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