min (roughly 20–30 g/day for a 3.5 kg fetus), whereas total uteroplacental glucose uptake is higher, but the exact figure of 70 g/day for the fetus alone is unverified in the retrieved records.

0:57:43Steven Bartlett (host)unverifiedvery low

According to the G1D Foundation, a strict ketogenic diet is considered dangerous for 99% of pregnancies, with doctors recommending a low glycemic index diet instead.

"There's a study on the G1D Foundation that basically says for 99% of pregnancies a strict ketogenic diet is considered dangerous. Doctors instead recommend a low glycemic index diet." (said at 0:57:43)

No published study or official publication from the Glut1 Deficiency (G1D) Foundation matching the specific claim that a strict ketogenic diet is 'considered dangerous for 99% of pregnancies' could be located. In published clinical literature and clinician surveys (e.g., PMID 40439278, PMID 41878801), ketogenic dietary therapy during pregnancy is treated with substantial caution or avoided by many healthcare providers due to insufficient safety and fetal development data, with more flexible alternatives like the Low Glycemic Index Treatment (LGIT) or Modified Atkins Diet sometimes considered; however, the specific 99% statistic attributed to a G1D Foundation study is unverified in the biomedical literature.

1:22:55Jessie Inchauspéunverifiedlow

Studies across tens of thousands of mothers show higher maternal glucose levels during pregnancy are associated with greater neonatal fat mass.

"And this is why we see across studies on tens of thousands of moms that the higher a mom's glucose levels during pregnancy, the more fat mass a baby is born with." (said at 1:22:55)

The claim references large-scale epidemiological evidence (such as the landmark Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome [HAPO] study of over 23,000 pregnant women, which demonstrated a continuous association between maternal glycemia and neonatal adiposity). However, within the search retrieval budget, full record abstracts with verbatim text were not fetched for direct citation verification.

1:33:50Jessie Inchauspéunverifiedvery low

Surveys show that only 6% of doctors discuss choline with expectant mothers during pregnancy.

"And when people run surveys to see whether doctors are talking to moms about choline, only 6% of doctors are talking to moms about choline during pregnancy." (said at 1:33:50)

No published peer-reviewed survey reporting the specific '6%' figure for doctors discussing choline with pregnant patients was identified in PubMed or Europe PMC. While available preliminary survey literature confirms that healthcare providers very rarely discuss or recommend choline during prenatal care (for example, 0 of 21 obstetric clinicians singled out choline in a survey of prenatal nutritional counseling; PMID 35371391), the exact 6% statistic remains unverified in the biomedical literature and may derive from unpublished industry or consumer market research.

Unverified means no publication matching the claim was located; it does not prove the claim false. Spotted an error? See the corrections policy - disputes from the people quoted are prioritized.