[[link removed]]

SUNDAY SCIENCE: A SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HEALTH AND SCIENCE  
[[link removed]]


 

Jess Steier, DrPH, Aimee Pugh Bernard, PhD, David Higgins, MD, MPH,
Carrie McMahon, PhD, Jen Bordenick
November 15, 2025
Unbiased Science
[[link removed]]


*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ Pass the Potatoes, Hold the Panic _

,

 

Picture this: You’re reaching for the green beans at Thanksgiving
dinner when Aunt Susan gasps, “Don’t eat those! They’re cooked
in SEED OILS!”

Your cousin chimes in about how measles is actually _good_ for kids
(apparently, some are now claiming it prevents cancer). At the same
time, Uncle Bob launches into his theory about Tylenol causing autism.
Grandma’s clutching her detox tea, and someone just called the COVID
vaccine “experimental gene therapy.” _Pass the wine._

_Sound familiar? Then Click HERE._
[[link removed]]

If you’re someone who spends their days swimming in science, these
moments feel like choosing between biting your tongue so hard it
bleeds or becoming the family killjoy who ruins dinner with a
PowerPoint presentation.

_BUT THESE CONVERSATIONS MATTER._ Not because we’re going to debunk
every myth between the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, but because we
have something precious that no viral TikTok or wellness influencer
can claim: genuine trust and love.

Your family already trusts you. That’s half the battle won right
there. When Aunt Susan hears about seed oils from a stranger on
Instagram, she’s skeptical but intrigued. When you—the niece
she’s watched grow up, who she knows has no agenda except caring
about her wellbeing—shares a different perspective, that seed lands
in fertile ground.

_BEFORE YOU LEAP ACROSS THE TABLE AND SPILL THE GRAVY, TAKE A BREATH.
_Remind yourself that your family’s fears come from a good place:
they want to be healthy and protect their loved ones. They’re just
drowning in bad information designed to go viral. Know that you are
likely _not_ going to convince Aunt Susan to abandon her seed oil
fears in one conversation.

_YOUR GOAL FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS IS TO OPEN THE DOOR, NOT WIN A
DEBATE._ You want Aunt Susan to start asking better questions so that
she mentions to her book club, “Well, my niece who works in public
health said something interesting...” And suddenly, that seed you
planted starts sprouting in conversations you’ll never even know
about.

THE SEED OIL PANIC (OR: WHY AUNT SUSAN CAN EAT THE GREEN BEANS)

When Aunt Susan warns about inflammatory seed oils, try this: “I
totally get it—I’ve seen those videos too! You know what’s
interesting, though? We’ve been eating these oils for decades, and
researchers have been studying them the whole time. Let’s take a
look at what the data looks like together...
[[link removed]]“

_LISTEN AND ACKNOWLEDGE HER CONCERNS. _When she brings up concerns
about inflammation, let her know that you hear her. Keep it simple:
“So yes, seed oils have omega-6s, and yes, your body can turn those
into inflammatory compounds. But it also turns them into
_anti_-inflammatory compounds. You need both—it’s how your body
maintains balance. The research shows that normal amounts don’t
cause [[link removed]] the chronic
inflammation people worry about.”

_BE CALM WHEN SHE PUSHES BACK AND GIVE HER SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT._
“I know, the claims online sound scary! But we have massive studies
following hundreds of thousands of people for decades. The major
health organizations—American Heart Association, WHO,
everyone—they’ve looked at all this data. They say these oils
actually help _lower_ bad cholesterol when you use them instead of
butter or lard. If they were really dangerous, we’d see it in the
data by now.”

For the “they’re processed with chemicals” concern: “You know,
‘processed’ has become this scary word online, but that high-fiber
cereal you had this morning? Processed. The Greek yogurt? Processed.
Even bagged salad is technically processed. The word just means
‘prepared in some way.’ With seed oils, yes, for certain types
they use hexane to extract the oil, but the amount left after
processing is basically nothing—less than 10 parts per million.
That’s like finding 10 grains of sugar in a 10-pound bag. Don’t
get sucked into the ‘all processed foods are bad’ trap. It’s
about what the processing does, not the fact that it happened.”

Bottom line: The boring truth is that no single food is the villain.
It’s about your overall diet—eating vegetables, not overdoing
anything, the stuff we already know. I have lots of materials from a
page I follow called Unbiased Science (shameless plug) that I can send
to you tomorrow after we’ve slept off our turkey hangover!”

WELL, BLESS YOUR HEART, UNCLE BOB

_VALIDATE THAT YOU HAVE SEEN SIMILAR POSTS AND CONCERNS._ When someone
brings up vaccines or another medical intervention “causing”
[insert one of the countless myths circulating online]: “Oh man, I
saw those posts too. I understand why people are confused. Here’s
what helped me make sense of it...”

For Tylenol and autism: “I know people are making some really bold,
scary statements, but it’s a lot less scary when you look at
what’s actually been studied. Sweden looked at 2.5 million
kids—including siblings where one got Tylenol and one didn’t
[[link removed]].
Same parents, same house, same genes. If Tylenol caused autism, the
kids whose moms took it while pregnant would have higher rates. They
didn’t. When you account for family factors, the link disappears. I
heard that those studies also didn’t account for the reasons _why_
the pregnant mother was taking Tylenol (like chronic pain, fever,
etc)-- and maybe it’s those things that are actually linked to
autism.”

For “measles is beneficial”: “I know, some people say it
‘strengthens’ the immune system, but the opposite is true. It
actually _erases_ your immune memory. Kids who get measles lose
protection from other diseases they’d already fought off.
Researchers found kids lost 11-73% of their antibodies to other
infections. [[link removed]] It’s like
measles hits the delete button on your immune system’s memory.”

For “COVID vaccine changes your DNA”: “I get why people worry
about that—mRNA sounds like DNA, right? But DNA is locked in a vault
in your cells. mRNA never gets the keys to that vault. It stays
outside, makes its protein, then dissolves in a few days. It’s
physically impossible for it to change your DNA
[[link removed]].
Plus, there’s nothing experimental about the mRNA technology. It’s
been studied for over three decades.”

WHEN GRANDMA SHOWS UP WITH DETOX TEA

Be direct but kind: “Oh, Grandma, detox teas aren’t as helpful as
many claim [[link removed]] (and some can be
dangerous)! Your liver and kidneys already detox your body
perfectly—that’s literally their job. These teas aren’t
regulated, nobody’s testing what’s actually in them, and they can
mess with your medications. Some have even caused liver damage. If you
want tea, regular green tea or chamomile is great! But those
‘detox’ ones? Pure marketing. Save your money for something that
actually works.”

THE “DRAINING THE SWAMP” DISCUSSION

When RFK Jr. comes up as the hero “taking on Big Pharma”, you
might say: “I totally get the frustration with our healthcare system
[[link removed]].
I know you’ve been struggling to get answers about your chronic
pain, and that’s really frustrating. The system has real problems.
But there’s no grand conspiracy here—imagine trying to coordinate
millions of scientists worldwide!

In reality, everything gets peer-reviewed, which means other
scientists pick it apart, looking for flaws (I’ve heard this can be
brutal!). Scientists work everywhere—universities, government,
public organizations, private companies—and they’re all checking
each other’s work. Plus, now there’s more transparency than ever.
Researchers must disclose their funding, conflicts of interest, and
everything else.

The system isn’t perfect, but it’s not a conspiracy. It’s mostly
underpaid researchers arguing about data and trying to get
published.”

MAGIC PHRASES THAT ACTUALLY WORK

It is important that Granny, Aunt Susan, and Pop Pop feel respected.
Don’t shame them or make them feel foolish. _Meeting them where they
are_ means understanding that we are _all_ the products of our own
information ecosystems. They likely see very different posts and
videos than you do when you log into social media. At the end of the
day, you both want the same things (health and happiness). So bite
your tongue, check your judgment, and try some of these magic phrases.

“I SAW THAT TOO!” validates without agreeing.

“WITH ALL THE INFO ONLINE, IT’S SO CONFUSING,” acknowledges the
real problem.

“HERE’S WHAT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND IT...” shares without
preaching.

“THE ALGORITHM PUSHES SCARY STUFF BECAUSE IT GETS CLICKS,” blames
the system.

“THAT’S INTERESTING—WHERE DID YOU SEE THAT?” keeps it
conversational.

“I USED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT TOO UNTIL I LEARNED...” shows you’re
on the same team.

You won’t convert anyone over turkey. Success is:

* Your aunt saying “Huh, I never thought about it that way.”
* Your cousin asking actual questions
* Your uncle pausing before sharing that sketchy post
* Your family knowing they can come to you with health questions

TABLE IT AND FOLLOW UP

Just like a cooked turkey needs to rest, Aunt Susan needs time to mull
this over. Wait a week and forward that Unbiased Science post or
infographic that explains Tylenol safety. Aunt Susan won’t change
her mind overnight. But you are making progress with every seed you
plant. Maybe your cousin mentions what you said to a coworker. Your
aunt googles what the American Heart Association actually says. Your
uncle starts noticing when articles don’t cite real sources.

This is how we rebuild trust: one conversation, one family member, one
holiday at a time.

UNBIASED SCIENCE HAS YOUR BACK!

If you’re dreading these conversations, join us on November 20th at
4 PM EST for “Tips for Talks Around the Thanksgiving Table
[[link removed]].”

Our panel:

* AIMEE BERNARD, PHD (immunologist)
* DAVID HIGGINS, MD, MPH (pediatrician and epidemiologist)
* CARRIE MCMAHON, PHD (food regulatory scientist)
* ME, JESS STEIER, DRPH—your public health translator

We’ll practice real scenarios and share what actually works without
making anyone defensive. REGISTER HERE.
[[link removed]]

While attendance is free, we invite you to consider making a
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO OUR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
[[link removed]], THE CENTER FOR UNBIASED
SCIENCE AND HEALTH. Thanks so much for your support.

BRAIN SCANS REVEAL SURPRISING 'TIPPING POINT' MINUTES BEFORE WE FALL
ASLEEP
[[link removed]]BY
JESS COCKERILLSCIENCE ALERTWe really do 'fall' asleep, a new study
shows. Far from gently drifting off, the brain rapidly transitions
into sleep after passing a tipping point.November 13, 2025

* Science
[[link removed]]
* health
[[link removed]]
* Medicine
[[link removed]]
* wellness
[[link removed]]
* vaccines
[[link removed]]
* food science
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

 

 

 

INTERPRET THE WORLD AND CHANGE IT

 

 

Submit via web
[[link removed]]

Submit via email
Frequently asked questions
[[link removed]]
Manage subscription
[[link removed]]
Visit xxxxxx.org
[[link removed]]

Bluesky [[link removed]]

Facebook [[link removed]]

 




[link removed]

To unsubscribe, click the following link:
[link removed]