Media by Others
Food Junkies
The Food Junkies Podcast evolved from the book. Each week, Vera Tarman, Clarrissa Kennedy, and Molly Painschab connect with scientists, Food Addiction clinicians, authors, and recovering Food Addicts to share fresh insights and tackle emerging debates.
Food Jundies Podcast: Circadian Rhythms and Food Addiction with Dr. Ignacio Cuaranta, 2026.
In this deeply grounding and wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by Ignacio Cuaranta, a board-certified psychiatrist ...whose work sits at the intersection of psychiatry, chronobiology, metabolic health, and lifestyle medicine. Trained in Argentina and working internationally, Dr. Cuaranta brings a refreshingly non-dogmatic, biology-forward lens to mental health—one that prioritizes rhythm, regulation, and compassion over blame or biohacking extremes.
Together, we explore why sleep and light exposure may be the most powerful psychiatric interventions we have, how ultra-processed foods disrupt not just metabolism but emotional regulation, and why afternoon crashes, anxiety, impulsivity, and insomnia are often rhythm problems—not personal failures.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why morning light and nighttime darkness are foundational for mood, impulse control, and nervous system regulation
How ultra-processed foods hijack reward pathways, especially when the brain is already fatigued
The overlooked role of chronobiology in psychiatry—and why timing matters as much as content
Afternoon crashes, cortisol dysregulation, and the myth of “low motivation”
Time-restricted eating as a clinical tool, not a rigid rule
Why consistency often matters more than perfection—especially for sensitive nervous systems
Sleep as a keystone habit that makes every other change more accessible
Practical, harm-reduction strategies for winter, shift work, and modern screen-heavy life
Sauna, temperature, and seasonal rhythms—what actually helps and when
Why reducing physiological “noise” can ease cravings, emotional volatility, and mental fatigue
This episode is especially supportive for anyone:
Early in recovery from ultra-processed food use
Living with anxiety, insomnia, or mood instability
Feeling exhausted by self-optimization culture
Curious about nutritional psychiatry, metabolic mental health, and nervous system regulation
Wanting evidence-informed strategies that honor individuality, sensitivity, and real life
Dr. Cuaranta reminds us that regulation is not weakness, sensitivity is not pathology, and recovery doesn’t require hacking yourself into submission. Often, the most meaningful change begins by restoring order to the basics: sleep, light, food quality, and rhythm.
If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is doing its best in an environment that’s working against it—this conversation is for you.
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Jundies Podcast: Circadian Rhythms and Food Addiction with Dr. Ignacio Cuaranta, 2026.
What if the biggest breakthroughs in mental health didn’t start with ...
What if the biggest breakthroughs in mental health didn’t start with more effort—but with better timing?
In this deeply grounding and wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by Ignacio Cuaranta, a board-certified psychiatrist ...whose work sits at the intersection of psychiatry, chronobiology, metabolic health, and lifestyle medicine. Trained in Argentina and working internationally, Dr. Cuaranta brings a refreshingly non-dogmatic, biology-forward lens to mental health—one that prioritizes rhythm, regulation, and compassion over blame or biohacking extremes.
Together, we explore why sleep and light exposure may be the most powerful psychiatric interventions we have, how ultra-processed foods disrupt not just metabolism but emotional regulation, and why afternoon crashes, anxiety, impulsivity, and insomnia are often rhythm problems—not personal failures.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why morning light and nighttime darkness are foundational for mood, impulse control, and nervous system regulation
How ultra-processed foods hijack reward pathways, especially when the brain is already fatigued
The overlooked role of chronobiology in psychiatry—and why timing matters as much as content
Afternoon crashes, cortisol dysregulation, and the myth of “low motivation”
Time-restricted eating as a clinical tool, not a rigid rule
Why consistency often matters more than perfection—especially for sensitive nervous systems
Sleep as a keystone habit that makes every other change more accessible
Practical, harm-reduction strategies for winter, shift work, and modern screen-heavy life
Sauna, temperature, and seasonal rhythms—what actually helps and when
Why reducing physiological “noise” can ease cravings, emotional volatility, and mental fatigue
This episode is especially supportive for anyone:
Early in recovery from ultra-processed food use
Living with anxiety, insomnia, or mood instability
Feeling exhausted by self-optimization culture
Curious about nutritional psychiatry, metabolic mental health, and nervous system regulation
Wanting evidence-informed strategies that honor individuality, sensitivity, and real life
Dr. Cuaranta reminds us that regulation is not weakness, sensitivity is not pathology, and recovery doesn’t require hacking yourself into submission. Often, the most meaningful change begins by restoring order to the basics: sleep, light, food quality, and rhythm.
If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is doing its best in an environment that’s working against it—this conversation is for you.
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
In this deeply grounding and wide-ranging conversation, we’re joined by Ignacio Cuaranta, a board-certified psychiatrist ...whose work sits at the intersection of psychiatry, chronobiology, metabolic health, and lifestyle medicine. Trained in Argentina and working internationally, Dr. Cuaranta brings a refreshingly non-dogmatic, biology-forward lens to mental health—one that prioritizes rhythm, regulation, and compassion over blame or biohacking extremes.
Together, we explore why sleep and light exposure may be the most powerful psychiatric interventions we have, how ultra-processed foods disrupt not just metabolism but emotional regulation, and why afternoon crashes, anxiety, impulsivity, and insomnia are often rhythm problems—not personal failures.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why morning light and nighttime darkness are foundational for mood, impulse control, and nervous system regulation
How ultra-processed foods hijack reward pathways, especially when the brain is already fatigued
The overlooked role of chronobiology in psychiatry—and why timing matters as much as content
Afternoon crashes, cortisol dysregulation, and the myth of “low motivation”
Time-restricted eating as a clinical tool, not a rigid rule
Why consistency often matters more than perfection—especially for sensitive nervous systems
Sleep as a keystone habit that makes every other change more accessible
Practical, harm-reduction strategies for winter, shift work, and modern screen-heavy life
Sauna, temperature, and seasonal rhythms—what actually helps and when
Why reducing physiological “noise” can ease cravings, emotional volatility, and mental fatigue
This episode is especially supportive for anyone:
Early in recovery from ultra-processed food use
Living with anxiety, insomnia, or mood instability
Feeling exhausted by self-optimization culture
Curious about nutritional psychiatry, metabolic mental health, and nervous system regulation
Wanting evidence-informed strategies that honor individuality, sensitivity, and real life
Dr. Cuaranta reminds us that regulation is not weakness, sensitivity is not pathology, and recovery doesn’t require hacking yourself into submission. Often, the most meaningful change begins by restoring order to the basics: sleep, light, food quality, and rhythm.
If you’ve ever felt like your nervous system is doing its best in an environment that’s working against it—this conversation is for you.
💌 Email us at: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner, with Crissy and Molly, on 'Beyond Volume Addiction", 2026
In this reflective, clinically rich conversation, Molly and Clarissa ...
In this reflective, clinically rich conversation, Molly and Clarissa begin by looking back on the words that shaped their last year—and naming the ones guiding them forward. From emanate and ...flourishing to safety and permission, they explore how intention-setting collides with real life, nervous systems, social context, and recovery work.
From there, the episode moves into a nuanced and often uncomfortable topic: “volume addiction.” Is overeating whole foods after removing ultra-processed foods simply binge eating disorder in disguise? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. And sometimes it’s something entirely different.
Drawing from decades of combined experience in addiction treatment, mental health, trauma, and eating disorders, Molly and Clarissa unpack:
Why labeling overeating as a new “addiction” can do more harm than good
How binge eating disorder is diagnosed (and why food type alone doesn’t define it)
The roles of nervous system dysregulation, trauma, habit learning, dopamine loops, hormones, and survival biology
Why early recovery often includes a messy stabilization period—and why that’s not pathology
The tension between rigid food rules and true safety
Why embodiment, somatic work, mindfulness, and self-compassion are foundational—not optional
They also challenge both food addiction and eating disorder paradigms when they become overly rigid, externalized, or disconnected from lived experience. Instead, they make a compelling case for internal resources over external control, and for recovery approaches that allow experimentation, nervous system safety, and individual variation.
This episode is an invitation to think more broadly, more compassionately, and more critically—about labels, treatment, and what long-term recovery actually requires.
Key themes include:
Safety as a prerequisite for flourishing
Permission to disappoint, experiment, and be fully yourself
Why healing is inherently non-linear and embodied
Moving beyond shame, restriction, and one-size-fits-all answers
If you’ve ever wondered whether something is “wrong” with you for still struggling after removing ultra-processed foods—or felt boxed in by labels that no longer fit—this conversation offers both validation and a way forward.
📩 Have thoughts or questions? Reach us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
From there, the episode moves into a nuanced and often uncomfortable topic: “volume addiction.” Is overeating whole foods after removing ultra-processed foods simply binge eating disorder in disguise? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. And sometimes it’s something entirely different.
Drawing from decades of combined experience in addiction treatment, mental health, trauma, and eating disorders, Molly and Clarissa unpack:
Why labeling overeating as a new “addiction” can do more harm than good
How binge eating disorder is diagnosed (and why food type alone doesn’t define it)
The roles of nervous system dysregulation, trauma, habit learning, dopamine loops, hormones, and survival biology
Why early recovery often includes a messy stabilization period—and why that’s not pathology
The tension between rigid food rules and true safety
Why embodiment, somatic work, mindfulness, and self-compassion are foundational—not optional
They also challenge both food addiction and eating disorder paradigms when they become overly rigid, externalized, or disconnected from lived experience. Instead, they make a compelling case for internal resources over external control, and for recovery approaches that allow experimentation, nervous system safety, and individual variation.
This episode is an invitation to think more broadly, more compassionately, and more critically—about labels, treatment, and what long-term recovery actually requires.
Key themes include:
Safety as a prerequisite for flourishing
Permission to disappoint, experiment, and be fully yourself
Why healing is inherently non-linear and embodied
Moving beyond shame, restriction, and one-size-fits-all answers
If you’ve ever wondered whether something is “wrong” with you for still struggling after removing ultra-processed foods—or felt boxed in by labels that no longer fit—this conversation offers both validation and a way forward.
📩 Have thoughts or questions? Reach us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Building Long Term Recovery Roots with Real Food Recovery Program, 2025
In this episode, Paige and Jamie from Real Food Recovery join us to ...
In this episode, Paige and Jamie from Real Food Recovery join us to explore the powerful intersection of holistic health, nervous system regulation, and long-term recovery from ultra-processed food addiction. ...They share why they wrote their book, the four core branches that anchor recovery, and why recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about resilience, compassion, and sustainable support systems that hold us when life falls apart.
With honesty and courage, Jamie shares her story of leaving an abusive relationship and navigating destabilization while protecting her recovery. Together, we dig into spirituality (beyond religion), harm reduction, abstinence debates, nervous system science, ego traps like “I’ll start Monday,” and how we can meet ourselves with clarity and grace instead of shame.
This conversation is validating, empowering, and deeply human. Recovery isn’t about mastering food—it’s about building a life worth staying for.
🌿 Key Themes We Explore
• The gap in recovery literature and why holistic support matters
• The four core branches of Real Food Recovery
o Whole, single-ingredient foods
o Sleep
o Spirituality (not religion)
o Movement
• Why long-term recovery is a lifelong evolving practice
• How spirituality anchors safety, connection, and presence
• What happens when life collapses and how to keep recovery intact
• Harm reduction vs. abstinence and why recovery isn’t “all or nothing”
• Navigating autoimmunity, trauma, and survival mode with self-compassion
• The truth behind “I’ll start Monday” and the ego trap of perfection
• Why small, doable changes are more powerful than massive overhauls
• The role of nervous system regulation in cravings, bingeing, and recovery
• How to dismantle shame and return to curiosity, learning, and self-respect
• Why spirituality & slowing down create safety in the brain and body
Powerful Insights & Quotes
🔹 “Two people can have very different experiences—but the big-picture solutions are often the same.”
🔹 “We don’t push square pegs into round holes. Recovery must be individualized.”
🔹 “Food isn’t the problem—it’s a symptom of the recovery you need.”
🔹 “Spirituality isn’t religion. It’s connection, grounding, and being held when no one else is around.”
🔹 “When Maslow’s hierarchy collapses, guardrails may look different. Harm reduction can be love.”
🔹 “Your brain will always try to keep you in the familiar—even if the familiar hurts.”
🔹 “Recovery breaks when life is lived too fast. Safety lives in slowness.”
🔹 “There is no shame—only information and opportunity.”
Listener Takeaways
1) Recovery Must Be Holistic
Food alone isn’t enough. Sleep, nervous system care, spirituality, and movement matter just as much—and sometimes more.
2️) Spirituality = Safety
Not religion. Not rules.
A grounding connection, inner wisdom, meaning, and support when life storms hit.
3️) Recovery Isn’t Linear—It’s Adaptive
There will be seasons of abstinence, seasons of harm reduction, seasons of survival. Compassion keeps recovery intact better than rigidity.
4️) Nervous System First
Bingeing doesn’t happen in stillness. It thrives in overwhelm, chaos, shame, and hurry. Slowing down restores choice.
5️) Shame Has No Place in Recovery
Behaviours aren’t moral failings—they are signals. We learn, adjust, and move forward.
6️) Tiny Changes Create Stability
Small, compassionate, repeatable steps beat dramatic overhauls every single time.
7️) You Are Allowed to Evolve
Bodies change. Lives change. Recovery plans change. And that is strength, not failure.
Where to Find Paige & Jamie
Website: https://www.realfoodrecovery4u.com
Programs, resources, and more on holistic food recovery.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
With honesty and courage, Jamie shares her story of leaving an abusive relationship and navigating destabilization while protecting her recovery. Together, we dig into spirituality (beyond religion), harm reduction, abstinence debates, nervous system science, ego traps like “I’ll start Monday,” and how we can meet ourselves with clarity and grace instead of shame.
This conversation is validating, empowering, and deeply human. Recovery isn’t about mastering food—it’s about building a life worth staying for.
🌿 Key Themes We Explore
• The gap in recovery literature and why holistic support matters
• The four core branches of Real Food Recovery
o Whole, single-ingredient foods
o Sleep
o Spirituality (not religion)
o Movement
• Why long-term recovery is a lifelong evolving practice
• How spirituality anchors safety, connection, and presence
• What happens when life collapses and how to keep recovery intact
• Harm reduction vs. abstinence and why recovery isn’t “all or nothing”
• Navigating autoimmunity, trauma, and survival mode with self-compassion
• The truth behind “I’ll start Monday” and the ego trap of perfection
• Why small, doable changes are more powerful than massive overhauls
• The role of nervous system regulation in cravings, bingeing, and recovery
• How to dismantle shame and return to curiosity, learning, and self-respect
• Why spirituality & slowing down create safety in the brain and body
Powerful Insights & Quotes
🔹 “Two people can have very different experiences—but the big-picture solutions are often the same.”
🔹 “We don’t push square pegs into round holes. Recovery must be individualized.”
🔹 “Food isn’t the problem—it’s a symptom of the recovery you need.”
🔹 “Spirituality isn’t religion. It’s connection, grounding, and being held when no one else is around.”
🔹 “When Maslow’s hierarchy collapses, guardrails may look different. Harm reduction can be love.”
🔹 “Your brain will always try to keep you in the familiar—even if the familiar hurts.”
🔹 “Recovery breaks when life is lived too fast. Safety lives in slowness.”
🔹 “There is no shame—only information and opportunity.”
Listener Takeaways
1) Recovery Must Be Holistic
Food alone isn’t enough. Sleep, nervous system care, spirituality, and movement matter just as much—and sometimes more.
2️) Spirituality = Safety
Not religion. Not rules.
A grounding connection, inner wisdom, meaning, and support when life storms hit.
3️) Recovery Isn’t Linear—It’s Adaptive
There will be seasons of abstinence, seasons of harm reduction, seasons of survival. Compassion keeps recovery intact better than rigidity.
4️) Nervous System First
Bingeing doesn’t happen in stillness. It thrives in overwhelm, chaos, shame, and hurry. Slowing down restores choice.
5️) Shame Has No Place in Recovery
Behaviours aren’t moral failings—they are signals. We learn, adjust, and move forward.
6️) Tiny Changes Create Stability
Small, compassionate, repeatable steps beat dramatic overhauls every single time.
7️) You Are Allowed to Evolve
Bodies change. Lives change. Recovery plans change. And that is strength, not failure.
Where to Find Paige & Jamie
Website: https://www.realfoodrecovery4u.com
Programs, resources, and more on holistic food recovery.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Trauma, Food Addiction and the Poly Vagal Model (FSPM) with Jan Winhall, 2025
Jan Winhall is a psychotherapist, author, educator, and the developer ...
Jan Winhall is a psychotherapist, author, educator, and the developer of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM), a groundbreaking framework that integrates trauma therapy, polyvagal theory, and embodied focusing to ...understand and treat addiction and trauma. Over more than four decades of clinical work, Jan has specialized in supporting survivors of sexual violence, complex trauma, and addiction with a deeply de-pathologizing, feminist, and body-based lens.
She is the founder of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model Institute, teaches internationally, and collaborates closely with leaders in the polyvagal community to bring more compassionate, somatically grounded approaches into trauma and addiction treatment.
In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, Clarissa and Molly sit down with trauma and addiction therapist Jan Winhall, creator of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM).
Jan weaves together feminist therapy, trauma theory, polyvagal theory, and embodied practice to completely reframe how we understand addictive behaviors like binging, purging, and compulsive eating: not as “problems” or “defects,” but as adaptive state-regulation strategies that the body uses to survive overwhelming experiences.
Jan shares how early work with incest survivors revealed the harms of pathologizing, top-down psychiatric approaches—and how safety, dignity, and deep listening became the foundation for her model. Together, we explore how nervous-system states, shame, trauma, ADHD, and body image intersect with ultra-processed food addiction, and how recovery becomes possible when we work with the body instead of against it.
This episode is for clinicians, helpers, and anyone living with food addiction who has ever wondered: “What if nothing about me is broken—and my body has been trying to keep me alive all along?”
In This Episode, We Explore:
• Jan’s Origins in Trauma Workhelped de-pathologize survivors
• From “What’s Wrong With You?” to “What Happened to You?”
• The Felt Sense & Polyvagal Theory – Explained Accessibly
• Addiction as a Trauma Feedback Loop
• Working with Trauma Without “Fishing” for It
• Shame, Addiction, and Liberation
• Food & Sex Addiction, Early Trauma, and Access
• ADHD, Neurodivergence & Addiction
• Body Image, Misogyny & Reclaiming the Body
• Receiving Love & Positive Feedback as a Trigger
• Self-Disclosure, Accessibility & Doing Our Own Work
• Changing the Addiction Treatment Paradigm
Follow Jan and the FSPM Institute: https://www.fspminstitute.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
She is the founder of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model Institute, teaches internationally, and collaborates closely with leaders in the polyvagal community to bring more compassionate, somatically grounded approaches into trauma and addiction treatment.
In this powerful and deeply validating conversation, Clarissa and Molly sit down with trauma and addiction therapist Jan Winhall, creator of the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model (FSPM).
Jan weaves together feminist therapy, trauma theory, polyvagal theory, and embodied practice to completely reframe how we understand addictive behaviors like binging, purging, and compulsive eating: not as “problems” or “defects,” but as adaptive state-regulation strategies that the body uses to survive overwhelming experiences.
Jan shares how early work with incest survivors revealed the harms of pathologizing, top-down psychiatric approaches—and how safety, dignity, and deep listening became the foundation for her model. Together, we explore how nervous-system states, shame, trauma, ADHD, and body image intersect with ultra-processed food addiction, and how recovery becomes possible when we work with the body instead of against it.
This episode is for clinicians, helpers, and anyone living with food addiction who has ever wondered: “What if nothing about me is broken—and my body has been trying to keep me alive all along?”
In This Episode, We Explore:
• Jan’s Origins in Trauma Workhelped de-pathologize survivors
• From “What’s Wrong With You?” to “What Happened to You?”
• The Felt Sense & Polyvagal Theory – Explained Accessibly
• Addiction as a Trauma Feedback Loop
• Working with Trauma Without “Fishing” for It
• Shame, Addiction, and Liberation
• Food & Sex Addiction, Early Trauma, and Access
• ADHD, Neurodivergence & Addiction
• Body Image, Misogyny & Reclaiming the Body
• Receiving Love & Positive Feedback as a Trigger
• Self-Disclosure, Accessibility & Doing Our Own Work
• Changing the Addiction Treatment Paradigm
Follow Jan and the FSPM Institute: https://www.fspminstitute.com
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner on the Hella-Days (Holidays) and Food Addiction, 2025
In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa and Molly dive into what ...
In this Clinician’s Corner episode, Clarissa and Molly dive into what they lovingly (and accurately) call the “Hella-Days”—that stretch from early fall through New Year’s where routines disappear, food is ...everywhere, emotions are high, and nervous systems are fried.
Together, they unpack why this season is so activating for people with food addiction and nervous system sensitivity, and how to navigate it with values, boundaries, and a whole lot of self-compassion—whether you’re surrounded by family or spending the holidays on your own.
In This Episode Clarissa & Molly explore:
Why the holidays can feel like the “Holiday Hunger Games” and “12 Days of Dysregulation”
How the nervous system responds to the build-up from September to New Year’s
Using values as your North Star for holiday decisions
Boundary tools and scripts for parties, family gatherings, and food pushers
Why holiday food environments are an “engineered stressor” (hello, peppermint-everything marketing)
Strategies for:
Going to events without abandoning your recovery
Deciding when not to go
Coping with loneliness, isolation, and dark evenings
Harm reduction during high-exposure events (“good, better, best” thinking)
How to re-imagine your holiday story over time instead of chasing perfection
Ideas for folks who love the holidays (Clarissmas) and folks who… don’t (Molly 😂)
They also share:
Personal stories of childhood Christmas expectations, sibling dynamics, and parental pressure
How early family patterns still shape how we show up at the holidays
Reframing relapse and “taking the bait” with relatives like Aunt Linda (sorry, Linda)
Key Takeaways
You can use/adapt these directly in show notes as bullet points.
Start with your North Star, not the menu.
Before the doorbells, casseroles, and Aunt Linda’s commentary, ask:
What matters most to me about this season?
How do I want to feel when the day is over?
What will support my recovery and nervous system?
Let those answers drive your choices more than other people’s expectations, panic, or cookies.
Boundaries are about self-respect, not punishment.
Boundaries define what’s okay and not okay for you. They’re about taking responsibility for your experience—not policing others. As Brené Brown says, “Clear is kind.” You don’t have to over-explain or apologize.
Use positive, non-defensive boundary scripts. “I don’t eat sugar” often triggers defensiveness and comparison. Instead, frame your choice around how good you feel: “That looks amazing, but I’ve been eating in a way that’s really helping my energy and sleep, and I’m so grateful I found what works for me. Thanks for understanding.” Or keep it simple: “No, thank you.” (A complete sentence.) “I’m focusing on foods that help me feel my best.”
Rehearsal reduces panic.
Visualize the event ahead of time:
Imagine someone offering food or a drink.
Practice your boundary script.
Role-play in group or with a clinician.
Like athletes using mental rehearsal, you’re teaching your nervous system that this “scary” behavior is survivable and doable.
Don’t arrive hungry to the Holiday Hunger Games.
Skipping meals “to save up” for a party sets you up to be biologically and emotionally vulnerable.
Eat a satiating meal (protein, healthy fats, veggies) before events.
Then you can pause and ask, Am I actually hungry, or is this emotional/relational?
Use “Good, Better, Best” instead of all-or-nothing.
When your nervous system is hijacked and the perfect choice isn’t accessible:
Best: Aligned, recovery-supportive choice.
Better: Less harmful option if “best” isn’t realistic.
Good enough: Reduces harm in a very stressful moment.
This is harm reduction, not failure.
Plan your support system: exit strategies, grounding, and non-food rewards.
Exit plan: Decide in advance how long you’ll stay and how you’ll leave if overwhelmed (drive separately, ask partner to bring you back to the hotel, etc.).
Grounding: Find a quiet corner, identify 5 things you can see, and locate something visually “neutral” or pleasant you can keep returning your gaze to.
Non-food rewards: Think saunas, walks, reading, play with kids/nieces, skiing, time offline—let celebration include regulation, not just consumption.
You don’t actually owe the holidays anything.
There is nothing magical about one date on the calendar that couldn’t be created on another day. You can:
See important people in smaller, less intense doses throughout the year.
Say “no” to events that are more away-moves than towards-moves for your recovery.
Ask:
What does this event mean to me?
How might it impact my recovery?
Do I have the emotional energy for this?
Resources Mentioned
Sweet Sobriety Free Holiday Guide (PDF)
~22 pages of:
Reflection questions to use your values as a North Star
Boundary scripts and language examples
Planning prompts for events, food, and nervous system care
📩 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.comShow More
Together, they unpack why this season is so activating for people with food addiction and nervous system sensitivity, and how to navigate it with values, boundaries, and a whole lot of self-compassion—whether you’re surrounded by family or spending the holidays on your own.
In This Episode Clarissa & Molly explore:
Why the holidays can feel like the “Holiday Hunger Games” and “12 Days of Dysregulation”
How the nervous system responds to the build-up from September to New Year’s
Using values as your North Star for holiday decisions
Boundary tools and scripts for parties, family gatherings, and food pushers
Why holiday food environments are an “engineered stressor” (hello, peppermint-everything marketing)
Strategies for:
Going to events without abandoning your recovery
Deciding when not to go
Coping with loneliness, isolation, and dark evenings
Harm reduction during high-exposure events (“good, better, best” thinking)
How to re-imagine your holiday story over time instead of chasing perfection
Ideas for folks who love the holidays (Clarissmas) and folks who… don’t (Molly 😂)
They also share:
Personal stories of childhood Christmas expectations, sibling dynamics, and parental pressure
How early family patterns still shape how we show up at the holidays
Reframing relapse and “taking the bait” with relatives like Aunt Linda (sorry, Linda)
Key Takeaways
You can use/adapt these directly in show notes as bullet points.
Start with your North Star, not the menu.
Before the doorbells, casseroles, and Aunt Linda’s commentary, ask:
What matters most to me about this season?
How do I want to feel when the day is over?
What will support my recovery and nervous system?
Let those answers drive your choices more than other people’s expectations, panic, or cookies.
Boundaries are about self-respect, not punishment.
Boundaries define what’s okay and not okay for you. They’re about taking responsibility for your experience—not policing others. As Brené Brown says, “Clear is kind.” You don’t have to over-explain or apologize.
Use positive, non-defensive boundary scripts. “I don’t eat sugar” often triggers defensiveness and comparison. Instead, frame your choice around how good you feel: “That looks amazing, but I’ve been eating in a way that’s really helping my energy and sleep, and I’m so grateful I found what works for me. Thanks for understanding.” Or keep it simple: “No, thank you.” (A complete sentence.) “I’m focusing on foods that help me feel my best.”
Rehearsal reduces panic.
Visualize the event ahead of time:
Imagine someone offering food or a drink.
Practice your boundary script.
Role-play in group or with a clinician.
Like athletes using mental rehearsal, you’re teaching your nervous system that this “scary” behavior is survivable and doable.
Don’t arrive hungry to the Holiday Hunger Games.
Skipping meals “to save up” for a party sets you up to be biologically and emotionally vulnerable.
Eat a satiating meal (protein, healthy fats, veggies) before events.
Then you can pause and ask, Am I actually hungry, or is this emotional/relational?
Use “Good, Better, Best” instead of all-or-nothing.
When your nervous system is hijacked and the perfect choice isn’t accessible:
Best: Aligned, recovery-supportive choice.
Better: Less harmful option if “best” isn’t realistic.
Good enough: Reduces harm in a very stressful moment.
This is harm reduction, not failure.
Plan your support system: exit strategies, grounding, and non-food rewards.
Exit plan: Decide in advance how long you’ll stay and how you’ll leave if overwhelmed (drive separately, ask partner to bring you back to the hotel, etc.).
Grounding: Find a quiet corner, identify 5 things you can see, and locate something visually “neutral” or pleasant you can keep returning your gaze to.
Non-food rewards: Think saunas, walks, reading, play with kids/nieces, skiing, time offline—let celebration include regulation, not just consumption.
You don’t actually owe the holidays anything.
There is nothing magical about one date on the calendar that couldn’t be created on another day. You can:
See important people in smaller, less intense doses throughout the year.
Say “no” to events that are more away-moves than towards-moves for your recovery.
Ask:
What does this event mean to me?
How might it impact my recovery?
Do I have the emotional energy for this?
Resources Mentioned
Sweet Sobriety Free Holiday Guide (PDF)
~22 pages of:
Reflection questions to use your values as a North Star
Boundary scripts and language examples
Planning prompts for events, food, and nervous system care
📩 Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.comShow More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Food addiction, Oncology and Metabolic Healing with Dr. Nasha Winters, 2025
In this episode, the Food Junkies team talks to integrative oncologist ...
In this episode, the Food Junkies team talks to integrative oncologist and metabolic health pioneer Dr. Nasha Winters to explore the powerful intersection of cancer, ultra-processed foods, metabolism, and sovereignty.
Nasha ...shares her astonishing personal story: years of dismissed symptoms, normalized suffering, and relentless gaslighting that culminated in a diagnosis of end-stage ovarian cancer at age 19—and being sent home to die. Thirty-four years later, she’s very much alive and leading a global movement to rethink cancer as a metabolic, terrain-driven disease rather than a purely genetic accident.
We talk about how ultra-processed foods don’t just starve our mitochondria—they starve our sovereignty, hijack our decision-making, and fracture our relationship with our own bodies.
In this episode, we explore:
Nasha’s “pain to purpose” story
Chronic health issues from infancy through adolescence: PCOS, endometriosis, autoimmune issues, RA, IBS, thyroid dysfunction, and more—constantly normalized and medicated.
Being diagnosed with end-stage ovarian cancer at 19, with full bowel obstruction, organ failure, metastasis, and “3 months to live.”
How being sent home to die became the catalyst for asking “Why?” and beginning her life’s work.
A metabolic and psychological reset
Why a prolonged period of fasting (due to bowel obstruction) functioned as an unplanned metabolic intervention.
How an accidental very high-dose psilocybin experience in 1991 fundamentally changed her perspective, reduced her fear of death, and gave her a will to live.
The insight that cancer is not just genetic—but deeply tied to environment, metabolism, trauma, and disconnection from nature.
Cancer as an ecosystem, not a battlefield
How we are in constant relationship with our internal and external environments—our bodies, food systems, and the land all reflecting each other.
Why ultra-processed foods are “as genetically mismatched as it gets” for humans.
How UPFs impact all the hallmarks of cancer—driving inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain hijacking.
The role of emulsifiers, preservatives, seed oils, and other additives in damaging the gut, microbiome, and immune surveillance.
Why “a little” ultra-processed food isn’t neutral for people with a vulnerable system—and why in her oncology population, UPF often has to be all-or-nothing.
Metabolic sovereignty vs. perfectionism
Nasha’s powerful idea that UPFs don’t just starve our mitochondria—they starve our sovereignty.
What it means to choose health as alignment, not achievement.
How social pressure, cultural norms, and “moderation” language rob people of agency.
Practical examples of reclaiming sovereignty: bringing your own wine, your own safe foods, and modeling a different way without preaching.
Working with food addiction and emotional eating (without shame)
How she meets people gently where they are, especially those whose only “comfort” has been food.
Her boundary as a clinician: “I’m not willing to work harder than you.” How that shifted outcomes and reduced codependency.
How she used farmers’ markets and health-food store “field trips” as non-shaming education: reading labels together, swapping recipes, and making it fun.
Seasonal group cleanses and experiments that removed UPFs without moralizing and re-connected people to real food.
Justice, food deserts, and real solutions
Stories from working in Indigenous and low-resource communities and helping reintroduce native seeds and traditional foodways.
The Food-as-Medicine movement: projects like FreshRx, where CSA boxes for people with type 2 diabetes significantly lowered A1C and healthcare costs.
Regenerative agriculture movements, farmer-led organizations, and bringing environmental, metabolic, mental health, and food systems together under one roof.
Her dream project: a 1,200-acre regenerative farm, intentional community, and metabolic oncology hospital in Arizona.
One small step you can take this week
Start with non-judgmental awareness: a simple food and feeling diary.
Her “triage” before reaching for UPFs:
Big glass of water
A bit of protein
A bit of fat
Then the UPF if you still truly want it—no self-punishment.
How small wins (“I didn’t eat the thing”) build fierceness and confidence over time.
Connect with Dr. Nasha Winters
Website, offerings, and clinician training: DrNasha.com
Podcast: Metabolic Matters
Social: Dr. Nasha / Nasha Winters across platforms
Facebook
Instagram
Book: Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, The Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Nasha ...shares her astonishing personal story: years of dismissed symptoms, normalized suffering, and relentless gaslighting that culminated in a diagnosis of end-stage ovarian cancer at age 19—and being sent home to die. Thirty-four years later, she’s very much alive and leading a global movement to rethink cancer as a metabolic, terrain-driven disease rather than a purely genetic accident.
We talk about how ultra-processed foods don’t just starve our mitochondria—they starve our sovereignty, hijack our decision-making, and fracture our relationship with our own bodies.
In this episode, we explore:
Nasha’s “pain to purpose” story
Chronic health issues from infancy through adolescence: PCOS, endometriosis, autoimmune issues, RA, IBS, thyroid dysfunction, and more—constantly normalized and medicated.
Being diagnosed with end-stage ovarian cancer at 19, with full bowel obstruction, organ failure, metastasis, and “3 months to live.”
How being sent home to die became the catalyst for asking “Why?” and beginning her life’s work.
A metabolic and psychological reset
Why a prolonged period of fasting (due to bowel obstruction) functioned as an unplanned metabolic intervention.
How an accidental very high-dose psilocybin experience in 1991 fundamentally changed her perspective, reduced her fear of death, and gave her a will to live.
The insight that cancer is not just genetic—but deeply tied to environment, metabolism, trauma, and disconnection from nature.
Cancer as an ecosystem, not a battlefield
How we are in constant relationship with our internal and external environments—our bodies, food systems, and the land all reflecting each other.
Why ultra-processed foods are “as genetically mismatched as it gets” for humans.
How UPFs impact all the hallmarks of cancer—driving inflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and brain hijacking.
The role of emulsifiers, preservatives, seed oils, and other additives in damaging the gut, microbiome, and immune surveillance.
Why “a little” ultra-processed food isn’t neutral for people with a vulnerable system—and why in her oncology population, UPF often has to be all-or-nothing.
Metabolic sovereignty vs. perfectionism
Nasha’s powerful idea that UPFs don’t just starve our mitochondria—they starve our sovereignty.
What it means to choose health as alignment, not achievement.
How social pressure, cultural norms, and “moderation” language rob people of agency.
Practical examples of reclaiming sovereignty: bringing your own wine, your own safe foods, and modeling a different way without preaching.
Working with food addiction and emotional eating (without shame)
How she meets people gently where they are, especially those whose only “comfort” has been food.
Her boundary as a clinician: “I’m not willing to work harder than you.” How that shifted outcomes and reduced codependency.
How she used farmers’ markets and health-food store “field trips” as non-shaming education: reading labels together, swapping recipes, and making it fun.
Seasonal group cleanses and experiments that removed UPFs without moralizing and re-connected people to real food.
Justice, food deserts, and real solutions
Stories from working in Indigenous and low-resource communities and helping reintroduce native seeds and traditional foodways.
The Food-as-Medicine movement: projects like FreshRx, where CSA boxes for people with type 2 diabetes significantly lowered A1C and healthcare costs.
Regenerative agriculture movements, farmer-led organizations, and bringing environmental, metabolic, mental health, and food systems together under one roof.
Her dream project: a 1,200-acre regenerative farm, intentional community, and metabolic oncology hospital in Arizona.
One small step you can take this week
Start with non-judgmental awareness: a simple food and feeling diary.
Her “triage” before reaching for UPFs:
Big glass of water
A bit of protein
A bit of fat
Then the UPF if you still truly want it—no self-punishment.
How small wins (“I didn’t eat the thing”) build fierceness and confidence over time.
Connect with Dr. Nasha Winters
Website, offerings, and clinician training: DrNasha.com
Podcast: Metabolic Matters
Social: Dr. Nasha / Nasha Winters across platforms
Book: Metabolic Approach to Cancer: Integrating Deep Nutrition, The Ketogenic Diet, and Nontoxic Bio-Individualized Therapies
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: A New tool for Diagnosing Food Addiction with Dr ERica LaFata, 2025.
On this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Erica ...
On this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Erica LaFata to dive into her groundbreaking work developing the Food Addiction Severity Interview (FASI) — a clinician-administered ...diagnostic tool modeled after the SCID alcohol use disorder module and adapted for ultra-processed foods. Building on self-report tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) and mYFAS, Erica explains why the field urgently needs a structured clinical interview to validate ultra-processed food addiction as a distinct psychiatric presentation and move toward formal recognition in the DSM.
Together, we explore the nuance at the intersection of eating disorders and ultra-processed food addiction: where they overlap, where they diverge, and how mislabeling can harm people on both sides. Erica unpacks key addiction mechanisms like withdrawal and tolerance, the risks of false positives and false negatives in screening, and what clinicians should be listening for when trying to tell restrictive eating, binge eating, and addictive patterns apart – especially in youth, men, and other under-researched groups.
The conversation also gets practical and hopeful: we talk about the competencies therapists, dietitians, coaches, and other practitioners need before working with ultra-processed food addiction; the tension between abstinence and harm reduction; the “volume addiction” question; and how orthorexia and the “health halo” of protein bars and high-protein UPFs can quietly hijack recovery. Erica closes by sharing how FASI data could inform future public policy and regulation of ultra-processed foods without fueling weight stigma – and gives an exciting update on the DSM submission process for ultra-processed food addiction as a condition for further study.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why self-report tools (YFAS, mYFAS) were a crucial first step—and why a clinician-administered interview like FASI is the necessary next one
How FASI was modeled after the SCID alcohol use disorder module and adapted for ultra-processed foods
The core addiction mechanisms (loss of control, withdrawal, tolerance, consequences) and how they show up with ultra-processed foods
Key differences between traditional eating disorder frameworks (“all foods fit,” no good/bad foods) and an addiction lens focused on specific ultra-processed foods
What many food addiction coaches and practitioners may be missing without formal substance use or eating disorder training
False positives vs false negatives in food addiction screens—and why missed cases (false negatives) are especially concerning
How FASI uses follow-up questions to differentiate restriction, binge eating, and true addictive patterns
What we know (and still don’t know) about ultra-processed food addiction across sex, age, BMI, and developmental stages
Early exposure in childhood and adolescence as a potential public health crisis for lifelong addictive responses to ultra-processed foods
The high overlap between binge-type eating disorders (BED, bulimia nervosa) and food addiction—and what to prioritize in treatment
“Volume addiction”: whether what we call “addicted to volume” may actually be binge eating disorder in disguise
Orthorexia, “clean eating,” and the health halo of protein bars, high-protein snacks, and dressed-up “safe” foods
The tension between abstinence-based and harm reduction approaches for ultra-processed foods, and why different strategies may work for different people
How clinician bias (diet culture, anti-addiction frameworks, or rigid abstinence views) can affect assessment—and how FASI creates room for nuance
How FASI and future data could support DSM recognition, inform policy, SNAP and marketing regulations, and reduce shame by naming ultra-processed food addiction as real and treatable
A hopeful update on the DSM application for ultra-processed food addiction as a condition for further studyShow More
Together, we explore the nuance at the intersection of eating disorders and ultra-processed food addiction: where they overlap, where they diverge, and how mislabeling can harm people on both sides. Erica unpacks key addiction mechanisms like withdrawal and tolerance, the risks of false positives and false negatives in screening, and what clinicians should be listening for when trying to tell restrictive eating, binge eating, and addictive patterns apart – especially in youth, men, and other under-researched groups.
The conversation also gets practical and hopeful: we talk about the competencies therapists, dietitians, coaches, and other practitioners need before working with ultra-processed food addiction; the tension between abstinence and harm reduction; the “volume addiction” question; and how orthorexia and the “health halo” of protein bars and high-protein UPFs can quietly hijack recovery. Erica closes by sharing how FASI data could inform future public policy and regulation of ultra-processed foods without fueling weight stigma – and gives an exciting update on the DSM submission process for ultra-processed food addiction as a condition for further study.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why self-report tools (YFAS, mYFAS) were a crucial first step—and why a clinician-administered interview like FASI is the necessary next one
How FASI was modeled after the SCID alcohol use disorder module and adapted for ultra-processed foods
The core addiction mechanisms (loss of control, withdrawal, tolerance, consequences) and how they show up with ultra-processed foods
Key differences between traditional eating disorder frameworks (“all foods fit,” no good/bad foods) and an addiction lens focused on specific ultra-processed foods
What many food addiction coaches and practitioners may be missing without formal substance use or eating disorder training
False positives vs false negatives in food addiction screens—and why missed cases (false negatives) are especially concerning
How FASI uses follow-up questions to differentiate restriction, binge eating, and true addictive patterns
What we know (and still don’t know) about ultra-processed food addiction across sex, age, BMI, and developmental stages
Early exposure in childhood and adolescence as a potential public health crisis for lifelong addictive responses to ultra-processed foods
The high overlap between binge-type eating disorders (BED, bulimia nervosa) and food addiction—and what to prioritize in treatment
“Volume addiction”: whether what we call “addicted to volume” may actually be binge eating disorder in disguise
Orthorexia, “clean eating,” and the health halo of protein bars, high-protein snacks, and dressed-up “safe” foods
The tension between abstinence-based and harm reduction approaches for ultra-processed foods, and why different strategies may work for different people
How clinician bias (diet culture, anti-addiction frameworks, or rigid abstinence views) can affect assessment—and how FASI creates room for nuance
How FASI and future data could support DSM recognition, inform policy, SNAP and marketing regulations, and reduce shame by naming ultra-processed food addiction as real and treatable
A hopeful update on the DSM application for ultra-processed food addiction as a condition for further studyShow More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Challenging the Naysayers of Food Addiction, with Dr. Nicole Avena, 2025
Challenging the Naysayers: On what grounds is food addiction STILL ...
Challenging the Naysayers: On what grounds is food addiction STILL being challenged by the scientific community? Why are we still debating this?
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name ...is Dr Vera Tarman and I am your cohost today, along with Clarissa Kennedy. Today we have brought back Dr Nicole Avena, one of the first scientists to scientifically validate food addiction. Today's discussion will center on the arguments used by the clinicians and scientists who dispute the concept of food addiction. Why are they missing the point we're making?
Thank you so much for coming back, specifically to give your take on a couple of notable examples that we are focusing on. You can find this response in Nicole’s most recent publication in Cell Biology called ‘Missed Signals’.
n this powerful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy welcome back Dr. Nicole Avena, one of the first researchers to scientifically validate the concept of food addiction
🔍 Key Questions We Tackled
Is food addiction “too broad” to be useful?
Can we really rely on self-report tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale?
What about brain imaging – doesn’t Kevin Hall’s PET study “disprove” food addiction?
Are we just pathologizing normal overeating under stress or dieting?
If withdrawal from ultra-processed foods isn’t like alcohol or opioids, does it “count”?
What Dr. Avena Wants You to Know
1️⃣ Overlap with eating disorders ≠ “not real”
Food addiction can overlap with eating disorders and obesity, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same thing. Lots of conditions share symptoms; that’s exactly why we need more research, not less.
2️⃣ Self-report doesn’t make it “fake”
Critics argue that the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) isn’t valid because it relies on self-report.
Dr. Avena reminds us:
If we reject self-report, we’d also have to throw out:
Depression inventories
Alcohol and substance use screens
Most mental health assessments we use every day
Self-report + clinical judgment + (where possible) biological measures = standard science, not junk science.
3️⃣ One PET scan ≠ “case closed”
Kevin Hall’s PET study is often waved around as “proof” that food isn’t addictive. Dr. Avena explains major limitations:
PET is a blunt tool for measuring dopamine compared to methods like microdialysis.
The milkshake used was lower in sugar than many people consume in real life.
Participants weren’t clearly separated into food-addicted vs non–food-addicted groups.
Dopamine is highly time-sensitive: anticipation and early consumption may be where the real action is, not 30 minutes later.
And importantly:
We don’t throw out alcohol or nicotine addiction just because a single brain study fails to show a clear dopamine spike. Science is built on many studies over many years, not one headline.
4️⃣ We’re not pathologizing everyone who overeats
Yes, lots of people overeat on holidays or under stress. That’s normal.
Food addiction is when:
Overeating is persistent and pervasive
It causes distress, impairment, and health consequences
Multiple DSM substance use criteria are met (tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, continued use despite harm, etc.)
That’s a very different picture than “I ate too much at Thanksgiving.”
5️⃣ Withdrawal from ultra-processed foods is real (and looks a lot like other addictions)
Research now shows that withdrawal from ultra-processed foods can include:
Irritability
Fatigue
Low mood
Crankiness / lethargy
These symptoms tend to peak in 2–5 days, similar to what we see with substances like nicotine. You don’t need seizures for it to count as withdrawal.
6️⃣ Not having a “perfect definition” is not a reason to stop studying it
We are still refining:
What exactly counts as “food addiction”
Which foods / combinations are most addictive
How best to diagnose and treat it
That’s how science works: definition → research → refinement → better definition → repeat.
If we’d waited for perfect definitions, we wouldn’t have moved forward on half the diseases we now recognize.
💊 GLP-1 Medcations & Food Addiction: Clues from Treatment
The conversation also touched on GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide and others):
For some people, GLP-1s dramatically reduce “food noise” and cravings.
For others, they only partially dampen urges – they still need tools, structure, and support.
This suggests these drugs are interacting with reward and satiety circuits that are highly relevant to addiction.
🧬 Big Picture: Why This Debate Matters
Naysayers often publish opinion pieces without new data, recycling old critiques that the research has already addressed.
Media then amplifies a single study or opinion as “proof” that food addiction isn’t real.
Meanwhile, millions of people are struggling in silence, wondering:
“If this isn’t addiction, what’s wrong with me?”Show More
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name ...is Dr Vera Tarman and I am your cohost today, along with Clarissa Kennedy. Today we have brought back Dr Nicole Avena, one of the first scientists to scientifically validate food addiction. Today's discussion will center on the arguments used by the clinicians and scientists who dispute the concept of food addiction. Why are they missing the point we're making?
Thank you so much for coming back, specifically to give your take on a couple of notable examples that we are focusing on. You can find this response in Nicole’s most recent publication in Cell Biology called ‘Missed Signals’.
n this powerful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy welcome back Dr. Nicole Avena, one of the first researchers to scientifically validate the concept of food addiction
🔍 Key Questions We Tackled
Is food addiction “too broad” to be useful?
Can we really rely on self-report tools like the Yale Food Addiction Scale?
What about brain imaging – doesn’t Kevin Hall’s PET study “disprove” food addiction?
Are we just pathologizing normal overeating under stress or dieting?
If withdrawal from ultra-processed foods isn’t like alcohol or opioids, does it “count”?
What Dr. Avena Wants You to Know
1️⃣ Overlap with eating disorders ≠ “not real”
Food addiction can overlap with eating disorders and obesity, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same thing. Lots of conditions share symptoms; that’s exactly why we need more research, not less.
2️⃣ Self-report doesn’t make it “fake”
Critics argue that the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS) isn’t valid because it relies on self-report.
Dr. Avena reminds us:
If we reject self-report, we’d also have to throw out:
Depression inventories
Alcohol and substance use screens
Most mental health assessments we use every day
Self-report + clinical judgment + (where possible) biological measures = standard science, not junk science.
3️⃣ One PET scan ≠ “case closed”
Kevin Hall’s PET study is often waved around as “proof” that food isn’t addictive. Dr. Avena explains major limitations:
PET is a blunt tool for measuring dopamine compared to methods like microdialysis.
The milkshake used was lower in sugar than many people consume in real life.
Participants weren’t clearly separated into food-addicted vs non–food-addicted groups.
Dopamine is highly time-sensitive: anticipation and early consumption may be where the real action is, not 30 minutes later.
And importantly:
We don’t throw out alcohol or nicotine addiction just because a single brain study fails to show a clear dopamine spike. Science is built on many studies over many years, not one headline.
4️⃣ We’re not pathologizing everyone who overeats
Yes, lots of people overeat on holidays or under stress. That’s normal.
Food addiction is when:
Overeating is persistent and pervasive
It causes distress, impairment, and health consequences
Multiple DSM substance use criteria are met (tolerance, withdrawal, loss of control, continued use despite harm, etc.)
That’s a very different picture than “I ate too much at Thanksgiving.”
5️⃣ Withdrawal from ultra-processed foods is real (and looks a lot like other addictions)
Research now shows that withdrawal from ultra-processed foods can include:
Irritability
Fatigue
Low mood
Crankiness / lethargy
These symptoms tend to peak in 2–5 days, similar to what we see with substances like nicotine. You don’t need seizures for it to count as withdrawal.
6️⃣ Not having a “perfect definition” is not a reason to stop studying it
We are still refining:
What exactly counts as “food addiction”
Which foods / combinations are most addictive
How best to diagnose and treat it
That’s how science works: definition → research → refinement → better definition → repeat.
If we’d waited for perfect definitions, we wouldn’t have moved forward on half the diseases we now recognize.
💊 GLP-1 Medcations & Food Addiction: Clues from Treatment
The conversation also touched on GLP-1 medications (like semaglutide and others):
For some people, GLP-1s dramatically reduce “food noise” and cravings.
For others, they only partially dampen urges – they still need tools, structure, and support.
This suggests these drugs are interacting with reward and satiety circuits that are highly relevant to addiction.
🧬 Big Picture: Why This Debate Matters
Naysayers often publish opinion pieces without new data, recycling old critiques that the research has already addressed.
Media then amplifies a single study or opinion as “proof” that food addiction isn’t real.
Meanwhile, millions of people are struggling in silence, wondering:
“If this isn’t addiction, what’s wrong with me?”Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: What the mouth can tell you about food addiction, with Dr Paul O'Malley, 2025
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman and I ...
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman and I am your host today speaking with dentist Dr Paul O’Malley.
Dr. Paul O'Malley, is a holistic ...and biomimetic dentist with over 30 years of clinical experience practicing in Encino, California. After graduating from Creighton University School of Dentistry, Dr. O'Malley pursued advanced training in cosmetic, minimally invasive, and biological dentistry. Throughout his career, he observed that the vast majority of his patients suffered from gum disease and tooth decay—what he called the "silent epidemic" of oral disease. This inspired him to focus on the metabolic and nutritional factors underlying oral health, rather than the 'drill fill and bill 'approach of typical dentists. Dr. O'Malley also founded Great Oral Health, a line of research-backed oral care products.
I discovered him when he was a guest on the podcast "Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran," where he discusses the connections between sugar and carbohydrate consumption and dental disease. He proposed to save our natural teeth through biomimetic restorations and to empower patients to understand how metabolic health, particularly low-carb eating, can improve our oral health -before the need for cavity repair and other dental work.
-------
Dr. Paul O’Malley is a Los Angeles-based dentist who’s redefining what it means to care for your teeth—and your whole body. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. O’Malley specializes in biomimetic and holistic dentistry, which basically means he works with your body, not against it. His focus is on preserving your natural tooth structure, using biocompatible materials, and avoiding the “drill and fill” mindset that leaves so many people anxious about the dentist’s chair.
He earned his DDS from Creighton University and completed a residency at Baylor University, but what really sets him apart is his philosophy: dentistry should heal and protect, not just patch things up. Over the years, he’s trained with some of the top names in cosmetic and restorative dentistry and has become a fellow of both the International Academy of Dentofacial Esthetics and the Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry.
At his practice in Encino, California, Dr. O’Malley helps patients restore confidence, comfort, and long-term oral health—often with procedures that are far less invasive than traditional methods. He’s also the founder of Great Oral Health, a line of probiotic-based products designed to support a healthy mouth microbiome and overall wellness.
We all know sugar messes with our health — but did you know it’s one of the biggest culprits behind tooth decay, gum disease, and even inflammation throughout your body? 😬
💥 It’s not just how much sugar you eat — it’s how often!
Every sip or bite keeps your teeth bathing in acid and your enamel under attack.
🦠 Your mouth has a microbiome too — good bacteria that protect you!
Constant sugar, grazing, or even “healthy” acidic drinks (like lemon water or sugar-free soda) can throw that balance off.
💧 The fix is simple and kind:
✨ Eat in meals, not all day.
✨ Rinse with water after coffee, tea, or lemon water.
✨ Wait 20 minutes before brushing to protect enamel.
✨ Floss daily (it breaks up the “bug party” that causes decay).
✨ Use a soft brush and gentle angle — your gums aren’t a kitchen floor!
✨ Try hydroxyapatite toothpaste (it helps re-harden enamel naturally).
❤️ Your mouth is part of your body — not separate from it.
Bleeding gums, bad breath, or constant sensitivity are not normal signs of “aging.”
They’re little SOS signals asking for care.
You can find him at:
https://www.greatoralhealth.com/
https://www.drpaulomalley.com/https://www.greatoralhealth.com/
https://www.drpaulomalley.com/Show More
Dr. Paul O'Malley, is a holistic ...and biomimetic dentist with over 30 years of clinical experience practicing in Encino, California. After graduating from Creighton University School of Dentistry, Dr. O'Malley pursued advanced training in cosmetic, minimally invasive, and biological dentistry. Throughout his career, he observed that the vast majority of his patients suffered from gum disease and tooth decay—what he called the "silent epidemic" of oral disease. This inspired him to focus on the metabolic and nutritional factors underlying oral health, rather than the 'drill fill and bill 'approach of typical dentists. Dr. O'Malley also founded Great Oral Health, a line of research-backed oral care products.
I discovered him when he was a guest on the podcast "Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran," where he discusses the connections between sugar and carbohydrate consumption and dental disease. He proposed to save our natural teeth through biomimetic restorations and to empower patients to understand how metabolic health, particularly low-carb eating, can improve our oral health -before the need for cavity repair and other dental work.
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Dr. Paul O’Malley is a Los Angeles-based dentist who’s redefining what it means to care for your teeth—and your whole body. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. O’Malley specializes in biomimetic and holistic dentistry, which basically means he works with your body, not against it. His focus is on preserving your natural tooth structure, using biocompatible materials, and avoiding the “drill and fill” mindset that leaves so many people anxious about the dentist’s chair.
He earned his DDS from Creighton University and completed a residency at Baylor University, but what really sets him apart is his philosophy: dentistry should heal and protect, not just patch things up. Over the years, he’s trained with some of the top names in cosmetic and restorative dentistry and has become a fellow of both the International Academy of Dentofacial Esthetics and the Academy of Biomimetic Dentistry.
At his practice in Encino, California, Dr. O’Malley helps patients restore confidence, comfort, and long-term oral health—often with procedures that are far less invasive than traditional methods. He’s also the founder of Great Oral Health, a line of probiotic-based products designed to support a healthy mouth microbiome and overall wellness.
We all know sugar messes with our health — but did you know it’s one of the biggest culprits behind tooth decay, gum disease, and even inflammation throughout your body? 😬
💥 It’s not just how much sugar you eat — it’s how often!
Every sip or bite keeps your teeth bathing in acid and your enamel under attack.
🦠 Your mouth has a microbiome too — good bacteria that protect you!
Constant sugar, grazing, or even “healthy” acidic drinks (like lemon water or sugar-free soda) can throw that balance off.
💧 The fix is simple and kind:
✨ Eat in meals, not all day.
✨ Rinse with water after coffee, tea, or lemon water.
✨ Wait 20 minutes before brushing to protect enamel.
✨ Floss daily (it breaks up the “bug party” that causes decay).
✨ Use a soft brush and gentle angle — your gums aren’t a kitchen floor!
✨ Try hydroxyapatite toothpaste (it helps re-harden enamel naturally).
❤️ Your mouth is part of your body — not separate from it.
Bleeding gums, bad breath, or constant sensitivity are not normal signs of “aging.”
They’re little SOS signals asking for care.
You can find him at:
https://www.greatoralhealth.com/
https://www.drpaulomalley.com/https://www.greatoralhealth.com/
https://www.drpaulomalley.com/Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Clinician's Corner - From Rules to Guardrails to Recovery, 2025
Molly and Clarissa get real about the spoken and unspoken “rules” we ...
Molly and Clarissa get real about the spoken and unspoken “rules” we inherit—from family, culture, religion, peers, and recovery spaces—and how those rules can quietly run our lives. They explore ...when structure is protective (especially early recovery) and when rigidity shrinks our world. The invitation: notice the rule, name whose voice it is, examine its intention, and rewrite it as a flexible, values-aligned boundary (a loving guardrail) that serves your recovery today.
What we cover
Invisible operating systems: How covert rules (“Don’t cry in public,” “Finish your plate,” “Don’t upset Dad,” “Work before rest”) get encoded as truth and shape choices, identity, and self-worth.
Where rules come from: Family modeling, culture/diet/purity narratives, religion & tradition, media comparison loops, and past painful moments that birthed survival strategies.
When rules help vs. harm: The cast-to-brace metaphor—early structure can be lifesaving; never taking the brace off becomes its own injury.
Food-recovery example: “The kitchen is closed after dinner.” Helpful as temporary scaffolding; harmful if it overrides true hunger, fuels all-or-nothing thinking, or becomes punishment.
Language that frees: Swap “I can’t” for “I choose not to (right now).” Replace rules with loving guardrails anchored in values, not fear.
Meeting the Rebel: How the inner rebel shows up when we feel controlled, and how flexibility + permission reduces backlash and binge risk.
Compassion over condemnation: Seeing the origin story of a rule reveals it was protective, not defective—which softens shame and opens space to change.
Support matters: Borrowing a “prosthetic prefrontal cortex” from trusted people (group, therapist, friend) to reality-check and practice flexibility safely.
Try this: a simple Rule Audit
Spot it: What’s one rule you notice yourself following today?
Name the voice: Whose rule is it (family, program, culture, scared younger you)?
Intention check: What safety or benefit was it trying to create? Does that need still exist?
Cost check: How does it limit you now (shame, rigidity, disconnection from body needs)?
Rewrite it: Old: “I can’t eat after dinner.”
New: “I stop after dinner unless I’m truly hungry—then I have a planned, recovery-friendly snack without shame.”
Make it safer: Pre-plan options, text a support person, add a brief grounding before eating, pre-portion, and debrief after.
Nuggets & reframes
“Rules kept me safe then; values-based guardrails grow me now.”
“Different doesn’t equal dangerous. It’s okay if new feels wobbly.”
“Recovery should make life bigger, not smaller.”
“Permission reduces rebellion.”
“Thank you, old rule, for what you protected. I’m choosing something kinder now.”
Reflection questions for listeners
Which rule in your life feels most rigid right now? What would a kinder, values-aligned version look like?
If you replaced one “I can’t” with “I choose not to—for now,” what changes in your body and nervous system?
Who are your go-to people to borrow perspective from when your threat system is loud?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
What we cover
Invisible operating systems: How covert rules (“Don’t cry in public,” “Finish your plate,” “Don’t upset Dad,” “Work before rest”) get encoded as truth and shape choices, identity, and self-worth.
Where rules come from: Family modeling, culture/diet/purity narratives, religion & tradition, media comparison loops, and past painful moments that birthed survival strategies.
When rules help vs. harm: The cast-to-brace metaphor—early structure can be lifesaving; never taking the brace off becomes its own injury.
Food-recovery example: “The kitchen is closed after dinner.” Helpful as temporary scaffolding; harmful if it overrides true hunger, fuels all-or-nothing thinking, or becomes punishment.
Language that frees: Swap “I can’t” for “I choose not to (right now).” Replace rules with loving guardrails anchored in values, not fear.
Meeting the Rebel: How the inner rebel shows up when we feel controlled, and how flexibility + permission reduces backlash and binge risk.
Compassion over condemnation: Seeing the origin story of a rule reveals it was protective, not defective—which softens shame and opens space to change.
Support matters: Borrowing a “prosthetic prefrontal cortex” from trusted people (group, therapist, friend) to reality-check and practice flexibility safely.
Try this: a simple Rule Audit
Spot it: What’s one rule you notice yourself following today?
Name the voice: Whose rule is it (family, program, culture, scared younger you)?
Intention check: What safety or benefit was it trying to create? Does that need still exist?
Cost check: How does it limit you now (shame, rigidity, disconnection from body needs)?
Rewrite it: Old: “I can’t eat after dinner.”
New: “I stop after dinner unless I’m truly hungry—then I have a planned, recovery-friendly snack without shame.”
Make it safer: Pre-plan options, text a support person, add a brief grounding before eating, pre-portion, and debrief after.
Nuggets & reframes
“Rules kept me safe then; values-based guardrails grow me now.”
“Different doesn’t equal dangerous. It’s okay if new feels wobbly.”
“Recovery should make life bigger, not smaller.”
“Permission reduces rebellion.”
“Thank you, old rule, for what you protected. I’m choosing something kinder now.”
Reflection questions for listeners
Which rule in your life feels most rigid right now? What would a kinder, values-aligned version look like?
If you replaced one “I can’t” with “I choose not to—for now,” what changes in your body and nervous system?
Who are your go-to people to borrow perspective from when your threat system is loud?
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: Which is worse - Seed Oils or Sugar? with Dr Cate Shanahan, 2025
For food addicts, are seed oils as bad as sugar? Welcome to the food ...
For food addicts, are seed oils as bad as sugar?
Welcome to the food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman, and I am your host today speaking with Dr ...Cate Shanahan, author of Dark Calories: How Vegetable Oils Destroy Our Health and How We Can Get It Back.
Dr. Cate Shanahan is a board-certified family physician, author, and nutritional consultant who is known for her work on the dangers of industrial seed oils and their profound biochemical impact on metabolic health. She has designed nutrition programs for NBA teams like the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors, and has written books such as Deep Nutrition and her latest, Dark Calorie - that we would like to explore here.
With her combination of thorough scientific investigation and practical clinical experience, Dr. Shanahan urges health professionals and the public to re-evaluate the advantages of fats in our diets, alongside the understanding that seed oils can have a negative impact on our metabolic function and mental health. Let’s explore why this is so, and how seed oils, unlike health fats, can contribute to food addiction.
Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Cate Shanahan, family physician, nutrition consultant, and author of Deep Nutrition and Dark Calories, to discuss her case against industrial seed oils, how they may influence metabolic and mental health, and why she believes they can intensify sugar cravings and insulin resistance. We explore mechanisms she proposes (oxidation, mitochondrial stress), the “Hateful Eight” oils, and practical swaps that listeners can try if they choose to reduce seed oils. This episode presents a viewpoint that’s debated in nutrition science; we encourage critical thinking, self-experimentation within a safe plan, and consultation with your care team.
What we cover
Seed oils vs. sugar: Why Dr. Shanahan argues seed oils may drive sugar cravings and insulin resistance.
Oxidation & mitochondria: Her biochemical rationale for how highly unsaturated oils can oxidize and affect cell energy.
The “Hateful Eight”: Corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, grapeseed—why she cautions against them.
Historical context: Marketing, refinement, and how these oils entered the food supply.
Mental health & cravings: Proposed links between oxidized fats, energy instability, mood, and appetite signals.
Practical swaps: Unrefined olive, avocado, coconut, butter/ghee; flavor-forward nut/seed oils used unheated; reading labels and cooking at home.
Diet nuance: Why some low-carb or plant-forward eaters thrive when minimizing seed oils; where refined proteins fit.
About Dr. Cate
Dr. Cate Shanahan is a board-certified Family Physician with over 20 years of clinical experience reversing disease at its root by avoiding the big three toxic ingredients. She has spent decades translating the warnings of toxicologists about the harms of vegetable oils and sharing those insights here on DrCate.com, with patients, podcast hosts, and in her NY Times bestselling books, including The FatBurn Fix, Deep Nutrition, and Food Rules. Her passion is helping people feel their best.
After getting her BS in biology from Rutgers University, she trained in biochemistry and genetics at Cornell University’s graduate school before attending Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She practiced in Hawaii for ten years where she studied ethnobotany and her healthiest patient’s culinary habits. She combined all these scientific fields to write Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. Together with Dr. Tim DiFrancesco and NBA legend Gary Vitti, she created the PRO Nutrition program for the LA Lakers and helped forge a partnership between Whole Foods Market and numerous NBA teams.
Her insights on the role of seed oils in human disease have been incorporated into Paleo, primal, low-carb, and keto practices.
In May of 2018, she began as Director of Metabolic Health at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, a progressive, family-run company focused on saving money while improving health.
She’s also the Medical & Scientific Advisor at CB Supplements, overseeing their premium-grade multi-collagen protein, and for Beliv, a forward-thinking Latin American beverage company.
Follow Dr. Cate:
Website: https://drcate.com/
Dr. Cate's books: https://drcate.com/which-drcate-book-should-i-buy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoctorCate/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcateshanahan
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providShow More
Welcome to the food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman, and I am your host today speaking with Dr ...Cate Shanahan, author of Dark Calories: How Vegetable Oils Destroy Our Health and How We Can Get It Back.
Dr. Cate Shanahan is a board-certified family physician, author, and nutritional consultant who is known for her work on the dangers of industrial seed oils and their profound biochemical impact on metabolic health. She has designed nutrition programs for NBA teams like the LA Lakers and Golden State Warriors, and has written books such as Deep Nutrition and her latest, Dark Calorie - that we would like to explore here.
With her combination of thorough scientific investigation and practical clinical experience, Dr. Shanahan urges health professionals and the public to re-evaluate the advantages of fats in our diets, alongside the understanding that seed oils can have a negative impact on our metabolic function and mental health. Let’s explore why this is so, and how seed oils, unlike health fats, can contribute to food addiction.
Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Cate Shanahan, family physician, nutrition consultant, and author of Deep Nutrition and Dark Calories, to discuss her case against industrial seed oils, how they may influence metabolic and mental health, and why she believes they can intensify sugar cravings and insulin resistance. We explore mechanisms she proposes (oxidation, mitochondrial stress), the “Hateful Eight” oils, and practical swaps that listeners can try if they choose to reduce seed oils. This episode presents a viewpoint that’s debated in nutrition science; we encourage critical thinking, self-experimentation within a safe plan, and consultation with your care team.
What we cover
Seed oils vs. sugar: Why Dr. Shanahan argues seed oils may drive sugar cravings and insulin resistance.
Oxidation & mitochondria: Her biochemical rationale for how highly unsaturated oils can oxidize and affect cell energy.
The “Hateful Eight”: Corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower, rice bran, grapeseed—why she cautions against them.
Historical context: Marketing, refinement, and how these oils entered the food supply.
Mental health & cravings: Proposed links between oxidized fats, energy instability, mood, and appetite signals.
Practical swaps: Unrefined olive, avocado, coconut, butter/ghee; flavor-forward nut/seed oils used unheated; reading labels and cooking at home.
Diet nuance: Why some low-carb or plant-forward eaters thrive when minimizing seed oils; where refined proteins fit.
About Dr. Cate
Dr. Cate Shanahan is a board-certified Family Physician with over 20 years of clinical experience reversing disease at its root by avoiding the big three toxic ingredients. She has spent decades translating the warnings of toxicologists about the harms of vegetable oils and sharing those insights here on DrCate.com, with patients, podcast hosts, and in her NY Times bestselling books, including The FatBurn Fix, Deep Nutrition, and Food Rules. Her passion is helping people feel their best.
After getting her BS in biology from Rutgers University, she trained in biochemistry and genetics at Cornell University’s graduate school before attending Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She practiced in Hawaii for ten years where she studied ethnobotany and her healthiest patient’s culinary habits. She combined all these scientific fields to write Deep Nutrition: Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food. Together with Dr. Tim DiFrancesco and NBA legend Gary Vitti, she created the PRO Nutrition program for the LA Lakers and helped forge a partnership between Whole Foods Market and numerous NBA teams.
Her insights on the role of seed oils in human disease have been incorporated into Paleo, primal, low-carb, and keto practices.
In May of 2018, she began as Director of Metabolic Health at ABC Fine Wine and Spirits, a progressive, family-run company focused on saving money while improving health.
She’s also the Medical & Scientific Advisor at CB Supplements, overseeing their premium-grade multi-collagen protein, and for Beliv, a forward-thinking Latin American beverage company.
Follow Dr. Cate:
Website: https://drcate.com/
Dr. Cate's books: https://drcate.com/which-drcate-book-should-i-buy/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoctorCate/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcateshanahan
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providShow More
Now Playing
Food Junkies Podcast: The Unholy Trinity of Carbs, Sugars and Oils, with Daniel Trevor, 2025
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman and I ...
Welcome to the Food Junkies Podcast. My name is Dr Vera Tarman and I am your host today speaking with citizen scientist Daniel Trevor. Daniel is the author of ...a new book, 'Unholy Trinity: How Carbs Sugars ad Oils Make us Fat, Sick and Addicted, and how to escape their Grip.' Daniel become passionate about this subject after he had a near fatal heart attack - this was after believing he was “Mr Healthy”. Once he recovered, he searched medical journals and scientific studies to understand why he got so sick esp after he thought he was eating and living healthy. The result is this book - a reader friendly synthesis of why the advice we get from the nutritional experts is wrong - in his words:" it’s a friendly relay point of life-changing information from the best of what 21 century scientific research has to offer”
Daniel has an interesting backstory: he has founded successful high tech companies, developed anti aging products and even spent 20 years as an actor and musician.
What we cover
Daniel’s pivot from “Mr. Healthy” to heart-attack survivor and researcher
Hyperinsulinemia → insulin resistance → cardiometabolic disease (Daniel’s “gateway disease” model)
Why some people see a rise in LDL on low-carb diets and what advanced lipoprotein testing (e.g., NMR LipoProfile) may reveal
“Lean-mass hyper-responder” profile: high LDL with low triglycerides and high HDL—what it means and why it’s debated
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, soft vs. calcified plaque, and the “CAC paradox” as Daniel understands it
Grains, seed oils, and sugar: Daniel’s case for their role in appetite, cravings, and disease risk; critique of popular diet guidance
Statins, side effects, and absolute risk/benefit as presented by Daniel (and why shared decision-making matters)
Practical, harm-reduction steps: food substitutions, lab work, and building a sustainable plan
Where Daniel’s thinking intersects—and conflicts—with mainstream guidelines, and how listeners can evaluate claims
Key takeaway
“Don’t guess—test.” Daniel urges listeners to use accessible labs and scans (prioritizing a small set if resources are limited) and to pair results with symptoms and function.
Protein and structure can reduce chaos. He advocates prioritizing animal protein, minimizing refined carbs/sugars and seed oils, and making like-for-like swaps to lower cravings.
Context matters. Individual responses vary (genetics, meds, comorbidities, history with restriction/addiction). Go slow, track, and use support.
Hold nuance. Nutrition science evolves; some claims remain contested. Use informed consent and a collaborative care team.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More
Daniel has an interesting backstory: he has founded successful high tech companies, developed anti aging products and even spent 20 years as an actor and musician.
What we cover
Daniel’s pivot from “Mr. Healthy” to heart-attack survivor and researcher
Hyperinsulinemia → insulin resistance → cardiometabolic disease (Daniel’s “gateway disease” model)
Why some people see a rise in LDL on low-carb diets and what advanced lipoprotein testing (e.g., NMR LipoProfile) may reveal
“Lean-mass hyper-responder” profile: high LDL with low triglycerides and high HDL—what it means and why it’s debated
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, soft vs. calcified plaque, and the “CAC paradox” as Daniel understands it
Grains, seed oils, and sugar: Daniel’s case for their role in appetite, cravings, and disease risk; critique of popular diet guidance
Statins, side effects, and absolute risk/benefit as presented by Daniel (and why shared decision-making matters)
Practical, harm-reduction steps: food substitutions, lab work, and building a sustainable plan
Where Daniel’s thinking intersects—and conflicts—with mainstream guidelines, and how listeners can evaluate claims
Key takeaway
“Don’t guess—test.” Daniel urges listeners to use accessible labs and scans (prioritizing a small set if resources are limited) and to pair results with symptoms and function.
Protein and structure can reduce chaos. He advocates prioritizing animal protein, minimizing refined carbs/sugars and seed oils, and making like-for-like swaps to lower cravings.
Context matters. Individual responses vary (genetics, meds, comorbidities, history with restriction/addiction). Go slow, track, and use support.
Hold nuance. Nutrition science evolves; some claims remain contested. Use informed consent and a collaborative care team.
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.Show More