The Gene Food Podcast

John discusses what he learned during his time down the "health and wellness" rabbit hole. 

Although it isn't often talked about, one of the biggest health challenges adults face is the arrival of a newborn baby. In this episode of the Podcast, John discusses strategies he's cooking up to make the arrival of his new daughter as smooth as possible, including the habits he's planning on changing to make room for a new baby. Notably, we discuss whether using a smart phone and caring for an infant match well. Also explored is the concept of parental "set and setting." Usually described in the context of hallucinogenic drugs, mindset (set) and setting (physical location) would seem to play a big role in the success of new parents, and especially their moods. We explore parental set and setting against the backdrop of a quote by Robert Pirsig in the famous novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: "Physical discomfort is important only when the mood is wrong. Then you fasten on to whatever thing is uncomfortable and call that the cause. But if the mood is right, then physical discomfort doesn't mean much."  Podcast listeners can get a 15% discount on custom nutrition plans with the code PODCASTGF. Thanks for listening! 

Most of the conversations surrounding MTHFR and methylation focus on supplements. In today's episode, we spoke with Amanda Archibald, RD from The Genomic Kitchen about her whole foods approach to personalized nutrition and, specifically, methylation.  Podcast listeners can get 15% off a custom nutrition plan with code PODCASTGF. 

Many of us have found great benefit in building a personalized health regimen, but how much health and wellness information is too much? Should we tune into nutrition conversations, like this one, only for as long as we need to to learn what works for us, or is there a benefit to continually staying on the "cutting edge?"  In today's show, we discuss Orthorexia, a condition defined by unhealthy obsessions with health and wellness, and specifically food. People suffering from orthorexia take clean eating too far, transitioning a healthy instinct into an unhealthy obsession.  Later in the show, we also discuss ketogenic diets, and specifically, Kristin's recent TODAY show article on going keto in a clean, sustainable way.  Podcast listeners can get 15% off a custom nutrition plan with code PODCASTGF. 

There are a million fasting protocols out there, but some have better research behind them than others.  Dr. Valter Longo, head of longevity at the University of Southern California, is a giant of gerontology and cancer research. His fasting protocol, called the fasting mimicking diet, is designed to help "everyday Joes" safely implement a 5 day fasting protocol from the comfort of home.  In this episode of the podcast, John and Kristin discuss John's recent experience with Dr. Longo's fasting mimicking diet plus the purported benefits, which include cellular regeneration, cancer prevention, and the regeneration of stem cells. 

In today’s episode, we discuss how to find high quality omega 3 supplements in light of research which shows that many fish oil products contain oxidized fats, label inaccuracies, and even saturated fats. Other topics include a new crackdown on beef recipes and the surprising problems with the carbon footprint of the cannabis industry.

Many of us had that “occasional” cocktail with a little more frequency during the past year. There is no doubt that alcohol is fun, but is it healthy? It's unlikely that alcohol carries many tangible health benefits, but as with most things, the dose makes the poison. Is a nightly glass of wine with dinner truly deleterious to health, or a harmless vice? Does drinking red wine carry any health benefits? What about additives in wine? Is Mezcal the healthiest alcohol on the planet when consumed in moderation? In this episode of the podcast, we discuss all things social drinking. We dive into topics ranging from our favorite drinks, to the best and most sustainable cultivation methods, to the potential pitfalls of alcohol as a staple in your diet. Cheers, and if you're going to drink, please do so responsibly!

Is eating meat healthy? If so, how much should we consume? Should kids eat meat at school? Is it ethical to eat meat raised in concentrated animal feeding operations, otherwise known as CAFOs? Of all the heated disagreements in the diet wars, the meat debate is probably the biggest and most intense. Even state governments have gotten into the fray, with Colorado and Nebraska creating their own meat free and meat celebration days respectively. In today's episode of the podcast, we discuss the move towards meatless school lunches in cities like Lyon, France, the health impact of eating meat, and how alien nations might view our treatment of the animals we raise for food were they to colonize Earth at a future time. Enjoy! 

With the purported health benefits ranging from greater mental clarity, to cardiovascular health, and even longer life, fasting is all the rage these days. Intermittent fasting, or time restricted eating, is one method of fasting commonly used as way to get started with a fasting regimen, but can intermittent fasting be done wrong? How much fasting is too much? And what about the studies which link skipping breakfast to an increased risk for several illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and cancer?  In this episode of the podcast, John and Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, Chief Nutrition Officer at Gene Food, discuss the latest research on intermittent fasting as well as how best to craft an intermittent fasting regimen suited to your lifestyle. 

Many of us know firsthand that there is a significant link between the foods we eat and our mental health. Whether it's a food sensitivity, nutrient deficiency, or just loading up on too much of a good thing, a growing body of scientific data teaches us that food and mood are connected. The field of nutritional psychology explores how nutritional inputs change symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other common problems we face in our fast paced lives. In today's show, we are joined by Gene Food's Chief Nutrition Officer, Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, to discuss the latest research on eating for mental health. Of particular interest to many of our listeners will be research on omega 3 intake for the treatment of depression, as well as how the microbiome shapes the chemistry of our brains.