The Energy Balance Podcast

In this episode we discuss: How lower wages and higher costs have dramatically reduced our quality of life How we’ve ended up working more and resting less with worse outcomes Whether advancements in technology have improved the quality of life of the average person How marketing and consumerism keep us on the hamster wheel The hidden costs of convenience culture Concerns surrounding the collusion...

In this episode we discuss: Why culture matters and how we can effectively navigate it The impact of the diet culture and the “eat less exercise more” paradigm How Western culture blames the individual for their poor health and the toll that this takes  The problems with excess work, time indoors, and sedentarism How the modern medical system takes away your capacity to improve your health Why the...

In this episode we discuss: Why you want to avoid vegetarian-fed chicken and acorn-fed pork  The best bioenergetic fat, protein, and carb sources  Why it’s best to avoid salmon and bluefin tuna, and what fish and seafood to have instead  Whether we should be including vegetables and fiber in our diet  How to avoid vegetable oils and what fats to use instead  When it makes sense to include high-FOD...

In this episode we discuss: Optimal macronutrient breakdowns for meals and snacks How to calculate your protein, carbohydrate, and fat needs How to use taste, cravings, hunger, and experimentation to guide your macro intake How to find your starting calorie intake The optimal number of meals and snacks to have in a day   Download the Free Energy Balance Food Guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwelln...

In this episode we discuss: The problems with using T4-only medications like Synthroid and levothyroxine for hypothyroidism   When it makes sense to use thyroid hormone supplements  How to use T3, T4, and/or desiccated thyroid (NDT) for hypothyroidism   Whether thyroid hormones should be taken away from food due to absorption concerns   Whether we should be concerned about thyroid hormone suppleme...

In this episode we discuss: How fasting decreases thyroid function   Why carbs are essential for thyroid function  Specific anti-thyroid foods to avoid   Why interventions like cold thermogenesis, caloric restriction, and fasting are not the answer for hypothyroidism  The impact of sleep on our thyroid health    Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/e...

In this episode we discuss: What causes Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism  How to properly interpret your thyroid bloodwork (and what your doctor likely doesn’t know about thyroid testing) How your cholesterol values can be used as markers of thyroid status  How symptoms like metabolic rate, body temperature, and pulse rate can be more helpful than blood tests when identifying thyroid status  Ideal blood...

In this episode we discuss: The factors that affect thyroid hormone production, conversion, transport, and uptake How high TSH levels cause damage to the thyroid gland High-carb diets vs. low-carb diets for thyroid health Why restricting calories is not the way to go if you’re struggling with hypothyroidism The effects of PUFA and endotoxin on thyroid hormone activity The problems with both defici...

In this episode we discuss: Why hypothyroidism is not the root cause of your issues Why TSH on its own is not a good marker of thyroid status The importance of thyroid hormones for sex hormone production, gut health, and immune function T3’s effects on autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, and uncoupling Whether low thyroid activity is beneficial for longevity and aging and when a high TSH may be a...

In this episode we discuss: Why uncoupling is harmful in certain contexts and how PUFA cause constant, low-level uncoupling The involvement of uncoupling, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, heat shock proteins, and hypoxia-inducible factors in the stress response How stress prevents our mitochondria from effectively producing energy How chronic stress causes insulin resistance, high blood pressu...

In this episode we discuss: Why stress is not your friend The effects of cortisol on your mitochondria Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome How cortisol causes mitochondrial dysfunction, heart disease, insulin resistance, autoimmunity, allergies & hypersensitivity, mineral imbalances, and cancer metabolism Why acute stress does not lead to improved health via hormesis   Sign up for the Fre...

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-92-celebrating-ray-peat/ Ray Peat's Website: http://raypeat.com/ Ray Peat Interviews, Articles, Related Websites, and Other Resources: https://www.selftestable.com/ray-peat-stuff/sites      

In this episode we discuss: Whether cod liver oil is an ideal source of vitamin A/retinol Whether we should be concerned about the omega-3 content of cod liver oil (CLO) The idea that we want our fat cells to be insulin resistant to lose fat Whether keeping insulin low is the key to fat loss What hormones regulate fat loss   Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanw...

In this episode we discuss: Whether fish oil is beneficial due to its anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects Our thoughts on the benefits from a paleo-ketogenic diet What to do if you’re dealing with dental issues from sugar consumption Our experiences eating 5,000 to 6,000 calories per day The best time to eat the carrot salad   Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: ht...

In this episode we discuss: Whether PUFA causes more oxidative stress than saturated fats How PUFA intake affects testosterone Whether fruit juice should be avoided for blood sugar regulation The effects of fruit juice on inflammatory markers and endotoxin Whether fruit juice has the same effects as soda   Check out the Energy Balance Solution group coaching program: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com...

In this episode we discuss: The hormonal effects of compounds in soy How the effects of BPA compare to soy  Whether soy is estrogenic and causes infertility Whether the amount of soy typically consumed is sufficient to create these effects   Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy   Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwe...

In this episode we discuss: Whether low-carb diets increase cortisol over time How the bioenergetic view incorporates evolutionary biology, and how this differs from the ancestral health model Whether tolerance to stress is improved on low-carb diets Why being overweight or obese is not a sign of excess energy   What we think of Paul Saladino’s interpretation of the “Ray Peat Diet”   Check out the...

In this episode we discuss: Whether it’s stressful to be in a fat-burning, keto-adapted state How blood sugar is regulated when we’re not eating carbohydrates, and how this impacts stress hormones and thyroid hormones Whether having stable blood sugar levels on a low-carb diet is a good thing The problems with elevated levels of glucagon, which occurs when someone is on a low-carb diet   Why gluca...

In this episode we discuss: Whether we should be avoiding fructose-containing foods due to their potential to increase uric acid Whether the fact that we lack uricase means that we shouldn’t be consuming fructose- containing foods The role of endotoxin and gut health in uric acid production and gout Which fructose sources are ideal for metabolic health How to adjust fructose intake if someone is d...

In this episode we discuss: Whether David Perlmutter and Rick Johnson are right about fructose and uric acid being drivers of poor metabolic health Why fructose will not cause ATP depletion when it’s consumed in normal contexts Why fructose and uric acid are not the drivers of metabolic syndrome and degenerative conditions The protective effects of fructose in the liver Why it’s extremely importan...

In this episode we discuss: How our bodies partition nutrients and why this matters for optimizing our health Why hyperpalatable food and stress-eating are not the primary drivers of overeating How being sedentary can mimic starvation and excess stress How excessive fat-burning causes metabolic derangement and overeating  Why an energetic deficit is not required for fat loss and instead causes fat...

In this episode we discuss: Supplements to maximize fitness and athletic performance Why exercise and physical fitness are generally beneficial as long as they’re kept in the right balance The minimum effective doses for muscle growth, strength, and endurance How stress and sleep affect our capacity to handle exercise Nutritional strategies to mitigate the harmful stress effects from high levels o...

In this episode we discuss: How to determine how much exercise is right for you Why working out regularly is not enough to make up for sitting all day Why fitness and health are not synonymous Whether lactic acid production, breathlessness, and fat oxidation due to exercise should be avoided at all costs Whether intense exercise and being highly active is always more harmful than helpful   Sign up...

In this episode we discuss: The harmful effects of excess exercise Why increasing exercise beyond moderate amounts is NOT effective for weight loss The harmful effects of excessive endurance training on cardiovascular health How excess exercise can drive degeneration and contribute to various health issues How much exercise is “too much”   Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: http...

In this episode we discuss: Whether it’s beneficial to force increased mitochondrial respiration with supplements How to determine the ideal amount of pro-metabolic supplements to take  What to do if you react poorly to collagen or gelatin protein powder Whether food additives like carrageenan, gums, nitrates, sorbates, MSG, microbial enzymes, cultures, and artificial colors are worth avoiding Whe...