The Energy Balance Podcast

In this episode we discuss: -Shawn Baker claims gluconeogenesis is fine – is he right? -Dr Rob Cywes on carb addiction, insulin resistance, and bariatric surger Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:47 – Shawn Baker compares gluconeogenesis to cholesterol synthesis – is the comparison valid? 2:47 – is increasing gluconeogenesis through low-carb diets optimal? 6:54 – problems with upregulating gluconeogenesis: stress hormones, ammonia, muscle breakdown, and insulin resistance 10:15 – Shawn Baker’s claim that breathing too much isn’t stressful – is that true? 12:28 – gluconeogenesis as the result of elevated stress hormones – is there a long-term cost? 14:24 – Shawn Baker’s social media post reveals flawed reasoning and a lack of critical thinking 17:47 – what “stress” really means and whether cortisol is always harmful 23:45 – the cost of upregulated gluconeogenesis, elevated glucagon, and low t3 on low-carb diets 25:15 – Dr Rob Cywes’ claim that carbs do no harm, it’s our relationship with them that’s the problem 29:09 – Dr Cywes’ claim that glucagon is more important than insulin 33:33 – you're not addicted to carbohydrates, your body just needs fuel 38:13 – Dr Cywes contradicts himself on carbs and obesity 40:37 – native cultures on high-carb diets don’t have obesity or insulin resistance 43:05 – whether high insulin levels drive fat gain and why low-carb diets don’t prevent insulin excursions 44:51 – is diet properly considered before bariatric surgery? 48:08 – many “high-carb foods” are actually high-fat foods 49:01 – bariatric surgeries ignore other possible root causes of metabolic dysfunction 49:53 – Dr Cywes misunderstands glucagon, insulin, and cellular energy production 56:48 – what Dr Cywes gets right: stress hormones increase in reaction to a cellular energy deficiency 58:57 – elevated glucagon drives insulin resistance and whether glucagon resistance exists 1:03:41 – reversing keto damage: weight loss, gut, and brain health on a bioenergetic approach

In this episode we discuss: -The calories in calories out model of obesity -Dr Boz’s take on fruit and blood glucose spikes -Richard Smith on aging and the NAD+ to NADH ratio Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 1:17 – Is fruit evil or is Dr Boz insulin resistant? 5:00 – whether high blood glucose levels drive Alzheimer’s and dementia 7:39 – does glucose automatically get converted to fructose and fat? 10:58 – Dr Boz & Glucose Goddess’s fearmongering about fruit and glucose spikes 14:12 – Dr Boz parrots Robert Lustig: they’re both wrong about fructose 15:43 – concerns with blood sugar spikes when reintroducing carbs and whether using a CGM is worth it 17:32 – less, not more, glucose uptake in the brain creates the conditions for Alzheimer’s disease 20:15 – poor glucose utilization as a driver of Alzheimer’s and dementia 22:48 – reducing carbohydrate intake causes insulin resistance and less metabolic flexibility 26:27 – possible reasons for Dr Boz’s high blood sugar and our advice for Dr Boz 30:31 – our experiences with “keto snacks” and how keto caused intense cravings and binging 33:53 – Richard Smith on keto, NAD+ and aging 35:23 – what Richard Smith misses about glucose and the NAD+ to NADH ratio 41:00 – glucose metabolism leads to a higher NAD+ to NADH ratio than ketone metabolism 44:15 – how low-carb diets can restore the NAD+ to NADH ratio through stress pathways 47:02 – whether ketones are beneficial 49:57 – fats vs carbs: which is the better fuel for the NAD+ to NADH ratio? 55:17 – how to support healthy aging and NAD+ levels (hint: not low-carb) 1:00:31 – what the NAD+/NADH ratio actually indicates 1:05:02 – lower blood sugar with a bioenergetic approach

Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:47 – Sean’s professional bodybuilding career and how excessive exercise harmed his health 5:50 – Sean’s experience with various diets (keto, carnivore, fasting, low-carb, carb-cycling, low-fat, etc.) 12:37 – issues with the low-fat craze of the 1980s and the cost of constant diet cycling 18:09 – excess protein slowed Sean’s metabolism and caused major gut issues 24:35 – how the sugar diet helped Sean recover from excess protein intake and low-carb diet stress 29:15 – using colon massage and myofascial release to support digestive health 31:23 – sugar diet results and how it impacted Sean’s bodybuilding competition and sleep 34:36 – muscle loss, lower energy, and cravings on the sugar diet 36:33 – how Sean transitioned to a more balanced approach while listening to his cravings and hunger signals 40:23 – when it comes to exercise, more is NOT always better 42:26 – improved health and freedom from listening to your body with the bioenergetic approach 46:27 – how to reverse autoimmune conditions like ankylosing spondylitis (AS) using a bioenergetic approach 49:04 – Sean’s advice to young athletes on how to support long-term health 50:43 – how Sean overcame health dogmatism

In this episode we discuss: -The calories in calories out model of obesity -What really causes fat storage -Whether there are any concerns with consuming organ meats Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:56 – Nick Norwitz’s claim that calories don’t cause obesity and whether we agree 6:25 – the value and limitations of calories 14:27 – the true cause of obesity 19:40 – “excess calorie intake causes weight gain” is unhelpful and irresponsible 23:28 – how and when measuring calorie intake can be valuable 27:24 – do calories matter? 32:28 – how “it’s just calories” often places blame on the individual 34:26 – Nick Norwitz on when the calories-in-calories-out model “breaks” 37:28 – hypothyroidism and weight gain resolved using a bioenergetic approach 38:26 – thoughts on organ meats like liver, heart, kidney, stomach, and intestine 42:41 – freeze-dried or desiccated vs fresh organ meat 45:12 – Nutrition with Judy’s claim that “liver is not a superfood” 47:11 – can you overdose micronutrients like vitamin A and copper from organ meats? 49:43 – strategies for including more organ meats in your diet

Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:25 – why your vitamin D levels are still low despite supplementing 3:17 – the dangers of low vitamin D for bone health & immune function 7:16 – essential nutrients and food sources to resolve low vitamin D 17:25 – top supplement recommendations for optimal vitamin D

In this episode we discuss: Ray Peat’s ideas about fasting and the stress response Why relying on fatty acid oxidation is inherently stressful Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 1:03 – Ray Peat’s view on fasting for 12–15 hours without triggering stress 4:22 – the true definition of stress and how much stress is optimal 9:18 – how the efficiency of glucose metabolism and glycogen storage impacts stress 12:23 – whether we agree that fasting for 12–15 hours doesn’t cause stress in healthy people 17:05 – do hunger signals mean the stress response has already started? 21:08 – the short- and long-term costs of low carb diets 22:22 – finding balance between eating frequently to reduce stress and spacing meals out strategically 24:47 – why meditation, magnesium, and other tools don’t stop physiological stress 27:04 – Ray Peat on what happens when stored glucose (glycogen) runs out 28:53 – hypothyroidism as a driver of poor glucose utilization and liver glycogen storage 31:50 – stress hormones and elevated fatty acid metabolism characterize the stress response 34:50 – ketosis mimics starvation and lowers the metabolic rate 36:50 – sugar is anti-stress and whether sugar is addictive 41:46 – once you add in carbs you won’t go back 44:12 – how your body adapts when you add in carbs following low-carb diets 48:30 – Ray Peat on the harmful effects of fasting 50:14 – the cost of stress and increased fat metabolism 52:06 – the dangers of releasing PUFA from storage and how long it takes to deplete PUFA 55:11 – strategies for protecting against PUFA 1:01:50 – how long it takes to see benefits from lowering PUFA and setting expectations for progress 1:06:00 – binge-eating and food addiction resolved with a bioenergetic approach 1:10:48 – how low-carb and keto diets cause intense cravings and food obsession while a bioenergetic approach resolves them

In this episode we discuss: Justine’s response to our critique of her arguments against Ray Peat’s work Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:32 – recap of Justine Stenger’s claim covered in episode 19 2:26 – Justine’s response to our critique of her post 5:45 – why it’s crucial to separate personal feelings from intellectual discussions, especially when sharing information publicly 10:48 – our goal as health educators is not to shame or discredit individuals 13:33 – how today’s social media environment incentivizes low quality, thoughtless posts 18:30 – why attention and clicks take priority over quality on social media 21:34 – how to discern reliable information and whether we should outsource understanding to specialists 26:49 – how to develop true discernment in a world full of self-proclaimed experts 30:19 – Justine Stenger doubles down on her claim that fats are superior to carbohydrates32:47 –do carbs or fat better supports a compromised metabolic state? 39:45 – Justine contradicts her earlier claim that fat is a cleaner-burning fuel than carbohydrates 43:10 – Justine Stenger’s claim that glucose oxidation is only beneficial during hypoxia or the cell danger response 49:55 – why carbohydrates are the superior fuel source 55:17 – the difference between glucose oxidation and anaerobic glycolysis, and whether Justine is conflating the two 57:28 – how Ray Peat’s metabolic framework drives growth and expansion in society as a whole 1:01:53 – why having metabolic flexibility in a healthy state doesn’t refute our argument that carbohydrates are the superior fuel 1:08:23 – the inherent cost of favoring fat metabolism over carb metabolism, and why restoring carbohydrate utilization is essential for restoring a healthy metabolism 1:13:30 – Justine admits she hasn’t studied Ray Peat’s work 1:19:17 – Justine’s claim that it’s optimal to switch between fuel sources 1:20:55 – Justine’s claim that redox matter more than carbs vs fats 1:25:11 – did we publicly dismantle Justine’s work, and is it okay to critique others? 1:31:26 – Justine’s hypocritical shaming of us for addressing her incorrect claims about Ray Peat’s work and glucose vs. fat metabolism1:39:48 –there is no “Ray Peat Diet” 1:40:20 – how to embrace criticism and whether debates are typically helpful 1:45:04 – the responsibility that comes with being health educators 1:48:33 – common problems with debates and why we aren’t interested in debating Bart Kay 1:52:09 – how the nervous system impacts our ability to think critically 1:52:56 – problems with debates cont’d – are debates truly valuable? 1:57:24 – blood sugar improvements on a bioenergetic approach

Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:57 – how Andrew was introduced to Ray Peat, the bioenergetic view of health, and Jay’s energy balance approach 5:48 – why we structure our programs with teaching the “why” alongside clear action steps and strategies 8:41 – increased energy and lower blood sugar levels while increasing carbohydrates 15:09 – how the Energy Balance approach resolved nighttime binging, high blood pressure, gut issues, and improved sleep quality 19:02 – how restricting carbohydrates leads to binging and “carbohydrate addiction” 21:33 – setting health and weight expectations: how long does it really take to heal your metabolism? 27:07 – refeeding, weight regain, and paying back metabolic debt: the process of losing weight without compromising your health 31:20 – the importance of keeping a health journal and documenting symptoms and wins 33:46 – weight loss as a result of improved health 41:29 – the cost of losing body fat by cutting calories 47:08 – how we work with clients using the Energy Balance approach 49:57 – how extreme diets isolate, while Energy Balance reconnects us by removing food dogma and providing the energy for healthy connection 55:31 – Andrew’s experience learning and applying the Energy Balance system 59:23 – how we structure the Energy Balance programs to foster learning and create lasting health improvements 1:07:02 – how the Energy Balance approach reshaped Andrew’s coaching style

Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 1:03 – introducing Andrew Wallen 1:50 – Andrew’s background in sports, powerlifting, bodybuilding, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 6:20 – Andrew’s experience cycling through various dietary camps (CICO, paleo, ancestral, carnivore, fasting, low-carb, etc.) 12:04 – whether we should shape our diets around what our ancestors did 15:15 – how low-carb, keto, and fasting diets elevated stress and caused blood sugar issues for Andrew 20:45 – “optimal” blood glucose, HRV, and resting heart rate despite crashing health 23:50 – how stress-inducing (hormetic) health practices led to binging, self-blame, low brain energy, high blood pressure, and weakened immune function 27:36 – low-carb, keto, carnivore, fasting, and fear about reintroducing carbs 33:13 – Andrew’s breaking point with health and what led him to start questioning what being “healthy” really meant 36:27 –exercise intolerance, fatigue, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, brain fog, gut issues, slow motility, and poor sleep: the product of years of low-carb and fasting

https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/healthy/ Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/non-toxic-product-recommendations-for-your-home-body-cookware-skincare-clothing-emfs-more/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 2:29 – the hidden costs behind cheap products 5:42 – health concerns with common cookware: Teflon, non-stick coatings, PFAS, and leaching 9:34 – concerns with cast iron and carbon steel cookware 12:14 – how stainless steel compares to cast iron and carbon steel and concerns with nickel 15:20 – glass cookware and ceramic cookware 16:56 – the best cookware options 19:54 – recommendations for low-PUFA skincare 21:58 – recommendations for vitamin D and UV light 24:54 – the negative effects of synthetic clothing materials 27:46 – recommended brands for clothing, bedding, towels, and other fabrics 29:08 – coffee brands I trust and what to look for when buying coffee beans 30:30 – EMF protection and air tube headphones 33:09 – recommendations for high-quality meat

In this episode we discuss: How the Randle Cycle actually works Whether eating carbs and fats in the same meal causes weight gain and insulin resistance The efficiency of using fats as a fuel vs carbohydrate How stress impacts fuel usage in the mitochondria How to determine the optimal amount of carbs and fats in your diet Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-139-the-truth-about-the-randle-cycle-why-you-can-eat-carbs-and-fats-together/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:53 – misconceptions regarding the Randle cycle in the alternative health world 4:57 – what is the Randle cycle? 7:06 – what most people get wrong about the Randle cycle 10:44 – fat oxidation leads to increased ROS production and a decreased NAD+/NADH ratio 16:29 – how fat oxidation inhibits the utilization of carbohydrates 21:03 – the Randle cycle shows the benefits of burning carbs for energy 25:56 – how fat oxidation inhibits the utilization of carbohydrates cont’d 26:57 – metabolic dysfunction, not glucose, drives insulin resistance and aging 32:07 – fat metabolism causes a buildup of citrate which reduces glucose uptake and utilization 38:39 – how glucose oxidation inhibits the uptake and utilization of fats 45:32 – whether you can “activate” or “deactivate” the Randle cycle 47:22 – glucose oxidation leads to an optimal NAD+/NADH ratio and decreased ROS production 52:08 – the protective effects of CO2 and why the brain can’t use fats as a fuel 53:17 – whether we should strive for metabolic flexibility 55:55 – fat metabolism and ketone production as a mechanism for energy conservation and glucose sparing 1:00:02 – insulin resistance as a state of excess fat metabolism and decreasing fat metabolism or stress hormones improves this state 1:05:28 – should we avoid eating carbs and fats together due to the Randle cycle? 1:08:08 – different cells, tissues, and organs can use different fuels at the same time

In this episode we discuss: How glucose and insulin decrease glycation Why ketogenic diets can be worse than high-carb diets when it comes to AGE formation How autophagy helps to clear AGEs, but increasing autophagy is not the answer The true primary drivers of AGE accumulation The best diet and supplements for minimizing glycation Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-138-low-carb-diets-increase-glycation-and-what-to-do-instead/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:57 – how glycation products are detoxified and cleared from the body 4:03 – glycation detoxification is impaired by oxidative stress and inflammation, as seen in type 2 diabetes 7:56 – the benefits of carbohydrates for the detoxification of glycation products 10:42 – the benefits of insulin for the detoxification of glycation products 12:45 – how AGEs are cleared 14:36 – increasing autophagy via hormesis is not the answer for clearing AGEs 19:09 – autophagy can drive disease 20:50 – ATP protects against oxidative stress and allows for proper autophagy when needed 24:37 – impaired mitochondrial along with fatty acid oxidation impairs autophagy and increases oxidative stress 26:54 – carbohydrates do NOT inhibit autophagy 29:18 – adequate thyroid hormone supports proper autophagy 30:15 – adequate ATP and mitochondrial function is needed for the UPS (ubiquitin proteasome system) 32:56 – do high-carb diets actually impair metabolism and insulin sensitivity 35:26 – is fructose really worse for blood sugar regulation and glycation? 37:16 – are low-carb or ketogenic diets the solution to reduce glycation? 40:32 – increased glycation and oxidative stress on ketogenic diets 44:09 –low-carb diets don’t prevent glucose exposure 47:56 – there are still considerable insulin and glucose excursions on low-carb diets 50:06 – gluconeogenesis leads to same glycolytic intermediates as glucose metabolism 51:52 –the main driver of AGE formation and impaired AGE clearance 53:40 – the role of vitamin B1 (thiamine) and mitochondrial energy production in decreasing AGEs 56:27 –endotoxin as a driver of glycation and increased AGE production 58:12 – hypothyroidism as a driver of glycation and AGE accumulation 59:37 – dietary solutions for reducing glycation and AGEs 1:03:33 – how to support the glyoxalase pathway to support the detoxification of glycation products 1:05:56 – avoid calorie restriction, low-carb diets, fasting, resveratrol, cold exposure, excess exercise, and iron overload to decrease glycation and AGEs 1:07:33 – iron as a double-edged sword for oxidative stress

In this episode we discuss: Why glucose and fructose are not the primary drivers of AGE formation Whether blood sugar spikes cause glycation How fats and ketones can cause glycation What’s really responsible for glycation in type 2 diabetes Whether fructose causes more glycation than glucose Check out the Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/ Check out the Energy Balance Food guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/ Check out the Energy Balance Solution Program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy-balance-solution/ Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/eb-137-what-really-causes-glycation-is-sugar-really-the-problem/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 0:46 – common beliefs about carbohydrates and glycation 2:35 – what are glycation and advanced glycation end products? 6:57 – the process of glycation from glucose 9:30 – is sugar the only source of AGEs? 15:00 – primary drivers of glycation: dicarbonyls 19:30 – how fatty acids, amino acids, and ketones cause AGE formation 21:23 – how increased gluconeogenesis on low-carb diets increases AGE formation 22:53 – glucose metabolism produces very few glycation products in the context of a healthy metabolism 25:33 – omega-6s form AGEs more than 10x faster than glucose 28:24 – the role of ALEs (advanced lipoxidation end products) in glycation and chronic disease 30:36 – whether blood sugar spikes cause glycation 38:52 – whether fructose causes more glycation (or fructation) than glucose 47:05 – can glycation from fructose (fructation) be measured, and does this matter? 52:06 – problems with research looking at fructose’s AGE formation in animal models

In this episode we discuss: Whether there are benefits to taking massive amounts of glucose for healing Whether there is a limit to the amount of glucose we should consume Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/ Timestamps: 0:00 – intro 2:10 – David Stephens’ claim that glucose can't harm you in any way, no matter the amount 7:46 – the difference between glucose and fructose and whether fructose just gets converted to fat 11:13 – whether extreme acidity, alkalinity, and corrosivity are what make substances harmful to humans 15:14 – David Stephens’ claim that sucrose can't cross the blood-brain barrier 18:59 – how authoritarianism shapes the health industry and the difficulties of verifying information with AI 23:14 – whether the “chemical heaviness” of sucrose means that it can’t be helpful in the body 25:51 – whether we agree with David Stephens on the benefits of glucose 29:14 – whether anxiety, irritability, depression, autoimmune disorders, and diabetes are caused by a lack of glucose for your brain 34:37 – what David Stephens misses about the large amounts of glucose he recommends – poor glucose utilization, gut issues, and blood sugar instability 38:06 – whether glucose deficiency is possible and whether most people are eating enough carbs to thrive vs survive 39:04 – David Stephens’ claim that it’s impossible for glucose to be harmful to the body in any way 45:25 – why someone might feel better using large amounts of dextrose as their main carbohydrate source 48:00 – how large quantities of glucose can lead to weight gain, blood sugar spikes, and cardiovascular problems 52:27 – how to avoid dietary extremes and what balance really means 58:41 – weight loss and recovery from mental health issues using a bioenergetic approach