Don't miss Part 2 of this episode where we touch on how diets can lead to almost religious dogma, how lifestyle and diets affect relationships, as well as genetics as it relates to food.

We pick up where the conversation left off in episode 16!

Key Takeaways

[:09] Tony sets up Part 2 of the discussion on the complexities of food knowledge and how America's relationship to food has evolved into lifestyles.

Food Religion [1:17] What if you become so rigid about food that it defines how you live your life? Mekai touches on the respect that is required in order to accept people in their choices, food or otherwise.

Food relationships [6:25] Andrea shares her own understanding of the importance of remaining flexible in her diet as well as how teaching people about food can be part of the process.

Internet, don't cancel Ron! [11:30] Is there actual credence to be lent to studies that claim that the more you hang out with overweight people, the more you are at risk of being overweight yourself?

Genetics and epigenetics [13:25] Though your genetic history will have an impact on body composition, there is research pointing to the foods you eat having an effect on gene activation.

The crazy world of vitamins [16:01] Mekai shares some information on how genetics can play a role in the metabolization of certain compounds as well as touches on nutrient depletion in our food supplies.

Variety is the spice of life! [19:00] We've domesticated a restrained amount of plants and animals, so how can we expect the variety our bodies may require?

The number will astound you [21:44] How many plants and vegetables a week to maintain a healthy gut microbiome? Andrea offers the most recent studies.

The multiple factors of health [22:54] There is an intuitive understanding that healthy lifestyle overall is more important than just good food alone...

Don't let overwhelm win [24:30] Before Tony closes out the podcast, Andrea offers that while all this may seem enormous and overwhelming: if you're going to start anywhere, start with food!

Thanks for listening!

More about your host

Podcast: tonywongpodcast.com

Agile Coaching: Agiletony.com

Executive Coaching: Agiletony.com/mental-and-emotional-agility

Twitter: Twitter.com/agile_tony

LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/agiletony

YouTube: Youtube.com/channel/UCJyT0C_nrzAZ9GhmOXaSRRw

More about our guests

Andrea Hollenbeck on Instagram @andreajileen and LinkedIn

Meki Blackwell on @mekiellacb and LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

Why do we need to know so much to even begin to scratch the surface of how to eat properly? How did we lose our bearings when it comes to the one aspect of our lives that is the highest predictor of our overall health?

This discussion focuses on how powerful lobbies and constantly evolving science have led national guidelines to promote a diet that has made America the number-one unhealthiest country.

From food "blue zones" where people live longer to fad diets, recipes, and individual factors, Tony, Ron, Andrea, and Meki discuss how they've been navigating their own food journeys as well as the knowledge that drives it.

Key Takeaways

[1:44] Tony welcomes everyone to the podcast and launches the discussion: How did we get to being so confused about diets and food? Ron shares his perspective on the historical aspects that have shaped America's relationship to food.

Lobbies and pyramids [4:15] 50 years to figure out we're doing it wrong — or that we've been told the wrong things by powerful lobbies.

The Kellogg obsession [8:26] So were corn flakes invented to kill the libido? Regardless of the answer, Americans now need to navigate a world where food knowledge was obscured for a very long time.

The Blue Zones [10:54] Who HAS figured food out?

Macro/Micro [16:30] From the high-carb, low-fat diet of the 90's to the general, Andrea speaks to the conditioning Americans have had, to think of food only at a macronutrient level.

The old vegans [18:29] Meki touches on the bodywork she does on vegans and how their tissue differs from protein eaters!

Andrea's recipes! [20:00] Andrea breaks down her predominantly plant-based whole foods way of eating — with no particular restrictions.

The big factors [27:05] Food accounts for the majority of your health, genetics do come into play as well as lifestyle — however our biggest current unknown looks like gut biome and how childhood can affect your entire life.

The great hoax [33:09] We've been led to believe that "My Plate" from the government works for everybody. So there is an amount of work to be done in terms of what works for you.

Thanks for listening!

Don't miss part 2 of this episode where we touch on how diets can lead to almost religious dogma, how lifestyle and diets affect relationships as well as genetics as it relates to food.

More about your host

Podcast: tonywongpodcast.com

Agile Coaching: Agiletony.com

Executive Coaching: Agiletony.com/mental-and-emotional-agility

Twitter: Twitter.com/agile_tony

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/agiletony

YouTube: Youtube.com/channel/UCJyT0C_nrzAZ9GhmOXaSRRw

More about our guests

Andrea Hollenbeck on Instagram @andreajileen and LinkedIn

Meki Blackwell on @mekiellacb and LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Lavva — pili nut yogurt

Kind

Garden of Life

Wahls' protocol

Saccharomyces

Today's show is a guided exercise in mindfulness by Zen Master Genpo Roshi; tune in to hear how you may have been poorly instructed, if at all, on how to meditate as well as what the long-term benefits of the practice are.

Meditation may not be the negation of the thinking mind that you think it is… It is rather an act of setting the thinking mind free, knowing it will quiet down.

Key Takeaways

Genpo speaks to Ron's thinking mind [1:13] When you try to meditate, what does the thinking mind do? It thinks… It's what it does. It thinks about the day, the things you have to do, didn't do, the past, the future.

The thinking mind gets a hall pass [4:26] Genpo invites Ron to let his thinking mind go wherever it will for a few moments, an unbridled thinking minute. The absence of resistance enables the thinking mind to calm down.

The non-thinking mind needs love too [7:14] So very few of us actually give room to the non-thinking part of our brain… Genpo offers that the Tao is something we all have within but we give it little space.

The apex [10:13] If the thinking mind and the non-thinking mind are the base of a triangle, who's at the top? It's you. And from this place, you get to choose who has screen time, the thinking mind or the non-thinking mind.

Slow or fast, the benefits of meditation come [15:55] Regardless of the type of meditation you chose to practice, they all allow us to quiet down and become more centered and more focused — the very first benefit. As time goes on and as peace settles into the practice, more aspects of the self are discovered.

Imagine that [16:42] Imagine the peace that would come from not being affected by what people thought of you — not in a negative way — the liberation of knowing you can't control that and that it's okay.

Relationships and being right [17:33] Genpo touches on how long it took to become what he says is "Okay at relationships" because he couldn't appreciate other people's points of view, always thinking that his were more important or right.

What is Zen? [22:11] A slice of happiness, effortlessness, and making peace with yourself in the world.

On death and the value of life [23:50] Roshi speaks to the importance of people's perspective on death; he shares his personal experiences with death. He's come to the conclusion that to make peace with our own death allows us to enjoy life more.

The balloon [26:26] Denying or avoiding negative emotions will never work, anything we repress will come out somewhere else.

Thanks for tuning in! We understand that there is a good chance this episode will have raised some seriously profound questions in some people. If you want to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to get in touch with Tony through any of the means below.

More about your host

Podcast: tonywongpodcast.com

Agile Coaching: Agiletony.com

Executive Coaching: Agiletony.com/mental-and-emotional-agility

Twitter: Twitter.com/agile_tony

LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/agiletony

Youtube: Youtube.com/channel/UCJyT0C_nrzAZ9GhmOXaSRRw

More about our guest

Genpo Roshi, Big Mind