The Model Health Show

The next Watergate… the next Covfefe… the next New World Order is… coconut oil?

It’s remarkable how foods go in and out of fashion. A similar thing has happened with eggs. For centuries folks were eating whole eggs because, well, that’s how they come. Then saturated fat and cholesterol were villainized, and the egg yolks got the boot. Suddenly we were forced to endure the not-quite-right taste of egg white omelets. Then, years later, whole eggs are vindicated, and they are back on the menu again. Come to find out, cholesterol is an important part of building all of your sex hormones. It’s an important carrier molecule to ship critical nutrients from one place to another in your body. Plus, it helps the neurons in your brain to function properly and do things like form memories. So, yeah, it’s kind of important. Unless you don’t want to remember what you just read.

The reality is, it’s not cholesterol, but the oxidation of cholesterol that is the culprit behind increased risk of health problems. This study published in Biological Research is just one of the many sources that have been clear on this for years. The better question is, “How do we reduce the oxidation of the cholesterol and healthy, delicate fats in the eggs?”, not “How do we get rid of eggs?”. But, hey, the chicken crossed the road for lesser reasons, right?

One quick tip here is to simply not cook the yolk… have your eggs sunny side up or poached. If that’s not your cup of eggnog, you can opt for adding some potent antioxidants in along with your meal. As the study cites, antioxidants like rosemary oleoresin extract and the flavonoid quercetin efficiently inhibit the thermal-induced oxidation of cholesterol. Even something as simple as mixing the potent antioxidant/anti-inflammatory powerhouse turmeric in with your scrambled eggs can be helpful in preventing the oxidation bi-products from cooking. So, this simple example shows us something important that we need to carry with us always: It’s not just the food itself, it’s also how you use it.

After all is said and done, eggs go in and out of the secret spy, not-to-be-trusted list… and the overwhelmed public is tossed in a pool of conflicting information with no floaties, and no experience swimming through the actual clinical research.

But, this isn’t like the 1960s and 1970s where you had to just rely on the “experts” who look at the research and then tell you what to do. Today we have this interesting thing on our phones called the internet where you can go and look at the actual studies too. Information is not reserved for the few anymore, it’s available for everyone who’s interested in learning the whole story.

That brings us to the American Heart Association’s recent coconut-scented backslap. The internet was abuzz with news that coconut oil is not only unhealthy, but it was never healthy to begin with. Well, at least that’s what the hot, clickbait headline said. Everybody loves a good controversy, but at the end of the day we want the facts to speak for themselves.

On learning the whole story, you find out some pretty sketchy things about the AHA, who happens to be sponsored by pharmaceutical companies like Merck, Eli Lilly, and Pfizer. I bring this up because drugs and today’s conventional diet are salsa dancing together, and it gets real hot and steamy between the two.

Obviously, and I mean obviously, the drug company’s goals are not to sell less drugs. They have to have sick people around who are uneducated about what creates wellness. It’s easy to just trust in the foods stamped with the AHA’s approval. The problem is that the AHA puts their heart-healthy stamp on foods like Honey Nut Cheerios and even Subway sandwiches. Yep, not kidding. Not that long ago, the almighty American Heart Association endorsed Subway’s sandwiches even though their bread contained toxic compounds like Azodicarbonamide, and despite the fact that this chemical is banned in several other countries. The World Health Organization has confirmed that it’s linked it to chronic respiratory issues and allergies. Other studies have found it to be a carcinogen, and the U.K. Health And Safety Executive has recognized azodicarbonamide to be a contributing factor to asthma, specifically. Heart healthy Subway used it as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner, which allowed them to produce bread faster and cheaper. Where else can you find your neighborhood friendly azodicarbonamide? Oh, it’s pretty cool… it’s used to make yoga mats and rubber for shoes. You know, just typical things we love to eat (said no one ever… accept maybe Oscar the Grouch).

This doesn’t even bring in the antibiotics used in their food sourcing, the high glycemic nature of the breads, and all other manner of things that definitely are not heart healthy. The stamp of the AHA lands on many addictive, low quality foods that are known to contribute to disease. And with sick people, you get to sell more drugs. Big Pharma and the unethical organizations like the AHA win, but the public’s health loses.

All of this sounds a little bit fishy, because it is. In fact, it’s full-on Little Mermaid fishy because the AHA also has members of the U.S. Canola Association on its nutrition advisory panel. Do you think they’re NOT going to recommend that you consume canola oil? With conventional canola oil you’re getting a frequently genetically modified rapeseed that’s proven to contribute to serious health problems. A study published in the journal Lipids found that rats bred to have high blood pressure died faster when fed canola oil as their source of fat. Maybe that would have made a better headline… but instead the AHA chose to go after a food that’s been around for centuries (whereas as the canola oil we are using today was basically invented in the 1970’s).

In the article bashing coconut oil that made its rounds on the internet, they are admittedly using old, flawed studies. And these studies are mostly focusing on saturated fat, and not coconut oil itself. And this is important… because all saturated fat is not the same! Plus, they essentially ignore more updated research that completely demolishes this silly fight against coconut oil. But hey, when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

I actually went into the studio and recorded this episode on coconut oil just about a week before this big news story hit the interwebs. I had no idea the AHA and related entities had this up their sleeves, I just felt compelled to share this information so that we can all live healthier, happier, better informed lives.

I feel that this episode will clear up a lot of questions and help you to gain some clarity over the misinformation that’s out there. And remember this like you remember the lyrics from your favorite boy band song: Just because it’s on the internet, does not mean that it’s true. And if you want to dive in further on the real health benefits of fats, specifically saturated fat, and where all of this diet drama began a few decades ago, then be sure to head over and check out my conversations with Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Cate Shanahan and Dr. Joseph Mercola after you enjoy the coconut pants off this episode. Let’s go!

In this episode you'll discover:

  • The mysterious origins of the coconut tree.
  • How coconut oil is actually made.
  • Which health damaging practices some conventional coconut oil makers use during processing.
  • Why dietary fat has a terrible marketing name.
  • What clinical studies say about coconut oil and weight gain.
  • How uncoupling protein influences fat burning.
  • How coconut oil affects waist circumference.
  • The impact that coconut oil has on cholesterol levels (you need to know this!).
  • What potential problem you might run into eating coconut oil (if you really try).
  • The 20 ways to use coconut oil for wellness.
  • How to add coconut oil to your diet with several delicious methods.
  • The best way to remove makeup (and even tar!).
  • Whether or not coconut oil is ideal for facial skin.
  • The surprising way that coconut oil impacts dental health.
  • Crucial things to consider when buying personal lubricants.
  • Dangerous chemicals that are found in typical toothpastes.
  • Important tips for sunburn protection.
  • How coconut oil can be used as an effective antibacterial.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

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What does adrenal fatigue really mean? What causes it? And is there actually a cure?

These are just some of the questions we’re answering today with the author of the New York Times bestselling book The Adrenal Reset Diet, Dr. Alan Christianson.

Dr. C knows about adrenal issues at a far deeper level than most. Being the accomplished endocrinologist that he is, that’s one thing. But being someone who’s overcome devastating health issues himself, puts him in a league of his own.

You’re going to uncover piece-by-piece how your incredible endocrine system works to keep you fit, energized, and healthy. It’s these connective pieces that can bring you game-changing results in how you feel in just a matter of days. Adrenal fatigue is a hot illness right now, but it’s time that we kick it off the runway and let radiant health strut its stuff. Click play, take good notes, and enjoy!

In this episode you'll discover:

  • How struggles with severe childhood illnesses led Dr. Christianson into the field of medicine.
  • What your endocrine system actually encompasses.
  • Where the CEO of your endocrine system is located.
  • What hormones really are.
  • Why our thyroids are more susceptible to disease today.
  • The potential downside of iodine for your thyroid (this is important!).
  • How the pancreas is involved in maintaining metabolic rate.
  • How your liver influences your blood sugar (far beyond the foods you eat!).
  • Why mathematical models for human health are not always accurate.
  • Why we might want to be a little more cautious about ketogenic diets.
  • What role your adrenal glands play in ketosis.
  • The critical functions cortisol is responsible for.
  • Surprising facts about your adrenal glands.
  • The truth about adrenal fatigue and why it’s not exactly what the name implies.
  • How cortisol influences your sleep patterns.
  • The practical steps you can use to reverse perceived adrenal issues.
  • The ideal time to eat carbs to support adrenal health.
  • Why resistant starch might be a crucial part of your diet.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Model Health Show. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering life-changing information for you every week!

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Direct download: 226-The_Truth_About_Adrenal_Fatigue_-_With_Dr._Alan_Christianson.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:32pm PDT

When the going gets tough, the tough take a nap. That’s how it goes, right?

More and more today, napping is being considered acceptable by societal standards. There was a time when being caught “sleeping on the job” was frowned upon. Now, today, innovative companies like Google actually encourage their employees to nap if they feel the desire to. The results?...

Higher employee work output, higher levels of job satisfaction, and lower levels of stress. Can a good nap do all of that? Well, maybe.

One thing for certain is that simply having the ability to catch a few z’s during the day is comforting. Life happens, and even the tough get sleepy. But, as you’ll discover in this episode, you don’t want to let the smooth nap fool you.

There is a lot more to napping than meets the eye. Also, there is a growing amount of national sleep deficit that we are currently trying to find a way to pay off. The need for a nap might just be a symptom of a bigger issue… and all of that we’ll be rolling the covers back on today.

Plus, no one knows the seduction of a good nap like the folks who have small children. In this episode we’re going to provide some crucial insights to help parents (and their kids) to sleep better at night. Let’s do this!

In this episode you'll discover:

  • Which medicinal mushroom is clinically proven to enhance deep sleep.
  • What the 2 different types of sleep debt are.
  • How time at a casino caused me to take a major mortgage on sleep.
  • Which health problems are associated with even a small amount of sleep debt.
  • What just one week of sleep debt can do to your testosterone.
  • How sleep debt affects weight loss.
  • Practical tips to help you prevent sleep debt in the first place.
  • What the best form of melatonin is (and the optimal way to utilize it!).
  • How sleep debt influences your food choices.
  • What the underlying reasons for napping are (this might surprise you!).
  • Whether or not naps help you to recover from prolonged sleep debt.
  • What the optimal amount of time for a nap should be (more than meets the eye!).
  • How a certain type of nap can influence your memory.
  • When the best time of day to take a nap is.
  • Whether or not you release enough melatonin during the day for better sleep.
  • The differences between monophasic, biphasic, and polyphasic sleep.
  • The major keys to making biphasic sleep work for you (if you choose).
  • Why the time you go to bed matters.
  • What it really means to sleep like a baby.
  • The most important factors to helping your small children sleep through the night.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

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Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Model Health Show. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering life-changing information for you every week!

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There are many paths to our fitness goals. Some will get you there faster than others. And some will get you there so overly yolked that you look like crossfitting, keto eating Hulk Hogan.

Having 24 inch pythons like Hulk Hogan probably isn’t the goal for everyone. But getting to our body composition and fitness goals injury-free is. We’ve become strangely trapped in our linear movements in exercise today. Press with both arms in one direction with equal weight (i.e. bench press), squat up and down with both legs with equal weight (i.e. barbell squats), pull yourself straight up with total symmetry (i.e. strict pull ups), and these are the basics of our exercise programs today.

Don’t get me wrong, those movements are all valuable and popular for a reason. But, we may have gotten so set in those movements that they may have put us at a disadvantage when it comes to moving in the real world.

In reality… in life, and in competition, very rarely are you facing resistance that’s perfectly balanced on both sides of your body. That said, a healthy, almost necessary adjunct to training for life is to have unconventional resistance, unbalanced stressors that our body’s have to adapt to, and tools that make it easier (and safer) than that nutty buddy who has the picture of himself doing barbell squats while standing on top a swiss ball on social media.

For unconventional training, there’s one person who jumps right in my mind. He’s the man behind one of the biggest brands in the world in natural nutrition and unconventional training. He didn’t just create a company, he created a movement. And this movement has athletes the likes of All-Pro safety Earl Thomas from the Seattle Seahawks, UFC champion Tyron Woodley, and hundreds of thousands of everyday people from all around the world getting Onnit and transforming their bodies and their lives. Aubrey Marcus is in the house and he’s dropping some serious knowledge bombs! Click play, focus in, and enjoy!

In this episode you'll discover:

  • What growing up around athletes can instill in a child’s mindset.
  • Why having a coach that makes you feel bad can be counterproductive.
  • How to find more balance in helping our kids to decide their path in life.
  • What unconventional training means.
  • Why today’s typical training methods do not mimic reality.
  • How unconventional exercises can help to injury-proof your body.
  • Where the kettlebell originated and what its best applications are.
  • What some of the biggest mistakes with the kettlebell swing are.
  • Why steel clubs and steel maces were developed for warriors.
  • The #1 exercise someone with muscle imbalances from their sport (like swinging a baseball bat or golf club from the same side for years) needs to be doing.
  • Why battle rope exercises meet a need that no other conventional HIIT method can deliver.
  • Why battle ropes are great tools for people who are just beginning to get in shape and for experienced exercisers as well.
  • What it means to become physically literate.
  • What some of the greatest athletes on the planet carry in their mindset (this is valuable!).
  • How Aubrey was able to bypass “parasitic capitalism” and create a real movement.
  • What rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were able to reveal about the Alpha Brain supplement.
  • The truth about caffeine and why it’s not an ideal long-term solution for focus and energy.
  • Why feeling that you’re not enough is one of the biggest hindrances of success.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Download The Transcript

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Model Health Show. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering life-changing information for you every week!

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“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That’s how the timeless classic from Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities begins... and it couldn’t be any more accurate today.

Right now we have instant information at our fingertips. The answers to almost any question you can ask (including important questions like “Why do they keep remaking Spider-man?”) are just seconds away. We have an abundance of food for billions of people (I have some issues with this, but let me not digress). We have the ability to travel anywhere on the planet within hours. We have safer communities, more wealth, more access to education, and the ability to bypass conventional gatekeepers and become a shining success through the power of social media. Sounds like a pretty cool world, right? Well, don’t sign up for this field trip quite yet.

At the same time today, we have higher rates of disease and poor health than at any other time in documented human history. We have cyberbullying and endless criticism if you do decide to “put yourself out there” and engage with the world online. We have so many nuclear weapons that we can destroy our own planet a hundred times over, we have covfefe, we have destruction of our natural resources, and, most noticeably by all of us, we have lives that are filled to the brim with things to do. We have tasks to accomplish a mile long, and not enough minutes in the day to make much of a dent in it. So, my question to you is: How do we actually thrive in all of this?

Figuring this out would be like figuring out why anyone would ever travel anywhere with Tom Hanks (he’s been stranded on an island, hijacked at sea, and crashed, not one, but two airplanes.) Yet, there are incredible people walking around today who have uncovered a thing or two about what to do when you’re living in the busiest time of human existence... when you have access to so much opportunity, yet, you have so much distraction that it can seriously paralyze you.

One of those people who has uncovered some mind-blowing secrets to success today is Carrie Wilkerson. She’s one of the world’s top speakers, a bestselling author, a wife, a mother of four, and proof that not all superheroes wear capes. She has created several successful businesses and helped countless others to do the same. Oh, and did I mention that she found time to lose 140 pounds of excess weight along the way?!

Seriously, it sounds like her life is made up, but it’s actually as real as it can get. She faces the same daily challenges and decisions as all of us. She’s been through trials and tribulations that would make The Macho Man Randy Savage curl up in a corner and weep big, muscular tears. Learning from her is like a getting masterclass on how to overcome your excuses and blast-through any obstacles that stand in your way. I’m beyond excited to share her with you today. So, click play, listen in, and let the best of times begin!

In this episode you'll discover:

  • Which food is actually clinically proven to increase antioxidants levels in your body.
  • Why our mission in life can often start out as an accident.
  • Why carrying excess weight is often a symptom of other things we’re dealing with.
  • What ultimately enabled Carrie to lose 145 pounds (so amazing!).
  • Why honesty and responsibility are huge factors in transforming our health.
  • Three critical keys to improve the areas of your life that matter most.
  • How tracking and course-correcting play an important role in achieving long-term results.
  • The #1 thing we need to accomplish our goals with our increasingly busy lifestyles.
  • Why being resourceful can be life-changing for you if you don’t have the resources.
  • Some of the best ways to indulge in your favorite media (without putting you behind the ball on your goals).
  • Why self-awareness is the most overlooked secret to success.
  • Why gaining awareness starts with having less awareness of what others are doing.

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Download The Transcript

Thank you so much for checking out this episode of The Model Health Show. If you haven’t done so already, please take a minute and leave a quick rating and review of the show on Apple Podcasts by clicking on the link below. It will help us to keep delivering life-changing information for you every week!

Click Here to Subscribe via Apple Podcasts

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