Vitamin & Me

Jessica Houston is an award winning, Johns Hopkins-trained nutritionist, creator of EatClean30 and founder of Vitamin & Me. She is deconstructing the health space and bringing you access and clear guidance straight from the world's leading experts on strategies to increase healthspan, mental and physical wellbeing through a deeper understanding of nutrition, fitness and wellness. On this podcast, we take you behind the scenes with top global health leaders so you can learn what proper nutrition actually means AND hear the stories behind their work. We dive into mental and physical wellbeing to give you a deeper understanding of YOUR own health journey.

Borders of Humanity: One Family’s Story Sheltering Ukrainian Refugees 07/06/2022

Dr. John Kitchen | Diabetic Retinopathy in Pregnancy and Across the Lifespan 04/06/2022

Brittyn King | Maternal Fitness Expert on Postpartum Anxiety 03/30/2022

Dr. Jed Fahey and Sharon Cryan | Ultra-processed Foods and Living Your Youngest You 03/23/2022

Dr. Jed Fahey and Sharon Cryan | Ultra-processed Foods and Living Your Youngest You Processed food intake has been on the rise since the industrial revolution. Today, more than 70% of available food in the US is processed. Even with the best of intentions – world hunger, stunting, blindness – food manufacturers got one major thing wrong. Most ultra-processed food is devoid of essential nutrients – vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients – necessary for a healthy life. More than 90% of the American population is deficient in at least one essential nutrient. Malnutrition in a developing nation may lead to stunting or death because of a lack of food access and acute healthcare. But in the United States, in most cases, we have access to food and acute care facilities. Instead, we see malnutrition play out as chronic diseases. This touches every phase of the lifespan – including pregnancy – and leads to decades of reduced quality of life and increased financial burden that affects generations. It comes as no surprise that chronic diseases continue to rise. And this generation is now facing them much earlier in life, even at the peak of child-bearing years. This is why the concept of the first 1000 days – from conception to 2 years of life – is so important. We have to get it right. Even though I approach this work as a nutritional scientist, I’m also a mother. I know that sometimes it’s hard to meet the demands of life and feed my family fresh food every day. I’m forced to make a choice from what is available – I’m sure you can relate. But parents, like you and me, are demanding better. Consumers know there is a better option. And now industry is starting to listen. Sharon Cryan, an attorney turned founder, cares deeply about the effect of highly processed foods and their link to chronic disease. She is passionate about addressing the major flaws within the food industry and set out to make a change through innovation and transparency. Her company, Foodnerd, develops products that are formulated and produced with novel processing techniques that maintain the nutrients found in whole foods and supports gut health. Sharon is joining us today to chat about the future of convenient and healthy eating, alongside one our favorites, Dr. Jed Fahey. If you listen to our show, you’ll know that Jed was here last year chatting about his work on sulforaphane and plant-based nutrition. And he’s here again to chat with YOU about science & ultraprocessed foods. Jed’s socials: @jedosan Sharon’s socials: @foodnerdinc Vitamin & Me Socials: @vitaminandme @jessicakhouston /episode/index/show/vitaminandme/id/22540271

Doug Evans | Optimizing Nutrition with Plant-based Sprouting 03/16/2022

Doug Evans | Optimizing Nutrition with Plant-based Sprouting Since the industrial revolution, western diets have catalyzed a new kind of malnutrition; one that is calorie dense, but devoid of essential nutrients. And with that, we’ve seen a rise in chronic disease across nations. Research has demonstrated that populations who consume a diverse, plant-based diet (not necessarily vegan or vegetarian) are among those that live the longest, healthiest lives. A thriving microbiome plays a critical role in health outcomes and is supported by a robust nutrient profile, which includes vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients only found in unprocessed or thoughtfully processed plants. Scientists have discovered that sprouts are one of the most nutrient dense plants on the planet. This nutritional powerhouse offers substantial support to the microbiome and nearly every system in the body. And harvesting sprouts is a low cost, quick return approach to consuming a diverse plant-based diet – a diet, we now know, is central to longevity outcomes. Doug Evans, a California-based sprouting expert, is an early pioneer in the food industry. He co-founded Organic Avenue, one of the first exclusively raw, organic and plant-based retail chains in the country. He later founded Juicero, the first fresh, farm to glass automatic cold-press juicer, with the mission of bringing more fresh produce to the home. Doug is changing how we think about nutritious foods and is dedicated to helping others learn how to eat well. His passion for plant-based foods has given rise to a gardening revolution and a new endeavor to help others grow their own food right in the kitchen in an affordable and accessible way. Doug is on a mission to help you learn how to grow and eat the most nutritious food on the planet, sprouts. And he’s here today to chat with YOU about his new book, The Sprout Book, and the power of sprouts. Listen as Doug teaches you about the benefits of sprouting at home. His book includes a transformative plan for sprouting, so he can come alongside you in your journey to clean, affordable nutrition. Doug’s book & socials: @dougevans Vitamin & Me Socials: @vitaminandme @jessicakhouston /episode/index/show/vitaminandme/id/22464605

Carson Meyer | Pregnancy Doula - The Business of Birthing and Growing Together 03/09/2022

Michelle Reeves | Financial Wellness and NFTs with Mavion World 03/03/2022

Women’s Health with She-ology Expert Dr. Sherry Ross 03/02/2022

Dr. Darya Rose | The Psychology and NeuroScience of Seasonal Eating 02/23/2022

Dr. Kara Fitzgerald | Younger You: Reverse Aging and Live Longer, Better 02/16/2022

Dr. Lisa Davis | Healthy Habits for Weight Management 02/09/2022

Dr. Lisa Davis | Healthy Habits for Weight Management Millions of people across the world struggle with weight management. The statistics around obesity and weight gain are staggering, especially right now. 47% of women and 55% of men reported weight gain at the start of lock down. The number of states reporting obesity at 35% or higher doubled at the beginning of the pandemic. Now, our wellness routines look very different than they did before this started. Much of the difficulty in weight management for everyone is rooted in psychology – our mindset, our habits, and body positivity. Research has shown that getting our mindset right is one of the most significant factors in long-term implementation and maintenance of healthy habits. A positive mindset leads to improved adoption and adherence of microshifts in our daily life that dramatically impact weight. Microshifts in our daily routine improve factors like sleep, mood and stress that have a cyclic effect on our weight management journey. These gentle nudges reduce the risk of chronic disease and complications from conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. New evidence now shows that we can even age in reverse with these simple behavior changes. When you successfully establish routines that work for you rather than against you, the nuances of utilizing macro and micronutrition alongside exercise and stress management seem much more attainable. Dr. Lisa Davis is a Hopkins trained nutritionist in the field of obesity neuroscience. She's an internationally recognized expert in weight management whose work has reached millions across the world including celebrities and high-profile executives. She’s a certified nutrition specialist and physician’s assistant with extensive experience in clinical medicine and research, focusing on obesity and obesity related comorbidities. She has served as the Vice President of Scientific and Clinical Affairs at MediFast, Chief Nutrition Officer at Terra’s Kitchen, and consultant for many nutrition-based startups. Lisa is here today to bring YOU expert knowledge from her incredibly successful nutrition career so that you can begin to understand the psychology of behavior change AND how small, healthy habits can lead to success on your weight management journey. Vitamin & Me Socials: @vitaminandme @jessicakhouston /episode/index/show/vitaminandme/id/22069790

Dr. Misha Kogan | Evidence behind CBD and Medical Cannabis 02/02/2022

Dr. Misha Kogan | Evidence behind CBD and Medical Cannabis When it comes to navigating CBD and medical marijuana, the options can be overwhelming. In many ways, the cart is before the horse. And, it’s already bursting at the seams. Research has been trying to catch up, with recent advancements showing the potential benefits as well as the drawbacks of cannabis. Scientists and physicians are quickly realizing that CBD and medical cannabis might just reclaim a useful place in medicine. What we do know is that there are many nuances. It is not a panacea, but there seem to be positive benefits if applied appropriately in the right conditions. Cannabis has been used in medicine for thousands of years, but to more fully understand the plant’s complexities, more clinical studies are necessary. Pain management, sleep, anxiety, mood, nausea, skin conditions, women’s health, and neurological conditions are just some of the areas where research is pointing. Combining the different cannabinoids (CBD, THC, CBD, CBN, and more) with a diverse array of terpenes and flavonoids, allows for a personalized approach to capture the beneficial effects. However, the dosage and route of delivery must be optimized to the individual’s condition. Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Kogan MD, an expert in integrative and functional medicine, is leading the professional discussion in the field of medical cannabis. He serves as the medical director of the George Washington University Center for Integrative Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine George Washington University, the founder and executive director of the AIM Health Institute and a founding board member of the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Kogan has recommended medical marijuana to thousands of patients and frequently lectures to professional audiences across the world on medical cannabis. And he’s here today so YOU can begin to understand what the data currently shows on medical cannabis and to chat about his new book Medical Marijuana: Dr. Kogan’s Evidence-based Guide to the Health Benefits of Cannabis and CBD. Follow Dr. Kogan’s work: Dr. Kogan Socials: @mishakoganmd @aim_health_institute @gwintegrative Vitamin & Me Socials: @vitaminandme @jessicakhouston /episode/index/show/vitaminandme/id/21993665