episode 211: how to boost your adrenals and cleanse using ...your circumstances in your life. so...

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Episode211:HowtoBoostYourAdrenalsandCleanseUsingFoodWithDr.AlejandroJunger


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Child:WelcometomyMommy’spodcast.

ThisepisodeisbroughttoyoubyOrganifiandI’msoexcitedtofinallytellyouaboutthem!Because,here’saconfession…IhaveknownaboutOrganififorareallylongtimeandeventhoughsomanyofmyfriendsandexpertsItrustraveaboutthem,InevertriedtheirstuffuntilrecentlybecauseIthought…firstofall,howcanitactuallybethatgood?Well,Itrieditanditturnsoutthatitisnotonlythatgood,it’sbetterthanIexpected!Organifihasgreenjuice,redjuice(whichisanantioxidantreddrinkandit’sdelicious)andagoldenmilkturmericdrink,alongwithaplant-basedprotein.Everythingtheyhaveiscompletelyorganicandtheyallactuallytastegood,unlikealotofothergreendrinksandproteinpowders.I’veespeciallybeenlovingtheirredjuicelately…especiallyatthistimeofyearforimmunity.Ittastesamazingandithasablendofantioxidantsfromstrawberries,cranberries,blueberries,pomegranatesandtheyalsoaddinbeets,cordycepts,reishi,rhodiolaandalotmore.So,thisparticularblendisformulatedtoincreaseenergy,boostmetabolismandreducefactorsthatleadtoaging.Theirgreenjuiceismintyanddelicious,andInoticedithasalmost8005-starreviews.Youcancheckoutthosetwoproducts,alongwiththeirwholesuiteofproductsandsave20%justbybeingalisteneroftheWellnessMamapodcast.Gotohttp://organifi.com/wellnessmamaandusethecode:WELLNESS20for20%off.

ThispodcastisalsobroughttoyoubyGoodCulture.GoodCulturemakesamazingcottagecheese.Iknow,Iknow,notnecessarilytwowordsyouwouldputinthesamesentenceoneverydayspeaking.Buttheirsisawesome,Ipromise,evenifyoudon’tlovecottagecheese.Basically,it’snaturallyfermentedcottagecheesesoit’sfreeofgums,fillers,andadditivesandit’spackedwithprobiotics.Andbecauseit’smadenaturallyitdoesn’thavethatweirdmouthfeelthatalotofcottagecheesehas.So,Iuseitallthetimeincookingandsmoothiesasasubstituteforothertypesofcheese,orjustamealonthego.YoucanfinditatWholeFoodsandmanyothergrocerystoresanditcomesinyogurt-sizedcupstoo,andthoseareperfectformeals.Checkthemout.It’sGoodCultureandtheyareavailableatmanygrocerystores.

Katie:Helloandwelcometothe"WellnessMama"podcast.I'mKatiefromwellnessmama.com,andI'mheretodaywithalivinglegend,AlejandroJungeristheNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthorofmultiplebooks,including"Clean,""CleanGut,"and"CleanEats."AndaftertrainingininternalmedicineinNewYorkandcompletingafellowshipincardiologyatLenoxHillHospital,healsostudiedEasternmedicineinIndia.AndhenowbringsthewisdomofWesternmedicineandEasternmedicinetogetherinhisuniqueapproachthathasbeentoutedbycelebritiesandotherdoctorsthatIhighlyrespect.AndI'msoexcitedtojumpin.Dr.Junger,welcomeandthankyousomuchforbeinghere.

Dr.Junger:Thankyouforhavingme.

Katie:Well,soinresearchingforthispodcastIcameacrossthefactthatyouarefromUruguay,ifIresearchedthatcorrectly,whichisoneofmyfavoritecountries.Ihaven'tbeentherebutit'sacountryI'vereadquiteabitabout.Soifyoudon'tmindI'dlovetostarttherebecauseItrulybelievethatwecanlearnfromeverycultureandeveryplacesomuch.SoI'mcuriousifyourtimeinUruguayhashadanimpactonthewaythatyou


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practicemedicineoronyouradultlife,oriftherearethingsfromthewayoflifeinUruguaythatyouthinkwecanlearninAmerica?

Dr.Junger:Well,Idon'tknowthatwecanlearnaboutthewayoflifeinUruguaynowalotbecausewe'veimportedalotofthebadthingsthathappenedinAmericalikefastfoodsandprocessedfoods.ButatthetimewhenIwasgrowingupthere,therewerenosupermarketsandtherewerenoprocessedpackagedfoods.Iusedtogotothefarmersmarketwithmyfatherandheusedtoteachmehowtochoosefruitsandvegetables,andweknewthatpeoplethatweregrowingthem.Therewerenochemicalsused.

Sothat'sreallyhowIgrewup.Andthenaftermedicalschool,ImovedtoNewYorkand,youknow,IwasfascinatedwithsupermarketsandallthepackagedfoodsthatyoucanputinamicrowaveovenandhaveadinnerreadyintwominutesthattookmymothereighthourstoprepareinUruguay.AndbasicallyIstartedgettingsick.Ididn'tknowitwasfromthelifestyle,right?ButafterIembarkedonmyjourneyofhealingmyselfmorenaturallythanwhatmedicinehadofferedmeatthattime,Ilearnedthat,youknow,thewaythatIusedtolivewhenIlivedwithmyparentsinUruguaywaswhatIshouldbedoingbackagain.

Katie:Ithinkyou'reright.There'ssomuchwisdominthataboutandgoingbacktothesimplerapproachandjusttobasicrealfoodsversusfoodsthathavesomanyingredients.AndIknowthatnowyou'reawell-respectedexpertinmanythingsbutoneofthemisadrenalhealthandadrenalfatigue,whichissomethingIgetsomanyquestionsabout.SoI'mhopingthatyoucanreallyshedsomelightforus.Buttostart,foranyonewhoisn'tfamiliar,canyoujustgiveusanoverviewofwhattheadrenalsareandwhythey'resoimportanttothebody?

Dr.Junger:Yeah.Adrenalsarelittleglandsthatliveontopofthekidneys.They'resmallandthey'relodgeontopofthekidneys.Andwhattheydoistheyproducecertainhormoneslikeadrenalineandnoradrenaline,andtheyareinvolvedineverythingthathastodowiththeproduction,themaintenanceofenergylevels,andalsoattimeswhenyouneedburstofenergylikeadrenalinedoesforyoufordifferentsituations,likethetypicalfightorflightreaction,right?Sothatiswhattheadrenalsareandwhattheyaremostknownfor.

Katie:Gotit.Okay.Andthenthere'sthistermfloatingaroundthatIhearalot,andI'msuremanypeoplelisteninghaveheard,whichisadrenalfatigue.Sowhathappenswheninadrenalfatigueandwhat'shappeninginthebodyatthatpoint?

Dr.Junger:SowhenIwenttomedicalschool,weonlylearnedofadrenalfailure.Youknow,whentheadrenalglandsstopworkingaltogetherandthat'scalledAddison'sdisease.Andthat'sanextremeformofadrenal,notfatigue,butbasically,whenitstopsfunctioningaltogether.Butweneverreallylookedatlessintensewaysofunderfunctioningoftheadrenalglands.ThatactuallyIlearnedmorefromEasternapproachesandfromfunctionalmedicine.Andthatwasaftermedicalschoolandafterallmytraining.Therearestillmosttraditionaltraineddoctorsstilldon'tevencomputeadrenalfatigueasarealproblem.Butwhenyoustartunderstandingwhatitis,youstartseeingthatit'saworldepidemic.Andmostpeoplelivingmodernbusylivesareadrenallyfatiguedtosomeextreme,tosomedegree.


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Katie:You'resoright,though.I'veseensomanymedicalsourcesthatprettymuchdenytheexistenceofadrenalfatiguealtogetherandsaythatit'sonlyreallyproblematicwhenitdoesgetintothoseadvancedstages.Butwhatdoyouthinkaresomeofthefactorsthatarecontributingtothisadrenalfatiguethatseemstobeontherisesomuch?

Dr.Junger:Well,youknow,themainfactorofadrenalfatigue,asitisthesamewithmostmodernmedicalproblemsormostchronicproblemsingeneral,isthatwehumanbeingsarenotlivinginthewaythatnaturedesignedustolive.Youknow,whenyouseeanimalslivingaccordingtothewaysofnature,tonature'sdesign,youdon'tseeproblemslikewehumanssufferfrom.Therearenolionsinthewildwithdepressionorgiraffeswithautoimmunediseasesormonkeyswithobesityor,youknow,rhinoswithdiabetes.

Sowhathappensisnaturedesignedourbodies,ourcells,ourorgans,andallitsfunctions,butthedesignisnotisolated.It'sactuallyinsertedinabiggerdesignofyourenvironmentandtheworldandtheplanet,right?Andifyoustartlookingatitinthatwayyouseethathumanbeings,wearelivinginacompletelydifferentwaythanwhatnaturedesigned,andthat'swhywegetsick.Wedon'tsleepatthetimesthat,youknow,isthebestforourdesign.Wedon'teatatthetimesorthefoodsorthequantitiesandthefoodsthemselves,right?Ifyoulookatthatalone,accordingtothewaythatnaturedesignedthings,weshouldbeeatingonlylocalstuffthatisinseasonbecausenaturedidn'tinventimportsofblueberriesfromArgentinaorcoconutsfromTahitiorwhateveritisthatwedothesedays.

Yougotothesupermarketthesedaysandyouhaveallkindsoffruitsandvegetablesfromallkindsofseasonsthatcomefromalldifferentcountries.So,alsothelevelsofstressand,youknow,thesepressuresthatweputonourselvesandoursleeppatterns,asImentionedbefore,allthesethingscontributetousbasicallygettingexhausted.Andyoudon'tevenneedthetermadrenalfatiguetoknowthatexhaustionisoneoftheproblemsofhumanitytoday.Atleasthumanitythatlivesinamodernwayand,youknow,adrenalfatigueisatthephysiologicbasisofwhyweendupallexhausted.Anditaffectsmanythings.Itaffectsyourhair.Itaffectsyourhormones.Itaffectsyourskin,itaffectseveryorganbecauseeverythingisinterconnected,youknow?

Katie:Yeah,absolutely.AndIthinkyou'reright.We'refightinganuphillbattleintoday'sworldwithallthenegativeinputsourbodyconstantlyfaces,bothfrom,likeyousaid,foods.We'renotmeanttoeatallthetimeorlighttoolateatnightandnotgettingenoughsleep,notmovingenough,notbreathingenoughfreshairorgettingenoughsunshine.We'vedetachedfromnatureinsomanyways.AnddefinitelyIthinkyou'reright,it'snothardtoseethatwe'reseeingeffectsofthis.Whataresomeofthethingsthatyoutypicallyrecommendforpeopletostartovercomingthis,thattheyareinthatcycleoffatigueandexhaustion?

Dr.Junger:Well,youknow,thebigideaistogobacktonature'sdesignasmuchaspossible,youknow,givenyourcircumstancesinyourlife.Soeatingwholefoodsasopposedtoprocessedfood,realfoods,foodsthatyourgreatgrandmotheroryourevenyourgrandmotherwouldrecognize.Becauseifyoubring,youknow,backyourgreatgrandmotherandyoutakehertoasupermarket,90%ofthethingsthat'sthataresoldthereshewouldn'tevenrecognizeasfood.Sogoingbacktothewaysofnature,right,andthenwitheverythingthatthatentails.Youknow,sleepingwhenitgetsdarkandwakingupwhenitgetslight.


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Andthenlearningwayshownottoletthestressoflifeaffectyou.EvenwhenyouturnontheTVandyouwatchthenews,especiallythesedays,thatcantriggerallkindsoffightorflightreactionsinsideofyourbody,andthatalonecanexhaustyouradrenals.Sothat'singeneral,right?Butthenwhenyougointomoredetail,there'sotherthingsthatcanhelpyou,andthere'sherbsthatcanhelpyoulikeashwagandhaandRhodiolaandlicoriceandthingslikethat.Andacupunctureand,youknow,yoga.Imean,there'ssomanythingsthatputtogetherinalittleplancanhelpyourecoveryouradrenals.

Katie:Youmentionedeatingseasonalfoodsinavariedway,basically,onlyeatingwhat'sinseasonandlocal,whichalsolendsitselffromwhatI'vereadtowardbettergutdiversity,lettingthedifferenttypesofbacteriainthebodyinteractwithdifferentfoodsandtheprebioticfibersthatareindifferenttypesoffood.Isthereagutcomponentconnectiontoadrenalfatigue?Iknowthere'sobviouslysomuchliteratureoutthereaboutthegutanditsimportantforourhealth,butisthereaconnectionspecificallytoadrenalproblems?

Dr.Junger:Formostpeoplethereare,andinfactthatcanbethewholeoriginofadrenalfatigue.Youknow,whathappensis...IcallthegutourAchillesheel.That'sourweakestpointintheinteractionofourbodywithourenvironment.Becauseyourskinisprettyresistantandyourlungs,youknow,eventhoughthey'reinsideandthey'reverydelicateorgans,theycantakealotofabuse.Youknow,somanypeoplesmokeapackortwoadayandlivelongliveswithout...youknow,ofcourse,itcangiveyoucancerandemphysemaandallthosekindsofthings,butittakesyearstoreallyinsultanddamageyourlungs.

Butyourgutwhichisthepartofyourbodythat'smostintouchwiththeoutsideworld.Andeventhoughit'sinsideofyourbodyandyoucan'tseewithyournakedeye,youareputtingallthesethings,allthesedrinksandfoods,allthesethingsfromtheenvironment,you'reputtinginthere,andtheygoinsideandtheytouchyourgutallthewayfromyourmouthtoyouranus.Sothatisthepartofourbodiesthatismostintouchwiththeenvironment.Andthat'sthefirstbarrierthat'sgettingbrokendownbetweentheoutsideandtheinsideofthebody.Andit'snotonlythegutbacteria,whichisaveryimportantpartofit,right?Becausethere'sthegoodbacteriawhich,youknow,we'retalkingaboutalot,themicrobiomeandtheintestinalfloraorwhateveryouwannacallit.

Butthere'salso,whenthosestartdying,there'salsothebadbacteriaandtheparasites,andthefungi,andtheviruses.Andthere'salotofthingsthatcanliveinthewallsofyourintestinesandstartbreakingdownthewallofyourintestine.Andthewallofyourintestineneedstobecompletelyintactinorderforthefoodandthisstuffthatweputinourmouthnottotriggeryourimmunesystembecauseontheothersideofthewallofyourintestinesis80%ofyourimmunesystem.

Andwhenyoustartbreakingthewall,andthere'sallthesebacteriaandundigestedfoodstartbeingexposedtoyourimmunesystemandtheimmunesystemstartsreactingand,youknow,creatingallthesealertsandreactionsandsurvivalmechanismsandadaptivemechanisms,allthatcanconsumesomuchenergyandcanconstantlytriggeryouradrenalglandstobesupportingitwithproductionoftheseenergyhormones.Andafterawhileitgetsexhausted.Sothatalonecouldbethewholecauseofyouradrenalfatigueor,formostpeople,acontributingfactorforsure.


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Katie:Thatmakesperfectsense.AndIknowanotherthingthatyouhavetalkedaboutinotherinterviews,aswellasIthinkwrittenabout,istheroleofjustthingslikepre-hormones,likevitaminDandspendingtimeoutsideinreducingthatoverallstressandinhealingthebodyandovercomingsomeofthesemodernproblemsthatwe'reseeing.Infact,IknowthatIreadsomewherethatyourecommendlikeverymoderatesmallamountofsunexposureeverydayisthebestwaytogetvitaminD.ButI'mcuriousso,A,likeI'dlovetohearyourreasoningonthatbecauseobviouslysunexposureisacontroversialthingandI100%actuallyagreewithyou,butalsoarethereotherbenefitstobeingoutside?Like,youmentionedwakingupwhenthesunrisesandgoingtosleepwhenthesunsets.Aretherebenefitswecangetfromnaturejustinspendingtimeoutdoors?

Dr.Junger:Well,forsure.Listen,backtonaturedesign.We'reprobablydesignedtolivenakedrunningaroundinthesunalldaylongandbeingexposedtothesunalldaylong.Sonowwedotheopposite.Weliveinhouses.Wegofromplacetoplaceinlittleboxeswithwheels.Wecoverourselveswithhatsandcreamsandclothing.Soourskinneverseesthesun.Andjustlikeplantsgetalotofenergynutrientsfromthesun,wearedesignedtodothataswell,vitaminDbeingjustoneofthem.And,youknow,therearescientistsnowthattalkaboutothereffectsofthelightinyourretinaandinyourbrainandproductionofcertainchemicalsinyourbrain.

Butlet'sgotovitaminD,whichisthemostknown,whichisnotevenconsideredavitaminanymore.It'smorelikeahormoneandit'sknowntopreventcancer,to,youknow,strengtheningimmunesystem,preventdepression.Thelackofitisafactorinosteoporosisandthelackof,youknow,theabilityofthebonestoabsorbcalcium,anddementia,andsomanythings,right?Sothere'sdefinitelythatbenefitfromexposuretothesun,plusalltheotherbenefitsthataremaybenotchemical,butemotionalandmentalandevenspiritual.Youknow,everytimeIgotothebeach,evenifIexercise,I'mrenewedandIseethehappinessinmykidsforjustbeingcarefree.They'rerunningaroundinthesun.There'sdefinitelymorebenefitsthatwecanthinkof,oflivingoutsideandbeingmoreintouchwithnature.

Katie:Forsure.Infact,aswe'retalkingI'msittinginmyofficewatchingmykidsridebyontheirbikesandclimbtreesandspendtimeoutside,andjustit'swonderfultothinkhowhealthythatisforthem.Just,likeyousaid,it'smultipletimesgettingbacktonatureintothethingsthatwe'renaturallywiredtodo.Andanotherthingthatyou'rewellknownforisyouruniqueapproachtocleansingusingbasicallyfoodinasafeway.

AndIfeellikethisissomethingI'dlovetogodeepwithyouonbecauseIthinkcleansingisabuzzwordrightnow,andthere'sallkindsofdifferentcleansesoutthere,someofwhichIhavereallyseriousconcernsabouthowdangeroustheycanpotentiallybe.ButI'dloveifyoucouldspeaktocleansingandwhatthedifferenttypesofcleansesareandhowtokindofdistinguishonethatissafeversusonethatisn't,andwhyweneedtogiveourbodytheabilitytocleanseonceinawhile.

Dr.Junger:Cleansing,yeah,it'sabuzzwordbutit'snotlessarealandimportantbecauseit'sabuzzword.Anditalldependsonwhoisexplainingitandhowyouthinkaboutit.Lookatitthisway.Practicesofcleansinganddetoxificationhavebeenaroundforthousandsofyears,andtheyareapartofeveryreligion.TheMuslimsdoitforRamadan,theJewsforYomKippur,theChristiansforLent.There'salwayssomekindoffastingorcleansinginawayinvolvedineveryreligion.Everyspiritualgiantusedtopracticeit.


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Butifyoulookatitfromabodyphysiologicpointofview,thatissomethingthatourbodiesareconstantlydoing.Cleansinganddetoxificationisnotsomethingthatonedayyoudecidetodoandtherefore,youknow,yourbodywillstartdoingit.Yourbodyisconstantlydoingit.Infact,ifitstopsdoingitforoneminuteyouwilldie.Oneverysimpleformofcleansinganddetoxificationisgettingridofcarbondioxide,youknow,whichisthebyproductorthewasteproductofcellularmetabolism.YourbodyconsumessugarsandoxygenandburnsthemtoproduceATP,andthewasteproductisCO2thatisdumpedintothebloodandgetsdissolvedinthebloodascarbonicacidandthencirculatesintheblooduntilitpassesthroughthelungs.

Andwhenitpassesforthelungs,itfizzlesoutasCO2whichyoubreatheout.Thatisaverysimplewayofcleansinganddetoxification,butveryimportant.Andthenifthatstops,ifyoustopbreathingandnotputtingoxygeninside,youwouldlastlongerthanifyoustoptakingoutyourCO2.Sojustlikethat,theliverisconstantlydoingitschemicalreactionstocleanseanddetoxifythebodyandallthewasteproducts,notonlyofyourinternalmetabolism,butthereareallthewasteproductsthatweputinourbodiesfromtheoutside,whatinfunctionalmedicinearecalledxenobiotics,and90%ofthexenobioticsthatwe'reexposedtothatendupinourbloodstreamarelipophilic.Theyonlydissolveinfat.Theydon'tdissolveinwater.

Nowthebody,mostofthewaysofgettingridoftoxinsisthroughsweat,breath,themoistinthebreath,urine,andfeces,anddissolvedinwater.Soallthesetoxinshavetobeconvertedfromlipophilictohydrophilic,fromdissolvinginfattodissolvinginwater.Thatisdonemostlyattheleveloftheliver.Sotheliveris,youknow,oneofthemainorgansincleansinganddetoxificationinthebody,andthatissomethingthatwe'rebornwithandthenthebodyhastoconstantlydo.SowhatIunderstandascleansinganddetoxificationisnotsomethingthatyou'retryingtogetyourbodytodo.It'ssomethingthatyourbodyisdoingalready,butyou'rejustcreatingtheconditionsandgivingyourbodythesupportitneedsinordertocompletethoseprocessesmoreefficiently,optimally.

Soforexample,theliverneedscertainthings,certainrawmaterialstobeabletouseforconvertingtheselipophilicxenobioticsortoxinsintohydrophilictoxinssothatyoucanpeethemoutandsweatthemout.Andpartofthoseareproteinsandaminoacids.Soyouhavetogivethebodycertainproteinsandaminoacidsinorder...Imeanproteinsareaminoacids.ButwhatI'msayingisyouhavetogivethose,youknow,componentsfortheliverinordertobeabletodoit.Sothere'sdifferentintensitiesofturningon,notturningon,butintensifyingyourdetoxificationprocesses.

Oneofthemostimportantcorrelationsisthatwhenyou'redigesting,yourdetoxificationprocessestendtodiminishinintensitybecausealltheworkthatyourbodyhastodoinordertodigesttakesawayfromtheenergythatthebodywouldbeusinginorderfordetoxificationprocess.Youknow,there'ssomuchenergyavailableatanygiventimeandthebodyhastobudget,hastoputcertainenergyforthisandputcertainenergyforthat,youknow,certainenergyforexerciseandcertainenergyforthinking,acertainamountfordetoxification,acertainamountfordigestion.Themoreyouneedenergyfordigestion,themoreyoutakeoutfromotherprocesses.

Sometimeswhenyouaredigestingalot,youcannoteventhinkbecause,youknow,sometimesafteryoustuffyourbodywithfood,likeinThanksgiving,youcanonlygoandsleepbecausethebodyisdigestingandusingso


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muchenergythatjustgetsyouexhaustedandthere'snothingelsethatyoucando.Sothelessthatyoueatandthelessthatyoudigest,themoreintenseyourdetoxificationprocessesturnon.Themostintensewayofdoingthatisbyjustdrinkingwater,whichiswaterfasting,butthatisreallyintense.Andtheproblemisthatyouarenotgivingthebodyallthesubstrates,allthethingsthatthebodyneeds,themoleculesthatthebodyneedsinordertodetoxifysomemolecules.Soyoumayendupinamoretoxicsituation.

Thousandsofyearsagoitwasokaytowaterfastbecausewewerenotexposedtosomanytoxinsandwewerenoteatingsomuchandwe'renotsoloadedwithtoxins.Therewasnottoomuchforthebodytocatchup.Butifyou'regoingtowaterfastingthesedays,it'sadifferentstory.Sothatmaybedangerous.It'sthesamethingwithjuicing,right?Itisalittlelessintensethanwaterfastingbutstillveryintense.Andstillyou'reonlygivingthebodycertainnutrients.You'renotgivingthebodyanyprotein,forexample.Sojuicefasting,ifdoneinthemidstofabusylife,canalsobetoointenseforpeople.Now,thencomesmywayofcleansing,right?

SothewaythatIpromoteitandthewaythatIuseitasamedicaltoolisIdecreasetheworkloadofthedigestivesystembygivingpeoplesubstitutionofsolidmealsbyliquidmeals.Forexample,IputpeopleonaliquidbreakfastandaliquiddinnerandIonlyletthemhaveasolidmealforlunch.AndthenIalsofurtherdiminishtheworkloadofthedigestivesystemduringthemealforlunchbynotallowingpeopletoeatfoodsthattakealotofworktodigestorthataddtothetoxicload,right,orthattriggerreactionsfromthebodylikeallergicreactionsorsensitivityreactionsthatwilltriggertheimmunesystemtoworkharder,right?

Soyoucanlearnhowtodecreasetheworkloadofthedigestivesystembutstillgivethebodyandtheliver,mainlyallthethingsitneedstocleanup,andthenmakecleansinganddetoxificationsafeanddoablewithinyourbusylife.Now,ifyoutakeoffandgotoaspaanddonothingalldaybutcleansing,thenjuicingmaybeappropriate.Butifyou'regonnadoitwhileyouliveyourbusylifeandyoutakeyourkidstoschoolandyouworkandpreparedinnerand,youknow,you'redoingallthethingsthatyoudoeverydayinthecity,yeah,juicingmaybetoointense.Sowhenyoustartunderstandingthewaysortheintensitiesofdifferentcleansingprograms,thenyoustartunderstandingwhatcontextyoucanusethemin,whatkindofpeopleyoucanusethemfor,andwhatkindofproblemsyoucanhopetosolvewiththem.

Katie:Gotit.Thatmakessense.AndIknowthatmanycelebrities,forinstance,wherebyyourtypeofcleansing,becauseitletsthemmaintainanactivelifestyleandeverythingthattheymustdowhilestillbeingabletogivethebodyabreak,andwhichiswhyI'msogladwegottotalkaboutitbecausemostofthepeoplelisteningareparents.AndIfeellikeifparentsareprobablythebusiestpeopleontheplanet,wejusthavesomanydemandsonourtime,plusjobs,pluseverythingelsethatgoesintolife.AndsoIlikethatapproach,especiallyforpeoplewhoIhearfromwhosaylike,"IwouldneverwanttofastorIhavelowbloodsugarIcan'tfast,"orallofthosethings,it'sawayto,likeyousaid,keepbuildingyourbodywithfood,butalsojustgiveitabreak.

Anditsoundslikeit'salsoabreakfromthecommonallergensandfromsugarsandfromalcohol,justthingsthatcanstressthebody.Andsoyoucankindofjustgiveyourentiresystemalittlebitofabreaktorecharge.


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ThispodcastisalsobroughttoyoubyGoodCulture.GoodCulturemakesamazingcottagecheese.Iknow,Iknow,notnecessarilytwowordsyouwouldputinthesamesentenceoneverydayspeaking.Buttheirsisawesome,Ipromise,evenifyoudon’tlovecottagecheese.Basically,it’snaturallyfermentedcottagecheesesoit’sfreeofgums,fillers,andadditivesandit’spackedwithprobiotics.Andbecauseit’smadenaturallyitdoesn’thavethatweirdmouthfeelthatalotofcottagecheesehas.So,Iuseitallthetimeincookingandsmoothiesasasubstituteforothertypesofcheese,orjustamealonthego.YoucanfinditatWholeFoodsandmanyothergrocerystoresanditcomesinyogurt-sizedcupstoo,andthoseareperfectformeals.Checkthemout.It’sGoodCultureandtheyareavailableatmanygrocerystores.

ThisepisodeisbroughttoyoubyOrganifiandI’msoexcitedtofinallytellyouaboutthem!Because,here’saconfession…IhaveknownaboutOrganififorareallylongtimeandeventhoughsomanyofmyfriendsandexpertsItrustraveaboutthem,InevertriedtheirstuffuntilrecentlybecauseIthought…firstofall,howcanitactuallybethatgood?Well,Itrieditanditturnsoutthatitisnotonlythatgood,it’sbetterthanIexpected!Organifihasgreenjuice,redjuice(whichisanantioxidantreddrinkandit’sdelicious)andagoldenmilkturmericdrink,alongwithaplant-basedprotein.Everythingtheyhaveiscompletelyorganicandtheyallactuallytastegood,unlikealotofothergreendrinksandproteinpowders.I’veespeciallybeenlovingtheirredjuicelately…especiallyatthistimeofyearforimmunity.Ittastesamazingandithasablendofantioxidantsfromstrawberries,cranberries,blueberries,pomegranatesandtheyalsoaddinbeets,cordycepts,reishi,rhodiolaandalotmore.So,thisparticularblendisformulatedtoincreaseenergy,boostmetabolismandreducefactorsthatleadtoaging.Theirgreenjuiceismintyanddelicious,andInoticedithasalmost8005-starreviews.Youcancheckoutthosetwoproducts,alongwiththeirwholesuiteofproductsandsave20%justbybeingalisteneroftheWellnessMamapodcast.Gotohttp://organifi.com/wellnessmamaandusethecode:WELLNESS20for20%off.

Katie:ButIknowalsoI'vereadinyourworkbeforethatyoutalkaboutthementalaspectaswell.AndI'dloveforyoutogointothisabout.I'veheardyoutalkabouttoxicthoughtsandhowimportantourthoughtsareandourmentalattitudeandourmindsetisforoverallhealthaswell.Canyoutalkaboutyourapproachandhowyouincorporatethat?

Dr.Junger:Youknow,thatactuallywasthewaythatIwentintothiswholeworldofwellnessorintegrativemedicine,ifyouwill.IwasinNewYork,youknow,doingmyinternshipresidencyandfellowshipininternalmedicineandcardiology.Iwassuperbusy.Iwasoncallsometimesthreedaysinarowrunningaround,notimeforeating,just,youknow,grabbingsomethingfromvendingmachinesorthehospitalcafeteria,whichisbasicallypoison.AndI'msoworriedwithalltheseproblemsandpotentialproblems,allthisworkloadthatIhad.SoonedayIwasridingonasubwayinNewYorkandIwaslookingatthiscrazypersoninfrontofmetalkingoutloud.

Andthenitdawnedonmethatthatpersonwasjustdoingitoutloud,butIwashavingthesameconversationsinsidemyhead.IknowallthetimeIwasthinkingaboutthecheckIhavetopayandthispatientandthediscussionIwasgonnahavewithmyboss,andIevenscreamedathiminmymindandthenevenimaginedhisansweror,youknow,threedifferentscenarios,andthenconstantlythinking.Irealizedthatmostofusarelikeacrazyperson,butinsilence.Wewerejustlisteningtoalltheseconversationsinourheadallthetime.And99%ofthetime,they'rerepetitivethoughts,and99.9%ofthetimes,they'renegativeformostpeople.There'sluckypeoplethathavepositivethinking.


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Buteventheonesthatthinkonlypositivethoughtsareexhaustedbytheirthoughtsaswell.Sowearelikebeingsthatdon'tthinkthoughtsarejusthappeningandthey'rehappeningallthetime.Andthey'rehappeningtoapointandadegreethattheydon'tletusbepresent.Sothatwasmyfirstrealizationofthisdisease.Atthebeginning,IthoughtitwasIwascrazy,butthenIrealizedthatmostpeoplearehavingthesameproblem.AndthenonedayIwasreading,youknow,justrandombooksatBarnesandNoble,justpickingbooksandseeingwhattheysaidaboutthisorthat.AndIcamebytheconceptofmeditation.AndthedefinitionthatIrememberreadingwasthemeditationwasthepracticebywhichyoucanslowdownandevengettostopthishabitualbrokenradioofrepetitivenegativethoughtsthatareconstantlyhappeninginourheads,whetherwewantthemornot.

Andthatwaslikeanahamomentforme,youknow,whichtookmeto,youknow,finishmytrainingandmedicineandleaveeverythingbehindandgoandliveforayearinamonasteryinIndiatolearnmeditation.That'swhereIwasexposedtoothertypesofmedicine,right?Butifyouthinkaboutit,that'swhatmostpeoplearehavingthesedays.That'sthemostcommonunderlyingandonlynowbeingtalkedaboutdiseaseofconstantthinking.Whetherit'spositiveornegative,youknow,ofcourse,negativethinkingisworse.

But,youknow,thisideaofpositivethinkingthateverybodyoralotofpeoplearetalkingaboutasthesolutionforhappylife,it'sjusttheothersideofthecoin.It'sjustadifferentaspect,maybemoreenjoyableorlesssufferingthannegativethinking.Constantpositivethinkingisasexhaustingasnegativethinking.Sothegoalisnothinking,noautomaticthinking,onlythinkingwhenwedecidetothink,right?Butthatis,youknow,whatIunderstandisastateofenlightenmentwhichisbasicallywhatwe'reherefor,togettothatstate.Andthere'salotofthingsthatyoucandoinordertostrengthenthatabilityofbeingpresentandhavinglessthoughtsinyourhead,meditationbeingoneofthem.

Katie:Ifyoudon'tmindsharing,I'mcuriouswhatyourpersonalapproachandwhatyourday-to-daypracticeisbecausenotmanyofusgettheexperienceoflivinginamonasteryforayear.ButIfeellikeyouprobablyhavesomevaluablethingsthatyou'vetakenfromthatexperience.Sohowdoyouincorporatethatmeditationandthatcalmnessintoyourdailylife?

Dr.Junger:Well,youknow,alotofpeopletalkaboutsittingdownformeditation,closingyoureyes,and,youknow,sittingdowninthelotusposition.Butthat'sveryhardformeandIcan'treallydo.Ican'tevendowhattranscendentalmeditatorsdo,youknow,20minutestwiceaday.Becauseforalotofpeople,themomenttheysitdownandclosetheireyes,that'swhentheyreallystartnoticingallthethoughts.Becausewhenyou'rebusyandyou'redoingthisandyou'redoingthat,you'rekindofdistracted.Butwhenyousitdownandyoucloseyoureyesandyoustarttryingtomeditate,peoplethink,"Oh,thisistoodifficultforme,"ortheystartrealizinghowcrazytheirmindsare.SowhatIdoissomethingthatIdoalldaylongandasmuchasIcanremembertodoit.InawayIthinkofitasmeditationinaction,right?

AndI'lltellyourightnow,aswespeakandforthepeoplethatarelisteningtothisinterview,asyoulistentomyvoiceandwhatI'msaying,putsomeofyourattentionalsoonyourfeet.Asyoucontinuetolistentome,feelyourfeetfrominside,feelthemtouchingyourshoe,feelthetemperature,feelthehumidity,feelthepressureagainstyoursocksorthefloororwhateveritisthatyou'rewearing.Feelyourfeetfrominsideand


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continuetofeelyourfeetrightnow.AndasyoucontinuetofeelyourfeetandlistentowhatI'msaying,startalsofeelingyourhands.Feelwhatthey'retouching,feelthetemperature.

Don'tforgettofeelyourfeet.Feelyourfeet,yourhandsandlistentome.Andlikethat,youknow,whatwejustdid,andIdon'tknowifyounoticedwhileyouweredoingit,there'sadifferentflavortothisconversation.There'sadifferentstatethatyouenter.Becausewhatyou'redoingisyou'reputtingsomeofyourattentioninyourfeetandyourhands.Andyourfeetandyourhandsarerighthere,rightnow,areonlyinthepresent.Yourthoughtscanbeinthepastandinthefutureorinabstractideasaswe'retalkingabout.Butyourhandsandyourfeetarerighthererightnow,inthepresent.Andwhenyouputyourattentioninthem,youareanchoringsomeofyourattentioninthepresent,soyouarebecomingmorepresent.

Andyoucandothatinmany,manyways.Youcan,forexample,asyoulistentome,listentothenoisesoutside.Youknow,justaminuteagotherewashelicopterpassingbyhereinVenice,California.There'shelicoptersalldaylong.Andthenthedogsbarkingorthewind,youknow,orpeopletalkingnextdoor,whateveritis.Soyou'relisteningnotonlytomebuttootherthingsaround,whichareinthepresent.Soyou'reanchoringyourattentionthepresent.Youcandoitwithyoureyesasyoulookatyourscreenonyourcomputerrightnow.Justnotice,youknow,theworldbehinditonthetablewhereyourcomputerissittingon.Feelyourfeet.Feelyourhands.Feelyourbuttagainstyourchair.Listentothethingsaround.

Atthesametime,asyou'relisteningtome,allthesewaysofdivertingsomeofyourattentionandanchoringitinthingspresentputyouinthepresent,makeyoumorepresent.Andinawaythey'rekindofcounterintuitivebecausewhywouldyoustartfeelingyou'refeelingyourhandsifyou'retalkingtome?Isn'tthattakingsomeofattentionfromwhatI'msaying,youknow,andthereforedefeatingormakeyouunderstandlesswhatI'msaying?Butwhenyoustartpracticingthesethings,youseethatit'sthecontrarybecauseyou'renotpayinglessattentiontome.

Theattentionyou'repayingtomeisthesame.Buttherestofyourattentionthatnowgoestoyourfeetandyourhandsandwhateverelseyou'redoing,listeningorseeingthingsaroundyou,usedtogointoyourjudgingmindor,youknow,asyouspeaktome,youstartrememberingthingsyouhavetodowhenwehangup.Andthosearethingsthatgetyoudistracted,notthingsthatarerighthereinthepresentlike,youknow,thefeelingofyourbody.Doyoufollow?

Katie:Ido.That'ssopowerful,justtobepresentlikethat.Like,you'reright.Wegetsodetachedfromthatjustinallofthebusynessoflifeandjusttoactuallybeinyourbodyforamoment.

Dr.Junger:Andit'snotaboutbeinginyourbodyforamoment.It'saboutbeinginyourbodyallthetime.Irememberthismaybe30,40timesaday.AndwheneverIrememberthis,evenifI'mhavingaconversationwithsomebody,evenifI'mhavingaworkintervieworwhateveritis,itgoesbetterthanitwouldgoifIdidn'tdothosethings.Sothemorethatyoupractice,themorethatyoudo,thebetteryourlifeflowsandthemorepresentyouare.


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Katie:Ilovethat.Likeyou,Ihavetroublejustsittingstillintheideaofthinkingofnothing.That'sverydifficult.SoIlovethatthisissomuchmorepracticalandit'ssomethingIcanfocuson.It'stangibleversuskindofthatabstractconceptofjustopenyourmindoremptyyourmindseemsmuchmoredifficultwithsomeoftheformsofmeditationforsure.

Dr.Junger:Unattainable.

Katie:Also,I'dlovetocirclebackalittlebittogetbacktoamoremedicaltopic.Yourresidencywasincardiologyandyoustillareconsideredbyfaranexpertinthis.Iwouldlovetogetyourtakeonwhydoyouthinkwe'reseeingsuchariseinheartdiseaseandcardiacproblems?Evenstill,Iknowthatit'snotrecognized,butitisabiggerkillerofwomenthanevenbreastcancer,forinstance.It'sahugeissue.SoI'dloveyourtakeonwhatthatintegrativeapproachthatyouhaveonsomeofthefactorsyouthinkarestillcausingthisincreaseinheartdiseaseandsomethingswecandoespeciallyaswomentokindofcounteractthat.

Dr.Junger:Well,that'swhatwe'vebeentalkingabout,youknow,thewaythatwe...thestressinourlives,thechemicalswe'reexposedto.Themadnessofmodernlifethatiswhatthecauseofheartdiseaseandmostchronicdiseasesare.And,youknow,wecangointospecificsbutthatexplainsit.Thebigpictureexplainsit.And,youknow,oneofthethingsthatwe'retalkingabout,forexample,thelackofvitaminDisalsolinkedtocardiovasculardiseases.Sothat'sonepracticalthingthateverybodycando.Youknow,mostmoderndoctors...Imeanit'schangingnow.AlotofWestern-traineddoctorsareordering,youknow,vitaminDlevelsonyourbloodtests.Butifyourdoctordoesn't,thenaskhimforit.Andifyoudon'thaveenough,takingitisgonnaloweryourriskofcoronaryandotherheartproblems.

Butbasically,onethingthatisimportantformostpeopletounderstandisthatmostchronicdiseasesandheartdiseaseis...orchronicdiseasearelinkedinaway.Theyhaveacommonfactorinaway,thatisinflammation,right?Andinflammationinthebodyleadstochronicdiseases,maybeminutesafter,maybehoursafter,maybemonths,andmaybesometimesdecadesaftertheinflammationistriggeredandmaintained,right?Butinflammationisthemainproblemattherootofallthechronicdiseasesofthemodern.Andwheredoesinflammationstart?Mostlyinthegut.Sotherewegobacktowhatweweretalkingaboutbefore.

Katie:Ilovethatapproach.Anditseemssomuchmoreeffectiveandholisticthanjustsomeofthenarrativeswe'vebeentoldbefore.It'sjust,youknow,saturatedfatcausesheartdisease,whichnowtheysaythere'smuchmoretothatstoryorit's,youknow,bloodpressure,cholesterolorallofthesethings.Ifeelliketheholisticapproach,whenyoulookatitthroughyourlensofinformation,thatmakessomuchsense.

Dr.Junger:Butthosethingsaretrue.Andthosearepartofwhat,youknow,triggersandmaintainsinflammationright?Solikehydrogenatedoilsarepartof,youknow,thethingsthattriggerormaintainorworseninflammation.Smoking,highbloodpressure,anddiabetes.Butthey'reallpartof,youknow,ofthegroupofchronicdiseaseslikediabetes,highbloodpressure,andallthesethings.Andtheyallendupcausingforsomepeopleheartdisease,forsomepeoplecancer,forsomepeopleAlzheimer's,right,dependingonyour


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geneticpredispositionsandyourindividualcircumstancesandconditions.Butmostchronicdiseasestodayarebornfrominflammationthatstartedmaybesometimesyearsbefore.

Katie:Thatmakesperfectsense.Ithinkthere'ssomuchwisdomandlotofapproach,andI'llmakesuretolinktothethingswe'vetalkedabout.Iknowyou'vewrittenaboutyourcleansingapproachandyourbookstomakesurepeoplecanfindthosetogodeeperiftheywannalikereallytakeadeepdiveintohowtoreduceinflammationandhowyoustartreducingthesefactorsthatwe'refacinginmodernlife.AndIcan'tbelievewe'veflownthroughourtimebecauseyou'resoeasytotalkto.AndasomewhatselfishquestionI'dlovetoasktowardtheendoftheinterviewis,ifthere'sabookorfavoritebooksthatyourecommend,besidesyourown,thathavereallyhadanimpactonyourlifebecauseI'manavidreader.I'malwayslookingfornewbookideas.SoI'dlovetohearyours.

Dr.Junger:Well,intherealmof,youknow,spirituality,andthinking,andenlightenment,thatkindofsubject,there'sonebookthatreallybasicallychangedmylifeandIkeeponreadingoverandoverandagainandagainandeverytimeIreadit,Iunderstandinacompletelydifferentway.Andit'sjustincredible.It'scalled"InSearchoftheMiraculous"byPeterDemianovichOuspensky.OuspenskywasaphilosopherandmathematicianandhewrotealotofbooksindifferentsubjectsinRussiauntilhemethisspiritualteacher,GeorgeIvanovichGurdjieff.ThisiswhereIgotalltheseideasofmeditationandactionanddivertingmyattentiontopresentthingsandthingslikethat.

Thatbookreallychangedmylifeandcontinuestochangemylifeinmanyways.And,youknow,inthemedicalrealm,therearesomanyreallygoodbooksthatIhavereadbutI'lltellyouanewonethatjustcameoutbyafriendofminecalled"Ketotarian"whichisdoingtheketodietinavegetarianway,andthenthedoctorisWillCole.It'sareally,reallycoolbook.Butthere'sso,somanybooksthataregoodthesedaysthatit'sdifficulttochoosebetweenoneoranother.

Katie:Iagree.AndIhaveaddedthosetomylist,especially"InSearchfortheMiraculous."That'sanewoneIhadnotheardoffandIcan'twaittodiveintothat.Andforanyonewhowants...

Dr.Junger:Notaneasyreadbutsoworthit.

Katie:Wonderful,Ican'twait.Andforanyonewhowantstocontinuetolearnfromyouafterthisepisodeisoverandtostayintouchwithyourwork,wherecanpeoplefindyouonlinetolearnmoreaboutyou?

Dr.Junger:Youknow,Ihavethebooksthatyoumentionedoutineverybookstoreandthey'realsoanaudiobook.Theycanvisitmywebsiteatmycompany,theCleanPrograminwhichwemakeavailablethetoolsforcleansinganddetoxification.Wehavethisincredible21-dayandalsoa7-daykitthatyoudon'tneedtothinkaboutandyoudon'tneedtojuiceand,youknow,everythingisprovidedtoyou,theshakesandtheprobioticsandtheantimicrobials.Soyoucandoareallybalanceddetoxprogram.Andthat'satwww.cleanprogram.com.IalsohaveanInstagramaccount,Dr.AlejandroJunger.You'regonnaseealotofpicturesofmykidstherebut,youknow,Ialsoputsomeinformationout.


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Katie:Wonderful.I'llmakesureallofthosearelinkedtotheshownotesatwellnessmama.fm,soanyofyoulisteningcanfindthenandstayintouch.ButDr.Junger,thankyousomuchforspendingyourtimewithustoday.Ibelievetimeisourmostvaluableasset,andI'msohonoredthatyousharedsomeofyourtimeandyourwisdomwithus.

Dr.Junger:Mypleasure,anytime.

Katie:Thankyou.Andthankstoallofyouforlistening,asalways,andIhopetoseeyouagainonthenextepisodeofthe"WellnessMama"podcast.

Ifyou'reenjoyingtheseinterviews,wouldyoupleasetaketwominutestoleavearatingorreviewoniTunesforme?Doingthishelpsmorepeopletofindthepodcast,whichmeansevenmoremomsandfamiliescouldbenefitfromtheinformation.Ireallyappreciateyourtime,andthanksasalwaysforlistening.

episode 211: how to boost your adrenals and cleanse using ...your circumstances in your life. so...

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