Everyday Wellness with Cynthia Thurlow ™

We are excited today to have Nina Teicholz joining us as our guest. Nina is a science journalist and the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Big Fat Surprise, which upended the conventional wisdom on dietary fat, especially saturated fat, and spurred a new conversation about whether these fats cause heart disease. Named a “Best Book” of the year by the Economist, the Wall Street Journal, and Mother Jones, among others, it continues to be called a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the amazing story of how we came to believe fat is bad for health and what a better diet might look like. Nina is also the founder of the Nutrition Coalition, a non-profit that works to ensure that government nutrition policy is transparent and evidence-based. It is work for which she has been asked to testify before the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Canadian Senate. Nina is a graduate of Stanford and Oxford Universities and previously served as associate director of the Center for Globalization and Sustainable Development at Columbia University. Nina lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.As a journalist in the early 2000s, while Nina was doing a series of investigative pieces for Gourmet Magazine, they assigned her a magazine story to look into trans-fats. Although she had no idea what trans-fats were at the time, she took the piece on, and interviewed people about trans-fats. What surprised her was that when she started talking to research scientists, she discovered that as early as the 1970s, people had already started talking about the potential dangers of trans-fats. Nina was told about the researcher’s experiences of attempts to get their research suppressed or of people yelling at them and trying to intimidate them off the stage when they spoke about their findings at meetings. Be sure to stay tuned today to hear Nina’s story and learn about the science and politics of saturated fats, the dangers of vegetable oils, and the history of how we came to believe that fat is bad for health.IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: Nina explains how she became interested in determining how the paradigm shifted in the 1950s regarding the quality of fats recommended to the nation. Nina talks about the politics of science. The theme that inspired Nina to write her New York Times bestselling book, The Big Fat Surprise. The profound and tragic influence that Ancel Keys had on our nation, the food industry, and people’s health. The tipping point that occurred when the food giants and the processed food industry started getting involved in some of the private organizations, like the American Heart Association, who before that time, used to be far more objective. The conflict of interest that exists with institutions like the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. The challenges related to the shifting diet paradigm. Why nutrition has become so politicized over time. Nina talks about the struggles she has had as a journalist, and with the group that she founded, in trying to have some influence over the dietary guidelines. The cognitive dissonance around people not being willing to entertain the possibility that they should question dogma. The criticism and hostility leveled at Nina for her alternative viewpoint in the work she does. The importance of the US Dietary Guidelines, and what went wrong with them. How Nina’s research has impacted what she eats. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with Nina TeicholzNina’s websiteOn Twitter      The Nutrition Guidelines Website

Today, we have a treat for all of you, our listeners! Vinnie Tortorich, one of the very first people to ever talk about the benefits of low carb and ketogenic diets on the internet, is joining us as our guest. Vinnie started his Fitness Confidential Podcast nearly ten years ago. The show has produced well over 1,700 episodes, and it amasses more than a million downloads per month. Vinnie published his book, Fitness Confidential, in the year following the launch of his podcast. It instantly became a bestseller and continues to sell well on Amazon and Audible. In 2019, he wrote, produced, and starred in Fat, a documentary that rose to number one in several categories across iTunes and ranked incredibly well on Amazon and Amazon Prime. It is currently the best selling movie ever released by Gravitas Ventures and is teamed with a sequel titled Fat: A Documentary 2, which is now available for resale on iTunes and was released worldwide in the first week of January 2021. Vinnie has had a fascinating journey! Sometimes, we may not understand why our life takes a particular direction at the time, but looking back, it all makes sense. In this episode, Vinnie talks to us about his journey into health and fitness, exercise physiology, and nutrition. Be sure to listen in today to find out what made Vinnie fall in love with the human body and how he eventually ended up working with the Hollywood elite.Show highlights: Vinnie discusses how he went from being an exercise physiology student in New Orleans to ending up in California and becoming a major influencer in the low carb/keto zone of genius. Vinnie talks about the point at which he started changing his philosophy and thinking beyond conventional wisdom. Vinnie describes the nutritional environment in which he grew up. The dietary changes that Vinnie made when he began putting on too much weight. Vinnie discusses what led to him moving from New Orleans to LA in 1991. The resistance that Vinnie encountered in LA when he suggested that kids should stop eating sugar and how that eventually led to him working with the Hollywood elite. Why most people fail to understand how much of a chemical processed sugar is. Vinnie talks about how and when he realized that being in ketosis is an important tool for maintaining physical health. Vinnie explains what keto is and what it is not. What happens when you eat too much fake food. What it took for Vinnie to get UltraFat, his real, vegan, keto-friendly, on-the-go product on the market. What you can expect to see in Vinnie’s new move, Fat: A Documentary 2. Vinnie shares his feelings about censorship in the health and wellness space. Vinnie talks about what he will be working on next.  Connect with VinnieUltrafat is available from NSNG FoodsOn Instagram On TwitterOn The Fitness Confidential Podcast Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website 

We are excited today to have Kara Collier joining us as our guest. Kara is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician with a background in clinical nutrition, nutrition technology, and entrepreneurship. After becoming frustrated with the traditional healthcare system, Kara helped start the company NutriSense, where she is now the Director of Nutrition. She is the leading authority on the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology, particularly in non-diabetics for health optimization, disease prevention, and reversing metabolic dysfunction. Kara oversees the health team and product development and has personally interpreted thousands of complex glucose datasets.Part of Kara’s frustration with the Western medical mindset is that in a hospital or clinical setting, the priority is usually to medicate and treat people as quickly as possible and then get them out. People are in and out of the hospital all the time, and they are suffering because the root cause of their problem, which is usually their lifestyle, is not getting addressed. In this episode, Kara talks about blood sugar levels and explains why CGMs (continuous glucose monitors) are useful for everyone and not just diabetics. Be sure to stay tuned to learn how food influences your blood sugar and how you can make the best nutritional choices for your health and wellness. Show highlights: Kara explains what it was about the traditional Western medicine mindset related to food and nutrition that prompted her to second guess what she was doing. Kara defines normal in terms of what we would ideally like to see for a fasting glucose level. What people need to be concerned about regarding their hemoglobin A1C. Kara discusses where she prefers to see the ranges for fasting insulin. Some of the things that can influence someone's postprandial reading. Kara explains what happens in our bodies when our blood sugar values are not where they should be. Kara discusses what she is seeing in terms of the impact on glucose from certain types of diets, like keto and vegan. The differences between men and women. What a CGM is. Why should everyone wear a CGM, not just diabetics. How different types of exercise impact your blood sugar values. The benefits of fasting and the impact of fasting on your blood sugar. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with KaraOn the NutriSense website

Today, we are excited to have Dr. Cate Shanahan joining us as our guest. Dr. Cate is a board-certified family medicine physician and a globally recognized metabolic health expert who has changed the nutrition conversation. If you have heard that vegetable oils are unhealthy and that bone broth is part of a healthy diet, that was thanks to Dr. Cate’s books, blogs, and her work with the LA Lakers and other legendary sports franchises. Dr. Cate started her career with a traditional, Western medicine mindset which does not focus on food as an integral part of health and wellness. She went through all her medical training, hoping to find the underlying cause of her sports injuries, but unfortunately never got there. Then she got sick with a knee infection, and when nothing else worked, she started to question everything she had ever learned about nutrition. In this episode, Dr. Cate shares her journey to wellness, tells the story of the biggest medical lie, and explains the trap people get sucked into with certain aspects of the medical system. She also explains how the foundation for your good health starts with the food you eat. Stay tuned today to hear those stories, and learn how to best support the complex physiology of your body so that it can function at its normal and fullest level.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Dr. Cate explains what fueled her desire to learn more about health and wellness. How biochemistry gave Dr. Cate the confidence to go against what she had been taught. Why seed and vegetable oils are your number one health enemy. The “hateful eight” oils that you should always avoid eating. The story behind the biggest medical lie.  The story of the origin of the American Heart Association. The American Heart Association is the source of the current nutritional dogma. What the profits over health mindset has led to. The shift that Dr. Cate experienced while living in Hawaii. The effects that seed and vegetable oils have on the body over time. The truth about cholesterol. Why seed oils are a driving factor for the pandemic. Some critical steps you can take towards changing to a healthier diet. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn   Check out Cynthia’s websiteConnect with Dr. Cate ShanahanOn her website  Books by Catherine Shanahan MD:Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional FoodThe Fatburn Fix: Boost Energy, End Hunger, and Lose Weight by Using Body Fat for FuelFood Rules: A Doctor's Guide to Healthy EatingBook mentioned:Spontaneous Healing by Andrew Weil

We are thrilled and excited today to have Robb Wolf as our guest. Robb is a former research biochemist, a two-time New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat, and co-author of Sacred Cow. He has helped transform lots of lives and thousands of people across the world with his podcasts, books, and seminars. He has functioned as a review editor for the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, and is a consultant for the Naval Special Warfare Resiliency Program, and serves on multiple boards.Robb was once a state power-lifting champion, and he has always been interested in human performance. Both his parents were quite sick, and observing their downward health slide, Robb suspected that there could be a better way to live, for better outcomes. His lifestyle eventually led him to a health crisis, which brought him to an ancestral way of living and eating and then to the paleolithic diet. In this episode, Robb shares his journey and talks about his books. Be sure to listen in today to find out what Robb has to share about the paleo diet and the importance of optimum nutrition for optimum health.  IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Robb shares his background. Robb shares how he started developing an ancestral health model. About Robb’s first book, The Paleo Solution. It sold nearly a million copies. Some of the dogma that has been disproven about eating a nutrient-dense, whole foods diet. The importance of getting enough protein in your diet. Robb shares some strategies to get people to boost their protein intake. Robb explains the importance of having enough stomach acid. Why and how the book Sacred Cow that Robb co-authored with Diana Rodgers came about. Robb talks about his surprising discovery that there is very little nutritional difference between meat from grass-fed animals and those raised conventionally. Animals could get treated better before they get slaughtered. The electrolytes in Robb’s LMNT powder have been assisting first responders and boosting women’s breast milk. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s websiteConnect with Robb WolfJoin the Healthy RebellionRobb’s websiteThe Healthy Rebellion PodcastOn Instagram    On Twitter   LMNT

We are delighted to have Elle Russ joining us today! Elle is the author of the book Confident as Fu*k, and the best-selling book, The Paleo Thyroid Solution, which has helped thousands of people around the world reclaim their health. Elle is also a TV and film writer, and she hosts two podcasts, The Primal Blueprint Podcast and Kickass Life Podcast. Elle’s story is a powerful one. It pushed her into being an advocate for helping people to understand what goes on with their thyroid because, in many ways, most people are not treating their thyroid problems as proactively as they could be doing. In this episode, Elle shares her background and discusses the importance of the thyroid gland, its physiology, negative and positive feedback loops, hormones, the lifestyle piece, and the effects of fasting on your thyroid health. Be sure to tune in today to gain a deeper understanding of your thyroid gland, and become empowered to advocate for yourself. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: Elle shares her story. About the physiology of the thyroid gland. The six main tests that you need to get if you suspect you might have a problem with your thyroid. How the feedback loops work with your thyroid hormones. The lifestyle piece is critical to maintaining a healthy thyroid. The best combination of pills to take for your thyroid hormones. Some of the things that could impact the conversion of synthetic T4 to the active form of thyroid hormone, T3. The impact of middle age, perimenopause, menopause, and fasting on your thyroid health. The mindset component of hypothyroidism. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s WebsiteConnect with Elle RussElle’s Website  Confident As Fu*k The Paleo Thyroid Solution Books mentioned: Stop the Thyroid Madness by Janie A. BowthorpeRecovering With T3 by Paul Robinson

We are excited to have Dave Feldman joining us as our guest for today’s show. Dave is a Senior Software Engineer who became obsessed with cholesterol after seeing his levels rise on a ketogenic diet. That led to his observation of the “Lipid Energy Model” to help explain these changes, and he has since conducted over fifty experiments that demonstrate rapid changes of lipid levels using this new understanding. Dave has done some very interesting work. He admits to being a bit obsessed with cholesterol, which is a synthesized organic molecule that binds every single cell in our bodies. He describes it as “the intellectual property of the animal kingdom”. In this episode, he talks to us about what opened up his interest in cholesterol, what cholesterol represents, and how it works in the body. He also discusses how the cholesterol paradigm has shifted, the effects of a ketogenic diet on cholesterol levels, and he explains his Lipid Energy Model. Dave can dilute the very complicated information about cholesterol and makes it accessible, so stay tuned to find out all you need to know about cholesterol, lipids, and triglycerides.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: What cholesterol represents, why you should be concerned about it, and how that paradigm has shifted. Why cholesterol would go up on a low carb diet. The risk associated with the changes in lipids for low carb. What surprised Dave when he looked at his lab results before, and then after starting keto. Dave’s fascinating Lipid Energy Model. What and who the lean-mass hyper-responders are. How you can hack your labs. How rapidly your blood work numbers can change, and the importance of being transparent with your health-care provider. Why some people remain insulin resistant when they are ketogenic, and whether or not that is acceptable. Whether or not Dave thinks that whole carbs will oxidize. How can we truly answer the question of risk in this uncharted territory? Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s websiteConnect with Dave FeldmanDave’s websiteDave on InstagramDave on Twitter   Dave on Facebook

We have Doc Parsley (Dr. Kirk Parsley) joining us as our guest for today. He served as the Undersea Medical Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group One from 2009 to 2013. There, he led the development and supervised the group’s first Sports Medicine Rehab center. He is a former SEAL, and he received his medical training in Bethesda, at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He interned in OBGYN at Balboa Naval Hospital and subsequently completed a Navy residency in Hyperbarics and Diving Medicine in 2006. Doctor Parsley is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and served as Naval Special Warfare’s expert on Sleep Medicine. His philosophy for wellness is simple: to optimize our health and get the most out of our bodies and minds, we must live more closely to the way we evolved as a species. He believes that many diseases and disorders that we accept as “inevitable” in modern society are unnecessary complications of poor sleeping habits, living in a toxic environment, eating foods we were not designed to digest, and allowing stress to overwhelm us. His passion is to help his patients and clients achieve the highest quality of life possible, and realize their health, performance, and longevity goals.Sleep is a pain point for so many of us. Doc Parsley is the sleep guru, and in this episode, he talks about his journey from being a Navy SEAL to becoming the sleep guru, the purpose of sleep, sleep hygiene, what happens to you when you sleep, and how sleep impacts your cognitive function. Be sure to stay tuned to find out why a good night’s sleep is foundational to your good health.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: How Doc Parsley went from being a Navy SEAL to be the sleep guru. The purpose of sleep. What happens to your body when you are asleep. Why deep sleep is the exact opposite of fight or flight. How dreams are a rehearsal mechanism that is fundamental to learning. How a lack of sleep affects PTSD. What aligning your body’s normal rhythm with the circadian rhythm means. The function of cortisol. What happens to your brain and the quality of your sleep when you take certain types of sleep medications.  The purpose of melatonin. How changing your behavior impacts your sleep. What sleep hygiene is. Doc Parsley’s thoughts on EMF radiation. Sleep deprivation and ADD. The sleep products that Doc Parsley developed. Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s websiteConnect with Dr. Kirk ParsleyDoc Parsley’s sleep ritualization     Doc Parsley’s website 

We are delighted to have Shawn Wells joining us on the show today. Shawn is the world’s leading nutritional biochemist and expert on Health Optimization. He is also a biohacker, and he has formulated over 500 supplements, food, beverages, and cosmeceuticals. He has patented ten novel ingredients and, as such, has become known as the Ingredientologist - the scientist of ingredients. Shawn became a biohacker and a formulator because he had health issues. He has managed to overcome various autoimmune problems, including Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hashimoto’s disease, and Fibromyalgia, which all hit him at once because he was going so hard. Those issues shut him down for six months, and in all of that time, he could not even get out of bed. This year, Shawn stopped what he was doing, went inward, and started working with various therapies and doing plant medicine. As a result, everything changed for him. Be sure to listen in today to find out from Shawn how to make your way back to optimum health. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN ABOUT: Shawn’s journey to good health. Byron Katie’s tenets, what she embraces, and the transformative work she does. Where Shawn’s health issues stemmed from. How Shawn’s life-path changed and how he got to where he is now. Why Shawn feels so blessed as a result of all the health issues that have happened to him. What bio-hacking is, and how it can help you live a fuller life. Why you need to get enough sleep and have regular sleep patterns. How keto can help to prevent metabolic dysfunction. What you can do proactively to support your mitochondrial health. How micro-dosing can help you heal. How adaptogens help you to normalize. What Shawn recommends in terms of quality supplements. More about Shawn WellsFormerly a Chief Clinical Dietitian with over a decade of clinical experience, Shawn has counseled thousands of people on natural health solutions such as keto, paleo, fasting, and supplements. He has also personally overcome various health issues, including Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, depression, insomnia, obesity, and a pituitary tumor.As a world-renowned thought-leader on mitochondrial health, he has been paid to speak on five different continents. His insights have featured prominently in documentaries, nationally syndicated radio programs, and regularly on morning television. His expertise can help any health-conscious individual to better manage stress and experience higher performance and more energy through utilizing his practical, holistic solutions.Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s websiteConnect with ShawnWebsiteFacebookInstagram       TwitterLinkedIn

We’re thrilled to have Alisa Vitti joining us on the show today! Alisa is a women’s hormone and functional nutrition expert, and a pioneer in female biohacking and femtech. Her company is called FLO Living, and it is helping to change the narrative for women's hormonal and menstrual healthcare. Through FLO Living’s digital programs, telehealth coaching, and supplements, women everywhere can naturally treat their hormonal issues like PCOS, PMS, Infertility, and Perimenopause. Many women struggle with their health and managing all that they have to do in their busy lives. Alisa is a wealth of knowledge, and she believes that it is long overdue for an end to women’s unnecessary hormonal suffering. Diet, fitness, and medical research has historically been done on men and postmenopausal women, but there is a lack of research being done on women's health. As a result, women are eating, working out, and living in a way that does not work for their female biochemistry. In this episode, Alisa discusses the infradian rhythm and explains what women need to know to optimize their health during their reproductive years. Be sure to stay tuned today to find out what Alisa has to share about optimizing women’s hormonal health.IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: The origin story of Alisa and her company, FLO Living. Alisa explains what femtech is. What the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists decreed about women’s cycles, in 2015. Why women need to ovulate in every menstrual cycle. The kind of information that is vital for women from early on in life. About women’s INFRADIAN biological rhythm, and how changing a few things can set women up for a completely different experience of their health and hormonal issues. The methodology that Alisa created to help women in synching with the infradian rhythm in their bodies. A biohack to help women modulate their food and fitness with what is happening to them metabolically, across their cycle. The toxic mythology that keeps women ill. Taking care of yourself like the champion that you are. How Alisa suggests that women should look at perimenopause. About the MyFLO app that Alisa created. Alisa has graciously offered a free month of FLO 28 to you, the listener. More about Alisa VittiAlisa Vitti is also the creator of the MyFLO period app - helping you have a better period the more you use it. It is ranked consistently in the top 10 of paid apps in the highly competitive health and fitness category on iTunes.She has written two bestselling books: WomanCode and the newly released, In the FLO - the first book to discuss the female infradian rhythm. It describes her IG-loved Cycle Syncing Method(TM)— the first and only diet, fitness, and lifestyle program that is based on female hormonal patterns.A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Vitti and her company have been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and more. She is a course instructor for Mind Body Green and on the council for Well + Good.She is passionate about ending the long-standing gender bias that excludes women from medical, fitness, and nutrition research. She is also dedicated to improving workplace equality for women by increasing biological rhythm sensitivity and awareness. Vitti gets invited regularly to train teams on how to use her Cycle Syncing Method(TM) for greater creativity, productivity, and wellbeing at work.Connect with Cynthia ThurlowFollow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedInCheck out Cynthia’s website Connect with AlisaYou can find Alisa on social media @ FLO Living and @ alisa.vittiFLO LivingFLO TrackerIn The FLO BookCycle Syncing MembershipGet a free month of FLO 28 here. Recommended movie – Hysteria with Maggie Gyllenhaal