Food Is Food

The Hidden Impact of Undereating: Bone Health and Hormones | With Dr. Nicky Keay

In this episode, Talia is joined by Dr Nicky Keay to explore the often overlooked consequences of under-eating and over-exercise on hormones and bone health. Together, they unpack how low energy availability can disrupt the menstrual cycle, reduce estrogen and impact bone health. They also discuss DEXA scans, osteoporosis, HRT and REDS. What You’ll Learn: * The hormonal consequences of under-fuelling and over-exercising * The link between amenorrhoea, low oestrogen, and bone health * The difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis * The latest guidance around HRT for functional hypothalamic amenorrhoea * Blood tests that may be useful when assessing REDS and bone health Resources & Links: * Dr Nicola Keay’s website: www.nickykeayfitness.com [http://www.nickykeayfitness.com]  * Dr Nicola Keay on social media: @drnikkikeay [https://www.instagram.com/drnickykeay/]  * Personal Energy Availability Questionnaire (PEAQ): https://mypeaq.streamlit.app/ [https://mypeaq.streamlit.app/]  * Books by Dr Nicola Keay: * Hormones, Health and Human Potential * Myths of Menopause About our guest: Nicky is a medical doctor specialising in exercise endocrinology. Nicky’s clinical endocrine work provides personalised approach for hormone health, offering health advisory appointments, with a focus for those experiencing relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) and women experiencing perimenopause and menopause.  Based on her research into REDs, Nicky developed the free online personal availability questionnaire (PEAQ). Nicky is medical advisor to Scottish Ballet and offers talks on a variety of hormone topics at international conferences for organisations and groups. Nicky is the author of “Hormones, Health and Human Potential” and editor of “Myths of Menopause”.  Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:32 – How under-eating and over-exercise affect hormones 02:57 – Why periods may stop when the body is conserving energy 05:30 – What DEXA scans can and cannot tell us 08:38 – Understanding osteopenia, osteoporosis, Z-scores and T-scores 27:45 – Can osteoporosis be improved? 37:34 – What HRT is and when it may be indicated 42:22 – Why the oral contraceptive pill is not bone-protective in FHA 52:28 – Helpful blood markers for REDs and bone health 56:08 – Why vitamin D matters more than “normal range” alone Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

The Gut-Brain Connection: Digestive Issues And Eating Disorder Recovery | With Marci Evans

Digestive symptoms are one of the most common — and misunderstood — experiences in eating disorder recovery. In this episode, Talia is joined by eating disorder dietitian Marci Evans to unpack the complex relationship between restrictive eating, IBS symptoms, the nervous system, and gut health. This episode is for anyone navigating bloating, constipation, gastroparesis, IBS symptoms, or digestive discomfort in recovery — and for clinicians wanting a deeper understanding of the gut-brain connection in eating disorder care. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: * Why digestive symptoms are so common in eating disorders and disordered eating * The connection between the nervous system, anxiety, stress, and gut function * Why under-eating and restrictive diets can worsen IBS-like symptoms * Practical tools to support digestion without food restriction Resources & Links: * Website: http://www.marcird.com/marcird.com [http://marcird.com] (including clinician training and workshops) * Instagram: @marciRD [https://www.instagram.com/marciRD] * Free Resource: marcird.com/_resources/23tools [http://marcird.com/_resources/23tools] About our Guest: Marci Evans is a Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian and Supervisor (CEDS-C) and a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor practicing from a weight-inclusive, anti-oppression lens.  She has dedicated her career to counseling, supervising, and teaching in the field of eating disorders.  She launched the Food and Body Image Healers® Training Institute in 2015, an online platform helping dietitians and clinicians build the skills to specialise in eating disorder care. Since then, more than 3500 clinicians have taken her nutrition counseling and body image courses and focused workshops.  Marci continues to lead a weight-inclusive private practice, teaches graduate-level nutrition counseling at Simmons University, and has a forthcoming book, Nourishing Recovery: A New Integrated Approach to Nutritional Care for Eating Disorders. Episode Timestamps:  00:00 – Welcome & introduction  01:48 – Why digestive issues are so common in eating disorders  03:29 – The “chicken or egg” relationship between IBS and eating disorders  09:25 – The gut-brain connection: stress, anxiety & digestion  14:29 – Gut-directed hypnotherapy & non-diet approaches to IBS symptoms  16:20 – Low FODMAP diets in eating disorder recovery  22:09 – Nervous system regulation tools  25:30 – Exercise, undernourishment & pelvic floor health  32:08 – Are digestive symptoms always reversible in recovery?  36:21 – Food intolerance testing: what’s evidence-based?  42:29 – Bloating, constipation & practical digestive support tools  46:26 – Free resources for clinicians & recovery support Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

Understanding the Spectrum: Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorder

In this episode of Food is Food, Talia clarifies the differences between disordered eating and eating disorders, emphasising the importance of recognising signs and seeking support. It explores the spectrum of eating behaviors, diagnostic criteria, and factors contributing to eating disorders, providing valuable insights for anyone concerned about their relationship with food. Episodes drop every Thursday. What You’ll Learn: * Difference between disordered eating and eating disorders * Spectrum of eating behaviours from intuitive eating to clinical diagnosis * Factors contributing to eating disorders: biological, psychological, sociocultural * Importance of seeking support early * Impact of diet culture and societal pressures Resources & Links: * DSM-5 Criteria for Eating Disorders - https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm [https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/dsm]  * Butterfly Foundation Australia - https://butterfly.org.au/ [https://butterfly.org.au/]  * Beat UK: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ [https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/]  * Free Resource List: https://www.taliacecchele.com/freebies [https://www.taliacecchele.com/freebies]  * Ellyn Satter Normal Eating Definition: https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-eat/normal-eating/ [https://www.ellynsatterinstitute.org/how-to-eat/normal-eating/]   Episode Timestamps:  00:00 – Welcome & introduction  02:30 – How common eating disorders really are  04:50 – Understanding diagnoses & overlap between eating disorders  09:35 – Why disordered eating is hard to define  11:30 – The spectrum: from intuitive eating to eating disorders  12:20 – The “3 Ps” model: why eating disorders develop  15:35 – Barriers to seeking support & cultural considerations  18:30 – What is disordered eating? Signs to look out for  21:10 – The role of intention behind food behaviours  22:50 – What “normal eating” actually looks like  25:10 – How disordered eating can develop into an eating disorder  26:40 – Final thoughts: when to seek support Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

Why You Are Already “Sick Enough”: The Hidden Impact of Undereating | With Jennifer Gaudiani

In this episode of Food is Food, we explore the complex and often misunderstood concept of being “sick enough” in the context of eating disorders and undereating. What You’ll Learn: * How diet culture, medical gaslighting, and internalised beliefs keep people stuck * The truth about “feeling fine” while undernourished (and why it’s misleading) * Why your metabolism isn’t broken * The biological reality of undereating - from bone health and biochemistry to heart health and cognitive change Resources & Links: * Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders and Undernutrition (2nd Edition) by Dr. Jen Gaudiani * Gaudiani Clinic: https://www.gaudianiclinic.com [https://www.gaudianiclinic.com] * Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American  Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines [chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=9ba42bee0c&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1863730771902566657&th=19dd4d4338379101&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=f_moitdp5r0&zw&acrobatPromotionSource=gmail_chrome-card]  About our Guest: Dr. Jen Gaudiani is the founder and medical director of the Gaudiani Clinic. Board certified in internal medicine, she completed her undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical school at Boston University School of Medicine, and her internal medicine residency and chief residency at Yale. Founded in 2016, the Gaudiani Clinic offers specialized, trauma informed outpatient medical care to individuals seeking support for eating disorders, undernourishment related to complex medical issues, and weight-inclusive primary care.  The fully updated and significantly expanded second edition of Dr. Gaudiani’s bestselling book, Sick Enough: A Guide to the Medical Complications of Eating Disorders and Undernutrition is now available wherever books are sold. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction 01:00 – What does “sick enough” actually mean? 07:00 – Why feeling “fine” doesn’t mean you’re nourished 12:30 – The house-on-fire analogy explained 16:30 – Can you really break your metabolism? 24:00 – Extreme hunger and why it’s biologically normal 30:00 – Diet culture, stigma, and hunger across all body sizes 31:30 – Heart rate: athlete vs undernourished body 36:00 – Blood markers: cholesterol, white cells & medical myths 43:00 – Undereating and its impact on your brain 49:00 – Perimenopause, ageing, and eating disorders 52:30 – Closing thoughts Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.

Understanding RAVES™: A Flexible Framework For Healing Your Relationship with Food | With Shane Jeffrey

In this episode of Food is Food, Talia and Shane Jeffrey explore the RAVES Eating Model — a compassionate, flexible framework designed to support a more peaceful and nourishing relationship with food. What You’ll Learn: * What the RAVES Eating Model is and how each principle supports recovery * Why regularity and adequacy form the foundation of nutritional wellbeing * The role of variety, social eating, and flexibility in long-term recovery * How RAVES can be adapted to suit your unique needs, preferences, and life context * Common misconceptions about structured eating frameworks * SAFETY: neurodiversity affirming approach to developing neutral food relationships Resources & Links: RAVES™ Eating Model Website (RAVES workshops, RAVES handout, Certification Program): https://www.raveseatingmodel.com/ [https://www.raveseatingmodel.com/] RAVES™ Instagram: @raves.eating.model [https://www.instagram.com/raves.eating.model/#] River Oak Health Website: https://www.riveroakhealth.com.au/ [https://www.riveroakhealth.com.au/] River Oak Health Instagram: @riveroakhealth [https://www.instagram.com/riveroakhealth/#] About our guest: Shane is an Australian based Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician with over 25 years of experience in the eating disorder field across both the private and public sectors.  Shane is the director and lead clinician at Brisbane based River Oak Health, a multidisciplinary private practice service dedicated to the treatment of eating disorders and other eating, weight and body image concerns. treatment service in Brisbane.  As the developer of the RAVES™ Eating Model, Shane has a strong interest in keeping nutrition messages simple, service development and supporting clinicians through professional supervision and workshop events.   Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & introduction 02:00 – What is the RAVES model? 06:00 – Regularity & adequacy: building the foundation 14:00 – Variety, social eating & spontaneity explained 22:00 – Common misconceptions of RAVES 27:00 – Adapting RAVES for neurodiversity 34:00 – The SAFETY framework and client-centred care 39:00 – RAVES workshops and certification 49:00 – Closing thoughts Connect with Talia: * Talia’s Instagram: @tcnutrition [https://www.instagram.com/tcnutrition/] * Food Is Food Instagram: @foodisfoodpod [https://www.instagram.com/foodisfoodpod/] * Website & Mailing List: www.taliacechele.com [http://www.taliacechele.com/]  * Clinic Enquiries: https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact [https://www.taliacecchele.com/contact]  Support the Podcast: If this episode resonated with you, you can support Food is Food by: * Following or subscribing to the podcast * Leaving a 5* review * Sharing this episode with someone who might find it helpful Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and supportive purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical or dietetic advice.