The Energy Balance Podcast

Ep. 105: Challenging The Idea That Increased Omega-3 Consumption Lowers Mortality

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether the research suggesting that omega-3s decrease mortality is valid
• Omega-6 intake as a major confounding variable when looking at omega-3 research
• The dramatic lifespan-lowering effect of omega-3s and total PUFA across all species
• How omega-3s increase susceptibility to oxidative stress and damage
• Looking at the Masai diet as an example of a low-omega-3 diet with high omega-3s in the red blood cells

 

 

Download the Free Energy Balance Food Guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/

 

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

 

Click here to check out the show notes: 

https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-105-challenging-the-idea-that-increased-omega-3-consumption-lowers-mortality/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:35 – why we’re discussing omega-3s and lifespan

8:10 – the studies showing an association between omega-3 content in phospholipid and reduced mortality

16:48 – conflict of interest as a confounding variable in these studies

18:12 – healthy user bias as a confounding variable in these studies

20:46 – omega-6 consumption as a confounding variable in these studies

29:04 – problems with using RBC phospholipids and serum fatty acids as markers of fatty acid composition of the diet

30:35 – a low omega-6 diet will increase omega-3 content in the RBC phospholipids and serum fatty acids

36:35 – the effect of heritability on RBC phospholipid and serum fatty acid composition

43:58 – the effect of oxidative stress on RBC phospholipid and serum fatty acid composition

52:57 – why it’s important to consider interventional studies and other research to determine whether we should increase omega-3 consumption to reduce mortality

55:30 – research looking at the relationship between composition of phospholipids and lifespan across species

1:07:33 – research looking at the relationship between composition of phospholipids and lifespan within species

1:23:30 – increased consumption of omega-3s increases omega-3 content in phospholipids and therefore the peroxidizability index

1:28:53 – looking at the Masai diet: low omega-6 intake increases omega-3 content in RBC fatty acids

Ep. 104: How Western Culture Keeps Us Distracted And Fighting Amongst Ourselves

In this episode we discuss:

• Individualism and competition vs. collaboration and communitarianism
• Whether humans are inherently selfish and destructive 
• The cost of social media and other forms of distraction
• How drugs and alcohol can function as numbing agents 
• Why many causes that appear worthy turn out to be distractions from the real problems

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Download the Free Energy Balance Food Guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: 

https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-104-how-western-culture-keeps-us-distracted-and-fighting-amongst-ourselves/

 

Timestamps:

1:14 – individualism and competition vs. collaboration and communitarianism

25:45 – randomness, subjectivism, moral relativism, and the resulting nihilism

31:20 – the consequences of the idea that humans are selfish, destructive, and useless other than what we can produce

41:39 – how potentially beneficial advancements become co-opted to maintain the current power structure

48:04 – how western culture degrades esteem and prevents self-actualization

49:43 – the many aspects of modern technology and entertainment that distract us from what’s important

55:26 – how drugs and alcohol can also function as numbing agents

1:03:42 – how worthy causes become co-opted to prevent legitimate progress

1:13:18 – contrasting with cultures that are family-oriented and less distracted by technology

1:16:10 – the effects of culture in science, health, and everyday life   

Ep. 103: How Western Culture Keeps Us Poor And Destroys Our Family, Community, and Relationships

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 between government and corporations
• How divide and conquer tactics convince us to blame each other rather than the powers that oppress us

 

Download the Free Energy Balance Food Guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: 

https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-103-how-western-culture-keeps-us-poor-and-destroys-our-family-community-and-relationships/

 

Timestamps:

1:34 – how western culture degrades safety and security through financial means

7:33 – how lower wages with higher costs reduces safety and forces people to prioritize work over quality of life

15:14 – we currently work more with less leisure time than ever before, with worse outcomes

20:24 – the cost of consumer culture and marketing as an engine that drives consumerism

30:53 – the cost of convenience culture: freedom, privacy, morals, ethics, and health

36:14 – the problems with profit-driven motives and the collusion between government and corporations

45:36 – how western society has become fragile and unstable

51:13 – how western culture degrades relationships and feelings of love and belonging

52:41 – continued how western culture degrades relationships and feelings of love and belonging

53:27 – divide and conquer tactics within western culture and encouraging the “us vs. them” mentality   

Ep. 102: How Western Culture & Mainstream Medicine Keep Us Sick

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 alternative health sphere can be just as problematic as mainstream medicine 

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-102-how-western-culture-mainstream-medicine-keep-us-sick/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – why we’re discussing culture and our concerns with the culture in the US and the relationship between culture and health  

6:05 – frames through which we can view culture and the importance of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

13:00 – how western culture degrades health: diet culture and the food industry

27:43 – how western culture degrades health: excess work, time indoors, and sedentarism 

34:30 – how easily we can become numb to the effects of our culture or environment 

38:07 – the broken modern medical system and the problems with the allopathic, symptom management model 

48:21 – problems with the alternative health sphere  

Ep. 101: Building a Bioenergetic Diet: Optimal Carb, Fat, and Protein Sources

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-FODMAP foods 

 

Download the Free Energy Balance Food Guide here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-101-building-a-bioenergetic-diet-optimal-carb-fat-and-protein-sources/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:34 - bioenergetic food guide 

2:59 - bioenergetic fat sources 

6:20 - bioenergetic protein sources 

15:01 - the importance of collagen/gelatin 

18:51 - bioenergetic carbohydrate sources 

31:25 – foods and additives to avoid 

34:15 – experimentation and context as primary components of the bioenergetic view 

 

Ep. 100: Building a Bioenergetic Diet: Macros, Calories, and Meal Timing

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.jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide/

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-100-building-a-bioenergetic-diet-macros-calories-and-meal-timing/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:21 – context for these dietary guidelines and the importance of the “why” 

7:58 – guidelines for optimal protein intake from the bioenergetic view 

14:46 – guidelines for optimal fat intake from the bioenergetic view 

29:27 – guidelines for optimal carb intake from the bioenergetic view  

31:32 – how to find your starting calorie intake 

35:29 – guidelines for optimal carb intake from the bioenergetic view (continued) 

42:00 – using taste, cravings, hunger, and experimentation to adjust these guidelines 

45:35 – guidelines for optimal meal and snack timing and composition from the bioenergetic view 

 

Ep. 99: Medications & Supplements For Hypothyroidism And The Problems With T4 Medications (Hypothyroidism Part 5)

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 supplementation suppressing our own thyroid hormone production 

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-99-medications-supplements-for-hypothyroidism-and-the-problems-with-t4-medications-hypothyroidism-part-5/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:24 – vitamin and mineral supplementation for thyroid function 

5:22 – the context for using thyroid hormone supplementation 

7:16 – the problems with using T4-only medications (like Synthroid and levothyroxine) for hypothyroidism 

13:58 – evidence that T4 monotherapy is less effective than T3/T4 combination therapy 

21:48 – how to use T3, T4, and/or desiccated thyroid (NDT) for hypothyroidism 

37:15 – whether thyroid hormones should be taken away from food due to absorption concerns 

41:49 – how much is 1 grain of desiccated thyroid? 

42:29 – whether thyroid hormone supplements are pharmaceuticals, food, or something in between 

44:30 – whether we should be concerned about thyroid hormone supplementation suppressing endogenous thyroid hormone production 

46:50 – thyroid hormone supplements in context 

Ep. 98: How To Optimize Your Diet & Lifestyle For Hypothyroidism (Hypothyroidism Part 4)

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/energy

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-98-how-to-optimize-your-diet-lifestyle-for-hypothyroidism-hypothyroidism-part-4

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:06 – how to address and reverse hypothyroidism

2:36 – the importance of carbs, calories, and fat for improving thyroid function

16:24 – the importance of eating consistently (and not fasting) for thyroid function

18:00 – saturated fats vs. PUFA and micronutrients for thyroid function

19:45 – basic bioenergetic diet recommendations for hypothyroidism

22:14 – anti-thyroid foods (goitrogens) to avoid

23:08 – other diet considerations when transitioning to a bioenergetic approach

25:56 – low iron in women and excess iron from carnivore or keto diets

27:47 – cruciferous vegetables and thyroid health

28:43 – how to properly address nutrient deficiencies for thyroid health

35:06 – whether stressors like exercise, cold thermogenesis, caloric restriction, and fasting are supportive of thyroid health

47:54 – optimizing sleep for thyroid function

Ep. 97: How To Properly Test For Thyroid Function (Hypothyroidism Part 3)

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 test values for optimal thyroid function 

 

Check out the Energy Balance Solution program here: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution/

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-97-how-to-properly-test-for-thyroid-function-hypothyroidism-part-3

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:17 – what causes Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism and autoimmunity in general

13:30 – how to interpret thyroid blood tests (TSH, T3, T4, rT3) 

31:34 – what reverse T3 means on a blood test and how to interpret rT3 values

34:44 – looking at all thyroid markers together to determine thyroid status 

37:05 – the anti-thyroid effects of reverse T3

40:38 – cholesterol levels as a marker of thyroid status, and the problems with cholesterol levels that are too high or too low

52:34 – the relationship between cholesterol, heart disease, and thyroid status

56:04 – other blood markers that can be indicative of thyroid status (SHBG, ferritin)

57:02 – how we can use symptoms like metabolic rate, body temperature, and pulse rate to determine thyroid status  

1:12:14 – other symptoms that can be used as indicators of thyroid status (low energy, fatigue, low immune function, dry or cracking skin, hair loss brittle nails, slow motility, weight gain, low mood)

Ep. 96: Avoid Low-Carb Diets, Fasting, and Caloric Restriction If You Have Hypothyroidism (Hypothyroidism Part 2)

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 deficiencies and excesses of iron, iodine, and vitamin A for thyroid health

 

Sign up for the Free Energy Balance Mini-Course here: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-96-avoid-low-carb-diets-fasting-and-caloric-restriction-if-you-have-hypothyroidism-hypothyroidism-part-2/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:28 – the factors that affect thyroid hormone production, conversion, transport, and uptake

3:45 – the impact of stress on thyroid hormone production and conversion 

5:02 – how the stress hormones and inflammatory cytokines affect thyroid hormone production and conversion

16:44 – thyroid hormones increase sensitivity to stress hormones 

21:44 – elevated free fatty acids, especially PUFA, inhibit thyroid hormone binding

23:26 – how a lack of energy prevents the cells from taking up thyroid hormone

30:00 – how oxidative stress affects thyroid hormone production and the effects of TSH on oxidative stress

38:25 – how a low-carb diet affects thyroid hormone production and conversion, causing a hypothyroid state; high-carb diets vs. low-carb diets for thyroid health

47:46 – insulin resistance is associated with reduced thyroid hormone conversion, but this doesn’t mean you should avoid carbohydrates  

51:39 – how caloric restriction affects thyroid status

55:04 – the effects of fasting on thyroid status

56:42 – T3 has positive feedback on its own production and what this means for thyroid hormone replacement

1:00:01 – the effects of PUFA and endotoxin on thyroid hormone activity

1:04:30 – the effects of micronutrients, specifically iron, vitamin A, selenium, and iodine, on thyroid hormone production, conversion, and activity

1:16:30 – increased thyroid activity increases macronutrient and micronutrient needs, but also improves micronutrient retention in the long-term

1:19:15 – the effects of environmental toxins (pesticides, industrial chemicals, heavy metals, etc.) on thyroid hormone production, conversion, and activity

1:25:20 – the effect of sleep on thyroid hormone production and conversion