The Thorne Podcast

What’s wrong with the Standard American Diet (Rebroadcast)

Note: This episode originally aired in January 2022.  

The Standard American Diet (or SAD) is one that’s typically high in unhealthy carbs, sugars, and fats – while also deficient in many important micronutrients. Discover healthy alternatives to the SAD diet, along with some strategies for making healthy eating choices around the holidays.  

During this episode you’ll learn about:  

• What is the Standard American Diet? (SAD) [2:17] 

• High in refined carbs, unhealthy fats, sugars [2:34]  

• How the SAD diet become standard [3:03] 
• Views on fat [5:30] 
• The changing views on sugar [6:47] 

• Low fat led to high carb/sugar [8:43] 

• Healthier alternatives to SAD diet [10:00] 

• Mediterranean diet [10:30] 
• Whole foods diet [11:18] 

• Eating around the holidays [12:20] 

• Taste receptors [13:45] 
• Holiday eating strategies [15:35] 

• Supplements and the Standard American Diet [16:49] 

• Deficiencies in the Standard American Diet [18:00] 

• Questions from the community [20:00] 

• Can supplements help replace missing nutrients from a poor diet? [20:10] 
• How does dairy fit into the Standard American Diet? [24:00] 

• Lactose intolerance [25:30] 
• Eating organic [28:00] 

• Choosing fish [30:40] 
• What healthy, affordable options are there for fruits and vegetables? [33:03] 
• Are there any healthy preservatives we can use in our foods? [37:00] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:  

• What is a Modified Mediterranean Diet? 

• Your Guide to Several of Today’s Most Popular Diets 
• Why We Should Rethink The Western Diet 
• 10 Simple Recipes Ideas For a Whole Food Diet 
• The Six Best Supplements for Healthy Weight According to a Registered Dietician 
• Preventing Metabolic Syndrome with Diet: What the Research Tells Us 
• How to Create a Men’s Health Diet Plan 
• Thorne Partners with Trifecta: Personalized Nutrition Just Got Tastier 
• Picky Eater? How to Add Vegetables to Your Child's Diet 
• Why Am I Craving Sweets? 
• Carbs and Gut Health: The Good, the Bad, and the Not-So-Ugly 

From the podcast archives: 

• Weight Management - Diet 
• The Wahls Diet and Autoimmune Disorders 
• New Approaches to Kids’ Nutrition 
• The Gamer's Diet, with Dietitian Casey Thomas 
• Performance Cooking with Trifecta's Chef Mario 

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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  

 

How the Stress Test Works: Results and Insights

What is stress? How are the adrenal glands involved? Dr. Amanda Frick, Thorne’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, rejoins podcast host Dr. Robert Rountree to discuss how Thorne’s at-home Stress Test measures cortisol and DHEA hormones and to share their personal results from taking the Stress Test.  

During this episode you’ll learn about: 

1. Dr. Amanda Frick explains: What is stress? What does Thorne’s Stress Test measure? [2:26] 

• What do adrenal glands have to do with the body’s stress response? [4:19] 
• Cortisol and DHEA – the body’s stress hormones [6:20] 

2. How to take Thorne’s Stress Test – a salvia-collection kit [7:51] 

3. Dr. Frick’s Stress Test results 

• Cortisol levels and what elevated cortisol means [11:39] 
• DHEA levels and the effect on hormones [14:44] 
• Diet and lifestyle recommendations based on Dr. Frick’s results [15:51] 

4. Dr. Robert Rountree’s Stress Test results 

• Elevated cortisol at night [17:58] 

• DHEA and biological age [19:45] 

5. Diet and lifestyle recommendations based on Dr. Rountree’s results [20:41] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: 

• Watch Dr. Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree go over their results. 
• Connect with Dr. Frick on LinkedIn 
• Thorne’s Medical Affairs Team: Turning Science Into Education  
• Are Your Stress Levels Under Control? 
• Understanding High Cortisol Levels: Symptoms, Causes, and Regulation  
• The 7 Best Supplements to Better Manage Stress 
• Body Basics: What Are Adrenal Glands and What Do They Do? 
• How Stress Affects the Body 
• Why You Should Reconsider that Morning Cup of Coffee  
• What is a Modified Mediterranean Diet?  
• Read more from Dr. Amanda Frick at Take 5 Daily 
• From the podcast archives:  

• What is Stress and How It Affects the Body  
• The Thyroid Test: What to Expect and How It Works 
• What Do My Sleep Test Results Mean? 
• How to Digest Your Gut Health Test Results 
• The Secrets to Healthy Skin 

Products mentioned in this episode: Stress Test and Biological Age Health Panel – explore all of Thorne’s health tests; Phosphatidylserine (formerly Iso-Phos); Moducare® 

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What is Stress and How It Affects the Body

Stress affects everyone differently. Returning to The Thorne Podcast is guest Dr. Joel Evans, who answers the question “What is stress?” and explores how different types of stress can help – or harm – the body. In this episode, you’ll discover mind-body practices for stress management.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Joel Evans explains “What is stress?” – good stress vs. bad stress [0:55]
   • Prenatal psychology: Does stress during pregnancy affect the baby in utero? [5:42]
2. Can someone be “sensitive” to stress? How does a lithium deficiency affect stress management? How do you measure in utero stress during pregnancy? [7:32]
3. What does chronic stress do to the body? [12:16]
4. Mind-body interventions for patients with chronic stress [14:54]
5. Questions from the community
   • Why does stress cause weight gain? [22:07]
   • What hormone is responsible for stress? [23:54]
   • Are there natural foods or medicines that can help reduce stress? [25:40]
   • Besides yoga or meditation, what stress-management practices can I follow? [27:35]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Center for Mind-Body Medicine
• Are Your Stress Levels Under Control?
• Managing Stress When Trying to Conceive
• How Stress Affects the Body
• Stress and Weight Gain: What’s the Connection?
• Easy Ways to Decrease Stress at Work
• The 7 Best Supplements to Better Manage Stress
• 6 Things to Know Before Buying a Hemp Product
• What is GABA and What is it Used for?
• Understanding High Cortisol Levels: Symptoms, Causes, and Regulation
• From the podcast archives, with Dr. Joel Evans: All About the Thyroid, the Body's ‘Sentinel Gland’

Products mentioned in this episode: Stress Test – an easy at-home health test; Phosphatidylserine (formerly Iso Phos); PharmaGABA; Hemp Oil +; Stress Management Bundle – Stress B-Complex, Stress Balance, PharmaGABA-250

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What is Metabolism? with Dr. Stephen Phipps

Metabolism is a complex process of turning the food you eat into energy for the body. Dr. Stephen Phipps, Thorne’s Chief Innovation Officer, joins podcast host Dr. Robert Rountree to answer all your questions about metabolism and explains the truth behind supplements, like berberine, for weight management.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Stephen Phipps explains what metabolism is and where it occurs in the body [0:54]
2. Why metabolism is not just calorie counting – and what the microbiome has to do with it [4:39]
3. The truth behind berberine for weight-loss support and why it isn’t “nature’s Ozempic” [10:15]
4. How to build an individualized strategy to diagnosing metabolic issues [15:04]
5. Questions from the community
   • What are the side effects of taking metabolic supplements long-term? [21:54]
   • Why do different people need different metabolism supplements? [24:57]
   • What are the most effective supplements to help boost metabolism? [27:20]
   • Are patients too concerned with weight and metabolism? [32:25]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• 20 Surprising Things that Can Affect Your Weight
• What Effect Does Calorie Restriction Have on the Brain?
• Metabolic Syndrome – What is it and What Causes it?
• A Botanical with Even More Benefits: Berberine Got an Upgrade
• The Deep Dive: An Exploration of Blue Zones and Human Longevity
• Caffeine and Heart Health: A Benefit or a Risk?
• Thorne’s 2-week Weight Management Program

Products mentioned in this episode: Berberine, Curcumin Phytosome, Metabolic Health – with bergamot and turmeric, Gut Health Test, Quercetin Complex, Alpha-Lipoic Acid

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Science Behind the Scenes with Dr. Stephen Phipps

Dr. Stephen Phipps, ND, PhD, Thorne’s Chief Innovation Officer, returns to the podcast to answer your questions about how Thorne products are formulated. Join podcast host Dr. Robert Rountree on the journey of a Thorne supplement, from idea and prototype to clinical study and customers’ homes.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Returning guest – Dr. Stephen Phipps, Thorne’s Chief Innovation Officer [0:55]
2. Behind the science: How Thorne designs its supplements [3:18]
   • Scientific solutions from natural ingredients [6:45]
   • From idea to prototype to clinical study [9:33]
   • Thorne’s partnerships in clinical trials [12:22]
3. How long does Thorne take to formulate its products? [14:48]
4. Sourcing sustainable ingredients with minimal ecological impact [15:53]
5. The benefits of Thorne’ multiple rounds of testing on ingredients and products [19:57]
6. Questions from the community
   • What exactly is a vitamin, and how is it different from a mineral? [25:30]
   • What are some Thorne products delivered in capsules and others as loose powders? [29:29]
   • Why does Thorne reformulate products that are already on the market? [33:14]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Stephen Phipps, ND, PHD, on LinkedIn
• The ‘Lifecycle’ of Thorne Products with Stephen Phipps, Chief Innovation Officer
• Better Products for a Better Future, with Stephen Phipps, Chief Innovation Officer
• What Inspires Us to Innovate, with Mario Roxas, Director of Research and Development
• 3 Things You Should Know About Sustainability at Thorne
• Product Quality: Thorne's Defining Characteristic
• From the podcast archives, with Dr. Stephen Phipps:
  • Navigating the Science Behind Botanical Extracts
  • New Approaches to Kids’ Nutrition

Products mentioned in this episode: Rhodiola, SynaQuell™, Berberine, Magnesium CitraMate, Magnesium Bisglycinate, Quercetin Phytosome, NAC

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How to Coach Sports Nutrition to Teen Athletes

Teenage athletes have unique nutrient needs. Shawn Pitcher, sports dietitian, joins this Performance Edition of the podcast to talk about how to coach healthy eating habits to today’s teens.

Editor’s note: At the time of this episode’s recording, Shawn Pitcher was a Sports Dietitian at Overtime Elite. He has since changed companies and is now the Director of Professional Development at SHPN: Sports and Human Performance Nutrition.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Shawn Pitcher, sports dietitian for youth athletes [0:34]
2. High-performance nutrition for high-school athletes: What do coaches and dietitians overlook? [2:05]
3. How data and testing can help determine what an athlete needs [5:25]
4. Advice for coaches on how to communicate health topics to youth athletes [8:33]
5. What a foundation in nutrition means for an athlete’s longevity [12:34]
6. Assessing an athlete’s nutritional supplement needs [17:35]
7. Questions from the community
   • At what age is it OK to start weightlifting? [20:28]
   • Should teen athletes be bulking up? How does a growing athlete bulk up? [22:23]
   • What are some dietary and training red flags for youth athletes? [25:47]
   • Are selective diets like veganism and vegetarianism right for youth athletes? [28:50]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Find all the links to Shawn Pitcher’s projects here, including his Roots podcast, YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok
• com and SHPN: Sports and Human Performance Nutrition
• Tips to Help Kids Make Healthy Food Choices
• Nutrition 101: Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
• The Dangerous Effects of Under-Fueling: Energy Deficiency in Sport
• Importance of Good Nutrition for Young Female Athletes

Products mentioned in this episode: Pre-Workout Elite; Creatine; Vitamin D Test; Collagen; Training Bundle – Creatine, Amino Complex, Beta Alanine-SR; Youth Bundle – Catalyte, FloraSport 20B®, Basic Nutrients 2/Day, Super EPA

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

The Thyroid Test: What to Expect and How It Works

What does the thyroid have to say about our health? Dr. Amanda Frick, Thorne’s Vice President of Medical Affairs, returns to the podcast to share her Thyroid Test results and helps host Dr. Robert Rountree understand what his own thyroid biomarkers mean.

During this episode you’ll learn about:

1. Why you should test thyroid health, why thyroid issues go undiagnosed, and the benefits of benefits of at-home thyroid tests [0:55]
2. How Thorne’s Thyroid Test works [4:45]
   • Unboxing the Thyroid Test: What’s included in the kit [4:55]
   • How to prepare for the test: Tips and tricks for the best results [5:46]
3. Robert Rountree’s Thyroid Test results [10:09]
4. Amanda Frick’s results [17:07]
5. How to interpret unexpected thyroid results [17:58]
6. What recommendations are included in Throne’s Thyroid Test results? [20:20]

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode:

• Explore Thorne’s Thyroid Test
• Watch Dr. Amanda Frick and Dr. Robert Rountree go over their results on .
• Go deeper on your health with Thorne’s at-home health tests. Meaningful results. Personalized recommendations.
• Symptoms, Causes, and Consequences of an Overactive Thyroid
• What Are the Health Effects and Symptoms of Having an Underactive Thyroid? 
• The Thyroid's Role in Regulating Your Sex Drive
• From the podcast archives, with Dr. Amanda Frick: The Secrets to Healthy Skin; How to Digest Your Gut Health Test Results; What Do My Sleep Test Results Mean?
• Go behind the scenes at Thorne HealthTech’s Medium blog, where we showcase the minds behind Thorne’s approach to developing and delivering health and wellness solutions.
• Connect with Amanda Frick on LinkedIn

Products mentioned in this episode: Thyroid Test; Selenium; EPA, DHA, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids; Basic Nutrients 2/Day

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.

 

 

All About the Thyroid, the Body’s ‘Sentinel Gland’

Thyroid disease may be more common than you think. It’s estimated one in eight people have abnormal thyroid function. Dr. Joel Evans of The Center for Functional Medicine joins podcast host Dr. Robert Rountree to discuss thyroid imbalance and what nutrients can support a healthy thyroid. 

During this episode you’ll learn about: 

1. Dr. Joel Evans, founder and director of The Center for Functional Medicine [0:54] 

2. What is the thyroid – the “sentinel gland”? [1:37] 

3. Women’s hormones, estrogen, and the thyroid gland [6:09] 

4. What are thyroid symptoms? How common is abnormal thyroid function? [9:46]  

• Why thyroid problems are more common in women [12:41] 
• Gut health, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and thyroid disease [13:27] 

5. Nutrients that support thyroid function [18:20] 

6. Questions from the community 

• Can symptoms of thyroid disease indicate some other diagnosis? [22:40] 
• If a person has thyroid problems, what foods should be avoided? [26.21] 
• How is thyroid imbalance related to mental health? [28:42] 
• What’s the link between thyroid function and breast cancer? [29:28]
• At what age do thyroid issues typically arise? [30:35] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: 

• Symptoms, Causes, and Consequences of an Overactive Thyroid  
• What Are the Health Effects and Symptoms of Having an Underactive Thyroid? 
• The Thyroid's Role in Regulating Your Sex Drive
• Estrogen Dominance: What it is, how to recognize it, and what you can do about it
• Food Allergy and Intolerance: Making Sense of Food Sensitivities
• Redefining Healthy Aging
• Take the Healthy Aging Quiz 
• Learn more about Dr. Joel Evans at The Center for Functional Medicine and at the Institute for Functional Medicine. You can also follow his work on Facebook. 

Products and nutrients mentioned in this episode: Thyroid Test, Iodine, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Vitamin A, Ashwagandha 

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog. 

The Gamer’s Diet, with Dietitian Casey Thomas

Esports athletes have unique needs to support cognitive performance. 1HP dietitian Casey Thomas joins the Perform Edition host Joel Totoro to discuss the video gamer’s diet, from caffeine and hydration to nutrients that support eye strain.  

During this episode you’ll learn about: 

1. Casey Thomas, esports dietitian with 1HP [0:34] 

2. The cognitive performance of esports athletes [6:04] 

3. What is the gamer’s diet? [10:57] 

4. Misconceptions about caffeine [16:47] 

• How caffeine works [17:45] 
• How to properly dose caffeine for cognitive performance [19:48] 
• The inverted U: Why caffeine doesn’t work for everyone [23:29] 

5. Questions from the community 

• What are third-party verified supplements? [25:39] 
• What supplements or diet recommendations can help against eye strain in children playing video games [29:37] 
• Outside of gaming, who can benefit from cognitive performance nutrients? [31:30] 
• What are emerging diet trends and are they successful? [33:10] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: 

• GamerDiet.gg – Casey Thomas’ blog, helping esports athletes unlock their potential through performance nutrition science 
• 1HP – Providing gamers with simple advice on how to prolong their careers and perform at their best 
• Find Casey Thomas on Twitter @CaseyThomasRD 
• Brain Games: A Primer On Nutrition And Supplementation For Esports Athletes 

• Six Tips to Improve Reaction Time and Mental Focus 
• Common Hydration Mistakes You Might Be Making 
• Why You Should Reconsider that Morning Cup of Coffee 
• Introducing Thorne's New Pre-Workout Elite 
• What is Blue Light and How Does It Affect Me?
• Lights Out! 5 Ways You Might Be Sabotaging Your Sleep Quality
• Certification by NSF International Explained and What Certification Means For You 

Products mentioned in this episode: Thorne’s NSF Certified for Sport® Lineup, Vitamin D, Protein Powders, Pre-Workout Elite 

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog. 

Performance Cooking with Trifecta’s Chef Mario

Mario Limaduran, executive chef at Trifecta, joins this Performance Edition of The Thorne Podcast to talk about his food philosophy, how to create meals for athletic performance, and why great nutrition doesn’t have to sacrifice taste. 

Rundown  

During this episode you’ll learn about: 

1. Chef Mario Limaduran – his career from Cornell to Exos to UFC to Trifecta [0:34] 

2. What is Trifecta? [5:17] 

• How Chef Mario builds his food philosophy of great taste, great nutrition [6:24] 

3. How the restaurant industry prepared Chef Mario for the athletic performance world [8:17] 

4. What is “nutrient density”? How is it different from “if it fits your macros (IIFYM)”? [12:32] 

• How to remove stigma from the “dieting” approach to nutrition [17:18] 

5. How to supplement a “food first” diet [20:14] 

6. Questions from the community: 

• What are some tips for someone who’s just getting started cooking? [25:18] 
• Favorite way to sneak vegetables into a meal? [26:58] 
• What’s Mario’s favorite culinary location? What food would he have as a last meal? [29:24] 

• Favorite books and other resources for upping your culinary game? [31:08] 

Resources to topics mentioned in this episode: 

• Thorne Partners with Trifecta: Personalized Nutrition Just Got Tastier 
• F1’s Daniel Ricciardo On Life in the Fast Lane 
• Why We Should Rethink The Western Diet 

• What is Blue Light and How Does It Affect Me? 
• Follow Chef Mario on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter or on YouTube at ChroniclesOfACook 

Products mentioned in this episode: Magnesium Bisglycinate, FloraMend Prime Probiotic® 

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Subscribe to the show wherever you listen to podcasts so you never miss an episode. You can also learn more about the topics in the episode by checking out the latest news, videos, and stories on Thorne’s Take 5 Daily blog.