The Gene Food Podcast

The Peanut Allergy Study Every Carnivore Dieter Needs to Read

Gene Food — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 20:21:31 GMT

The episode discusses the impact of environmental factors on food sensitivities and allergies, highlighting the role of air pollution in driving allergic reactions. It also explores the implications of location and environmental exposure on health outcomes and the limitations of dietary interventions in the absence of environmental considerations.

Takeaways

Environmental factors play a significant role in food sensitivities and allergies.
The impact of location and environmental exposure on health outcomes is a crucial consideration in personalized health approaches.

Chapters

00:00 The Role of Air Pollution in Allergic Reactions
08:02 Limitations of Dietary Interventions

The Two Unhealthiest Types of People (and How I am Reclaiming My Health) with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Tue, 26 May 2026 21:38:24 GMT

The podcast episode delves into the challenges faced by parents and entrepreneurs, highlighting the stress and health implications associated with these roles. It explores the impact of parenting on mental and physical health, as well as the stress and obsession experienced by entrepreneurs. The episode emphasizes the importance of environmental factors and lifestyle changes in addressing these challenges.

Takeaways

Parenting challenges
Entrepreneurial stress

Chapters

00:00 The Parenting Challenge
09:49 The Entrepreneurial Stress

Carnivore Diet ≠ Longevity, Escaping Reactivity, LDL Traps, and Real Food with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Sun, 24 May 2026 00:00:23 GMT

The podcast episode explores the carnivore diet and its impact on autoimmunity, reactivity and the immune system, and the concept of a longevity diet with a diverse range of foods. It delves into the challenges of reactivity and the importance of calming the immune system for long-term health.

Takeaways

Carnivore diet for autoimmunity
Reactivity and immune system
Longevity diet and diversity of foods

Chapters

00:00 The Carnivore Diet and Autoimmunity
06:01 The Longevity Diet and Diversity of Foods

Nietzsche, UFOs, Leaving California, and How Location Shapes Health with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Tue, 19 May 2026 22:57:12 GMT

The conversation explores the impact of environmental factors on health and wellness, emphasizing the influence of location and climate on nutrition, genetic influence on environmental phenotypes, and the importance of optimizing health based on location. It delves into the UFO analogy to highlight the significance of environmental care and the role of environmental signals in health. The discussion also addresses the impact of environmental factors on health biomarkers and the development of health protocols based on environmental phenotypes.

Takeaways

Environment as a Health Driver
Impact of Location on Health

Chapters

00:00 The Influence of Climate on Nutrition
08:07 UFO Analogy and Ideal Habitat
13:56 Environmental Impact on Health Biomarkers

The Zoo Animal Theory of Health, PM 2.5, Leptin, Italian Wheat and More with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Sat, 09 May 2026 15:15:00 GMT

The Gene Food Podcast is back with a new focus. In the episode we discuss the new Environment product, the Zoo animal theory of health, and how PM 2.5 affects weight gain.

Dissenting Opinions on Popular Supplements, Skip the Collagen, Peptides, Metformin, Omega-3 and More with our Industry Insider

Gene Food — Fri, 31 May 2019 17:29:05 GMT

How do you know you're taking the right supplements, or even worse, could your supplements be making you sick? Supplements, otherwise known as nutraceuticals, can have tremendous efficacy for millions of people when taken at the right time at the right dose. However, there are also circumstances where the marketing of supplements far outpaces the science and in many cases, people aren't getting the quality they are being sold on. In this episode of the podcast, we interview our industry insider who rose to fame in the Most Fish Oil is Garbage post about what to look for in a good supplement and why some of the most popular supplements aren't always worth your time and money.

The Fear of Food, Nietzsche, Nutrition Influencers, Fort Michilimackinac and More With John O'Connor

Gene Food — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 18:59:43 GMT

As more and more restrictive diets explode onto the nutrition scene, a growing number of people are cutting out an increasingly long list of foods from their diets. In the latest episode of the Gene Food Podcast, we explore ideas for finding dietary balance.

Vegan Sex, Ex-Vegans, Bodybuilding, Documentaries and Nutrient Deficiencies with Dr. Joel Kahn

Gene Food — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:50:44 GMT

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Dr. Joel Kahn, an integrative cardiologist with a practice in both Detroit and Atlanta. Dr. Kahn has become well known as an outspoken advocate of plant-based diets as a nutritional intervention for both preventing and reversing heart disease. Dr. Kahn has appeared on the Joe Rogan podcast as well as the popular Vegan documentary What the Health. He has also been featured several times on the Doctors as well as many other national television programs. In this episode, we cover a lot of interesting topics with Dr. Kahn, including:

The latest thinking on healthy fats
When we can expect the release of the next Vegan documentary, Game Changers
Ex-Vegans and Vegan YouTube culture
Vegan bodybuilding
Do Vegans have better sex?
Nutrient deficiencies on Vegan diets, especially Omega-3s
The most important labs for measuring heart health and more

A Genetic Explanation for Success on the Carnivore Diet, Debating LDL, Protein Metabolism and more with L. Amber O'Hearn

Gene Food — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 16:19:03 GMT

The carnivore diet is all the rage right now, with some outspoken advocates telling us that all plants are "bad for us" and that meat heals. I've written a blog post titled Why the Carnivore Diet is Probably Bad for you and What to try Instead, so my views as they apply to most people are no secret. Having said that, it's clear the carnivore diet offers benefits for some people. Why would certain individuals be healthier eating nothing but meat? In this episode of the podcast, we go beyond the usual diet wars and instead focus on genetic traits that could signal either success or failure on a carnivore diet. Our guest, L. Amber O'Hearn is one of the original carnivores. She created the Carnivore Diet Conference and credits an all meat diet with healing her bipolar disorder. Amber was a great sport to come on the show and there is a lot we can learn from the research she has done. Tune in for a nuanced discussion on the carnivore diet.

Biohack Fails, Unusual Heart Drug Side Effects, The Impact of Diet on LDL-C, and the Latest in Nutrigenetic Testing with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 18:14:58 GMT

Pharmaceutical drugs, especially statins, tend to get a bad rap, but the world of heart drugs goes well beyond statins. In fact, one of the best known heart drugs called Zetia, is used as a therapy for people who hyper absorb cholesterol as well as plant sterol. At Gene Food we are interested in both cholesterol and sterol absorption as the tendency to hyper absorb is tied heavily to genetics. In this episode of the podcast, John shares his experience taking Zetia as a "biohack" experiment to see what the drug would do to his lipid numbers. As we see in the episode, the experiment didn't quite go as planned. Later in the episode both John and Dr. Aaron discuss how different diets have impacted their blood work, specifically C reactive protein, a marker of inflammation in the body, and LDL-C.

DNA Diets vs. The Microbiome, The Future of Personalized Nutrition, and The Value of Simplicity with Mariette Abrahams, PHD

Gene Food — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 15:31:39 GMT

The personalized nutrition revolution is here, but which factors are most important? Will nutrigenomics shape the future of a personalized approach to food or is the microbiome more important? How can we make sure clinical research takes into account underrepresented communities and people of color?

We discuss all of these topics and more with our guest Mariette Abrahams, RD, PHD. Mariette is the founder of Qina, a platform dedicated to helping consumers and brands better navigate the growing world of personalized nutrition. Mariette is a sought after keynote speaker, consultant, and educator who has her finger on the pulse of what the future of food might look like 10, 20, and even 30 years from now.

Ketogenic Diets: the Good, the Bad and the Genetic with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Thu, 16 May 2019 14:18:51 GMT

Are you considering a ketogenic diet? Learn the benefits, potential risks, implications for heart health, how to choose supplements that aid ketosis, how genetics affect the way high fat diets impact different people and whether a ketogenic is a good solution for APOE4 carriers.

Orthorexia, Clean Keto, PPARA genes, Cholesterol Hyper-Responders, and More With Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:36:13 GMT

Many of us have found great benefit in building a personalized health regimen, but how much health and wellness information is too much?

Should we tune into nutrition conversations, like this one, only for as long as we need to to learn what works for us, or is there a benefit to continually staying on the "cutting edge?"

In today's show, we discuss Orthorexia, a condition defined by unhealthy obsessions with health and wellness, and specifically food. People suffering from orthorexia take clean eating too far, transitioning a healthy instinct into an unhealthy obsession.

Later in the show, we also discuss ketogenic diets, and specifically, Kristin's recent TODAY show article on going keto in a clean, sustainable way.

Podcast listeners can get 15% off a custom nutrition plan with code PODCASTGF.

When ALS is actually Mercury Toxicity, Westin A. Price, Ancestral Eating, and Why Good Health Begins in the Mouth with Dr. Stuart M. Nunnally, DDS

Gene Food — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 17:26:36 GMT

Today our guest is Dr. Stuart Nunnally, DDS, a biologic dentist practicing in Marble Falls, Texas. Dr. Nunnally is chairman of the jawbone osteonecrosis committee of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. He holds fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry and in the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. Dr. Nunnally is board certified in naturopathic medicine and is board certified in integrative biologic dental medicine. In today's episode we discuss Dr. Nunnally's experience with mercury toxicity and how heavy metals mimicked ALS symptoms after removing dental amalgams exposed Dr. Nunnally to high levels of mercury vapors for years. Dr. Nunnally also discusses the myriad ways oral health impacts on overall health, including his view on root canals, and how his work has been influenced by the work of the late Weston A. Price.

Fasting Mimicking Diets, Cancer Prevention, Autophagy, and Reviewing Prolon with Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 19:56:39 GMT

There are a million fasting protocols out there, but some have better research behind them than others.

Dr. Valter Longo, head of longevity at the University of Southern California, is a giant of gerontology and cancer research. His fasting protocol, called the fasting mimicking diet, is designed to help "everyday Joes" safely implement a 5 day fasting protocol from the comfort of home.

In this episode of the podcast, John and Kristin discuss John's recent experience with Dr. Longo's fasting mimicking diet plus the purported benefits, which include cellular regeneration, cancer prevention, and the regeneration of stem cells.

More Game Changers Movie: Kresser vs. Wilks Rogan Debate, Harvard Nutrition Studies, B12 Supplements, The Bioavailability of Plant Proteins and More with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 20:12:31 GMT

Since our last Game Changers Review show, Joe Rogan hosted a debate between the popular Paleo advocate Chris Kresser and the co-producer of the Game Changers film James Wilks. In this episode, we break down the Rogan debate and do a deep dive into an epidemiological nutrition study conducted at Harvard to show our audience "how the sausage is made." From there, we touch on the plant vs. animal protein debates, B12 supplements and cancer risk, as well as the health benefits and challenges of Vegan diets more generally.

The Game Changers Movie Review: Should We All be Vegan?

Gene Food — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 13:34:42 GMT

Our favorite celebrity has gone Vegan, but should we? The answer is a resounding yes according to James Wilkes, a former UFC fighter who went plant based after suffering an injury in the Octagon. James tells his story of recovery using a strict plant based diet in the new documentary The Game Changers. Many of us have seen What the Health and Forks Over Knives, plant based documentaries that highlight the short term benefits of a Vegan diet for advanced stage chronic illness. The Game Changers adds a new wrinkle to the Vegan documentary game by focusing on athletes. Featuring big names like Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of the Tennessee Titans, The Game Changers has a simple message: go Vegan for optimal performance in the gym (as well as the bedroom). But is The Game Changers, and it's message of "Veganism for all" based in sound science? We brought back Dr. Aaron Gardner to break down the scientific claims made by the filmmakers as well as the pros and cons of Vegan diets in general.

The Meat Debates: Meatless Schools, Human Eating UFOs, and the CAFO Dilemma with Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 20:35:55 GMT

Is eating meat healthy? If so, how much should we consume? Should kids eat meat at school? Is it ethical to eat meat raised in concentrated animal feeding operations, otherwise known as CAFOs?

Of all the heated disagreements in the diet wars, the meat debate is probably the biggest and most intense. Even state governments have gotten into the fray, with Colorado and Nebraska creating their own meat free and meat celebration days respectively.

In today's episode of the podcast, we discuss the move towards meatless school lunches in cities like Lyon, France, the health impact of eating meat, and how alien nations might view our treatment of the animals we raise for food were they to colonize Earth at a future time. Enjoy!

Omega 3 and Mental Health, Nutritional Psychology, the Protein Ammonia Link, Lectin, Mycotoxins and More With Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 20:37:19 GMT

Many of us know firsthand that there is a significant link between the foods we eat and our mental health. Whether it's a food sensitivity, nutrient deficiency, or just loading up on too much of a good thing, a growing body of scientific data teaches us that food and mood are connected. The field of nutritional psychology explores how nutritional inputs change symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other common problems we face in our fast paced lives. In today's show, we are joined by Gene Food's Chief Nutrition Officer, Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, to discuss the latest research on eating for mental health. Of particular interest to many of our listeners will be research on omega 3 intake for the treatment of depression, as well as how the microbiome shapes the chemistry of our brains.

Lessons From The Rabbit Hole

Gene Food — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 20:19:48 GMT

John discusses what he learned during his time down the "health and wellness" rabbit hole.

This Is Your Brain On COVID-19 With Dr. Austin Perlmutter

Gene Food — Thu, 28 May 2020 18:57:57 GMT

Many of us are concerned with the possible physical health challenges associated with COVID-19. Less talked about are the mental health challenges...

Optimizing Sexual Performance, Nitric Oxide and Testosterone Boosters, Using Stem Cells to Turn Back the Clock in the Bedroom and the Gainswave Craze with Dr. Amy B. Killen

Gene Food — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:44:31 GMT

All the questions about sexual performance you wanted to know but were afraid to ask! In this episode of the Gene Food podcast, we talk to Amy B. Killen, MD. Amy is an anti-aging physician based in Utah whose practice focuses on optimizing and restoring sexual performance in both men and women. We cover a wide range of topics including whether stem cell injections can turn back the clock on sexual performance, how Gainswave therapy works, how to overcome erectile dysfunction, options for boosting testosterone, how to get more nitric oxide from food, why Listerine can be a downer in the bedroom, what men can learn from morning erections and how cholesterol can help or hurt in the bedroom. Very fun episode covering all things sex headed your way!

Making Travel Healthier, The Best Travel Supplements, Quitting Your Job and Finding Balance with Allison Schaper

Gene Food — Wed, 14 Aug 2019 15:08:15 GMT

Much of the conversation in health and wellness centers around food and supplements, however, lifestyle plays just as big of a role as nutrition on the path towards achieving a solid state of health. Our guest today, Allison Schaper, is a former management consultant who spent years on the road traveling every week for work. Out of that role, sprung a passion for making travel healthier which gave rise to her startup Zigii. Zigii sends curated wellness packages to travelers at their destination of choice. In this episode of the Gene Food podcast, we get the low down on the best supplements for travel, how Allison was able to quit her job and pursue her passion without the help of venture capital, whether it's possible to find balance drinking from the health and wellness firehose and much more.

The Future of Food Sensitivity Testing, Curing IBS, Rethinking Gluten Free Diets, and the Genetics of Coffee Metabolism with Dr. Joel Evans, M.D.

Gene Food — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 15:37:30 GMT

Food sensitivity testing is a controversial topic. Even among our team here at Gene Food there is disagreement, with some doubting the science behind the standard IgG panels and others swearing by them as an essential tool for healing autoimmune disease. However, debates notwithstanding, there can be no doubt that most IgG food tests on the market today register false positives with the result being overwhelmed consumers staring at a list of 20-30 foods that are now "off limits." Our guest today is hoping to help change all that by making food sensitivity testing more accurate. Joel Evans, M.D. is one of the leaders of the integrative health movement. He is a board certified OB/GYN and international lecturer, is the Founder and Director of The Center for Functional Medicine, where he practices integrative functional gynecology.

Dr. Evans was honored to speak at the United Nations in March 2013 on the topic of Prenatal Origins of Violence, and he now serves as UN Representative and Chief Medical Advisor for OMAEP – World Organization of Prenatal Education Associations. In addition to his integrative practice, Dr. Evans serves as medical director for KBMO Diagnostics, a company that is producing the 2.0 version of IgG food sensitivity tests. KBMO has introduced new technology aimed at not only finding foods that register an IgG response, but that also cause inflammation which can damage gut health. In today's episode, we learn about the new scientific developments aimed at increasing the reliability of IgG tests, we discuss a promising study Dr. Evans did on patients with IBS, when gluten free diets aren't necessary, the health benefits of coffee, how food sensitivity can affect the development of our children and much more.

Micro-dosing Supplements, Water Allergy and Treating Mold and Lyme with Dr. Neil Nathan

Gene Food — Fri, 24 May 2019 11:14:26 GMT

Dr. Neil Nathan, a physician in Northern California, treats some of the most sensitive Lyme and mold patients in the country. In this episode, we cover strategies for recovering from mold toxicity, the role of methylation, micro-dosing supplements, whether we should be concerned about mycotoxins in food and much more.

The Histamine Leaky Gut Connection with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 12:26:40 GMT

Histamine. It's an important neurotransmitter found in the brain, in the gut and even in the food we eat. Commonly associated with allergic reactions, there's more to histamine than meets the eye. In this episode of the podcast, we get into all things histamine. We discuss the genes that play an important role in clearing histamine from the body, the link between histamine intolerance and leaky gut, how to determine whether your histamine levels have gotten too high, supplements to consider for quieting down the immune system and keeping histamine in check, and whether low histamine diets are sustainable.

Creating a Nontoxic Home, Eco-friendly Nurseries, Greenwashing and the Tap Water Dilemma with Leigh Matthews

Gene Food — Thu, 30 May 2019 15:43:47 GMT

Are you concerned about your family's increasing exposure to toxic chemicals? This episode is for you. From the kitchen to the bathroom to dining out and even your children's bedrooms, learn practical tips you can use to make your lifestyle a little greener.

The Alcohol Show: Mezcal vs. Red Wine, Resveratrol, Biodynamic vs. Organic, Sulfates, Portion Control and More With Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Thu, 13 May 2021 20:11:41 GMT

Many of us had that "occasional" cocktail with a little more frequency during the past year. There is no doubt that alcohol is fun, but is it healthy? It's unlikely that alcohol carries many tangible health benefits, but as with most things, the dose makes the poison. Is a nightly glass of wine with dinner truly deleterious to health, or a harmless vice? Does drinking red wine carry any health benefits? What about additives in wine? Is Mezcal the healthiest alcohol on the planet when consumed in moderation?

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss all things social drinking. We dive into topics ranging from our favorite drinks, to the best and most sustainable cultivation methods, to the potential pitfalls of alcohol as a staple in your diet. Cheers, and if you're going to drink, please do so responsibly!

COVID-19 Worst Case Scenarios, Infection Fatality vs. Case Fatality Rates, Antibody Testing, and the Asian Response with Dr. Spencer Wells

Gene Food — Fri, 01 May 2020 14:21:57 GMT

More COVID-19 discussion. Dr. Spencer Wells returns to the show to discuss the dropping COVID-19 infection fatality rate, possible economic forecasts and the outlook for a vaccine. This is not an episode for the faint of heart!

Don't Ignore High LDL, TG/HDL Ratio, Lp(a), Cholesterol Absorption and more with Tom Dayspring, M.D.

Gene Food — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 18:56:11 GMT

How important is TG/HDL ratio? Does LDL cause heart disease? What are the best biomarkers for measuring cardiovascular health? We get into these questions and a whole lot more with world-renowned lipid expert Tom Dayspring, M.D.

The latest science on MTHFR, dosing B vitamin supplements, APOE4 and more with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 19:51:45 GMT

In the nutrition world, perhaps no other genetic marker has gained as much attention as MTHFR in the last few years. MTHFR "mutations" have been linked to a host of diseases including autism, breast cancer, and cardiovascular disease, but is there credible science supporting these associations? In this episode of the podcast, we bring in Gene Food's resident geneticist, Dr. Aaron Gardner, for a wide-ranging discussion on what to do if you find out you have an MTHFR variant. We touch on strategies for using B vitamin supplements, lab work that can clue you in on MTHFR function, dietary interventions, and what the best studies say about MTHFR. The episode also touches on other genetic markers such as APOE4 and whether a high fat diet is a good idea for carriers of this much-discussed genetic marker. At the end of the show, we get into omega-3 fatty acid metabolism and the histamine genes.

Intermittent Fasting: Does Skipping Breakfast Increase Disease Risk? With Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:53:09 GMT

With the purported health benefits ranging from greater mental clarity, to cardiovascular health, and even longer life, fasting is all the rage these days. Intermittent fasting, or time restricted eating, is one method of fasting commonly used as way to get started with a fasting regimen, but can intermittent fasting be done wrong? How much fasting is too much? And what about the studies which link skipping breakfast to an increased risk for several illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and cancer?

In this episode of the podcast, John and Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, Chief Nutrition Officer at Gene Food, discuss the latest research on intermittent fasting as well as how best to craft an intermittent fasting regimen suited to your lifestyle.

ApoE4 Case Study: One Man's Journey to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease with Gerald Holbrook

Gene Food — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 14:01:17 GMT

If you follow nutrition trends, you know "fat is back." Arguing that carbohydrates and sugar is at the root of all illness, an army of influencers want you to eat a diet higher in fat. While it is true that saturated fat has been improperly demonized, the one size fits all approach to nutrition doesn't work for all of us. Studies like Retterstøl teach us that the response to a high fat diet will vary tremendously based on genetics and lifestyle factors. In the latest episode of the Gene Food Podcast, we talk to ultramarathon runner Gerald Holbrook. After receiving a Gene Food custom nutrition plan and learning he was an APOE4 carrier, Gerald changed his diet away from a high fat Paleo style diet to the Gene Food Lean Machine diet, which is a diet high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, but very low in saturated fats, especially from animal sources. As a carrier of the APOE4 gene, Gerald is particularly interested in maintaining his cognitive health and staving off Alzheimer's Disease. We discuss the way he was eating before finding Gene Food, how his diet changed, blood work before and after (Gerald's LDL-C dropped by over 100 points), and more generally how much of a struggle it can be to carve out a personalized health regimen in the face of so much pressure from different camps of influencers. This was a very fun episode to record, we hope you enjoy it!

Clean Keto, Running 100 Miles in 24 Hours, and Cultivating a Positive Body Image with Drew Manning

Gene Food — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 18:54:37 GMT

Our guest today is Drew Manning from Fit2Fat2Fit. Drew is a fat-adapted personal trainer who deliberately gained 70 pounds, and then lost it, to better empathize with his clients. We discuss his approach to ketogenic diets, why he ran 100 miles in 24 hours for charity, and how to teach our children, and ourselves, to have a healthier body image.

Using Whole Foods to Control Inflammation and Support Methylation with Amanda Archibald, RD

Gene Food — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 18:21:52 GMT

Most of the conversations surrounding MTHFR and methylation focus on supplements. In today's episode, we spoke with Amanda Archibald, RD from The Genomic Kitchen about her whole foods approach to personalized nutrition and, specifically, methylation.

Podcast listeners can get 15% off a custom nutrition plan with code PODCASTGF.

The Locations Effect, Mold Avoidance, Curing Chronic Fatigue and the Healing Power of Nature with Erik Johnson

Gene Food — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 13:09:22 GMT

What if physical location was the single biggest factor in your health? Many of the debates in the health world center around food choice. One food food is said to be inflammatory, another healing. However, location is almost never discussed. Our guest for episode #7 says that the "inhaled factor" far outweighed the "edible factor" in his road to healing from chronic fatigue syndrome. Erik Johnson is the co-author of a Beginner's Guide to Mold Avoidance and the founder of a movement known as the Locations Effect, a system for using pristine natural environments to help calm down the immune system so the body can heal from chronic illness. In this episode, we talk to Erik about the mold avoidance protocols he used to transition from debilitating chronic fatigue to climbing Mt. Whitney in the span of just 6 months.

Lord of the Oura Ring: Are Consumer Sleep Tracking Devices Accurate?

Gene Food — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 17:03:32 GMT

Consumer sleep tracking devices are all the rage, but are they accurate? We share our experiences wearing the Oura ring, plus break down the studies which have measured popular consumer sleep tracking devices against the "gold standard" in sleep tracking - polysomnography. For more, see this blog post: Why I Stopped Wearing an Oura Ring.

Food Safety, Vanity Culture, The 90/10 Rule, And The Wisdom Of Epigenetic Eating With Mareya Ibrahim

Gene Food — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:48:18 GMT

In today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by Mareya Ibrahim. Mareya is an author, entrepreneur, and holistic nutrition expert who overcame an eating disorder to become one of the most influential voices in health and wellness.

Cholesterol Deficiency, Eating for Mental Health, Optimizing the Carnivore Diet, and Benefits of Inflammation with Chris Masterjohn, PhD

Gene Food — Wed, 17 Jul 2019 17:18:56 GMT

Despite a shifting scientific landscape, dietary cholesterol is still a hotly debated topic. Joe Rogan and Chris Kresser eat eggs every day, while the plant-based community still loves to highlight the supposed dangers of dietary cholesterol. High cholesterol has historically been associated with poor health, but is there a range where cholesterol levels get too low? Our guest in this episode of the podcast believes the combination of a genetic predisposition combined with a strict vegan diet caused him to develop a dangerous cholesterol deficiency. A former assistant professor of Nutrition Science at Brooklyn College, Chris Masterjohn, Ph.D. is one of the smartest minds in nutrition.

Chris shares a fascinating story of how going vegan caused him to develop nutrient deficiencies which led to a battle with mental illness and anxiety. Chris' subsequent focus on nutrient-dense, animal-based foods restored his health and changed his perspective on how the foods we eat play a large role in cognitive function. We cover a wide range of topics with Chris and he takes a number of controversial positions in this episode, including who shouldn't eat eggs, nutrient deficiencies that are most likely to arise on a carnivore diet, whether "fancy" blood testing metrics like LDL-P are necessary to gauge cardiovascular health, why some people fail on vegan diets and much more.

Post Holiday Blood Draw Analysis: This is Your Blood on Cookies With John O'Connor

Gene Food — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 19:11:38 GMT

In this episode of the Gene Food Podcast, John breaks down the results of his blood work after weeks of holiday eating. Biomarkers discussed: sdLDL, VLDL, ApoB, Lp(a), and Total Cholesterol.

Infants Before iPhones, Parental "Set and Setting," and the Histamine Bucket With John O'Connor

Gene Food — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 16:02:59 GMT

Although it isn't often talked about, one of the biggest health challenges adults face is the arrival of a newborn baby. In this episode of the Podcast, John discusses strategies he's cooking up to make the arrival of his new daughter as smooth as possible, including the habits he's planning on changing to make room for a new baby. Notably, we discuss whether using a smart phone and caring for an infant match well.

Also explored is the concept of parental "set and setting." Usually described in the context of hallucinogenic drugs, mindset (set) and setting (physical location) would seem to play a big role in the success of new parents, and especially their moods. We explore parental set and setting against the backdrop of a quote by Robert Pirsig in the famous novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance:

"Physical discomfort is important only when the mood is wrong. Then you fasten on to whatever thing is uncomfortable and call that the cause. But if the mood is right, then physical discomfort doesn't mean much."

Podcast listeners can get a 15% discount on custom nutrition plans with the code PODCASTGF. Thanks for listening!

The Healing Power of CBD, THC, Edibles, and the Future of Cannabis with Will Kleidon

Gene Food — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 19:45:43 GMT

Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, even dating back to the Roman Empire, but recent changes to the drug laws in the United States are just now bringing this ancient plant to the forefront of health and wellness conversations. As more states legalize cannabis, and as the medicinal benefits of CBD become more accepted, the "green rush" is in full swing, but how can we find cannabis and CBD products that are trustworthy? Further, does CBD really have proven therapeutic benefits? How does CBD differ from its psychoactive cousin THC? Does CBD exhibit greater efficacy when paired with small amounts of THC? If we choose to take a product that contains CBD, what is a safe dose? In the latest episode of the Gene Food Podcast, we touch on all these topics and more, including a new pharmaceutical developed by our guest, cannabis futurist Will Kleidon, that stops the unpleasant side effects of THC rich edibles. Will is the Chairman of the California Hemp Council and the founder of Ojai Energetics, a CBD company that has achieved greater CBD bioavailability with a formula that is 100% organic. Tune in for a deep dive into all things cannabis.

How to Make Friends With Your Immune System, the Latest Research on Autism, and Rethinking Antioxidant Supplements with Dr. Theoharides

Gene Food — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 18:26:35 GMT

Today, our guest is Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, a world renowned expert on mast cells and the immune system. Dr. Theoharides is a Stanford and Yale trained immunologist who currently serves on the faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Theoharides' lab investigates the mechanism of selective secretion of cytokines and other pro-inflammatory molecules from mast cells, cells which the layperson can think of as the "military sentinels of the immune system." When the body senses an invader, or even in response to stress, mast cells release a cocktail of weaponry designed to kill the intruder. In a state of good health, this mast cell activity is a benefit. However, when mast cells become chronically activated, the increase in immune activity contributes to many of the chronic diseases plaguing the western world. In today's episode, we shine a spotlight on the work Dr. Theoharides has done with autistic children and discuss practical strategies for quieting down the immune system.

How to Detox your Brain from Big Tech and Bad Food with Dr. Austin Perlmutter

Gene Food — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 20:31:16 GMT

How many times a day do you check your phone? Does the 24 hours news cycle leave you feeling informed, or stressed? Feel like you can't stop with junk food? This episode is for you. Today, we talk to Dr. Austin Perlmutter, co-author of BrainWash, a modern-day instruction manual for reclaiming clarity and mental health.

Looking into the Coronavirus Crystal Ball: Lessons From Asia and the Role of Genetics with Dr. Spencer Wells

Gene Food — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 18:08:52 GMT

Most of us are glued to the latest coronavirus news, but how often do we hear new information? Our guest today offers rare and unique insight into the pandemic that is sweeping our globe. Dr. Spencer Wells holds a PhD in biology from Harvard University and is one of the world's leading population geneticists. From his current location on a remote island in Indonesia, Spencer has been tracking the spread of coronavirus, which he describes as "evolution in action." We discuss a number of important topics related to the coronavirus pandemic including: asymptomatic spread, the potential for genetic susceptibility, the success of Asia, and how life in our cities may change in the wake of COVID-19.

Eating For Pregnancy, Vegan Meat Cravings, Choline, Apoe4, TMAO and More With Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:04:53 GMT

In today's episode of the podcast, we interview Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD. Kristin served as the lead dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio for 15 years and is now a best-selling author and member of the Dr. Oz Medical Advisory Board. She has recently joined the Gene Food team as Chief Nutrition Officer. We cover a host of different topics including cravings that can develop on Vegan diets, which foods and supplements to focus on when pregnant, the health benefits of choline, eating for ApoE4, Kristin's experience using nutrigenomics at the Cleveland Clinic, and much more. Enjoy!

Democrats, Republicans, Vegans, Carnivores with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 16:22:26 GMT

We know it's not polite to discuss politics, money or religion at the dinner table, but is it now taboo to discuss dinner at the dinner table? Has anyone noticed that our nutrition conversations have become a touch, well, partisan? In this episode John discusses the carnivore diet and how aggressive marketing often outpaces the science behind extreme diets. We get into the urea cycle, the system the body uses to rid itself of waste after metabolizing protein, MTHFR, blood type diets and more.

Choosing an Omega 3 Supplement, Dirty Cannabis, Beef Censorship and More with Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD

Gene Food — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 20:08:54 GMT

In today's episode, we discuss how to find high quality omega 3 supplements in light of research which shows that many fish oil products contain oxidized fats, label inaccuracies, and even saturated fats. Other topics include a new crackdown on beef recipes and the surprising problems with the carbon footprint of the cannabis industry.

Studying COVID-19, Nutritional Epidemiology, and the Future of Randomized Controlled Trials with Matthew Amsden

Gene Food — Wed, 15 Apr 2020 20:17:08 GMT

In this episode of the Gene Food podcast, we speak with Matthew Amsden, founder of Proof Pilot. Proof Pilot is on a mission to make it easier to design, launch and participate in studies. Matthew shares with us the design of 3 coronavirus studies Proof Pilot is currently involved with, and we discuss the state of nutrition research later in the episode.

21 Eggs A Week Blood Test Results, Cholesterol Hyper-Absorbers, Lp(a), and more with John O'Connor

Gene Food — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 18:05:33 GMT

Nowhere in nutrition are the debates more fierce than with eggs. Some claim eating an egg is like "smoking 5 cigarettes," while others say eggs are a super food. Who is right? What would your blood work look like if you ate 21 eggs a week for one month? It's hard to say, but we do know that those of us who are cholesterol hyper-absorbers can see greater changes in blood lipids when eating large amounts of dietary cholesterol. In this episode, John discusses his blood work after a 21 eggs a week for one month dietary experiment. The results, especially for his Lp(a) number are surprising.

Lp(a) - The Heart's Silent Killer with Dr. Joel Kahn, M.D.

Gene Food — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 20:11:21 GMT

If you're concerned with cardiovascular health, a special type of LDL particle, called Lipoprotein (a), should be top of mind. This special type of "genetic bad cholesterol" is elevated in millions of Americans and yet very few people are ever tested. In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with integrative cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn to discuss current strategies for dealing with and lowering Lp(a).

Supplements That Battle Covid-19, Repurposing Pharmaceuticals, The Cytokine Storm, And Getting Smarter For The Second Wave With Dr. Theoharis Theoharides

Gene Food — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 18:32:36 GMT

With the prospect of a universally effective vaccine in doubt, many of us have turned to diet and lifestyle to "shore up our Covid-19 defenses." While many of the supplement regimens marketed as cure alls for Covid-19 are lacking scientific validation, natural compounds like vitamin D are showing some promise in serious research settings. What other nutrients can battle Covid-19? Are there pharmaceutical drugs that can be repurposed to assist in treating the coronavirus? Our guest today, Dr. Theoharis Theoharides has some answers. Dr. Theoharides is an MD, and member of the faculty at Tufts Medical School, who also holds a PhD in pharmacology, and a master's in immunology, from Yale. We discuss the latest research on how flavonoids and other natural compounds impact the immune system and why this research matters for our approach to treating Covid-19 in the coming months.

Yes, We're Drinking Too Much During COVID-19 with Rob Lohman

Gene Food — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 20:18:40 GMT

The health impact of COVID-19 the disease has been well documented. However, less often discussed is the mental health impact. Drug use and liquor sales have skyrocketed in the past 6 months. In this episode, we talk to addiction specialist Rob Lohman about when that harmless weekly happy hour morphs into something different.

How to Tell if Eggs are Good for You with Dr. Aaron Gardner

Gene Food — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 16:24:50 GMT

In the world of nutrition, perhaps no other topic is as controversial as eggs and cholesterol. On one side of the debate, the plant based community tells us eating eggs are as bad for our health as smoking cigarettes. On the other side, advocates of higher fat diets cite new studies which tend to show that dietary cholesterol has very little impact on levels of cholesterol in the body. Who is right? Should you eat eggs? This episode covers the steps you can take to determine whether eggs are a food to keep in your diet, or perhaps whether you're better suited to a hot bowl of oatmeal for the morning meal.