The Energy Balance Podcast

Ep. 119: Vitamin A Toxicity: Examining the Evidence for Vitamin A Deficiency

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether vitamin A toxicity exists and is something you need to be worried about
• Whether Grant Genereux’s claims about vitamin A deficiency are valid
• Whether vitamin A is actually a poison rather than a vitamin
• What we think about the current state of the Ray Peat forum
• The research on vitamin A deficiencies and whether vitamin A deficiencies exist

 

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-119-vitamin-a-toxicity-examining-the-evidence-for-vitamin-a-deficiency

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:09 – why we’re discussing vitamin A toxicity and Grant Genereux’s perspective

4:53 – closedmindedness within the “low vitamin A” sphere and how it compares to Ray Peat’s work

7:33 – how a low vitamin A diet can have benefits

9:27 – cautioning against the idea of "detox" as an excuse for negative effects and vitamin A toxicity as an unfalsifiable hypothesis

12:33 – the importance of evaluating information objectively while avoiding censorship, tribalism, fearmongering, and religiosity

21:17 – concerns with the current state of the Ray Peat Forum and how to recognize unsubstantiated claims

26:45 – Grant's initial critiques of the original studies on vitamin A deficiency are extremely weak and unsubstantiated

41:48 – introducing Wolbach’s 1925 study on vitamin A deficiency

45:47 – refuting Grant's argument that the retinoic acid in the vitamin-free casein would have caused toxicity

52:35 – refuting Grant's argument regarding confounding variables in lard and butter

1:02:53 – research on vitamin A deficiency and whether vitamin A deficiencies exist

1:20:32 – the necessity of vitamin A for pregnancy, fetal growth, and development

Ep. 118: The TRUTH About Serotonin & SSRIs: Why Serotonin is NOT the Happy Hormone

In this episode we discuss:

• Why serotonin is NOT the “happy hormone” and you may not want to increase it
  
• How serotonin and depression relate to stress and energy balance
• Whether SSRIs are effective for depression
• How SSRIs actually work, their impact on metabolism, and whether they’re the best treatment option for depression
• The real drivers of depression and anxiety

 

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-118-the-truth-about-serotonin-and-ssris-why-serotonin-is-not-the-happy-hormone

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

0:58 – the research showing that serotonin is not the “happy hormone”

4:56 – serotonin’s role in driving the stress state that leads to depression

8:26 – the overlap between anxiety and depression and why they are both characterized by elevated serotonin levels

10:27 – the origins of the idea that serotonin is the “happy hormone” and how serotonin became a marketing tool for pharmaceutical companies

14:49 – serotonin is increased during fasting and starvation and why increasing serotonin should not be our goal

20:16 – serotonin is increased during stress, shock, and infection and leads to learned helplessness

29:04 –SSRIs use in neonates causes depression in adulthood

31:35 – the serotonergic system as an adaptive stress response to a lack of energy

39:09 – serotonin’s role in energy redistribution under stress

43:15 – how SSRIs inhibit mitochondrial respiration, glucose metabolism, and energy production in the brain and liver

47:13 – how SSRIs can reduce symptoms and how the brain responds to SSRIs

52:42 – the true drivers of depression and anxiety

1:01:30 – how serotonin relates to stress hormones, including cortisol, and energy balance

Ep. 117: Fructose Malabsorption, Protecting Against Alcohol, & Brain Injuries and Inflammation (Q & A)

In this episode we discuss:

• Concerns surrounding fructose malabsorption and whether fructose is really a FODMAP
  
• Whether you need to be concerned about excess fructose in foods
  
• Whether you should avoid sugar and supplement with fish oil for brain inflammation
• Diet and supplement strategies for brain injuries
• The impacts of drinking alcohol from the Bioenergetic view

 

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-117-fructose-malabsorption-protecting-against-alcohol-and-brain-injuries-and-inflammation-q-and-a

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:15 – how fructose gets absorbed in the small intestine

4:24 – the optimal fructose to glucose ratio and how to tell if you have fructose malabsorption

8:41 – the details of how glucose helps with fructose absorption

12:04 – which foods have a high fructose to glucose ratio

16:24 – issues with FODMAP categorization and whether fructose is really a FODMAP

21:23 – listening to your body and understanding individual context vs following rigid “food rules”

27:39 – anti-inflammatory diets and whether we should avoid sugar and supplement with fish oil to reduce brain inflammation

32:06 – dietary and supplement strategies to promote an anti-inflammatory state in the brain

39:15 – the effectiveness of red-light therapy, methylene blue, progesterone, exogenous ketones, and polyphenols in treating brain injuries

44:31 – why we don’t want to prioritize omega 3s in the diet and whether eating fish is any better than fish oil supplementation

47:21 – reducing inflammation with the use of aspirin

47:53 – the main concerns with drinking alcohol: intestinal permeability, endotoxin production, and liver health

52:32 – stress-relieving supplement alternatives to alcohol and the effects of alcohol on vitamins and minerals

54:37 – strategies to mitigate the effects of alcohol in the short-term

58:14 – whether it makes sense to drink alcohol, alcohol use as a coping mechanism, and the impact of culture

1:00:07 – more strategies for mitigating the effects of alcohol in the short and long term

Ep. 116: The TRUTH About LDL And Heart Disease: LMHR & The Lipid Energy Model

In this episode we discuss:

• The validity of the counterarguments against the Lipid Energy Model
  
• Whether the Lipid Energy Model means that high LDL does not increase cardiovascular disease risk
  
• How thyroid and metabolism relate to high LDL on a low-carb diet
  
• What the Lean Mass Hyper-Responder phenotype means in terms of metabolic health
  
• Whether low-carb diets are ideal for cardiovascular disease health and health in general
  

 

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-116-the-truth-about-ldl-and-heart-disease-lmhr-and-the-lipid-energy-model/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:17 – the primary counterarguments against the Lipid Energy Model 

4:15 – BMI, not saturated fat, correlates with the LMHR phenotype 

8:15 – eating carbs dramatically lowers cholesterol in LMHR 

11:14 – whether Oreos are more effective at lowering cholesterol than statins 

17:30 – high cholesterol levels in the LMHR phenotype are not due to excess saturated fat intake or cholesterol production 

19:25 – prominent cardiologists and researchers dismissing the lipid energy model due to dogmatism interferes with progress in science and medicine 

24:40 – Dr. Shawn Baker’s carbohydrate experiment and contextual considerations when reintroducing carbs into the diet 

28:46 – further support for the lipid energy model and the relationship with thyroid function 

33:32 – the difference between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats in relation to lipid profiles 

34:40 – whether LDL cholesterol and ApoB cause heart disease and plaque formation 

42:18 – how the Lipid Energy Model helps uncover the underlying cause of heart disease 

45:15 – LDL levels as a marker of metabolic health rather than a cause of cardiovascular disease and why we may not always want to lower LDL 

55:02 – evidence suggesting that LDL does not drive cardiovascular disease 

1:05:43 – the difference between high LDL due to metabolic dysfunction and high LDL due to a low-carb diet 

1:09:58 – lipid values don’t tell us the whole picture: the Kitavans 

1:16:54 – why decreases in insulin, glucose, and HbA1C as well as increased lipolysis and fat oxidation on a low-carb diet is not necessarily a sign of improvement 

1:22:57 – increased lipolysis on low-carb diets does not lead to body-fat loss 

1:24:25 – whether the Lipid Energy Model proves that low-carb diets are optimal for health

Ep. 115: LMHR & The Lipid Energy Model: Implications For Metabolism & Hormones

In this episode we discuss:

• Whether you should be concerned about high LDL or high cholesterol on a low-carb diet
  
• The validity of the Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR) Phenotype and Lipid Energy Model proposed by Dave Feldman
  
• The metabolic state that drives the Lipid Energy Model
  
• How the "Lean Mass Hyper-Responder" and Lipid Energy Model support the Bioenergetic view of cardiovascular 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/

 

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

 

Click here to check out the show notes: https://www.jayfeldmanwellness.com/ep-115-lmhr-and-the-lipid-energy-model-implications-for-metabolism-and-hormones

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:14 – what is the Lean Mass Hyper-Responder (LMHR) phenotype

3:33 – how the Lipid Energy Model challenges the mainstream dogmatic view linking high cholesterol levels to heart disease

6:33 – the protective effects of cholesterol and why it does not cause heart disease, despite being necessary for atherosclerosis

9:49 – the distinction between Lean Mass Hyper-Responders and those with high cholesterol levels in the context of metabolic dysfunction

15:10 – what is the Lipid Energy Model

22:10 – how the body adapts to a lack of carbohydrates, leading to elevated cholesterol levels

27:22 – the hormonal and metabolic state underlying the Lean Mass Hyper-Responder phenotype

32:21 – how adding carbohydrates lowers cholesterol levels in those who don't have metabolic dysfunction at a cellular level

37:11 – whether Lean Mass Hyper-Responders are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease

42:00 – why the Lean Mass Hyper-Responder phenotype isn't ideal: stress and low thyroid function

51:10 – the parallels between the lipid energy model and physiological insulin resistance

Ep. 114: Fat-Burning Drives Insulin Resistance And Eating Carbohydrates Improves Insulin Sensitivity

In this episode we discuss:

• How increasing carbohydrate intake actually improves insulin sensitivity, even in people with type 2 diabetes 
• The research showing that fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease are both characterized by excess fatty acid oxidation 
• The research showing that fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease are both characterized by excess fatty acid oxidation 
• Why strategies such as intermittent fasting, cold plunges, and OMAD (one meal a day) are not effective for improving insulin sensitivity 

 

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-114-fat-burning-drives-insulin-resistance-and-eating-carbohydrates-improves-insulin-sensitivity/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:17 – stress hormones (glucagon, epinephrine, and cortisol) are major contributors to insulin resistance and diabetes 

4:05 – elevated glucagon levels, not carbohydrates, are the driving force behind high fasting blood glucose levels

6:43 – glucagon is a driver of insulin resistance, while insulin is just a symptom

12:46 – the research showing that blocking stress hormones directly improves insulin sensitivity

15:14 – “hormetic” stressors like intermittent fasting, cause insulin resistance

19:30 – fat burning drives insulin resistance and keeps us in a catabolic state, driving weight gain and muscle wasting 

22:15 – cortisol drives insulin resistance and why serum cortisol levels don’t provide the full picture

25:00 – low-carb diets reduce insulin sensitivity while carbohydrate intake improves it 

29:40 – decreasing fatty acid oxidation by increasing carb intake improves our ability to tolerate carbohydrates

33:46 – burning fat contributes to increased disease processes and does not lead to losing more body fat

38:04 – fatty acid oxidation damages our mitochondria and increases fat storage

46:22 – type 2 diabetes directly contributes to heart disease by upregulating fatty acid oxidation 

52:05 – how to decrease fatty acid oxidation and improve glucose metabolism

Ep. 113: Carbohydrates Don’t Cause Insulin Resistance or Diabetes; Evidence For The Bioenergetic View

In this episode we discuss:

• Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are diseases of excess fat burning and impaired glucose metabolism
• How increasing carbohydrate intake improves insulin sensitivity, even in people with type 2 diabetes
• Evidence supporting the bioenergetic view of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes
• Why carbs are not actually the cause of insulin resistance and diabetes

 

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-113-carbohydrates-dont-cause-insulin-resistance-or-diabetes-evidence-for-the-bioenergetic-view

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:28 – what the mainstream view of insulin resistance gets wrong when it comes to what causes insulin resistance and diabetes

3:24 – glycolysis and fat oxidation are favored, and glucose oxidation is inhibited in insulin resistance and diabetes

8:39 – what happens to glucose in diabetic cells

10:32 – why insulin resistance is a symptom rather than the driver of diabetes

12:55 – research showing that insulin resistance is driven by poor glucose metabolism

20:50 – impaired glucose uptake is not caused by excess insulin; fat-burning and impaired glucose metabolism are the culprits 

27:10 – the problems with relying on fat oxidation over carbohydrate oxidation 

30:43 – how increasing blood glucose levels or increasing insulin can restore normal glucose uptake in diabetes

35:28 – how insulin actually lowers blood sugar and the effects of insulin on cortisol and other stress hormones

37:16 - why fatty acid oxidation is NOT the underlying cause of insulin resistance

40:06 – factors that support or block mitochondrial respiration

41:20 – how excess fatty acid oxidation contributes to the pathology of insulin resistance and can impair glucose metabolism over time

42:49 - how insulin actually lowers blood sugar and the effects of insulin on cortisol and other stress hormones (cont.)

47:08 – why we don’t want to blame insulin for insulin resistance and what really causes high fasting blood glucose

49:22 – how low-carb diets increase stress hormones and decrease insulin sensitivity

Ep. 112: The Problems with Resistant Starch and Balancing the Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio (Q&A)

In this episode we discuss:

• Why you might want to think twice about using resistant starch for blood sugar regulation and gut health
• Ways to increase or reduce the amount of resistant starch in the foods you eat 
• How to tell if resistant starch is negatively impacting your gut health, and why non-resistant starch may also pose a problem
• The optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio according to the research
• The calcium paradox and why calcium intake doesn’t increase excitation or calcification
• The hidden dangers of excess phosphorus intake 

 

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-112-the-problems-with-resistant-starch-and-balancing-the-calcium-to-phosphorus-ratio-qa

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:00 – mainstream health claims about resistant starch and why we disagree

6:15 – whether there are any benefits to including resistant starch in your diet

11:07 – how to tell if resistant starch is negatively impacting your gut health and how to avoid it

16:05 – which starches are easiest to digest and the factors that affect our ability to digest starches optimally

21:38 – why we should pay attention to our calcium to phosphorus ratio and the risks of high parathyroid hormone levels

26:19 – the optimal calcium to phosphorus ratio and the calcium paradox in terms of regulating blood pressure 

31:21 – which phosphorus-containing foods we should avoid to optimize bone density 

34:36 – the calcium paradox and why consuming calcium doesn’t increase intracellular calcium

Ep. 111: Stevia vs. Sugar, Ketogenic Diets for Epilepsy, and Spore-Based vs Standard Probiotics (Q & A)

In this episode we discuss:

• How spore-based probiotics differ from typical probiotics and whether we should be using either of them to improve our gut health 
• Whether low-carb or ketogenic diets are an ideal solution for epilepsy 
• The role of gut health and metabolism in epileptic seizures
• Concerns with using low- or no-calorie sweeteners
• Whether stevia is actually any better than artificial sweeteners

 

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-111-stevia-vs-sugar-ketogenic-diets-for-epilepsy-and-spore-based-vs-standard-probiotics-qa

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:17 – whether spore-based probiotics can cause bacterial overgrowths like SIBO

4:53 – the drawbacks of standard probiotic use and the limitations of stool testing

9:55 – how spore-based probiotics protect against pathogenic bacteria and endotoxin and which spore-based product Jay recommends

15:39 – long-term benefits of spore-based probiotics and how long you need to use them for these benefits

21:05 – whether low-carb or ketogenic diets are necessary to improve epilepsy 

29:25 – using ketones for fuel and why the production of ketones isn't the problem on a ketogenic diet 

30:48 – the main drivers of epileptic seizures and how ketones help to prevent or reverse them 

34:17 – the role of the gut microbiome in brain health and epilepsy

42:18 – concerns with low- or no-calorie sweeteners like stevia

48:03 – whether we should be concerned about the lack of nutrients in table sugar, honey, and maple syrup 

54:55 – stevia as a potential endocrine disruptor that may have negative effects on the thyroid, liver, and kidneys 

Ep. 110: The True Cause of Insulin Resistance and Diabetes from the Bioenergetic View

In this episode we discuss:

• Why insulin resistance and diabetes are not caused by excess carbohydrate consumption and are not actually an insulin signaling problem 
• The problems with the idea of metabolic flexibility, earning your carbs, and the carb-insulin model of obesity 
• Why carbs are beneficial even for people who have insulin resistance or diabetes 
• The role of fat burning and stress in driving insulin resistance 
• Specific diet, movement, and supplement recommendations to reverse insulin resistance and diabetes 

 

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-110-the-true-cause-of-insulin-resistance-and-diabetes-from-the-bioenergetic-view/

 

Timestamps:

0:00 – intro

1:14 – metabolic flexibility, earning your carbs, the carb-insulin model of obesity, and dispelling other common insulin resistance myths

7:48 – low-carb, keto, and carnivore diets may improve symptoms but are not the solution for insulin resistance

13:13 – what the mainstream views of insulin resistance gets wrong when it comes to what causes insulin resistance

15:50 – why you might not want to use a continuous glucose monitor and the unnecessary fear of blood glucose spikes

17:48 – whether insulin is harmful and whether we want to keep insulin levels as low as possible

22:15 – whether we can restore optimal insulin sensitivity without low-carb diets 

25:16 –the bioenergetic view of insulin resistance 

27:12 – insulin resistance as an adaptive evolutionary process that is crucial for survival

31:22 – the difference between physiological and pathological insulin resistance

34:40 – how inhibited glucose oxidation causes insulin resistance

40:46 – how fatty acid oxidation causes increased production of ROS, slows cellular respiration, and blocks glucose oxidation (The Randle Cycle)

51:06 – the harms of ROS production from fatty acid oxidation and other forms of stress

53:04 – insulin resistance as an energy deficient state

54:19 – insulin resistance is not an insulin signaling problem, it’s an energy production problem 

58:30 – the role of stress hormones (like cortisol) in insulin resistance 

1:02:09 – how insulin and carbohydrates decrease stress 

1:05:59 – how to fix insulin resistance and restore insulin sensitivity by fixing our capacity to produce energy  

1:10:38 – specific diet, movement, and supplementation recommendations for insulin resistance and diabetes 

1:17:55 – why you don’t need to tailor your carb intake to your carb tolerance