The Energy Balance Podcast

Latest Episodes:

EB. 95: Hypothyroidism In Context & Thyroid Hormone Basics (Hypothyroidism Part 1) Jul 14, 2023

Show notes

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

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

EB. 94: How Stress Crashes Your Metabolism & Why Hormesis Is NOT The Answer (Stress & Mitochondria Part 2) Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

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

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

EB. 93: How Cortisol Affects Your Mitochondria & Acute vs. Chronic Stress (Stress & Mitochondria Part 1) Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

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

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

EB. 92: Celebrating Ray Peat Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

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

EB. 91: Cod Liver Oil Dangers, The Croissant Diet, and Insulin-Resistant Fat Cells (Q & A) Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

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

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

EB. 90: Eating 5,000 Calories Per Day, Fish Oil, Water Weight vs. Body Fat, Paleo-Ketogenic Diet (Q & A) Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

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

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

EB. 89: The Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fruit Juice and The Hormonal Effects of PUFA vs. SFA Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

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

EB. 88: Whether Soy Is Estrogenic And Causes Infertility Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

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

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

EB. 87: Robb Wolf on Ray Peat and the Bioenergetic View: Energy, Obesity, Evolution, and Paul Saladino Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

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”

EB. 86: Robb Wolf on Ray Peat and the Bioenergetic View: Stress & Blood Sugar Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

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