The Energy Balance Podcast

BV #5: Robert Lustig on Fructose, Dave Asprey’s Criticism of Ray Peat, & Jordan Peterson on Serotonin

In this episode we discuss:

• How Jack & Dalton from Analyze & Optimize were introduced to the work of Ray Peat
  
• Robert Lustig's claims that fructose is as harmful to the liver as alcohol
  
• Whether Jordan Peterson’s Serotonin Hierarchy has any merit
  
• The negative effects of the carnivore diet, especially on gut health
• The link between birth control and cancer and the protective effects of progesterone
• What we think of Dave Asprey’s thoughts on the “Ray Peat diet”
  

 

 

Analyze & Optimize's Website: https://www.analyzeandoptimize.io/

 

 

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/

 

 

Danny's Telegram: https://t.me/dannyroddy

 

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

0:38 – how Analyze & Optimize (Jack & Dalton) got introduced to work of Ray Peat 

6:32 – how Analyze & Optimize create their videos 

10:40 – refuting Robert Lustig's claims – is fructose as harmful to the liver as alcohol? 

17:40 – whether Analyze & Optimize are paid by “big sugar”  

20:30 – Robert Lustig’s fructose claims are unsupported 

28:06 – is white sugar safe to consume? 

33:04 – Serotonin & Hierarchy by Jordan Peterson 

34:33 – SSRI use and serotonin’s role in promoting learned helplessness and anhedonia 

40:46 – how the perceived benefits of serotonin could be attributed to other factors 

45:45 – whether serotonin is the “dominance” hormone 

47:17 – Analyze & Optimize respond to Shawn Baker on sugar cravings being a sign of health and youth 

51:04 – declining health on the carnivore diet, whether it’s sustainable, and why your immune system needs carbohydrates 

54:04 – carnivore diet effects on gut health – quorum sensing, biofilms, high stress hormones, and damage to thyroid health 

1:01:30 – why chronic low-calorie intake turns down metabolic function and leads to obesity 

1:07:00 – the harm caused by conflating progesterone and synthetic progestins 

1:14:57 – the link between birth control and cancer and the protective effects of progesterone 

1:18:20 – the negative effects of synthetic progestins and estrogen, especially unchecked by natural progesterone 

1:24:45 – Why Is the Right So Obsessed with Seed Oils? by Ej Dickson 

1:31:15 – Dave Asprey argues with Paul Saladino on supplements vs orange juice 

1:39:10 – whether Ray Peat’s ideas and principles promote orthorexia 

1:44:22 – using precision medicine vs. listening to your body 

1:51:09 – where to find more of Jack & Dalton’s work 

Ep. 126: High Triglycerides on a High-Carb Diet: Should You Be Worried?

In this episode we discuss:

• What causes increased triglycerides on a high-carb diet
• Whether the small, dense LDL particles are really the culprits behind cardiovascular disease 
• How lipid values on a high-carb diet compared to a low-carb diet, including lean mass hyper responders
• Whether low HDL levels will increase your risk of heart disease
• Whether high triglyceride levels cause heart disease

 

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.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-126-high-triglycerides-on-a-high-carb-diet-should-you-be-worried/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:10 – whether elevated triglycerides on a high-carbohydrate diet warrant concern 

3:21 – the association between LDL, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome 

5:52 – the lipid energy model and what accounts for the lipid values seen in Lean Mass Hyper-Responders (LMHR)  

9:26 – what causes higher triglycerides seen on higher-carb, lower-fat diets in someone who is insulin sensitive 

11:39 - what causes high triglycerides in insulin resistance 

18:08 – are elevated triglyceride levels on a high-carb diet concerning, and do they drive cardiovascular disease? 

24:08 – whether small, dense LDL and low HDL levels drive heart disease 

28:25 – native cultures showing high triglycerides on a high-carb diet with no signs of cardiovascular disease:Tarahumaras, Tukisenta, and the Kitavans 

34:10 – high-carb diets support insulin sensitivity and don’t increase uric acid levels in the Tukisenta  

37:23 –high-carb diets support insulin sensitivity without increased activity levels in the Kitavans 

43:43 – when elevated triglycerides might become a concern after increasing carbohydrate intake 

BV #4: Responding To Thomas Delauer, Ben Bikman on Insulin Resistance, and Layne Norton on Seed Oils

In this episode we discuss:

• What Layne Norton is missing regarding seed oils
  
• What we think of Liver King’s steroid use and how this relates to fitness culture and unhealthy body image
  
• Ben Bikman’s complete misapplication of a study regarding blood sugar and insulin resistance
  
• Jay’s response to Thomas DeLauer regarding omega-3s and cod liver oil
  

 

 

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/

 

 

Danny's Telegram: https://t.me/dannyroddy

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

0:28 – Andrew Huberman and Layne Norton on whether seed oils are inherently harmful

4:18 – why Layne Norton's "calories-only" view is flawed, as it ignores how the type of food actually affects our bodies

9:58 – whether animal studies are useful in nutritional research, or if only human randomized control trials (RTC) should be considered

15:57 – problematic assumptions and biases in nutritional research and how they can shape research outcomes

20:59 – why the reported health benefits of polyunsaturated fats in research are misleading and harmful

26:54 – the connection between chronic disease and polyunsaturated fats, and how focusing solely on calories relieves the food industry of responsibility for health outcomes

31:43 – Liver King's self-esteem, body image struggles, steroid use, health risks, and why his apology was commendable

41:36 – why cultural standards for physical appearances are unrealistic, unhealthy, and can lead to conflating steroid-enhanced bodies for genuine health

51:12 – health risks associated with steroid-use and having too much muscle mass

1:00:34 – Thomas Delauer and Derek from moreplatesmoredates discuss omega-3s

1:06:21 – whether the antioxidants in fish oil are worth the damage caused by lipid peroxidation

1:10:54 – whether cod liver oil is any better than fish oil

1:17:11 – how to effectively hydrate your cells and the importance of getting enough salt

1:24:44 – why consuming a lot of plain water without electrolytes actually impairs hydration, contributing to increased swelling, increased stress, and impaired energy production

1:32:38 – the importance of getting adequate potassium in addition to salt intake

1:38:03 – factors that may increase your need for water

1:40:02 – what Ben Bikman misses when it comes to blood glucose and insulin resistance

1:48:15 – the true relationship between insulin and blood sugar regulation

1:54:30 – Ben Bikman misapplies this study: it does not support that carbohydrates cause insulin resistance

2:00:38 – creating content in the health sphere, choosing high quality foods, and the benefits of tracking food (using Cronometer or another similar app)

Ep. 125: Wendy Sellens on Estrogen: What She Got Wrong

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether estrogen is just a reproductive hormone
• Whether you need to be concerned about testosterone converting to estrogen
• How you can have excess estrogen production even after menopause
• The best way to use progesteron
• Whether Calcium D-glucarate is effective for lowering estrogen
  

 

 

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.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-124-forget-about-cico-a-smarter-approach-to-fat-loss/

 

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:07 – our thoughts on Wendy Sellens’ recent interviews with the Strong Sistas (Ashley and Sarah Armstrong) 

6:30 – the importance of reviewing research with an open mind, avoiding any rigid or authoritative stance 

9:38 – whether all research should be rejected due to Rockefeller funding and whether Dr Ray Peat was “Rockefeller trained” 

15:47 – whether reproductive hormones affect only reproductive organs 

20:35 – how hormonal imbalances affect all areas of health—reproduction, digestion, edema, bloating, cancer risk, weight gain, brain health, bone health, and muscle growth 

23:38 – whether Dr Hobbins’ experiments proved that there are no receptors for reproductive hormones in non-reproductive organs 

26:51 – why Wendy’s claim—that the rise in estrogen during pregnancy is caused by exogenous compounds (phytoestrogens and xenoestrogens)—is incorrect 

29:29 – estrogen’s role as a growth-promoting hormone and how progesterone counterbalances it by promoting cellular differentiation 

35:47 – whether testosterone can be converted into estrogen 

36:52 – how you can have excess estrogen production even after menopause and problems with estrogen testing 

40:19 – body fat as a major source of estrogen 

44:33 – why Wendy’s claim that calcium D-glucarate increases estrogen is incorrect 

46:56 – the mechanism through which calcium D-glucarate effectively lowers estrogen levels 

50:28 – confounding variables that make it difficult to accurately interpret the results of breast thermography scans 

BV#3: Georgi Dinkov Responds To Estrogen Criticism, Serotonin Confusion, & Low Thyroid On Carnivore

In this episode we discuss:

• The criticism of Georgi regarding estrogen and cancer
• The major point that Siim Land is missing when it comes to increasing NAD+
• Why we think Dr. Berg is completely wrong on serotonin
• Nutrition With Judy’s suggestion that thyroid issues on a carnivore diet are not caused by the lack of carbohydrates, and why we think this isn’t the case
• Dave Asprey’s recommendation to drink orange juice and whether it’s for the right reasons

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/

 

Danny's Telegram: https://t.me/dannyroddy

 

Danny's Substack: https://dannyroddy.substack.com/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:10 – whether estrogen is a carcinogen 

6:13 – estrogen’s role in driving weight gain and chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 2 Diabetes 

8:03 – the dangers of synthetic progesterone (progestin) use 

10:14 – the difference between estrone and estradiol and the problems with estrogen testing 

16:14 – whether estrogen therapy should be used in post-menopausal women 

17:17 – the difference between oral and transdermal estrogen use 

24:44 – the connection between inflammation and estrogen production 

27:57 – why estrogen levels are not actually low in post-menopausal women 

37:59 – our take on Siim Land's post on NAD+ and mitochondrial uncoupling 

48:25 – why intentionally seeking hormetic responses, like the activation of heat-shock proteins, should be avoided 

50:37 – which form of CoQ10 is better: ubiquinone or ubiquinol 

53:34 – what Siim Land and many others get wrong when it comes to raising NAD+  

55:44 – does fasting and AMPK upregulation cause cancer? 

1:00:29 – fat fuels cancer and why not to restrict sugar for cancer 

1:09:56 – Dr Berg’s take that serotonin is the “happy hormone” – why we disagree 

1:19:06 – serotonin’s role in driving chronic diseases and conditions including depression, anxiety, IBS, and cancer 

1:27:24 – Nutrition with Judy claims that the low thyroid levels generally seen on the carnivore diet have nothing to do with a lack of carbohydrates 

1:39:01 – how the rate of living theory changed mainstream medicine’s view that thyroid health is important 

1:45:37 – how excessive exercise raises stress hormones, setting you up for weight regain 

1:51:30 – why the combination of fasting and exercise is detrimental to our health 

1:53:44 – how estrogen is used to fatten animals  

2:02:42 – why Dave Asprey is talking about endotoxin and orange juice 

2:07:00 – whether the sugar in orange juice feeds bacteria and increases endotoxin 

2:09:40 – why the low-carb trend keeps resurfacing, despite the growing evidence against it 

2:14:41 – where to find Georgi and IdeaLabs 

Ep. 124: Forget About CICO: A Smarter Approach to Fat Loss

In this episode we discuss:

• An alternative framework to CICO for conceptualizing fat loss
  
• Why eating less and exercising more is not the best solution for fat loss
• Why excess energy does not cause fat gain and instead leads to fat loss
  
• How you can get stuck in a cycle of weight gain, undereating, and constant hunger, and how to get out of that cycle

 

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.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-124-forget-about-cico-a-smarter-approach-to-fat-loss/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:06 – recapping the problems with CICO

5:02 – the Energy Balance approach as an alternative to CICO for fat loss

12:12 – why calories do not equal energy and considering the possible fates of the food we consume

17:39 – efficient mitochondrial function as a central piece that determines whether substrate will be stored as body fat

19:39 – the amount of food you eat does matter

21:46 – conceptualizing Energy Balance with numerical units

24:00 – fat gain as a consequence of impaired mitochondrial function

29:01 – how you can lose fat while eating more

33:12 – the effects of energy availability on hunger and stress hormones

36:41 – how stress hormones, along with energy deficits, cause the body to break down muscle, bone, and skin for energy

43:16 – the benefits of having an energy surplus: improved sleep, immune function, digestion, cognitive function, and more

46:20 – comparing the Energy Balance approach with CICO and the major cost of the advice to “eat less and exercise more

BV #2: Morley Robbins on the Adrenals vs Thyroid, Seed Oil Myths, and Coconut Oil & Endotoxin

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/

 

Danny's Telegram: https://t.me/dannyroddy

 

Danny's Substack: https://dannyroddy.substack.com/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

0:36 – catching up: fruit quality in the Philippines and Ecuador, and the effects of mold toxicity

5:28 – Kiran Krishnan and Nutrition with Judy discuss why they believe coconut oil should not be consumed

9:55 – whether coconut oil causes greater release and absorption of endotoxin (LPS)

12:11 – should you eat coconut oil even if your ancestors didn't?

21:08 – how MCT oil compares to coconut oil as it relates to the microbiome

32:28 – concerns with adopting dietary ideologies

36:21 – Morley Robbins on why the thyroid doesn’t run the body and we shouldn’t ignore the adrenals

47:05 – adrenal fatigue as a systemic issue and whether the thyroid or adrenals run the body

56:45 – our take on Real Food Gangsta’s (Josh & Jeanne Rubin) view that the adrenal glands regulate the body’s mineral and fuel availability

1:07:02 – the importance of optimal gut motility and how to alleviate gut motility issues such as constipation and loose stools

1:19:54 – which lab tests provide the most valuable information

1:25:14 – the benefits of spending time without stimulation (letting your mind wander) during the day

1:27:20 – simple mindset strategies to help you reach your goals

1:32:55 – Alan Aragon’s argument that not all seed oils are harmful

1:40:56 – why the claim that seed oils lower cholesterol does not mean they are healthy

1:42:25 – whether animal studies are valuable for understanding the effects of seed oils on human health

Ep. 123: Debunking the CICO Myth: Calorie Deficits Are NOT Required For Fat Loss

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether “calories in, calories out” is physiologically accurate
• The many misconceptions related to “calories in, calories out”
• Why a calorie deficit is NOT required for fat loss
• Why “calories in, calories out” does not mean that eating less and exercising more is good advice for fat loss
• What most people miss when it comes to “calories in, calories out”

 

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.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-123-debunking-the-cico-myth-calorie-deficits-are-not-required-for-fat-loss/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:07 – questions about the calories-in, calories-out (CICO) model of weight loss that I’ll be answering 

7:18 – what is (and isn’t) a calorie? 

11:49 – misapplications of CICO and why CICO is not physiologically accurate in the ways most people use it 

19:46 – why the idea that “a calorie is a calorie” is misleading 

29:11 – how energy in food is measured and the inaccuracy of food labels 

36:16 – the impact of behavioral compensation and metabolic adaptation on energy expenditure 

42:07 – how cutting calories lowers metabolism, reduces thyroid function, and increases stress hormones, appetite, and weight regain 

48:26 – Herman Pontzer’s Constrained Model of Energy Expenditure and the adverse effects of energy deficits 

52:21 – whether CICO can accurately represent physiology 

1:00:04 – a simplified version of CICO 

1:05:41 –why calories do not equal usable energy or weight 

1:13:27 – examples demonstrating the issues with common CICO misconceptions 

1:21:09 – summarizing the central issues with CICO and how you can lose body fat without a caloric deficit 

1:28:13 – whether there’s value to CICO

BV #1: Bryan Johnson’s Longevity Diet, How Stress Affects Our Cells, & Whether Glucagon is Evil

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/

 

Danny's Telegram: https://t.me/dannyroddy

 

Danny's Substack: https://dannyroddy.substack.com/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

0:33 – why we started this podcast

6:25 – our take on Bryan Johnson’s Longevity Blueprint and problems with biohacking

12:13 – whether we should adopt any of the strategies from Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint to achieve optimal health

14:50 – the cost of continually being in a caloric deficit and why this does not increase longevity

21:06 – issues with eating hard-to-digest foods and whether supplements can make up for missing nutrients in the diet

22:13 – the importance of avoiding reductionistic thinking around supplements touted for weight loss benefits

28:00 – potential pros and cons of Bryan Johnson’s Blueprint and how to measure health

32:39 – Bryan Johnson’s supplement protocol

41:09 – how low-carb diets negatively affect NAD+ to NADH ratios and estrogen status

46:20 – whether body fat percentage and cholesterol levels can be too low

52:20 – what is stress?

1:03:20 – issues with hormesis and the idea that stress is beneficial

1:07:34 – whether avoiding stress is possible and how to develop resilience to stress

1:13:17 – addressing Marty Kendall’s response to our take on glucagon and insulin

1:24:17 – glucagon’s short-term and long-term effects on metabolic function

1:26:46 – glucagon’s role in insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes

1:37:16 – metabolic dysfunction as a driver of insulin resistance

1:41:06 – whether we need to be concerned about wasting energy on hormone production

1:44:50 – whether we should always try to avoid gluconeogenesis

1:51:45 – how to use carbohydrates to stabilize your blood sugar

1:56:11 – habit stacking, simplifying supplementation, and adopting a long-term mindset when it comes to health

Ep. 122: Weight Loss with Berberine & Urolithin A, Blood Sugar Spikes, & Pairing Protein with Carbs (Q&A)

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether Berberine and Urolithin A are good options for weight loss
• How Berberine lowers your blood sugar and whether this is really a good thing
• The effects of Berberine and Urolithin A on your gut
• Whether you always need to avoid blood sugar spikes
• Whether you always need to have protein with your carbohydrates

 

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide

 

Free Energy Balance Mini-Course: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy/

 

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

 

The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-122-weight-loss-with-berberine-and-urolithin-a-blood-sugar-spikes-and-pairing-protein-with-carbs-qa/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:10 – what are berberine and urolithin A?

2:26 – the benefits of berberine on gut health

9:06 – berberine as a mitochondrial poison and the mechanisms of berberine’s toxicity and blood-sugar-lowering effects

13:13 – of the effects urolithin A on mitochondria and the gut

18:15 – whether urolithin A is beneficial for weight loss and increases brown adipose tissue activity

22:13 – the importance of avoiding reductionistic thinking around supplements touted for weight loss benefits

26:31 – powerful weight loss strategies that are simple and effective, without supplementation

31:02 – whether we always need to avoid blood sugar spikes and dips

35:30 – when having protein alongside carbs is necessary and why increasing carbohydrate intake improves insulin sensitivity, even in people with type 2 diabetes

40:49 – how fat, fiber, and protein help slow the absorption of carbohydrates and improve blood sugar management

46:20 – issues with grain-based carbs and the importance of finding carb sources that work for you