Libsyn Directory

294 - How to Eat Sweets & Be Healthy with Cookbook Author Chef AJ

Release Date: 08/07/2024

323 - What Are the Signs of Burnout? How Chronic Stress Hijacks Your Hormones, Energy & Career

Switch4Good

"Burnout is why I left. I just started talking myself out of it, that we shouldn’t do it anymore. I just kind of ignored those feelings. It’s strange to fall out of love with something that you’ve done every single moment of every single day for a very long time. Maybe it’ll be too sooner than later, right? But right now, that is going to keep it fresh. I want to keep this feeling." -Dotsie Bausch “I’m talking about how important B complex vitamins are for stress, and yet I’m at home, in my hotel room, on the road, grinding so hard that I’m not taking my own advice. I...

322 - Surprising Fiber Benefits, Heavy Metal Detox and Avoiding Gray Hair with Alexandra and Jason

Switch4Good

"A study that was done in 2022, it looked at over 4,000 adults over a 26-year span, and it found that just a 5-gram increase in fiber led to a lot less inflammation in the body. And they measured inflammation by C-reactive protein, which you can ask your doctor about when you get your next blood test to measure your CRP, or C-reactive protein, to see how inflamed you are. And when you have lower inflammation, this also lowers your heart attack risk. So, higher fiber in your diet can lower your heart attack risk by as much as 30%. Who knew, right?" -Alexandra Paul Today, we’re diving into the...

321 - The Pros and Cons of Cold Plunges & Antibiotics Plus Tips for Healthy Living with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

"I have wondered if heart attacks could be an issue because it is a shock to the body when you walk into a cold shower. I don’t know. When you did those plunges, did you sort of slowly go in, or did you go in all at once because it’s easier that way?" -Alexandra Paul "No. I go all in, all at once. For me, if I do the gradual process—where I’m just dipping a toe in, literally just dipping a toe in—the feedback that my mind will give me is: ‘Danger, danger, danger. Do not do this.’ So I do it because I want to override that fear response and the danger signals that my brain is...

320 - How to Avoid Dementia and Alleviate Depression with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

"You’ve also probably heard that playing an instrument helps your brain. And they did this study with twins. One twin played an instrument, and one twin didn’t. And the twin who played an instrument had a 64% lower likelihood of developing dementia. If you just remove your cataracts, you immediately improve your chances of not getting dementia by 30%." -Alexandra Paul “So, I want to introduce a food that is not prevalent yet in Western culture. And it’s one of the most incredible foods that has been growing in the Caribbean and tropical areas of Africa. It’s called…” -Jason...

319 - Gluten-Free Diet Concerns, Do Detoxes and Cleanses Work and How Much Water Should We Drink? with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

"So, if you keep a pitcher of water in your fridge, or if you prefer room temperature, you just put it on a counter, cut up some fruit or cucumber to give it a fancier taste. And I actually thought that’s what you did, Jason, because I kind of imagined you having water with, like, cucumber in it. I’m not that fancy, but it’s the easiest thing in the world. I mean, now that you’re saying it, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t. It makes it a little more interesting. Right?"-Alexandra Paul -Jason Wrobel We’re bombarded with health advice—ditch gluten, detox your body, drink more...

318 - Debunking Paleo, Tips to Stay Lean, a Cancer Fighting Supplement and Nighttime Eating with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

In this episode, Alexandra and Jason dive into the surprising role plants played in human evolution, challenging common Paleo diet myths. They share expert-backed strategies for staying lean long-term, including how to feel more satisfied with meals, and make time for exercise. Plus, Jason reveals his go-to superfood beverage and favorite breakfast recipes. The duo also answers your burning questions—exploring the potential health benefits of amla (Indian gooseberry) as a cancer-fighting supplement and whether late-night eating poses real risks. Don’t miss this packed episode full of...

317 - Lose Weight & Keep it Off; Are Seed Oils Bad for You?; Microplastics in Our Brains with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

“GLP-1 is this thing that they are putting in medications now to lower our appetite. And GLP-1 is made by our bodies too, but it’s down in our lower part of our intestine, and processed foods generally get processed way up high in the intestine because they don’t have a lot of fiber—they just get processed right away. But the higher-fiber whole foods make it down there and trigger the GLP-1 sensors to say, ‘Oh, we’ve got food, let’s cut off that appetite drive.’” -Alexandra Paul In this episode, Alexandra and Jason break down the real science behind weight loss—what...

316 - Exercise vs. Bad Diets, Intermittent Fasting, Soy Limits and The Alcohol/Cancer Link with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

“So, for people who might think, ‘You see, the vegan diet is too expensive’—no. You can get frozen fruits and vegetables too if you can't get the fresh ones. Absolutely, absolutely. This is true. And I'll do a tangent on your tangent. One of the things that I always recommend to people when I've done nutrition coaching in the past is, if they're price-sensitive, getting dried legumes and dried beans. They are some of the most nutrient-dense and cost-effective things you can buy.” -Alexandra Paul and Jason Wrobel How much cardiovascular exercise do you really need? What’s the truth...

315 - Acidic Foods & Inflammation, Eating for your Hormones, Toxic Air Protection and Vegan Breast Milk with Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

Today’s episode tackles big health questions and real-life challenges. Can breastfeeding vegans provide all the essential nutrients for their babies? A groundbreaking study from Amsterdam has the answer—and it may surprise you. Plus, can you rewire your microbiome to reverse lactose intolerance? If so, should you? And Jason shares firsthand what it’s like living with Los Angeles' post-wildfire air—spoiler: the real danger isn’t just in the smoke. From nutrition myths to hidden environmental threats, we’re cutting through the noise with facts that matter. Don’t miss this...

314 - Get Rid of Joint Pain, Lower Inflammation, Elevate Your Chi, How Vegans Get Plenty of Iron with Dotsie, Alexandra & Jason

Switch4Good

Get ready for a jam-packed episode that’s as exciting as it is informative! We’re diving into the power of black foods, the protein-packed perks of fava bean tofu, and tackling the big question: can you really get enough iron on a vegan diet? We’ll also explore how plant-based diets help combat inflammation and share a hot-off-the-press study debunking myths about plant-based alternatives—all with a side of Violife cheese deliciousness. Don’t miss this feast for your mind! Podcast sponsors: - Vedge Vegan Collagen: – use code S4G for 30% off your order. - ...

More Episodes

Change can be intimidating, especially when it involves giving up something you love, like sugar. But what if you could enjoy delicious alternatives without feeling deprived? Today’s guest is here to show us just how easy and satisfying it can be.

Chef AJ, a culinary instructor, author, and motivational speaker, is known for her no-nonsense approach to transforming lives through nutrient-dense recipes. On her YouTube show, Chef AJ Live, she offers expert interviews and live cooking demos that educate and inspire.

Her best-selling books, "Unprocessed" and "The Secrets to Ultimate Weight Loss," are must-reads for anyone embracing a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle. In her latest book, "Chef AJ's Sweet Indulgence: Guilt-Free Treats Sweetened Naturally with Fruit," she shares dessert recipes free from gluten, sugar, added salt, and oil, proving that healthy eating can delight your taste buds.

Her practical advice and vibrant personality have empowered countless people to take control of their health. So stay tuned as we explore her new book and discover the sweet side of healthy living!

“Fruit is to our natural diet throughout human history. It's a whole food. It's found in nature. It has water, fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, micronutrients. Sugar, whether it's white sugar, brown sugar, cane sugar. These are not whole foods found in nature. So all the fiber, all the nutrients have been stripped, and they really have few to no phytochemicals, antioxidants, and micronutrients. So there's a big difference because one of the things people have to understand is that fiber is only found in plants. It's not found in animal products, and it's not found in processed foods unless it's been added back in. And fiber is the reason that many people that adopt a vegan or whole food plant-exclusive diet can eat what we call ad libitum – as much as we want, as often as we want, whenever we want until comfortably full. Because fiber is what puts the brakes on overeating. And sugar has no fiber but fruit does.” - Chef AJ

What we discuss in this episode:

- Chef AJ's childhood and adult relationship with sweets.

- What makes Chef AJ’s sweets delicious and healthy?

- Fruit-sweetened desserts vs. processed sweetener desserts.

- How fiber is integral to prevent overeating.

- Retraining your palate.

- The link between calorie concentration and dopamine release.

- Chef AJ’s sweetness scale explained.

- How Chef AJ keeps her desserts moist without using oil.

- Chef AJ’s preferred fruits for naturally sweetening recipes.

- Her favorite recipes and kitchen gadgets.

Resources:

- If you purchase Sweet Indulgence by 8/31/24, just submit your receipt at https://sweetindulgence.chefaj.com/ and you’ll receive a video of every recipe in the book!

- Website: Chef AJ - https://chefaj.com/

- YouTube: CHEF AJ - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/CHEFAJ

- Instagram: Chef AJ (@therealchefaj) • Instagram photos and videos - https://www.instagram.com/therealchefaj/?hl=en

- Facebook: Chef AJ - https://www.facebook.com/chef.aj1/

- Episode 17: Chef AJ Shares How She Lost 50 Lbs and Food Addiction - https://switch4good.org/chef-aj-shares-how-she-lost-50-lbs-and-food-addiction/

★☆★ Help us remove dairy from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans! ★☆★

https://switch4good.org/dietary-guidelines-for-americans-2025/

★☆★ Click the link below to support the ADD SOY Act! ★☆★

https://switch4good.org/add-soy-act/

★☆★ Share the website and get your resources here ★☆★

https://kidsandmilk.org/

★☆★ Send us a voice message and ask a question. We want to hear from you! ★☆★