8 Out of 9 Dietary Guideline Authors Had Ties to Big Meat and Dairy. So What Are We Supposed to Eat? Dr. John Lewis Breaks It Down

8 Out of 9 Dietary Guideline Authors Had Ties to Big Meat and Dairy. So What Are We Supposed to Eat? Dr. John Lewis Breaks It Down

From Food Heals by Allison Melody

March 17, 2026 · 1h 13m

About this episode

Dr. John Lewis discusses the influence of Big Meat and Dairy on U.S. dietary guidelines and its implications for nutrition and brain health.

Eight out of nine people writing the U.S. dietary guidelines had ties to Big Meat and Big Dairy. Hmm. So what does that mean for the nutrition advice we’re all supposed to trust? I asked a doctor to break it down. And why is cheese so hard to quit? Spoiler alert: it might not be your willpower. There’s actual biology behind it. You know how much I love talking to doctors who are plant-based, and today’s guest is bringing the receipts. Dr. John Lewis is a plant-powered physician, former associate professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and a researcher who has published more than 180 scientific papers. His Alzheimer’s research has shown significant improvements in cognitive function using plant-derived nutrients that support the brain. In this conversation, we connect the dots between diet, brain health, Big Food influence, and the chronic diseases affecting millions of Americans. If you’ve ever wondered whether Alzheimer’s is inevitable… or whether what’s on your plate could actually help protect your brain… this episode will change the way you think about food. In this episode you’ll discover: • The real reason cheese is so addictive, and why quitting it…

People in this episode

Host: Allison Melody

Guest: Dr. John Lewis

Topics covered

  • dietary guidelines
  • nutrition advice
  • plant-based diet
  • brain health
  • chronic diseases
  • food addiction
  • gut health

Keywords

  • dietary guidelines
  • Big Meat
  • Big Dairy
  • plant-based
  • Alzheimer's
  • food addiction
  • gut health
  • nutrition
  • chronic diseases

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Big Meat, Big Dairy

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