Episode #19: The Power of Metabolic Flexibility: How to Achieve Optimal Health

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of Functional Health Radio, Dr. Kristin Hieshetter takes her listeners on an intimate journey through her personal experiences with health, diet, and intermittent fasting. She provides compelling insights into how various dietary practices have affected her well-being and discusses the significant shifts in her nutritional approach over the years. From grappling with family health history to embracing a Paleo diet and metabolic flexibility, Dr. Hieshetter shares her transformative health journey, one that could inspire many to reconsider their own dietary habits.

Dr. Hieshetter's discussion delves into the perils of modern eating habits, the importance of listening to one's body, and the power of learning from nutritional research. With an aim to demystify complex health topics such as autophagy, glycation, and metabolic flexibility, she equips listeners with the data and anecdotes necessary to understand the impacts of their food choices. Through her own story, Dr. Hieshetter emphasizes the need for a tailored approach to nutrition, addressing individual needs and health goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Everything consumed either immediately helps or harms the body; striving for a diet that is beneficial 80%-85% of the time can lead to positive health changes.

• Metabolic flexibility, the body's ability to seamlessly switch between using ketones and glucose for energy, is essential for successful intermittent fasting without negative side effects.

• Consuming the largest meal between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. can help manage blood sugar levels due to lower insulin levels during these hours.

• Avoiding grains and embracing a Paleo diet, composed mainly of vegetables, high-quality meats, and healthy fats, helped Dr. Hieshetter improve her overall health and navigate her pregnancies effectively.

• Veganism and other dietary practices can be healthy if they are well-balanced, and supplementation is used to fill in nutritional gaps.

Notable Quotes:

• "Everything we take into our bodies either immediately helps us or immediately harms us. There is no neutral."

• "So many people who attempt intermittent fasting who don't have metabolic flexibility, they feel absolutely terrible."

• "You don't want to be glycating your tissues before bed because it will age you very, very quickly."

• "Eat for quality, not quantity. Eat to live, don't live to eat."

Resources:

The following resources were mentioned in the episode:

• Scott Watier and Tommy's podcast on intermittent fasting.

• Dr. David Seaman's work on inflammation and nutrition.

• "Eat Right for Your Blood Type" book.

• "Grain Brain" by Dr. David Perlmutter.

• "Wheat Belly Diet" and "Undoctored" by Dr. William Davis.

• "Primal Body, Primal Mind" and "Primal Fat Burner" books by Nora Gedgaudas.

• The Weston A. Price Foundation website for finding reputable food sources.

Tune in to the full episode to dive deep into Dr. Kristin Hieshetter's personal health journey, gain an understanding of nutritional best practices, and uncover ways to implement lasting changes for a healthier lifestyle. Join us at Functional Health Radio for more compelling discussions that illuminate the path to wellness.