The TRUTH on Tallow | Fad or Fact?

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the rise in popularity of beef tallow, especially due to RFK Jr.'s promotion of it. The speaker explains that tallow is beef fat, highlighting its potential health effects, including its impact on blood lipids and heart health. While tallow contains vitamins and is more stable at high temperatures than liquid oils, its saturated fat content raises concerns. The video compares tallow to liquid oils like olive oil, recommending a balanced approach with unsaturated fats for better health, and emphasizes the need for personalized dietary choices based on blood work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tallow is beef fat that's rendered, purified, and solidified, and is sometimes used for cooking.
• 😀 RFK Jr. has been an advocate for tallow, especially promoting deep-frying in it, with slogans like 'Make frying oil tallow again.'
• 😀 The appeal to nature fallacy suggests that just because something is natural like tallow, it must be healthy, which isn't necessarily true.
• 😀 Tallow contains about 50% saturated fat and 50% monounsaturated fat, making it higher in saturated fat than oils like olive oil but less than butter.
• 😀 Tallow provides fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, and some vitamin B12, along with several minerals.
• 😀 Saturated fats like those in tallow can raise LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, though less than butter.
• 😀 Long-term studies on the health effects of tallow are limited, so it's hard to conclude the long-term risks of consuming it.
• 😀 Solid fats, including butter and tallow, are generally linked to higher disease risks and mortality compared to liquid oils like olive oil.
• 😀 Tallow contains some trans fats, but naturally occurring trans fats in animal products may not be as harmful as industrial trans fats.
• 😀 Tallow has better heat stability than liquid oils like olive or canola oil, meaning it tends to degrade slower when exposed to high heat.
• 😀 Despite tallow's potential benefits, deep-fried foods—whether in tallow or seed oils—are likely not a healthy choice due to the nature of deep frying.

Q & A

What is beef tallow and how is it made?

Beef tallow is essentially beef fat derived from cows. It is cut from organs and rendered, which involves melting the fat to purify it and then cooling it down so it solidifies again.

What are the health effects of eating tallow?

While tallow contains beneficial fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and B12, its consumption raises LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, potentially impacting heart health. The overall health effects are still debated, with more long-term human data needed to draw definitive conclusions.

What makes tallow different from other fats like olive oil or butter?

Tallow is higher in saturated fat compared to liquid oils like olive oil, and although it is not as saturated as butter, it still raises LDL cholesterol more than olive oil. Its stability when exposed to heat makes it suitable for frying, unlike some liquid oils.

Is tallow healthier than seed oils, as some advocates suggest?

Advocates for tallow often criticize seed oils for being used in industrial applications, but both tallow and seed oils have industrial uses, and the health implications of eating tallow are not entirely clear yet. Research generally shows that liquid oils, like olive oil, are linked to lower risks of disease compared to solid fats like butter and tallow.

What is the appeal to nature fallacy mentioned in the transcript?

The appeal to nature fallacy is the incorrect belief that if something is natural, it must be safe or healthy. The transcript points out that many natural substances, like arsenic or E. coli, are harmful, showing that 'natural' does not always equate to beneficial.

How does the stability of tallow compare to other oils when exposed to heat?

Tallow, due to its higher saturated fat content, tends to break down slower than liquid oils like olive or canola oil when exposed to heat, particularly during prolonged deep frying. However, high temperatures can still degrade any fat, so moderation and cooking method are key.

Does consuming tallow increase the risk of heart disease?

Studies suggest that diets high in saturated fats, such as tallow, may increase the risk of heart disease and mortality compared to diets rich in liquid oils like olive oil. However, there is insufficient long-term data on the health effects of tallow specifically.

How do naturally occurring trans fats in tallow compare to industrial trans fats?

Tallow contains naturally occurring trans fats, which may not be as harmful as industrial trans fats found in processed foods. While these naturally occurring trans fats are less abundant, their impact on health remains a subject of ongoing research.

What are some cooking techniques recommended in the transcript to avoid health risks associated with fats?

The transcript suggests using cooking methods like sautéing, steaming, and boiling, which avoid the use of high temperatures that can degrade fats. It also recommends avoiding reusing fats and deep-frying as a staple cooking method.

What is the 'eat to your blood work' strategy mentioned in the video?

The 'eat to your blood work' strategy involves personalizing your diet based on your lipid profile. If your cholesterol levels are healthy, you can be more lenient with fat consumption. However, if your lipids are problematic, it's better to focus on unsaturated fats like liquid oils and nuts.