The Health Investment Podcast with Brooke Simonson

EPISODE 10 | Andy Schreiber, co-founder of Pure Vitamin Club, joins me to chat allllll about vitamins. In fact, we had SO much to discuss that I split this episode into two parts! In Part 1, you'll learn: why Andy and his co-founder Vinnie Tortorich started the company in the first place, how Pure Vitamin Club's products differ from their competitors, what the FDA regulates in the supplement industry (and what it DOESN'T)...and more! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/purevitaminclub1

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

MINUTE-BY-MINUTE BREAKDOWN OF THE EPISODE:

3:04 - Why Andy Schreiber and Vinnie Tortorich started Pure Vitamin Club

8:35 - The founders' belief that supplements should be "synergistic with a healthy diet"

11:53 - The most gratifying compliment customers give to Pure Vitamin Club

12:42 - The company's approach to customer service

13:13 - What are the cheap binders, fillers, and other additives that most supplement companies add to their products?

16:18 - How to tell what's actually in your supplements

19:36 - What the FDA regulates in vitamins...and what it does not

23:12 - How Pure Vitamin Club's manufacturing processes differ from its competitors...then click here to listen to Part 2!

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Click here to check out Part 1 of my interview with Andy

My favorite vitamin holder from Amazon (This is a newer version of the one I own, and it's even better because you can organize your vitamins for a full month!)

Pure Vitamin Club's website

Pure Vitamin Club's Amazon page

Pure Vitamin Club's current formulations:

Multivitamin

Broad Spectrum Magnesium

Vitamin D3 + K

Ultra Salt Electrolyte Complex

Sublingual Vitamin B12

Children's Multivitamin

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 9 | When it comes to the labels on packaged food, what REALLY matters—and what can you ignore? In this episode, I'm gonna teach you a handy acronym—F.U.F.S.S.—that'll help you dissect every Ingredient and Nutrition Fact label like a pro! Once you know WHAT to look for, you can know WHAT'S worth buying! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/foodlabels

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

University Health News article about the harms of vegetable oils

Healthline.com article summarizing why it's important to avoid vegetable oils

Video on how canola oil is made [prepare to be grossed out!]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omjWmLG0EAs

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee announced its updated view that “Cholesterol is not considered a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.”

NPR article on artificial vs. natural flavors

The 56 most common names for sugar

Dr. James DiNicolantonio's research on sodium vs. sugar

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Welcome to episode 9 of The Health Investment Podcast!

As you know, I’m alllll about sharing simple behavior & mindset shifts that’ll help you sustain a healthy lifestyle. 

Well, one of the simple behaviors that’s REALLY leveled up my health has been learning how to read food labels.

When I say “labels,” I mean the Nutrition Facts and Ingredients. Seems like it should be easy to do, right? I mean, I guess just LOOKING at them is pretty easy—but knowing WHAT you’re looking at is a whole different story. 

There are thousands of ingredients out there and dozens of different terms in that little black and white Nutrition Facts box. But what ACTUALLY matters—and what can you ignore??

Today, I’m going to clear it up for you! And I’m also going to teach you a FUN acronym to remind yourself how to read food labels when you’re out in the wild—in the jungles of Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods!

Also, I want to remind you that I’ve created a free download to get you started. It’s called “The Ultimate Healthy Grocery List: 75 Simple Swaps For Your Kitchen Staples!” In this free guide, you’ll find all of my favorite brands of chips, crackers, chocolate—and even healthier options for cheese and wine!

To download it, visit thehealthinvestment.com/grocerylist. 

Before we dive into the nitty gritty, I want to give a shout out to remip89, who left a 5-star Apple Podcast review saying:

Simple tips to invest in health!

I love Brooke’s quick and simple tips to live a healthy lifestyle. She’s inspired me to make quick changes in my cooking and eating that have led me to better overall health. Her episodes and tips are approachable yet informative, and I thank her for helping me find success in making healthier eating habits.

Wow! THANKS, remip89! Every review inspires me and keeps me going, so I really appreciate it.

Alright, NOW it’s time to dive into the nitty gritty...

YOU CAN’T TRUST THE BUZZWORDS ON THE FRONT OF ANY PACKAGE

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could trust the claims on the front of any package?

You know how a bag of chips will say things like “org...

EPISODE 8 | Well, which is it? Is intermittent fasting a practice that's around to stay—or is it just another bogus fad?? In this episode, you'll find out! To prep, I did the deepest dive into the topic of intermittent fasting; in fact, I spent about 10 hours researching! As always, my goal was to simplify the topic so that you can understand EXACTLY what intermittent fasting is and whether or not it's a good choice for you. Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/fasting

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Dave Asprey interview Mark Mattson—the godfather of intermittent fasting!—on episode 634 of the Bulletproof Podcast

Mark Mattson's TED Talk

My recipe for cold brew coffee

Link to study suggesting skipping dinner may be better than skipping breakfast

Dr. Valter Longo's Fasting Mimicking Program

Healthline.com article on autophagy

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Hi! Welcome to episode 8 of The Health Investment Podcast!

I don’t want to spend much time at all on this intro because I have A LOT to say today. I probably spent a good 10 hours researching and drafting this episode, so I hope you find it useful!

Before we get to it, I want to quickly share a 5-star Apple Podcast review.

LBK225 wrote:

Health pod gone right!

The Health Investment podcast is just what the doctor ordered. Brooke is seamlessly translating the lessons, tips and tricks from her blog into a podcast that’s funny and accessible. Her message is one that we can all relate to - find a way to get out of the diet yo-yo and adopt a lifestyle change that will work for good. Can’t wait to hear what else she has in store!

Thank you SO much for your kind words, LBK225! 

If you haven’t had time to write a review yet, please know that each one means the WORLD to me! It feels very weird typing up the scripts and recording by myself behind this little screen, so I love to hear what YOU have to say!

Okay, on to episode 8: "Intermittent Fasting: Fad or Friend?"

You know I HATE fads, yo-yo-dieting, and short-term results...so let’s find out if intermittent fasting falls into the thumbs UP or thumbs DOWN category.

One thing I want to say before we get started is: I am not a doctor! And I am not advising you to fast or not; I’m never advising you to do anything. My goal in this episode—and in all episodes, for that matter!—is to simplify different topics surrounding weight loss and wellness so that you can make informed choices for yourself...with the guidance of your doctor, of course!

So let’s get right to it!

WHAT IS INTERMITTENT FASTING?

So, to start off, in a podcast all about intermittent fasting, we should first define exactly what that is!

Intermittent fasting is basically fasting—intermittently!

The purpose is to give the body a break from digesting food because when it has a break from digestion, it can do other cool things (which we’ll get to).  

Sometimes on social media it’s abbreviated I.F.—or #IF. And sometimes it’s called time-restricted eating.

But all of these terms mean that same thing: giving your body a break from digesting calories so that it can focus on other important processes.

Because, when you think about it,

EPISODE 7 | If you've ever struggled to lose weight—and actually keep it off!—you're gonna love my conversation with Cathy Jamison. Cathy shares tips & tricks for weight loss, grocery shopping on a budget, avoiding all of the treats that come with "office culture"...and even meditation! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/lose50pounds

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

MINUTE-BY-MINUTE BREAKDOWN OF THE EPISODE:

3:44 - Previously, Cathy interviewed me on her podcast, Live Your Best Life

4:30 - Cathy's history with yo-yo dieting and temporary weight loss

5:45 - When Cathy's weight creeped into the "obese" category, she developed a number of other health issues like asthma, indigestion, and eczema

6:48 - The winter of 2017, Cathy was the same weight she'd been when she was 9 months pregnant with her daughter; starting January 1, she'd revamp her diet and finally lose 50 pounds—for good!

8:23 - Cathy now views weight loss as a happy side effect of getting healthy overall

9:40 - Max Lugavere's book about brain health—Genius Foods—changed her perspective and journey

10:17 - Vegetable oils = bad! Cathy eliminated these from her home

10:47 - She also stopped eating grains + sugar and prioritized vegetables, healthy fats, and real (not processed!) food

11:42 - Cathy's advice for the person who thinks giving up processed foods is too overwhelming/difficult

15:38 - Cathy's tips for eating real, high-quality foods (like organic vegetables and 100% grass-fed beef) on a budget

19:45 - Can't afford to buy all organic? Try this trick for washing fruits & veggies...

23:45 - Cathy's thoughts on "office culture"—and alllllll of the treats that are constantly around...like monthly birthday cakes!

24:24 - Sugar: to restrict completely...or not?

27:40 - Meditation has changed Cathy's life for the better in sooooo many ways, which she explains

36:39 - Cathy's advice for anyone just starting out on their weight loss/wellness journey

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Listen to Cathy's interview of little ol' me on her podcast

Subscribe to Cathy's Live Your Best Life podcast

Follow Cathy on Instagram: @cathy_liveyourbestlife

Download "The Ultimate Healthy Grocery List: 75 Simple Swaps For Your Kitchen Staples!"

My blog post on "The Dirty Dozen," aka fruits and vegetables you should always try to buy organic

Max Lugavere's book Genius Foods

Emily Fletcher's book [on meditation] Stress Less, Accomplish More

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 6 | I thought I knew a lot about oral hygiene since I've asked my own dentists different questions over the past ~35 years...but I was wrong! In my conversation with Ariana Ebrahimian, DDS, I learned sooooo much—and I know you will, too! Dr. Ariana and I discuss everything from orthotropics to sleep apnea to snoring to the best floss + toothpaste to how to get a more restful sleep each night. You definitely do not want to miss this one! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/dentist

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

MINUTE-BY-MINUTE BREAKDOWN OF THE EPISODE:

3:44 - How oral health can influence your overall health

5:40 - Integrative dentistry vs. traditional dentistry

7:24 - How Dr. Ariana got into integrative dentistry

9:05 - The role your facial and jaw structure plays into issues like sleep apnea and snoring

10:20 - Why sleep apnea is soooo dangerous and should be taken seriously

11:16 - What we can do for young children so that they can avoid sleep apnea/snoring issues later in life

12:32 - If you're a snorer or you know a snorer, this is what you should start doing today

15:20 - How to find a dentist specializing in orthotropics, an approach to facial growth guidance and preservation of airway space in young children

16:47 - Do breathing strips and other at-home remedies actually work for sleep apnea and snoring?

18:40 - Things Dr. Ariana wishes traditional dentistry did better

20:02 - If you experience even a tiny bit of bleeding in your mouth, this is what it means... [hint: it's NOT good]

23:50 - Silver amalgams: to remove, or not to remove?

25:21 - What if you can't afford to have your silver amalgams removed?

26:12 - Myths we still believe about oral hygiene and dental care

28:14 - Is the carbonation in seltzer water bad for your teeth, or is that a myth?

31:05 - Fluoride: Is it okay to drink fluoridated water? Should we be using toothpaste with fluoride in it?

34:49 - The lowdown on brushing and flossing, including Dr. Ariana's recs for the most effective floss and toothpaste!

38:07 - The weird thing you've probably never tried that can improve your sleep quality and help you get sick less often!

41:58 - The absolute worst thing you can do for your teeth

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Dr. Ariana's website 

Click here to find a dentist near you who specializes in orthotropics

Cocofloss—my new fave!

Dentalcidin toothpaste [you can also buy it on Amazon]

1-inch tape for sensitive skin

Dr. Robert Lustig, MD, gives a lecture: "Sugar: The Bitter Truth"

Dr. Robert Lustig's books on Amazon

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Click here to lose 5-50 pounds for the LAST time through sustainable habit change + mindset shifts so you can start living your BEST life as the trimmest, healthiest, most confident, most energized version of yourself!

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

EPISODE 5 | Let’s chat about how to eat healthy (ish!) during these months—November and December, I'm lookin' at YOU—that can sometimes throw us completely off the rails. I used to enter into every January feeling suuuuper gross. Now, I’ve figured out how to ENJOY Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and alllll of the fun parties in between—without going crazy. Sure, I may still gain 5 or so pounds, but that doesn’t bother me anymore because I don’t FEEL as terrible as I used to. Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/holidays

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

“The Ultimate Healthy Grocery List: 75 Simple Swaps For Your Kitchen Staples!”

My blog post alllll about natural wine

Oak meditation app

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Welcome to episode 5 of The Health Investment Podcast, where my goal is to help you get healthy for GOOD—without any of the BS!

I SO appreciate the kind reviews coming in over on Apple Podcasts. You’re the best, and I’m grateful that you like what I’m doing and think I’m providing you with value!

On that note...know that on Instagram, I always post one of those “question stickers” before I plan out an episode.

I tell you the topic and ask if there’s anything in particular you’d like me to discuss.

Prior to planning out this episode, I asked what you want to hear. You said better choices for alcohol and holiday food options people THINK are healthy but sneakily aren’t. So I’m gonna address both of those questions at some point in today’s episode!

If you don’t already, follow me on Instagram—@thehealthinvestment—so that you can chime in when I post a “question sticker” about future topics!

Alright, the holidays are QUICKLY approaching—I can’t believe Thanksgiving is on Thursday!—so without further ado, let’s chat about how to eat healthy (ish!) during these months that can sometimes throw us completely off the rails!

EATING HEALTHY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

I don’t know about you, but I used to enter into every January feeling suuuuper gross.

Once Thanksgiving hit, I really went nuts. I threw all rules out the window and binged on pastries, wine, cheese, pie...you know the stuff.

But I always left the holiday season 10+ pounds heavier, feeling guilty and remorseful about everything I’d consumed. 

Now, I’ve figured out how to ENJOY Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and alllll of the fun parties in between—without going crazy. Sure, I may still gain 5 or so pounds, but that doesn’t bother me anymore because I don’t FEEL as terrible as I used to.

And that’s really what I’m concerned about: how I FEEL. Since I’m used to feeling energized, light, confident in my skin, and just all-around awesome, I don’t like letting food or alcohol hold me back from those incredible feelings. 

Whenever I overindulge, I connect the dots. My listlessness and stomach ache didn’t come out of nowhere, so what was the cause? 

Now that I’ve identified the culprits—which are probably culprits for you, as well!—I can truly enjoy the holidays without FEELING gross. And that’s what it’s all about, right? 

So here’s how I do it…

TIP #1: MAKE HEALTHY-ISH SWAPS.

I don’t like to cut out entire food categories.

EPISODE 4 | I’m SO excited for today’s episode (I know I say that a lot, but today I reeeeeally am!) because I get this question a lot on social media: What are your tips for eating healthy while traveling? This one is definitely a doozy because, to state the obvious, we’re all out of our normal routines and homes when we travel. Don’t worry! I’ve got some ideas for ya... If you're LOVING The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit "subscribe" so that you never miss an episode. Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/traveling

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Recipe: My Perfect, Easy-Peel Hard Boiled Eggs

Buy Larabars on Amazon

Click here to learn why I avoid vegetable oils

Buy Chomps on Amazon

Buy Pure Vitamin Club's Ultra Salt tablets (electrolytes, Baby!) on Amazon

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Welcome to episode 4 of The Health Investment Podcast!

I’m SO excited for today’s episode (I know I say that a lot, but today I REALLY am!) because I get this question a lot on social media: What are your tips for eating healthy while traveling?

This one is definitely a doozy because, to state the obvious, we’re all out of our normal routines and homes when we travel. 

So even if you’re used to eating super healthy on a regular basis, traveling can throw a real wrench into your usual habits.

Don’t worry! I’ve got some ideas for ya!

I USED TO TRAVEL A LOT

As you may know, I used to live in New York City and travel to the West Coast to visit my husband’s and my family and friends often. 

And when I say “often,” I mean OFTEN. Some years, we traveled 1-2 times each month. It got to be a lot! (Which is one of the reasons we recently relocated to Oakland, CA.)

So the tips I’m going to mention today are ones that I’ve ACTUALLY put into practice over and over again—they’re not hypotheticals!

If you learn something today, don’t forget to share this episode with your favorite traveling friend! 

Without further ado, let’s get right to it...

WHY EATING HEALTHY WHILE TRAVELING IS TOUGH

It’s definitely tougher to eat healthy while traveling because most of the time you have less power over what you’re eating than usual.

For example, if you’re staying in a hotel on a business trip, you probably don’t have access to a kitchen or refrigerator, and you’re likely eating every meal at a deli, coffee shop, restaurant...or even in the hotel lobby!

Fortunately, many delis, coffee shops, restaurants, and hotel lobbies have started to offer healthier options, but we both know that’s not ALWAYS the case.

That’s why I included the term “ish” in the title of this episode. You can only do so much, and it’s not worth stressing about the things you can’t control.

DON'T STRESS

Stress is just as detrimental to your health as poor nutrition, so keep that in mind. 

That point is SO important that it’s worth repeating: stress is JUST as detrimental to your health as poor nutrition!

If a gas station is your ONLY option for sustenance and the healthiest thing you can find is Cheetos, just eat the Cheetos, enjoy the heck out ‘em—because Cheetos are delicious!—and move on with your life.

This point leads nicely into my first tip...

EPISODE 3 | Even though restaurant ingredients are often cheap and void of nutrients, it’s perfectly fine to indulge every once in awhile. Nutrition is certainly important, but relaxation and socialization are also necessary for a healthy existence! By following these 9 tips, you'll be able to enjoy fun restaurant meals AND feel great afterwards—a win-win! If you're LOVING The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit "subscribe" so that you never miss an episode. Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/restaurants

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Aldehydes in vegetable oils

“Canola Oil vs Vegetable Oil: Which Is Healthiest?”

Dr. William Davis, cardiologist and author of the book Wheat Belly, wrote a really great article on his blog titled, “Wheat and Hunger”

“Changing Habits The Easy Way—With ONE Little Word!”

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Welcome back to episode 3 of The Health Investment Podcast!

If you listened to episode 2, you know that this episode is the first in a series of PRACTICAL tips for eating healthy (ish!) at restaurants, while traveling, throughout the holiday season, and more!

If you like this series, let me know [see contact info above]. Maybe you even have an idea for a future series. Awesome!

I’m always curious to learn what you want to hear MORE of and less of. And, let’s be honest...your ideas are usually better than mine!

Alright, enough of that...let’s get to the episode!

HOME VS. RESTAURANT MEALS

When we cook at home, we’re in total control of all ingredients, spices, and oils. That’s why home-cooked meals are usually the best option from a nutritional standpoint.

But who wants to cook every single meal, every single night??

I definitely don’t!

One of the beauties of eating out is relinquishing control. I mean…how nice is it to have someone else cook (and buy the groceries!) every once in awhile?!

Even though eating at restaurants can be super fun and delicious, it’s important to note that eating out—however convenient it may be—also comes with a downside.

More often than not, chefs and owners are on a tight budget, which means they often use the cheapest ingredients in their dishes.

When it comes to food, “cheap” (unfortunately) usually correlates to poor quality and less nutritional value.

For example, most restaurants use vegetable oils—also known as refined seed oils—because they’re…you guessed it! CHEAP!

When heated, reheated, and reheated again (as they often are in restaurants), these oils release a higher concentration of aldehydes. Aldehydes are toxic chemicals that have been linked to many conditions like cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's, dementia and Parkinson's.

I’m not going to get into the dirty details of vegetable oils in this episode because I want to keep it short and sweet, but I’ll put links to additional resources in the show notes [see links above] in case you want to read more about aldehydes and vegetable oils. 

Even though restaurant ingredients are often cheap and less-nutritious, it’s perfectly fine to indulge every once in awhile. 

Nutrition is certainly important, but relaxation and socialization are ALSO necessary for a healthy existence!

As you know,

EPISODE 2 | Today, I’m going to share my journey: from high school English teacher to certified nutrition coach...and allllll of the frustrating health issues in between! If you're struggling to figure out what ACTUALLY works for weight loss + long-term wellness, you definitely don’t want to miss this episode. I was in your exact same shoes for most of my adult life—until I figured out how to get healthy for good without any bullsh*t! Enjoy!!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/story

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

The Institute of Transformational Nutrition

Check out Vinnie Tortorich's Fitness Confidential Podcast!

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Thanks for tuning in to episode 2 of The Health Investment podcast! 

Today, I’m going to share my story: from high school English teacher to certified nutrition coach...and all of the frustrating health issues in between! 

Have you ever struggled to figure out what ACTUALLY works for simple weight loss and sustainable wellness? Are you in the middle of that (seemingly never-ending!) struggle right now? 

If so, you definitely don’t want to miss what I have to say today because I was in your exact same shoes for most of my adult life.

Finally, in my late 20s and early 30s, I started to figure out how to get healthy for good. I finally freed myself from the BS messages and methods I’d tried in my past!

But I’m getting ahead of myself here...let’s go back to age 22...

THE "POST-COLLEGE 15"

My interest in health and nutrition really piqued after college when I moved to New York City and started my first teaching job.

The city itself was awesome, I loved my job, I was making new friends...so many things were going well, except for one:

I started gaining weight and getting all-around puffy...and I couldn’t figure out why. Throughout college, I’d eaten (and drank!) pretty much anything I wanted, and I never gained the dreaded “freshman 15.”

But after college, I seemed to put on 15 pounds almost immediately even though I was arguably eating healthier and exercising more than I did in college! 

OTHER HEALTH ISSUES

Aside from the weight gain, I didn’t feel great in other ways:

Like I mentioned, I was “puffy.” I remember looking at photos and wondering when my face got so round! And honestly, I deleted most of them. I always needed the camera to be at juuuust the perfect angle; if it wasn’t, the photo was trash!

Another issue: my digestion sucked! I won’t get into great detail on this one because I’m sure you can figure out what I mean. Let’s just say I always knew where every bathroom was...at all times!

My digestive issues caused extra bloat around my midsection (and that’s probably where the puffiness in my face came from as well), so that was terrible.

I was breaking out more than I ever had before. Seriously. I was one of those “lucky” kids in high school who never had bad, so these breakouts in my early 20s were a weird (and obnoxious!) change.

I wasn’t sleeping well. Every night, it’d take me an hour or two to fall asleep (yes, you heard that right—an HOUR or TWO!). And, once I fell asleep, I couldn’t sleep straight through the night. I’d usually wake up around 2am,

EPISODE 1 | Thaaaank youuuu for being here with me on the very FIRST episode of The Health Investment Podcast! I know there are thousands of health/nutrition podcasts out there to choose from, so I truly appreciate the fact that you're listening to THIS one. I promise not to disappoint! In this brief episode, you'll learn what's in store for THI Podcast and how to get the most value from it. If you're LOVING The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit "subscribe" so that you never miss an episode. Enjoy!

EPISODE WEBPAGE: thehealthinvestment.com/preview

P.S. – If you’re liking The Health Investment Podcast, be sure to hit “subscribe/follow” so that you never miss an episode 🙂

 

LINKS [SOME MAY BE AFFILIATE LINKS; PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO]:

Join The Health Investment Membership to lose weight for the LAST time!

“My Unbiased Thrive Market Review (AND A Shopping List!)” – save money on your first Thrive Market order by clicking here

Apply for one-on-one coaching at thehealthinvestment.com/workwithme

Follow The Health Investment Podcast on Instagram

Follow host Brooke Simonson on Instagram

Email Brooke: [email protected]

Shout out to Christian Juarez for the theme music! (Click here to visit his Soundcloud!!)

 

ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE:

Thank you so much for being here on the first episode of The Health Investment Podcast! I know there are thousands of nutrition/wellness podcasts out there, which is why it means a lot—a whole lot!—that you’re here with me.

Today, I want to tell you the nuts and bolts of The Health Investment Podcast so that you know what to expect...

VALUE

When I’ve been brainstorming topics and planning out episodes, one word keeps coming to the front of my mind: value.

There are way too many mixed messages about health and nutrition out there. You know the ones I’m talking about!

One minute, you’ll be scrolling Instagram and see a headline that reads: DON’T EAT EGGS EVER AGAIN. But the next minute, you’ll open up a magazine in your doctor’s office and read that eggs are the healthiest food there is!

What the heck!

You won’t find any of that *noise* here.

Each week, I’m going to share what actually works for simple weight loss and sustainable wellness because I want you to be able to get healthy for good—without any BS!

I also want to speak about topics that interest you...so be in touch! Reach out to me through Instagram (@thehealthinvestment) or email ([email protected]) to let me know what you want to hear more of...or less of!

SOLO + INTERVIEW SHOWS

As far as format goes, sometimes I’ll do solo shows (like today), and other times I’ll interview guests.

The solo shows will typically be short and sweet because I’ll get right to the topic at hand.

The interviews may be longer because I don’t want to cut off the experts when they’re sharing brilliant tips!

Side note: I’ve been reading a lot about podcasting, and I’ve been listening to podcasts about making podcasts (so meta, I know!)—all of the experts say that every episode of a show should be around the same length...but I’m just gonna ignore that! Like I said, some of my episodes will be shorter, and some will need to be longer. I think this makes perfect sense, so I hope that’s okay with you!

SHOW NOTES

If you’re a podcast pro, you probably know what “show notes” are. But if you’re new to podcasts, you may be thinking, “Huh? Show what??”

Each episode will have a corresponding “show note,” which is a fancy name for “blog post.” 

Basically, this just means that there’s a web page for each episode, so if you miss something—don’t worry!

I don’t know about you, but I always listen to podcasts when I’m walking around, driving, or working out. It’s not convenient to take notes in any of those situations, so that’s where show notes come in!

In the show notes, you’ll always find:

A transcript of the episode (in case you like reading more than listening!)

Links to additional resources

Links to subscribe to the podcast on various platforms, like Apple, Spotify, and Stitcher

SUBSCRIBING

Speaking of subscribing...do it!

Use the links in the show notes (now you know what those are!) to subscribe to The Health Investment podcast on your favorite platform so that you never miss an episode!

Alright, I think that’s it! Told ya this was going to be a quick one!

Can’t wait to see you on episode 2, where I describe my journey from high school English teacher to certified nutrition coach...