In today’s episode, we're serving up a healthy dose of knowledge about the top five supplements we believe everyone should be taking for optimal health. Now, remember, while we're passionate about these supplements, we want to stress the importance of consulting with your healthcare provider before introducing anything new into your regimen.

Today's featured supplements are all available from our private label store. Head over to foodtrainers.com/shop for convenient access to all these health-boosting options.

1. Vitamin D (D3): We cannot stress enough the power of this sunshine vitamin! Kickstart your day by taking it in the morning with food. Not only is it a champion for bone health, mood regulation, and immune system function, but it also plays a vital role in fertility and even reducing cancer risk.
2. B Vitamins: Say goodbye to hormonal imbalance and energy dips with your morning dose of B vitamins (preferably with food). Do you use birth control pills or enjoy a drink or two? Be aware, they can deplete these vital nutrients. Don’t forget that B vitamins, especially folate and B12, also play a role in reducing cancer risk associated with drinking.
3. Probiotics: Meet 'Gutsy', our champion for gut health! Remember that your gut health is crucial for serotonin production and overall mood. Also, if you've recently used antibiotics, it's time to replenish your gut flora. We're big on prebiotic-rich foods - hello, asparagus, jicama, green bananas, and garlic! There's so much to learn about the various strains of probiotics and how they cater to individual needs.
4. Omega-3s: You might have heard of the amazing benefits of Omega-3s from Robert Lustig's book "Metabolical". We’re backing it for its role in reducing depression, inflammation, Alzheimer's risk, promoting heart health, and aiding weight loss.
5. Magnesium: Here's your key to absorbing Vitamin D. We're partial to three types: Magnesium Glycinate (most relaxing), Magnesium Citrate (our "Chill Pills"), and Magnesium Oxide (aka "Number Two Pills"). Each serves different functions, so you can tailor them to your specific needs. Remember, despite its presence in foods like leafy greens and beans, we believe that magnesium supplements act as a necessary "insurance policy" due to soil depletion affecting the nutrient levels in these foods.

As always, we've included tidbits from our personal experiences and insights from research to help you make informed choices. Remember to tune into your body's needs and adjust your intake accordingly.

Products Mentioned:

• Foodtrainers® Double D's
• Foodtrainers® B-sane
• Foodtrainers® Gutsy Probiotic
• SeabuckWonders Omega-7 Complete
• Foodtrainers® MagneZZZium

Welcome back, Foodtrainers! Today's episode is a deep dive into the often misunderstood topic of portion control and its impact on our health. As we've explored, it's not just about what you eat but how much and when you eat that matters.

One fundamental principle we've emphasized is the importance of understanding what you're consuming before addressing portion sizes. Knowledge of what's on your plate plays a critical role in making healthier eating decisions.

A fascinating study carried out by the National Institutes of Health demonstrates this perfectly. The study found that when people were given ultra-processed foods to eat, they consumed around 500 more calories per day compared to those eating mostly homemade meals.

Overeating can often sneak up on us, especially when faced with a large variety of food choices. This phenomenon, which we've lovingly named the "pu pu platter syndrome," is a common pitfall. The "variety effect" explains why the more options we have, the more we tend to consume.

The concept of "sensory specific satiety" also contributes to this. It's the reason why we might feel full after a large meal but still find room for dessert. It's simply our appetite responding to the opportunity for a different taste sensation.

One technique we recommend for managing portion control comes from Dr. Barbara Roll's diet method called "Volumetrics". She suggests front-loading meals with liquidy foods, such as soups or salads, to increase the feeling of satiety.

Practical strategies can also make a big difference in portion control. Simple changes like using smaller plates for meals, setting a "one plate rule" during festive situations, or making a habit of closing the kitchen after dinner can greatly help.

Some foods, however, present bigger portion control challenges. Cold cereals, popcorn, chips, and nuts - specifically cashews - can easily lead to overconsumption. For this, we've introduced the Foodtrainers nut case, a convenient tool for controlling nut portions, available in our shop.

Even healthy foods require portion control. Foods such as nuts and fruits, often perceived as unrestricted because of their health benefits, can also lead to overeating. Remember, even though they are healthy, they can still contribute to excess calorie intake.

Regulating carbohydrate intake is another important consideration. We recommend a guideline of a fist-sized portion, or one fourth of your plate, for carbohydrates. Avoid consuming carbohydrates early in the day as it might lead to overeating due to irregular blood sugar levels.

When it comes to portion sizes, remember to not just reduce, but also increase where necessary. Half your dinner plate should be filled with non-starchy vegetables and aim for 25 to 30 grams of protein per meal. This approach will ensure you're receiving the essential nutrients your body needs.

In conclusion, portion control plays a critical role in a healthy diet and lifestyle. It's not about being overly strict, but about increasing or decreasing certain foods to create a balance. We encourage you to identify which of these tips resonate with you and to give them a try. Remember, it's about making the suitable tweaks for your unique needs.

Products Mentioned:

• Foodtrainers® Nut Case
• Foodtrainers® FLASK

Resources:

• "The Volumetrics Diet Plan" by Barbara Rolle
• 47. The

In this sugar-coated episode, we unravel the truth behind popular sweeteners. We’re bringing you the bitter and the sweet with our YOSA (Yay or Step Away) guide to help you navigate the sticky world of sugar substitutes.

Today, we're seeing an explosion in sugar-free products, primarily influenced by the keto diet trend and the uptick in gadgets like continuous blood sugar monitors. Our insatiable appetite for sugar is a hard one to shake, but it's vital we confront our collective sweet tooth. With adults consuming over 80 grams (or more than 20 teaspoons!) of sugar per day, and kids guzzling even more thanks to sugary drinks, it's no surprise that sugar is implicated in health issues such as various cancers and heart disease.

Let's start with our "Yay" sweeteners:

• Stevia: Closely related to chrysanthemums and marigolds, this plant-based sweetener is a worthy contender for your kitchen cupboard. However, not all stevia is created equal, so aim for whole leaf stevia. A noteworthy mention is New Naturals which offers good quality stevia.
• Monk Fruit: This melon-derived sweetener, often mixed with erythritol, is not just sweet but also has antimicrobial properties and is gentle on the microbiome. A brand we like for pure monk fruit is "It's Just".
• Allulose: This "rare sugar" found in fruits like jackfruit, figs, and raisins is an intriguing option that could even lower blood sugar and reduce liver fat storage. Our choice? Wholesome Sweetener's allulose.

Sweeteners to step away from? Sucralose, Saccharin, and Aspartame. These synthetic sweeteners may be calorie-free, but the potential health costs are not worth the zero on the scale. In the mood for a diet soda? Zevia, sweetened with stevia, is our pick.

We also touch on honey and coconut sugar, which, although superior to table sugar, should still be savored sparingly. Agave, with its sneaky high fructose content, is surprisingly not as healthy as many believe.

High fructose corn syrup, however, takes the (unhealthy) cake. It wreaks havoc through elevated uric acid levels. If you're interested in learning more about uric acid and its implications, we suggest "Nature Wants Us to Be Fat" by Richard Johnson and "Drop Acid" by Dr. David Perlmutter.

Overconsumption of sugars, particularly high fructose corn syrup, is contributing to a worrying rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), especially among teens. Fruits are the safe haven for fructose, but concentrated fructose can steer you towards health issues like metabolic disorders, insulin resistance, and high blood pressure.

Erythritol, a popular sugar alcohol, is an interesting case. While a study linked erythritol to heart attacks, we question its validity due to erythritol's relatively recent 'safe' status (granted by the FDA only in 2018). We recommend Chris Kresser's critique of the study. For now, erythritol resides in the grey area between "yay" and "stay away." While we can't give it a clear verdict, what is clear is this - the less sweetness you consume, the less sweetness you crave.

So, it seems there's no magic sweetener to whisk our cravings away. Whatever you choose, it’s important to remember that moderation is key – but that doesn’t mean you have to deprive yourself!

Resources:

• NuStevia Liquid Sweetener
• Read: Does erythritol increase the risk of heart attack and early death?