In this compelling episode, Dr. Vera Tarman interviews Dr. Thomas Seyfried, a pioneer in the field of cancer metabolism. Dr. Seyfried challenges the mainstream view of cancer as a genetic disease and presents strong evidence that cancer is fundamentally a mitochondrial metabolic disorder.

Dr. Thomas N. Seyfried is a distinguished American biologist and professor at Boston College, renowned for his pioneering work in cancer metabolism. With a Ph.D. in Genetics and Biochemistry from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and postdoctoral training in neurochemistry at Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Seyfried has dedicated his career to exploring the metabolic underpinnings of cancer and other neurological diseases.

Dr. Seyfried is best known for his groundbreaking book, Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer (2012), where he presents compelling evidence that cancer is primarily a mitochondrial metabolic disorder rather than a genetic one. This perspective builds upon the early 20th-century findings of Otto Warburg, who observed that cancer cells rely heavily on fermentation for energy production, even in the presence of oxygen—a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. Dr. Seyfried's research suggests that targeting cancer's metabolic dependencies, such as glucose and glutamine, through dietary interventions like the ketogenic diet, could offer non-toxic therapeutic strategies.

We explore:

How cancer cells fuel themselves differently from healthy cells
The connection between sugar, ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and cancer growth
The Warburg Effect and the roles of glucose and glutamine in tumor development
Whether refined sugar is carcinogenic like tobacco
Why Dr. Seyfried believes ketogenic diets and caloric restriction can be powerful cancer therapies
How his views align with metabolic psychiatry (Dr. Chris Palmer’s Brain Energy)
The controversial yet promising approach of "press-pulse" therapy
The potential for preventing cancer through dietary change

Follow:

https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/morrissey/departments/biology/people/faculty-directory/thomas-seyfried.html

https://tomseyfried.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.

In this powerful and heartfelt episode of the Food Junkies Recovery Stories CJ sits down with Joy M, who shares her courageous story of unraveling the illusion of the “perfect life” to find true recovery and emotional freedom. From childhood trauma and food obsession to substance use, codependency, and the sneaky nature of sugar addiction, Joy takes us through the winding—and at times wild—path she walked to reclaim her health and voice.

Tune in to hear how one Easter basket sparked a lifetime pattern, how trauma flipped the switch, and how Joy finally broke free through community, curiosity, and a whole lot of compassion. Her story is a beautiful reminder that it’s never too late to begin again—and that healing is possible, one real food choice at a time. Warning: You may leave this episode feeling inspired, understood, and ready to toss those “dang nuts.”

In this episode of Clinician’s Corner, Molly and Clarissa explore the often-overlooked realities of long-term recovery. While many recovery programs focus on the acute phases and early abstinence, sustainable recovery demands much more—it asks us to renovate our lives.

Drawing from the latest research—including insights from Harvard’s Recovery Research Institute and their own published study on food addiction outcomes—they break down the average 17-year journey toward stable remission and emphasize that recovery is a process, not a finish line.

🧠 Topics include:

• The 3 stages of long-term recovery and why it takes time

• What “discovery” looks like after recovery stabilizes

• The role of coping skills, daily structure, and stress management

• Why routine = safety for the recovering brain

• The neuroscience behind mindfulness and relapse prevention

• How community support, peer connection, and giving back drive lasting change

• Permission to grow, evolve, and let go of what no longer serves your recovery

Molly and Clarissa also share personal reflections and client experiences that bring the research to life—reminding us all that recovery isn’t just about what we stop doing, but about what we start creating.

🔄 Whether you're early in recovery or navigating the path of long-term healing, this episode will offer validation, insight, and hope.

🧭 Key Links:
• 🎟 Register for IFACC 2025
• 📄 Read the Delphi Consensus Paper
• 📄 Read the 12-Month Outcome Study on Food Addiction Recovery

🔗 Sweet Sobriety Foundations Course

💌Please email questions, concerns, and topics to foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com

The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.