Explore every episode of the podcast The Dr Paul Mason Show

A 1991 study gave more than 4,000 rats nitrosamines in their drinking water over about 2.5 years. The lowest dose found to cause cancer, scaled to an equivalent dose for a 70 kg person, was about 126,000 kg of bacon. This works out to ~138 kg a day.Sydney doctor Dr Paul Mason and co-host Alison work through your comments: why beetroot has around 40 times the nitrate of bacon, whether "nitrate-free" bacon is any different, how cooking changes nitrosamines, whether there really is vitamin C in meat, the explorer who lived on meat alone, how much organ meat you actually need, HbA1c after giving blood, blood sugar spikes and the Kraft test, what happens going from carnivore to vegan, and gout on a ketogenic diet.Plus two new segments. What I've Learned: a high IgE, no allergy, and a dental infection ordinary X-rays missed. In the News: anaemia in pregnancy and baby brain size, and an antifungal study that could change how IBD is treated.CHAPTERS0:00 How much bacon gives you cancer?0:13 Welcome: "beetroot has more nitrate than bacon"1:06 The rat study behind the bacon and cancer scare2:52 Would 138 kg of bacon a day give you cancer?4:35 Is "nitrate-free" bacon any different?6:27 Does how you cook bacon matter?7:55 Does the vitamin C in vegetables change anything?9:52 Is there vitamin C in red meat?11:40 How much meat for your daily vitamin C?12:36 The explorer who lived on meat alone17:22 How much organ meat do you actually need?18:18 Why the fat in your meat matters21:02 Do meat eaters need less vitamin C?23:57 Can you get scurvy on keto or carnivore?26:32 Does giving blood change your HbA1c?30:02 Can HbA1c drop from 15 to 5 in three days?31:44 Warning if you take insulin or diabetes medication32:34 Big glucose spikes, normal fasting sugar35:23 The Kraft test: insulin resistance or insulin deficiency?38:08 Insulin timing, CGMs and oatmeal spikes42:12 Carnivore to vegan: what happens to your blood work?46:31 Gout, uric acid and ketones50:34 NEW: What I've Learned: high IgE and a hidden dental infection55:18 Dental CT scans and radiation56:22 NEW: In the News: anaemia in pregnancy and baby brain size58:54 In the News: fluconazole, IBD and gut fungus1:00:59 Making antifungal side effects easier1:03:43 What "high cholesterol" on a blood test measures1:04:49 Are we AI?Every question in this episode came from the comments. Leave yours below, it might end up on screen next episode.THINK PAUL'S GOT SOMETHING WRONG? Tell us, with a paper (PMID or link). Sharp challenges get answered on air.Please keep questions general. No personal medical questions.DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with your own doctor, who knows your individual circumstances. Never start, stop or change medication on the basis of a podcast.HOSTED BY: @alison_makes_sense#bacon #nitrates #drpaulmasonTags

The studies that "proved" red meat causes bowel cancer pre-injected the animals with rocket fuel, known to cause bowel cancer. The result? Red meat PROTECTED them. In this episode, Dr Paul Mason and co-host Alison dig into: -the rat studies behind the red meat–cancer scare-whether a vegan diet plus eggs stacks up-what a "normal" B12 and ferritin really tell you (and what they hide)-the strange case of high B6 on a carnivore diet-daily air-fryer chips and blood sugar, -what continuous glucose monitors actually measure.-low blood pressure-the shifting hypertension goalposts, -meal frequency, -ketones, -PPIs after heart attacks, -the real cause of gout,and the truth about the dying plant.CHAPTERS0:00 The rocket fuel cold open0:20 Welcome + "he should stay in his lane"7:28 Why are vegans hostile to low carb?8:23 Vegan plus eggs — does it stack up?9:53 "My B12 is 776 and ferritin 100" — what blood tests really show24:52 High B6 on a carnivore diet?! The gut bacteria explanation32:45 Air-fryer chips every day — what happens to blood sugar41:29 CGMs: what a glucose monitor really measures52:05 Blood pressure 94/64 — should you worry?55:19 Big Pharma & the moving hypertension goalposts (+ Paul's bodybuilding days)1:00:40 Should you eat five meals a day?1:03:38 Ketones: worth measuring?1:12:57 Do heart-attack patients stay on PPIs for life?1:15:10 Gout: blame the sugar, not the steak1:16:55 The dead plant confession1:19:03 Wrap-upEvery question in this episode came from the comments. Leave yours below - it might end up on screen next episode. (The plant thanks you for your concern.)DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for general information and education only. It is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with your own doctor, who knows your individual circumstances. Never start, stop or change medication on the basis of a podcast.HOSTED BY: @alison_makes_sense

Catch Dr Paul Mason at Carnivore Live, Adelaide — 12 September 2026

Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1530545

Studies of thousands of elderly patients have found the blood pressure associated with the longest life is about 129-130, a number many guidelines classify as stage 1 hypertension.Paul and Alison work through your comments from episode 1 and on Pauls' nutrition masterclass delivered to doctorsmasterclass.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Its Purpose

02:09 Nutrition Masterclass Insights and Myth Busting

05:56 Understanding Vitamin B12 and Its Importance

15:49 Weight Loss Success Stories and Health Improvements

21:19 Blood Pressure Management and Its Implications

28:10 Deprescribing and Patient-Doctor Conversations

35:20 Lifestyle Changes and Patient Compliance

39:36 Informed Consent in Medical Decisions

43:52 H. Pylori and Its Treatment Challenges

48:49 Dietary Considerations and Water Intake

01:04:58 Traveling and Maintaining a Healthy Diet

01:08:40 Carnivore Diet Experiences and Cravings

01:15:57 The Concept of Treats in Diet

01:18:20 Fasting and Its Role in Health

01:21:28 Dietary Needs for Different Age Groups

01:26:01 Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Its Benefits

01:29:45 Pharmacological Effects of Foods

01:32:59 Herbal Medicine vs. Synthetic Drugs

01:37:24 Boron Deficiency and Its Implications

01:39:32 Animal Protein and Kidney Health

01:45:37 Conclusion and Future Topics

Topics including

• blood pressure targets
• deprescribing
• B12
• Helicobacter pylori infections
• boron
• electrolytes
• phytonutrients
• does protein really damages your kidneys.

GOT A QUESTION FOR THE SHOW?Every question in this episode came from a comment. Drop yours below with your first name and city and we'll read the best ones out.

THINK PAUL'S GOT SOMETHING WRONG?Even better - sharp challenges will be addressed on air each fortnight.Please keep questions general. No personal medical questions.AWARDS NOMINATIONS ARE OPENSeen a vacuous are scare mongering claim with either no supporting evidence, or where the evidence has been misrepresented - nominate them for a NOTHING BURGER award.

This podcast is general information and education. It is not medical advice, and nothing here is a substitute for the advice of your own doctor. Never start, stop or change a medication without talking to your treating doctor.HOST: @alison_makes_sense

Catch Dr Paul Mason at Carnivore Live, Adelaide — 12 September 2026 - Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1530545

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr. Paul Mason cuts through the noise on diet, cardiovascular disease, and the forces shaping medical guidelines.

He explains the critical difference between soft and hard plaque, why saturated fat has been unfairly blamed, the role of microbes and biofilms in arterial disease, and how industry funding, publication bias, and cognitive dissonance keep outdated advice alive. You’ll also hear practical insights on the limits of “calories in, calories out,” the risks of GLP-1 drugs, nutrient bioavailability, and how to break free from ultra-processed food addiction.

Essential listening for anyone interested in low-carb/ketogenic/paleo/carnivore nutrition, metabolic health, and evidence-based medicine.

In this episode:
• Cognitive dissonance in medical practice
• Why dietary guidelines fail sick patients
• Soft vs hard plaque and what CT calcium scores really mean
• Misconceptions about saturated fat and heart disease
• Limitations of Mendelian randomisation studies
• Microbes, biofilms and cardiovascular risk
• Industry influence, hidden research and publication bias
• Nutrient density, cost and accessibility of real food
• GLP-1 drugs and muscle/bone loss
• Breaking addictive eating patterns
• Ketosis vs ketoacidosis and metabolic health

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction and context
02:06 – Cognitive dissonance: why doctors struggle with diet advice
04:00 – Why official dietary guidelines fail sick patients
05:11 – Using CT scans to assess coronary plaque
06:55 – Soft plaque vs hard plaque: what actually matters
11:56 – Risks of angiograms and calcium scoring
14:49 – Saturated fat and heart disease: the big misconceptions
20:06 – Genetic studies and the limits of proving causation
25:11 – Microbes, biofilms and cardiovascular disease
29:56 – Publication bias and research that never sees the light of day
34:52 – Industry influence and societal factors shaping health advice
39:50 – Cost and accessibility of nutrient-dense diets
45:13 – GLP-1 drugs: effects on muscle and bone
50:04 – Addiction to processed foods and societal drivers
55:03 – Breaking the cycle of addictive eating
59:53 – Scientific integrity and the importance of accurate information
01:04:55 – Why “calories in, calories out” falls short
01:08:03 – Ketosis, ketoacidosis and true metabolic health
01:09:56 – Final thoughts on health, industry and moving forward

Keywords
Dr Paul Mason, low carb, ketogenic diet, saturated fat, coronary plaque, cardiovascular health, metabolic health, nutrition science, food industry, dietary guidelines, inflammation, soft plaque, hard plaque, GLP-1, processed food addiction, carnivoreThis episode is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional before changing your diet, medication, or treatment.