Food Junkies Podcast (Clarissa Kennedy)

On todays episode Vera, Molly and Clarissa discuss our favourite takeaways from each guest we have had on the show so far, (like a cheat sheet to go back if you missed an episode) the exciting guests we have coming up and a really exciting announcement about what we are working on for the fall.

We have officially reached over 30,000 downloads and we want to thank each and every one of you for tuning in. We are overwhelmed by the response and so grateful for your listening support. You are our community and we recover together with you one meal at time!

Thank you for being a part of our family. Thank you for your recovery passion. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your feedback and most importantly thank you for listening.

On today’s episode we are very excited to be joined by researcher and low-carb/healthy-fat advocate, Belinda Fettke. She is a former Registered Nurse & current health disruptor. In 2016 her husband Dr. Gary Fetkke was silenced from talking to his patients and the wider community, about the health benefits of reducing sugar and processed carbohydrates, and reintroducing healthy natural fats back into their diet. He was told he was not qualified to give food advice as medicine. Belinda played a central role in advocating for him during this time and in 2018 he was exonerated & received a written apology from the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency which had never happened before.

In diving deep to explore why her husband was censored she uncovered research that many organizations of influence would like to keep from the public eye. Today Belinda shares with us the details of her historical research into the rise of processed/high-carb/sugary foods. She also shares how the Adventist Church Group has not only played a huge role in the demonization of meat and saturated fat but how they are a huge force in the promotion of cereals. We also discuss sugar/processed food addiction, the negative motives and biases that exist in the world of big pharma, big food, and “medical researchers” aka Fake News. AND She even lets us in on some of her latest research on the non-nutritive sweetener Stevia.

Belinda Fettke:

Twitter: @FructoseNo

Websites: http://www.nofructose.com https://isupportgary.com

Instagram: @isupportgary

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Society has come up with every diet imaginable in our journey toward living healthy, but rates of obesity continue to rise. Food journalist Mark Schatzker argues that tampering with the food we eat has harmed our ability to properly feed ourselves. MARK SCHATZKER is the author of The End of Craving, The Dorito Effect and Steak. He is a writer in residence at the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center, which is affiliated with Yale University. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Best American Travel Writing and Annual Review of Psychology. He lives in Toronto.

LINKS
Check out Mark Schatzker on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. See his website https://www.markschatzker.com for links to purchase his books.

See some scientific studies mentioned in the interview and Schatzker’s book: 

• This 2020 in Cell Metabolism shows how artificial sweeteners can reduce insulin sensitivity and blunt brain response to sucrose https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(20)30057-7

• This 2017 study in Current Biology suggests how artificial sweeteners disrupt normal physiological responses to carbohydrate ingestion https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(17)30876-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS096098221730876X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

Learn more about Canada’s permitted food additives and how they are regulated here. 
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-safety/food-additives.html

INSIGHTS
1. The stigma against people with obesity is that they are overindulgent or weak. “This is absolutely wrong,” says Schatzker. Instead, the brains of obese people respond to food differently. For example, at the sight of food, research has shown that obese people experience a spike in dopamine levels in their brains’ reward centres. “The difference,” says Schatzker, “is one of craving.”

2. “We always thought that sweetness is this indulgent, enjoyable sensation,” says Schatzker. “It’s actually like an instruction manual… for how much energy we’re getting.” When our food contains additives like artificial sweeteners or fat replacers, it tastes like it should contain more sugar or fat than it actually does. “When there's this mismatch… the brain doesn't know what to do,” Schatzker says. “It kind of throws up its hands.” The uncertainty of how much energy we’re getting leads the body to want to eat more, just to cover its bases. Which explains the obesity crisis in North America, where so much of the diet is processed (a.k.a. mismatched) food. 

3. “We tend to think that our appetite is primitive and unhinged, and that there’s something wrong with food,” says Schatzker. As a result, we’ve been adding things to our food to change its taste, texture, shelf-life or caloric content, and these additives have been directly altering our brains and the amount of food that we’re driven to eat. To make matters worse, these additives are difficult to spot on ingredient labels. They’re often called things that sound healthy and natural, like citrus fibre or milk protein (both fat replacers).

4. “If delicious food is a guilty pleasure, you would expect that Italians would be the heaviest people in the world,” says Schatzker. In fact Italy has one of the world’s lowest obesity rates, and he credits that to Italy’s cultural attitude toward mealtime, home cooking and savouring. “Eating is meant to be deeply pleasurable, so don’t be afraid to enjoy real food. That’s the way it’s meant to be eaten,” he says.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

ANNOUNCEMENT: Enrollment for Dr. Vera Tarman’s Sugar & Food Addiction Course with Adapt Your Life Academy is open and WE have a special discount code just for YOU. Thank you for listening each and every week…..This code will entitle you to 10% off the course which is incredibly thorough and is great for both professionals interested in working in the field and individuals just starting out on their own sugar-free journey to learn the ins and outs of food addiction. There will also be a 3-week support group where Vera, Molly, and I will also be doing two weekly lives to help support you and answer any questions you have. We can’t wait to meet you! This course will not be offered again until Spring of 2023 so sign up now and when you do please use code: Foodjunkies10

 

Today we have an amazing guest, Dr. Bret Scher. He is a board-certified cardiologist and the medical director of Diet Doctor and the host of the Diet Doctor podcast. He focuses on preventing and reversing heart disease using food as medicine with a low-carbohydrate diet. He is also certified in functional medicine, nutrition, personal training, and behavior modification. Impressive right? In this episode we discuss the cholesterol confusion and how to talk to your doctor about this, the higher satiety eating intervention that Bret is currently excited about, and his thoughts on intermittent fasting, and food addiction.

Dr. Bret Scher is a board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist practicing in San Diego and licensed to practice in seven states. He’s our full-time Medical Director, writes medical blogs, reviews guides and news stories for medical accuracy, and hosts The Diet Doctor Podcast.

Dr. Scher’s main focus is on preventing and reversing heart disease naturally rather than putting patients on medication and performing surgery. When he started his own preventative wellness center he was introduced to the whole low-carb world. Being a bit skeptical at first, he was soon convinced by the benefits of a low-carb diet.

In Dr. Scher’s many patients suffering from heart disease, he found that there was a big overlap with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. It was all very interrelated. When he started treating his patients who suffered from heart disease with a low-carb diet, he could quickly see signs of improvements or even full reversal in all of these diseases.

Dr. Scher has also obtained specialized certifications in functional medicine, nutrition, personal training, and behavior modification.

He is also the author of the book Your best health ever! and he has a blog and website at lowcarbcardiologist.com.

In this episode:

The Personal
The Traditional approach and what you actually do differently now
The medications and lifestyle changes
The Lifestyle Approach
Low carb / Keto diet
Food Addiction
Intermittent Fasting
Advocacy and Education
Medical community response to the low carb approach
Higher Satiety Eating Plan

Follow Dr. Sher:

Website

Blog

Book

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

Diet Doctor Podcast

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.

Meet Daryl, a captivating mind with a heart of gold. Her journey of self-discovery has honed an insightful perspective, allowing her to see potential and beauty in every situation. But Daryl isn't just about introspection – she's a fierce cheerleader for her peers. She is also a single mother who is working on breaking generational trauma cycles. What sets Daryl apart is her unwavering commitment to honesty, even when it's uncomfortable. She doesn't sugarcoat her experiences or try to hide behind a facade of strength. Instead, she courageously shares the raw reality of her struggles, exposing the depths of her vulnerabilities. This truly inspires others to share deeply and vulnerably! You will not want to miss her story!

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

Gary Taubes is an investigative science and health journalist and co-founder of the non-profit Nutrition Science Initiative (NuSI.org). He is the author of The Case Against Sugar (2016), Why We Get Fat and What to Do About It (2011) and Good Calories, Bad Calories (2007), The Case for Keto (2021). Taubes is the recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award in Health Policy Research, and has won numerous other awards for his journalism. These include the International Health Reporting Award from the Pan American Health Organization and the National Association of Science Writers Science in Society Journalism Award, which he won in 1996, 1999 and 2001. (He is the first print journalist to win this award three times.) Taubes graduated from Harvard College in 1977 with an S.B. degree in applied physics, and received an M.S. degree in engineering from Stanford University (1978) and in journalism from Columbia University (1981).

Follow Gary: 

Website: http://garytaubes.com

Twitter:@garytaubes

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Today we speak to Dr Paul Kolodzik is a medical doctor specializing in metabolic health and weight loss. He completed his medical training at the  Wright State University School of Medicine and has served as Assistant Clinical professor at this site since 1989.  He is board certified in preventative and emergency medicine and has over 20 years of experience working in emergency medicine. He is also  board certified in Addiction Medicine and has treated people with food addiction, as well as weight loss and metabolic disease over the last five years.

In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Kolodzik is the author of "The Continuous Glucose Monitor Revolution," which provides a comprehensive guide on using CGMs for improved health and weight management. His passion lies in educating people about the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring and helping them achieve their weight loss goals using  low-carb diets and other lifestyle changes. We are food junkies podcast are wondering if these devices can help us in food addiction recovery. 

In todays Episode:

What is a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and how does it work?
The connection between blood sugar levels, insulin resistance, and weight gain?

What are some of the key advantages of using a CGM for weight loss and improving metabolic health?
How does a CGM provide insights that other methods versus other means of tracking like a regular glucomenter or a fitness tracker? 

What are the steps to getting started? 
How can someone interpret and make sense of their CGM data? 
What are the key patterns to look for to show good  or poor metabolic health? 
How would you use these to make adjustment to your diet?
Should you work  with a health care provider using these?
Besides diet, what other lifestyle factors can influence CGM readings?

How can CGMs help food addicts better understand their triggers and cravings?
How can these be used to help create a food addiction recovery food plan?
Or your patients with food addiction any different than other patients - do you have special / different advice to give us? 
What resources or support are available for non-diabetics looking to use CGMs?

Follow Dr. Kolodzik:

https://www.metabolicmds.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.

I’m super excited to introduce one of my favorite people on our show today. Get ready to meet Katy May. Not only is she my sister in recovery but also my sister in real life. Katy is a firecracker with a heart of gold! Her whit will have you doubled over, but her genuine warmth shines even brighter. Life has thrown her some curveballs, but Katy laughs, adjusts her grip, and hits it out of the park. You'll be charmed by their wit and inspired by her unwavering spirit.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough." https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife/?mibextid=oMANbw

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com.

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com.

Erica Schulte, has a PhD in clinical psychology and is an assistant research professor in The Drexel University Center for Weight, Eating and Lifestyle Science (known as the WELL Centre). This is an interdisciplinary clinical research center which aims to develop, test and create new behavioral and technological solutions to the problems of obesity and disordered eating.

Erica Schulte's program of research applies a cutting-edge perspective to understanding overeating and obesity by examining 1) which foods or food attributes (e.g., sugar) may be reinforcing in a manner that directly drives overeating, 2) whether core mechanisms of addictive disorders (e.g., withdrawal) may contribute to eating-related problems for vulnerable individuals, and 3) how food addiction may be a useful construct for individualized interventions. Schulte has investigated these empirical questions using a multi-method approach, including neuroimaging, scale development, food consumption paradigms, and self-report.

Her Research Interest is the clinical utility of food addiction as a unique phenotype of disordered eating, the addictive potentials of ultra-processed foods, overlapping mechanisms implicated in substance-use disorders and eating and weight disorders, assessment of addictive-like eating behaviors, and treatment development for eating and weight disorders.

She is passionate about finding solutions and validating ultra-processed foods addiction. Her inspired throughout her career has been listening to individuals express significant shame about their eating behavior and body weight, because they attribute it to personal weakness or a lack of willpower. Her mission is to help reduce and remove this self-blame by highlighting the direct roles that ultra-processed foods play in motivating eating behavior. These foods have been created by a multi-billion-dollar industry to be highly rewarding in a way that disrupts natural hunger signals and promotes cravings. Erica is developing a research program to inform new clinical interventions and public policies that address the influences of the food environment. 

 

Natalia Staniszewska is an MSc of Neuroscience and a nutritionist originally from Poland, currently living in the Netherlands. She is on a mission to help people overcome their struggles with food by utilizing principles of neuroplasticity and mind management techniques. In her work, she combines the knowledge of neuroscience with a holistic approach to create a personalized approach for her clients who come to her struggling with binge eating, overeating, emotional eating, and yo-yo dieting.

Today’s Episode:

Natalia gives talks about her journey with food and eating

How her personal journey plays into her professional journey

Who her clients are

How she uses her knowledge of neuroscience to inform how she works with clients

How she determines Binge Eating, Overeating, Food Addiction, and Emotional Eating

The different kinds of overeaters

Breaking up with diet culture

PODCASTING!

Instagram: @binge.proof.brain
Website: https://bingeproofbrain.com/
Podcast: Bingeproof Brain

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Summary: You won’t want to miss what Dr. Tarman and Dr. Marty Lerner have to say about Food Addiction treatment and recovery, treatment outcomes, and what has helped Dr. Lerner be successful for almost 40years!

Guest Bio: Dr. Lerner is the Executive Director of the Milestones in Recovery Eating Disorders Program located in Cooper City, FL. 

A graduate of Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Lerner is a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist who has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs that include The NPR Report, 20/20, Discovery Health, and ABC's Nightline, as well as having authored several articles related to eating disorders in professional publications, national magazines, and newspapers including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Miami Herald, Orlando, and Hollywood Sun-Sentinels. Dr. Lerner has written a book, “A Guide to Eating Disorder Recovery”.  The free eBook is available at: milestonesprogram.org.

Dr. Lerner’s Contact information: milestonesprogram.org

Please join our Facebook Group:

Sugar-Free for Life Support Group: I’m Sweet Enough

Follow Vera:

Website: https://www.addictionsunplugged.com

IG: dr_vera_tarman

FB: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group: I’m Sweet Enough

Twitter: @addunplug

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drveratarman/

Follow Clarissa:

Website: https://foodaddictionhelp.ca

Email: crissy_kennedy@hotmail.com

IG: @reinventyourblisspoint

FB: Clarissa Kennedy

Twitter: @foodaddiction4u

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarissa-kennedy-5b9b6849/

Follow Molly:

Website: unsugaredyou.com

Email: molly@mpainschab.com

IG: @mollypainschab

FB: MollyPainschabCCC

Twitter: @PainschabMolly

The content on our show does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder or mental health concern.

Dr. Jananthan Paramsothy got his internal medicine training at Richmond University Medial Center in Staten Island New York. Additionally, he has worked as an anesthesiologist and critical care physician in Sri Lanka. He has published a number of peer reviewed articles, one on a study of auto brewery syndrome. He is also a student in the Executive MPH program at Yale School of Public Health. 

We have heard alot about the microbiome and its possible role in food addiction. We at Food Junkies are interested to know what role gut fermentation syndrome might be contributing to our food addiction, as a result of the ultra processed foods that so many of us are eating. 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcareprovider'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.

 

On today’s episode, CJ has the honor of interviewing Pamela Little. Pamela’s quiet moments hold deep introspection; she constantly seeks growth through self-reflection. But beneath the thoughtful exterior lies a fire. Pamela's faith is her anchor, a source of strength that fuels her fight for what's right. Don't be fooled by her gentle voice- if faced with injustice, she'll be the first to stand up, a fierce advocate for herself and anyone needing a voice.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

Dr. Olivardia is a clinical psychologist, lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Clinical Associate at McLean Hospital. He maintains a private practice in Lexington, MA, where he specializes in the treatment of ADHD, executive functioning issues, and issues that face students with learning differences. He is a recognized expert in the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). He is on the Professional Advisory Boards for Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) and The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA), as well as sits on the Scientific Advisory Board for ADDitude and the Expert Network for Understood. He is co-author of The Adonis Complex, a book which details the various manifestations of body image problems in males. He has appeared in publications such as Time, GQ, and Rolling Stone, and has been featured on Good Morning America, Extra, CBS This Morning, CNN, and VH1. He has spoken on numerous radio and webinar shows and presents at many talks and conferences around the country. He also has lived experience as someone with ADHD and learning differences and a parent of two teenagers with ADHD and Dyslexia.

Dr. Chris Van Tulleken is an infectious disease doctor, academic researcher, and popular television presenter best known for hosting science programs, such as  on the BBC and Channel 4. Born in the UK in 1978, Van Tulleken studied medicine at the University of Oxford before completing a PhD in molecular virology at University College London. He went on to work as a doctor with 'Doctors Without Borders', in locations such as rural Africa.

Dr. Van Tulleken hosted acclaimed science documentaries such as: Medicine Men Go Wild, Trust Me I'm a Doctor, The Doctor Who Gave up Drugs, and What Are We Feeding Our Children?  Through his broadcasting work, Van Tulleken became increasingly concerned about the impacts of processed and ultra-processed foods on human health. This prompted him to write his first book, 'Ultra-Processed People: How Modern Food is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It.' Published in 2022, his book examines the science linking ultra-processed foods to problems like obesity, addiction, and depression. It also explores the environmental impact of industrial food processing and offers solutions to help people and policymakers make healthier choices. 

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.

Hosts Clarissa Kennedy and Molly Painschab explore the critical theme of belonging in recovery. They discuss the concept of "othering"—feeling unseen, unheard, or misunderstood—and its deep impact on individuals in their healing journeys. The episode is framed around a powerful quote from George Orwell about the loneliness of being misunderstood, setting the stage for a rich discussion on attachment, connection, and the need for belonging.

Clarissa and Molly share personal experiences of feeling different, whether in family dynamics, social settings, or recovery groups. They examine how attachment styles—secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized—shape our ability to connect with others. Understanding these patterns can help individuals navigate relationships and cultivate deeper connections.

They also highlight the essential role of nervous system regulation in recovery, emphasizing the power of co-regulation—where we find safety and grounding in connection with others. The discussion broadens into various forms of belonging, including interpersonal relationships, collective experiences, casual encounters, symbolic bonds, esteem-building, and contemplative practices.

The episode concludes with encouragement for those feeling isolated in their recovery journey. The hosts remind listeners that belonging is cultivated over time and that finding one’s community may take patience and effort. They stress the importance of honoring one’s truth, setting boundaries, and staying open to new connections.

Key Takeaways:

• The Pain of "Othering" – Feeling unseen and misunderstood can be isolating, but it’s a common experience, especially in recovery.
• Attachment Styles Impact Belonging – Secure attachment fosters deep connection, while avoidant or anxious styles can make relationships challenging.

Nervous System Regulation Through Connection – Belonging and co-regulation with others help soothe the nervous system and support healing. 

Six Ways to Cultivate Belonging:

• Interpersonal Relationships – Quality connections with family, friends, and recovery groups.
• Collective Experiences – Participating in group activities or shared traditions.
• Casual Encounters – Everyday interactions that remind us of our place in the world.
• Symbolic Bonds – Connecting through shared identities, cultures, or symbols.
• Esteem-Building – Feeling valued through contributions and recognition.
• Contemplative Practices – Finding connection through nature, mindfulness, and self-reflection.

Vulnerability and Authenticity Foster True Belonging – Sharing personal stories and being open can create deep connections.

Belonging is Not About Fitting In – It’s about being seen and accepted as you are, not changing yourself to match others’ expectations.

Recovery Requires Courage to Stand Alone at Times – Not everyone will understand your journey, but staying true to yourself is essential.

Finding Your People Takes Time – Your community is out there. Keep showing up, being authentic, and honoring your truth.

Connect With Us:
Have thoughts on this topic? Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your experiences and suggestions for future episodes!

Closing Thoughts:
Your journey is valid. You are worthy of belonging exactly as you are. Keep searching for your community—they exist, and they will welcome you with open arms.

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Thanks for listening!

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.

 

On todays episode we have Fitness and weight loss expert Vinnie Tortorich. He is a businessman, podcaster, and author of best-selling book "Fitness Confidential." Vinnie promotes the dispels the widespread mistaken beliefs regarding weight loss and exercise. He advocates for a 'No Sugar No Grains' (NSNG) lifestyle, a Low-Carbohydrate way of eating. He has 35 years of experience in the fitness and weight loss industry and has helped hundreds of thousands of people around the world lose hundreds of thousands of unhealthy pounds in an easy and sustainable way.

In 2019, he co-created and starred in his documentary, FAT: A Documentary, directed by Peter Pardini, distributed by Gravitas Ventures. The documentary at one point topped the iTunes US charts for independent films, and was featured highly on other lists, as well. He has recently released FAT: A Documentary 2 which we encourage all our listeners to check out! This sequel delves deeper into the lies and myths surrounding the age old question: "What should I be eating?" Vinnie explores the latest scientific discoveries and unravel the myths that have been hampering our health. He is passionate about helping others take back their health through food!

Follow Vinnie Tortorich:
Website: https://vinnietortorich.com
Amazon link for Vinnie's Book, Fitness Confidential: http://a.co/d/1hxZViy
Podcast: https://vinnietortorich.com/category/podcast/
Fat: A Documentary https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/fat-a-documentary#/
Fat: A Documentary 2 https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/fat-a-documentary-2/id1541924602

 

 

In episode 64 we introduced you to Kathryn Kearsey from our 1st Food Addiction Research Clinical Study Group. Clarissa and I “represent Team North America” and have facilitated 3 total groups so far. We will be presenting our results concerning this level of Food Addiction Treatment in Bristol, England on Friday, May 20th at the International Food Addiction Conference.

We have been pleased with the results thus far and are looking forward to this opportunity to bring more awareness about the NEED for the treatment of this disease.

We are also excited to connect with the world's leading experts in Food Addiction and if you get the chance, you should join us as well. We would love to meet YOU! There is just nothing like in person after zooming our brains out for the last two years.

If you are interested in attending – Be sure to check the show notes OR google PHC Food Addiction Conference….The Public Health Collaboration is the one funding our study which is still ongoing.

If you are looking to be a future participant, we are looking at starting two more study groups in June. Reach out and let us know if you are interested! Check the show notes for one way to connect!

Today we have Nancy Kaley from the COR Retreat in Minnesota. We had the chance to talk about:

Nancy’s personal and professional path

The COR Retreat Program

Residential Treatment needs

What the COR Retreat entails

Finding your “We”

Relapse, Recovery, and Spirituality

How to avoid professional burnout

Aftercare

How COR addresses Cross-Addiction

Challenges the program faces

Signature Question

Follow COR Retreat

Website: https://cormn.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/retreatcor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cormn

International Food Addiction Conference

Website: https://phcuk.org/phc-conference-2022/

Research Group Participation

Contact Info: https://forms.gle/KZAguiVDmc2YNpCo6

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Meet Dr. Kirby Reutter, a bilingual clinical psychologist and leading trauma specialist.

Dr. Reuttercurrently contracts with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to providetreatment services for individuals seeking political asylum. He is also the author of three books, including“The DBT Skills Workbook for PTSD.”

In this episode, we cover:

Dr. Kirby Reutter educates us on what PTSD is

How Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can treat PTSD

We talk about addiction, trauma, and DBT

How mindfulness can be a very important piece to treating trauma

Our signature question and so much more

We are definitely having Dr. Reutter back!

Follow Dr. Reutter:

Website: https://www.drkirbyreutter.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drkirbyreutter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kirbyreutter

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drreutter/

In the media: https://www.drkirbyreutter.com/in-the-media

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcareprovider'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.

Dr. Tim Noakes is a South African scientist and an emeritus professor in the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine at the University of Cape Town. He is also a member of the National Research Foundation (South Africa), which lists him as one of their highest-rated members.

He has run more than 70 marathons and ultramarathons and is the author of several books on exercise and diet. He is known for his work in sports science and for his support of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) diet, as set out in his books The Real Meal Revolution and Lore of Nutrition: Challenging Conventional Dietary Beliefs.

Noakes is an advocate of a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, often referred to in South Africa as the "Noakes" or "Banting" diet. Noakes has characterized mainstream dietary advice as "genocide".

In February 2014 a registered dietician complained to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) that Noakes tweeted to a mother that she should wean her baby onto low-carbohydrate, high-fat foods, which he described as real foods. The HPCSA held a hearing about the allegation against Noakes over the next few years. Controversially, on 28 October 2016, the HPSCA incorrectly released a statement announcing that Noakes had been found guilty of misconduct. In a second press release issued over three hours later, the HPSCA apologized for the mistake. Noakes was cleared of misconduct in April 2017. The HPSCA lost its appeal in June 2018.

Noakes co-wrote the 2017 book Lore of Nutrition with journalist Marika Sboros. In it, Noakes describes his Damascene conversion to low-carbohydrate dieting, explores how the lipid hypothesis is the "biggest mistake in modern medicine" and details his struggles with the medical establishment.

Noakes has written several books detailing his research in sports science and nutrition. A selected bibliography is given below.

Lore of Running (1986)

Running Injuries: How to Prevent and Overcome Them (1990)

Bob Woolmer's Art and Science of Cricket (2008)

Challenging Beliefs: Memoirs of a Career (2012)

Waterlogged: The Serious Problem of Overhydration in Endurance Sports (2012)

The Real Meal Revolution (2014)

Raising Superheroes (2015)

Lore of Nutrition: Challenging Conventional Dietary Beliefs, with Marika Sboros (2017)

Real Food On Trial: How the diet dictators tried to destroy a top scientist, with Marika Sboros (2019)

Today's Episode

Dr. Noakes shares his Personal/Professional Story

We talk about the Banting Diet

Changing one person, one meal at a time

Why we need to work on changing doctors

Dr. Noakes discusses his legal battle

We discuss how research can be biased and manipulated

Food Addiction as a legitimate diagnosis

How to find accurate information

Nutritional science and why it needs to change

He answers our question about Volume addiction

Signature Question

FOLLOW DR. NOAKES

Twitter: @ProfTimNoakes 

Website: The Noakes Foundation https://thenoakesfoundation.org/

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

Marc Lewis, PhD, is a neuroscientist and professor of developmental psychology. He has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles in neuroscience and developmental psychology. Presently, he speaks and blogs on topics in addiction science, and his critically acclaimed book, Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, is the first to blend memoir and science in addiction studies. His newly released book, The Biology of Desire, debunks the currently popular disease model of addiction.

In this episode:

In this episode Dr. Lewis shares:

His personal/professional journey

Memoir of an Addicted Brain – addiction as a learned behavior

Disease vs Disorder

Dopamine and the Reward Center

Comparing substance use and addictive behaviors

Relapse – causes

Abstinence

The Inner Critic and it’s role in Addiction, relapse, and Recovery

Internal Family Systems

How our environment and isms influence addiction and recovery

Techniques Dr. Lewis uses when working with addiction; Not all approaches work for all people or at all times

Pushback Dr. Lewis has received

What’s next: Another book

Signature Question – If you could tell a younger version of yourself something about addiction, what would it be?

FOLLOW MARC:

Website: https://memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com/

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Sweet Sobriety has 2 amazing workshops in the month of July! Be sure to join Molly Painschab, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor on Fridays as she covers Codependency – From Codependent to Interdependent. This workshop may be for you if you have:

Codependency – From Codependent to Interdependent

Do you have:

Low self-esteem

Familial dysfunction

Depression

Anxiety

Stress

Low emotional expressivity

Having a hard time saying no

Having poor boundaries

Showing emotional reactivity

Feeling compelled to take care of people

Having a need for control, especially over others

Having trouble communicating honestly

Fixating on mistakes

Feeling a need to be liked by everyone

Feeling a need to always be in a relationship

Denying one’s own needs, thoughts, and feelings

Having intimacy issues

Confusing love and pity

Displaying fear of abandonment

This workshop will:

Identify What it is and isn’t

Identify Why Codependency and Addiction go hand in hand

Explain How codependency affects recovery

Teach you How to recognize the signs as an individual and in relationships

Identify Attachment Style and how to shift it

Teach you How to prevent codependent relationships from developing

Support you in Working toward interdependence and independence

What you get:

Pre-recorded videos to watch at your own pace

Downloads/worksheets/resources

4 x 1hr LIVE sessions that will be recorded and available for replay

Join us: 

Fridays, July 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th at 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern/8pm UK

$50USD

REGISTER: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/courses/codependency

We are also running a FREE Foundations Workshop for anyone who has purchased the Foundations Course. The work at your own pace course is $200USD.

We will meet on Wednesdays, July 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th at 11am Pacific/2pm Eastern/7pm UK and will cover 3 modules each week.

PURCHASE FOUNDATIONS COURSE: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/courses/sweet-sobriety-foundations

 

 

SWEET SOBRIETY MEET UP

As you may have heard – we had to PIVOT from Las Vegas and we are NOW MEETING IN 

TORONTO, CANADA!

 

Dates:  October 20 – 24, 2023

Costs:

$150 USD for individual Meet Up days

$499 USD for the entire Meet Up

***You are responsible for your airfare, food, and accommodations

 

If you are interested in sharing a room to save on cost, sign up here: https://forms.gle/RwY3qMg5m9TK6VP8A

 

If you are wondering about how else you can spend your time in Toronto, check out this resource Bethany put together: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15Oso-ZpxhzBWS1n4W75fW1Lt9JZXJ3hugC3pMKmvSLE/edit?usp=sharing

 

Come to the Q&A to learn more!!!

 

Here is what we have lined up for you so far!

 

Friday Special Sweet Sobriety Soire

We are looking for a restaurant close to the Town Inn Suites hotel (620 Church Street) to host our hangout with Vera on Friday night. We haven't confirmed it yet because we need to get a better idea of how many people will be coming. THIS will be an exclusive event for our Sweet Sobriety members where we are just going to hang out and spend time together. The plan is to have something arranged for 5:30 - 8:30pm window we might have to be flexible on either side of that, but I know Vera likes to go to bed early ;)

 

Saturday Speakers (80 Cooperage Street)

Sandra Elia: Aligning Your Sails to Recovery: Thinking >Actions>Words

Sophie Rolland: Insulin Resistance in the Brain: How it Affects Eating Behaviours

Dr. Èvelyne Bourdua-Roy:

Dr. Vera Ingrid Tarman: Am I Abstinent Enough? Besides sugar, exploring Alcohol & Cannabis.

Panel

 

Sunday Speaker/Workshops (Venue for S/M/T will be 519 Community Centre Ballroom)

Pamela Mekuz: Getting into the Readiness Mindset

Jennifer Lindo Kranc: Turning Information into Transformation – Neuroplasticity

Viktoria Hamma: Workshop or Hypnotherapy

Speaker to be determined 

Monday

10am Group Coaching

11am WORKSHOP – Traveling Food Sober (subject to change)

12:30pm Lunch on your own

1:30pm Group Activity

2:30pm WORKSHOP Cravings Management (subject to change)

4:00pm Mini workshop/close Somatic Experiencing (subject to change)

FREE TO DO AS YOU WISH

 

Tuesday

10am Group Coaching

11am WORKSHOP Emotional Eating (subject to change)

12:00pm Break Stuff

1:00pm Lunch on your own

2pm Group Outing

Evening celebration/Dinner together/goodbyes

 

**WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD NEAR THE TOWN INN SUITES Sunday, Monday, Tuesday

 

💜💜To Register, use the following links:

 

💜Saturday, October 21st ONLY

 

💜Sunday, October 22nd ONLY

 

💜Monday, October 23rd ONLY

 

💜Tuesday, October 24th ONLY

 

💜ALL 4 DAYS

 

Accommodations for Toronto: October 20th – October 24th

 

Hotel Where Rooms are Reserved:

💜💜Town Inn Suites Toronto

620 Church St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G2 (416) 964-3311

Rooms Reserved under Name: Sweet Sobriety

Hotel Manager: Vishal Mistry   Contact: vishal@towninn.com

Single Room: $269 CAD + tax = $303 CAD per night

Double Room: $299 CAD + tax = $338 CAD per night

 Accommodations at other Hotels Near By:

 Holiday Inn Toronto Downtown Centre, an IHG Hotel

30 Carlton St., Toronto, ON M5B 2E9 (416) 977-6655

Chelsea Hotel, Toronto

33 Gerrard St W, Toronto, ON M5G 1Z4 (416) 595-1975

Sonder The Wellesley

29 Wellesley St E, Toronto, ON M4Y 1G7 (438) 795-6650

The Anndore House, part of JDV by Hyatt

15 Charles St E, Toronto, ON M4Y 1S1 +1 833-745-8370

W Toronto

90 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON M4W 1A7 (416) 961-8000

Comfy Guest House

250 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2G2•(416) 822-5590

Elevate Rooms Taigh Ice

259 Wellesley St E, Toronto, ON M4X 1G8 (416) 876-5667

Pembroke Inn

117 Pembroke St, Toronto, ON M5A 2N9 (416) 925-8456

Jacob B & B

22 Monteith St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1K7 (416) 841-4020

Keppner Guest House

41 Huntley St, Toronto, ON M4Y 2K9 (647) 710-3474

All Days Hostel

5 Selby St, Toronto, ON M4Y 1W3

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.

 

Johnathan Cranford is the best selling author of The Sugar Demons: An Addicts Guide to Conquering Sugar Addiction where he dives into his up and down struggle with the white substance that holds most of us in its grips. Jonathan is a former USA Boxing Coach and Certified CrossFit Trainer, he has 20 years of experience in the fitness industry and spent an equal amount of that time battling his sugar addiction.

Today we cover some of the traps that can lead to disordered eating behaviours in the fitness industry, how he fuels his Crossfit workouts today, his thoughts on alcohol, and some of the unique struggles that men experience with sugar addiction. Johnathan shares his discoveries and strategies that he found critical in breaking the cycle of his sugar addiction and feeling that freedom with food again.

Follow Johnathan:

Twitter: @jmoneycranford

Instagram: @crandiva

Facebook Group: Sugar Addiction: Kill the Sugar Demons!

The Sugar Demons Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Sugar-Demons-Addicts-Conquering-Addiction-ebook/dp/B07ZCC8D3T/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=sugar+demons&qid=1613680127&sr=8-1

The Sugar Demons Workbook: https://www.amazon.ca/Sugar-Demons-Workbook-conquering-addiction/dp/B08RBR8VY8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=sugar+demons&qid=1613680127&sr=8-2

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

🎧 Clinicians Corner on Nervous System Regulation in Food Addiction Recovery 🎧

💡 Top Insights
A Broader Mission: Clinicians Corner is here to spread practical interventions from food addiction recovery and empower both clinicians and non-clinicians, like recovery coaches, with actionable tools.

🧠 Nervous System Basics
Fight, Flight, Freeze: Key states that influence our actions. Understanding and moving between sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (calm) states can change how we respond to cravings.
Body-Brain Connection: 80% of body-to-brain communication underscores how physical sensations impact recovery. Think of the body as the “horse,” guiding the brain’s “rider.”

🛠️ Practical Tools for Regulation
Sigh It Out: Deep breaths and the “physiological sigh” (two quick inhales, one long exhale) reset the body in moments of overwhelm.
Simple Movements: Light stretching, progressive muscle relaxation, and finger movements help release pent-up energy.
Grounding Senses: Engage your environment with the 5-4-3-2-1 technique (seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, tasting). Scents like lavender or your favorite aromas can bring a sense of peace.

📅 Daily Pre-Meal Practices
Mini-Rituals: Brief walks, calming music, or being near nature before meals can ease digestion and reduce cravings.
Self-Compassionate Touch: Hugging yourself or placing a hand on your chest for a few seconds promotes calm, especially if you’re working through complex emotions or past trauma.

🌿 Why Nervous System Care Matters
Healing from Trauma: Trauma often results in hypervigilance or emotional collapse. Recognizing these responses in yourself and practicing grounding tools helps create safety from within.
Community & Co-Regulation: Group settings, supportive peers, and even animals can offer regulatory “energy” and mirror a sense of calm for those struggling with addiction recovery.

🎯 Remember
Consistency, not perfection, is key! Practicing these tools regularly makes it easier to access them during high-stress moments. We invite you to share your topic suggestions with us! Please 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.

Connect with Molly and Clarissa
Website: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca  Email: Info@sweetsobriety.ca

 

 

 

Today we have guest Anne Poirier who talks to Molly and I about how to become body joyful. Anne overcame her own eating, food, weight, and body image challenges. And, drawing upon close to 4 decades of experience, she wrote the book The Body Joyful to share her highly personal and life-changing journey. Furthermore, Anne is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Body Confidence Coach, and Eating Disorder Specialist.
 
Anne is the leader of the Body Joyful Revolution, a non-diet, weight inclusive community for women who want to feel more comfortable and confident in their bodies and selves. Listen and learn how a simple shift of perspective around our thoughts and beliefs leads to completely different behaviors and outcomes. Also, you can choose to think differently about yourself. Our bodies are amazing vessels we get to experience our lives in, and they’re not a measure of our worth. 

Anne's mission is to support, encourage and inspire women of all sizes, shapes and to say 'no to diets', 'reject society’s thin ideal' and heal from diet culture. Her book the Body Joyful provides insights and strategies and is a roadmap to help you shift the way you think, act, and live. Inspiring and empowering, this relatable story offers the reader permission to find self-worth, hope, healing, and transformation, regardless of weight, size or shape.

Today we cover:
Why Body Neutrality rather than Body Positivity and how can the Body Positivity movement be harmful?
The Steps to Body Neutrality
How do we break free from diet culture
Some coping strategies/tools and/or actionable steps you teach around emotional eating, stress eating? (Self-Care practices?)
 Her thoughts on the scale.
How can we clean up our social media
Some actionable things anyone can start doing today to work on their body image.
 
Body Joyful Revolution https://www.facebook.com/groups/bodyjoyfulrevolution

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/annepoirier11/

The book https://shapingperspectives.com/the-body-joyful/

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.

 

Dr. Bikman’s research focus is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that mediate the disruption that causes and accompanies metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dementia. Driven by his academic training (Ph.D. in Bioenergetics and postdoctoral fellowship with the Duke-National University of Singapore in metabolic disorders), he is currently exploring the contrasting roles of insulin and ketones as key drivers of metabolic function. He frequently publishes his research in peer-reviewed journals and presents at international science meetings.

The focus of Dr. Bikman’s lab (the Laboratory of Obesity and Metabolism) is twofold. First, they aim to identify the molecular mechanisms that explain the increased risk of disease that accompanies weight gain, with particular emphasis on the etiology of insulin resistance and disrupted mitochondrial function. Second, they hope to reveal novel cellular processes that are responsible for fat development and accrual, with a particular emphasis on white/brown fat and the contrasting effects of insulin and ketones.

Much of the lab’s recent work is focused on the pathogenicity of the hormone insulin. Insulin, while necessary for healthy living, elicits significant and harmful changes in tissue metabolic function when chronically elevated. Several projects have stemmed from this work, including a focus on the varying effects of dietary macronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates vs. fats) on insulin homeostasis, the effects of insulin on brown adipose tissue (and metabolic rate), and insulin-induced brain alterations.

The lab employs numerous pharmacological and genetic tools to better understand the origins and consequences of ceramide accumulation on various factors related to metabolic function, including signal transduction, substrate utilization, and energy expenditure.

In this episode:

The personal/professional journey

The Fat Cell & The Role of Insulin

Free Fatty Acids & Fatty Liver Disease

Weight Gain

The China Study

Insulin Resistance

Cutting Carbs, Prioritizing Protein, and not Fearing Fat

Fasting, Ketones vs Glucose

Food Addiction

What’s next?

Signature Question

 

Follow Dr. Bikman:

Website: https://gethlth.com/

Book- Why We Get Sick

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbikmanphd/?hl=en

Twitter: @BenBikmanPhD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenjaminBikmanPhD/

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Dr. Vera Tarman’s Sugar & Food Addiction Course with Dr. Eric Westman’s Adapt Your Life Academy next enrollment starts September 26th – October 3rd. The course is $167 US and the program is made up of 2 essential components: Modules and Lessons partnered with an Ongoing Support Group. Clarissa and I will be there too! 

YOU WILL LEARN

• Why your self-destructive behaviors around food are not your fault.
• How specific foods are engineered to hijack your brain chemistry.
• The role of hormones and neurotransmitters in creating and perpetuating cravings and urges around food.
• How “wanting,” “knowing,” and “doing” are controlled in the brain and how to make this work to your benefit.
• The differences between food addiction and various eating disorders and why this matters for diagnosis and treatment.
• The different stages of food addiction and which treatment approaches are best for each.
• The critical importance of social support in recovery from food addiction – why treatment must go beyond just the food.
• How to create a recovery plan that’s realistic, enjoyable, and sustainable, so you can achieve food freedom and reclaim your life.
• There is hope: no matter how far gone you feel, no matter how alone or out of control, you can recover from sugar and food addiction.

https://adaptyourlifeacademy.com/sugar-and-food-addiction/

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.

In this powerful episode of the Food Junkies podcast, host CJ Nguy sits down with Samantha Wendt, a Certified Master Herbalist and Certified Food Addiction Mentor, to discuss her incredible journey of recovery. Samantha opens up about her struggles with bullying, trauma, and sugar addiction and how these challenges impacted her health and well-being. Through holistic healing, spiritual growth, and unwavering determination, Samantha transformed her life, reclaiming her health and purpose.

This episode is packed with raw vulnerability, valuable insights, and inspiring lessons on the importance of nourishing both body and soul. It's a heartfelt reminder that transformation is possible with the right mindset, support, and determination.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

 

Mark Farley has been active in the recovery fellowships for almost 30 years. Mark found his Spiritual connection and his sobriety through the Salvation Army ARC program in 1991. They helped him to get back on his feet and begin putting his life back together. Mark wound up going back to school to get his Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificates and went through the Salvation Army’s Adjutant program to earn a Pastoral certification. He worked at the Salvation Army for 3 years running their Drug and Alcohol Rehab program and managing the homeless shelter in Sacramento California. Mark has a passion for helping others to overcome their addictions and afflictions as well as working with the homeless.

Mark went on to build a very successful business that coordinated with hospitals and drug and alcohol treatment centers to medically manage detoxes before realizing his passion for helping the helpless, hopeless, hurting, and addicted.

He earned his MBA and Pastoral Ordination while co-founding and building the 501c3 Furniture Bank, Inc. with his wife Tami. Mark is the Senior Pastor and Founder of Faith Through Works Fellowship, an outreach church that works primarily with the homeless, helpless, hurting and addicted. Known as the “cussing Pastor” you won’t find Mark preaching from a pulpit on a Sunday! He prefers to be in the rehabs, shelters, and centers that helped him to find his way long ago.

As Mark grew older his weight became an issue and in time lead to health issues. Like most folks, he tried every diet, food program, pill, and powder, but had no success. Mark tried to find a solution within the existing 12 Step based eating disorder and food programs but struggled to adhere to their suggestions.

November 26, 2017, Mark hit his bottom and in desperation found Bitten Jonsson through the internet. Bitten responded to Mark’s request and helped him to see that he was addicted to sugar and bad carbs just like his addiction to drugs and alcohol! The light at the end of the tunnel appeared!

Mark continued to work with other existing food programs but found the 12 Step approach severely lacking. At the encouragement of Bitten and others, Mark decided to create what he was seeking.

Mark is the founder of SCAA – Sugar and Carb Addicts Anonymous. A 12 Step Fellowship that has been meeting via Zoom since May of 2018. With just under 500 active members worldwide, there are 19 meetings weekly.

The SCAA fellowship works from the AA Big Book and follows the 12 Steps as their suggested way to recover.

Mark has been married to Tami for 26 years. They have a 23-year-old daughter Kai and reside 1n Queen Creek Arizona. Mark has published 3 Daily Devotionals and (3) 12 Step Recovery Workbooks.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Sandra Elia is a Certified Food Addiction Counselor and a pioneer in the field of addictive eating. Her expertise has brought about partnerships with Canada's top obesity and addiction doctors. Her Food Addiction Recovery Program has yielded tremendous success. Clients report improved health, improved sense of well being, most importantly, changing their relationship with food.

Sandra runs an outpatient Food Addiction Recovery
Program in medical weight management clinics across Canada. She co-created Canada's first 28-day residential treatment program for food addiction at Renascent Addiction Rehab Centre in Toronto. Sandra is dedicated to changing the conversation so that anyone living with Food Addiction has access to treatment that is steeped with dignity, respect, and understanding.

Follow Sandra:
Website: https://sandraelia.com
https://www.3sails.org/the-end-of-overeating
https://www.facebook.com/3sailsrecovery
Don’t miss out on the 28-Day Intensive Get Abstinent | Stay Abstinent Program starting on September 27th, email contact@sandraelia.com to secure your spot.

 

Dr. Berry’s own health dramatically improved when he embraced a ketogenic diet.

Dr. Tro is a board-certified Internal Medicine & Obesity Medicine Physician. Dr. Tro received his medical degree from Touro Medical College and completed his Internal Medicine Residency in the Yale New Haven Health System at Greenwich Hospital, serving as Chief Medical Resident during his time there.

 

Dr. Tro has also published research on the topics of Achalasia, Binge Eating Disorder, Food Addiction, and Severe Hypertriglyceridemia. He has worked on several clinical research projects, including a study that demonstrated the statistically significant impact of a novel hospital-based safety initiative, a systemic review comparing treatment options for neuropathic pain, a clinical trial that established a relationship between post-exercise ABI and a positive nuclear stress test.

 

Dr. Tro’s therapeutic focus includes diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and PCOS. Dr. Tro’s approach begins with intensive lifestyle changes including diet, exercise, improved sleep hygiene, as well as stress management, and mental health.

 

Dr. Tro has extensive training in point-of-care ultrasound. He has achieved board certification in both Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine.

 

In this Episode:

Tro’s personal story: Addiction, Eating Disorders, Obesity

Separating dogma from personal needs and recovery

His program, results, effectiveness

Addiction screening

GLP Medications

Low Carb MD podcast

The future of bariatric medicine

Signature Question

 

Follow Dr. Tro:

Website: https://doctortro.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DoctorTro/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DrTroKalayjian

ANNOUNCEMENT:

You Are Not What You Weigh: Getting over the Scale LIVE Workshop brought to you by Bethany Mazereeuw.

Bethany uses her Master of Social Work to coach you through to a recovery plan that works for you. She offers high challenge, accountability, authenticity, and lots of grace on this road to recovery.

This workshop is for you if:

·        you suspect you might be giving too much 'weight' to your weight;

·        if you have ever allowed the scale to have power over your mood, day, actions, confidence;

·        if you are tired of giving too much thought or priority to your weight;

·        or if you just want to know more about the BMI, weight and health, weight stigma, weight bias, and what weight loss does to us physically and mentally.

Over 4 pre-recorded video sessions, Bethany dives deep into the research and her own personal story making this a very practical exploration of the concept of body weight as a measure.

The homework after each video is designed to help you get the most out of this workshop.

Bethany has also provided a list of resources (books, podcasts, Instagram accounts, meditations, etc.) to help you explore concepts from the workshop even further.

You can also join in weekly live group sessions to share what you're learning and ask questions on:

Wednesday, April 05 @2pm EDT / 7pm UK

Wednesday, April 12 @2pm EDT / 7pm UK

Wednesday, April 19 @2pm EDT / 7pm UK

Wednesday, April 26 @2pm EDT / 7pm UK

Sessions will be recorded, and a replay will be made available to you.

REGISTER HERE: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/courses/you-are-not-what-you-weigh-live-workshop

 

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.

 

Dr. William Davis is a Milwaukee-based American cardiologist, low-carbohydrate diet advocate, and author of health books known for his stance against "modern wheat", which he labels a "perfect, chronic poison.

He is the author of several books, including the notable Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight and Find Your Path Back to Health, along with its sister publications: Wheat Belly Cookbook, and 10 Day Grain Detox. He also wrote UnDoctored: Why Health Care Has Failed You and How You Can Become Smarter than Your Doctor and his most recent book Super Gut: Reprogram your Microbiome and Restore your Health, Lose weight and Curb back the Clock. All of these books have attempted to overturn our current health care practices, putting the power into the hands of the consumers.

The driving theme in all of Dr. William Davis’ books is self-empowerment, providing readers with powerful tools that cut through the misinterpretations, misconceptions, misleading marketing, and bad science that passes as nutritional and health information.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Dr. Davis’ personal and professional journey

The toxicity of wheat

Addiction and wheat

Oxytocin deficiency

Probiotics, Vitamins, and Minerals

Dr. Davis’ latest book: UnDoctored

Surgery & medications

Feed your bio flora!

Pushback

Signature Question

FOLLOW DR. DAVIS:

Books

Website

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Defiant Health Radio (podcast)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

There is still time to participate in our Food Addiction Research Clinical Study. We will get started with treatment groups in June 2022 and will begin screening shortly. 10 weeks + 24 months of follow-up for $100 USD. If you are interested in being screened or learning more – please fill out a Contact Form – details are in the show notes! Not sure if you want to join or if it is for you? Listen to episodes 64 and 72 to hear from past participants. CONTACT FORM

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Kerstin Uvnäs Moberg got her MD and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She has been employed as a full professor of Physiology at the University of Agriculture in Uppsala, Sweden. She has worked with research on the physiology of labor and breastfeeding for more than 30 years. The focus of the research has been on the role of oxytocin and sensory stimulation, in particular, stimulation of cutaneous sensory nerves during labor, skin-to-skin contact after birth, and breastfeeding. She has worked with animal experiments and also studies involving humans. She has studied the physiological mechanisms involved in birth and breastfeeding and short- and long-term physiological and behavioral maternal adaptations induced during birth and breastfeeding. She is also working on the role of oxytocin during human-animal interaction and in menopausal women.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Dr. Moberg’s personal and professional journey

What is Oxytocin?

The Satiety System

Volume/Comfort/Emotional Eating

The Anti-Stress System

What Ultra-Processed Foods are doing to humans

Grazing

Oxytocin Deficiency Syndrome

Pharmacological Interventions

Raising Oxytocin

Fasting

What’s next?

Signature Question

FOLLOW DR. MOBERG:

Website and Books: https://www.kerstinuvnasmoberg.com/

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Sweet Sobriety is a one-of-a-kind online coaching, community, and connection platform for those seeking an improved relationship with self, food, and body. While we are still in the process of developing all our services – we are happy to share our Surviving the Holidays Workshop with Bethany Mazereeuw that begins Wednesday, November 16^th.

In this VERY PRACTICAL workshop you will create your own personalized game plan for your upcoming holidays over 4 weeks and:

• learn what makes the holidays so challenging
• set your own intention
• make a detailed plan that works for YOU
• learn about self-care and integrate it into your plan
• learn about and plan your boundaries for the holidays
• leverage any food slips
• AND glean learnings from your own post-holiday debrief to propel you forward

What you get:

• Sweet Sobriety Holiday Plan Template
• Guidance to completing your plan via 4 video modules to watch at your own pace
• Four 1-hr live support sessions (one per week) for those joining in November 2022

Register by going to www.sweetsobriety.ca OR by checking the show notes for the website link!

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.

In this enlightening episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Molly Painschab sits down with Dr. Laurie Marbas to discuss the complex relationship between hormonal health and food addiction. Dr. Marbas, a board-certified family physician, shares her expertise on the impact of hormonal changes during perimenopause and menopause, as well as conditions like PCOS, on women’s physical and mental well-being.

Key Topics Discussed:

Hormones and Women's Health:

Dr. Marbas explains the hormonal fluctuations during perimenopause and menopause and their impact on mood, metabolism, sleep, and overall health.

The importance of recognizing the 30+ symptoms of menopause beyond hot flashes, including joint pain, cognitive changes (e.g., brain fog), and weight distribution shifts.

The Role of Lifestyle in Hormonal Health:

How can lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management significantly affect the severity of menopause symptoms?

Dr. Marbas emphasizes the importance of a whole-food, plant-based diet, resistance training, and effective stress management strategies to improve hormonal balance and reduce inflammation.

PCOS and Food Addiction:

A deep dive into how hormonal imbalances associated with PCOS contribute to cravings and food addiction behaviors.

Dr. Marbas shares insights on managing PCOS through lifestyle changes and the role of insulin resistance in perpetuating cravings for sugary, processed foods.

The Gut-Brain Connection:

The gut-brain axis affects hormonal health, food cravings, and overall well-being.

Improving gut health with a high-fiber, plant-based diet can help manage cravings and reduce inflammation, benefiting mental and physical health.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT):

When lifestyle changes are not enough, Dr. Marbas discusses the role of hormone replacement therapy in supporting women through menopause, alleviating symptoms, and improving quality of life.

Working with knowledgeable healthcare providers to explore HRT and other medical interventions tailored to individual risk factors is important.

Key Takeaways:

Hormonal fluctuations during menopause and PCOS can intensify food cravings and food addiction behaviors.

A whole-food, plant-based diet, regular physical activity (particularly resistance training), and mindful stress management are key to mitigating these effects.

Hormone replacement therapy can be a valuable tool for women who continue to struggle despite lifestyle changes, but it must be approached with individualized care.

 

Dr. Laurie Marbas, a renowned board-certified Lifestyle, and Family Medicine physician is licensed to practice in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. She embodies professional versatility and expertise and is committed to delivering personalized, top-notch healthcare solutions tailored to your unique needs.

 Where to Find Dr. Marbas:

To learn more about Dr. Marbas and her work in lifestyle medicine and hormonal health, visit her website: https://www.drmarbas.com/

You can book appointments, access resources, and explore ways to work with her across all 50 states.

 

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.

 

After earning a BS in biochemistry at the University of Virginia, Dr. Guyenet completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at the University of Washington, then went on to study the neuroscience of obesity and eating behavior as a postdoctoral fellow.  He has spent a total of 12 years in the neuroscience research world studying neurodegenerative disease and the neuroscience of body fatness.  His publications in scientific journals have been cited more than 3,600 times by my peers.

Today, Dr. Guyenet continues his mission to advance science and public health as a researcher, science consultant, and science communicator.  His book, The Hungry Brain, was released in February of 2017 and was named one of the best books of the year by Publishers Weekly and called “essential” by the New York Times Book Review.  Dr. Guyenet is a Senior Researcher at GiveWell and a scientific reviewer for the Examine.com Research Digest. 

Dr. Guyenet is the founder and director of Red Pen Reviews, which publishes the most informative, consistent, and unbiased popular health and nutrition book reviews available.  He is the primary designer of an innovative course-based body weight management program called the Ideal Weight Program, which is part of the HumanOS platform.  Dr. Guyenet periodically contributes to the scientific literature and is a review editor at Frontiers in Nutrition.

Today Clarissa and I spoke with Dr. Guyenet about:

Dr. Guyenet’s thoughts on food addiction

Food Selection

Motivational States

Craving as a whole and Craving specific foods

Genetic role

Medications

Exercise

Body "set point"

And more!

Find Dr. Guyenet:

Website

Book: The Hungry Brain 

Twitter

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

On this episode we interview Dr. Robin Rose, a Hawaiian medical doctor who has a specialized interest in primary care nephrology. She received her family medicine training in Santa Rosa California in the 1990s and then after a personal scare with kidney disease, she focused her private practice and passion for people who suffer with chronic kidney disease. It’s not a surprise to us - she too has strong opinions about sugar addiction and how it affects the kidney - and our general health. We are ALL aware of the damage sugar does to the brain, heart, liver, gut but what we don’t know enough about is that magical bean looking organ THE KIDNEY.  In this episode we discuss her personal struggle with health that led her to be the kidney disease expert she is today. She explains various tests that are helpful for learning more about chronic kidney disease (CKD) and how they can help determine strategies for healing. Dr. Rose paints a detailed picture of what the kidney does, why it is important and some questions we should be asking ourselves about our own kidney health. Pay close attention to how she explains exactly how having poor kidney function or kidney damage affects our melatonin and vitamin D production. If kidney is not working properly this MAY be one of the reasons we are struggling with sleep or experiencing low mood and/or depression.

What we love about Robin is her passion on informing and educating physician’s on EARLY INTERVENTION for increasing kidney function and her take on what she calls Renoology and what that involves. We know you will enjoy hearing her recommendations for how someone with kidney damage should eat and what they benefit from removing from their food plan. Of course, sugar is definitely one of the things. Listen in as Vera and Robin dive deep into why taking care of this organ is so important for our longevity! 

Contact Robin @ docbinah@gmail.com 
Follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/robin.rose.142

 

Emily August is an Associate Professor of Literature at Stockton University. She holds a PhD in English from Vanderbilt University, and an MFA in creative writing from University of Minnesota. As a longtime body liberation proponent, she focuses on the human body in her research and writing. Her scholarly work examines representations of the body in 19th-century literature, art, and scientific discourse. She seeks to understand how a very narrow, specific version of the body became the authoritative medical standard defined as healthy and normative—and how this standard continues to impact clinical practice and societal power relations.

In addition to her scholarly work, her forthcoming debut poetry collection, entitled The Punishments Must Be a School, treats themes of intergenerational trauma and intimate partner violence. Since embarking on her recovery journey in 2017, she has passionately advocated to destigmatize abstinence. She practices a body-neutral, body-inclusive approach to abstinence-based food addiction recovery. She divides her time between Lake Superior’s North Shore and the Atlantic Ocean’s Jersey Shore.

Today we get deep. Molly and I left this interview feeling so empowered in our recovery choices and we know you will too.

In this episode:

How can we move towards a more weight neutral conversation in food addiction recovery

How to try and help our recovery community break free from diet culture

How to address the issue of comparison in recovery 

How we can get to that place of neutrality

How to make that crucial shift towards accepting and committing to abstinence

Bringing social justice tools to abstinence

The importance of gaining tolerance to the diet culture and knowing that most people are just wounded and in the process of healing

Determining how to have a conversation that bridges the gap between food addiction and eating disorders

Addiction as a Health Management Condition

How there is no heroism in a thinner body 

Fat Liberation, Fat Acceptance, Ableism

Addiciton as a Chronic Health Problem

Chronic health conditions aren’t curable, they aren’t shameful, and we don’t have to problematize them as something to be fixed or solved.

Follow Emily:

Twitter: @emily_allan_poe

Instagram: 

You WILL probably have to listen to this episode twice, mabye three times…we actually talk about the inherent power of repeated messages. Whatever you do, don’t miss the message by comparing yourself to what Emily speaks to. Recovery is about connection not comparison.

Special Announcement From Sweet Sobriety

Sweet Sobriety is excited to announce our next monthly workshop topic Emotional Eating that will be hosted by the one and only Molly Painschab!

Emotional Eating is incredibly common – IN FACT research shows that 75% of our eating is emotionally driven. We know that emotional eating also plays a role in Food Addiction and Disordered Eating so we have some incredible new tools to teach you to help with emotional intelligence and emotional regulation when it comes to working on the behaviour of using food to soothe.

Do you:
Eat to suppress or sooth emotions, fatigue, or health problems
Eat to manage major life events or the hassles of daily life
Eat in response to relationship conflicts, work stressors, or financial pressures
Have you been concerned that emotional eating is keeping you from living your best life?

Molly Painschab, LCPC, LAC, co-host of the Food Junkies Podcast and co-founder of Sweet Sobriety is excited to offer you a comprehensive workshop on how to recover from Emotional Eating.

Over 4 weeks you will:
Learn the difference between physical and emotional hunger
Identify what type of Emotional Eater you are
Increase your emotional agility
Master self-care and self-compassion skills
Improve your relationship with yourself using The Four Agreements

What you get:
Hours of pre-recorded videos (no expiration)
Downloadable resources and suggested at home practices (no expiration)
Four 1-hr live support sessions (one per week) with Replay (no expiration)

$50USD
Wednesdays March 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th at 2pm EST 

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.

 

 

 

Dan DeFigio is a well-known nutrition expert who has been featured on CNN's Fit Nation, The Dr. Phil Show, SELF Magazine, Readers Digest, Weight Watchers, Shape Magazine, and a host of other media outlets. Dan is the author of multiple books, including the bestselling Beating Sugar Addiction For Dummies. 

Follow Dan:
Website: https://beatingsugaraddiction.com
Twitter: @dandefigio

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

 

Tony is a Man on a Nutrition Mission. He is the founder of MODA Nutrition and he has a passion for helping others achieve healthy, sustained weight loss by using his famous mantra JERF: Just Eat Real Food.

Tony has an inspiring recovery journey with Food Addiction. At one point in his life, he experienced a multitude of metabolic issues such as Type II diabetes, hypertension, gout, acid reflux, sleep apnea, constant joint pain. In 2010, he began his life-changing journey of losing 130 pounds and has successfully maintained his weight loss.

Tony went back to school to study Nutrition and Wellness at George Brown College and spent his time researching obesity, weight loss, nutrition, and food addiction. Using his culinary training he discovered how to create healthy, satisfying meals that did not leave him feeling deprived. He turned what he thought was his liability…. food and eating…. into his greatest asset and creates culinary masterpieces that fit his abstinent food plan.

Today, Tony has created MODA for MEN & facilitates a weekly weight loss support group in Toronto, conducts personal coaching sessions, and has designs Meal Plan for his clients. He is the author of two books and the Executive Producer of “Follow Me,” a documentary film exploring the journeys of sixteen individuals, in different spectrums of Food Addiction, who have all successfully sustained their weight loss…..some for over 30 years. It is definitely a must see and we will put the link for it in our show notes.

Follow Me Documentary: https://www.followmefilm.ca
Website: https://www.modaweightloss.ca
https://www.modaformen.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modanutrition/
Instagram: modaweightloss
Twitter: @MODAMANTONY
Cook Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Weight-Loss-Never-Tasted-Cookbook/dp/1979411751/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548608496&sr=8-1&keywords=tony+vassallo

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Josh Dech is a former paramedic, and a certified personal fitness trainer who transitioned into holistic health care after recognizing the limitations of traditional medical practices. He completed his paramedic training in 2013 and later studied holistic nutrition at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2021.  

He combined his expertise in fitness and nutrition to focus on gut health, particularly inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's and colitis. His innovative approaches have led to the successful reversal of over 300 cases of these conditions, previously deemed incurable. Josh now serves as a medical lecturer and physician consultant at the Priority Health Academy, where he educates doctors on holistic approaches to gut health and IBD. He also hosts a podcast "ReversABLE," which shares insights on gut health and its profound impact on overall well-being.

Follow Josh:

Facebook: Josh Dech 
Facebook: IBD Support and Solutions for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Podcast: https://www.reversablepod.com
Instagram: @ joshdech.health
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@GutHealthSolution
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-dech-5a1582106/

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.

 

Happy Friday Food Junkies listeners! Molly here. Today, Clarissa and I invited Sandra Elia BACK to speak about her new book!!!

If you've tried every diet on the market to no avail, if eating and weight are affecting your physical health, your career, your relationships, your mental health, and your self-worth, then Sandra’s book: Never Enough is for you.

Equal parts self-help and memoir, this book contains everything you need to develop healthy relationships with food, others, and, most importantly, yourself.

Certified Food Addiction Counselor and Founder of the Food Addiction Recovery Program, Sandra Elia, delves deep into her own tenuous battle with compulsive eating and lays out a scientifically proven plan for you to achieve peace with food once and for all.

This book isn't just another trendy diet that delivers temporary results but ultimately leaves you feeling depleted. It's a lifestyle guide that prioritizes your spiritual and emotional well-being to achieve physical vitality.

So if you're ready, take Sandra's hand, and allow her to lovingly guide you down the path to food serenity.

In this episode:

We catch up with Sandra – what has she been up to since our 2021 interview?

The BOOK and what inspired her to write it

Sandra’s 3 Pillars of Food Serenity

We talk about weight stigma and breaking up with the scale

We discuss spirituality

Support networks and community

Self-Love and MORE!

Follow Sandra:

Website: https://www.sandraelia.com/

Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Never-Enough-Pillars-Addiction-Recovery/dp/1990700187/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3ISQ6FT9K781O&keywords=sandra%20elia&qid=1677614689&sprefix=sandra%20eli%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foodaddictionprogram/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraelia.ca/?hl=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-elia/?originalSubdomain=ca

 

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.

Today, we are thrilled to have Dr. Marty Lerner return to the podcast. Dr. Lerner is the Executive Director of the Milestones in Recovery Eating Disorders Program and a licensed, board-certified clinical psychologist. He has been a pioneering voice in understanding the complex overlap between eating disorders, food addiction, and the emerging use of GLP-1 receptor agonists. His insights have been featured in professional journals, major newspapers like USA Today and The Wall Street Journal, and national television programs including 20/20, NPR Report, and Nightline. He is also the author of A Guide to Eating Disorder Recovery, available as a free eBook on the Milestones program website.

In this episode, Dr. Lerner shares his expert perspective on the evolving conversation around eating disorders, food addiction, and the growing use of GLP-1 medications. We explore their mechanisms, clinical implications, and the ethical considerations surrounding their use in treatment.

 

 

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Vera Tarman as our special guest. Her personal journey towards recovery is not only authentic but also incredibly inspiring. Our conversation delves into various aspects of recovery, exploring how her own path led to the creation of her book, "Food Junkies."

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough." https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife/?mibextid=oMANbw

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com.

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com.

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com

 

Dr. Nicole Avena is a research neuroscientist and a pioneer in the field of food addiction. Her seminal research work jump-started a new field of exploration in medicine and nutrition.
She is an expert in diet during pregnancy and baby, toddler and childhood nutrition. She has published over 90 scholarly journal articles, as well as several book chapters and books, on topics related to food, addiction, obesity and eating disorders.

She also edited the books, "Animal Models of Eating Disorders" (2012) and "Hedonic Eating" (2015), coauthored the popular book of food and addiction called "Why Diets Fail" (Ten Speed Press), and recently finished her new book, "What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant."

Her research achievements have been honored by awards from several groups including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Eating Disorders Association. She also maintains a blog, Food Junkie, with Psychology Today.

Follow Nicole:
Order Her Books: http://www.drnicoleavena.com
Watch her TED -Ed: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-sugar-affects-the-brain-nicole-avena
Twitter: @DrNicoleAvena

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

On our episode today CJ interviews Joan Bjornsgaard. Joan’s interview is one of the most down-to-earth conversations.  She relays her kind, considerate, and genuine ability to relate to people who are struggling with food addiction. She gives very practical and level-headed solutions to everyday struggles. You can count on a warm and inviting conversation. This is a very insightful episode.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough." https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife/?mibextid=oMANbw

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com.

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com.

In this episode, CJ sits down with Sarah Hood, a Community Nurse from England, to explore her journey into the field of Ultra-Processed Food Addiction. With over 25 years of medical experience across England, Italy, Belgium, Kuwait, and Dubai, Sarah has witnessed countless patients struggling with food-related behaviors while also battling her own challenges with sugar dependency.

Sarah shares the pivotal moment that changed her life—a chance encounter with a book at an airport that set her on the path to recovery and fueled her passion for helping others facing similar struggles. With a deep appreciation for the complexities of the recovery journey, Sarah discusses how sharing, community, and understanding physiology have played a critical role in overcoming personal challenges and supporting others on their road to healing.

Join us for this inspiring conversation about the power of awareness, connection, and science in the fight against food addiction.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

 

Dr. Amy Recihelt is a neuroscientist, researcher, speaker, consultant and author. She's passionate about uncovering how lifestyle, diet and novel pharmacotherapies can enhance brain health and mental wellbeing. She places health and mental wellness at the core of my personal and professional identity.

Amy has a PhD in Neuroscience, a BSc with Honours in Psychology, and an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition. She is also a pharmaceutical professional, leading clinical development in psychedelic drugs. She is a Certified Health & Nutrition Practitioner and has have completed training courses in Yoga (200h YTT, yoga nidra, yin yoga), Mental Health First Aid, Meditation and Mindfulness.

Her work as a PhD-trained neuroscientist over the past decade has been transformational in demonstrating the influence of nutrition to optimise mental health and cognition. Through her private nutrition practice at Cognition Nutrition, she connects people with the knowledge and tools change their behaviours around health and wellness.

She is a recognised leader in the field of neuroscience, health, and medicine – authoring over 50 peer-reviewed scientific articles in eminent journals including The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health, Nature Communications, Journal of Neuroscience and Trends in Neuroscience. From her research, she developed scientific expertise in cognition, brain development, the gut microbiome, behaviour control, and neurodegenerative disease.

Beyond her academic credentials – She is an approachable, down-to-earth person who loves food, running, painting, yoga, laughing at British comedies, and hiking in the great Canadian outdoors with her partner Ben and our dogs Frank and Otto.

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.

On todays podcast Molly and I interview Bonnie J Kaplan, PhD. Bonnie is Professor Emeritus in the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. She has published widely on the biological basis of developmental disorders and mental health – particularly, the contribution of nutrition to mental health.

Her efforts to educate about the role of nutrition in brain health resulted in her selection in 2017 as one of 150 Canadian Difference Makers in Mental Health, in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday. In 2019 she was honoured with the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Integrative, complementary medicine. In 2021 she was chosen as one of the top “7 Over 70” in Calgary, partly for her book The Better Brain, written with Professor Julia Rucklidge and published by Harper Collins, as well as her two charitable funds supporting research by junior colleagues who study nutrition and mental health (over $1 million CAD distributed). Her primary goal is to bring nutrition education and treatment to the forefront of mental health care.

The best news is Dr. Kaplan is coming to my hometown Parry Sound on November 2nd to present at the Stockey Centre on the topic of “The Importance of Nutrition for Brain Health and Resilience.” This event was going to be hosted at the Parry Sound Hospital but there was pushback from a doctor there who her work was not based in science. I found this so hard to believe since Bonnie has spent so much of her life in the field of research, and has 142 peer reviewed publications to prove it. So as a community of passionate people about how our food choices can be an incredible tool to enhance mental health we found a way to host it here anyways and make it FREE for the general public. So ALL OUR WELCOME to attend this event which will be held from 1pm – 3pm, November 2nd at the Stockey Center in Parry Sound. All donations are going to two local programs to provide fresh food for their participants at The Drop supporting local youth and Hope Pregnancy Center supporting local pregnant moms. Thanks to Home Depot and Sweet Sobriety for sponsoring this event.

Todays Topics:
•     Her personal story and AHA moments
•     How food/nutrition impact our mental health?
•     Does she think the current mental health crisis has anything to do with our food system?
•     Is a whole food diet sufficient for everyone?
•     What are micronutrients?
•     Is there is a micronutrient formula for addiction?
•     Research on micronutrients for ADHD and Depression
•     Research on micronutrients and resilience through environmental traumas
•     The pushback she receives on her work from the medical field

Follow Bonnie:
Website: https://bonniejkaplan.com
Book: TheBetterBrainbook.com
5 min video on what micronutrients do in the brain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWIBf5ALLj4&t=4s

Recent essay in Psychiatric Times: https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/nutritional-treatments-the-next-frontier-in-psychiatry
A Conversation.com piece I wrote: https://theconversation.com/junk-food-and-the-brain-how-modern-diets-lacking-in-micronutrients-may-contribute-to-angry-rhetoric-170863

And finally, the two charitable funds she manages:
In Canada, it is held by the Calgary Foundation. https://calgaryfoundation.org/. Click on DONATE, then enter the word nutrition into the search field and you will find the Nutrition and Mental Health Fund.
In the USA, it is held by FJC.org — Click on DONATE, and enter Nutrition and Mental Health Fund into the appropriate field.

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.

In this episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Clarissa Kennedy welcome Dr. Barry C. Smith, a former food industry consultant and an expert in sensory perception, to discuss his transition from working with ultra-processed foods to advocating for healthier eating alternatives. Dr. Smith shares his journey from studying philosophy and sensory perception to becoming involved in the food industry, where he provided insights into how we perceive taste and flavor. He reveals the complexities of multi-sensory perception and how the food industry uses this knowledge to enhance the desirability of processed foods.

Dr. Smith delves into the interplay between our senses—taste, touch, smell, and even sound—and how these senses influence our eating experiences. He explains how texture and aroma can trick our brains into perceiving food as sweeter or more flavorful than it is, often leading to overconsumption. Dr. Smith also discusses his experiment of cutting out ultra-processed foods and its profound impact on his well-being, including reduced cravings and improved mood.

The conversation touches on the ethics of the food industry, the challenges of regulating ultra-processed foods, and the importance of informed choices for consumers. Dr. Smith offers practical tips on enhancing the sensory experience of whole foods, making them more enjoyable and satisfying.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The role of multisensory perception in flavor and taste
• How the food industry manipulates sensory experiences to enhance food desirability
• The challenges of reducing sugar, fat, and salt in processed foods while maintaining consumer appeal
• The impact of ultra-processed foods on health and well-being
• Dr. Smith’s journey of transitioning to a diet free from ultra-processed foods
• The importance of informed consumer choices and the need for better food regulation

Memorable Quotes:

• "The brain often confuses smoothness with sweetness, which is why foods like chocolate and cream are so pleasurable."
• "Our experience of food begins long before it enters our mouths; it’s influenced by sight, smell, and even sound."
• "Cutting out ultra-processed foods changed my relationship with food—I wasn’t hungry all the time, and I felt better overall."

Practical Tips:

• Experiment with the sensory aspects of whole foods, such as color, texture, and temperature, to enhance your eating experience.
• Be mindful of the ingredients in your food and how they affect your body and cravings.
• Consider how your environment and context influence your perception of food.

Follow Dr. Smith:

Twitter (X): https://x.com/smithbarryc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-smith-40585439/?originalSubdomain=uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barry.c.smith1/

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.

Dr. Georgia Ede, MD is a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist specializing in college mental health and nutritional psychiatry. She has 18 years of clinical experience in hospitals, community health centers, specialty clinics, and private practices, utilizing medications and psychotherapy to help adults of all ages. She served as a staff psychiatrist and nutrition consultant for seven years at Harvard University Health Services and for five years at Smith College in Western Massachusetts. In 2019, Dr. Ede established a new online video consultation service for individuals, families, and fellow clinicians to support people using special diets to treat psychiatric and other medical conditions. In addition to writing all of the content for her website, Dr. Ede is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and DietDoctor.com and speaks internationally about nutrition science and mental health.

 

Dr. Ede is convinced that what we eat is by far the single most important factor in our mental and physical health and is one of a growing number of physicians around the world who has come to believe that people who apply the truth about nutrition science to their lives can experience life-changing improvements in their own health and well-being. Dr. Ede’s nutrition philosophy is grounded in evolutionary science, human metabolism, and food biochemistry.

 

In Today’s episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab interview Dr. Georgia Ede and cover:

• How Dr. Ede get involved in nutritional psychiatry
• How the Standard American Diet and the increase in mental health issues (including Food Addiction) are related
• Inflammation in the brain and Oxidative Stress
• How to move clients away from disease/illness and toward health
• Metabolic Evaluations and why they are important!
• The food plan(s) she prefers to use with patients
• Obstacles to nutritional psychiatry / nutritional interventions
• Non-nutritive sweeteners
• Concerns for plant-based clients
• We ask about volume addiction
• The professional training Dr. Ede is offering

Follow Dr. Ede

Website: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeorgiaEdeMD

Blog: https://www.diagnosisdiet.com/blog

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

In this powerful and deeply nuanced episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab welcome back Dr. David Wiss to explore one of the most important—and often misunderstood—topics in the field: the intersection of food addiction and eating disorders.

With his unique background in both nutrition and public health, Dr. Wiss walks us through the historical divide between the food addiction and eating disorder communities, the philosophical and clinical tensions between rigidity and flexibility, and how trauma, ACEs, and access to food complicate both diagnosis and treatment.

Whether you're a clinician confused about how to distinguish between binge eating, bulimia, and food addiction, or someone in recovery navigating your own lived experience, this episode is a must-listen.

👥 Topics Covered:

Is it an eating disorder, food addiction—or both?

Historical roots of the FA vs. ED divide

Why rigidity is seen as both the problem and the solution

The role of trauma, ACEs, and structural inequality

How clinicians can use timelines and clinical intuition in treatment

Why a continuum model offers more inclusive care

Ethical considerations in individualized vs. cookie-cutter treatment

The Wise Mind Nutrition app is a middle-ground tool for healing

💬 Key Quotes:

“Everyone has a different neuropsychiatric profile… There isn’t a manual that’s going to work for all people.” – Dr. David Wiss
“We’re not just dealing with food. We’re dealing with trauma, access, systems, and stories.” – Molly Painschab
“Both food addiction and eating disorders have valid truths—and both need a seat at the table.” – Dr. Vera Tarman

🧠 About Our Guest: Dr. David Wiss
Dr. David Wiss is a registered dietitian nutritionist and mental health researcher who has worked with more than 1,000 patients over the past 12 years. He is the founder of Nutrition in Recovery, and a global leader in the field of nutrition for addiction recovery and disordered eating.

Dr. Wiss holds a PhD in public health from UCLA, and his work bridges the gap between neurological, psychological, behavioral, and nutritional sciences. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers, contributed six book chapters, and continues to challenge outdated approaches to mental health and nutrition.

Dr. Wiss is also the creator of the Wise Mind Nutrition app—an innovative platform that provides education, food logging, reflection tools, and clinician interaction for individuals working on their mental wellness through nutrition.

He is passionate about social justice, the gut-brain connection, and empowering people to heal themselves through informed, compassionate, and personalized care.

📍 Learn more: https://wisemindnutrition.com

📲 Resources Mentioned:

Wise Mind Nutrition App

From Evolution to Revolution: Food Addiction in Context (Frontiers in Psychiatry)

The D-FANG Model: Disordered Eating and Food Addiction Nutrition Guide

“Separating the Signal from the Noise” – David Wiss’s trauma-informed research

📣 Connect with Us:

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Send your questions, reflections, or topic suggestions—let's keep the conversation going!

 

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.

In this insightful episode, Dr. Vera Tarman and Molly Painschab sit down with Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda to explore the fascinating concept of meta-inflammation and its role in chronic pain, obesity, and addiction. Dr. Padda shares his unique journey and extensive expertise in addressing metabolic dysfunction and inflammation through a sound nutritional approach.

Episode Highlights

1. Understanding Meta-Inflammation

   • What is meta-inflammation, and how does it connect chronic pain, obesity, and addiction?
   • The role of the omega-3 to omega-6 ratio in reducing inflammation and improving metabolic health.

2. Food Addiction and Dopamine

   • How processed foods hijack our dopamine systems for profit.
   • Why hyper-processed foods like high-fructose corn syrup and seed oils contribute to addiction and inflammation.

3. Chronic Pain and Inflammation

   • The relationship between metabolic inflammation and the durability of pain treatments.
   • How the overuse of narcotics impacts the body's natural endorphin production and worsens pain.

4. The Gut-Brain Connection

   • Why the gut is the body’s “primary brain” and how gut health influences emotional well-being and addiction.
   • The impact of gut microbiome imbalances, leaky gut, and hyper-processed foods on inflammation and addiction.

5. Historical Context of Processed Foods

   • The origins of food subsidies and how they shaped today’s processed food landscape.
   • The harmful effects of seed oils and trans fats on metabolic and vascular health.

---

Key Takeaways

• Food is Addictive by Design: Hyper-processed foods are engineered to trigger dopamine release, reinforcing addictive behaviors.
• Omega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio: Balancing this ratio can reduce inflammation, improve metabolic health, and curb cravings.
• The Role of Meta-Inflammation: Chronic inflammation is at the root of many conditions, including food addiction, and addressing it requires a holistic approach.
• Gut Health is Key: A healthy gut microbiome is crucial for reducing inflammation and improving overall health.
• Processed Foods and Profit: The food industry manipulates ingredients, such as increasing the fructose levels in sweeteners, which drives addiction and metabolic disease.

Next Episode

Stay tuned for part two, where we explore solutions to meta-inflammation, including dietary strategies, reducing processed foods, and restoring gut health to combat food addiction.

Connect with Dr. Padda

Website: https://painmd.tv/

---

Join the Conversation

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com or connect with us on social media:

• Website: www.foodjunkiespodcast.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.

In Today’s episode, Clarissa and Molly speak with Dr. Joan Ifland. Joan Ifland is a researcher and educator in the field of food addiction and allergies. She was the founder in 1996 of The Sugars and Flours Project of Houston which provides education about food reactions. In 2007, she founded the Refined Food Addiction (ReFA) Research Foundation which is dedicated to facilitating the flow of information between clinicians and researchers. She is the lead author of the first academically published description of food addiction in humans. She is a co-founder of the Society of Food Addiction Professionals.

Dr. Ifland's approach to recovery from stubborn diet-related diseases is clear: address food addiction as the driver of over-consumption of harmful processed foods

Since 1996, Dr. Ifland has helped people recover from diet-related diseases by focusing on addiction to processed foods. Through the adaptation of drug and alcohol addiction recovery methods, Dr. Ifland gives practitioners and clients new insights into why food addiction recovery can generate extraordinary health outcomes.

In this episode:

Dr. Ifland discusses what inspired her to write the textbook, Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery

She makes it clear that she is NOT a clinician, she is a researcher and peer-support specialist. The Addiction Reset Community (ARC) is a peer support community and relies on Mirror Neurons to be effective. She also cautions, the ARC is NOT a stand-alone answer

How Big Food uses our biological wiring against us with the 5 A’s: Advertising, Availability, Affordability, Addictive substances in the product, Age of Onset taken from Big Tobacco

We talk about the research around fasting and how you can get addicted to the starvation “high”

What she would say to the eating disorder professionals who do not believe in Processed Food Addiction

How she guides people through volume eating

What she suggests for people to be able to live their lives surrounded by marketing aimed at keeping us thinking about processed food

Her upcoming research in a hospital setting

Safe weight management and how she NEVER celebrates weight-loss

What can be done to have the APA and WHO consider Food Addiction as a diagnosis

What research is still needed

How she answers our signature question

Follow Dr. Ifland:

Book: Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery 

Website: Processedfoodaddiction.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joan.ifland.1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodaddictionreset/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/pfaddiction

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In today’s episode, CJ has a conversation with Anne. Anne is a deeply reflective individual with a profound understanding of self. Through years of personal exploration and experience with abstinence, Anne has developed a keen insight into human behavior and the complexities of cravings.

Her journey has equipped her with a unique perspective that allows her to approach challenges with empathy and wisdom. Anne's ability to share her experiences with honesty and vulnerability makes her a valuable resource for those seeking understanding and support.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

David Wolfe, co-author of The Fix for Cravings, and cofounder of SUGARx Global. 
 
Once an artisan bread maker and Registered Dietician, David left those careers and is now a  Food Addiction Counsellor and food  addiction Coach, as well as a Certified High Performance coach. David received his Master’s in Clinical Nutrition from Ohio State University in  2012 and worked as a registered dietitian for ten years in Critical Care, Bariatric Surgery and elderly care. He was also the dietician who designed the abstinent food plan for the food addiction residential program at Renascent preCovid. 

While a dietician, David received his food addiction training at INFACT  (International Food Addiction and Counselling Training) in 2017 and since that time, has been the under study to Bitten Jonsson; he is currently a faculty member for  her Holistic Medicine for Addiction program. Of special interest to us, David had his own battles with sugar and grain, and like many of us, has identified other struggles, namely coffee, screens, alcohol and more. 
 
David is coauthor of the groundbreaking book 'The Fix for Cravings',  along with Cynthia Myers Morison. He is a vocal advocate for understanding Addiction Interaction Disorder, championing the idea that addiction is a singular beast with many masks. His favourite analogy is “ Switching outlets is like  switching  seats on the Titanic: the ship is still sinking!’ Thus his treatment is focused on changing the dynamic of addiction itself. As visionary cofounder of SUGARx Global, David offers an online food addiction recovery platform, using his holistic blueprint of CARE: Connection, Action, Recovery Protection and Education. 

The Craving Crusher Checklist: 3 Steps To Crushing Your Craving:
https://www.sugarxglobal.com/your3simplesteps

FREE 15 Minute Breakthrough Your Cravings: Sessions: https://calendly.com/sugarxglobal/breakthrough

Our website: Sugarxglobal.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.

 

 

Siobhan Harris is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Podcast Host of “Unsweetened Sio” and certified in The Emotion Code. Siobhan started her recovery from sugar addiction in January 2018 and now that she is free is dedicated to helping others get free too. She shares her journey, both its victories and its challenges, plus interviews other addicts in recovery, sugar addiction coaches and experts on her podcast. Most recently she became certified in The Emotion Code, a powerful method of finding and releasing trapped emotions in the body that are often at the root of many physical ailments, depression, anxiety and just plain old feeling stuck. She also offers group coaching around sugar addiction and incorporates The Emotion Code! You can visit her website at www.unsweetenedsio.com for more information.

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Dr. Shabnam Das Kar MD, FMNM is a doctor, a specialist in Functional and Metabolic Medicine, and an international speaker. Before transitioning into Functional Medicine she was practicing as an Obstetrician Gynaecologist for more than 20 years in Mumbai. She lives in Calgary, Canada, and Mumbai, India.

TRAINING AND CREDENTIALS

MBBS and MD (OB-GYN) from India

Fellow, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M), USA.

Advanced Endocrinology Certification from Metabolic Medical Institute (MMI)

Special training from Metabolic Medicine Institute on Functional Medicine approach to Autoimmune Diseases

Brain Health Coaching Certification from Amen Clinics, USA.

Trained in The Clinical Practice of Alzheimer’s Prevention From Alzheimer’s Universe

Tiny Habits Certified Coach

WORK

Director of Medical Education at Better Medical Centre, Canada.

Guest Faculty Member at the Maryland University of Integrative Health in Professional Continuing Education.

Speaker at medical conferences in Asia and Canada.

In this episode:

Dr. Kar’s personal and professional journey

Bioidentical hormones

Vitamin & Mineral Deficiency and Therapeutic Supplementation

Protein & Fats

Ketones & Glucose

Fasting & Time Restricted Eating (TRE)

What to expect when working with Dr. Kar

Sugar & Mood

What’s next?

Signature Question

Follow Dr. Das Kar:

Website: https://drkarmd.com/

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/karshabnam

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.

On todays episode we are interviewing Amy Berger. She is the lead nutritionist for the Adapt your Life Academy where she helps create course content and has coached thousands of people through implementing low-carb keto diets safely and effectively. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist who helps people do “Keto Without the Crazy.”™ She writes about a wide range of health and nutrition-related topics, such as insulin, weight loss, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, thyroid function, and more. She has presented internationally on these issues and is the author of The Alzheimer's Antidote, The Stall Slayer, and co-author End Your Carb Confusion, written with Dr. Eric Westman. Today we are focusing on her book the Stall Slayer for any and all of you who are still so focused on that number on the scale. This episode is for you!

Bio:
Amy Berger, MS, CNS, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and Certified 

Links:
Blog: http://www.tuitnutrition.com/

YouTube: Tuit Nutrition - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmDz-SYYhoerycynsCm7L8g/videos

Twitter: @Tuit Nutrition - https://twitter.com/TuitNutrition

Online courses: http://adaptyourlifeacademy.com/

Books:
End Your Carb Confusion: https://www.amazon.com/End-Your-Carb-Confusion-Reclaiming/dp/1628604298

The Stall Slayer: http://stallslayer.com/

The Alzheimer’s Antidote: https://www.amazon.com/Alzheimers-Antidote-Low-Carb-High-Fat-Cognitive/dp/1603587098

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

EPISODE 100!!

Ellen Vora, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist, acupuncturist, and yoga teacher, and she is the author of the bestselling book The Anatomy of Anxiety. She takes a functional medicine approach to mental health—considering the whole person and addressing imbalance at the root. Dr. Vora received her B.A. from Yale University and her M.D. from Columbia University. In her book Anatomy of Anxiety, she has a whole chapter on Food for Thought in which she shares her own personal story of discovering she had a food addiction.

Today she shares her journey to recovery with food and how that has influenced her professional career today. Namely, in how she treats the whole person, looking for places where states like anxiety and depression might be rooted in the body, whether it’s less-than-ideal nutrition and an out-of-whack gut, or poor sleep and breathing.

In today’s interview we talk about:

Ellen’s personal story

How food addiction plays a role in eating disorders

How we need to watch out for contributing to eating disorders through a food addiction treatment modality

The difference between true and false anxiety

Why it’s important to treat false anxiety first

The importance of a BOTH/AND approach in recovery: that multiple things can be true at the same time and that everybody has a right to their experience, regardless of what somebody else is experiencing.

Why Ellen believes she can tolerate some of her addictive foods when she is in different countries and on different soil

Does gut permeability combined with opiate-like addictive foods create a landscape for higher levels of food addiction in North America?

Why do we have such a hard time asking for help?

Why living in an Emotion-phobic culture can lead us to seek food rather than address our unmet needs

How advertisers prey on our fear response which activates us into that unmet need scarcity

mindset

How do we get quiet to determine our needs in a world full of noise and adverse? Can you be radically intentional in the life choices you make?

How do we find the middle in bringing the eating disorder world and the food addiction world together rather than them remaining so far apart and offering opposing treatments?

Follow Dr. Vora:

Instagram: @ellenvoramd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenvoramd

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiVEkdGfZmvqfBcPvF9EvJA/videos

Website: https://ellenvora.com

Twitter: @ellenvoramd

Thank You Thank You Thank You for listening and allowing us to do what we love to do. Interview inspirational leaders that help you get closer to your truth! It has been an honor and pleasure to have been with you on this journey and we can’t wait to see where the next 100 episodes take us! As Vera says “The Power is Yours!

 

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.

Josh Dech is a former paramedic, and a certified personal fitness trainer who transitioned into holistic health care after recognizing the limitations of traditional medical practices. He completed his paramedic training in 2013 and later studied holistic nutrition at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition in 2021.  

He combined his expertise in fitness and nutrition to focus on gut health, particularly inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn's and colitis. His innovative approaches have led to the successful reversal of over 300 cases of these conditions, previously deemed incurable. Josh now serves as a medical lecturer and physician consultant at the Priority Health Academy, where he educates doctors on holistic approaches to gut health and IBD. He also hosts a podcast "ReversABLE," which shares insights on gut health and its profound impact on overall well-being.

Follow Josh:

Facebook: Josh Dech 
Facebook: IBD Support and Solutions for Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis
Podcast: https://www.reversablepod.com
Instagram: @ joshdech.health
You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@GutHealthSolution
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-dech-5a1582106/

 

REGISTER FOR Mastering the Science of Hunger, Craving, and Addiction

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.

 

Ohhh Food Junkies listeners do we have a super special episode and surprise for you today! In 2024 you are going to get MORE episodes of the food junkies podcast all based on personal recovery stories to motivate and inspire you. Today we are going to introduce you to your new co host of what we are calling Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction Stories with CJ Nguy. 

When CJ approached us with this idea to share personal stories of recovery from our listener base or from Vera’s Sugar free for Life: I’m Sweet Enough Facebook group we loved the idea. What a beautiful way for people in our communities to share what they are doing and help spread the message that Recovery Is Possible.

Food Junkies listeners will now get 2 bonus episodes a month of personal recovery stories and Spoiler Alert CJ will be interviewing each one of us first. In fact today she is taking a crack at it! Stay tuned. If you are interested in being a guest on this upcoming series please reach out to CJ at FJRecoveryStories@gmail.com and she will send you a link to the podcast guest form. So excited to support you more in 2024. Enjoy the show.

 

In episode 64 we introduced you to Kathryn Kearsey from our 1st Food Addiction Research Clinical Study Group. Clarissa and I “represent Team North America” and have facilitated 3 total groups so far. We will be presenting our results concerning this level of Food Addiction Treatment in Bristol, England on Friday, May 20th at the International Food Addiction Conference.

We have been pleased with the results thus far and are looking forward to this opportunity to bring more awareness about the NEED for the treatment of this disease.

We are also excited to connect with the world’s leading experts in Food Addiction and if you get the chance, you should join us as well. We would love to meet YOU! There is just nothing like in person after zooming our brains out for the last two years.

If you are interested in attending – Be sure to check the show notes OR google PHC Food Addiction Conference….The Public Health Collaboration is the one funding our study which is still ongoing.

If you are looking to be a future participant, we are looking at starting two more study groups in June. Reach out and let us know if you are interested! Check the show notes for one way to connect!

In this episode, Clarissa and I interviewed Mark Leary and Tracy Burrows of the Targeted Research on Addictive and Compulsive Eating (TRACE) Program.

Mark Leary

Mark Leary is a Ph.D. student at the University of Newcastle. He is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD) who has been working in private practice for the last 9 years. He is interested in how addictive eating behaviors can impact the health of individuals and his research focuses on improving these eating behaviors to help improve health outcomes.

Professor Tracy Burrows

Professor Tracy Burrows is the team leader of TRACE Dietetics at the University of Newcastle, Australia, and a researcher at Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). She is a skilled clinician and researcher, recognized as a Fellow of Dietitians Australia. She is passionate about nutrition and mental health to enable individuals to achieve a healthier quality of life. She is a highly published author, conference presenter, and recipient of numerous awards for her research.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:

The TRACE Program has been built over years of research in the field of addictive eating. It is based on current scientific evidence, including input from individuals with lived experience with addictive eating.

The TRACE Program is designed for individuals with symptoms of addictive eating. The aim is to increase an individual’s awareness of how food is often used or consumed with mood and equip individuals with strategies to improve their addictive eating behaviors.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

The first step is an initial assessment to find out about each individual's personality, addictive eating, and lifestyle behaviors. This information is used to tailor the program. The program includes five modules:

 Module 1: Personality

Module 2: Food

Module 3: Skills

Module 4: Confidence

Module 5: Moving forwards

The program includes a workbook to assist individuals in working through each of the modules.

What to Expect in this Episode:

How Mark and Tracy became involved in studying Addictive and Compulsive Eating

Clearing up some confusion on terminology being used in research

What personal characteristics TRACE Program has found about individuals seeking treatment

The best hopes for outcomes based on the research and how might this help get Food Addiction recognized by the World Health Organization and American Psychiatric Association

The importance of thorough screening

Tracy and Mark answer our question about “Best” strategies and confirm what we know – there is NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL when it comes to recovery tools

We find out their findings on fasting vs feeding, the brain, and those with Food Addiction/Addictive Eating

Oxytocin and how it relates to addiction/addictive eating

Volume eating

What’s next for the TRACE Program

Signature question

Follow TRACE Program:

Website: https://www.tracedietetics.com.au/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProfTBurrows

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-burrows-306b531a5/

               https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-leary-871b6b53/

International Food Addiction Conference

Website: https://phcuk.org/phc-conference-2022/

Research Group Participation

Contact Info: https://forms.gle/KZAguiVDmc2YNpCo6

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Paul Churchill was a normal drinker in high school and most of college. He loved to drink. He played several sports in high school and football at Chapman University where he majored in Business and Spanish. His love for alcohol led him to Granada, Spain where he bought a bar in January 2006. He walked away from the bar after 34 months since he was drowning himself with alcohol. He attempted the geographical cure, moved back home to Colorado for a year, and then went to graduate school in Seattle at the University of Washington. He then moved to beautiful Bozeman, MT where he currently resides. Paul was alcohol-free from 2010- 2012 but he looks back at that duration of sobriety and says he was a dry drunk and was staying away from alcohol on willpower alone. In 2012, his unconscious mind got the best of him and he drank after being AF for over 2 years. Later that same evening around 2:30 am when gas stations couldn’t legally sell alcohol, Paul found himself googling if he could drink rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Talk about picking up right where he left off. Paul struggled to quit drinking for another couple of years until September 7th, 2014. In the summer of 2014, there was a DUI, a release of employment from a job, and a failed suicide attempt. After reaching out to family, and specific friends, starting a podcast, and a sobriety counter app, selecting a sponsor, eating right, and exercising, Paul Churchill took his last drink of alcohol on September 7th, 2014, and got his life back.

Follow Paul:

Website

Book: Alcohol is Sh!t

Podcast

Instagram

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recoveryelevator

LinkedIn

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hey Food Junkies listeners! Molly here and I have Clarissa with me!! Before we talk to you about today’s episode, we just wanted to thank all of our listeners for helping us to get over 330k downloads and who are continuing to support us toward our next goal of 350k.

We also wanted to let you know that our joint venture, Sweet Sobriety has officially launched. We would love to invite you to join us for Unlimited Monthly Coaching for $25 USD each month. We also have educational opportunities and a community platform.

We are NOT going to show you before & after pictures

We are NOT going to guarantee addiction recovery….No one can do that!

We are NOT going to sell you gimmicks, or products or break your bank account. We will NEVER encourage you to take out loans or sell your rare record collection – you don’t need to do that!

We are NOT going to give you THE FOOD PLAN TO FIX YOU….You are NOT broken

We are NOT going to tell you that you can’t trust yourself. We WILL teach you the skills to rebuild that trust.

We are NOT going to tell you WE have ALL the answers…. You Already have them!!

If you want more information – check out the foodjunkiespodcast.com or sweetsobriety.ca websites.

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.

Loretta Graziano Breuning, Ph.D. is the author of Habits of a Happy Brain: Retrain Your Brain to Boost Your Serotonin, Dopamine, Oxytocin, and Endorphin Levels. She founded the Inner Mammal Institute to help people build new neural pathways to turn on their happy chemicals in new ways. (www.InnerMammalInstitute.org)

As a Professor of Management at California State University, and a mom, Loretta was not convinced by prevailing theories of human motivation. While researching alternatives, she uncovered the brain chemistry we share with animals. She learned that each happy chemical evolved to motivate a specific survival behavior, not to make you feel good all the time for no reason. Then everything made sense, and she began creating resources to spread this knowledge: books, videos, blogs, podcasts, infographics, slide shows, social media, and a training program. Loretta's work has helped thousands of people "make peace with the animal inside." And she still marvels every day at the overlap between a wildlife documentary and the lyrics to a love song.

Dr. Breuning’s work has been translated into Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, French, Turkish, and German. She has been quoted in Forbes, NPR, the Wall St. Journal, Fox, Time, NBC, Psychology Today, Cosmopolitan, Real Simple, and Psychologies. Her podcast is "The Happy Brain," and she's been a guest on many podcasts, including Almost 30, James Altucher, Brainfluence, Recovery Unscripted, Fat Burning Man, Humans 2.0, and Yogabody. Details at InnerMammalInstitute.org.

To become a Certified Inner Mammal Trainer and help people make peace with their inner mammal, check out our new training program at InnerMammalInstitute.org/training.

In this Episode:

Dr. Breuning’s personal and professional journey

Neurochemistry & the disease model

Neural pathways & reward center wiring

Alternative experiences & dealing with life on life’s terms

Understanding brain wiring and behavior

Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin

The Inner Mammal Institute and Inner Mammal Method

Satiation

Expectation management and Distress Intolerance

Dr. Breuning’s take on addiction and Building Neuropathways

What’s next?

Signature Question

Follow Dr. Breuning:

Website: https://innermammalinstitute.org/

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/loretta-g-breuning-phd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorettabreuning/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/Loretta-Graziano-Breuning/e/B001K8RYKU%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Dr. Kim Dennis returns to the Food Junkies Podcast to discuss the evolving understanding of Ultra-Processed Food Use Disorder (UPFUD) and its intersection with clinical psychiatry, eating disorders, trauma, and harm reduction approaches. With mounting research pointing to the undeniable effects of ultra-processed foods on mental and physical health, Dr. Dennis provides insight into how treatment for food use disorder and eating disorders can evolve to better serve patients.

She dives deep into the controversies within the eating disorder and addiction treatment fields, including:
✅ The impact of ultra-processed foods on mood disorders, anxiety, and overall health
✅ The role of trauma-informed care in addiction and eating disorder recovery
✅ How adaptive dietary restraint challenges the “all foods fit” model in traditional eating disorder treatment
✅ The three treatment approaches used in her clinic: treatment as usual, harm reduction, and abstinence-based recovery
✅ How clinicians can balance avoiding diet culture while addressing the reality of harmful food choices

Dr. Dennis also shares new research and emerging treatments, including the use of ketogenic meal plans for anorexia, and how individualized care can be the key to better long-term outcomes.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in bridging the gap between eating disorder treatment and food addiction recovery while ensuring compassionate, science-backed, and trauma-informed care.

🩺 About Dr. Kim Dennis:
Dr. Kim Dennis is a board-certified psychiatrist, addiction specialist, and eating disorder expert. She is a fierce advocate for integrating food addiction into mainstream treatment and leads a clinic that treats eating disorders, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions holistically. With her lived experience in eating disorder and addiction recovery, she brings a unique and powerful perspective to the conversation.

 

🔗 Connect with Dr. Dennis:

💻 www.suncloudhealth.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPiWE--B6TQ4-4gqUXDpvng/videos

Published Research Literature: 

☑Dismantling the myth of "All Foods Fit" in Eating Disorder Treatment 

☑Food addiction screening, diagnosis and treatment: a protocol for residential treatment of eating disorders, substance use disorders and trauma-related psychiatric comorbidity

🔗 Connect with the Food Junkies Podcast:

📢 Subscribe & Leave a Review – Your feedback helps us spread awareness and reach more people on their recovery journey.

📩 Join the Conversation – Connect with us on social media and let us know your thoughts on today’s episode!

Email us: 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.

Our Swedish Sugar Guru, Bitten Jonsson, is back today to speak with Dr. Vera Tarman about the hotly debated topic of FASTING.

We believe that fasting is a powerful medical intervention to be used cautiously. You will hear Vera and Bitten discuss their personal and professional journeys, the difference between Time Restricted Eating (TRE) and Fasting, why individuals with Food Addiction should avoid fasting for long periods of time, why we shouldn’t practice intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating in the beginning (*hint: it has to do with understanding our hunger cues and energy levels), how Bitten incorporates Biochemical Repair with clients, why we should avoid eating after 6 pm, why Addiction Medicine vetoes other interventions, and their plea to other professionals to learn about Food Addiction.

Bitten is a close friend and colleague to our whole podcast team. She is a registered nurse, addiction specialist, a contributor to the Diet Doctor website AND She is the founder of Bitten’s Addiction. She has been helping people recover from sugar/flour/processed food addiction for nearly 30 years. Inspired by her own story about addiction, she developed a passion to help others become aware of their relationship with these drug foods and now shows people the way to heal and recover from sugar addiction.

Her mission is to spread knowledge about sugar addiction and to teach and train professionals how to screen, assess, evaluate and diagnose sugar addiction using the SUGAR tool she helped develop. Through this process, professionals can help individuals detox from their “drug foods” and find long-lasting recovery. Through her Facebook Group Sugarbomb in your brain, she has connected those struggling with Sugar Addiction and now over 8,000 members support each other through the daily struggles with sugar addiction AND celebrate the victories that come along with recovery.

You can find Bitten online at these locations:

Bittens Addiction Website - www.bittensaddiction.com/en/

Facebook - www.facebook.com/bittensaddiction/

Facebook Group - Sugar Bomb in your Brain

Instagram - www.instagram.com/bittensaddiction/

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/bitten-jonsson-a46086a/

Twitter - twitter.com/BittenJonsson

Youtube - www.youtube.com/user/Bittensway

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

 

J. Hannah is a food coach and practitioner of RTT®. She received her degree in Cultural Studies and Business Administration in University of Passau, Germany and completed her RTT® training in March 2023. Now she helps women around the globe resolve their relationship with food permanently and holistically so that they can effortlessly develop a loving and natural relationship with food and themselves.
 
Rapid Transformational Therapy® is a unique approach, drawn from NLP, CBT, hypnotherapy and mindfulness. This blend promises a personalized approach to help clients reframe negative (self-)beliefs, hidden in the subconscious mind, towards a more positive addiction-free mindset. 

Learn more about J. Hannah:

Website:
www.beyondfoodfeelings.com
www.beyondfoodfeelings.com/sugarfree-start
 
Email:
info@beyondfoodfeelings.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.

 

In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett, a Stanford-trained neurologist and migraine expert with over 30 years of experience. Dr. Barrett shares her professional insights and personal journey with migraines, exploring their genetic basis, root causes, and treatment options. This comprehensive conversation covers everything from diet and hormonal influences to toxins and integrative medicine approaches.

Dr. Barrett founded Migraine Relief Code, an online platform offering integrative tools for migraine sufferers, and has a popular 2023 TED Talk on migraines. She advocates for addressing migraines early, focusing on root causes rather than just masking symptoms.

---

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. Migraine Basics and Misconceptions:

   • The key differences between migraines and tension headaches.
   • Why many people with migraines are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
   • Understanding “migraine brain” and the importance of early intervention.

2. Root Causes of Migraines:

   • Nutrients: How deficiencies in essential nutrients like omega-3s and vitamin D impact brain health.
   • Gut Health: The link between leaky gut, inflammation, and migraine triggers.
   • Toxins: How environmental toxins impair mitochondria and contribute to chronic pain.
   • Hormones and Adrenals: The role of stress, cortisol depletion, and hormonal fluctuations in migraines.

3. Diet and Lifestyle Tips:

   • The importance of balancing blood sugar to reduce migraine frequency.
   • How processed foods and sugar impact migraines and mimic addictive eating patterns.
   • Why a ketogenic or whole-food, plant-based diet may help manage symptoms.
   • The role of alcohol and endocrine disruptors in triggering migraines.

4. Integrative Approaches to Treatment:

   • Biohacking tools are used to monitor and shift the body from "fight or flight" to recovery mode.
   • Why a personalized recovery plan addressing underlying issues is critical.
   • The benefits and limitations of medications, injections, and other pharmaceutical treatments.

5. Research and Future Directions:

   • The emerging role of genomic research and precision medicine in migraine treatment.
   • How toxins and processed foods contribute to broader neurological conditions.

Follow Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett:

• • Website: Migraine Relief Code
  • Free Migraine Masterclass
  • YouTube Channel: Dr. Amelia Scott Barrett
  • Download her eBook: The Food Code 

• Referenced Topics:

  • Watch Dr. Barrett’s 2023 TED Talk on migraines.
  • Learn about genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and their impact on migraine genetics.
  • Explore her online courses for navigating precision medicine and migraine recovery.

Let’s Connect:

• Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
• Follow Sweet Sobriety for updates on workshops, conferences, and recovery tools.

Thank You for Listening! We’re grateful to have you on this journey. Remember: Recovery is about progress, perseverance, and connection. You’ve got this! 💪

 

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.

On todays epsiode CJ welcomes Sarah to the show. Sarah is a deeply spiritual individual with a profound connection to God. Her faith serves as the cornerstone of her life, inspiring a genuine desire to help others find their own paths to healing and wholeness. With a wealth of knowledge in the recovery field, Sarah offers compassionate guidance and support, empowering individuals to overcome challenges and embrace a fulfilling life. her unwavering belief in the transformative power of faith combined with her experience creates a unique and impactful presence.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

 

 

Karen Thomson is the founder of Sugar Free Revolution and Harmony Eating & Lifestyle Program. She is ALSO a recovering Sugar Addict and, together with Professor Tim Noakes, launched and hosted the first International LCHF Health Summit. She believes we need support to recover and has written an amazing book- Sugar Free: 8 Weeks to Freedom from Sugar and Carb Addiction.

In this Episode:

Karen’s story and AHA moment

How her treatment center treated eating disorders & Food Addiction

How opening a Food Addiction treatment center in the USA was received

How to be more successful with treatment and in recovery

Karen’s opinion on the ED and FA camps coming together

What she does daily for her recovery

We talk non-nutritive sweeteners and caffeine

How we can go overboard on fat

Navigating kids and sugar/processed food

Karen shares about body image struggles and the importance of the relationship with self

What inspired her to write the book and upcoming projects

How she answers our Signature Question

Follow Karen:

The Sugar Free Revolution Website: https://thesugarfreerevolution.com/

Book: Sugar Free- 8 Weeks to Freedom from Sugar and Carb Addiction

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karenthomsonsugarfree/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sugarfreerevolution/

Twitter: @_karen_thomson_

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Westman is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University. He is Board Certified in Obesity Medicine and Internal Medicine and founded the Duke Keto Medicine Clinic with Dr. William S. Yancy Jr. in 2006 after 8 years of clinical research regarding low carbohydrate ketogenic diets.

He is Past-President and Master Fellow of the Obesity Medicine Association and Fellow of The Obesity Society. He is an editor of the textbook: Obesity: Evaluation & Treatment Essentials, and author of the New York Times Bestseller: The New Atkins for a New You, Cholesterol Clarity, and Keto Clarity. He is co-founder of Adapt Your Life, an education and product company based on low carbohydrate concepts.

He is the course coordinator for MED415c, a Fourth-Year Medical Student Elective on the Medical Management of Obesity, and a faculty member of the Duke Clinical Research Training Program.

On Today’s Episode:

Dr. Westman shares his personal and professional journey

Dr. Westman’s Food Plan

Dr. Westman explains what KETOSIS is

Why keto is for fat-burning vs. weight-loss

The medical benefits of eating for ketosis

Are there cautions to keto?

How Dr. Westman addresses Food Addiction within his clinic

An increasing level of care with Food Addiction patients

How Dr. Westman addresses the psych-social-spiritual aspect of the disease

Signature Question

Follow:

Website: ericwestmanmd.com

Book: End Your Carb Confusion

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNZsfluh0Uo

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

CJ has the opportunity to talk to Hanalei Roberts a very determined and compassionate woman who has triumphed over adversity through long-term recovery. Her journey has instilled in her a deep-rooted empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by others. With unwavering strength and a supportive spirit, she has become a beacon of hope for those seeking a path to recovery. Her dedication to helping others is evident in her every action, making her a valuable asset to her community.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

In today’s episode, Clarissa and Molly sit down with Florence Christophers, the Kick Sugar Coach! Hear her personal and professional story, how she started her Kick Sugar Summit, her work with Jack, what Food Addiction is to her, her shift to work around emotional eating and how she works with clients to address emotional eating, and the work she continues to do with herself and her clients.

Florence is a certified health coach and a sugar addiction recovery specialist.  She is on a mission to help men and women break up with sugar and never look back.

Follow Florence:

Websites: https://www.kicksugarcoach.com/ and https://florencechristophers.simplero.com/page/187546

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekicksugarcoach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kicksugarcoach/

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Today, in this reprisal episode, Vera interviews a mentor and colleague – Esther Helga Gudmundsdottir.

Esther is a pioneer in the field of food addiction treatment. She opened one of the first food addiction treatment programs in the world, MFM. The MFM program in Iceland has treated approximately 3000 Icelanders. Esther’s program gives them hope and the tools to achieve long-term recovery and is based on the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Esther also founded INFACT, an international training program for any type of professional willing to learn about food addiction and how to help those suffering from it.

Finally, Esther is the Executive Director and Chair of the Food Addiction Institute, an independent, non-profit organization whose mission is to support the healing of all food addicts.

IN THIS EPISODE:

Esther’s personal and professional journey

A message of Hope

The Food Addiction Institute

MFM/Food Addiction Counseling Center

The International Food Addiction Counselor Training (INFACT) program

The components of Food Addiction Treatment that Esther feels are essential

What Esther has had to change in how she treats Food Addiction

What are Esther’s unique contributions to the Food Addiction Field

What’s next for Esther

Our Signature Question

CONTACT/FOLLOW ESTHER:

Website: https://infact.is/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/esther.h.gudmundsdottir

Food Addiction Institute: https://www.foodaddictioninstitute.org/

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.

Molly Carmel, LCSW is a leading addiction and eating disorder
therapist and founder of Beacon by MC - and which offers individual
and group solutions to help people break free from their destructive
relationships with food and dieting. Known for her irreverent,
“straight talk, no chaser” attitude, she’s also the author of the
innovative book, Breaking Up with Sugar: A Plan to Divorce the Diets,
Drop the Pounds, and Live Your Best Life and the host of the podcast,
What You're Craving.

Molly is fiercely devoted to helping people break free of their
destructive relationship with food, dieting, and negative body image
to create the big beautiful lives they deserve. After battling an
eating disorder for over 20 years and finding no solution in available
treatment, she began to trailblaze her professional path, obsessed
with helping people find real and sustainable healing. She’s never
looked back.

Molly has extensive training in Substance Use, Eating Disorders and is
intensively in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Recognizing that it’s
not all about the food and the limitations of a "brain-only" approach
in treating complex issues like addiction and eating disorders, she is
also a trained Shaman, Reiki healer, a certified Tibetan bowl singing
practitioner, certified in BREATHE breathwork, a dedicated devotee of
daily meditation, and a certified intenSati instructor

Molly graduated with a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Cornell
University and a master’s in Social work from Columbia University. Her
work has been featured on The Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show, Dateline
NBC, Anderson Cooper 360, and Extreme Makeover as well as in People
Magazine, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. She's been a
guest on The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast, Keeping it Real
with Jillian Michaels, and Ever Forward Radio with Chase Chewning.

Molly’s Fired Up 2024 Online Retreat is happening on Sunday, Jan 21,
2024 from 11-5 EST - it’s an amazing opportunity to find your inner
spark and get into a space of POWER for the new year. Learn more at
https://mollycarmel.com/fired-up/ - and use the code MOLLY10 to get 10%
off!

Links and Social Media Handles:

Website: mollycarmel.com

IG: @mollycarmel

YouTube: Molly Carmel

Tiktok: @realmollycarmel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mollycarmel.buws

 

Dr. Anita Federici is a Clinical Psychologist and the Owner of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation. She serves an Adjunct Faculty position at York University and is a distinguished Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). From 2019 - 2022, Anita served as the elected Co-Chair for the Suicide and DBT Special Interest Group (SIG) for the AED and currently sits on the SIG Oversight Committee.

Anita has had a considerable impact on the field through her leadership, advocacy work, and expertise. To date, she has provided more than 375 lectures, workshops, and invited talks on eating disorders, MED-DBT, compassionate care for complex needs, and developing differential care pathways that integrate biotemperament-based approaches, experts-by-experience, and ethical care. She has developed a robust training program, a wide network of allied health professionals, and a treatment centre in an underserved and rural region of Ontario. Her passion for inspiring and invigorating hope for clients and clinicians is at the heart of her work. 

Known for her engaging and authentic style of training, Anita has become a highly sought-after consultant. She works extensively with hospitals and community organizations nationally and internationally offering team training, implementation support, and program development with a special focus on creating differential care pathways for clients who do not respond to traditional treatment approaches. Her work has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals and invited book chapters. 

Follow Anita: https://www.psychology-emotionregulation.ca

 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.

 

Aileen Burford-Mason, Ph.D., is a biochemist, immunologist, and cell biologist and a widely recognized expert in the field of vitamins and their appropriate use in health maintenance, healthy aging, and the prevention and treatment of disease. Respected for her balanced and scientifically-based approach, Aileen is known for her ability to take the latest findings in diet and supplement research and translate them into practical evidence-based guidelines for both lay audiences and health professionals.

Aileen graduated from University College, Dublin, Ireland, and received a Ph.D. in immunology in the UK. She is formerly an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Director of a Cancer Research Laboratory at the Toronto General Hospital. Her many research papers have been published in leading medical and scientific journals and cover such diverse medical and scientific areas as immunology, pathology, gastroenterology, cancer, AIDS, microbiology, and nutrition.

Aileen regularly gives talks to the public and to doctors and other health professionals at universities across Canada. She has a busy private practice where she specializes in personalized supplements and diet regimes. She teaches a popular continuing medical education course for medical doctors and other health care practitioners on the use of diet and nutritional supplements in clinical practice.

A go-to person for radio, TV, and print journalists, Aileen is in regular demand for media commentary on the latest research and controversies in the field of dietary supplements.

In this episode:

What is orthomolecular medicine?

We discuss sugar, carbs, and refined carbs and the roles they play in our health

Aileen and Vera talk about Food Addiction

Obstacles Aileen has faced

And so much more!

Follow Aileen:

Website: https://aileenburfordmason.ca/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AburfordMason

Books:

The Healthy Brain

The War Against Viruses

Eat Well, Age Better

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

You can still join us in Bristol, UK starting on Friday, May 20^th for the International Food Addiction Conference. Stay for the weekend and enjoy the Public Health Collaboration Conference on May 21^st and 22^nd. Speakers on Friday include Dr. Paul Earley (Episode 29), Bitten Jonsson (Episodes 5 & 23) Dr. Jen Unwin (Episode 11), Clarissa, and myself, along with many colleagues! The PHC weekend includes Zoe Harcombe, Dr. David Unwin, Nina Teischolz, and so many more. BUY TICKETS HERE. 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

What if overcoming food addiction isn't about changing yourself but about identifying and releasing foreign influences within your mind? In this episode of the Food Junkies Podcast, Dr. Vera Tarman sits down with Robert Falconer to dive into the concept of "unattached burdens" and explore how these external influences may drive our cravings. Falconer, an expert in Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, is the author of "The Others Within Us: Internal Family Systems, Porous Mind, and Spirit Possession," which examines how unattached burdens might be impacting our behaviors and addictions.

Robert Falconer holds an undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology with a focus on the history of religions and a master's degree in psychology. With over 50 years of experience in psychotherapy, Falconer specializes in IFS Therapy and has authored multiple books, including a co-authored work with IFS founder Richard Schwartz. His latest book introduces the concept of unattached burdens, blending psychological insights with a spiritual dimension that challenges traditional Western views of the mind. 

Episode Highlights:

Personal Journey: Falconer shares his career evolution over five decades, moving from Gestalt therapy to IFS and beyond.
Insights into navigating criticism and maintaining an open, resilient approach.

Understanding Internal Family Systems (IFS): Falconer introduces IFS, explaining its basic concepts and how it frames addiction as a struggle between internal "selves."
A look at how Falconer’s ideas diverge from the traditional IFS approach, particularly with the theory of unattached burdens.

Exploring "The Others Within Us": What are unattached burdens, and are they literal or metaphorical?
Discussion on the "citadel theory of mind" and how unattached burdens challenge conventional views of selfhood.
How unattached burdens differ from conditions like dissociative identity disorder.

The Concept of a Porous Mind: The "porous mind" as a way to understand openness to external influences.
How this concept redefines addiction and compulsive behaviors, offering an alternative approach to understanding cravings.

Unattached Burdens and Spirit Possession: Drawing parallels between spirit possession across cultures and psychological theories in the West.
Exploring whether these burdens are akin to Jungian archetypes.
Can unattached burdens be viewed as a metaphor, or must they be taken literally for therapeutic success?

Evidence and Ethical Considerations: Falconer discusses the evidence for external influences on thought and behavior.
Ethical questions surrounding spirit guides in therapy and the use of hallucinogens for accessing these influences.

Applying These Ideas to Food Addiction: How unattached burdens might provide new insights into food cravings and compulsive eating.
Potential applications of spirit guides or ancestral influences in addressing food addiction.
Considering parallels between "unattached burdens" and the "red dog" in Food Addiction (FA) frameworks.

Connect with Robert Falconer: Website: https://robertfalconer.us

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.

 

Dr. Kari Anderson has positioned herself as a respected clinician and leader in the field of eating disorders. Her career spans over three decades of leading treatment teams in all levels of care, Kari has developed several treatment models, most recently for the treatment of binge eating.

Kari earned her Doctor of Behavioral Health with her research project, The Mindful Eating Cycle: Treatment for Binge Eating Disorder, at Arizona State University in 2012. Co-creator of the Am I Hungry?® Mindful Eating for Binge Eating Program, Kari also co-authored the acclaimed book Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Binge Eating: A Mindful Eating Program for Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body. Her memoir, Food, Body, and Love: but the Greatest of These Love, was released in 2021. This work digs deeper into the science behind effective treatment and includes research on food addiction and issues faced in obesity medicine.

She is an adjunct faculty for the University of New Hampshire, and trains graduate students in treatment methods for eating disorders.

As a licensed therapist in three states and certified eating disorder specialist and supervisor (CEDS-S), Kari maintains a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Today, Clarissa and I talked with Kari about the following:

Her Personal and Professional Journey

All about Binge Eating Disorder

Polyvagal theory and the role of vagal circuitry in food and eating behavior

Using a harm reduction model when treating binge and loss of control eating

Kari shares about the Safe and Sound Protocol

We ask her about food addiction!

Kari shares about her book and workbook

She answers our signature question

Follow Dr. Anderson:

Website: myeatingdoctor.com

Books: https://myeatingdoctor.com/books/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myEatingDoctor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MyEatingDoctor/

 

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.

Dr. Raines is a distinguished clinical investigator at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the LSU School of Medicine. With a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University, she has over 13 years of clinical experience, specializing in treating patients with anxiety and related conditions, including those which intersect with hoarding behaviors. She has published an number of peer reviewed articles focusing on hoarding disorder and its associated psychological aspects. 

Dr. Raines is the Chair of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT) Research and Professional Development Committee and a member of the Association of VA Psychologist Leaders (AVAPL), and Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (APA). Further, she serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment. .

We at Food Junkies Podcast are interested in her article "Hoarding and Eating Pathology: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation” which explores the relationship between hoarding behaviors and eating disorders and obesity. Today we explore the co-occurance of hoarding and eating pathologies, and if this dynamic may help us understand food addiction as well. 

Follow Amanda:

Website: https://riseocdandanxiety.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcareprovider'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.

 

 

 

Netta Gorman has a passion to inspire you to live a healthier sugar-free life with joy and confidence! Netta is the host of Life After Sugar and the creator of the Life After Sugar Program.

Netta struggled with sugar cravings, headaches, bloating, and low energy. She used to feel exhausted all the time. Her energy crashes made her reach out for sweet snacks just to get through the day. She never wanted to cut out sugar. She loved desserts, chocolate, and her comfort foods. But Netta was suffering so much that she was willing to try something she had never tried before: ditching sugar.

Netta lost her extra weight, achy joints, sluggish digestion, and sugar cravings! She gained energy and discovered the real sweetness in her life. Clarissa and I are so happy she agreed to be on today’s episode!

Today we discuss:

How Sugar impacted Netta’s life

What Netta has found to work best when working with clients

The Life After Sugar Program

The Life After Sugar Podcast

Netta’s unique offerings to those who want to get off and stay off sugar!

“Secrets” to success when it comes to remaining sugar-free

What’s next?

Signature Question

Follow Netta:

Website: https://aftersugarclub.com/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-after-sugar/id1546092478

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mylifeaftersugar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylifeaftersugar/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/netta_gorman

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/life-after-sugar/?originalSubdomain=ca

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Hey there Food Junkies listeners! Molly here! Today Clarissa and I interviewed Netta Gorman of the Life After Sugar podcast!!! We had a lot of fun and really got to know Netta much better! AND Before I get to the episode – I wanted to tell you about our special limited-time group! 2 Sessions of Hypnotherapy for Cravings with Viktoria Hamma, Chronic Pain and Wellness Coach.

Session one will be about creating better resolve both consciously and subconsciously by utilizing different visualization and techniques the subconscious loves!

Using your own internal desire, this Session two will walk you through a visualization to give you back the power to decide what you want and agree internally with yourself that you are ready to let go of the cravings. Instead of constantly being at war with yourself.

Sessions will be Wednesday, January 18^th, and January 25^th at 7 pm EST and will be $35 USD in total.

Register here: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca/live-class/hypnotherapy-for-cravings/register or email info@sweetsobriety.ca for more information.

 

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.

 

On today's podcast episode of Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction Stories, CJ Nguy is joined by Molly Painschab. Molly is a thoughtful and authentic person who speaks from her heart and is passionate about Food Addiction Recovery. She has a wealth of experience in the area of Food Addiction and is known for their ability to connect with audiences on a personal level. I'm confident that you'll enjoy and learn from Molly’s story today.

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough." https://www.facebook.com/groups/SugarFreeForLife/?mibextid=oMANbw

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com.

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com.

Monica Boyer is a certified Ketogenic Lifestyle Coach and a passionate advocate for holistic health and wellness. Her journey began with a life-changing experience 7 years ago, that inspired her to leave her career as an Admin Secretary and pursue certifications in nutrition, ketogenic coaching, and food addiction recovery. With a profound weight loss of over 120 lbs through the ketogenic lifestyle, Monica has maintained her transformation for nearly 7 years and is passionate to help others achieve the same.
 
To that end, Monica got her Keto certification with Ketogenic Living 101 with Kate Jaramillo,  and Life Coaching with the Transformational Academy in 2018. But the focus  on low carb eating was not enough, food addiction was a missing piece in her practice. She completed her Holistic Medicine for Addiction and SUGAR  certification with Bitten Johnson in early 2024. 

Monica has also  received her Intermittent Fasting Certification with Bryan Bryn and is in the process of getting her certification with Dr Mindy Peltz, author of Fasting Like a girl .where she will work with women and nutrition building based on their hormones.  This year she acquired  Ketogenic Living 101 and now runs one of the most successful Keto Coaching certification programs in the US.    

In addition to her coaching practice, Monica has launched a podcast called "Beyond the Scale: Weight Loss & Wellness”. 

Follow Monica:

Website: https://kmhealth.ketomomcoaching.com

Instagram: coach_monica_75

Twitter: MonicaBoyer2303

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.

Dr. Joy Jacobs is a clinical psychologist, assistant clinical professor at UCSD School of Medicine, and published author who provides individual, family, and group therapy for adults, adolescents, and children with eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder), food addiction and weight management concerns. She has trained in multiple treatment modalities, including family-based therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy. Dr. Jacobs is one of the few officially certified providers of family-based treatment for eating disorders nationwide and internationally.

Dr. Jacobs regularly appears on various media outlets, including The Doctors, Fox 5 San Diego, and has been an expert cited in many national publications, including Elle, US News, and World Report, the Today Show, and more, on the issues of eating disorders, body image, food addiction, weight management, and related topics. Joy is the author of a blog sponsored by Psychology Today and Gurze books, titled One More Bite.

In this episode:

Dr. Jacobs’ personal and professional journey

How to help clients determine if they are experiencing emotional eating, disordered eating, eating disorder, and food addiction

Tools Dr. Jacobs uses to determine treatment plans

How Dr. Jacobs works with clients who may be incorrectly self-diagnosing food addiction

Volume addiction

When self-worth is attached to weight and body size

Differences in treatment for different genders

Dr. Jacobs’ Glow Up with Joy program

Signature Question

Follow Dr. Jacobs:

Glow Up with Joy Program: https://joyshealthybites.com/glowup/

Website: http://www.drjoyjacobs.com

Instagram: @drjoyjacobs

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drjoyjacobs

 

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.

Jason Tetro or the “The Germ Guy”, is an Author and renown media personality in science communication and marketing. For nearly a decade, he has been working to increase public awareness of microbes and health. Most of his efforts are in the form of columns and blogs. He has a weekly blog column with Huffington Post Canada, and is featured on various radio and television stations in Canada and worldwide, notably the CBC Radio One and Sirius XM.  He also authored The Germ Code, which was shortlisted for Book of the Year by the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada and The Germ Files, which was acclaimed both in Canada and around the world, and appeared on the Globe and Mail national bestseller list. 

Jason started out in the field of Biochemistry but eventually gravitated towards Microbiology and Immunology. He has a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry/Microbiology from the University of Guelph. He has worked in several fields including bloodborne, food and water pathogens, environmental microbiology, disinfection and antisepsis, and emerging pathogens.

Jason is a Knowledge User on the grant. He will act as an Independent Contributor where he will facilitate knowledge translation to public and media, develop social media strategies to increase awareness and reach, provide support for researchers on science communication, and assist with fundraising/network longevity planning.

Follow Jason:

Website: https://jasontetro.com/index2.html

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.

“Dr. Kim”, as she is known, has been treating addictions (substance, process, and food), mood disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, and personality disorders for more than a decade. In 2016 she co-founded SunCloud Health and currently serves as Chief Medical Officer and CEO.

Kim Dennis, MD, CEDS is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in treating addictions (substance, process, and food), eating disorders, and co-occurring disorders. She has helped thousands of remarkable people with their illnesses. Her knowledge of eating disorders and addiction isn’t just limited to her academic and clinical experience, having had her own personal experience as a woman in recovery from an eating disorder and alcoholism. Today, she can combine her personal journey with her medical training to help SunCloud Health patients become emotionally strong, responsible problem-solvers, who are inspired to create fulfilling lives for themselves. She believes in and maintains a holistic perspective in the practice of psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social and spiritual approaches into the individually tailored treatment programs for each patient at SunCloud Health.

Dr. Dennis obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as chief resident. During her training, she was part of the multi-disciplinary eating disorders team specializing in treating young people with eating disorders and their families.

She is a member of the American Medical Association, the Academy for Eating Disorders, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, and the American Society for Addiction Medicine. She is published in the areas of gender differences in the development of psychopathology, co-occurring eating disorders and self-injury, and the use of medication with family-based therapy for young people with anorexia nervosa. She is also on the editorial board of Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention. Dr. Dennis contributes regularly to news networks, such as ABC News and CNN, other national press such as the Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and Web MD, and professional magazines such as Addiction Professional and Behavioral Healthcare. She is a monthly columnist for It’s All in the Journey magazine and was recently featured on TLC Discovery Channel’s “My Strange Addiction” and ABC’s “20/20.” Dr. Kim has a regular blog called, “Live Free”.

Contact Dr. Kim:

Website: https://suncloudhealth.com/

Contact: drkim@suncloudhealth.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.

 

 

Shun Foreman has been a registered nurse for twenty-two years. As she reflects on her career, she has always sought ways to become more effective in vulnerable communities.

To enhance the knowledge of the world around her, she completed a degree in human rights and social justice at Southern Methodist University. Her graduate studies degree allowed her to travel to learn more about Sugar Land 95 and to tour sugar plantations. She believes the combined experience of nursing and human rights and social justice allows her to use a unique lens on how sugar has impacted African-American communities since slavery. Since the completion of Bitten Jonsson's SUGAR certification, her beliefs about healing individuals, groups, and communities of color are much more refined.

She believes wholeheartedly that food sources, African American women, and the hidden harm of sugar are the three most overlooked sources of healing African American communities. Therefore, her life's work is centered around sugar awareness and creating dialogue change that will empower and promote healing in communities of color. For far too long, vulnerable communities have been stigmatized. Shun believes it's time to heal all of our communities as a whole.

To put her vision into action, she started, Sisters Breaking the Bonds of Sugar where women of color can come together to discuss how sugar relates to their history and their health.

Instagram: sugarmodeoff
Email: sugarmodeoff@gmail.com

On todays episode Vera, Molly and Clarissa discuss our favourite takeaways from each guest from the 2nd half of the 1st season. This is your cheat sheet to go back if you missed an episode. 

We have officially reached over 100,000 downloads and we want to thank each and every one of you for tuning in. We are overwhelmed by the response and so grateful for your listening support. You are our community and we recover together with you one meal at time!

Thank you for being a part of our family. Thank you for your recovery passion. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your feedback and most importantly thank you for listening.

 

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Dr Sandy Van. Dr Van is a medical specialist in obesity medicine. She is a staff physician at MEDCAM and runs a virtual Weight Management Program in downtown Toronto.  She is not your standard bariatric physician; she has a unique focus on treating not only the physical and pharmaceutical aspects of obesity but also the psychological and behavioral dimensions.

We interviewed Sandy two years ago, exploring how she used her understanding of food addiction and eating disorders with her weight loss patients. Today, we want to focus on the medications, particularly the GLP1s, that are so popular. How has the widespread use of these meds changed her practice, if at all?

 

Dr. Sandy Van is a licensed medical doctor in Family Medicine and diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is the founder and medical director of Haven Weight Management, a virtual medical clinic focused on obesity care. Additionally, she co-founded 3 Sails, a social learning program for mental resiliency in weight management, and is a staff physician at MEDCAN, an Executive Health Clinic. She dedicates her practice to helping individuals achieve sustainable weight loss through psychotherapy tools and medical management.

 Dr. Van offers a unique voice for the medical community regarding behavioral obesity treatment. Her professional initiatives have included speaking engagements regarding applying psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for weight loss and providing consultation to healthcare practitioners. She is also a frequently invited media guest on national television and radio. Her mission is to evolve the field of behavioral weight management and effect lasting change in the many individuals who struggle with weight.

Dr. Van received her Doctorate of Medicine, followed by the completion of a residency in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto.

 

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.

 

 

On today’s episode, CJ has the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer. Jennifer isn't afraid to turn the lens inward. She's a self-explorer, constantly dissecting experiences to find the lessons hidden within. This deep reflection fuels her insightful nature - she sees patterns and connections others miss. But Jennifer isn't all contemplation; she's a tireless worker, dedicated to testing her theories and crafting a life that truly works for her, one experiment at a time. Friends, you are in for a real treat!

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

In this powerful episode of Food Junkies, we dive deep into the intersection of food insecurity and food addiction with special guest Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis. Dr. Parnarouskis, a researcher specializing in food addiction and public health, shares groundbreaking insights on how socioeconomic factors and access to food impact addiction-like eating behaviors.

From her research at the Food and Addiction Science and Treatment Lab to her latest studies on the role of stress, intermittent access to food, and ultra-processed food consumption, Dr. Parnarouskis sheds light on the social justice implications of food addiction. Together, we explore the barriers faced by food-insecure individuals, how stress amplifies cravings, and what clinicians, policymakers, and society can do to create lasting change.

🔑 Key Topics Discussed:

• Dr. Parnarouskis' journey into food addiction research
• The strong link between food insecurity and food addiction (people experiencing food insecurity are almost four times more likely to struggle with food addiction)
• How stress, financial fear, and limited access to whole foods reinforce addiction-like eating patterns
• The withdrawal experience in food-insecure populations and how it mirrors other addictive substances
• Why policy-level interventions—like expanding SNAP benefits, increasing access to whole foods, and regulating the food industry—are critical for preventing and addressing food addiction
• The importance of harm reduction and meeting individuals where they are in recovery
• How clinicians can screen for food insecurity and adjust interventions to be more compassionate and effective

🌍 Why This Conversation Matters:
Food insecurity is not just about hunger—it’s about the quality of food available, the stress of not knowing where your next meal comes from, and the long-term effects of relying on ultra-processed foods. Dr. Parnarouskis emphasizes that food addiction is not just a personal responsibility issue—it’s a systemic issue that demands policy changes, social support, and a more compassionate approach to treatment.

📚 About Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis
Dr. Lindsey Parnarouskis is a clinical psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Drexel University Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan and her predoctoral internship at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Dr. Parnarouskis’ research seeks to understand the role of economic marginalization in developing and treating overeating concerns, to inform novel clinical and policy interventions.

📩 Join the Conversation:

• Share your thoughts on social media using #FoodJunkiesPodcast
• please email us: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com

Thank you for listening! If you found this episode valuable, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review to help us spread the message of food addiction 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.

 

 

Karen is a fierce spirit with an unwavering determination to overcome challenges. Her own journey of resilience has fueled a passionate desire to help others find their way to recovery. With a heart full of empathy and a mind full of strategies, Karen is a beacon of hope for those struggling to break free from addiction. Her unwavering belief in the power of human potential inspires others to fight for a brighter future.

 

Feel free to join our supportive community on Facebook: Sugar-Free for Life Support Group - where we believe "I'm Sweet Enough."

If you're considering personalized assistance, CJ, a Certified Addiction Professional specializing in Food Addiction, is here for one-on-one coaching. Reach out to CJ at cjnguy@myfoodaddictioncoach.com 

Interested in sharing your recovery story on our show? We'd love to hear from you! Please email FJRecoverystories@gmail.com 

If you find inspiration in recovery narratives, you won't want to miss the Food Junkies Podcast. Check it out at https://www.foodjunkiespodcast.com/.

 

Dr. Alan Goldhamer is the founder of TrueNorth Health Center, a state-of-the-art facility that provides medical and chiropractic services, psychotherapy and counseling, as well as massage and bodywork. He is also director of the Center's groundbreaking residential health education program. Articulate, inspiring, and energetic, Dr. Goldhamer is one of the most pioneering and dedicated visionaries in health today. 

An outspoken professional who doesn't shy away from a spirited debate, he is deeply committed to helping people stuck in self-destructive cycles reclaim their ability to change their lives. Dr. Goldhamer has supervised the fasts of thousands of patients. Under his guidance, the Center has become one of the premier training facilities for doctors wishing to gain certification in the supervision of therapeutic fasting. 

TrueNorth Health utilizes a nutritional medicine approach based on an exclusively whole-plant-food diet free of added salt, oil, and sugar (SOS). The Center is affiliated with the TrueNorth Health Foundation, whose mission is to expand evidence-based knowledge of how medically supervised, water-only fasting and diet impact human health; train clinicians in the use of these interventions; and share its findings with researchers and the public.

The Center is the largest facility in the world specializing in medically supervised, water-only fasting and one of the premier training facilities for doctors to gain certification in the supervision of therapeutic fasting.

You asked for a Specialist in the Food Addiction space who relies exclusively on a whole-plant-based food diet and we heard you. In today’s episode, we bring you the fast-talking Dr. Alan Goldhamer. Along with fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds he also advocates for a food plan FREE from added salt, oil, and sugar (SOS) as you will hear him refer to in the interview. 

We thought it was important to discuss the vegan approach to Food Addiction Recovery because there are many in our community who eat this way too. What’s MOST important is that find what works for YOU and what is true for YOU.

What we learned in this interview is that these two food camps are not so far apart. They both aim to eliminate processed foods, sugars, and fake convenience foods. They just have different takes on sources of protein and the volume of food that needs to be consumed to maintain each lifestyle adequately.

You may have to pause, rewind and relisten to this episode as these two fire back and forth with nuggets of recovery information. Listen carefully to what Dr. Alan Goldhamer says about his water fast and realize that the people he does this with are inpatient and medically supervised not done on their own at home.

The topics covered in this episode:

Why the sensitivity of our satiety system can determine if we carry extra weight?

What is the motivational triad?

What is the pleasure trap?

How salt can stimulate passive overeating, how it can fool the satiety mechanism

The law of satiation

How this food plan works well for those who feel they need more volume

Can you get enough protein on a vegan food plan?

Limiting the feeding window from 8 – 10 hours

Who is fasting not for?

His real secret to weight loss: sleep and eating enough 

Contact Dr. Goldhamer: 

Website: https://www.healthpromoting.com/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3AAlan++Goldhamer+&s=relevancerank&text=Alan++Goldhamer+&ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alan.goldhamer

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede the professional relationship and direction of your healthcare provider. 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.

Thank you so much Food Junkies listeners! We have reached episode 150 and we could not think of a better guest to celebrate it with than one of our favourite, mind blowing leaders in the field Dr. David Wiss. Dr. Wiss became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2013 and founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in treating eating and substance use disorders. He earned his Ph.D. in Public Health with a minor in Health Psychology from UCLA. Dr. Wiss is a scientific author with over 20 peer-reviewed publications, a nutrition and health consultant, functional medicine practitioner, recovery coach, and passionate educator.

Today we are going to learn ALL about his revolutionary new Wise Mind Nutrition app which focuses on the intersection of nutrition and mental health. Dr. Wiss also speaks to us about his recent article “How the Nutrition Field Became Toxic and What We Can Do About It.” His thoughts on 12 step food programs, AND what he has learned in 17 years in recovery. Thank you for listening and enjoy this episode!

Todays Topics:

The Wise Mind Nutrition app and who it is for
His article “How the Nutrition Field Became Toxic and What We Can Do About It.” 
The food industry is paying 'influencer’ dietitians to shape our eating habits
How to to discern whether the nutritional advice is credible or not
His thoughts on 12 step food programs
What he has learned in his 17 years of being in recovery  “I had to be rigid to get free, but I didn’t get free to spend the rest of my life being rigid. I want to be more like water and less like rocks.”
What is next for him

Follow David:
Nutrition in Recovery: https://www.nutritioninrecovery.com
20 Peer-Reviewed Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=qTHIYQEAAAAJ&hl=en
Wise Mind Nutrition: https://wisemindnutrition.com

Episode Highlights:

• Happy New Year from Molly and Clarissa! 🎉
• A discussion on their focus words for 2025: Flourishing (Clarissa) and Emanation (Molly).
• Reflections on how these guiding concepts shape their personal and professional goals for the new year.

Main Topic: Slips vs. Recurrence in Recovery

• Clarifying terminology: Slip, lapse, recurrence, and relapse—what they mean and why language matters in addiction recovery.
• The role of compassion: How self-compassion serves as a tool for growth and a buffer against shame.
• Identifying signs of vulnerability: Subtle indicators that may lead to slips or recurrences and strategies to recognize and address them early.
• Empowering recovery: Practical steps to take after a slip and how to differentiate it from a recurrence.

Key Takeaways:

• Recovery isn’t linear, and slips are not shameful
• Language matters. Terms like “recurrence” or “return to use” can reduce shame and empower recovery.
• Support systems, self-compassion, and curiosity are essential tools in navigating challenges.
• Recovery is about resilience and learning, not perfection.

Mantras for Recovery:

• Perseverance over perfection.
• Consistency over intensity.
• Compassion over criticism.
• Resilience over regret.
• Learning over guilt.
• Connection over isolation.
• Empowerment over temptation.

Listener Call-to-Action:

• Share your feedback or topic suggestions for Clinician's Corner! Email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com.

Looking Ahead:

• Stay tuned for next month’s Clinician’s Corner and join the conversation on important topics in food addiction recovery.

Resources Mentioned:

• Marty Lerner’s “So What, Now What” approach.
• John Kelly’s research on recovery and remission timelines.

Let’s Connect:

• Email: foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com
• Follow Sweet Sobriety for updates on workshops, conferences, and recovery tools.

Thank You for Listening! We’re grateful to have you on this journey. Remember: Recovery is about progress, perseverance, and connection. You’ve got this! 💪

 

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.

Dr. James Muecke is an ophthalmic surgeon and ophthalmologist. James has also been recognized for his work globally, particularly in Southeast Asia, and has been awarded the Australian of the Year for 2020.

Dr. James Muecke AM graduated with Honours from the University of Adelaide Medical School in 1987. Following his internship, James lived and worked as a doctor in Africa and subsequently as an eye surgeon in the Middle East, battling malaria, wild animals, and rebel soldiers. He founded Sight For All in 2008, turning his boundless energy into a fight against blindness in the Aboriginal communities of Australia and some of the poorest countries of Asia and Africa. His commitment to social impact and humanitarian endeavors has earnt him several awards including an Order of Australia in 2012, the Australian Medical Association’s President’s Leadership Award in 2013, and Ernst & Young’s Social Entrepreneur for Australia in 2015. James is Australian of the Year for 2020.   James is a researcher, a teacher, an author, a musician, a photographer, and a film producer, and uses his many skills to deliver passionate, fascinating, and at times confronting presentations about his life, his work, philanthropy, resilience, and social entrepreneurship.

In this episode:

Dr. Muecke’s personal and professional journeys

How sugar impacts eye health

What our eyes can tell us about our health

How his colleagues react to his interventions

What’s next

Our Signature Question

Welcome, Dr. Muecke!!!

Follow Dr. Muecke:

Website: https://medthink.com.au/?fbclid=IwAR1PYfplwMfqFoBSzU3MJKhjxGMOn69x9YAl9dOldagaWhv4vTYXkHQnxD8

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jsmuecke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjamesmuecke/

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

🌟Sweet Sobriety is once again hosting Viktoria Hamma, Pain, and Wellness Coach as she provides a group hypnotherapy experience on Wednesday, April 26th, 2023, at 7 pm Eastern. Let’s program our brains to Partner WITH our bodies and what IT wants to do instead of always fighting it! $15 USD, NO RECORDINGS OR REPLAY for this session. REGISTER HERE

🌟Clarissa Kennedy, RSW is offering a workshop on Perfectionism! This course is the ultimate guide to adaptive perfectionism and finding a self-compassionate way to manage our maladaptive perfectionism.

In this course you will learn:

·        Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS)

·        Adaptive Perfectionism VS Maladaptive Perfectionism

·        Perfectionistic strivings and Perfectionistic concerns

·        Behaviors of Perfectionism

·        Rules for Living – Unhelpful Rules and Assumptions

·        Questions to help you Examine Your Perfectionism

·        Think Outside the Box, and then Throw the Box Away

·        Balance is Bulls**t

·        Prog-mess Not Perfection

·        The Power of Perfectionism

·        How to deal with Comparison

·        Celebrating Your Perfectionism

·        10 Jedi Mind Tricks to Unlock You from Overthinking Everything – Counterfactual Thinking, Affective Forecasting & so many more!!

·        8 Behavioral Strategies for Restoration Habits for Long Term Growth – Reframe, Boundaries, Trusting Yourself & more

What you get:

·        Hours of pre-recorded videos (no expiration)

·        Downloadable resources and suggested at-home practices (no expiration)

·        Four 1-hr live support sessions (one per week) with Replay (no expiration)

·        $50USD

LIVE WORKSHOP SESSIONS WILL BE:

·        Wednesday, May 10th

·        Wednesday, May 17th

·        Wednesday, May 24th

·        Wednesday, May 31st

·        2 pm Eastern

·        Replay will be available

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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.

In this episode, we dive into a hot topic in the world of Ultra-Processed Food (UPF) Use Disorder—Harm Reduction. This concept, widely recognized in substance use recovery, has been largely undefined or misunderstood in the food addiction space. Today, we explore:

• What is harm reduction?
• How does it work in food addiction recovery?
• Who might benefit from harm reduction strategies?
• Practical ways harm reduction can be applied in real-world recovery

Join Clarissa and Molly as they break down harm reduction principles, share real-life client applications, and discuss how respect for autonomy, compassion over shame, and evidence-based strategies can support individuals on their unique recovery paths.

Key Topics Discussed:
✅ Respecting Individual Recovery Journeys – Meeting people where they’re at without shame or coercion
✅ Common Misconceptions About Harm Reduction – How it differs from moderation management
✅ Practical Harm Reduction Strategies – Meal timing, food sequencing, mindful eating, and more
✅ Addressing Clinician Pushback – Why harm reduction is often misunderstood in food addiction spaces
✅ Balancing Abstinence & Harm Reduction – Helping clients determine the best path for them
✅ The Role of Medications & Surgical Interventions – Understanding how medical tools can support food addiction recovery

Key Harm Reduction Principles:

1. Respect for the Person

• Compassion over shame: People struggling with UPF addiction deserve respect and understanding—not guilt or judgment.
• Meeting people where they are: Recovery is personal; some may need to eliminate certain foods, while others focus on reducing harm without complete abstinence.
• Building trust: Encouraging open, non-judgmental conversations fosters a supportive recovery environment.

2. Commitment to Evidence

• Understanding food addiction science: Research shows UPFs hijack the brain’s reward system, leading to compulsive overeating. Harm reduction is based on evidence, not willpower.
• Using proven strategies: Structured meal planning, protein-rich whole foods, and blood sugar stabilization can help reduce cravings and binge episodes.
• Medication as a tool: Some individuals benefit from medications like Naltrexone/Bupropion to regulate cravings—similar to medication-assisted treatment for substance use.

3. Focus on Harms

• Minimizing the most damaging behaviors: Recovery is not about immediate perfection but reducing harm over time.
• Shifting food choices: A harm-reduction model may involve replacing binge-triggering UPFs with minimally processed alternatives.
• Reducing metabolic harm: Eating whole foods first, balancing blood sugar, and prioritizing nutrition can help mitigate UPF-related health consequences.

4. Recognizing Food Addiction Realities

• Not everyone can quit UPFs overnight: A phased approach may be more sustainable.
• UPFs are engineered for addiction: Willpower alone is not enough—practical strategies like structured eating and environmental changes can help.
• Food as a coping mechanism: Understanding the emotional role of UPFs helps individuals develop healthier coping strategies.

5. Prioritizing Autonomy

• Individualized recovery paths: Some people thrive with full abstinence, while others focus on reducing harm in certain settings (e.g., social gatherings).
• Empowering self-directed choices: Individuals should have the freedom to set their own recovery boundaries and decide which tools work for them.
• Allowing flexibility: Recovery is not all-or-nothing—setbacks are learning experiences, not failures.

6. Socio-Cultural Sensitivity

• Considering food access and affordability: Many people in recovery have financial or geographical barriers to whole foods. Harm reduction respects these realities.
• Cultural food traditions: Recovery must honor cultural identity while balancing UPF reduction goals.
• Reducing stigma in marginalized communities: A non-judgmental, compassionate approach is crucial, especially for those with limited resources.

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Final Takeaway:
Harm reduction is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and neither is abstinence. The key is bio-individuality—what works for YOU? We encourage both individuals in recovery and clinicians to stay curious, open-minded, and evidence-based when considering recovery tools.

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Email us: 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.