In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz, co-author of the groundbreaking book Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us. Julia shares her personal journey with weight, health reporting, and how our modern food environment, not just individual choices, plays a central role in the global epidemic of obesity, chronic disease, and nutrition-related illnesses.

Together, we explore:

• Why food systems and the rise of ultra-processed foods are reshaping our health
• The truth about metabolism, calories, carbs vs. fat, and why diet debates often miss the bigger picture
• How research from The Biggest Loser revealed surprising insights about long-term weight loss and metabolism
• The promises and pitfalls of precision nutrition, supplements, and continuous glucose monitors
• The dangers of blame and shame culture around food and the urgent need to rethink public health and food policy

(2:00) - Julia's Background

(7:52) - Metabolism and 'The Biggest Loser'

(17:58) - Diet Tribes

(25:46) - Personalized Nutrition

(34:49) - Tobacco's Influence on Food

(42:51) - GLP-1s

(49:41) - Rapid-Fire Questions

Julia brings her evidence-based lens to topics like diet fads, nutritional science, food addiction, and toxic food environments, while Moain and David connect these insights to practical strategies for living well. If you’re curious about the science of food, nutrition myths, and how to make healthier choices in a world stacked against us, this conversation will change the way you think about eating.

Support for Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Buy Julia's book: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Intelligence-Science-Nourishes-Harms/dp/059333230X

Stay connected at: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com