Summary of Ep. 274 Toxic Food Culture: How Our Food Choices Impact Our Health:
In this episode of the Everyday Wellness podcast, host Cynthia Thurlow speaks with leading functional medicine expert Dr. Will Cole about his latest book, Gut Feelings. The two discuss the toxic food culture, mixed messages, the psychology of food, finding peace with food, reducing toxic tribalism, and how inflammatory foods impact the gut microbiome. They also delve into the role of the vagus nerve, chronic stress as the ultimate junk food for the body, trauma, and shame-flammation. Cole emphasizes the importance of bio-individuality and offers guidance on learning what’s right for one’s own body.
*****
Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel
In this article, we discuss the impetus for Dr. Will Cole’s latest book, Gut Feelings. We explore the toxic food culture, mixed messages, the psychology of food, finding peace with food, how to reduce our toxic tribalism, and more.
The Role of Mixed Messages
Dr. Cole starts the conversation by addressing the role of mixed messages in our current food culture.
“Well-meaning individuals are putting content out into the space, and it could start at home, it could start with our interrelationships with our family and our loved ones that can erode into this degree of shame and feeling guilty. You speak to this, the role of mixed messages.”
Mixed messages can come from many sources, including family members, friends, social media, and the diet and fitness industry. Dr. Cole emphasizes that what works for one person may not work for another, citing the importance of bio-individuality.
What is Most Important in the Wellness World?
The discussion then shifts to what is most important in the wellness world. Dr. Cole expresses that just as much as it is about what we are feeding our bodies with breakfast, lunch, or dinner, it’s what we are feeding our head and our heart.
Types of Foods That Do Not Serve the Best Needs of Our Bodies
Dr. Cole explains the types of foods that do not serve the best needs of our bodies. He emphasizes that it is not necessarily the grain that is the problem, but what we have done to it.
“What are we feeding our bodies, and what are we eating in our hearts?” Dr. Cole asks, emphasizing the importance of finding food peace and reducing shame and guilt surrounding food choices.
How to Differentiate Between Poor Vagal Tone and Dysautonomia
Dr. Cole then dives into the role of the vagus nerve and how to differentiate between poor vagal tone and dysautonomia. He explains that the vagus nerve is responsible for our gut-brain connection and how it impacts our overall health and well-being.
Stress and How It Impacts Our Biochemistry
The discussion then shifts to chronic stress and how it impacts our biochemistry. Dr. Cole emphasizes that stress is implicated in many health problems and is the ultimate junk food for the body.
Renegotiating Your Relationship with Life
Dr. Cole encourages listeners to renegotiate their relationship with life and to focus on creating a lifestyle that best nurtures their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
The Role of Trauma in Weight Loss
The conversation then delves into the role of trauma in weight loss. Dr. Cole emphasizes that adverse childhood events and trauma can impact our relationship with food and our bodies, leading to weight gain and other health issues.
Shame-Flammation
Lastly, Dr. Cole explains what shame-flammation is and how it is the basis for many physical and emotional health issues. He emphasizes the importance of reducing shame and guilt surrounding food choices and finding food peace.
Conclusion
Dr. Cole’s latest book, Gut Feelings: Healing the Shame-Fueled Relationship Between What You Eat and How You Feel, is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The discussions in this article provide a glimpse into the important topics covered in the book, and we encourage readers to pick up a copy and learn more.
