The Elevated Health Podcast

Glycemic Index Explained: Why Your CGM Spike Isn’t Always Bad

This episode traces the history and purpose of the glycemic index (GI), created by David Jenkins in 1981 to compare how foods affect blood glucose in controlled tests, and explains why glycemic load (GL) was introduced to account for portion size. It highlights the limits of GI testing—fasting subjects and isolated foods—and why real-world meals, meal composition, and preparation methods change glucose responses, using examples like watermelon and cooled-and-reheated rice. The show covers modern findings that individual glucose responses vary widely, how continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) reveal personalized patterns, and the many factors that influence blood sugar including sleep, stress, muscle mass, microbiome, and timing. Practical tips include pairing carbs with protein, fat, and fiber, choosing less-processed options, moving after meals, improving sleep, and using GI/GL as tools rather than moral judgments about food. Overall, the episode encourages using data wisely—focusing on how high and how long glucose rises and how well it recovers—rather than aiming for a perfectly flat glucose line, and emphasizes personalization over universal food rules.

Chiropractic Beyond Back Pain: The Nervous System, Pregnancy, Athletes & Animal Care

Dr. William Braudt of 806 Chiropractic joins Amanda Jones for a deep dive into what chiropractic care actually is — and what most people misunderstand about it. The conversation explores the history and evolution of chiropractic medicine, how chiropractors are trained in the United States and abroad, and why the profession often sits at the intersection of conventional medicine, movement, mobility, and nervous system regulation. Dr. Braudt explains how chiropractic care may support people across the lifespan, including newborns, pregnant women, athletes, working adults, and older adults looking to maintain mobility and quality of life. Amanda and Dr. B also discuss the mind-body connection, stress patterns stored physically in the body, posture, nervous system function, and how modern lifestyles may contribute to chronic tension and pain. The episode also takes a fascinating turn into animal chiropractic, where Dr. Braudt shares how he expanded from human care into treating animals, the specialized training required, and the dramatic ways horses, dogs, and other animals can respond to treatment. Along the way, they tackle: * Common myths about chiropractic care * How to choose a qualified chiropractor * Red flags patients should watch for * What realistic treatment plans look like * Why different chiropractors practice differently * How chiropractic fits alongside traditional healthcare Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or already a fan of chiropractic care, this episode offers a balanced and practical look at one of healthcare’s most debated fields.

Why the Scale Goes UP When You’re Sick

When you’re sick, you probably expect the scale to go down. After all, you’re eating less, moving less, maybe even sweating or dehydrated.   So why does the number sometimes go up?   In this mini episode of The Elevated Health Podcast, Amanda Jones, nurse practitioner, breaks down the real physiology behind illness-related weight gain — including inflammation, fluid retention, stress hormones, slowed digestion, glycogen storage, medications, and immune system activation.   You’ll learn:   * why inflammation can make you feel swollen or “puffy” * how cortisol and stress hormones affect fluid balance * why eating less doesn’t always equal immediate weight loss * the role of hydration, sodium, glycogen, and digestion * why the scale is measuring far more than body fat     If you’ve ever stepped on the scale during a cold, allergy flare, pregnancy, autoimmune flare, or stressful week and thought “this makes no sense,” this episode is for you.   Because sometimes your body is trying to heal — not trying to lose weight.   #weightloss #inflammation #wellness #nutrition #podcast #healthpodcast #hormones #immunesystem #metabolism #fluidretention #womenshealth #longevity

GMO, Processed & Practical: How to Read Food Labels Without the Stress

In this episode Amanda Jones, a nurse practitioner and founder of Elevated Health, cuts through marketing noise to help you make calmer, smarter choices at the grocery store. She explains what GMOs (or "bioengineered" foods) actually are and why current evidence shows they’re safe and nutritionally similar to non-GMO versions. Amanda breaks down the broad term "processed foods" and explains the difference between helpful processing (like freezing vegetables) and ultra-processed foods designed to be hyper-palatable and easy to overeat. She encourages listeners to focus on the role a food plays in their overall pattern rather than labeling foods as strictly good or bad. Practical tips include flipping the package to read the ingredient list (ingredients are listed by weight), asking whether you could make it at home, and prioritizing foods closer to their original form most of the time. The episode emphasizes consistency over perfection: small, repeatable choices build better health over time.

Sick and Pregnant? Your Immune System Isn’s Failing…

In this episode Amanda Jones explains why pregnant people often feel like they get sick more frequently: pregnancy doesn’t weaken the immune system, it shifts it. To protect both parent and baby the body moves from a more aggressive, inflammatory response (Th1) toward a more tolerant, antibody-driven response (Th2), which can make viral infections, allergies, and fatigue more noticeable or prolonged. The episode covers common experiences—longer-lasting colds, worse allergies, increased fatigue—and why those happen. Amanda shares practical, evidence-based steps to support immune function during pregnancy, including prioritizing protein intake, optimizing key micronutrients (vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and choline), protecting sleep, and supporting gut health with fiber and probiotics. She emphasizes realistic strategies for each trimester (ways to get tolerable protein sources when nausea is present, foods high in choline like eggs, and gentle solutions for constipation) and encourages communication with your obstetric provider about supplements and symptoms. The message is reassuring: these changes are an intentional and complex adaptation to pregnancy, not a sign of failure. The episode mixes science with everyday tips to help pregnant listeners feel understood and better equipped to support their health.