How counting calories & Leptin resistance aren't the best match & why...

How many calories?

Today I am studying for my board exam in Applied Quantum Biology, and I am really reviewing the energy management system of the body as it relates to illness, wellness, metabolism & overall health.

One things that continues to be clear to me (in studying & in clinical application) is that the mainstream biochemical model of health/wellness is flawed.

You might be saying: What does this have to do with health & how can I just figure out how many calories I need?

Today I am going to do my best to explain this from the lens of Quantum Biology, Circadian Biology & Applied Nutrition - and give you some practical take home tools you can use to find what works best for you.

I will also include a poll at the end of this email to ask you what kind of articles you would like to see me write for the newsletter, so make sure you vote!

First I wanted to let you know: There are a few things on sale for July 4th - so here's a running list (will be updated in the coming days!):

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Calories & the role of Quantum Biology

What do Quantum Biology & Circadian Biology have to do with calories?

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As mentioned above - the current biochemical model of health is flawed & does not take into account the impact of mitochondrial health/function, circadian biology & how our hormones, thyroid & microbiome all shift seasonally.

Circadian Biology: On a 24 hour (ish) basis: Light exposure affects many hormonal patterns, surges & drops, and dictates many physiological processes in the body (such as your metabolism).

Disruption to something as simple as your light/dark cycles impacts your gut's ability to repair, your body's sex hormone production, insulin/leptin sensitivity & cortisol dysregulation.

On the level of the mitochondria: Your body does not necessarily see food as "food" - rather it sees the food as electrons which must be utilized by the mitochondria for energy production & water production.

Mitochondrial health & how much energy & water your body makes are determined by: Circadian Rhythms, Light exposure, Darkness at night, NNEMFs, Sound, Intention, Nutrition & Grounding.

Many in the Quantum Biology space say that only 1/3 of our energy should come from food, and the other 2/3 from grounding, sunlight exposure (melanin production creates energy), cold exposure & being in nature. (click here to watch a video that breaks this down).

Sunlight also allows the body to make neuropeptides and neurohormones that help regulate appetite, impact glucose tolerance & provide our body with free electrons (UV light) & expand cellular water - the "energy battery" of the body - up to four-fold (infrared light).

Grounding also allows us to pull in more free energy which can improve blood flow and circulation, calm inflammation & bring us into a parasympathetic state (click here for the podcast I did on grounding).

Guess what happens when we stay indoors under artificial blue light all day - disconnected from the earth? Our body makes less ATP & water naturally (blue light actually blocks cytochrome IV in the electron transport chain & can cause insulin and glucose to rise without food), you naturally feel more hungry & more inflamed.

Ok great: How can I calculate my calories?

So I hope all of the above really explains to you why it is absolutely crucial to optimize Circadian rhythms, sunlight exposure, grounding & all the other things I mentioned are so important when it comes to calories.

When you have worked to optimize all of the above, your body will use the nutrients you provide it with more efficiently & you are getting energy from other natural sources.

Before you start counting calories - getting rid of foods that are engineered to make you want more of them is crucial. (Click here to read an article that explains this.)

After we eliminate the processed foods with a low nutrient profile we focus on prioritizing bioavailable protein at each meal & incorporating seasonal produce, healthy fats & fermented foods as tolerated.

From there many people begin to lose weight quickly (after implementing light protocols - more time outdoors & mitochondrial supports)- but some are still eager to count calories.

My advice: If the scale is not moving the way you would like it to after implementing these methods, take an honest food diary for a week (or two if you can be patient) & assess what happened in that time period.

If your weight stayed the same - you are at maintenance & if you lost or gained weight then you need to adjust according to your goals.

Let's say weight stayed the same? Then we need to bring down either fat or carbohydrates (you decide based on your location & the season).

I also have a Metabolic Flexibility Webinar (which is included in the 21 Day Leptin Reset Program & the Quantum Nutrition Program) which teaches you how to fast in a hormonally friendly way after becoming fat adapted.

The moral of the story: your body needs support at the level of the mitochondria to make efficient use of the nutrition you provide yourself.

Your body sees food as information, just like it sees light, grounding, sound & NNEMF.

I hope this provided you with a new, empowering viewpoint on food, calories, nutrition overall & light!

Thank you so much for being here! I do truly enjoy writing these emails, recording free videos, making free guides & hope you enjoy!

In Health 🌞,

Sarah

PS - This newsletter is not medical advice nor a substitute for 1:1 care with a trusted practitioner!