Food, We Need To Talk

A science-based, humor laced approach to health and fitness. With the help of top researchers from the health and wellness fields, Juna Gjata and Dr. Eddie Phillips break down the science behind good nutrition, exercise, stress, sleep, and more. Includes a generous helping of sarcasm (Juna), dad jokes (Eddie), and pristine sound design (our awesome producers).

Vitamin D Debunked: What You Need to Know

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. JoAnn Manson, but this time we're diving into all things Vitamin D. Sure, you’ve heard it’s great for your bones, but did you know it might also play a role in cancer and heart health? We’re breaking down the latest research from the VITAL study to find out what’s real and what’s hype.Wondering how much Vitamin D you really need? And should you be getting it from the sun, supplements, or both? We’ll chat about what counts as a healthy level and how your needs might change as you get older, especially for women. Plus, we’ll give you tips on picking the best supplements out there, since the market is flooded with options.We’re also answering your burning questions: Is there a best time of day to take Vitamin D? Does wearing sunscreen mess with your levels? And do you really need to take it with food or fat? Whether you’re a sun lover or a shade-seeker, we’ve got you covered.To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

09-09
03:08

Are Omega-3s a Myth?

In this episode, we dive into the murky waters of omega-3 supplements with the esteemed Dr. JoAnn Manson from Harvard MEdical School. Are fish oils the miracle cure they’re hyped up to be, or are we all just falling for another health fad? We’re breaking down the biggest myths, diving into what the research actually says, and figuring out who really benefits from these supplements. Plus, we’re answering your burning questions: Are plant-based omega-3s just as good? Do you really need to refrigerate that pricey bottle? Find out in today's episode. For weekly episodes, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

09-02
35:58

Why Weight Loss Medications Are Shaking Up the Food Industry

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Marion Nestle. We discuss why food companies are scrambling due to the rising popularity of the new weight loss medications. We explore how our food system is designed more for animal feed and fuel than for human consumption. Finally, we talk about finding hope for the future of our food environment, even when it might seem like there's not much to be hopeful about.To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

08-26
04:18

Big Food vs. Your Health: The Power Struggle

oday, we talk to esteemed food and public health advocate Marion Nestle about the politics of food. No, this has nothing to do with political parties and ballots; it’s about who has the power to decide what goes on your plate. While you may think you’re the one making the decisions, there’s a whole host of hidden influences shaping the food we eat. From government dietary guidelines to nutrition labels and even how supermarkets are set up, we are often the last to be involved in our food choices. Why is nutrition research often driven more by money than health? Who truly controls the U.S. dietary guidelines? How did we contribute to creating the obesity epidemic? And what do Big Food and Big Tobacco have in common? Tune in to find out.To hear our bonus episode with Marion Nestle, join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

08-19
42:15

Plastic, Blue Light, and Prioritizing Mental Health

We finally finish our series on what we've learned from hosting the podcast! Today we discuss our infamous episode with Cezmi Akdis and his revelations about our cleaning products, as well as the detrimental effects of blue light for sleep, even if you can't see it!To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

08-12
02:48

Weight Stigma, the Best Cardio, and Mindset: What We've Learned from the Podcast Pt. 2

Today, we continue our conversation about what we have learned from six years of hosting this podcast. Last time, we went over all our food epiphanies. Today, we go through how the podcast has changed our approach to weight and weight stigma, exercise, relationships, and mindset.To hear the rest of this episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTEpisodes we mentioned:The Health Effects of Being Called "Fat"How NOT to Hate CardioExercise Is Not About "Not Being Fat"The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Live LongerWhat We Can Learn from Top AthletesCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

08-05
37:20

The Shocking Way Japan Solved the Obesity Crisis

Today, we continue our conversation with Johann Hari. Part of Johann's journey in writing The Magic Pill was to visit Japan, one of the wealthiest countries in the world with virtually no childhood obesity. His biggest questions: Why and how? From the way the Japanese educate their children about nutrition, to draconian practices in Japanese workplaces, it appears that there are solutions to our current obesogenic environment, although some measures may be shocking.To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

07-29
03:55

The Incredible Upsides and Disturbing Downsides of the New Weight Loss Medications with Johann Hari

Today, we speak to Johann Hari, author of the new book The Magic Pill. The new weight loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy have been exploding in popularity over the past couple of years. Unlike dieting, these drugs can cause rapid weight loss with seemingly little effort from the person taking them. However, they also come with a wide array of risks that don't often get discussed. What are the implications these medications have for people with eating disorders? Why are they associated with drastic muscle mass loss? Why are some scientists warning about their affect on depression? Obesity has many risks, but so do these medications. Today, we discuss the complex calculation posed by the new weight loss medications. To hear the rest of our conversation with Johann, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

07-22
48:58

Dark Chocolate, Mindful Eating, and Avocado Toast

Today, we continue our conversation about what we learned from six years of hosting the podcast. Should you compare things you eat? How can we engage in mindful eating without chewing every bite twenty times? What does the science say about dark chocolate? To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

07-15
03:05

Caffeine, Protein, and Ice Cream: What We've Learned from Six Years of Hosting a Health Podcast

We've been hosting this podcast for a long time. In over eighty episodes with over sixty experts, we've learned A LOT. In this episode, we wanted to discuss what we've learned from all our years of doing Food We Need to Talk. In this podcast, we focus specifically on diet. What has stuck with us over the years? How have our habits around caffeine, ice cream, Starbucks, and protein changed? Stay tuned to find out. To hear the rest of this episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

07-08
39:11

Sleep Divorce, Melatonin, Watching TV Before Bed and More

Today, we continue our conversation with Professor Frank Scher from Harvard University. This episode, we focused on your questions! Should you consider sleep divorcing your partner? Is it okay to take melatonin for a long time? What about watching TV before bed? And the most important question of all, at conferences, do the sleep scientists party?! Find out in today's episode!To hear the rest of this week’s bonus episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

07-01
03:49

Why Am I Always Tired with Harvard Sleep Professor Frank Scheer

Today, we talk to Professor Frank Scheer from Harvard University all about one of the most important things that we do every day: sleep. For many of us, sleep may seem like a waste of time or an inconvenience. In fact, sleep is one of the most vital ways to maintain our health. Today, we learn why sleep quality is just as important as sleep quantity. What are the different phases of sleep and their functions? How do caffeine, alcohol, and sleeping pills affect our slumber? Are alarms good or bad? Should we be taking naps? If you feel tired all day, or can't seem to get a good night's rest, this is the episode for you!To hear the rest of our conversation with Frank, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

06-24
43:16

Plastic, Detergents, and Air Purifiers

Today, we discuss our last episode with Cezmi Akdis. Needless to say, the episode was quite shocking for the both of us. Rinsing our dishes after the dishwasher, switching from plastic wrap to silicone, checking our detergents' ingredients--we go over which practices we will be trying to implement in our own routines and what surprised us the most.Cezmi's Boston Globe article "Scrubbing Away Our Collective Health"To hear the rest of this week’s episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

06-17
02:40

Why Autoimmune Diseases Are on the Rise

If you feel like autoimmune disorders have seemed to be on the rise recently, you may be right. Over the past couple decades, we've seen skyrocketing rates of autoimmune disorders such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, type I diabetes and so on. What could be causing this recent increases in autoimmune disorders and allergies? Today, we talk to Professor Cezmi Akdis all about the environmental factors that might be responsible. For weekly episodes, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTCheck out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

06-10
40:04

Ozempic, Addiction, Glucose Monitoring and More

Today, we continue our conversation with Professor Jud Brewer. We talk about whether or not the new weight loss medications make awareness practices redundant, how these medications may affect addiction, how tools like glucose monitors can help us become more mindful, and why sometimes, to stop a behavior we don't want to do, we have to actually keep doing it.To hear the rest of this week’s episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

06-03
03:48

Overcoming Cravings and the Habit of Overeating with Jud Brewer

Do you ever find yourself eating when you're not hungry? Perhaps it's because you're bored, tired, stressed, or sad? Do your food cravings sometimes feel unbearable? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is the episode for you. Today we talk to Professor Judson Brewer from Brown University all about food cravings and why we eat. We discuss the neurobiology of why eating food feels so good, why it so hard to change our eating habits, and how we can begin to change them. To hear the rest of our conversation, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTProfessor Brewer's mindfulness eating app Eat Right Now.Professor Brewer's book The Hunger Habit. Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

05-27
49:17

The Truth About Olive Oil

We're continuing the conversation with Mauro! In this episode, we talk about the relationship between inflammation and obesity, whether or not olive oil is indeed a super food, and our new favorite concept: nutritional kindness. Hope you enjoy as much as we did!To hear the rest of this week’s episode, come join the Foodie Fam!https://www.patreon.com/FWNTTThank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going!Check out our book:https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/Chat with us on IG!https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=enBe friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok!https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

05-20
04:45

The Truth About Superfoods and Antioxidants with Mauro Serafini

Perhaps you have succumb to the kale craze or the acai acclaim. But what makes these foods “superfoods?” A lot of the time, the answer seems to be antioxidants. Today, we talk to Professor Mauro Serafini to get to the bottom of the superfood and antioxidant obsession. What are antioxidants? Why are they important for our health? What do they have to do with superfoods? And are superfoods a real thing? For the rest of our conversation with Mauro Serafini, come join the Foodie Fam! https://www.patreon.com/FWNTT Mauro’s paper on early dinner times of centenarians. Go to our website www.foodweneedtotalk.com for more materials! Check out our book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/ Chat with us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=en Be friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok! https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/ https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

05-13
42:43

Spices, Salt, Woks, Tofu, and More with J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

This is a continuation of our delightful conversation with food extraordinaire J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. We talked all about spices, why salt is so important, how to use induction ovens, the best ways to cook tofu, simulating a smokey "grill" flavor in your apartment and more! (Also how to set your apartment on fire.) To hear the rest of this week’s episode, come join the Foodie Fam! https://www.patreon.com/FWNTT Thank you for your support, it’s what keeps the show going! Check out our book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/ Chat with us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=en Be friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok! https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/ https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

05-06
03:58

The Science of Cooking Well with J. Kenji Lopez-Alt

As you all know, over here at FWNTT, we are not the most kitchen savvy individuals. But after today… we just might be! J. Kenji Lopez-Alt shares with us some insights from his incredible career as a chef, food writer, and food science enthusiast. We learn the best ways to improve our cooking, why knife skills matter, why you shouldn’t feel bad for taking longer than the recipe time suggests, and when to use high vs. low heat. For the rest of our converstation with Kenji, head over to the membership! https://www.patreon.com/FWNTT Where to find Kenji: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-recipe-with-kenji-and-deb/id1713169728 https://www.youtube.com/@JKenjiLopezAlt https://www.seriouseats.com/j-kenji-lopez-alt-5118720 Check out our book: https://read.macmillan.com/lp/food-we-need-to-talk/ Chat with us on IG! https://www.instagram.com/foodweneedtotalk/?hl=en Be friends with Juna on IG and Tiktok! https://www.instagram.com/theofficialjuna/ https://www.tiktok.com/@junagjata

04-29
40:14

Jeri Bitney

I am very fortunate in that I had only one hot flash. My mother was the same way, and so was my sister.

10-17 Reply

Julia K

Adding an unusual story of mine. TW: ED. In the year 2000, my restrictive eating disorder started. Because it was way before social media and "clean eating" hashtag, I was scared not of carbs, fat or sugar, but of any foods that I subjectively perceived as hard to digest. By 2003, graduating from high school, I ended up weighing 32 kg, still not having menarche, freezing all the time, having dry skin and memory problems - you name it. I ate very little - didn't count calories, but I guess hardly over 1000 kkal per day - but my meals contained disproportionate amount of fast carbs and sugar. Why? they were easy to digest! So I was both underfed and undernourished. Very sad, ruined youth. Eating disorder xan look very different depending on the individual, historical moment, economic situation and the degree of availability of information.

01-10 Reply

Ashwini Rao

REALLY HOOKED to this podcast. Gave me a lot of insights.

05-15 Reply

Cori Kuchar

I recently found this podcast & absolutely live what you’re both doing here! 👏🏼 I’m continuously bod-checking myself & have a very poor self-image & relationship with food. This podcast has been helping me stay focused on my goals to do better! 💕

03-10 Reply

Linda Nancarrow Grimm

Insightful real solutions to eating to live

02-07 Reply

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