<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Jennifer’s Substack]]></title><description><![CDATA[Substack by health journalist Jennifer Sweenie]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!2CPu!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd08d2b1e-0985-4b95-8b89-db85ba17aa59_1282x1284.jpeg</url><title>Jennifer’s Substack</title><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sun, 10 May 2026 21:16:15 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[jennifersweenie@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[jennifersweenie@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[jennifersweenie@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[jennifersweenie@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[How to Start Introducing Fermented Foods and Probiotics for Gut Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why a &#8220;food first&#8221; approach may matter for the microbiome.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/how-to-start-introducing-fermented</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/how-to-start-introducing-fermented</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 14:01:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/196724574/07ca11a4cea01c966781a9cd3233963f.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You can&#8217;t talk about gut health without probiotics, fermented foods, and microbiome diversity entering the conversation. While these interventions are widely discussed, some clinicians argue that <em>how</em> they are introduced may matter just as much as the interventions themselves&#8212;especially for people with significant gut dysbiosis or digestive symptoms.</p><p>In this final clip of the series, Michael Guidry, MS, LDN, a licensed nutritionist and founder at <a href="https://precisiongut.ai/">PrecisionGut.ai</a>, explains why he takes a &#8220;food first&#8221; approach to supporting the microbiome, why fermented foods may need to be introduced gradually, and why microbial diversity may be one of the most important long-term goals for gut health.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;As long as you&#8217;re alive, today is the best day to start improving your health.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why some people may need to introduce fermented foods gradually</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;If you have a very dysbiotic gut, if you have a lot of gut issues, what you can do is start with the liquid from the fermented vegetables.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Why a &#8220;food first&#8221; philosophy may matter for microbiome health</p></li><li><p>Why diversity in both diet and probiotics may support the microbiome</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;The more diversity in your microbiome, the healthier you are, and the more diversity in your diet, the more diversity in your microbiome.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>How to approach probiotics more cautiously and intentionally</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;You want to start with very small amounts. And also to rotate them because there&#8217;s a lot of different strains out there.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Supporting the microbiome may not require extreme interventions, but a gradual and consistent approach centered around food diversity, thoughtful introductions, and long-term microbial balance.</p><div class="pullquote"><p><strong>&#8220;You should be looking for what's in season, and you should be trying to rotate and eat a lot of different colored vegetables and different types of vegetables to get the benefit that your body's going to require to be healthy.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon:</strong> New Series on Balancing Blood Sugar for the Brain</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/boost-your-metabolism-with-easy-gut-friendly-changes-5897296">How Gut Bacteria Shape Energy, Cravings, and Weight</a></strong></p><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/how-to-start-introducing-fermented?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/how-to-start-introducing-fermented?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 1-2x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Vegetables Most People Aren’t Eating for Gut Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why root vegetables, fiber, and food quality may play a bigger role in the microbiome than many realize.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-vegetables-most-people-arent</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-vegetables-most-people-arent</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 14:02:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/195671386/c689430be1bda0764b418f5667b7f32b.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Some of the most often discussed gut health foods tend to be probiotics, supplements, and fermented products (which we&#8217;ll cover in the next clip). But one of the most overlooked categories may be far simpler: fiber-rich vegetables, especially root vegetables that rarely make it onto most of our plates.</p><p>In this clip, Michael Guidry, MS, LDN, a licensed nutritionist and founder at <a href="https://precisiongut.ai/">PrecisionGut.ai</a>, explains why neglected vegetables like rutabaga, turnips, radishes, and jicama may help support the microbiome, and why improving gut health also requires removing what is driving imbalance in the first place.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why root vegetables may be an overlooked source of microbiome support</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Like rutabaga, turnips, daikons, radishes. All of these vegetables, no one&#8217;s eating.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>How fiber-rich vegetables may help positively modulate the microbiome</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;If you were to just start incorporating a half a cup of root vegetables once or twice a day, now you&#8217;re going to start modulating your microbiome.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Why rebuilding gut health may also require removing what contributes to dysbiosis</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;You can&#8217;t continue to be eating processed carbs, sugars, and all the foods that are causing the erosion.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Supporting the microbiome may be less about finding a miracle food and more about consistently feeding beneficial bacteria while reducing the inputs that disrupt them.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon:</strong> Fermented Foods &amp; Probiotics</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/boost-your-metabolism-with-easy-gut-friendly-changes-5897296">How Gut Bacteria Shape Energy, Cravings, and Weight</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-vegetables-most-people-arent?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-vegetables-most-people-arent?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 1-2x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Metabolic Health Starts With the Fundamentals]]></title><description><![CDATA[How returning to basics can significantly impact metabolic and gut health]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-health-starts-with</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-health-starts-with</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:03:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/194872820/64e069eb115257391f69c404b1b9d345.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Metabolic health is often framed as requiring advanced interventions, targeted therapies, and precision tools. But some clinicians argue that the most powerful levers are still the most basic.</p><p>In this clip, Michael Guidry, MS, LDN, a licensed nutritionist and founder at <a href="https://precisiongut.ai/">PrecisionGut.ai</a>, explains why returning to a foundational lifestyle may have a substantial impact on both metabolic and gut health, and how this connects directly to hunger, cravings, and satiety.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;We just tend to think we&#8217;re so sophisticated that we have to go to these more advanced therapeutics as opposed to just saying, &#8216;hey, let&#8217;s go back to the fundamentals.&#8217;&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why going back to the basics may matter more than advanced interventions</p></li><li><p>How diet, sleep, stress, and movement support metabolic and gut health</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Let&#8217;s go back to fixing our diet, hydrating, managing our stress, sleeping properly, exercising every day, getting your sunlight.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>How the microbiome may influence hunger, satiety, and cravings</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;When you have a healthy microbiome, you&#8217;re not hungry. You eat your meal and you&#8217;re very satisfied&#8230; you don&#8217;t have to overeat.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Improving metabolic health may simply be more consistency with foundational habits that support the gut. As the microbiome stabilizes, appetite regulation, satiety, and cravings may begin to shift as well.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p>&#8220;So really, when you hit that homeostasis point where your microbiome is intact and working properly, then you don't crave anything.&#8221;</p></div><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon:</strong> These Are the Foods That Feed the Microbiome</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/boost-your-metabolism-with-easy-gut-friendly-changes-5897296">How Gut Bacteria Shape Energy, Cravings, and Weight</a></strong></p><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-health-starts-with?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-health-starts-with?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p>Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Metabolic Disease Starts in the Gut]]></title><description><![CDATA[How gut microbiome imbalances may contribute to metabolic dysfunction&#8212;and why the system is not fixed]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-disease-starts-in-the</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-disease-starts-in-the</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:01:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/194144768/63d5ca693dde798d0bff7ef65dfd1c01.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Metabolic health is increasingly being discussed through the lens of the gut microbiome&#8212;an ecosystem that appears to play a central role in how the body processes food, regulates energy, and maintains metabolic balance.</p><p>In this clip, Michael Guidry, MS, LDN, a licensed nutritionist and founder at <a href="https://precisiongut.ai/">PrecisionGut.ai</a>, explains how imbalances in the microbiome may contribute to downstream metabolic conditions, and why this system is considered dynamic and modifiable over time.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Basically, it all starts with how 90 percent of diseases start with an imbalance of the gut microbiome. And we know that about 50 to 60 percent of that change in the microbiome is correlated to the foods that you&#8217;re eating.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Clip Highlights</p><ul><li><p>Why gut imbalances may play a role in metabolic disease</p></li><li><p>How dysbiosis can contribute to downstream metabolic disruption</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;What happens is you first create dysbiosis, which is an imbalance of the microbiome, and then that leads to the metabolic imbalance that then leads to obesity and Type 2 diabetes and some of those other conditions.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Why the microbiome is considered a dynamic and adaptable system</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;The microbiome is always changing, and it can be modulated.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Takeaway<br><br>Metabolic health may not be determined by a single factor, but by a complex and responsive ecosystem in the gut that changes over time, and may be influenced by diet and lifestyle.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;The microbiome, those are our best friends, and they help us to do a lot of different jobs in the gut and in our health. So, having a healthy microbiome is going to help in all those areas that lead to metabolic disease.&#8221;</p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon:</strong> Why Metabolic Health Starts With the Fundamentals</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/boost-your-metabolism-with-easy-gut-friendly-changes-5897296">How Gut Bacteria Shape Energy, Cravings, and Weight</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-disease-starts-in-the?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-metabolic-disease-starts-in-the?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your Microbiome Is Ringing the Dinner Bell]]></title><description><![CDATA[How gut bacteria may influence cravings, appetite, and food behavior]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/your-microbiome-is-ringing-the-dinner</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/your-microbiome-is-ringing-the-dinner</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:02:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/194140139/9c52a5c6f651ef6938d7438cf80df487.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An unhealthy microbiome may play a direct role in shaping cravings, appetite, and even food-seeking behavior, particularly in the context of dysbiosis and overgrowth of certain organisms like Candida.</p><p>While this idea is still being explored across clinical and research settings, some clinicians describe a direct gut&#8211;brain signaling loop that may influence what we feel compelled to eat in real time.</p><p>In this first clip of the series, Michael Guidry, MS, LDN, a licensed nutritionist and founder at <a href="https://precisiongut.ai/">PrecisionGut.ai</a>, explains how this process may work, and why changing the internal environment of the microbiome is key to shifting those patterns.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Do you realize that your microbiome is telling you what to eat?&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why cravings may be linked to a microbiome imbalance</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;If you have cravings, you have dysbiosis.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>How certain gut organisms may influence brain signaling through the vagus nerve</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;That candida is stimulating the vagus nerve to the brain, and it&#8217;s ringing the dinner bell. It&#8217;s saying to you, &#8216;get in your car right now and drive to the store and buy those donuts.&#8217;&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Why &#8220;food first&#8221; strategies focus on starving undesirable microbes and rebuilding diversity</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Cravings are not purely a matter of willpower&#8212;they may reflect signals coming from the gut itself. Shifting those signals requires changing the environment that is making them.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Why Metabolic Disease Starts in the Gut</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/boost-your-metabolism-with-easy-gut-friendly-changes-5897296">How Gut Bacteria Shape Energy, Cravings, and Weight</a></strong></p><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/your-microbiome-is-ringing-the-dinner?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/your-microbiome-is-ringing-the-dinner?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Metabolic Psychiatry Is Moving Fast. You Don’t Have to Wait.]]></title><description><![CDATA[As research accelerates, clinicians say patients can start making changes now.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/metabolic-psychiatry-is-moving-fast</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/metabolic-psychiatry-is-moving-fast</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:01:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/193410085/665c58129583f043781e329900750251.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Metabolic psychiatry is gaining serious momentum&#8212;drawing interest from clinicians, researchers, and patients looking for new approaches to mental health. </p><p>What was once considered fringe is now being studied across disciplines, with a growing number of clinical trials underway. But while policy, guidelines, and widespread adoption move slowly, patients are still looking for ways to feel better <em>now.</em></p><p>Taken together, these conversations suggest a broader shift that reframes mental health through a metabolic lens.</p><p>In this clip, metabolic psychiatry researcher and clinician Erin Louise Bellamy, PhD, explains where the field stands today, and why individuals don&#8217;t necessarily have to wait for the system to catch up.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why progress in nutrition + medicine is often slow</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Nutrition and medicine are tied up with big food and big pharma.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>How metabolic psychiatry is outpacing past dietary movements</p></li><li><p>What&#8217;s happening right now in research (including 13+ RCTs underway)</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;I think we have over 13 randomized control trials that are underway right now, and there are plenty more to come.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Why individual action doesn&#8217;t have to wait for system-wide change</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>The science is catching up&#8212;but the entry point is already available to patients willing to engage with it.</p><div class="callout-block" data-callout="true"><p><strong>&#8220;You have the ability to choose how you eat. And you have the ability to choose what nutrition you have day to day, what supplements you have, and how you look after yourself. So all of that is within your grasp right now&#8212;you don&#8217;t have to wait.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>How the Microbiome Drives Cravings, Hunger, and Metabolism</p><p><strong>Article behind the interview:</strong> <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/metabolic-psychiatry-could-pave-new-approach-to-mental-health-care-5914849">Why Experts Are Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/metabolic-psychiatry-is-moving-fast?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/metabolic-psychiatry-is-moving-fast?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[When Ketones Drop, Do Mental Health Symptoms Come Back?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why the response to changing ketone levels appears highly variable in clinical practice]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/when-ketones-drop-do-mental-health</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/when-ketones-drop-do-mental-health</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:02:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192679637/b0e90c80cb4faa5a424e109b52144955.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the biggest questions around ketogenic therapy is what happens when ketone levels fall. Is the effect immediate? Or do the benefits persist?</p><p>In this clip, metabolic psychiatry researcher and clinician Erin Louise Bellamy, PhD, explains why the answer isn&#8217;t straightforward.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Once you&#8217;re producing ketones, those ketones are present and they are doing what they need to do.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Even at lower levels, ketones are still present in the system.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Even if you had like 0.3, 0.4 ketones, you still have ketones. You don&#8217;t have a ton, right? You could do more with more, but you still have some, and they&#8217;re doing something.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>But when ketone levels drop below what is often considered a therapeutic range, the response is not uniform. Bellamy describes a wide range of real-world responses seen in clinical practice.</p><p>For some individuals, changes can be rapid and pronounced.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve had people where they&#8217;ll drop below, say their range is 1.5 to two&#8230; within half an hour of them eating something and the ketones dropping, they&#8217;re hallucinating.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>For others, the shift is much slower. Symptoms may take days to reappear, or may emerge more subtly over time.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;It might be maybe two or three days, and then they start getting their low mood, low motivation, a little more anxiety, more irritable.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>And in some cases, there may be little to no immediate change at all.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;This is the part we don&#8217;t know yet. Not everybody responds the same way.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>What happens when ketones are still present but reduced</p></li><li><p>Why ketone levels don&#8217;t map neatly onto symptom changes</p></li><li><p>The range of responses when dropping below a therapeutic level</p></li><li><p>Clinical observations, from rapid shifts to delayed changes</p></li><li><p>Why individual variability is central to ketogenic therapy</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>There is no single, predictable response to falling ketone levels. In mental health applications, the relationship between ketones and symptoms appears highly individual.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>The Future of Metabolic Psychiatry: What&#8217;s Coming Next</p><p><strong>Article behind the interview:</strong> <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/metabolic-psychiatry-could-pave-new-approach-to-mental-health-care-5914849">Why Experts Are Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/when-ketones-drop-do-mental-health?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/when-ketones-drop-do-mental-health?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Ketones Quiet Food Noise?]]></title><description><![CDATA[What clinicians are seeing when metabolic stability reaches a "therapeutic range."]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-ketones-quiet-food-noise</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-ketones-quiet-food-noise</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 14:03:13 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/192116380/816e73288f5bd51479aa9340f1b4f45b.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Food noise has quickly become a buzzword, fueled in part by the rise of GLP-1 medications and the way people describe their effects.</p><p>But beyond pharmaceuticals, metabolic psychiatry researcher and clinician <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-louise-bellamy/">Erin Louise Bellamy</a>, PhD, says shifts in diet, particularly those that improve satiety and metabolic stability, may also play a role.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re satiated and you are happy with the food that you&#8217;re eating, you got a good amount of fat, that food noise comes right down and quietens. So binge tendencies drop off.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>For individuals on the spectrum of food addiction or binge eating, that shift can be significant.</p><p>As satiety improves and metabolic stability increases, cravings tend to decrease and the urge to overeat can diminish.</p><p>But what happens when ketones enter the picture? When we prioritize these healthy fats and reduce carbohydrates, the body undergoes a metabolic shift. Instead of relying on sugar, it begins to produce ketones for fuel, which may play a role in the &#8220;quieting&#8221; effect.</p><p>While research is still emerging, Bellamy says early clinical observations point to a potential relationship between ketone levels and reductions in food noise.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;We don&#8217;t have hard research on it yet, but from the papers that we do have, which are case reports and case studies, and from what I&#8217;m seeing in practice, it seems that the higher the ketones, it just seems to really quieten it down.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>In particular, she points to what&#8217;s often called the therapeutic range of ketosis, typically around 1.5 to 3 mmol/L.</p><p>At that level, several things may be happening at once, including more stable blood sugar, which reduces the spikes and crashes that can drive cravings.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;That kind of zen-like feeling, that calmness&#8230; for people who have a lot of food noise is just like a breath of fresh air.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Bellamy notes that when ketones are consistently in this range, the internal &#8220;voice&#8221; around food often becomes much quieter and easier to manage.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s pretty much either gone or it&#8217;s very quiet and easy to manage.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Importantly, this is based on early evidence and clinical experience, not large-scale trials. But the consistency of these observations is notable.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>The relationship between satiety, fat intake, and food noise</p></li><li><p>Why binge tendencies may decrease as hunger stabilizes</p></li><li><p>Early clinical observations on ketones and food noise</p></li><li><p>What the &#8220;therapeutic range&#8221; of ketosis looks like</p></li><li><p>How blood sugar stability and brain chemistry may play a role</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>While research is still evolving, early clinical observations suggest ketones may play a role in quieting food noise, particularly when metabolic stability and satiety are in place.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>When Ketones Drop, Do Mental Health Symptoms Come Back?</p><p><strong>Article behind the interview:</strong> <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/metabolic-psychiatry-could-pave-new-approach-to-mental-health-care-5914849">Why Experts Are Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-ketones-quiet-food-noise?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-ketones-quiet-food-noise?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What Happens Before Ketosis? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[You may not need ketosis to start seeing benefits&#8212;the changes that start with food quality, not ketones]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/what-happens-before-ketosis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/what-happens-before-ketosis</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 14:02:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/191916536/eb848ab20b80574b2b278ed26be3efac.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most people associate the benefits of keto with ketosis itself. But according to metabolic psychiatry researcher and clinician <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-louise-bellamy/">Erin Louise Bellamy</a>, PhD, a lot may start shifting before ketones even enter the picture.</p><blockquote><p>&#8202; &#8220;We don&#8217;t know fully. It&#8217;s kind of a mix of a lot of things.&#8221; </p></blockquote><p>These early changes reflect improvements in overall metabolic health. That includes reductions in inflammation, more stable blood sugar, improved insulin sensitivity, and better mitochondrial function. In other words, the systems responsible for producing and using energy begin to work more efficiently.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;We are improving the health of our mitochondria&#8230; the things that make us tick and work and do.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>Just as important is what&#8217;s being removed. By cutting out ultra-processed foods, the body is no longer dealing with constant spikes and crashes, giving it space to recalibrate.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;By removing the assault, like the ultra-processed foods, you&#8217;re giving the body a more even playing field.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>And that shift doesn&#8217;t require jumping straight into strict keto. For people starting with a lower-carb, whole-food approach, Bellamy suggests focusing on simple, accessible changes first:</p><ul><li><p>Prioritize whole, minimally processed foods</p></li><li><p>Build meals around vegetables, especially leafy greens</p></li><li><p>Include a mix of protein sources and fats</p></li><li><p>Choose higher-quality animal protein when possible, within budget</p></li></ul><p>Simply stabilizing blood sugar and reducing dietary volatility can already lead to noticeable changes.</p><p>Importantly, this way of eating isn&#8217;t necessarily out of reach. As hunger stabilizes, people tend to snack less and eat less often, which can offset food costs and make a whole-food, lower-carb approach more accessible than it seems.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;It can work out more or less the same, or even cheaper, to be focused on real whole foods.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>In practice, that means prioritizing quality where possible, while staying within your budget.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>What may be happening metabolically before ketosis</p></li><li><p>Why benefits can begin with removing ultra-processed foods</p></li><li><p>How blood sugar and insulin start to stabilize early on</p></li><li><p>Practical ways to begin a lower-carb, whole-food approach</p></li><li><p>Why this approach may be more affordable than expected</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>You don&#8217;t need to reach ketosis to start seeing benefits. Many of the foundational shifts begin earlier than most people think, with changes to food quality and metabolic stability.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Can Ketones Quiet &#8220;Food Noise&#8221;?</p><p><strong>Article behind the interview:</strong> <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/metabolic-psychiatry-could-pave-new-approach-to-mental-health-care-5914849">Why Experts Are Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/what-happens-before-ketosis?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/what-happens-before-ketosis?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Right Way to Start Keto for Mental Health]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kicking off a new series on ketogenic therapy for mental health and how to approach it safely]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-right-way-to-start-keto-for-mental</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-right-way-to-start-keto-for-mental</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:02:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/191411448/117036d78d94d9ebf46b6b7809408f82.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most people think starting keto is as simple as cutting carbs and increasing fat. But when it comes to mental health, the process is more nuanced, and moving too fast may actually make symptoms worse before they improve, according to metabolic psychiatry researcher and clinician <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-louise-bellamy/">Erin Louise Bellamy</a>, PhD.</p><p>In this first clip of the series, she explains why the commonly cited 2:1 ratio isn&#8217;t one-size-fits-all, and why a slower approach works better.</p><p>The 2:1 ratio refers to fat compared to <em>combined</em> protein and carbohydrates. In simple terms, you add your protein and carbs together, then aim for about double that amount in fat.</p><p>But this level of precision isn&#8217;t where most people should begin, and some see benefits at lower ratios, around 1.5:1, or even from going moderately low-carb.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;If you jump right in&#8230; you might run the risk of things getting worse before they get better.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>For some people, particularly those dealing with anxiety or depression, rapid dietary shifts can feel overwhelming, both mentally and physically. Early changes in fuel use and ketone production can temporarily worsen symptoms in the first couple of weeks of the transition.</p><p>Instead of jumping straight into strict keto, Bellamy suggests a more sustainable path:</p><ul><li><p>Remove ultra-processed foods first</p></li><li><p>Shift to whole, recognizable foods (&#8220;what your grandparents would call food&#8221;)</p></li><li><p>Gradually lower carbohydrates (roughly 90&#8211;130g/day as a starting range)</p></li><li><p>Only then consider a more targeted ketogenic approach</p></li></ul><p>At that stage, simply stabilizing blood sugar without obsessing over macros can already lead to noticeable improvements.</p><p>Depending on symptoms, diagnosis, and overall health, there may be specific risks to consider&#8212;another reason a slower, more informed approach outperforms a rushed one.</p><blockquote><p>&#8202;&#8220;Just the fact that you&#8217;re eating real food is a big change, and you&#8217;ll get more stable blood sugar levels from just going low carb, even if the protein and the fats are all over the place.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>What the 2:1 keto ratio actually means (and how it&#8217;s calculated)</p></li><li><p>Why some people do well at lower ratios like 1.5:1</p></li><li><p>The risk of worsening anxiety or depression in the first few weeks</p></li><li><p>Why removing ultra-processed foods is the most important first step</p></li><li><p>A more sustainable progression: real food &#8594; lower carb &#8594; targeted ketosis</p></li></ul><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Keto for mental health isn&#8217;t just about hitting a ratio&#8212;it&#8217;s about how you get there.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;We are turning the food pyramid upside down.&#8221;</p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>What Happens Before Ketosis?</p><p><strong>Article behind the interview:</strong> <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/metabolic-psychiatry-could-pave-new-approach-to-mental-health-care-5914849">Why Experts Are Exploring Ketogenic Therapy for Mental Health</a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-right-way-to-start-keto-for-mental?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-right-way-to-start-keto-for-mental?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can You Change Your Sleep Chronotype With Light?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dave Asprey discusses why controlling light exposure may influence whether you feel like a night owl&#8212;or a morning person.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-you-change-your-sleep-chronotype</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-you-change-your-sleep-chronotype</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:39:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/191142451/ac395d5b593d987c51de236aa16e68fe.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sleep chronotypes are often described as fixed: some people are early risers, others naturally stay up late.</p><p>But according to <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/351368161-dave-asprey?utm_source=mentions">Dave Asprey</a>, creator of the biohacking movement and <a href="https://daveasprey.com/">Danger Coffee</a>, light exposure may play a bigger role than many people realize.</p><p>In this final clip of the series, he discusses how controlling light at night&#8212;particularly reducing bright artificial light&#8212;may influence sleep timing and circadian rhythms.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Asprey notes that sleep researchers commonly describe several chronotypes, including the well-known &#8220;night owl.&#8221;</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;It is absolutely true that there are four different types of sleep chronotypes. I have the sleep chronotype of the night owl.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>He says learning to control his light environment helped shift his own sleep schedule.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;My entire life I went to sleep at 2:00 AM, and I could not change it to save my life&#8212;until I learned how to control my light.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Even people who prefer late schedules may benefit from limiting bright artificial light in the evening.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Just because you&#8217;re a night owl doesn&#8217;t mean you&#8217;re allowed to have bright light at night.&#8221; &#8202; </p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Humans evolved under consistent patterns of daylight and darkness, yet modern environments often expose us to bright light late into the evening.</p><p>According to Asprey, adjusting light exposure&#8212;especially reducing bright light at night&#8212;may be one way to influence sleep timing and support healthier circadian rhythms.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8220;If you&#8217;re a night owl, have red light. The night owls were meant to be sitting around a fire waiting for lions to eat us. So don&#8217;t act like it&#8217;s daytime if you&#8217;re a night owl.&#8221;</p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Revisiting the Links Between Mental Health and Metabolic Health</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/3-easy-ways-to-fuel-your-metabolism-5902963">How Light, Exercise, and Sleep Fuel Your Metabolism</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-you-change-your-sleep-chronotype?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-you-change-your-sleep-chronotype?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Can Light Affect Your Mood, Mitochondria, and Metabolism?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dave Asprey discusses the idea that light may influence the body in ways we don't always think about]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-light-affect-your-mood-mitochondria</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-light-affect-your-mood-mitochondria</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:03:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190681776/e8c8da513558ff10613377e153fe585d.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Light does more than simply help us see.</p><p>According to <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/351368161-dave-asprey?utm_source=mentions">Dave Asprey</a>, creator of the biohacking movement and <a href="https://daveasprey.com/">Danger Coffee</a>, light may function as a biological signal that influences systems throughout the body, from sleep regulation to metabolism.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Asprey argues that light isn&#8217;t just something we see&#8212;it may be a foundational input for life itself.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;So light&#8217;s a drug, light&#8217;s a nutrient. And if we pretend like light is just something we see, we&#8217;re missing a huge part of how life happens itself. There would be no life without light from the sun.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>He points to mitochondria, often called the &#8220;powerhouses&#8221; of the cell, as one example of how the body may interact with light.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Your mitochondria have photoreceptors on them. They&#8217;re there for a reason.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Asprey cites research suggesting nighttime light exposure could influence mental health.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Light is such a powerful influencer of wakefulness and sleepiness that a <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article-abstract/187/3/427/4056592">study</a> in Japan of 800 men found that the amount of street light that leaks around curtains increased depression by 69 percent.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>He says reconnecting with daylight and darkness was a key part of improving his own health.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;That&#8217;s why I sleep in a room that is pitch black, and I go outside first thing in the morning. I connected my body to Mother Nature's cycles, and my metabolism works again.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>Humans evolved under predictable cycles of daylight and darkness, yet modern environments are filled with artificial light at night and far less natural light during the day.</p><p>Asprey argues that viewing light as a biological input, and not just illumination, may change how we think about sleep, metabolism, and overall health.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Redefining the Night Owl&#8212;Light, Chronotypes, and Behavior </p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/3-easy-ways-to-fuel-your-metabolism-5902963">How Light, Exercise, and Sleep Fuel Your Metabolism</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-light-affect-your-mood-mitochondria?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/can-light-affect-your-mood-mitochondria?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why Bright Lights at Night Could Be Disrupting Your Metabolism (and Sleep)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dave Asprey explains why modern lighting may be silently disrupting sleep and metabolism&#8212;and the simple tweaks he recommends.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-bright-lights-at-night-could</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-bright-lights-at-night-could</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190461532/44d63664b5a7654132c25cde6577a31f.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most of us think about sleep hygiene in terms of bedtime routines or cutting caffeine.</p><p>But according to <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/351368161-dave-asprey?utm_source=mentions">Dave Asprey</a>, creator of the biohacking movement and <a href="https://daveasprey.com/">Danger Coffee</a>, the lighting in your home&#8212;especially at night&#8212;may be one of the most overlooked factors affecting sleep quality, <strong>metabolic health</strong>, and even daily energy.</p><p>In this clip, he explains why bright LED lighting after sunset can send the wrong signals to your brain and body, and shares a few simple fixes.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Bright LED lighting at night can disrupt sleep signals</strong><br>Asprey recommends dimming lights as soon as the sun goes down and switching to warmer or red light sources in the evening.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;&#8202;The 3000K, the bright, glaring, harsh white blue lights. Those are the metabolically most harmful.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p><strong>Red light may be the least disruptive option at night</strong><br>Unlike bright white or blue-heavy LEDs, dim red light appears to have minimal impact on sleep.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s one get-out-of-jail-free card at night: dim red light doesn&#8217;t affect your sleep at all.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p><strong>Even tiny lights in the bedroom may affect sleep quality</strong><br>Asprey says small LEDs from electronics or smoke detectors can still stimulate the brain during sleep.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;That little blinky green thing on your smoke detector is ruining the quality of your sleep&#8212;even though you&#8217;re asleep. &#8202;We are that sensitive.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p><strong>Screen brightness may contribute to eye strain and metabolic stress</strong><br>He suggests experimenting with dark mode screens (dark background with light text) to reduce visual strain.</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8202;&#8220;&#8202;&#8202;If you think about it, we never stare into the sun to find a little black dot in front of it. Instead, we stare at the starry sky in order to find little pinpoints of light.  Visual strain drives metabolic stress, which drives full-body strain.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>The modern indoor lighting environment is very different from the natural light-dark cycles humans evolved with&#8212;and even small adjustments may make a meaningful difference for sleep and metabolic health.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Light Is a Drug</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/3-easy-ways-to-fuel-your-metabolism-5902963">How Light, Exercise, and Sleep Fuel Your Metabolism</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-bright-lights-at-night-could?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/why-bright-lights-at-night-could?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Morning Light May Be the Most Important Metabolic Signal of Your Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[Dave Asprey on circadian timing, ultraviolet light, and energy]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/morning-light-may-be-the-most-important</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/morning-light-may-be-the-most-important</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 15:03:18 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/190000101/144d21f3fc4e7f9bf0b530f8b87ea4b8.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We tend to think about light as either &#8220;bright&#8221; or &#8220;dim.&#8221;</p><p>But <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/351368161-dave-asprey?utm_source=mentions">Dave Asprey</a>, creator of the biohacking movement and <a href="https://daveasprey.com/">Danger Coffee</a>, argues that light is more complex than that and more biologically instructive.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Just like food has fat and carbohydrates and protein, light has different ways it signals you. It has the brightness of the light, it has the angle of the light, and then it has the different colors of the light.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>In this clip, he breaks down why the <em>type</em> and <em>timing</em> of light exposure may shape energy, sleep, and metabolic signaling throughout the day.</p><h3>Clip Highlights</h3><ul><li><p>Why brightness, angle, and color of light send different signals to the body</p></li><li><p>The case for morning outdoor light exposure and why he recommends going outside shortly after waking</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;The most important signal to wake your body up and give you energy all day and good sleep at night is go outside in the morning as soon as you can, without sunglasses or even regular glasses on, for 10 minutes.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>The role of ultraviolet light in circadian timing</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Getting a small dose of ultraviolet light into your eyes sets your circadian clock.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>His belief that daily sunlight is necessary, not optional</p></li><li><p>He also discusses sunlight&#8217;s role in vitamin D production</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;The ultraviolet light from sunlight, 20 minutes a day, will transform the vitamin D in your body into the active form of vitamin D, which helps with dozens and dozens of metabolic diseases.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>The relationship between sunlight, circadian biology, and vitamin D metabolism is an area of ongoing research. Light is well established as a primary environmental signal for human physiology, particularly in circadian regulation. How much, when, and what kind may matter more than we&#8217;ve historically acknowledged.</p><h3>Takeaway</h3><p>If nutrition is information for the body, light may be one of its most powerful messengers. The timing and quality of that signal could influence far more than mood or visibility. </p><div class="pullquote"><p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s no reason to be afraid of getting 20 minutes of sunlight every day. It is necessary.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>Simple Fixes for Evening Light</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/3-easy-ways-to-fuel-your-metabolism-5902963">How Light, Exercise, and Sleep Fuel Your Metabolism</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/morning-light-may-be-the-most-important?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/morning-light-may-be-the-most-important?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Light Is a Nutrient. It Might Matter More Than Food.]]></title><description><![CDATA[New series with Dave Asprey on why sunlight could be more foundational than diet.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/light-is-a-nutrient-it-might-matter</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/light-is-a-nutrient-it-might-matter</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:03:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/189766811/68b66d01d5e7a54f35cda6af2cf8ed2e.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We talk endlessly about diet quality. Whole foods. Ultra-processed foods. Macros. Seed oils.</p><p>But what if we&#8217;re missing something even more foundational?</p><p>In this new series, I sat down with <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Dave Asprey&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:351368161,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f9a80912-d351-4bba-b264-8efcfe6a634a_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;654f8be1-03d4-4c7e-8600-acd03151b0fc&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, creator of the biohacking movement and <a href="https://daveasprey.com/">Danger Coffee</a>, to unpack a concept that doesn&#8217;t get nearly enough attention in mainstream health conversations: <strong>light as a biological input.</strong></p><blockquote><p>&#8202;&#8220;If I had to choose between giving up natural sunlight and giving up whole foods, I&#8217;d be sad to give up whole foods, but I&#8217;d rather have the sun and ultra-processed food than ultra-processed food and no sun. It&#8217;s that important for our existence.&#8221; </p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights:</h3><ul><li><p>Why light functions as a biological signal, not just illumination</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Light is another nutrient just like food. It&#8217;s that important.&#8221;</p></blockquote></li><li><p>How morning, midday, and evening light send different metabolic instructions</p></li><li><p>The concept of a &#8220;whole light diet,&#8221; from infrared to UV</p></li><li><p>Why bright overhead light at night may confuse your circadian rhythm</p></li><li><p>The analogy between the &#8220;low-fat&#8221; dogma of the 1980s and modern sun avoidance</p></li><li><p>Why he says he&#8217;d choose natural sunlight over perfect nutrition if forced to pick</p></li></ul><p>Asprey argues that human biology evolved under full-spectrum sunlight&#8212;red and infrared at sunrise and sunset, bright overhead light at midday, darkness at night. Our metabolism, hormone signaling, and sleep architecture are synchronized to that pattern. </p><p>He posits that artificial light, particularly bright, narrow-spectrum overhead light at night, can disrupt that timing signal.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;In all of human history, there&#8217;s never been any light at night. Is it any wonder that part of your body is trying to stay awake and part of it&#8217;s trying to go to sleep, and your metabolism doesn&#8217;t work?&#8221;</p></blockquote><p>The idea reframes light as a metabolic input, a concept rooted in circadian biology, endocrinology, and evolutionary biology, and one that continues to be studied.</p><h3>Takeaway:</h3><p>At minimum, this conversation expands the definition of nutrition beyond just <em>what</em> we eat to include the environmental signals that shape how our cells interpret it.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8202;<strong>&#8220;Your body is elegantly designed to consume the whole spectrum of light available outside at the time that Mother Nature produces it.&#8221;</strong> </p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>How to Use Light for Energy and Sleep</p><p>Article behind the interview: <strong><a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/3-easy-ways-to-fuel-your-metabolism-5902963">How Light, Exercise, and Sleep Fuel Your Metabolism</a></strong></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/light-is-a-nutrient-it-might-matter?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/light-is-a-nutrient-it-might-matter?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Is Cancer a Disease of Metabolism?]]></title><description><![CDATA[Amanda King, ND, explains why she believes metabolic dysfunction&#8212;not just genetics&#8212;plays a central role.]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/is-cancer-a-disease-of-metabolism</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/is-cancer-a-disease-of-metabolism</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:03:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/188799412/6b991445f8688ffcc615df0c01c76c48.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this final clip of the series, <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/108579347-amanda-king-nd?utm_source=mentions">Amanda King, ND</a>, an integrative metabolic oncology nutritionist and naturopath, challenges the framework that calories in/calories out is what matters most for health. </p><p>She argues that something more foundational is at play: metabolic dysfunction.</p><p>King says she still regularly hears from patients that their physicians tell them, &#8220;Your diet does not affect cancer.&#8221;</p><p>Her view is different.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;There is no understanding within the conventional medicine yet about the metabolic aspects of cancer, but cancer is a disease of metabolism, which means that it&#8217;s preventable.&#8221;</p></blockquote><div><hr></div><h3>Clip Highlights:</h3><ul><li><p>Why &#8220;calories in, calories out&#8221; misses the bigger metabolic picture</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;This idea of metabolic dysfunction is a really important one because people have been told for years that it doesn&#8217;t really matter what you put into your body.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>The argument that cancer is driven by metabolic dysfunction, not just genetics</p></li><li><p>Why she believes this framing is a message of hope, not doom</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Because it&#8217;s a disease of metabolism and not of genes, it&#8217;s within your power.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>King&#8217;s argument is that if we reduce visceral fat, remove metabolic drivers, and support immune resilience, we change the terrain in which cancer develops.</p></li></ul><p>This reflects her interpretation of emerging research on metabolism and cancer biology, an area of ongoing study across medical disciplines.</p><h3>Takeaway:</h3><p>If cancer risk is influenced by metabolic health, then metabolic health becomes part of the risk conversation.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8202; <strong>&#8220;You can change the outcome. It is within your power.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>A new series with Dave Asprey on the importance of light and lifestyle</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/is-cancer-a-disease-of-metabolism?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/is-cancer-a-disease-of-metabolism?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[You Can’t Out-Diet a Stressful Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why stress, isolation, and lack of purpose can undermine health even when your diet looks perfect]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/you-cant-out-diet-a-stressful-life</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/you-cant-out-diet-a-stressful-life</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 15:11:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/188205980/6ab25f20981281037fc22bb9ad1cd3d8.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We tend to treat health like a nutrition math problem: get the diet right and everything else falls into place. </p><p>But in this clip, <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/108579347-amanda-king-nd?utm_source=mentions">Amanda King, ND</a>, an integrative metabolic oncology nutritionist and naturopath, explains that this view is incomplete. <strong>Food matters&#8230;but it&#8217;s only one pillar.</strong> </p><p>Chronic stress, isolation, and lack of meaning can quietly erode health even when your diet looks &#8220;perfect.&#8221; She frames wellness as a balancing act across multiple fronts, not juggling a single ball.</p><h3>Clip Highlights:</h3><ul><li><p>You can &#8220;nail&#8221; your diet and still not be well if your lifestyle is built on stress and disconnection</p></li><li><p>Health also involves connection, purpose, and how you manage stress</p></li><li><p>Stress is described as a major inflammatory driver that shows up repeatedly in clinical patterns. King has observed a pattern in practice:</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8202; &#8220;I always see a stressful event precede a cancer diagnosis.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Passive distraction &#8800; restoration</p></li><li><p>She frames intentional solitude and reflection as a form of self-nourishment</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;I intentionally take time away from all of the things that distract me from myself so that I can connect.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>Daily practices that reconnect you to yourself help you move through life with intention</p></li></ul><p>King distinguishes between numbing out and actually restoring yourself. Watching TV and eating cookies may feel like relief, but her emphasis is on practices that create space to reconnect with your inner life, such as gratitude, reflection, walking in nature, and quiet time without stimulation.</p><h3>Takeaway:</h3><p>Diet is one pillar of health. Stress, connection, and meaning are pillars too&#8212;and ignoring them may have consequences.</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>The Metabolic Theory of Cancer&#8212;and Why It Changes the Conversation</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/you-cant-out-diet-a-stressful-life?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/you-cant-out-diet-a-stressful-life?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Metabolic Markers That Reveal Hidden Disease Risk]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why looking &#8220;healthy&#8221; doesn&#8217;t always mean you are]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-metabolic-markers-that-reveal</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-metabolic-markers-that-reveal</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:02:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/187689736/acfb79e7e557a597c90fa3b63e422be9.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this clip, <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/108579347-amanda-king-nd?utm_source=mentions">Amanda King, ND</a>, an integrative metabolic oncology nutritionist and naturopath,  describes a phenomenon known as TOFI&#8212;thin outside, fat inside&#8212;where outward appearance masks serious metabolic dysfunction. </p><p>People may look slim, but their blood work tells a different story: high insulin, elevated HbA1c, systemic inflammation, and nutrient deficiencies that quietly increase disease risk. </p><p>King posits that guessing about health is no longer acceptable when simple testing can reveal what&#8217;s really happening beneath the surface.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Really, the best thing somebody can do for their health if they really want to avoid cancer is, test.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Clip Highlights:</h3><ul><li><p>TOFI: metabolically unhealthy people who appear lean</p></li><li><p>High insulin and inflammation can exist without visible weight gain</p></li><li><p>Exercise and &#8220;healthy eating&#8221; don&#8217;t guarantee metabolic health</p></li><li><p>Standard blood panels reveal early warning signs</p></li><li><p>Tracking labs over time is more powerful than a single snapshot</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;There is no pre-diabetes, there&#8217;s only diabetes or not. You&#8217;ve either got it, or you don&#8217;t.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>What King Recommends Testing:</h3><p>King starts with what she describes as a full panel of blood; all of the basics&#8212; standard labs that reveal metabolic stress:</p><ul><li><p>CBC (Complete Blood Count)</p></li><li><p>CMP (Comprehensive Metabolic Panel)</p></li><li><p>LFTs (Liver Function Tests)</p></li><li><p>HbA1c, glucose, insulin, C-peptide</p></li><li><p>Inflammation markers</p></li><li><p>Vitamin levels (especially D + B12)</p></li><li><p>Thyroid panel</p></li><li><p>Iron panel</p></li><li><p>LDH (lactate dehydrogenase)</p></li></ul><p>Her emphasis isn&#8217;t just on a single test result, but on patterns over time. She recommends repeating panels roughly every six months to track direction and whether the body is moving toward resilience or dysfunction.</p><blockquote><p>&#8202;&#8220;While it might seem expensive from the outset, it&#8217;s nothing compared to the cost of having to deal with a cancer that&#8217;s come in.&#8221;</p></blockquote><h3>Takeaway:</h3><p>You can&#8217;t assess metabolic health by appearance&#8212;only by data.</p><div class="pullquote"><p> <strong>&#8220;Prevention is worth a thousand cures.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>You Can Eat Right and Still Be Unwell</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-metabolic-markers-that-reveal?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-metabolic-markers-that-reveal?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[There’s No One “Perfect” Human Diet—But There Is One Common Thread]]></title><description><![CDATA[Why eating from the earth matters more than chasing diet rules]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/theres-no-one-perfect-human-diet</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/theres-no-one-perfect-human-diet</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 15:03:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/187501677/da8dfb04b56b7532994cb3d4d3617811.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this next clip of the series, <a href="https://open.substack.com/users/108579347-amanda-king-nd?utm_source=mentions">Amanda King ND</a>, integrative metabolic oncology nutritionist and naturopath, challenges the idea that humans are meant to eat one universal diet. </p><p>Instead, King contends that our biology evolved alongside geography, and that the most important dietary principle isn&#8217;t macros or food pyramids, but to eat what the earth provides. The conversation reframes nutrition less as a prescription and more as a return to ecological logic.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;There&#8217;s no one typical diet that&#8217;s right for a human because we live all over the planet, so we can adapt and we can eat whatever&#8217;s in our environment, wherever we are. But the one main theme that runs through all of that is that it comes from the earth.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p><strong>Clip Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Humans evolved to eat regionally, not universally</p></li><li><p>Traditional diets reflect local ecosystems, not global guidelines</p></li><li><p>Modern diet rules often ignore biological and geographic diversity</p></li><li><p>The distinction between natural foods and industrial food systems</p></li><li><p>The argument that large-scale monocrop agriculture is historically recent</p></li><li><p>Why King sees ultra-processed inputs as disconnected from human biology</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;We need to take ourselves all the way back to the Paleolithic era, and we did not have vast country-sized farms of wheat and corn growing. It is not a natural thing. This is a manmade phenomenon.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p><strong>Takeaway:</strong><br>King&#8217;s position is that dietary health starts with asking a simple question: Did this come directly from the earth, or from an industrial process?</p><div><hr></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>When &#8220;Healthy&#8221; Bloodwork Isn&#8217;t Healthy: The Hidden Metabolic Risk</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/theres-no-one-perfect-human-diet?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/theres-no-one-perfect-human-diet?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Hidden Fat Linked to Inflammation and Cancer Risk]]></title><description><![CDATA[Kicking off a new expert series on visceral fat, ultra-processed diets, and the metabolic environment many people are living in]]></description><link>https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-hidden-fat-linked-to-inflammation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-hidden-fat-linked-to-inflammation</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jennifer Sweenie]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 15:30:04 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/187094500/050a1f92fe39f1cccd28b69deed326b9.mp3" length="0" type="audio/mpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In this first clip of a new series with <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amanda King ND&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:108579347,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!6kPg!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F13b43b0a-e381-4699-a9f9-b4cb0db2103f_3648x3648.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;d8c9ed5b-1c7f-4401-968e-149b17eb9d8e&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, integrative metabolic oncology nutritionist and naturopath, I ask about visceral fat for an upcoming article exploring its connection to cancer. Visceral fat is the kind that packs around organs and carries the highest metabolic risk. </p><p>This conversation was recorded before the release of the newest U.S. federal nutrition guidelines.</p><p>King&#8217;s answer widens into a bigger conversation about modern eating patterns, inflammation, and how today&#8217;s ultra-processed diet may be shaping long-term health. </p><p>This is one expert&#8217;s framework for thinking about fat, fuel, and what may be driving chronic disease.</p><blockquote><p>&#8202;&#8220;What drives cancer? Inflammation. Massive driver of cancer. It&#8217;s one of the hallmarks of cancer.&#8221;</p></blockquote><p><strong>Clip Highlights:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Visceral fat is strongly associated with excess calorie intake, particularly from sugar, refined carbohydrates, and overconsumption of low-nutrient processed foods</p></li><li><p>Many commonly consumed ultra-processed foods share a similar formula: refined grains + industrial seed oils</p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s very easy to overeat those sorts of high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.&#8221;</p></blockquote><ul><li><p>King posits that certain traditional fats (olive oil, butter, ghee, coconut oil, animal fats) have been culturally demonized despite a long history in human diets</p></li><li><p>Chronic inflammation is described as a major driver of disease, including cancer, and diet is positioned as a key contributor to inflammatory load</p></li><li><p>The modern plate, in King&#8217;s view, is disproportionately carbohydrate-heavy compared to what supports metabolic health</p></li><li><p>The broader claim: current nutrition guidance may require fundamental rethinking</p></li></ul><p><strong>Takeaway:</strong><br>King challenges mainstream assumptions about fat, carbohydrates, and inflammation&#8212;and invites a reexamination of what we consider a &#8220;normal&#8221; diet.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>&#8202;<strong>&#8220;We need to flip nutrition on its head.&#8221;</strong></p></div><p>&#128284; <strong>Coming Soon: </strong>What Humans Are Actually Meant to Eat</p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Subscribe for more expert insights, 2-3x/week in your inbox.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-hidden-fat-linked-to-inflammation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://jennifersweenie.substack.com/p/the-hidden-fat-linked-to-inflammation?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p><br></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>