#1202 The Cortisol Switch That’s Secretly Storing Your Belly Fat And The 30-Day Protocol To Reach 0% Visceral Fat With Ben Azadi

On this episode of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast, Ben Azadi shares his powerful 21-day gut reset designed to eliminate bloating, reduce inflammation, restore energy, and heal the gut without pills, cleanses, or calorie counting. Ben breaks down how late-night eating, constant snacking, inflammatory foods, and modern seed oils quietly destroy gut health and lead to bloating, acid reflux, brain fog, fatigue, and stubborn belly fat. You’ll learn: Why eating at least 3 hours before bed is non-negotiable for gut repair How gentle fasting (14:10 or 18:6) gives your digestive system a daily reset Which “healthy” foods are secretly inflaming your gut The exact foods to remove and what to eat instead for 21 days How to rebuild the gut with fermented foods and gentle prebiotics How this protocol supports IBS, SIBO, acid reflux, and hormone balance Why gut healing leads to fat loss, better energy, and mental clarity Ben also explains how to personalize the reset, reintroduce foods safely, and turn this protocol into a long-term lifestyle for lasting metabolic freedom. FREE GUIDE; World’s Easiest 7 Day- Protocol To Shed Fat, Stop Cravings & Reset Energy - https://bit.ly/49aoXkY  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4souvBe  👉Purity Coffee: https://puritycoffee.com/benazadi use code “benazadi” for 20% 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE)

Visceral fat is not stubborn. It is protective fat stored when the body senses stress. In this episode, Ben explains why cortisol is the true fat-storage switch and walks you through a 30-day protocol to turn it off. You’ll learn why calories and workouts are not the real problem, and how hormones like cortisol and insulin control belly fat, inflammation, sleep, and metabolic health. What You’ll Learn: Why visceral fat is hormonally driven, not calorie-driven How cortisol and insulin work together to store belly fat The ideal intermittent fasting schedule to lower insulin and cortisol Why eating earlier in the day improves fat-burning sleep The benefits of a weekly 24-hour fast, including autophagy and growth hormone Which foods spike cortisol and must be removed for 30 days The best anti-inflammatory foods and fats to support fat loss How nitric oxide and blood flow unlock visceral fat Why walking is more effective than intense cardio for belly fat The sleep strategies that shut off cortisol at night How minerals help release stored fat and toxins Why your thoughts and gratitude directly impact fat loss hormones FREE GUIDE:  The World’s Easiest Breakfast Diet - https://bit.ly/4jeLvFE  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) Somnifix: https://somnifix.com/?ref=3778298&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=goaffpro  Oura ring: https://amzn.to/46vf69y  Apple watch: https://amzn.to/4nzAPmk

Cold, numb, or tingling feet are not a normal part of aging. They are signs of poor circulation, often caused by low nitric oxide and endothelial dysfunction. In this episode, Ben explains why the feet are the first place circulation problems show up and shares five research-backed drinks that can improve blood flow in as little as 30 minutes. Key topics covered: Why cold feet are a circulation issue, not an age issue The role of nitric oxide in opening blood vessels How endothelial dysfunction limits blood flow Five drinks that support circulation and vascular health The best times to consume each drink for maximum benefit A simple daily movement and walking protocol to amplify results Foods and habits that block blood flow How circulation affects balance, nerve health, and fall risk When to expect results and who should be cautious Featured drinks: High-flavonoid cocoa Ginger tea Pomegranate juice Hibiscus tea Watermelon with lime and sea salt Ben also shares a simple daily stack, grounding benefits, and answers common questions about diabetes, neuropathy, blood pressure, compression socks, and circulation testing. FREE GUIDE: Lose 10 Pounds in 7 Days  - https://bit.ly/4aCrren  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/48UAyWy  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today  http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE)

What if the most important signal of your long term health, recovery, and resilience isn’t how hard you train, but how well your nervous system recovers? In this episode of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast, host Ben Azadi sits down with human performance expert Justin Roethlingshoefer for a deep, practical conversation on heart rate variability (HRV) and nervous system regulation. Justin explains why HRV is one of the most important metrics for long-term health, stress resilience, recovery, and longevity. Together, they explore how sleep, nutrition, exercise intensity, emotional stress, and daily lifestyle rhythms directly influence HRV, VO₂ max, and overall metabolic health. This episode delivers clear, actionable strategies to help listeners optimize recovery, reduce chronic stress, and build a body that feels safe enough to heal. Key Topics Covered What heart rate variability really measures and why it matters HRV as the nervous system’s early warning system The difference between heart rate and heart rate variability How chronic stress suppresses recovery and healing The relationship between HRV, VO₂ max, and longevity Why most people are under-recovered, not overstressed Zone 2 and Zone 5 training explained simply How late-night eating disrupts sleep and HRV Sleep quality, REM sleep, and detoxification Practical ways to raise HRV without overdoing biohacks Book Mentioned 📘 The Power of OwnershipRedeem Your Health, Live by Design, and Break the Relentless Pursuit of Normalhttps://www.amazon.com/Power-Ownership-Redeem-Relentless-Pursuit/dp/1394230028 Guest Information Justin RoethlingshoeferJustin is a human performance expert, data-driven health strategist, and longevity specialist with over two decades of experience working with elite athletes, executives, and high performers. He is a former NCAA and NHL performance coach and the founder of an evidence-based coaching system focused on nervous system optimization, recovery, and sustainable performance. Official Website👉 https://justinroethlingshoefer.com/ LinkedIn👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-roethlingshoefer YouTube Channel👉 https://www.youtube.com/@justinroethlingshoefer Watch the Full Episode 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@BenAzadi Follow Ben Azadi 🌐 Website: https://www.benazadi.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenazadi📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benazadi.coach💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benazadi🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benazadi 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

Waking up between 2–3 AM is not insomnia or bad luck. It’s a biological response driven by low blood sugar and rising cortisol. In this episode, Ben Azadi explains why your body wakes you up alert and wired, and shares a simple, science-backed protocol to fall back asleep within minutes. What You’ll Learn: Why nighttime wakeups are caused by cortisol and blood sugar crashes The exact 4-step protocol to calm your nervous system and restore sleep How nasal breathing, humming, and vagus nerve activation reduce stress fast Why raw honey + sea salt stabilizes blood sugar without ruining fat loss How gratitude (“Vitamin G”) signals safety to the brain The role of liver health, circadian rhythm, and minerals in sleep quality How to prevent 2 AM wakeups long-term through lifestyle changes FREE GUIDE: Better Than Ozempic - https://bit.ly/3MPfc49  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4qHHkFd  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom todayhttp://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 👉SomniFix:  https://somnifix.com/?ref=3778298&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=goaffpro  👉Upgraded Formulas - Magnessium: https://upgradedformulas.com/BENAZADI  👉Raw Honey: https://amzn.to/4q5Hzdm   🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

Bread was once a true superfood that fueled ancient civilizations for thousands of years without causing obesity, diabetes, or widespread gut issues. Today’s bread, however, is a completely different product. In this episode, Ben explains how modern bread has been industrialized through hybridized wheat, chemical processing, seed oils, and rushed production methods that disrupt digestion, spike blood sugar, inflame the gut, and damage metabolic health. You’ll learn why gluten isn’t the real problem, how fermentation was stripped from modern bread, and how glyphosate sprayed on wheat impacts gut bacteria, immunity, and mitochondria. Ben also explains why inflammation, not just insulin spikes, is the root cause of belly fat and metabolic dysfunction. The episode breaks down whether sourdough is truly safe, how to choose better bread options if you eat it at all, and why many people feel better avoiding bread completely while healing their metabolism. Ben also shares practical strategies to reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar control, and take back control of your health through informed food choices. Key takeaway: Bread didn’t fail you. The system failed bread. When you respect food again, your metabolism responds. FREE GUIDE: 5 Vegetables You Must Avoid To Lose Weight & Belly Fat -  https://bit.ly/4s7xA8F  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4qHHkFd  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

In this episode, Ben Azadi reveals why cravings are not a willpower issue, but a hormonal and metabolic problem driven by insulin instability. Ben explains how insulin spikes shut off fat burning, trigger hunger hormones, increase stress, and fuel uncontrollable cravings, especially at night. He breaks down the science behind insulin, glucose crashes, ghrelin, cortisol, and dopamine-driven eating behaviors. You’ll learn a simple, science-backed protocol to stabilize insulin first, before calorie restriction, cardio, or fasting, so cravings drop naturally and fat loss becomes automatic. The episode outlines a practical 7-day reset that helps reduce inflammation, water retention, and stubborn belly fat while restoring metabolic control. Ben also answers common questions about carbs, coffee, artificial sweeteners, protein intake, exercise, fasting, and how to make results sustainable long term. This conversation reframes fat loss as a metabolic healing process, not a discipline battle, and shows how true metabolic freedom feels calm, empowering, and sustainable. FREE GUIDE: The World’s Easiest Breakfast Diet - https://bit.ly/49owEoR Purity Coffee: https://Puritycoffee.com/benazadi  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4pL2MJ5  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today  http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

In this episode of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast, Ben Azadi reveals the 7 everyday foods and drinks that silently damage your kidneys, even when they are marketed as “healthy.” Ben shares his personal story of feeling bloated, inflamed, and exhausted while unknowingly harming his kidneys, and explains why kidney damage often goes undetected until it becomes permanent. You’ll learn: Why green smoothies, almonds, and juice cleanses can increase kidney stone risk How diet sodas and sugar-free drinks accelerate kidney decline The hidden danger of phosphate additives in processed “health” foods Why dirty protein powders harm kidneys more than protein itself How excess sodium from packaged foods and restaurants damages kidney filters Safer food and drink swaps to protect kidney health The role oxalates, artificial sweeteners, and poor-quality salt play in kidney stress Practical steps to start protecting your kidneys today Ben also shares free and low-cost metabolic reset resources designed to reduce inflammation, burn fat, and support long-term kidney and metabolic health. This episode is a must-listen if you’ve had kidney stones, struggle with inflammation, or feel “off” despite eating clean. FREE GUIDE: Lose 10 Pounds in 7 Days - https://bit.ly/3MQkr3B 🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4pL2MJ5  Upgraded Formulas Potassium: https://upgradedformulas.com/BENAZADI  Redmond’s Re-Lyte Electrolytes: https://ketokampsalt.com use code AZADI📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

In this episode of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast, Ben Azadi exposes the 7 “healthy” foods and ingredients silently destroying your liver and blocking fat loss. Ben explains why the liver is the control center of metabolism and how common foods like oat milk, plant-based protein bars, whole wheat bread, seed oils, fructose, and alcohol inflame the liver, stall fat burning, and drive stubborn belly fat. You’ll learn: Why liver inflammation shuts down fat loss even with clean eating How fructose and seed oils overload liver detox pathways The gut–liver connection and how leaky gut worsens fatty liver Simple food swaps that immediately support liver healing Ben also shares a 7-step liver reset protocol, including fasting, walking after meals, protein intake, ditching seed oils, and prioritizing sleep, plus answers common questions about oat milk, fruit, cheat days, and fatty liver testing. The episode wraps with practical liver-healing foods, real success stories, and access to free and low-cost resources designed to jumpstart fat loss and restore metabolic health. FREE GUIDE: 5 Vegetables You Must Avoid To Lose Weight & Belly Fat - https://bit.ly/4qosAe1 Events: https://benazadi.com/events Olive Oil: https://Benazadi.com/oliveoil 🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4pL2MJ5  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals

Fasting is one of the most powerful tools for fat loss, healing, and longevity, but it fails for many people because their metabolism is not prepared. In this episode, Ben Azadi explains why fasting feels miserable or unsustainable for most people and reveals the hidden metabolic mistakes that sabotage results before a fast even begins. You’ll learn why being a sugar burner instead of a fat burner makes fasting feel like torture, how stress and poor sleep block fat burning, and why nighttime eating can completely ruin your fast the next day. Ben also breaks down how inflammation, toxins stored in fat cells, low protein intake, and an all-or-nothing approach to fasting lead to crashes, cravings, and failure. This episode covers: Why fasting fails when metabolic flexibility is low The role of insulin, cortisol, and inflammation in fasting success How stress, sleep, and nighttime eating impact fat burning Why toxins can make fasting feel worse instead of better How to properly prepare your body before fasting The 7 foundational steps to make fasting easier and effective How to know when your body is truly ready to fast If fasting has ever felt like failure or suffering, this episode explains why it was not your fault and how fixing the foundation can completely change your results. FREE GUIDE: Better Than Ozempic - https://bit.ly/3Y6YZtv  🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4pL2MJ5  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals