Every year we tell ourselves the same lie: "I'll just eat a little differently during the holidays… it won't affect me that much." But the truth is, it's not the cookies, casseroles, or holiday punch that hit you the hardest; it's the silent blood-sugar roller coaster underneath it all. 

Most people have no idea how dramatically their energy, mood, sleep, and cravings shift simply because they ate the right foods in the wrong order… or they sat down instead of moving for 10 minutes after a meal… or they drank their carbs instead of chewing them.

What I've learned working with patients is this: you can eat the same foods, at the same time, with completely different outcomes, because what spikes one person's blood sugar barely moves another's. 

So what do you do when you want to enjoy the season and avoid feeling exhausted, puffy, stressed, and foggy for three straight weeks? 

In this episode, I unpack simple strategies that flatten glucose spikes, the food-order tricks that change your metabolic response instantly, and why artificial sweeteners may be doing more harm than sugar.

Things You'll Learn In This Episode 

The myth of "same meal, same impact"
Blood sugar responses vary dramatically from person to person based on gut bacteria, stress, sleep, and muscle mass. How do you figure out what your body is actually responding to?

Why eating order beats cutting carbs
The sequence of protein, fat, fiber, and carbs can flatten glucose spikes more effectively than strict restriction. How do you build meals in a way that supports stable energy without giving up the foods you enjoy?

Movement that outperforms medication
Short bursts of walking or resistance work after meals can lower glucose spikes by 20–30%, so how do you use small, doable movements to support better metabolic control?

About Your Host

Steve Hoffart is an award-winning pharmacist, entrepreneur, speaker and podcaster. As the visionary founder of Magnolia Pharmacy, Steve saw a need for a more personal pharmacy that could make a bigger impact. Today, Steve and his team of experts deliver on that promise, working with patients and their physicians to solve medication problems and offer personalized solutions to achieve better health and wellness. As host of The Trusted Pharmacist podcast and through his combined reach of over 250,000 on social media, Steve shares actionable advice on nutrition, supplements, and wellness strategies while advocating for meaningful change in healthcare.

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