Food for Thought: Oreos instead of statins?!

Good Morning and Happy Friday, Mafia!

Welcome to the first official edition of Food for Thought, the newly reimagined newsletter of The Meat Mafia. Our goal with this newsletter is to equip you with information that will make you, your children, and your children's children healthier for generations to come.

What can you expect from us?

We think differently, speak differently, and act differently than your typical news source for health & wellness. We won't wow you with catchy reals or click-bait titles with no substance. Our lane is long-form content targeted in the health space: we create blogs, podcasts, threads & mini-documentaries (coming soon), to bring the most important information about health to life.

Alright, enough with the small talk. Let's dive into it…

Today at a Glance

• What’s More Nutritious - Steak or Ground Beef?

• Oreos Are 2x More Potent Than Statins in Lowering …

• Weekly Challenge: Try Our Bone Broth

• The Mafia Week in Review

• Weekly Favorites

• Giveaways

• The Week Ahead…

What’s More Nutritious - Steak or Ground Beef?

When we first saw this tweet, we speculatively agreed for all the reasons mentioned. Logically, this made a lot of sense to us, so naturally we decided to dig a bit deeper. Here’s what we found: the steak is actually more nutritious than ground beef.

Mineral Comparison: The analysis below shows that steak actually has a superior mineral composition compared to ground beef (70% lean / 30% fat). However, it’s interesting to note that the ground beef had a noticeably higher amount of calcium than the steak, whereas the steak really didn’t have any minerals that dramatically outperformed the ground beef. Our hypothesis for why the calcium is so much higher is due to everything fastr described - the ground beef is made from more part of the connective tissues and collagenous parts of the animal.

Vitamin Comparison: The vitamin comparison between the two types of meat was much more even than the mineral comparison, where the steak far outperformed the ground beef. The most remarkable highlight we take from looking at these charts is how nutritious meat is in general. The Vitamin B complex present in meat alone is off the charts.

Oreos Are 2x More Potent Than Statins in Lowering LDL Cholesterol

Yes. You read that correctly. 

In an N = 1 experiment conducted by Harvard researcher Nick Norwitz, a recent study showed that Oreo cookies were more effective at lowering LDL cholesterol than high-intensity statin therapy. In just two weeks, Nick observed a 71% decline in LDL cholesterol by adding Oreo cookies into his diet. Comparatively, he only experienced a 32% reduction in LDL cholesterol from high-intensity statin therapy. Now, of course, the point of this study is not to recommend taking Oreos instead of statins. But, it is meant to draw into question our understanding of LDL cholesterol and the role statins play in reducing it.

Why is this important?

The study is fantastic because it draws into question our typical assumptions about LDL cholesterol and the Lipid Energy Model. The paradox between doing something seemingly unhealthy (eating Oreos), and resulting in what seems to be a “good” response (a reduction in a biomarker like LDL cholesterol) is fascinating.

The most striking nature of this experiment is the speed at which the LDL cholesterol declined. It took just 14 days for the biomarker to drop 71%. This tells us that LDL cholesterol is VERY reactive to certain dietary inputs. So, this begs the question - does the patient eating the Oreos experience a decrease in risk of heart attack due to the reduction in LDL cholesterol? The answer is: it depends. It depends if you accept the notion that a high LDL is inherently “bad”.

Here lies the big takeaway from this study: we clearly have more work to do in regards to understanding the true nature of LDL and HDL cholesterol, and how it relates to how we prescribe solutions to improve heart health.

Check out this video below from Mike Mutzel if you want to take a deeper dive into this intriguing study!

⚡ Weekly Challenge: Try Our Bone Broth

Here's the secret people don't want you to know: learning how to make bone broth will make you DRAMATICALLY healthier. I'd go as far as to say that bone broth is the ultimate superfood.

It's the perfect combination of satiating fats and robust amino acid profile. Plus, it's mineral-rich and hydrating, leaving you feeling full for longer.

Personally, we like to drink bone broth right after a workout and before a deep work session. Harry has gone as far as to replace his morning coffee with a morning bone broth. Interestingly enough, the fat and mineral content in the broth provides a surge of energy similar to a coffee without the jitters or crash later. The best part about it is it's so, so simple to make. Ready for this:

Step 1: Fill a Dutch oven with soup bones

Step 2: Fill the Dutch oven 3/4 full of water

Step 3: Bring the water to a boil, and then to a simmer, then add salt and pepper

Step 4: Cook for 6-8 hours, strain out the broth afterward, add more water, and make another batch with the same bones (repeat 2-3x)

Pro tip: you can use the same bones for multiple sessions and get a lot more broth out of it

🕒 The Mafia Week in Review

🎙️  Mike Posner: Life Lessons from Walking Across America

Our podcast surprisingly spans a wide range of topics (despite our ‘Meat Mafia’ name). We enjoy exploring people’s lives whom we admire and discussing the physical and mental differences that have contributed to their success. With Mike, we dove deep into his mental and spiritual disposition, and how he has tapped into a deeper understanding of himself. As you'll hear in the podcast, the growth and purpose he felt while walking across America was a staunch reminder to continue to find ways to challenge ourselves both physically and mentally.

🎙️  Lauren Wright: Finding Success in Alternative Health Solutions

In this episode of the podcast, we talk to Lauren about her experience overcoming debilitating health problems by lowering inflammation and focusing on holistic alternatives. Her story starts with tooth problems and ends with an amazingly empowering story of getting her health back.

👨‍🍳 Pollo Poppers Recipe & Raw Milk Ice Cream Series

Look… trust us when we say this - these Pollo Poppers are NEXT LEVEL! Such a great snack to bring out at a party, to make for the kids as a healthy snack, or to make for the next movie night with the significant other. They pack an amazing punch between a rich cheesy flavor and slightly spicy flavor profile. Best of all they’re simple to make. Plus, who doesn't love a little bite-sized snack? Phenomenal!

Also, we’d be terrible people if we failed to mention that Chef Kasey is launching a Raw Milk Ice Cream series this month. While we’re obviously staunch supporters of eating mainly or entirely animal foods, we also believe that the preparation makes the poison in many to most cases. With homemade raw ice cream, you’re using raw cream, eggs, honey or maple syrup, and vanilla extract for the base. No added sugars, seed oils, or processed foods. In this case, the raw milk ice cream could be considered a super food (particularly for those looking to add some size). Check out this series here or subscribe here to get Chef Kasey’s raw milk ice cream e-book when it launches in February.

🦍 Noble

Product is back in stock and shipping! If you haven’t had the chance to try our inaugural product line, it’s the perfect addition to any busy, active, and ambitious person’s day. In one scoop, you get all the benefits of collagen, colostrum, organ meats, and easy-to-digest protein. It’s great for hair, skin, and nails, and the colostrum is fantastic for the gut. Check it out and let us know what you think! Also, don’t miss the giveaway section at the bottom of the newsletter!

🎨 Rebrand

We rolled out a fresh new brand and we’re pretty darn excited about it! A new logo, banners, podcast cover, and a whole lot more. After spinning up The Meat Mafia two years ago as a scrappy endeavor, we’re proud to now have a logo and brand identity that we feel is sleek, fun, and truly represents us.

🔥 Weekly Favorites

1️⃣ Morley Robbins on Realfoodology: We found Courtney Swan’s podcast episode with Morley Robbins (linked above) to be an absolute must-share. First, Courtney (who we've had on our podcast) is a straight-up amazing human and her guest, Morley Robbins, is LOADED with knowledge on curing fatigue. In the episode, Morley discusses many topics related to iron and how fortified iron, in particular, is causing harm to our energy levels. He does a masterful job in the podcast explaining anti-oxidants and how important they are within our body. If you're suffering from chronic fatigue, give this a listen!

2️⃣ HVMN: Brett and I recently signed up for the Austin Marathon, which of course means we’re adding more running into our training. Now, I have historically been someone who likes to run fasted for anything less than 90 minutes. Recently, I’ve been loving fueling with Ketone IQ as a way to increase the ketones in my body before and during my runs. The most noticeable difference I have felt taking these Ketone IQ shots is the cognitive difference. I feel much sharper and clear-minded afterward, which I’ve found to help me stay locked in during my runs. If you want to check these guys out, visit them in the link above, and use our code ‘MEATMAFIA’ will get you 30% off your first subscription order.

3️⃣ The Seed Oil Scout App: The Seed Oil Scout App is an iPhone and Android application that allows you to search for and find restaurants choosing to cook with healthy fats. More importantly, it helps you find restaurants cooking in seed oils, so you know which ones to steer clear of. Check out their newsletter below and be sure to download the app!

🎁 Giveaways

Mafia, mafia, mafia…

We have a little treat for you. In today’s newsletter, we’re giving away 2 bags of Noble Origins Protein Powder to 2 lucky readers. Here’s how to become eligible:

Step 1: Take this picture and post it to your story on Instagram or Twitter

Step 2: Tag @noble.origins and @meatmafiamedia (on Instagram) and @eatnobleorigins and @MeatMafiaBrett & @MeatMafiaHarry (on Twitter)

We will announce the winners by 9AM Saturday on our Instagram & Twitter accounts, so stay tuned!

👀 The Week Ahead…

Alright Mafia, that’s all we’ve got for you this week. Our next newsletter will be dropping on Friday at 6AM CT and our podcasts next week will be dropping at the standard times, Monday and Thursday at 5AM. Be sure to tune in, rate the show, and share with a friend And as always, reach out with any and all comments — we’d love to hear from you!

Podcast Preview:

• Monday (1/29) — Raw Milk & Deadlifts: The Life-Changing Power of Raw Milk

• Thursday (2/1) — Brett & Harry: How to Eat Healthy?

Stay blessed,

Harry & Brett