BONUS: Eat Smarter: The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on Your Gut, Brain and Metabolic Health with Shawn Stevenson

About this episode

In this episode, Shawn Stevenson discusses the impact of ultra-processed foods on gut, brain, and metabolic health.

I am delighted to connect with Shawn Stevenson today! Shawn is the host of the prolific Model Health Show. He is also a Nutritional Scientist, an author, and a father. Shawn was a top-tier athlete in high school. At fifteen, his hip broke while running a 200-meter time trial. He had some standard of care, but nobody ever asked how an apparently healthy kid broke his hip while running. Two years later, he went to college. Soon after that, he got diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. In this episode, we get into how his background influenced his career path. We discuss fast-food economies, ultra-processed foods, the impact of subsidized foods on our health, the gut microbiome, and the dangers of seed oils. We dive into metabolic switching, the vagus nerve, and how it impacts food absorption and leaky gut. We talk about brain health, how the brain is influenced by the food we eat, the interrelationship between the brain and metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, and the impact of inflammation on the brain. We also discuss the importance of hydration, electrolytes, and more. IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How Shawn developed his passion for discussing nutrition and synthesizing…

People in this episode

Host: Everyday Wellness™

Guest: Shawn Stevenson

Topics covered

• nutrition
• ultra-processed foods
• gut health
• brain health
• metabolic health
• inflammation

Keywords

• nutrition
• ultra-processed foods
• gut microbiome
• brain health
• metabolic switching
• insulin sensitivity
• inflammation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Model Health Show

More episodes of Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+

• Ep. 605 "What Happens When You Stop the Pill in Midlife?" | Oral Contraceptives, Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormones · June 11, 2026 · 38 min
• Ep. 604 “It’s Not Just Vitamin D!” – How Sunlight Supports Blood Pressure, Mood & Hormonal Health with Rowan Jacobsen | Perimenopause, Menopause, Sleep · June 10, 2026 · 57 min
• BONUS: Breaking Down Calorie Restriction, Protein Intake and The Ketogenic Diet with Chris Irvin · June 8, 2026 · 1h 16m
• Ep. 603 The Microbiome's Role in Heart and Metabolic Health with Dr. William Davis | Menopause, Perimenopause, Microbiome · June 6, 2026 · 1h 1m
• Ep. 602 “The Gallbladder-Hormone Connection” – How Perimenopause Changes Bile Flow and Gallbladder Health | Menopause, Perimenopause, Gallbladder Health · June 4, 2026 · 34 min
• Ep. 601 “Why High-Functioning Women Stay Stuck” – The Nervous System Patterns Keeping You in Survival Mode with Dr. Nicole LePera · June 3, 2026 · 1h 2m