298 - Wicked Good Food with Renowned Chef and Entrepreneur Chad Sarno
Release Date: 09/04/2024
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"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...
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"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...
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"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...
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"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...
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"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...
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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...
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“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...
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“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...
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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...
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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. - ...
info_outlineToday, we’re thrilled to welcome Chad Sarno, a visionary chef and entrepreneur who has transformed plant-based eating globally. As co-founder of Wicked Kitchen and Good Catch Foods, Chad has revolutionized convenience foods with bold, flavor-packed meals and sustainable seafood alternatives. His journey began when health issues from dairy consumption led him to explore plant-based cuisine, sparking a passion that propelled him onto the international stage, where he launched several vegan restaurants and co-authored bestsellers like Crazy Sexy Kitchen.
Chad’s influence extends beyond the kitchen—he's been a driving force behind making plant-centric diets a lasting part of our food culture. From leading Whole Foods Market’s Healthy Eating Program to teaching audiences on shows like The Morning Show and Good Day LA, Chad’s mission is clear: to make nutritious, cruelty-free food accessible to all. So stay with us as we delve into his culinary adventures and explore how he’s changing the world, one dish at a time!
“It goes back to setting yourself up for success. No matter what you're cooking, and plants are intimidating for people to stop eating their processed food and all that, all those animal products, you know, and they're going away from packaged foods, and you wanna adopt a healthy lifestyle and eat more plants. It's a change in lifestyle because you've got to focus on your food. You've gotta cook; you gotta cook a little bit more. You've gotta understand how to cook a little bit more, and you gotta know how to, you know, cut up some vegetables. You know, it takes a little bit more time than, or you can use frozen vegetables too. That's fine as well, but making sure that you set up so that you're successful in this diet change is massive, you know. And so those are my greatest tips is like, make sure you set yourself up. So it's not stress, it should be enjoyable, you know.” - Chef Chad Sarno
What we discuss in this episode:
- Chef Sarno’s health issues as a youth and how he became symptom-free within months after removing dairy from his diet.
- How going dairy-free inspired his career.
- His exploration of raw foods and journey into veganism.
- Sports, sustainability, and the future.
- Tips from Chef Sarno for success in the kitchen.
- How he communicates the vegan message to his children.
- The wonder and versatility of mushrooms.
Resources:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadsarno/?hl=en
- Website: Wicked Kitchen - https://wickedkitchen.com/
- Website: Meet Chad Sarno, Our Founding Chef - https://goodcatchfoods.com/meet-chad-sarno-our-founding-chef/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF4FF7ZzsDfcxFg3g68eY5A
- Book: The Wicked Healthy Cookbook: Free. From. Animals. - https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Healthy-Cookbook-Free-Animals/
- Book: Crazy Sexy Kitchen: 150 Plant-empowered Recipes to Ignite a Mouthwatering Revolution - https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Sexy-Kitchen-Plant-Empowered-Mouthwatering
- Sign up for Project Adapt: https://www.projectadapt.io/
- EarthAnimal.com/Switch4Good 20% off code: Switch4Good
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