Terry Simpson 1 source tracked
Board-certified surgeon, science communicator, and host of "The Unfiltered MD" podcast, known for debunking health misinformation.
About Terry Simpson →
Terry Simpson is a board-certified surgeon and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist based in Arizona, who spent decades practicing weight loss (bariatric) surgery before shifting his focus to science communication. He received his undergraduate, graduate, and medical degrees from the University of Chicago and completed his surgical residency at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle. A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, he hosts the podcasts "The Unfiltered MD" and "Fork U," and publishes a Substack at drsimpson.com. His work focuses on translating medical evidence for general audiences, covering topics such as the Mediterranean diet, GLP-1 medications, healthspan, and countering health misinformation online.
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Alternative
Canola oil is fine for cooking/frying; concerns about seed oils are unfounded and not supported by data.
“I have no problem with canola oil
TP▶ 1:38:15Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Terry obtained a calcium scan to assess coronary artery disease and recommends it implicitly as part of cardiovascular risk assessment.
“I have a positive calcium scan
TP▶ 1:15:00CaveatsDoesn't replace need for treatment if APOB is elevatedCertaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Terry got the COVID mRNA vaccine as soon as available and says mRNA versions proved classically more effective than non-mRNA versions.
“The mRNA has been more effective classically
TP▶ 8:25CaveatsEfficacy varies by variant (90% wild type, 60% Delta, 40% Omicron); boosters neededCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Terry recommends learning cooking and culinary medicine; his patients who cooked did better post-bariatric surgery than those who didn't.
“my patients who cooked did better than my patients who didn't
TP▶ 28:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Organic (prompted)
Vigorous exercise enlarges coronary arteries and helps accommodate atherosclerotic burden, though doesn't eliminate risk.
“their coronary arteries are larger than normal because they're accommodating that exercise
TP▶ 1:30:00CaveatsDoesn't eliminate plaque or risk of ruptureCertaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Organic (prompted) Alternative
Eating fish reduces cardiovascular risk in ways fish oil supplements do not.
“eating fish does
TP▶ 1:32:00Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Best imaging method for evaluating coronary plaque, better than coronary CT scans.
“intravascular ultrasound, not coronary CT scans
TP▶ 1:18:50CaveatsInvasive; may not be needed if addressing causal agent (APOB)Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Strong endorsement of Mediterranean diet pattern (high vegetables, fruits, whole grains, olive oil, low red meat) for cardiovascular health, weight loss maintenance, cancer reduction, and longevity.
“The Mediterranean diet's about 50 to 55% plant forward
TP▶ 35:40Dosage250g+ vegetables/day, 250g+ fruit/day, 250g+ whole grains, <4oz red meat, <5oz wine for women/10oz menCertaintyexplicitstrong endorsement -
Terry uses California extra virgin olive oil for most cooking; California has highest standards in world for EVOO purity.
“I use olive oil for almost everything
TP▶ 1:37:50Certaintyexplicitpersonal use -
Alternative
Oral Wegovy is nearly as effective as injectable (within 0.6%) and offers advantage of shorter clearance time during illness.
“oral version of Wegovy is just as effective within like 0.6%
TP▶ 1:05:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Alternative
Terry says he would choose a PCSK9 inhibitor for Simon given evidence of plaque regression at lower APOB levels.
“if it were up to me, I would go on a PCSK9 inhibitor
TP▶ 1:17:55Certaintyhedgedrecommendation -
In a protocol
Terry personally takes Crestor for familial hypercholesterolemia and recommends statins broadly; says he wishes he'd started decades earlier.
“I started with the Crestor
TP▶ 1:13:55CaveatsSome people have side effects (he had none)Certaintyexplicitpersonal use -
Avoid saturated fat in fatty liver disease; isocaloric studies show saturated fat is the worst dietary factor for fatty liver.
“the worst part was saturated fat for fatty liver
TP▶ 1:34:20Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
In a protocol
Terry personally uses Zepbound (tirzepatide), lost 50 lbs and kept it off, with improvements in sleep apnea, stress, libido, and food noise.
“I am now on it and it's done remarkable. I've lost 50 pounds
TP▶ 22:10DosageWeekly injection; half-life ~5 daysCaveatsGI side effects (constipation, nausea); food poisoning lasts longer; need to maintain hydration and fiberCertaintypersonal onlypersonal use -
Organic (prompted)
Stop drinking alcohol if you have fatty liver disease.
“Drink alcohol. I mean, so if you have fatty Liver
TP▶ 1:34:00Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Strong warning against carnivore diet; claims like curing psoriasis are false and it can worsen conditions.
“Carnivore will cure your psoriasis, it won't. It will actually make it worse
TP▶ 15:20Certaintyexplicitstrong warning -
Strong warning against compounded GLP-1s sourced outside FDA channels; ~80% of ER complications from GLP-1s come from compounded versions.
“about 80% of the complications...come from compounded GLP1s
TP▶ 58:10Certaintyexplicitstrong warning -
Organic (prompted)
Fish oil supplements don't reduce heart disease, heart attacks, strokes or CHF risk in literature, though eating fish does.
“fish oil...doesn't decrease your risk of heart disease
TP▶ 1:31:50CaveatsPregnancy DHA may have weak benefitsCertaintyexplicitmild caution -
Caution against low-carb diets long-term; correlation with obesity rise, doesn't work for many, lacks evidence for sustained benefit.
“low carb people really didn't do well, by the way, long term
TP▶ 47:00Certaintyexplicitmild caution -
Strong warning against taking nattokinase for cardiovascular protection; data is weak and it raises bleeding risk.
“why would you take something to cause bleeding?
TP▶ 1:31:10CaveatsIncreases bleeding risk in traumaCertaintyexplicitstrong warning -
Organic (prompted)
Stop eating refined grains if you have fatty liver disease.
“stop having refined grains
TP▶ 1:34:10Certaintyexplicitrecommendation -
Alternative
Mentioned as an alternative lipid-lowering option for people scared of statins.
“there's bempeditic acid
TP▶ 1:16:55Certaintyhedgedoffhand mention -
Organic (prompted)
Neutral discussion of retatrutide - shows weight loss and decreases osteoarthritic pain, but heart rate/arrhythmia concerns being monitored.
“retatutide decreases osteoarthritic pain
TP▶ 55:20CaveatsHeart rate increase and arrhythmias noted; phase 3 trials pendingCertaintyhedgedoffhand mention