Nutrition & DietThe Portfolio Diet Cuts LDL as Effectively as a Low-Dose Statin
In this episode of The Proof, Simon Hill speaks with Dr Andrea Glenn, NYU professor and Harvard visiting scientist, about what the best nutrition evidence actually shows. They cover the Portfolio Diet — a plant-based eating pattern combining nuts, legumes, plant sterols, and soluble fiber — which clinical data suggests can lower LDL cholesterol comparably to a low-dose statin. They also examine new mortality data on butter versus plant oils, the plant-to-animal protein ratio and cardiovascular risk, the CHEAP trial testing the Portfolio Diet long-term, and the 2026 AHA dietary guidelines. Dr Glenn also defends nutrition epidemiology against common criticisms, explaining how sensitivity analyses and large cohort studies like the Nurses' Health Study contribute meaningfully to the evidence base.
