Realfoodology Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Cellular Detox 101: Fasting, Heavy Metals, Cholesterol & Inflammation
Host: Courtney Swan
Guest: Dr. Daniel Pompa
Date: February 10, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the foundational principles of cellular detox, fasting, the impact of heavy metals, cholesterol, inflammation, and how these concepts relate to chronic health issues. Dr. Daniel Pompa, known for his expertise in cellular health and detoxification, shares his personal healing journey from severe mercury toxicity and unpacks myths and practical strategies related to fasting, toxin exposure, hormone imbalances, and the often-overlooked sources of hidden illness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The 5Rs of Cellular Healing and Detox

(00:00, 49:39, 50:10)

• R1: Remove the sources in your life (toxins, mold, mercury, etc.)
• R2: Regenerate cell membranes (crucial for nutrient and hormone transfer)
• R3: Restore cell energy (mitochondrial healing)
• R4: Reduce inflammation of the cell (dietary strategies, toxin removal)
• R5: Re-establish methylation (critical for detox and gene regulation)

“If you don’t remove the sources in your life, you’ll never fix the cell.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (00:00, 50:10)

Hidden and Everyday Toxin Exposure

(00:32, 91:58)

• Hidden exposures like heavy metals, mold, and dental infections (“cavitations”) silently wreck health.
• Heavy metals can accumulate in deep tissues and the brain over decades, often undetected with standard tests.
• Mold toxicity often goes undetected due to inadequate home testing.

“Cavitations. Silent killer root canals. I’ll put them in the same category as hidden infections in the mouth. Mold... heavy metals because here’s the killer: it’s accumulated in your brain and deeper tissues for years.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (91:59)

Fasting: Myths, Benefits, and Cautions for Women

(03:56–12:33)

• Fasting is a powerful stressor that leads to adaptation (hormesis), boosting autophagy and stem cell creation.
• Women, especially with hormone imbalances or thyroid issues, must fast differently – too much fasting can worsen hormone health.
• The importance of “feast days” (days of eating more, including healthy carbs) to remind the body it isn’t starving and prevent the catabolic state.

“Fasting is a stress. People don’t understand that. It does force the body to go through different ways of getting energy... But a woman with a thyroid condition should not be fasting like a woman who doesn’t.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (04:23)

• Actionable Fasting Tips:
  • New fasters feel better rapidly, but problems arise if fasting is overdone.
  • “One feast day a week is absolutely essential.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (06:12)

Adaptive Stress: The Principle of Hormesis

(10:00–13:11, 19:50)

• Health benefits arise when the body adapts to stress like fasting, exercise, or cold baths.
• If adaptation doesn’t occur, stressors become harmful (e.g., over-fasting, over-cold plunging).

“Biological systems... if we stress it and it adapts, it gets stronger, faster, smarter. If it doesn’t adapt, you become weaker.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (19:59)

Mouth Health and Chronic Disease

(55:48–63:57)

• 85% of chronic disease starts in the mouth (cavitations, root canals, mercury amalgam fillings).
• Cavitations (hidden jawbone infections) and root canals can be major drivers of autoimmunity and unexplained symptoms.
• Proper diagnosis requires a 3D cone beam scan and a biological dentist.

“Cavitations. It’s estimated that 85% of chronic disease starts in the mouth. That’s wild, isn’t it?” – Dr. Dan Pompa (55:48)

• Notable Story: Dr. Pompa shares cases where chronic pain and autoimmune disease resolved almost instantly after oral infections were cleaned out.

Heavy Metal Toxicity: Personal Story & Detox Protocols

(23:04–34:57)

• Dr. Pompa’s career began when he battled debilitating mercury toxicity after dental work.
• Standard blood tests can miss long-term metal toxicity; require deeper assessment.
• Detox Process:
  1. Restore the cell’s detox ability (“fix what’s broken in the cell”).
  2. Use real chelators, correctly timed, to prevent redistribution.
  3. Use binders to “catch” toxins dumped from liver/bile/GI tract.
  4. Begin with preparing the body, then move to detox (body phase), and finally address deep toxins in the brain.

“When you’ve accumulated these toxins... my process is what people need.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (52:23)
“You will not get well until you get to [persistent toxins]. It’s not as simple as sitting in a sauna or doing the 10-day juice cleanse.” (32:13)

Metabolic Flexibility & Mitochondrial Health

(16:37–19:15, 54:14)

• True health means the ability to burn both fat and sugar for energy.
• Most Americans are “sugar burners” due to poor mitochondrial function, leading to muscle loss and fatigue during fasting.

Seed Oils, Cholesterol, and Fats: Myth-Busting

(71:16–83:23)

• Industrial seed oils (canola, soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, etc.) are highly inflammatory and remain in cell membranes for up to two years.
• Healthy cell membranes (rich in good fats like ghee, tallow, cold-pressed oils) are crucial for hormone and immune function.
• Cholesterol is not the villain; no scientific evidence total cholesterol causes heart disease. LDL is essential for hormone and brain health; what matters most is reducing inflammation.

“The worst news of all: these [seed] fats don’t affect you for a few months. The latest study – two years.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (73:42)
“There’s no scientific evidence that total cholesterol is actually linked to heart disease.” (75:24)

Fish Oil Controversy

(83:11–87:57)

• Dr. Pompa does not recommend fish oil supplements (calling them highly unstable and prone to rancidity), but does favor eating fish for omega-3s.
• “The experts that really know about this will tell you, [fish oil] goes rancid the moment it enters your mouth.”

Root Causes of Hormone Imbalance

(93:01)

• Cellular inflammation from toxins and bad fats destroys hormone receptors on cell membranes.
• “Normal” lab values often mislead because they reflect a sick population.

How to Find Your Purpose Through Pain

(34:57–49:11)

• Dr. Pompa and Tina Moore discuss how adversity, trauma, and “false identities” often hide our true purpose.
• Action step: Timeline your life’s traumas and victories; insights emerge by reflecting on both.

“In the pain is the purpose, and there’s hints to your true identity.” (43:54)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Fasting Myths:
  “When people first start intermittent fasting, they typically lose weight and feel better... but then that causes them to do it more, and therein lies some of the problem.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (05:08)

• On Dental Toxins:
  “It’s estimated that 85% of chronic disease starts in the mouth. That’s wild, isn’t it?” – Dr. Dan Pompa (55:48)

• On Heavy Metal Detox:
  “You will not get well until you get to [persistent toxins]. It’s not as simple as sitting in a sauna or doing the 10-day juice cleanse.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (32:13)

• On Hormesis:
  “Biological systems... if we stress it and it adapts, it gets stronger, faster, smarter... If it doesn’t adapt, you become weaker.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (19:59)

• On Seed Oil Danger:
  “I will never make an exception on eating these rancid seed oils.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (74:05)

• On Finding Purpose:
  “In the pain is the purpose, and there’s hints to your true identity.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (43:54)

• On Cholesterol:
  “There’s no scientific evidence that total cholesterol is actually linked to heart disease.” – Dr. Dan Pompa (75:24)

Timestamps for Major Topics

• 5Rs & Introduction: 00:00, 49:39
• Hidden Toxins: 00:32, 91:58
• Fasting & Women’s Health: 03:56–12:33
• Hormesis Principle: 10:00–13:11
• Metabolic Flexibility: 16:37–19:15
• Heavy Metals: Personal Story & Detox: 23:04–34:57
• Purpose through Pain Discussion: 34:57–49:11
• Mouth Health & Cavitations: 55:48–63:57
• Seed Oils & Cell Membranes: 71:16–74:51
• Cholesterol & Saturated Fat: 75:06–81:57
• Fish Oil Controversy: 83:11–87:57
• Hormone Imbalance: 93:01
• Final Rapid-Fire Q&A: 89:20–94:21

Actionable Takeaways

• Address cellular health by removing toxins and industrial fats from your environment and diet.
• Personalize fasting and exercise based on stress adaptation and hormone health, especially for women.
• Investigate dental health (cavitations, mercury, root canals) as a source of persistent, unexplained illness.
• Don’t fear cholesterol; focus on reducing inflammation and not blindly lowering LDL.
• Audit your life timeline (traumas and wins) to extract clues to your true purpose.

Where to Find Dr. Pompa

• Instagram & Website: @drpompa
• Free “Cellular Detox” Webinar: pompaprogram.com

This episode is packed with practical wisdom and hard-earned insights, challenging popular health dogmas and giving listeners new pathways toward healing chronic conditions at the cellular level.