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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097/bonus-eat-smarter-the-impact-of-ultra-processed-foods-on-your-gut-brain-and-metabolic-health-with-shawn-stevenson
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097/bonus-eat-smarter-the-impact-of-ultra-processed-foods-on-your-gut-brain-and-metabolic-health-with-shawn-stevenson.md
Podcast: [Everyday Wellness: Midlife Hormones, Menopause, and Science for Women 35+](https://stenobird.com/podcast/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097)
Published: 2026-04-27T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTH9427102617.mp3?updated=1777254482
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/CTH9427102617.mp3?updated=1777254482
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/everyday-wellness-midlife-hormones-menopause-and-science-for-women-35-72097/episodes/bonus-eat-smarter-the-impact-of-ultra-processed-foods-on-your-gut-brain-and-metabolic-health-with-shawn-stevenson
Duration seconds: 4230

## Resource

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 research, and got to where he is today. How changing his thinking changed his life. What are ultra-processed foods? How ultra-processed foods impact the health of the average American citizen. Why so many Americans are obese today The need to understand the connection between the brain and the gut. What is the relationship between our immune system and our gut microbiome? An unusual benefit of extra-virgin olive oil. What can you do to have a healthier brain? The critical importance of high-quality sodium for cognitive function. Why Omega-3s are vital for our brains. Bio: Shawn Stevenson is the…

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