The Energy Balance Podcast Jay Feldman Wellness

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

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

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

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

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

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