Dr. Eric Berg Profile picture
Aug 23, 2025 14 tweets 4 min read Read on X
The most dangerous food for your heart…

Isn’t sugar.

It’s something far more common... and it’s probably in your pantry right now.

Here’s what it is and why it’s worse than you’ve been told: 🧵
Sugar is harmful to your heart.

But there is a food that does even more damage.

Some believe it must be omega-6 oils like soy or corn oil. These are harmful.

Yet there is a form of these oils that is far more destructive.

They are called trans fats.
You may think trans fats were banned years ago.

But they never completely disappeared from our food supply. In fact, food manufacturers still use them in ways that are hard to detect.

And the health risks are severe.
Trans fats can:
• Increase the risk of heart attack and stroke
• Worsen insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Promote cancer

Emerging research also suggests potential links to autoimmune conditions, infertility, and even bone health.

Why are they so harmful?
Trans fats are harmful because of how they are made.

Oils like soy, corn, or canola are heated to extremely high temperatures and chemically altered.

This process changes the structure of the fat and creates partially hydrogenated oils, the main source of trans fats.
When you consume these fats, they become part of your cell walls and blood vessels.

This makes your arteries stiff, inflamed, and more prone to damage. It also raises the risk of serious heart problems.

To make matters worse, food labels can be misleading…
If a product contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving, it can legally claim “zero trans fats.”

Most people eat more than one serving, so the amount can add up quickly.

Independent testing shows many foods labeled “zero trans fats” still contain significant amounts. Image
Even when companies reduce trans fats, they often replace them with fully hydrogenated oils.

These might not be labeled as trans fats, but they are still highly processed and can harm your body.

You might be surprised how many everyday foods still contain them.
Trans fats are also found in:
• Pie crusts
• Popcorn
• Cookies and crackers
• Croutons
• Certain beef sticks and snack foods
• Many restaurant meals

Even hospital and school meals often contain them.
Here is how to protect your heart:

• Read labels carefully
• Avoid anything with “partially hydrogenated” or “hydrogenated” oils.
• Choose natural fats from grass-fed animals or healthy oils like olive, avocado, and coconut.

Your heart depends on it.
Every 2% increase of trans fats in your diet raises your risk of dying from a heart attack by up to 35%.

That is why avoiding them completely is essential.

The challenge is that trans fats hide in many everyday foods, even ones you think are safe.
Want an easy way to spot unhealthy foods?

The Dr. Berg Junk Food Meter app lets you scan barcodes to instantly detect hidden sugars, starches, and seed oils.

Tap to download:
• Android: drbrg.co/46eMst4
• iPhone: drbrg.co/43R8JKX
A bit about me:

I’m the creator of Healthy Keto® and Intermittent Fasting protocols, helping over 100M people make healthier choices.

Follow me @dr_ericberg for more evidence-based insights to improve your health and longevity.
Thank you for reading!

What is one key takeaway you gained from this thread? Share it in the comments below.

If you have any health questions, feel free to ask. I read every comment and often use them to create future content that matters to you.

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Dr. Eric Berg

Dr. Eric Berg Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @dr_ericberg

Mar 28
10 signs your body desperately needs to reset from chronic stress (& you don't realize it):

1/ Waking between 2 and 4 AM
This is often a sign of excess stress caused by a cortisol spike in the middle of the night.

You may feel more awake at that time than during the day, even if you felt tired & unfocused earlier.

This happens when your body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode instead of recovery. Image
Image
2/ Low tolerance for stress

As stress builds, your ability to cope with it starts to decline.

Small situations can trigger big reactions:
• Irritability
• Anger
• Feeling overwhelmed
Read 17 tweets
Mar 24
Walking is one of the most underrated tools for supporting mental health.

Here’s why long walks can help reduce anxiety and depression: 🧵
Although walking is a simple activity, consistent long walks can produce meaningful benefits for both mental and physical health.

Throughout history, long walks have been associated with improved mental clarity, emotional balance, and overall well-being.
One of the primary benefits of long walks is improved circulation.

This helps to:
• Improve cardiac efficiency
• Increase oxygen delivery to the brain
• Support cognitive function

This is particularly important for mental performance and long-term brain health.
Read 12 tweets
Mar 19
Here are 10 vitamins and minerals you should never take, and why:

1/ Magnesium oxide… 🧵
Magnesium is an essential mineral, but not all forms work.

Magnesium oxide is cheap. Your body absorbs only 3 percent, & it can cause diarrhea, flushing out electrolytes.

Choose magnesium glycinate for:
• 80–85% absorption
• Better sleep
• More energy
• Less muscle tension Image
Image
2/ Synthetic vitamin A

Synthetic vitamin A must convert to its active form, but it does so inefficiently.

It can accumulate in the liver and fat, causing toxicity, bone loss, & birth defects during pregnancy.

Instead, get vitamin A from:
• Egg yolks
• Liver
• Cod liver oil
Read 15 tweets
Mar 15
6 natural ways to lower your cortisol starting today:

1/ Long walks in nature… 🧵
Long walks in nature help lower cortisol, calm the nervous system, and improve sleep.

Natural light and steady movement help reset your stress hormones and circadian rhythm.

This is one of the simplest habits with powerful health benefits.

But first, what exactly is cortisol? Image
Image
Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone.

It plays an essential role in regulating inflammation, metabolism, blood pressure, and the circadian rhythm.

When cortisol remains chronically elevated, it can contribute to a wide range of health issues.
Read 15 tweets
Mar 14
Here are 7 early signs your liver may be quietly failing and what you can do about it:

1/ Waking up between 2 and 3 AM. 🧵
This is often attributed to cortisol or adrenal dysfunction.

However, the underlying cause is often impaired liver function.

Here’s why…
At night, the liver releases stored glucose to supply the brain with energy.

When liver function is impaired, blood sugar levels can drop too quickly.

In response, the brain releases adrenaline, causing sudden wakefulness between 2 and 3 AM.
Read 18 tweets
Mar 8
The oil that beats Advil for inflammation… and why you don’t know about it.

Used for over 3000 years but forgotten by modern medicine.

Here’s what makes it so effective, and why it matters: 🧵 Image
The oil is called black seed oil.

It’s extracted from the seeds of Nigella sativa, a plant used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Its key compound, thymoquinone, targets inflammation and immune dysfunction.

But here’s where it gets wild…
Research shows black seed oil may help with:
• Asthma
• Autoimmune conditions
• Skin inflammation
• Diabetes
• Brain fog
• Even some types of cancer

How does one oil do all that?

It comes down to one thing: inflammation.
Read 13 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(