

Food Junkies Podcast
Clarissa Kennedy
Welcome to the "Food Junkies" podcast! Here we aim to provide you with the experience, strength and hope of professionals actively working on the front lines in the field of Food Addiciton. The purpose of our show is to educate YOU the listener and increase overall awareness about Food Addiction as a recognized disorder. Here we discuss all things recovery, exploring the many pathways people take towards abstinence in order to achieve a health forward lifestyle. Most importantly how to THRIVE rather than just survive. So stay positive, make a change for yourself, tell others about your change, and hopefully the message will spread.
The content on our show does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder or mental health concern.
The content on our show does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder or mental health concern.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 27, 2023 • 1h 1min
Episode 144: Dr. Nassim Tabri, PhD
Dr. Tabri is the Director of the Mental Health and Addictions Laboratory and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. Dr. Tabri’s research explores how different transdiagnostic factors (e.g., overvalued ideation, perfectionism, and impulsivity) may function together to proliferate and maintain engagement in various health-compromising behaviors (e.g., disordered eating and gambling). The ultimate aim of this line of research is to enhance the prevention, assessment, and treatment protocols of various mental health disorders. Dr. Tabri also researches the mental health and well-being implications of group membership. This research integrates social identity theory with theories from clinical and health psychology to understand how group-related factors (e.g., perceived intergroup threat, group-based emotions, and social identification) affect the mental health and well-being of group members. The goal is to develop an integrative framework of how group membership may affect our mental health and well-being. In this interview, we cover: Nassim Tabri's Personal and Professional Journey and Current Research The Nexus Between Eating Disorders and Gambling Problems Orthorexia Nervosa and Transdiagnostic Mechanisms in Eating Disorders Transdiagnostic Factors in Disordered Eating and Gambling Common Factors in Disordered Eating and Gambling Recovery and Community Building Changing Your Life for Recovery Appearance Focused Self Concept and Disordered Eating The Impact of Cultural Messaging on Eating Disorders and Appearance Standards Discussion on Mental Health and Research Collaboration The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Sep 21, 2023 • 1h 15min
Episode 143: Amy Reichelt, PhD
Dr. Amy Recihelt is a neuroscientist, researcher, speaker, consultant and author. She's passionate about uncovering how lifestyle, diet and novel pharmacotherapies can enhance brain health and mental wellbeing. She places health and mental wellness at the core of my personal and professional identity. Amy has a PhD in Neuroscience, a BSc with Honours in Psychology, and an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition. She is also a pharmaceutical professional, leading clinical development in psychedelic drugs. She is a Certified Health & Nutrition Practitioner and has have completed training courses in Yoga (200h YTT, yoga nidra, yin yoga), Mental Health First Aid, Meditation and Mindfulness. Her work as a PhD-trained neuroscientist over the past decade has been transformational in demonstrating the influence of nutrition to optimise mental health and cognition. Through her private nutrition practice at Cognition Nutrition, she connects people with the knowledge and tools change their behaviours around health and wellness. She is a recognised leader in the field of neuroscience, health, and medicine – authoring over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles in eminent journals including The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Nature Communications, Journal of Neuroscience and Trends in Neuroscience. From her research, she developed scientific expertise in cognition, brain development, the gut microbiome, behaviour control, and neurodegenerative disease. Beyond her academic credentials – She is an approachable, down-to-earth person who loves food, running, painting, yoga, laughing at British comedies, and hiking in the great Canadian outdoors with her partner Ben and our dogs Frank and Otto. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 7min
Episode 142: CJ, Will, and Katy
Today, CJ, Will, and Katy share their personal stories of addiction and recovery, and discuss their struggles with food addiction, substance abuse, and diabetes. They talked about the challenges they faced in seeking recovery and the tools they used to achieve abstinence, including joining twelve-step programs and participating in Sweet Sobriety's audit program. They also shared how their recovery has changed over time and the importance of modeling good behavior for their families. In this episode: Personal Stories of Recovery and Healing Struggles with Addiction and Recovery Siblings in Recovery Daily Routines for Maintaining Recovery Signature Question: Words of Wisdom for the Younger Self The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Sep 6, 2023 • 49min
Episode 141: Philip W. Blair, MD, FAAFP
Col. Philip Blair, MD, is a board certified Family Physician licensed in Washington State . He graduated from West Point in 1972 and attended University of Miami School of Medicine and trained as a family physician. He had assignments in Georgia, Louisiana, Washington, Oklahoma, Texas, Hawaii, Kansas, Italy, Korea, Germany, and the Gulf War. After retiring from the Army in 1996 he managed workers injuries and provided primary care above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. He also provided services in Kodiac Island and Newfoundland, Canada. In 2000 he became Vice President for Disease Management at AWAC, Inc., an medical management company, where he co-developed a highly successful interventional approach to chronic kidney disease. In 2011 he formed his own company consulting for employer based health insurers and providing a revolutionary style of chronic disease management achieving success in over 75% of patients with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and metabolic syndrome. "Our program is truly focused on patients and helping them navigate through our complicated health care system," emphasizes Dr. Blair. Much of the program is about empowering individual patients to make lifestyle changes and coaching them through the difficult transitions until they realize success. And, then helping them maintain their positive outcomes for life. Dr. Blair continues to explore new therapeutic approaches to chronic problems supported by medical evidence and clinical results including whole body vibration, low dose naltrexone and cannabidiol. These new areas show exceptional promise and success with little or no adverse effects. In this episode: His personal story CBD The endocannabinoid system and appetite CB1 & CB2 receptors Beta karyophyllene His product (buyer beware Food Junkies does not endorse any products by our guests) Follow Dr. Blair: http://www.drphilipblair.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Aug 28, 2023 • 1h 2min
Episode 140: Dr. Danial Schecter
Dr. Daniel Schecter, a worldwide expert and medical consultant for the use of cannabis. Dr Schecter is the Associate Director of Clinical Education for Sante Cannabis, and Founder of Canabo Medical Clinic, where patients are assured safe access to cannabis therapeutics. Dr. Schecter studied Family Medicine at the University of Toronto and his MD at Universite de Montreal. In today’s episode: How Dr. Schecter got into the field of medical cannabis The endocannabinoid system The endocannabinoid tone The endocannabinoid system and food The endocannabinoid system and exogenous cannabinoids CBD Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) Withdrawal and Addiction Signature Question Follow Dr. Schecter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danial-schecter-a6769169/?originalSubdomain=ca Twitter(X): https://twitter.com/drdanial?lang=en Sugar Free September Announcement Are you READY to quit sugar? Commit or Re-Commit to the September Sugar-Free 30 Day Challenge Eliminate all added and processed sugars from your diet between September 1st to September 30th. This Year... We will have some live cooking videos An encore of the Food Junkies Summit Sweet Sobriety Stories Access to Food Junkies Podcast Ongoing daily free Facebook peer support Prizes for success! Sign Up: https://addictionsunplugged.com/sugar-free-challenge-2023/ Join the FB group Sugar-Free for Life Support Group: I’m Sweet Enough: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife Defense Mechanisms Workshop As human beings, we are designed to protect ourselves from danger. Our will to survive is primal and innate, but it isn’t limited to physical threats to our life. Early in our lives, our defense mechanisms can feel like tools for our very survival. However, as we grow up, these same psychological defenses can start to hurt rather than help us. This workshop will introduce you to the 20 most common Defense, or Psychological, Mechanisms. Do you take your feelings out on others? Do you justify an unacceptable feeling or behavior with logic? Or do you avoid reality by retreating to a safe place within your mind? By the end of 4 weeks, you will develop a greater self-awareness and learn effective coping skills. While parting with your defense mechanisms may mean coming face to face with addiction or giving up control over a situation, you’ll be taking a step closer to learning to live with your feelings. Join us Wednesdays in September! You will get: Pre-recorded videos Worksheets and resources 4 Live Sessions Live workshop sessions will be held September 6, 13, 20, and 27th at 2pm Eastern. $50USD https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/courses/defense-mechanisms The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Aug 24, 2023 • 52min
Episode 139: Dr. Kim Dennis
“Dr. Kim”, as she is known, has been treating addictions (substance, process, and food), mood disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, and personality disorders for more than a decade. In 2016 she co-founded SunCloud Health and currently serves as Chief Medical Officer and CEO. Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in treating addictions (substance, process, and food), eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders. She has helped thousands of remarkable people with their illnesses. Her knowledge of eating disorders and addiction isn’t just limited to her academic and clinical experience, having had her own personal experience as a woman in recovery from an eating disorder and alcoholism. Today, she can combine her personal journey with her medical training to help SunCloud Health patients become emotionally strong, responsible problem-solvers, who are inspired to create fulfilling lives for themselves. She believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in the practice of psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social and spiritual approaches into the individually tailored treatment programs for each patient at SunCloud Health. Dr. Dennis obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as chief resident. During her training, she was part of the multi-disciplinary eating disorders team specializing in treating young people with eating disorders and their families. She is a member of the American Medical Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Society for Addiction Medicine. She is published in the areas of gender differences in the development of psychopathology, co-occurring eating disorders and self-injury, and the use of medication with family-based therapy for young people with anorexia nervosa. She is also on the editorial board of Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. Dr. Dennis contributes regularly to news networks, such as ABC News and CNN, other national press such as the Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Web MD, and professional magazines such as Addiction Professional and Behavioral Healthcare. She is a monthly columnist for It’s All in the Journey magazine and was recently featured on TLC Discovery Channel’s “My Strange Addiction” and ABC’s “20/20.” Dr. Kim has a regular blog called, “Live Free”. Contact Dr. Kim: Website: https://suncloudhealth.com/ Contact: drkim@suncloudhealth.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Aug 16, 2023 • 58min
Episode 138: Jan Katzen
Jan Katzen is a certified nutritionist, researcher, and former Association Montessori International pre-primary educator with years of teaching and observing children. She has participated in research into preconception nutrition - that is nutrition for the yet unborn and not yet conceived! Jan has authored several scientific articles, including the 2007 article: "Declaration of Nutrition, Health and Intelligence for the Child-To-Be. Of note, she published “Nutrition for Development and Learning Guide and Workbook” a book that focuses on nutrients uniquely and collaboratively within brain development. Her book specifically covers psycho-active and addictive foods that short circuit brain function. Jan is passionate about early nutritional intervention, and her book includes tools, exercises, and detailed nutritional discovery forms. The Center for Guided Montessori Studies includes her book and nutrition module for their teacher training courses. Currently Jan is a clinician at Melmed Center in Scottsdale Arizona, a medical center for assessment, and treatment of developmental, behavioral, and emotional challenges in children, teens, and adults. Jan offers individualized meal plans and help for all family members with disordered eating and sugar addiction. In working with meal plans, she typically has to navigate many clinical issues i.e. autism, ADHD, as well as other mental and metabolic health concerns. She has a private out of state consultative virtual practice. In this episode: Personal/Professional story Preconception Nutrition “Nutritional trauma” Second hand sugar in breast milk Childhood Nutrition Sugar Free Brainy Breakfast for Kids (Book) How to work with parents to change food selection Adolescent Nutrition Jan’s private practice and meal mapping Her new book Comments on prevention and early intervention Signature Question Follow Jan: Website: www.nutritionforlearning.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Nutritionist-Jan-Katzen/100065366052025/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritionistjan/ The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Aug 9, 2023 • 51min
Episode 137: Byron Katie - The Work
Byron Katie has one job: to show people how to stop suffering. When Katie appears, lives change. In 1986, at the bottom of a 10-year spiral into depression, rage, and self-loathing, Katie woke up one morning to a state of constant joy that has never left her. She realized that when she believed her stressful thoughts, she suffered, but that when she questioned them, she didn't suffer, and that this is true for every human being. Her simple yet powerful process of inquiry is called The Work. The Work consists of four questions and the turnarounds, which are a way of experiencing the opposite of what you believe. When you question a thought, you see around it to the choices beyond suffering. Katie has been bringing The Work to millions of people for more than 20 years. Her free public events, weekend workshops, nine-day School for The Work, and 28-day residential Turnaround House have brought freedom to people all over the world. The Four Questions in The Work Are: Is it true? Can you absolutely know that it's true? How do you react, what happens, when you believe that thought? Who would you be without the thought? Follow Byron Katie: Website: https://thework.com Instagram: @byron.katie Podcast: podcast.thework.com The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Aug 3, 2023 • 1h 5min
Episode 136: Janet Sanders
Today we speak with Blood Sugar and Diabetes food coach, Janet Sanders. Janet received her certification as a Health Counsellor, at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition from Columbia University. She is a designated Holistic Heath Practitioner with a certification from the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Janet is the founder of Great Life, a national health coaching practice with a focus on chronic health CONCERNS such as diabetes, and blood sugar health issues. She also founded the Blood Sugar Central Coaching Club. Currently, she runs three programs all with the aim to help people LIVE A SUGAR FREE LIFESTYLE, stop yo-yo weight gain and to keep blood sugars under control. Janet was a regular contributor to Janet Zappala’s Ask the Diabete's Coach column. She is author of two books: The Diabetes Coach Approach, and most recently her upcoming book Break Free from the Blood Sugar Blues: How to Cut Sugar. End Yo-Yo Weight Gain, Conquer Diabetes and Get your Life Back for Good. She is also a mediation teacher, a trained cook from the Kushi Institute and a Pop Fitness Dance Instructor. On Todays Episode: She shares her personal journey from attorney to heath coach How she discovered the importance of the sugar free approach How sugar contributes to diabetes Why refined carbs are particularly problematic She shares her dietary approach Her take on Food Addiction How she deals with client resistance How she works with vegetarian & vegans to meet their protein needs The three programs she offers and her books The initial advice she would you give to someone newly diagnosed with diabetes or pre diabetes Podcast listeners can learn more about her programs at www.bloodsugarcentral.com, where they can also get a FREE Recipe Book and her Free Ebook “The Ultimate Roadmap to Sugar Free Vibrant Health”. The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

Jul 27, 2023 • 60min
Episode 135: Dr. Sarah Zaldivar
Dr. Sarah Zaldivar holds a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami in addition to both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and Dietetics. She is a Licensed Dietitian in addition to being a certified Exercise Physiologist with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Dr. Zaldivar is currently an adjunct faculty in nutrition and exercise physiology at Miami Dade College, DeVry University, and ACSM. She previously taught nutrition and exercise physiology for 5 years at the University of Miami. In this episode: Personal/Professional Story – How did Sarah end up in the Carnivore world? How Sarah accepted sugar/food addiction is real How do you survive teaching in the field of dietetics if your experience is that no one achieves their goals by working with a dietician? Sarah’s program Research on species-specific diets for humans What about dairy? What is the argument against, “It’s BORING!!!”? Healing dopamine receptors Exercise. Dose and duration Cholesterol on a Carnivore Diet Fiber Cancer Intermittent Fasting Carnivore is not a weight-loss diet Volume Addiction and Carnivore Diet A typical day of eating in the life of a Carnivore Signature Question Follow Dr. Sarah Zaldivar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.sarah.zaldivar YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBXm-oCTN-dJdbD65gK5lEQ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsarahzaldivar/ The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.