The Energy Balance Podcast

Ep. 95: Hypothyroidism In Context & Thyroid Hormone Basics (Hypothyroidism Part 1)

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 good sign

 

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-95-hypothyroidism-in-context-thyroid-hormone-basics-hypothyroidism-part-1/ 

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

1:19 – an introduction to hypothyroidism and common symptoms of hypothyroidism

9:02 – the broader biological context of hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism as a low metabolic state 

12:45 – why hypothyroidism is not the root cause

16:23 – the basics of the different thyroid hormones and their regulation

19:54 – the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and the nuances within the negative feedback loops

24:45 – the basics of thyroid hormone production

29:37 – the basics of thyroid hormone conversion

35:17 – the larger context of thyroid hormone production and conversion

38:58 – the basics of thyroid hormone transport  

41:44 – the basics of thyroid hormone uptake

46:23 – the nutrients involved in thyroid hormone production and conversion

50:26 – the cellular effects of T3 (metabolic stimulation, uncoupling, autophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis, steroidogenesis from cholesterol)

57:29 – the effects of T3 on gut health, immune function, and aging

1:03:08 – whether low thyroid activity is beneficial for longevity and aging and when a high TSH may be a good sign

1:08:41 – the relationship between vitamin A and thyroid hormones 

Ep. 94: How Stress Crashes Your Metabolism & Why Hormesis Is NOT The Answer (Stress & Mitochondria Part 2)

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 pressure, weight gain, depression, and cardiovascular disease

• How sugar and fat cravings result from stress and why listening to them is beneficial

• How adaptations to stress get passed on through generations

 

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-94-how-stress-crashes-your-metabolism-why-hormesis-is-not-the-answer-stress-mitochondria-part-2/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro 

2:59 – the details of how mitochondrial respiration can become disrupted, especially from glucocorticoids

6:05 – the short-term effects of catecholamines

8:34 – why uncoupling is harmful in certain contexts and how PUFA cause constant, low-level uncoupling

14:40 – the protective effects of uncoupling as a part of the stress response

20:08 – the role of cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6, heat-shock proteins, NF-kB, HIF) in the stress response

37:33 – the effect of acute stress on energy production in mitochondria

45:18– the effect of chronic stress on energy production in mitochondria

48:15 – how stress drives degeneration and the evidence for increased activity of hormetic pathways (including effects like mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy) in degenerative states

1:05:24 – the relationship between mental health, mood, and metabolic function

1:10:21 – how adaptations to stress get passed on through mitochondrial DNA

1:18:32 – how to best improve mitochondrial function and our health

Ep. 93: How Cortisol Affects Your Mitochondria & Acute vs. Chronic Stress (Stress & Mitochondria Part 1)

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

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-93-how-cortisol-affects-your-mitochondria-acute-vs-chronic-stress-stress-mitochondria-part-1-ep-93/ 

 

Timestamps:

3:00 – an introduction to the paper: mitochondria as key components of the stress response   

4:03 – Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome and the process of stress in relation to energy balance  

23:30 – the 3 main effects of the stress hormones in the acute stress response and the cost to this response 

31:48 – long-term glucocorticoid exposure causes insulin resistance and the protective effects of high blood sugar in certain contexts 

34:04 – how long-term stress causes degeneration 

34:55 – functions of the mitochondria 

38:54 – mitochondria upregulate energy production in response to stress 

41:06 – the short-term vs. long-term effects of the glucocorticoids (cortisol)

44:03 – how stress causes hormetic adaptations and how the hormetic pathways cause degeneration over time

50:30 – how mitochondria respond to excess stress and how this relates to fat gain

59:04 – how chronic stress and exposure to cortisol causes impaired energy production, degeneration, immunosuppression & autoimmunity, mineral imbalance, swelling, allergies & hypersensitivity, and cancer metabolism

Ep. 92: Celebrating Ray Peat

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

 

 

 

Ep. 91: Cod Liver Oil Dangers, The Croissant Diet, and Insulin-Resistant Fat Cells (Q & A)

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://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-91-cod-liver-oil-dangers-the-croissant-diet-and-insulin-resistant-fat-cells-q-a/ 

 

Timestamps:

2:54 – what we think about cod liver oil as a vitamin A source  

9:50 – why someone may benefit from cod liver oil, and why it likely isn’t a result of the retinol  

10:56 – the immunosuppressive effects of omega-3s 

14:25 – the major problems with omega-3s, including cod liver oil specifically 

25:33 – clarifying our thoughts on the Croissant Diet 

28:26 – burning saturated fat versus burning PUFA and whether PUFA create more ROS than saturated fats  

31:41 – what we think of the idea that consuming saturated fats will allow for fat loss by causing insulin resistance in the adipocytes (fat cells)  

42:50 – why increasing fat burning doesn’t inherently lead to increased fat loss 

47:11 – whether increasing satiety is the key to fat loss 

 

Ep. 90: Eating 5,000 Calories Per Day, Fish Oil, Water Weight vs. Body Fat, Paleo-Ketogenic Diet (Q & A)

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: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/energy

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-90-eating-5000-calories-per-day-fish-oil-water-weight-vs-body-fat-paleo-ketogenic-diet-q-a/ 

 

Timestamps:

2:44 – why fish oil shows anti-inflammatory and cholesterol-lowering effects, and why this doesn’t mean they’re beneficial 

11:25 – eating carrots with a meal versus away from a meal 

17:27 – our thoughts on the benefits from a paleo-ketogenic diet 

28:45 – which coral calcium supplement we recommend 

32:33 – dental issues from sugar consumption 

39:45 – what we think of orange juice with added calcium 

41:36 – how to determine whether weight gain is due to water weight or body fat  

51:57 – our experiences eating 5,000-6,000 calories per day 

1:03:23 – whether it’s helpful to use calorie calculators and context to consider when it comes to calorie calculators 

1:11:20 – how our current diets vary in contrast to when we were eating 5,000-6,000 calories per day

 

Ep. 89: The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fruit Juice and The Hormonal Effects of PUFA vs. SFA

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/solution

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-89-the-anti-inflammatory-effects-of-fruit-juice-and-the-hormonal-effects-of-pufa-vs-sfa/ 

 

Timestamps:

4:10 – the effects of different dietary fat compositions on phospholipid and neutral lipid compositions in the testicles  

18:31 – the effects of different dietary fat composition on oxidative damage and antioxidant status in the testicles

29:44 – the effects of different dietary fat composition on hormone production and metabolism in the testicles 

38:26 – introducing the next study discussing the effects of orange juice on a high-fat, high-carbohydrate meal in terms of inflammation and endotoxin  

44:14 – the effects of orange juice on blood glucose and insulin sensitivity 

47:55 – the effects of orange juice on ROS production, TLR2 and TLR4 expression, and plasma endotoxin 

51:35 – factors that could account for the benefits of orange juice 

 

Ep. 88: Whether Soy Is Estrogenic And Causes Infertility

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.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-88-whether-soy-is-estrogenic-and-causes-infertility/ 

 

Timestamps:

3:06 – overview of the study we’ll be discussing 

5:57 – compounds in soy have potentially estrogenic thymic, immune, and hormonal effects 

10:20 – compounds in soy oppose testosterone and reduce its production 

13:33 – whether animal research translates to humans 

16:40 – BPA has anti-fertility effects in males that are parallel to supplemental estrogen 

27:39 – corn oil causes weight gain despite the same number of calories consumed

32:11 – the reproductive effects of soy, BPA, and estradiol 

44:50 – the amount of soy required to cause these reproductive effects 

 

Ep. 87: Robb Wolf on Ray Peat and the Bioenergetic View: Energy, Obesity, Evolution, and Paul Saladino

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 Energy Balance Solution group coaching program: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/solution

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-87-robb-wolf-on-ray-peat-and-the-bioenergetic-view-energy-obesity-evolution-and-paul-saladino/ 

 

Timestamps:

4:22 – how low-carb diets increase stress hormones and increase susceptibility to stress

22:32 – why being overweight or obese is not a sign of excess energy

34:20 – whether the bioenergetic view ignores evolutionary biology

49:30 – what we think of Paul Saladino’s interpretation of the “Ray Peat Diet”

 

Ep. 86: Robb Wolf on Ray Peat and the Bioenergetic View: Stress & Blood Sugar

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 glucagon is a stress hormone and its impact on thyroid hormones

 

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-86-robb-wolf-on-ray-peat-and-the-bioenergetic-view-stress-blood-sugar/ 

 

Timestamps:

4:30 – why we wanted to discuss Robb Wolf’s perspective of the bioenergetic view

8:25 – Robb’s main points against the bioenergetic view

9:52 – whether fat-burning and being keto-adapted is stressful and how blood sugar is regulated in these states

31:29 – the problems with elevated levels of glucagon, which occurs when someone is on a low-carb diet