The Science of Food and Emotional Well-being: Mary Beth Albright’s Insight on Food Health, Pt. 1
Trica and Doro chat with journalist Mary Beth Albright to discuss the importance of healthy relationships with food in supporting emotional well-being. She emphasizes the need to base food choices on science and an understanding of individual biology. Mary Beth also highlights the positive impact that eating with others has on our health outcomes. She explores the concept of food pleasure and challenges the notion of diet culture. Additionally, Mary Beth explains the complexity of the gut microbiome and the challenges in studying and testing it. She encourages a diverse and varied diet to support a healthy gut microbiome.
The conversation covers topics such as supplements, the importance of food, the impact of ultra-processed foods, and the future of food and health. Mary Beth Albright discusses her personal experience with anxiety and its impact on her relationship with food, sharing how she grew up with negative food messages and the impact it had on her. Overall, Mary Beth brings a unique perspective to the conversation, combining her personal experience with her expertise in food journalism and public health, creating an inviting and informed discussion for listeners.
This is the first of a two-part episode.
learn More
Website: http://marybethalbright.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary.beth/?hl=en
FOLLOW HEALTH GIG ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLATFORM
qUOTES:
“Pills are not a substitute for plants. Plants have their own immune systems that protect it. When we eat plants, it protects our bodies as well.” - Mary Beth Albright
“I grew up on the less you eat, the better person you are. To me, there’s no truth to that, food pleasure is okay.” - Mary Beth Albright
“We now see that food is really a tool in our emotional wellbeing toolbox. There’s a lot of real concern in this society about mental health , and food is one way to address it.” - Mary Beth Albright
Show Notes:
Journalist Mary Beth Albright discusses the importance of food in supporting emotional well-being and the role of the gut microbiome in this process. She emphasizes the need to base our food choices on science and understanding our individual biology. Mary Beth also highlights the significance of eating with others and the positive impact it has on our health outcomes. She explores the concept of food pleasure and challenges the notion of diet culture.
Additionally, Mary Beth explains the complexity of the gut microbiome and the challenges in studying and testing it. She encourages a diverse and varied diet to support a healthy gut microbiome. The conversation covers topics such as supplements, the importance of food, the impact of ultra-processed foods, and the future of food and health. Mary Beth discusses her personal experience with anxiety and its impact on her relationship with food. She shares how she grew up with negative food messages and didn't learn how to cook until later in life. She also talks about the challenges of managing anxiety and using food as a crutch.
Overall, Mary Beth brings a unique perspective to the conversation, combining her personal experience with her expertise in food journalism and public health.
Takeaways
Food plays a crucial role in supporting emotional well-being.
Eating with others has a positive impact on health outcomes.
Food pleasure is important and should not be demonized.
The gut microbiome is complex and varies from person to person.
A diverse and varied diet is important for a healthy gut microbiome. Supplements should be taken under the guidance of a doctor and are not a substitute for a healthy diet.
Food is filled with nutrients and phytochemicals that cannot be replicated in a pill.
Ultra-processed foods can have negative effects on health and well-being.
Food rituals and cooking can enhance the pleasure and enjoyment of food.
The future of food and health involves a focus on individual well-being and the impact of food on emotional health. Anxiety can have a significant impact on a person's relationship with food.
Negative food messages during childhood can contribute to food-related anxiety.
Flavor is created in the brain, and there is no inherent flavor in food.
Managing anxiety and finding healthier ways to cope with emotions is a lifelong journey.
Understanding the science behind food and its impact on emotional well-being is important for personal growth and societal health.
FOLLOW HEALTH GIG:
Learn more about BB&R and Achieving Optimal Health Conference by visiting BBRconsulting.us