Many folks who have a goal to lose weight turn to a rule of thermodynamics: calories in, calories out. While the foundational idea of eating fewer calories than you burn holds some truth, it’s also a massive oversimplification of a complex process. Today you’re going to learn about the nuances of counting calories.

Our guest on today’s show is Dr. Paul Saladino. He is a licensed physician, podcast host, and a leading authority on animal-based nutrition. He’s back on The Model Health Show for an important discussion on why counting calories rarely works for long-term weight loss, the importance of focusing on food quality, and how environmental factors like light exposure control your health and energy.

The human body is an intelligent, complex system that is affected by much more than just the number of calories you consume. If you’re ready to step away from counting calories for good, I hope this episode provides you with some clarity and inspiration. Enjoy!

In this episode you’ll discover:

The original purpose of the calorie. (2:49)
What percentage of people regain weight after counting calories. (3:50)
The definition of adaptive thermogenesis. (4:20)
How ultra-processed food companies fund the narrative of calories in, calories out. (4:39)
The role of food quality when trying to lose weight. (6:20)
What important factors get overlooked when you exclusively focus on calories. (6:48)
The connection between ultra-processed foods, mitochondria, and fat storage. (10:08)
How food quality affects hunger. (11:25)
What you need to know about the ingredient, EPG. (13:28)
What year calories started being printed on food labels. (19:37)
The truth about how artificial sweeteners affect the microbiome. (21:28)
How convenience foods often lure adults into eating low quality food. (32:13)
The story behind Dr. Saladino’s company, Lineage. (38:06)
What the health benefits of ultraviolet light are. (41:39)
The difference between whole light and processed light. (44:49)
How to move away from counting calories. (58:44)
The importance of understanding bioindividuality. (1:02:29)

Items mentioned in this episode include:

Organifi.com/Model - Use the coupon code MODEL for 20% off + free shipping!
Paleovalley.com/model - Use code MODEL for 15% off!
Lineage Provisions - Use code MODELHEALTH for 10% off!
Connect with Dr. Paul Saladino Website / Podcast / Instagram / X / YouTube

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This episode of The Model Health Show is brought to you by Organifi and Paleovalley.

Organifi makes nutrition easy and delicious for everyone. Take 20% off your order with the code MODEL at organifi.com/model.

Use my code MODEL at Paleovalley.com/model to save 15% sitewide on nutrient dense snacks, superfood supplements, and more.

Why Calorie Counting Is a Trap & How Light Controls Your Health – with Dr. Paul Saladino

The Model Health Show