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 healthWhat to actually worry about with food dyes Seed oils, inflammation, and what most people get wrong about themProtein 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 functionTactical 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/DRLYONOneSkin – Get 15% off with code DRLYON → OneSkin.coNed - 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: @drgabriellelyonTikTok: @drgabriellelyonFacebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyonYouTube:youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyonX (Twitter): x.com/drgabriellelyonApply to become a patient – https://drgabriellelyon.com/new-patient-inquiry/Join my weekly newsletter –

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show promotes a healthy world, and in order to have a healthy world, we must have transparent conversations. This show is dedicated to such conversations as the listener; your education, understanding, strength, and health are the primary focus. The goal of this show is to provide you with a framework for navigating the health and wellness space and, most importantly, being the champion of your own life. Guests include highly trustworthy professionals that bring both the art and science of wellness aspects that are both physical and mental. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a Washington University fellowship-trained physician who serves the innovators, mavericks, and leaders in their fields, as well as working closely with the Special Operations Military. She is the founder of the Institute of Muscle-Centric Medicine® and serves patients worldwide.

• No. of episodes: 153
• Latest episode: 2025-05-06
• Health & Fitness Science Medicine Life Sciences

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