They Knew 600 IU Wasn’t Enough - The Vitamin D Myth Fueling Inflammation, Insulin Resistance, and Immune Dysfunction With Ben Azadi | #1257

What if your hormone imbalance is not just a hormone problem, but a nervous system and emotional overload problem?  In this episode of The Ben Azadi Show, Ben Azadi welcomes back Dr. Sonya Jensen to explore why so many women feel puffy, inflamed, exhausted, and hormonally off even when labs look “normal.” Dr. Jensen connects inflammation, cortisol, progesterone depletion, estrogen dominance, and liver support with the deeper layers most people miss: stress patterns, identity roles, generational stories, and the constant input from news and social media. They also dive into her new book, Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself, plus practical tools like breathwork, red light, seasonal whole foods, and gentle nervous system regulation. Key Topics Covered Why hormone symptoms can reflect emotional and relational overload Nervous system dysregulation, cortisol, adrenaline, and progesterone depletion How chronic stress can create a bigger estrogen to progesterone imbalance Why blood work can look normal while you still feel off Urine hormone metabolite testing and what it can reveal about detox pathways Breathwork for lowering cortisol and shifting into rest at night Red light as a nervous system tool, especially in the evening Liver support for inflammation and hormone clearance (milk thistle, turmeric) Calming herbs: ashwagandha, lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), skullcap, ziziphus Whole foods and seasonal eating, including “the season of life” concept Movement without overtraining, including walking and habit stacking HRV as a helpful metric, plus the importance of listening to your body How doom scrolling impacts dopamine, oxytocin, and your sense of safety Mitochondria, maternal stress patterns, and inherited nervous system wiring Dopamine as motivation and joy, and oxytocin as bonding and connection Resources Mentioned Dr. Sonya Jensen Website: https://www.drsonyajensen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsonyajensen/?hl=en Book Heal Your Hormones, Reclaim Yourself: https://healyourhormonesbook.com Follow Ben Azadi 🌐 Website:⁠ https://www.benazadi.com ⁠ 📸 Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/thebenazadi  ⁠💼 LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/benazadi ⁠ ▶️ YouTube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/ketokamp⁠  Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can be thin, active, and still carry dangerous visceral fat around your organs. Unlike subcutaneous fat you can pinch, visceral fat is hidden deep in the abdomen and strongly linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, fatty liver, and early mortality. More cardio is not always the answer. Visceral fat is hormonally driven and protected by insulin and cortisol. Chronic stress and long-duration cardio can actually increase cortisol, making it harder to lose stubborn belly fat. In this episode, Ben shares a simple strategy: 25 squats twice per day. Squats activate the largest muscle groups in the body, improve insulin sensitivity, and stimulate GLUT-4 transporters to pull glucose out of the bloodstream and into muscles. Lower insulin levels mean less protection for visceral fat. You’ll learn: The difference between subcutaneous and visceral fat Why cortisol promotes abdominal fat storage How muscle contraction sends a fat-burning signal Why resistance training is crucial after age 45 What to expect in the first days and weeks Simple squat modifications for all fitness levels Why stacking nutrition, sleep, and recovery matters The squat is the ignition.The lifestyle stack determines the acceleration. Ben also shares details about his 14-Day Metabolic Reset and a free 7-day drug-free belly fat protocol to help you lower insulin, preserve muscle, and reclaim metabolic control. Remember: You are not trying harder. You are sending the right signal. 🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96  FREE GUIDE: How To Lose 1 Pound Of Fat Per Day HERE - https://bit.ly/4j45Yxa 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE) Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals ⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’re taking 600 IU of vitamin D.Your labs say “normal.”But you could still be deficient. In this episode, Ben reveals why the official vitamin D recommendations were based on preventing rickets, not optimizing immunity, metabolism, muscle, or brain health. Independent researchers reanalyzed the original RDA data and found the required intake for adequacy was dramatically higher — yet the guidelines barely changed. Vitamin D is not just a vitamin. It functions like a steroid hormone and impacts: Immune regulation Inflammation control Insulin sensitivity Muscle protein synthesis Brain function Low vitamin D is strongly associated with insulin resistance, and since 93% of Americans are insulin resistant, this could be a massive blind spot. Ben also explains: Why “normal” lab ranges may still mean deficiency Why optimal levels should be above 60 ng/mL How obesity lowers circulating vitamin D Why magnesium and vitamin K2 are required for proper activation Why toxicity fears are overblown compared to widespread insufficiency You’ll also learn the simple 3-step plan to optimize vitamin D safely: Smart midday sun exposure Intelligent supplementation with D3 + K2 + magnesium Regular testing and cofactor support If you’re over 45, insulin resistant, or struggling with stubborn inflammation, this episode could be a game changer. You don’t have a weak immune system.You may just have an under-supported one. Get 20% off with code FREEDOM at :https://bit.ly/46irN6O  FREE GUIDE: The World’s Easiest Breakfast Diet To Melt Fat HERE - https://bit.ly/4ryX1yC 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ben exposes the metabolic truth about “100% fruit juice” and why it behaves more like liquid sugar than real fruit. 🧃 Key Takeaways Modern juice is often stripped, stored, and reconstructed Fiber and natural structure are destroyed during processing Without fiber, sugar hits the bloodstream fast Juice spikes insulin similarly to soda Fructose overload drives fatty liver and belly fat Vitamins do not cancel out insulin spikes “No added sugar” does not protect your liver The best time to drink juice, if at all, is post-workout 🧠 The Core Rule If it was stripped, stored, and rebuilt, it no longer behaves like fruit in your body. 🏥 Why It Matters Liquid fructose: Overloads the liver Increases triglycerides Shuts down fat burning Increases hunger shortly after Most people with stubborn belly fat may have underlying liver stress. 🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96  FREE GUIDE: 5 Vegetables You Must Avoid To Lose Weight & Belly Fat HERE - https://bit.ly/4qXVtON 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fat loss stalled? Low energy? It might not be calories — it could be fatty liver. In this episode, Ben explains how fatty liver silently slows metabolism long before symptoms appear, and why it is one of the most overlooked reasons for stubborn weight gain. You’ll learn: • How liquid sugar and constant snacking overload the liver• Why insulin is the real fat-storage hormone• The power of a simple 12–16 hour fasting window• How walking after meals can blunt insulin spikes by over 30 percent• Why sleep is essential for restoring liver insulin sensitivity• The truth about fruit, alcohol, and dietary fat• Why coffee can either heal or harm your liver depending on quality Ben also breaks down how to reverse fatty liver naturally with a simple 3-step protocol: remove the overload, restore insulin signaling, and support detox. Plus, he shares a free egg-based protocol designed to help you lose the last 10 pounds while improving liver health. If your metabolism feels stuck, this episode will help you understand why — and what to do about it. Share this with someone who needs it and remember to practice Vitamin G: gratitude. New customers get 20% off with code BENAZADI at https://bit.ly/4rV6vEE  FREE GUIDE: How To Lose 1 Pound Of Fat Per Day HERE - https://bit.ly/4j45Yxa 🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96   📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ben breaks down a powerful comparison study of the most popular diet styles and reveals the one approach that preserved muscle, lowered insulin, and accelerated fat loss. What You’ll Learn: Why low-fat, calorie restriction, plant-based low protein, and low-protein keto diets fail long-term The real reason fat loss gets harder over 40 Why protein signaling — not calories — determines metabolic success How muscle loss silently slows your metabolism The difference between losing weight and losing fat The Winning Strategy: Strategic fasting + protein cycling 18-hour daily fast 6-hour eating window 1 gram of protein per pound of ideal body weight Focus on high-quality, digestible protein This approach: Preserves lean muscle Lowers insulin Burns visceral fat Protects metabolism Key Takeaway: Your body isn’t broken.It’s responding to the signals you give it. When you combine fasting with proper protein intake, fat loss stops being a fight — and becomes a natural response. 🔥Get 20% Off Equip Protein Powder With Code AZADI - https://bit.ly/3MPRBR9  FREE GUIDE: The World’s Easiest Breakfast Diet To Melt Fat HERE : https://bit.ly/4ryX1yC 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96   In this episode, Ben reveals a powerful 24-hour reset designed to shift your body out of survival mode and into repair mode.  🔥 What You’ll Learn: Why constant insulin spikes and inflammation keep you stuck in fat-storage mode How a simple 16 to 18 hour fasting window improves insulin sensitivity within 24 hours The role of coffee, green tea, and polyphenols in activating fat burning and autophagy Why a fasted morning walk enhances stem cell signaling and metabolic flexibility The ideal anti-inflammatory plate to support gut health and cellular repair Why stopping food 3 hours before bed boosts growth hormone, deep sleep, and overnight fat burning How lowering inflammation creates the right environment for stem cells to move from dormant to repair-ready 🧬 Key Takeaway: You are not creating new stem cells in a day. You are removing the signals that suppress them. When insulin drops and inflammation decreases, your body naturally shifts toward fat burning, energy production, and repair. 💡 Also Covered: Why this is more than intermittent fasting The truth about metabolism and skipping breakfast The impact of cortisol and hormesis Optional NAD-support supplementation Details about the 14-Day Fat & Stem Cell Reset This episode is a reminder that real transformation starts by fixing the environment inside your body, not by relying on extremes. FREE Fat Burning Reset Guide (Better Than Ozempic) HERE - -https://bit.ly/3O0mtyH  📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96   Sugar is not just in desserts. It hides in sauces, dressings, protein bars, breads, smoothies, and even “healthy” foods. Chronic exposure can silently drive insulin resistance, visceral fat, immune suppression, and accelerated aging for years before labs show a problem. In this episode, Ben breaks down the five warning signs your body may already be showing: Unstable energy and mood swingsBlood sugar spikes and crashes trigger cortisol, cravings, fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog. Bloating and gut dysfunctionSugar feeds harmful bacteria, disrupts the microbiome, increases gut permeability, and drives inflammation. Stubborn belly fatExcess fructose overloads the liver, raises triglycerides, promotes fatty liver, and increases visceral fat. Frequent colds and low immunitySugar suppresses white blood cell function for hours after consumption. Elevated insulin and A1CChronically high insulin accelerates aging, increases cardiovascular risk, and shortens lifespan, even when blood sugar appears “normal.” Ben also explains the Hayflick Limit and how elevated insulin speeds up cellular aging. FREE GUIDE: The World’s Easiest Breakfast Diet To Melt Fat HERE - https://bit.ly/4ryX1yC 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com  ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if your weight loss resistance in your 40s isn’t about willpower, but a powerful hormone shift that changes your metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and fat storage? In this episode of the Metabolic Freedom Podcast, Ben Azadi welcomes back hormone expert Karen Martel to unpack why weight loss resistance is often a biological signal, not a motivation problem. Karen explains how hormone disruption from environmental xenoestrogens can create estrogen dominant symptoms in younger women, even when bloodwork appears normal. The conversation then shifts into perimenopause and menopause, where the real metabolic shift begins. As estradiol declines, women often experience increased belly fat, worsening cholesterol, rising blood sugar, poor sleep, mood changes, and accelerated aging of skin and muscle. Karen breaks down the critical difference between estrogen and estradiol, why metabolic health often declines after ovarian function changes, and why many traditional weight loss strategies stop working during this phase. You’ll also learn how environmental toxins impact hormone receptors, why hormone metabolite testing like the DUTCH test can provide deeper insight, and how bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may support long-term metabolic and overall health when used appropriately. If you or someone you love is entering their 40s and struggling despite healthy habits, this episode highlights a major missing piece.   Key Topics Covered Why weight loss resistance is often hormonal rather than a willpower issue How hormone patterns differ between fertile years, perimenopause, and menopause What xenoestrogens are and how they mimic estrogen in the body Common sources of hormone disruptors: plastics, fragrances, pesticides, cleaning products, and receipts Why bloodwork may look normal while symptoms of estrogen dominance still exist Daily detox strategies to support hormone balance, including minerals and sauna use How hormone dynamics shift in the 40s as estradiol begins to decline The difference between estrogen and estradiol and their impact on metabolism Why fasting harder and eating less can backfire during perimenopause How estradiol loss affects insulin sensitivity, visceral fat, cholesterol, mood, libido, and collagen The Women’s Health Initiative misconception and the role of synthetic progestins How urine hormone metabolite testing (DUTCH) helps personalize hormone support Why individualized care is essential when considering hormone replacement therapy Karen’s personal experience with rapid menopause symptoms and recovery The role of gratitude and mindset in long-term health and resilience   Resources & Links Mentioned Karen MartelWebsite: https://karenmartel.comPodcast: The Hormone Solution Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@karenmartelhormones/videos Special OfferCoupon code: FREEDOMDiscount: 15% off at https://karenmartel.com   Follow Ben Azadi 🌐 Website: https://www.benazadi.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenazadi💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benazadi▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ketokamp   Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

🔥CLICK For Your Complete 14 Day Fat Loss Plan (Reignite Your Body & Life) HERE - https://bit.ly/4tgoK96   In this episode, Ben Azadi reveals a powerful standing move that can instantly make your belly appear flatter by activating a deep core muscle most people have never been taught to train: the transverse abdominis. Most stubborn belly protrusion is not just about food, hormones, or age. It is often a neuromuscular activation issue. When the transverse abdominis is weak or offline, the belly sticks out, posture collapses, and back pain increases, even in people who eat clean and exercise. Ben teaches the “Wedge Drill,” a simple standing exercise using a rolled towel under the heels to shift gravity and reflexively activate deep core stabilizers. This drill retrains the nervous system, improves posture, supports digestion, and enhances spinal stability. He explains why this method can be more effective than traditional planks or crunches, how it helps reduce bloating, and why it is especially important for those over 40 or dealing with back pain. The episode also introduces the 14-Day Belly Fat & Core Reset and a free 7-day metabolic protocol designed to support fat loss, improve insulin sensitivity, and restore core function. Key takeaway:You do not just need more ab workouts. You need better activation. FREE GUIDE: How To Lose 1 Pound Of Fat Per Day HERE - https://bit.ly/4j45Yxa 📚 🎁  Purchase Ben's new book Metabolic Freedom today to receive immediate access to a FREE course on metabolism with exclusive interviews from Dr Daniel Pompa, Dr Jason Fung, Megan Ramos, Cynthia Thurlow & more. CLICK HERE: http://www.metabolicfreedombook.com ($997 Retail Value For FREE) 🔎 Find All Metabolic Freedom Sponsorship Deals⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ketokamp.com/sponsorship-deals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices