The Truth About Sweeteners, Seed Oils, and Building Real Strength | Nick Barringer, PhD

This week in the studio, I'm joined by Dr. Nick Barringer—Army Ranger, performance nutrition expert, and one of the sharpest minds in military and metabolic health. Together, we cut through the noise around today's most controversial nutrition topics. If you’ve ever felt whiplash trying to make sense of conflicting headlines, this episode is your science-based compass. What’s really going on with artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame? Are seed oils toxic—or just misunderstood? And what’s the actual science behind popular supplements like creatine, testosterone boosters and fat burners? Dr. Barringer brings two decades of elite military and research experience to help us separate hype from evidence—while sharing real-world tools that help people perform, think, and feel better. We cover: Whether sucralose and other artificial sweeteners damage DNA or gut health What to actually worry about with food dyes Seed oils, inflammation, and what most people get wrong about them Protein and carb dosing for people over 40 (and how to think about fiber and fat) Why creatine is still the most underrated supplement for muscle and brain function Tactical hydration tips (and how sweat composition varies with diet) Hidden risks in testosterone boosters and “fat burners” Practical takeaways for elite performance, healthy aging, and being stronger at any age Who is Dr. Nick Barringer? Nick Barringer, PhD, is a Nutritional Physiologist with deep experience in both applied and academic settings. He directed the U.S. Military-Baylor Graduate Program in Nutrition, taught at West Point, and was the first active-duty dietitian to graduate U.S. Army Ranger School and serve with the 75th Ranger Regiment. He holds a PhD in kinesiology from Texas A&M, and his research on tactical nutrition has been featured in outlets like Science Daily and Men’s Journal. This episode is brought to you by: ARMRA - Use code DRLYON for 15% off your first order → tryarmra.com/DRLYON Manukora - Use code DRLYON for $25 off the Starter Kit → manukora.com/DRLYON OneSkin – Get 15% off with code DRLYON → OneSkin.co Ned - 15% off with code DRLYON → helloned.com Find Nick Barringer at: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-barringer-phd-rdn-cscs-cssd-5137789a/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nickbarringer.phd.rdn/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nickbarringer.phd.rdn/ Find me at: Instagram: @drgabriellelyon TikTok: @drgabriellelyon Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon X (Twitter): x.com/drgabriellelyon Apply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/ Join my weekly newsletter – https://institute-for-muscle-centric-medicine.ck.page Get my book – https://drgabriellelyon.com/forever-strong/ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Are sweeteners silently harming your health? 03:10 – Meet Dr. Nick Barringer: Army Ranger, nutrition scientist, elite performance expert 04:35 – Sucralose and DNA damage: What the 2023 toxicology paper found 11:35 – Food dyes and kids: Are Red 40 and Yellow 5 linked to hyperactivity? 15:10 – Seed oils: Are they toxic, inflammatory, or misunderstood? 21:00 – Heavy metals in plant proteins: What the research says and why it matters 25:50 – Designing a muscle-first diet over 40: Protein, carbs, fiber, and real food 30:00 – Carbohydrate dosing: When “carbicide” starts and how to avoid it 43:45 – Creatine for brain and muscle health: Cognitive use, dosing, and myths 51:00 – Hydration, sweat testing, and electrolytes: Tactical tips from military research 57:00 – Nutrition myths, detox diets, and dry-scooping protein powder 1:38:00 – Parenting tips: Ice cream makers, kid involvement, and why it matters Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.