
Frontline Health
Troy Duell with Centurion is providing you with health information and guests to elevate your health and help make your life better. Centurion is a pharmaceutical company that chooses to put people over profits and allow science to dictate what products we bring to market. Our goal is to provide products that you can both afford and are beneficial to your health. It doesn't matter how good a product is if you can't afford it. This podcast will provide you with the best health information possible through sharing studies and current data. We will also interview the leading health experts across the country. We will share sides of the story you may not have heard. Our promise to you is to source all of the information we share with you and speak the truth. We hope this truth is used by you and your loved ones to elevate your health and life.
Frontline Health
#110 - Health Headline Highlights: Sugar, Autism, and Apples
Headlines can feel abstract—until they land in your kitchen and medicine cabinet. We dig into new evidence showing how sugary drinks may accelerate colorectal cancer spread through the SORD pathway, then connect the dots to fatty liver disease, diabetes, hypertension, dementia risk, and the everyday choices that quietly shape long-term health. From learning why whole fruit beats juice to finding a soda replacement you actually like, we share practical swaps that stick without the sugar crash.
The conversation turns to a sensitive question: what does emerging research say about postnatal acetaminophen use and autism? We talk candidly about infant liver vulnerability, why parents and clinicians feel blindsided, and how internal emails and litigation have complicated trust. Rather than stoking fear, we focus on transparency, clear risk framing, and concrete ways families can make informed decisions around fever, dosing, and alternatives with pediatric guidance.
We also explore a hopeful lane in neurodevelopment: leucovorin (folinic acid) and the role of folate metabolism. You’ll hear how methylation, folate receptor issues, and the difference between folinic acid, methylated folate, and synthetic folic acid matter for subsets of kids on the spectrum—and why smarter prenatal and daily nutrition pays dividends. Finally, we look at market momentum, with major brands moving to remove high fructose corn syrup as consumers vote for simpler ingredients. Small, consistent choices can shift health trajectories and industry behavior.
If this episode sparked a rethink of what’s in your glass, your pantry, or your medicine drawer, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your feedback helps more people take ownership of their health with clear, useful science.
Thanks for listening to this edition of Frontline Health by Centurion. Remember, you are your best health advocate.
Shop safe, effective, and affordable health and wellness products at www.centurion.health.
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Follow us on social media:
TikTok - @frontlinehealthpodcast
Youtube - Centurion Health
Facebook - Centurion Health
Instagram - @frontlinehealthpodcast
X - @TheCenturionWay
Today on the Frontline Health Podcast.
SPEAKER_01:I think before we jump to this conclusion that hey Tylenol is the end-all-be-all when it comes to autism, it can be one component of it, but there may be others that are there. And you know, we can't say that Tylenol is the sole cause for it, but it certainly can be one of several causes that can bring about autism. And as long as we're open and as long as they're transparent, I think it allows us to truly make a decision. And you know, the decision for my family and my wife and I, when we're talking about kids, whether we take Tylenol should be truly a decision we make, but we need to have all the information. And I think.
SPEAKER_00:Hello, welcome back to another episode of the Frontline Health Podcast by Centurion Health, where we share health news, tips, and insights to help you take ownership of your health. I'm Evan Patrick, Troy Duell, founder and CEO of Centurion Health, is here with me, and we are bringing you some of the latest health headlines in today's episode. Troy, so much crazy stuff has happened in the past month. We really have a lot to talk about today.
SPEAKER_01:There has been a lot that's been uh on the move within the health world for sure in the last month.
SPEAKER_00:For sure. I mean, everything from pregnancy to Tylenol to synthetic dyes, a lot to talk about. Why don't you get us started with our first article?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so the first headline we have today is study links sugary drinks to colorectal cancer spreading elsewhere in the body. The sub-headline on that article says daily diet matters not only for cancer risk, but also for how the disease progresses once it has developed, said the lead researcher in the Texas study. What they found was that drinking those sugary beverages, anything that contained a lot of glucose or fructose, really made those colorectal cancer cells more mobile and it kind of sped up the spread of it, especially to the liver. And they linked it to a particular enzyme called SOARD S-O-R-D, which kind of drives that glucose metabolism and cholesterol pathways. And they suggested that if you lowered that sugary drink intake, uh, which would lower and kind of block that sword pathway, then it's going to help limit that cancer progression. So what we would say certainly looks bad by increasing that sugary drink load and increasing the spread of cancer. I think it's it's allowed science to look at it and say this may be a progression that we can look at to stop the spread by um inactivating that enzyme SORD in the body and hopefully keep uh cancer from spreading quite as fast.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's that's really interesting. And um I think people are definitely paying a lot closer attention to the their food and drink labels that they're looking at. Um we know that there's some some differences definitely with the the type of sugars that we're consuming that plays a big role in different aspects of our health. I'm wondering, Troy, what do you think? Is this risk likely linked to high fructose corn syrup that we know is used in a lot of highly processed uh foods and beverages? Um, I know you've talked about the difference between glucose and fructose on uh this show before, um, or do you think it's really this is really could be connected to any type of sugar?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I I think most of the studies certainly suggest that if you're having sugar that is a more natural sugar, meaning it's coming from fruits or vegetables and you're getting it in a whole food scenario, that it's not uh linked to that same spread of cancer. And we know that it doesn't seem to accelerate it as much, but definitely anytime you're having added sugar or processed sugar or um even fruit juices in some cases that have high amounts of sugar without the fiber, they have certainly seen that it helps facilitate the growth of that cancer and the spread of it. So it's not this actually just supports what we've already known that sugar and increased sugar intake is certainly part of the issue when it comes to cancer. And it kind of feeds that cancer, gives it something to grow on. So um certainly recommend avoiding sugar at all cost if um if at all possible during somebody who may be having cancer or suffering from cancer.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I mean, it's just such a big part of so many people's daily routines. You don't necessarily think about cancer risk from just grabbing a soda out of the refrigerator, putting it in the shopping cart at the store. Um, we really know that there are a lot of pretty serious risks uh for people out there. Um, so what are some of the other risks associated with these sugary drinks?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, certainly cancer and the spread of cancer, but we know that uh fatty alcohol liver disease or having a fatty liver, that is something that has been associated with increased sugar intake. And then you know lots of the others, like increased chance of diabetes, obesity. Uh, we know that there's high blood pressure that's involved. And then one of the ones that I think is even more astounding is this what they consider type 3 diabetes now, because they've linked all this sugar intake to even Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and they're calling it type 3 diabetes. So there are a lot of things that we're beginning to understand as we add more sugar to our foods to try to make them taste better and increase our appetite for certain foods, that is causing a whole host of issues with cancer being certainly at the top of the list, but you know, the others that we're already aware of, which would be diabetes, obesity, and now liver disease and even Alzheimer's and dementia.
SPEAKER_00:You know, I grew up drinking sodas pretty regularly. Now at this point, I really don't drink any sodas at all. Um, and I'm a firm believer that like if you're trying to stop a habit, you have to kind of replace it with something else. I know you and I have both found that uh something we previously thought we would not enjoy at all, which is the sparkling uh carbonated water. Um, you know, whether it's LaCroix or Waterloo, something that's flavored uh with natural flavors that's not that doesn't have sugar in it. Um, I think we have both found to be a great alternative. And it it really is an acquired taste. Uh, you know, I've talked to different people in my family about who drink a lot of sodas about it. I'm like, you just got to give it a shot, uh, try it, stick with it, and you'll start to enjoy those uh those flavored waters maybe just as much as your sodas, and you could actually replace replace what's bad for you with something healthy. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01:And it it does take a little bit of time. I I do remember, I confess that I made fun of my wife that she was drinking them and other people who had drinked them, and now I find myself having one on a fairly regular basis, uh, and have found to acquire that taste for sure. So they're good.
SPEAKER_00:I was with you too. Don't knock it till you try it.
SPEAKER_01:That's right.
SPEAKER_00:Our next health headline apples protect against stroke and feed your gut. How to get the most inexpensive, uh, how to get the most. Inexpensive and versatile, this humble all-American fruit gives you plenty of reasons to love it. Uh, some of the benefits that are mentioned in this article are heart and stroke protection. So apples rich uh in fiber and antioxidants like quercetin help reduce cholesterol, support blood vessel health, and lower the risk of stroke by up to 27%. Uh as far as the gut health benefits, apple pectin boosts beneficial gut bacteria, improves digestion, and may help relieve constipation while supporting overall gut health. Diabetes and beyond, uh, regular apple consumption is linked to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, potential cancer protection, slower cognitive decline, and strong nutritional value because of the fiber, vitamin C, the potassium, all of the different nutrients that um that we know are so beneficial that are in apples. Troy, does this put apples in the category of superfood?
SPEAKER_01:Well, I think it certainly helps solidify the old saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Um, and because of that, I think you could probably throw it into the superfood realm. But, you know, we were talking uh a little bit. What does that do if I want to have something that's apple flavored or apple cider? Um, do those have the same effect on the body? Uh which I think is a good question. But the apple cider itself probably not as good because it's loaded with sugar outside of just the apple. If you're having the apple cider vinegar, heard lots of wonderful things about that. And I think there's plenty of evidence that shows the apple cider vinegar is certainly still good for us and our gut health and several other things that can go along with it.
SPEAKER_00:So you know that I'm a big fan of the fall beverages. Uh, I won't shy away from the occasional PSL, the pumpkin spice latte. Also a big fan of the hot apple cider. So you're saying not all the time, but maybe once in a while, it's it's not too bad for me.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think uh the reason we probably like that hot apple cider is because it's loaded with sugar. And we just talked about how sugar can be an accelerant for some things and certainly not real good for us. But again, I think if you're doing it in moderation and you're watching where you're getting sugar elsewhere, uh having a splurge every once in a while isn't a bad thing at all. Only in the fall. That's right. Only in the fall. When those spum as as soon as the pumpkin spice latte comes out, it's time to uh step it up again and start going after the apple cider as well. That's right. All right. So obviously an apple a day can keep the doctor away, but this next headline is one that probably brought a lot of shock to most people because I think we've all thought that Tylenol was a fairly safe product out there. And this headline certainly speaks to maybe something a little bit different. It says there may be a postnatal link between Tylenol use and autism, researcher says. And they go on to have a subtitle that says the greatest vulnerability arises after birth when infants can no longer rely on their mother's liver metabolism. So that is an interesting headline because a lot of the headlines we talked about uh or have seen talked about how Tylenol use during pregnancy was a big issue. This is actually speaking about Tylenol use post-pregnancy. So after the child's born and they're having Tylenol for any uh fever or uh any sickness at all. I think that surprised a lot of people because most are aware that you shouldn't give um a leave or any NSAIDs like ibuprofen to a child because of the uh potential issues with that. And they've always thought that Tylenol was a safe alternative, but this is saying otherwise, and a lot it does make sense because the Tylenol is metabolized in the liver, and as a young um individual, somebody who's just born, it's very, very difficult on the liver and it's very hard on the liver, and it's the number one Tylenol is the number one way for people to kill themselves in Great Britain. So, and it does it by destroying the liver. So obviously it's got a big effect on the liver. And this is going on to say that maybe there's a link with autism, um, which to me was pretty shocking.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, I mean, I think we're at a really interesting moment right now, um, just sort of as a as a society, we really have to uh kind of take a step back and um and just you know, ask for transparency. Um, try to look at what the data and the studies are actually telling us. Um, call on the pharmaceutical companies to be forthright and honest about um the things that they're that they're touting is safe, um, holding our government officials accountable for holding the pharmaceutical companies accountable for for that transparency. Um, you just see the reactions, I think, to to people, and you can understand um how it would be emotional for certain parents. I mean, talking about the the during pregnancy, the the risks, you know, you can imagine um that a mother who might have an autistic child who maybe took Tylenol during pregnancy because she um was told that it was that it was safe by her doctor, who probably genuinely believed that. Um, you know, I think some of these people are taking taking some of these findings as an affront to them, saying, hey, you're a bad mom because you did this, or you um, you know, they're they're having these strong kind of emotional reactions, and they just want to deny any uh any evidence that there could be a link here. Uh, but I think we just have to have to show ourselves some grace and have some humility and really just kind of um talk about next steps, right? Like what is what do we do going forward from here and not not see this as a political moment, um, not see this as a moment to to chug Tylenol and uh just out of out of you know protest or rebellion against these findings? It it's really interesting that that's kind of the reaction some people are having.
SPEAKER_01:And and it it really is kind of a sad moment when you think about that, that we we have somehow decided that this is a political statement to say that Tylenol could bring on autism. Really, it should be does the science show that it brings on autism? Is there a risk that goes with it? And then if there is, then let's dive in deeper and see how far this really goes. And I I think there's a there's a level of guilt, even with some people who maybe women had taken Tylenol or taken acetaminophen and they ended up having a child with autism, as you said. There's that level of guilt that they have, but ultimately there shouldn't be any guilt for anybody because we didn't know any better. We weren't exposed to all of the literature about Tylenol and acetaminophen. Was actually talking about this with a gentleman when this statement came out about Tylenol, and his wife just got out of the hospital and they had loaded her up on Tylenol and acetaminophine because she had an infection and a fever that just wasn't coming down. And you could see the concern on in his eyes when we were talking about it, but ultimately there's not much he can do because they were doing the best they could with the information they had at the time. And but I think this does roll into the next headline that talks about the Tylenol makers said in internal emails, evidence of linked to autism, quote, starting to feel heavy, unquote. And the emails came to light during a litigation against Johnson Johnson in 2018, and why we haven't heard anything about that until now. And there was actually uh a tweet by Johnson Johnson at the time that mentioned it eight years ago, um, and the link to potential autism. So there's there's some things that are out there, they've since sold Tylenol to another company that um didn't see that there. And I I think before we jumped to this conclusion that, hey, Tylenol is the end-all be-all when it comes to autism, it can be one component of it, but there may be others that are there. And you know, we can't say that Tylenol is the sole cause for it, but it certainly can be one of several causes that can bring about autism. And as long as we're open and as long as they're transparent, I think it allows us to truly make a decision. And, you know, the decision for my family and my wife and I, when we're talking about kids, whether we take Tylenol should be truly a decision we make, but we need to have all the information. And I think you would feel the same if your wife were to get pregnant. You know, you just want to know what are the downsides of taking this, and then you can make that decision of, hey, is it okay for us to take it? Or do I just want to push off and see if I can push through whatever pain I'm having and find other ways that maybe don't have the same link to autism or any of the other diseases that they've talked about?
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, that's right. I mean, um, I think you hit the nail on the head there with people just wanting to be able to make an informed decision. Um, you know, it this is sort of reminiscent, I think, of of examples where drug cup drug companies in the past have kind of suspected that there could be some side effect. I'm not putting this at all in the same category, but you know, with the the opioid crisis with, you know, oxycotton, um, you know, there was there was early evidence um that that was known that there that these were highly addictive drugs and that information was not made public. And so people could not uh not really fully assess whether that was something that they that they wanted to take, or their the healthcare providers really couldn't couldn't assess um assess to the best of their ability whether it was something to put their patient on. Uh and so yeah, I just think think more transparency is better. And um, yeah, people need to be able to make these these informed decisions, and um, that should be communicated and that the chip should fall fall where they where they lie. Totally agree. Totally agree. Uh, but we do know um one of the things that was mentioned, this is another another headline with these findings related to tyanol use during pregnancy and autism, that uh leucovorin could be a promising new treatment for autism. Uh, here's why. The connection between autism and leucovorin began with an unexpected detour. Uh leucovorin, a form of folate, which we know quite a bit about here at Centurion, uh, has been FDA approved as the first drug to treat autism. Troy, do you just want to kind of share your thoughts on this?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, it's something that's been around for a while, and Leucovorin also has another name called folinic acid. So leukovorin and folinic acid are exactly the same. And they're it's one of the forms of folate that is found in nature through the foods that we eat, but they were able to make this in a lab to mimic the same form that we take via our food. We know that the folate receptor has been an issue with kids with autism, with kids uh with ADHD and several other things. So they're really starting to catch up. The science has been out there for a while, but the mainstream is starting to catch up with that and starting to look at it and no longer look at it as oh, wow, there's no way that something that's natural could have this kind of effect on our bodies. But the truth is, most of our medications, if they're effective, come from something in nature that it's trying to mimic. It's rare that we come up with something uh just out of the blue that works. So this is another scenario where uh nature was way ahead of us. And when we got to the point where we were eating too many processed foods or we were adding folic acid, which is a synthetic form of folate that does not mimic what is in nature and isn't processed by a lot of individuals, I think that's when we started to see a veering off of the good health that we had for years. And to me, I think it is one of several factors that has been linked to autism itself by increasing folic acid intake as opposed to natural folates.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. And and we have done a lot here to kind of address that, you know, with our our prenatal vitamins using methylated forms of folate, having other products that have uh methylated forms of folate that we just know have all kinds of benefits. Um, methylation is a very important process, um, and it's something that not a lot of people know about. Absolutely. To kind of wrap things up today, I think we want to touch on um just some really positive things that we have seen in the news lately. Um, you know, our HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy has made some really lofty promises, and I think we have seen um just even from the conversation getting started about the ingredients that are in our food, some really positive moves on the side of the manufacturers. Uh, Troy, you were featured in an article recently uh talking about Tyson Foods, that they announced a major change to many of their beloved products, which was to remove high fructose corn syrup uh from their products. Do you want to talk a little bit about that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I mean, it it goes back to that first article we discussed already, which is uh trying to remove a lot of these added sugars that we're putting in our foods. And the more that we remove, the better off we're gonna be, because um we've already talked about the link that it's got to diabetes, to ADHD, to so many different things. And I think the more we do that and the more we start to uh understand that as a culture and as individuals, and we begin to change our buying practices, that is what is gonna affect a lot of these larger companies because clearly Tyson Foods wasn't just motivated out of the goodness of their heart. They saw this need, they saw this move, and thankfully there's this critical mass that's behind it, and we're starting to see that, hey, something's wrong with our food. These processed foods are bad for us. What can we do to start changing it? And we're starting to change our buying habits, and you're seeing new products pop up that will end up taking market share. So if Tyson Foods recognizes it, I think there is a big move that's starting to happen. And um, I'm hopeful that that's just one step in the right direction across the culture as a whole.
SPEAKER_00:That's really amazing, Troy. Thank you for sharing that and thank you for your insights. Um, we're definitely going to keep up with some of these stories where we see uh these food producers reacting to consumer preferences, like you just said, for the better. Um, so thank you everyone for listening to this episode of the Frontline Health Podcast by Centurion. Be sure to tune in in the future uh for more stories like this. Um as always, we encourage you to go out today and take ownership of your health because you are your best health advocate. If you enjoyed what you heard today on the podcast, please consider leaving us a review. We would love to hear your feedback and connect with you further. You can also follow us on Instagram, X, TikTok, or YouTube. And for safe, effective, and affordable health and wellness products made in the USA, visit www.centurion.health. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next time.