The PrimaFoodie Podcast

The kitchen is a place of nourishment and a sacred space for connection, healing, and rewriting our life stories. So believes Jules Blaine Davis, author of The Kitchen Healer. Jules, widely known as 'The Kitchen Healer,' invites people to reconnect with their true selves by getting in, or back in, the kitchen. She believes this can help us find freedom and power and begin living the life we long to live. Jules's unique background in the performing arts, painting, poetry, healing, movement, and meditation brings a creative and transformative perspective to her work. In today's conversation, we dive into the idea that cooking can remedy grief and how it offers an unexpected path toward healing. Jules also talks about finding joy in cooking and why the kitchen is the heart of the home. We discuss the steps to shifting the shameful narratives in your life, creating tradition and culture within your family, how to heal outside the kitchen, and much more. Tune in and discover how the joy and love of cooking can help you change your life story with Jules Blaine Davis.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The concept of a kitchen healer and path to the middle way.
• How a regular gathering evolved into The Kitchen Healer.
• Hear how cooking can help people heal from grief.
• Giving yourself permission to create without an agenda.
• Seeking the joy in creativity rather than perfectionism.
• Using the kitchen as a foundation for building relationships.
• Overcoming the stories that make us who we are.
• Reasons people feel shameful about cooking and the kitchen.
• Reclaiming the kitchen as a place to find your true self.
• Explore “heart work” as a way to shift the story of shame.
• Why it takes a team to develop into The Kitchen Healer.
• Steps to building tradition and culture in your family and home.
• Jules explains her approach to working with clients.
• Helping younger generations be more comfortable in the kitchen.
• Three simple steps to begin healing the kitchen in your home.
• Tips and practices for healing outside the kitchen.
• Exciting projects Jules is working on and some final takeaways.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jules Blaine Davis 

Jules Blaine Davis on LinkedIn

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Jules Blaine Davis on Instagram

Jules Blaine Davis on Patreon

The Kitchen Healer

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Bees play an essential role in the ecosystems we depend on for food. To ensure their survival (and our own), today's guest, Noel Patterson, believes one of the most impactful ways to support our bees is to "vote with your dollars" and buy honey from small-scale beekeepers and producers. A sommelier turned beekeeper, Patterson is the founder of Dos Manos Apiaries in Tucson, Arizona. He also leads workshops about beekeeping at Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson. Patterson's desire to educate is inspiring, as is his work, in which he offers classes, immersive experiences in beekeeping and wine tasting, and a glimpse into the world of the honeybee. As you'll discover from our conversation, Noel is an advocate for sustainable and ethical changes in the way we grow and cultivate our food. Join us as we discuss how Patterson’s journey in wine prepared him for honey, the critical role that bees play in our fragile ecosystems, and how we all can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future.


Key Points From This Episode:

• Noel’s journey from winemaking to beekeeping (and what they have in common).
• The role of educating people on the correlation between bees, health, and sustainability.
• Three key things that set organic, sustainably produced honey apart.
• How pollination and therefore bees are an integral part of our food systems.
• Ripple effects that a decline in bee populations can have on our daily lives.
• Finding a balance between advocating for change and taking the economic realities faced by beekeepers and food producers into account.
• Ways that Noel ensures the health of his bees and the ecosystems they contribute to.
• How to “put your dollars where your mouth is” and effect change by spending money.
• Why current food systems typically prioritize profit over producing nourishing food.
• Supporting small-scale, local, organic food production to make the biggest impact.
• How to get in touch with Noel (and why you might need to exercise some patience!)

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dos Manos Apiaries on Instagram

Miravel Resorts Arizona

Rotten

‘The Beekeepers Who Don't Want You to Buy More Bees’ 

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Chronic inflammation is often the root cause of a wide range of illnesses, from cancer to diabetes to rheumatoid arthritis. And frighteningly, the majority of Americans today are inflamed. What would you do if you knew that the key to reducing inflammation in your body was changing your diet and spending more time in nature? In this episode, Dr. Shilpa Ravella, gastroenterologist, author, and an assistant professor of medicine, is here to talk about how we can all start eating and acting in ways that will boost our microbiome, strengthen our immune systems, and eliminate chronic inflammation from our lives. Tune in today to learn about the difference between chronic and acute inflammation, some of the common indicators of an inflammation issue, which foods to eat more of and which foods to avoid, and the value (from a nutrition perspective) of getting outside more regularly! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Dr. Shilpa Ravella, gastroenterologist, author, and assistant professor of medicine.
• The reason that we experience acute inflammatory responses.
• Examples of how chronic silent inflammation can manifest in our bodies.
• Why silent inflammation is so harmful to our health. 
• One of the clearest physical indicators of silent inflammation.
• Tests that are used to pick up silent inflammation.
• Shilpa’s thoughts on how tests for inflammation are going to evolve in the future.
• Challenges that researchers face when conducting studies in the nutrition science field.
• The most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing the food you eat.
• Examples of anti-inflammatory foods. 
• Recommended daily allowances for fiber.
• The importance of consuming a diverse range of whole plant foods. 
• Shilpa’s thoughts on animal protein consumption.
• Foods that Shilpa recommends avoiding.
• Good oils versus bad oils.
• Why spending time in nature is beneficial to your gut microbiome.
• How we can train our taste buds to crave healthier foods. 
• The link between aging and inflammation. 
• What resolvins are and how they help to dampen inflammation.
• Start small: advice for how to change your diet and your lifestyle in a sustainable way.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Shilpa Ravella

Shilpa Ravella on LinkedIn

Shilpa Ravella on Instagram

‘How the Food You Eat Affects Your Gut’ 

A Silent Fire

I Contain Multitudes 

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Chronic immune issues are becoming increasingly common, particularly amongst young people, and today we are joined by integrative medicine doctor, Dr. Tania Dempsey, to investigate why. “Medical detective” Dr. Dempsey is a board-certified physician specializing in integrative medicine and chronic disease, with a focus on identifying the root of her patients’ health problems. In this episode, Dr. Dempsey explains what autoimmune disorders are, what can be attributed to their rise in recent years, and what people can do to improve their health. We also touch on the benefits and limitations of telehealthcare, the dying art of the physical exam, and the effectiveness of diet in treating autoimmune disease. Tune in to learn what integrative medicine is, and about Dr. Dempsey’s holistic approach to treating chronic illness patients.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Dr. Tania Dempsey’s approach as an integrative medicine doctor.
• Her focus on treating chronic illness patients.
• How she combines in-person and remote care.
• Her willingness to collaborate with other doctors and how that would play out.
• What Mast Cell Activation Syndrome is and how it manifests.
• Dr. Dempsey’s diagnosis process.
• The limitations of telehealthcare.
• An unfortunate dichotomy when it comes to insurance.
• The rise of chronic health issues.
• Why Dr. Dempsey refers to herself as a medical detective.
• The most common autoimmune disorders.
• Autoimmune disease explained.
• Why autoimmune issues are increasingly common.
• The small changes people can make to improve their health.
• Dr. Dempsey’s approach to diet and nutrition when treating patients.
• The effectiveness of diet in treating autoimmune disease.
• Dr. Dempsey’s final words of encouragement.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Tania Dempsey

AIM Center for Personalized Medicine

Dr. Tania Dempsey on Twitter

Dr. Tania Dempsey on Instagram

Dr. Tania Dempsey on Facebook

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We all know a healthy diet is vital to physical well-being, but what about mental and emotional states? Is there a link between our cognitive function and diet? To help us answer these questions is Dr. Uma Naidoo, an expert in nutritional psychiatry and Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is also a Culinary Instructor at The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, a best-selling author, and a professional chef. Dr. Naidoo implements her clinical work by integrating her professional achievements in medicine, psychiatry, and nutrition to help change lives and empower her patients. In this episode, Dr. Naidoo elucidates the basics of nutritional psychiatry, how nutrition plays an essential role in our mental well-being, and how food impacts our brain’s functioning. We unpack the challenges around nutritional psychiatry, the role of a holistic and integrative approach to health care, and how an inflamed gut can lead to an inflamed brain. We discover what the vagus nerve is and what it does, how common leaky gut is, the difference between prebiotic and probiotic foods, what emotional immunity is and why it is important, and how to start eating healthily. Tune in to learn about the fascinating world of nutritional psychiatry and why we think like what we eat with Dr. Uma Naidoo!

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief background about Dr. Naidoo and her professional career journey.
• What nutritional psychiatry is and her approach to practicing and teaching it.
• We discuss the mental health crisis and the role nutritional psychiatry can play.
• Dr. Naidoo unpacks the connection between our brain and our gut.
• Discover why you should nurture and care for the bacteria in your gut.
• How the food choices we make can damage or revitalize our brain cells.
• Find out what foods can help alleviate anxiety and depression. 
• An outline of the foods you should avoid and the reasons why.
• Learn how sugar and other processed foods can affect a person’s mood.
• Advice for parents who want to transition their children off sugar.
• The challenges of pursuing a healthy lifestyle and diet. 
• Navigating difficult social and cultural dilemmas of changing to a healthy diet. 
• She shares her approach to working with a patient and the steps involved.
• Nichole runs through a list of food and Dr. Naidoo explains their effects.
• Hear why eating at restaurants can have a negative impact on our health.
• Whether we can get everything we need from the food we eat.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Uma Naidoo

Dr. Uma Naidoo on Facebook

Dr. Uma Naidoo on Twitter 

Dr. Uma Naidoo on LinkedIn

Dr. Uma Naidoo on Instagram

Massachusetts General Hospital

The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts

This Is Your Brain on Food

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Chef Andreas Niewerth is a holistic nutritionist, trained chef, and chef instructor. He learned about the power of food early on while working his family's restaurants and hotels, and later established one of the first organic catering companies in Germany, where he created cooking classes for school kids, parents, athletes, and fitness centers. When his eldest son was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Andreas was driven to understand the healing power of food. This led him to receive his certification as a holistic nutritionist. He now lives in California with his family, where he grows his own food and offers his services as a private chef and teacher. Highly sought after by local wineries, breweries, and restaurants for private events and classes, Andreas also holds farm-to-table pop up events. As you’ll discover in this episode, Andreas’ varied expertise culminates at the crossover between food, sustainability, and health, which is not only the subject matter for our conversation today but the inspiration for the name of his business: Cross Over Kitchen. Tune in to learn about the benefits of holistic nutrition, the importance of food education, why Andreas refuses to compromise on food quality, and so much more!

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Andreas discovered his passion for food through the family business.
• What it takes to become a chef in Germany.
• How a German chef thinks of tipping and restaurant pay in the States.
• Insight into his background, education, and what it’s like to work as a chef in America.
• Why Andreas takes regular breaks to refresh his inspiration for cooking.
• What sparked his attraction to high-quality food and his fascination for nutrition.
• The healing power of food and how industrialization has resulted in more allergies.
• What Andreas learned about food while studying to become a holistic nutritionist.
• A look at his journey to growing his own organic produce.
• Food transparency, seasonal menus, fast food, and more in Germany versus America.
• The importance of educating kids and parents about the benefits of healthy eating.
• Reflecting on the nutritional benefits of steaming rather than boiling.
• Why you should be regulating your portion sizes (and chewing more)!
• Andreas’ focus on food quality and why he refuses to compromise.
• How good-quality food directly influences your quality of life.
• A sneak peek at Andreas’ completely organic and self-sustaining farm.
• Andreas shares his views about meat production and the treatment of animals.
• Why soil and compost are critical for the future of organic farming.
• Why Andreas believes that it’s important to eat both seasonally and locally.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Carrots Love Tomatoes: Secrets of Companion Planting for Successful Gardening

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What’s the secret to getting our kids to eat nutritiously? This is a question that has long driven author, mother, and whole foods advocate Haley Scheich, our guest this week. As the co-author of My SuperHero Foods, a revolutionary book for kids—and adults!—that piques curiosities about healthy foods, Haley is driven to help all of us change our habits and approach to eating. Her passion was ignited more than a decade ago when she started to lean into what she was putting into her body and how it impacted her health conditions. She researched and vetted, read hundreds of books, and completed her Master’s in nutrition. But her life really began to turn after she started clearing out any processed foods and leaning into ones that were whole, clean, and unadulterated. Her journey is one for us all to hear.

In our chat, we learn about the foods she always avoids, how she always looks for credible sources, and why doing your homework around what you eat is critical. Haley also leans into how food can be medicine and why we need to bring mindfulness into our feeding habits. Be sure to tune into our chat with Haley.


Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing Haley, her family, and some of her wellness journey leading up to this point. 
• Haley's experiences with vegan and gluten-free diets 
• Unpacking the different kinds of fat and the dangers of seed oils.  
• The genesis of Haley's book and the events that inspired her to start writing.
• Tracing the reasons for Americans’ disconnection from what they ingest. 
• Why our own education and research are so important when it comes to nutrition.
• Reading labels and building knowledge about common ingredients. 
• Food choices and social impact; Haley's approach to engaging other perspectives. 
• Alignment in the home; starting from a strong foundation for wellness. 
• Items that Haley avoids due to her body's specific needs.  
• Haley talks about how her children have fully embraced a whole foods diet.  
• Food and mindfulness; the myriad benefits we can all get from slowing down. 
• The upcoming book that Haley is working on about sleep! 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Haley Scheich

My SuperHeroFoods

My SuperHero Foods Companion Guide for Caregivers 

Dr. Tarek Pacha

Pfizer

The China Study

Dr. T. Colin Campbell

Grain Brain 

Dr. David Perlmutter

Dr. Mark Hyman

Dr. Will Cole

Dr. Cate Shanahan

Erewhon Market

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How do you change the food environment so that it becomes easier for people to make healthy choices? Today’s guest, the glorious dynamo of food and nutrition Dr. Marion Nestle, joins us to discuss how the United States food system is causing more harm to our health than good, and what we can all do to start changing that. Unfortunately, we have a for-profit healthcare system, healthy foods cost more than their unhealthy counterparts, and the agriculture system has been captured by corporations. Marion has focused her career on policy shaping and food education and is the author of multiple books and a daily blog that deals with the politics of food. We all have to eat, and most of us love food, but how much do you really know about the system behind it all? Tune in today for real food education. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Marion shares what piqued her interest in the field of food politics.
• A brief overview of Marion’s career.
• Structural barriers that contribute to our society’s unhealthy relationship with food.
• The Department of Agriculture’s main purpose, and the impact it has on society’s health.
• What an ideal food system would look like.
• Problems with the Farm Bill.
• Why the US food system is particularly dysfunctional. 
• How you can contribute to fixing food policy (yes, individuals really can make a difference).
• The role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the major challenges that it faces.
• Why food labels are often very difficult to understand.
• How food guidelines have changed over time.
• Sugars that you should and shouldn’t be worried about.
• The issue with food marketing.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Food Politics by Marion Nestle

Dr. Marion Nestle on LinkedIn

Books by Marion Nestle

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One of the most critical ways we can positively impact our health and our planet’s is to be aware of everything we put into our bodies. This is a topic dear to Melinda Hemmelgarn’s heart. A dietician and self-proclaimed food sleuth, Melinda advocates for greater awareness and education around how and what we eat. In this episode she discusses her mission to change the world of nutrition through education, advocating for policy change, and making better food choices. You’ll hear all about Melinda’s background, education, and career in nutrition before we delve into her passion for food education, better farming practices, and connecting food, health, and agriculture. This informative discussion brings to light the dangers of commercial farming practices, how the media perpetuates these problematic food habits, how pesticides affect our health, the importance of buying organic food, and so much more. Melinda leaves us with a plea to educate ourselves and become food sleuths so that we can change our electoral system and ultimately lead better lives as a community.

Key Points From This Episode:

• A brief introduction to today’s guest, Melinda Hemmelgarn.
• How Melinda developed her passion for food sleuthing. 
• Melinda’s history and experience as a registered dietician. 
• The importance of food education and policy to serve the health and nutrition of all people.
• How we can combat the feeling of overwhelm using the resource Friends of the Earth. 
• How the Beyond Pesticides board gets policy recommendations through to those in power. 
• The importance of focusing on the community at large rather than just ourselves. 
• What she thinks the biggest disconnect between food, health, and agriculture is for people. 
• The importance of buying organic foods and when conventional foods are safe to buy. 
• The impact of drift and how it affects people who don’t buy organically. 
• Melinda tells us a little bit about health issues that are directly related to pesticides. 
• The importance of changing our electoral system in order to get pesticides banned.
• The problems within school lunch programs and why kids need to be good food sleuths. 
• Melinda explains what media literacy is and why it’s so important. 
• Some questions we should ask ourselves when it comes to media messaging in food. 
• The importance of considering unintended consequences from consumer choices. 
• How Melinda believes we can make nutrient-rich, organic food available to everyone.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Melinda Hemmelgarn on LinkedIn

Food Sleuth Radio

Food Sleuth

Food Sleuth Email Address

Friends of the Earth

Spinning Food

OMRI

Beyond Pesticides

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Today’s guest is Dr. Will Cole, a pioneer in the field of functional medicine. Named one of the top 50 functional medicine and integrative doctors in the United States, Dr. Cole specializes in clinically investigating the underlying factors of chronic disease and taking a unique approach that incorporates food, lifestyle factors, supplements, medications, and more. Dr. Cole is also the author of several bestselling books, including Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, and Intuitive Fasting, in which he shows how to use the powerful benefits of nutrition to gain metabolic flexibility and find food peace. Today, we sit down with Dr. Cole to discuss a spectrum of things, from knowing your body and the danger of normalizing physiological issues to the incredible importance of physical activity and strength training for optimal health. As you’ll learn in this episode, functional medicine provides a natural and completely customizable way to address the epidemic of chronic disease that we face in the 21st century. To find out more, tune in.


Key Points From This Episode:

• How functional medicine differs from conventional Western medicine.
• Insight into why Dr. Cole focuses on “vibrant wellness,” not average health.
• Some of the most common ailments he encounters and treats.
• How Dr. Cole uses food and lifestyle changes to heal
• What you can do to check in with your body, including taking one of Dr. Cole’s quizzes!
• The role of lab tests in quantifying and giving context to your body’s needs.
• Early signs of autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto’s or Graves disease.
• Why Dr. Cole believes that medications are only one tool in your toolbox.
• A look at how food affects our hormones and why we really are what we eat!
• The critical importance of physical activity, particularly strength training.
• Food first: why you’re probably not getting enough bioavailable protein.
• Why you have to look at the data first in order to use food as medicine.
• When to take antibiotics (and why you need to learn to advocate for yourself).
• Ways that functional medicine can be more accessible and affordable.
• Functional medicine versus holistic medicine versus naturopathic medicine.
• How you can advocate for yourself and why it’s so important

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Will Cole
https://drwillcole.com/quizzes

The Inflammation Spectrum

Ketotarian

Intuitive Fasting

The Art of Being Well Podcast

Dr. Will Cole on Instagram

Dr. Will Cole on Twitter

Take Dr. Will Cole’s Quizzes

Cronometer

Parsley

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