Real World Nutrition

Fiber is often oversimplified as something that “keeps you regular.” In reality, it plays a far more complex role in digestive health, blood glucose regulation, cholesterol management, gut microbiome diversity, and long term disease risk. In this episode, the discussion continues the carbohydrate series by breaking down the different types of fiber, including soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, functional fiber, and resistant starch. The episode also connects fiber recommendations to the Dietary Guidelines and explains why the source of carbohydrate matters. Listen: Episode 228 What Are Carbohydrates? Fiber, Starch, and Sugar Explained   Read more: Fiber 101: Soluble, Insoluble, Functional Fiber, and Resistant Starch Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Carbohydrates are among the most debated nutrients in modern nutrition discussions. In this episode, fiber, starch, and sugar are clearly explained, along with how they function in the body and why they remain misunderstood.   This episode builds on the recent carbohydrate blog series and connects to the ongoing discussion about the 2025 to 2030 Dietary Guidelines. It also sets the stage for upcoming episodes that will explore carbohydrates in greater depth.   If you have ever wondered what carbohydrates actually are and why they matter, this episode provides context without oversimplifying the science.   Read more: What Are Carbohydrates? Fiber, Starch, and Sugar Explained Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Understanding nutrition starts with understanding nutrients. This episode breaks down the six classes of essential nutrients and explains what they do, where they are found, and why removing entire nutrient categories can cause problems. The episode also covers phytochemicals, food groups, and how nutrients work together with our eating patterns in real life.   Read more: The Six Classes of Essential Nutrients (and Phytochemicals) Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

After more than 200 episodes, it felt like the right time to pause and reintroduce the voice behind the podcast. This episode shares the philosophy, experience, and real-world perspective that shape the conversations here each week.   From individual nutrition counseling to teaching, hospital work, community programs, and supporting people across the lifespan, this episode explains why the basics of nutrition still matter and why health has to fit real life, not an idealized version of it. This is an honest look at what guides the work, the podcast, and the approach to wellness without extremes, trends, or quick fixes.   Read more: Nutrition, Experience, and the Real World: Why the Basics Still Matter Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Dietary supplements are widely used, yet many people do not understand how they are regulated or how marketing influences what they see online. This episode explains how supplements are regulated in the United States, what the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act means for consumers, and why affiliate links matter.   The discussion covers common red flags in supplement marketing, including fear-based messaging, exaggerated claims, lack of transparency, and misuse of credentials. It also explains the role of the Federal Trade Commission in requiring disclosure of paid partnerships and affiliate relationships.   Listeners will learn how to evaluate supplement claims, identify reliable sources of information, and understand where supplements may or may not fit into a balanced approach to health. This episode emphasizes critical thinking, evidence-based nutrition, and informed decision-making.   Read more: National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements Read more: FDA’s Dietary Supplement page Read more: Dietary Supplements and Affiliate Links Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Raw milk is gaining attention as a so-called natural or superior alternative to pasteurized milk. This episode examines the science, safety standards, and public health data behind those claims. Topics include what raw milk is, why it is restricted in many states, how pasteurization works, and who is most at risk from unpasteurized dairy. The evidence behind alleged benefits is reviewed alongside the very real risks. Get the facts for informed choices. Read: Raw Milk: Risks and Realities Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

The Nutrition Facts Panel contains more than calories and macronutrients. In this episode, the focus shifts to micronutrients, percent Daily Values, and how to use this information without confusion or overwhelm.   This second episode in a two-part series explains why certain vitamins and minerals appear on the label, what nutrients of concern really mean, how sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin D fit into daily intake, and how to interpret percent Daily Value in a practical way.   You will learn why the label uses a 2,000-calorie reference, what 5 percent and 20 percent Daily Value actually tell you, why some nutrients have no %DV at all, and how to use the label as a comparison tool rather than a scorecard.   If the Nutrition Facts Panel has ever felt unclear or misleading, this episode helps put the numbers in context so they support better overall patterns rather than creating stress.   Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 1: Serving Sizes, Servings Per Container, and Calories Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 2: Fats, Cholesterol, Carbohydrates, and Protein Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 3: Sodium, Potassium, and Other Vitamins and Minerals Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 4: % Daily Value and Other Information Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

How to Read the Nutrition Facts Panel: Serving Sizes, Calories, and Macronutrients   Nutrition labels are everywhere, but many people still find them confusing. This episode breaks down the Nutrition Facts panel in a clear, practical way. Learn what serving sizes really mean, how to interpret calories, and how fats, carbohydrates, and protein are listed so you can use food labels as a helpful tool rather than a source of stress. This is part one of a two-part series on understanding the Nutrition Facts panel. Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 1: Serving Sizes, Servings Per Container, and Calories Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 2: Fats, Cholesterol, Carbohydrates, and Protein Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 3: Sodium, Potassium, and Other Vitamins and Minerals Read More: Nutrition Facts Panel Part 4: % Daily Value and Other Information Learn more or contact me: ShelleyRael.com Schedule a complimentary 30-minute introductory call today to discover how I can help you achieve your health and wellness goals. Enroll in the Mini Course: 6 Tips for the Busy Person to Have Sustainable Energy: All-Day Energy Through Food AND Companion Workbook

Alcohol shows up often during holidays and celebrations, but the habits around drinking do not start or end there. In this episode, we take a realistic look at mindful drinking and what alcohol can teach us about our patterns, physiology, and decision-making.   Topics include how alcohol affects hunger and cravings, why sleep quality suffers after drinking, common hangover myths, and what actually helps with recovery. This is not about judgment or restriction. It is about awareness, education, and understanding how alcohol fits into real life.   This episode pairs with recent blog posts on alcohol and appetite, alcohol and sleep, and hangover myths and facts. Listeners will walk away with practical context and a clearer understanding of how alcohol interacts with the body and daily habits.

Holiday stress feels unavoidable, but it is not random, and it is not a personal failure. In this episode, the realities of holiday stress are broken down, including why stress feels amplified this time of year, how the body responds to ongoing pressure, and why waiting for life to “calm down” before making changes rarely works. This conversation covers the physiology of stress, its impact on sleep, appetite, and energy, and what it means to protect your energy during a busy season. Practical, realistic strategies are shared to help manage stress without aiming for perfection or adding more pressure.

Winter is a season when people often forget to hydrate, yet the body still needs consistent hydration to function well. This episode breaks down why hydration is often overlooked during cold weather, how dehydration shows up differently in winter, and simple ways to support energy, focus, digestion, immunity, and overall wellness. These strategies do not require trends or gimmicks. Just practical steps that work in real life. This episode pairs with the recent blog Holiday Hydration: Why You Still Need Water in Winter.

The holidays are not a test of discipline. In this episode, we talk about what realistic habits look like during a busy and food-centered season. This is about balance and permission to be human, not guilt, restriction, or trying to control every bite. Learn simple ways to support your health without falling into the trap of self-blame. This episode pairs well with the recent blog post on Holiday Eating Without the Guilt.

A practical look at how social determinants of health shape daily choices, especially when it comes to food access and programs like SNAP. This episode breaks down the real barriers people face, the assumptions that keep misinformation alive, and what it actually takes to support long term health in real world conditions.

Ultra-processed foods get talked about a lot, but most of the conversations skip the basics. This episode breaks down what “processed” actually means, how the NOVA classification system works, why it is controversial, and what matters for real life eating. This is not a fear-based take on food. It offers a grounded, practical look at how food processing affects nutrition, health, and decision-making. Includes examples, common misunderstandings, and take-home points that help people make realistic choices.

Explore how front-of-package food labels use marketing language to influence choices. Learn which claims are regulated, which are misleading, and how to identify red flags when reading labels. Part two of a two-part series that makes sense of the information on your food labels.

Food labels are full of numbers, claims, and buzzwords — but how much of it really matters? This episode breaks down the basics: what’s required by law, what’s optional but regulated, and how to interpret those common phrases like “low fat,” “good source of,” or “light.” Learn how to read the ingredients list, understand nutrient claims, and separate useful facts from marketing fluff.

Sustainability is a buzzword we see everywhere, especially when it comes to seafood. But what does it really mean, and how can you tell if your seafood choices are truly sustainable? In this episode, Shelley Rael explains what to look for when buying seafood, the truth about labeling and certification programs, and how responsible choices can support both personal health and environmental balance.

Seafood is one of the most misunderstood food groups. In this episode, Shelley Rael breaks down common myths about seafood, including confusion around mercury, the difference between fresh and frozen, and whether farmed fish is bad for you. Learn what really matters when choosing seafood and how to enjoy it as part of a healthy, balanced diet.

Vegetarian eating looks different at every stage of life. From childhood and adolescence to pregnancy, adulthood, and older age, nutrient needs shift and so do the challenges of meeting them. In this episode of Real World Nutrition, I discuss the key considerations for vegetarian nutrition at various ages, including protein, iron, vitamin B12, and more. Whether you are a vegetarian now, raising vegetarian kids, or considering it later in life, this episode provides practical, no-nonsense guidance backed by evidence.

Vegetarian eating often comes with numerous myths and misconceptions. Do vegetarians really struggle to get enough protein? Is a vegetarian diet automatically healthier? Can athletes or kids thrive on a vegetarian lifestyle? In this episode of Real World Nutrition, we debunk the most common misconceptions about vegetarian diets and explain what the science and real-life experiences really reveal.