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You survived the stressful day. You ate okay. But now it's 2 AM and you're staring at the ceiling, brain running laps. In Part 2 of "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera explore the stress-sleep connection—and why a bad night sets you up for a worse tomorrow.

When cortisol stays elevated, it blocks melatonin production. No melatonin, no quality sleep. And here's the kicker: poor sleep spikes your hunger hormones and tanks your satiety signals. So that exhausted version of you isn't just tired—they're hungrier, craving junk, and less able to resist it.

This episode covers: the cortisol-melatonin tug of war, how ghrelin and leptin go haywire after bad sleep, why WHEN you eat matters as much as WHAT you eat, and functional foods that actually support sleep. Plus—a challenge: try these tips tonight and check your sleep score tomorrow.

Next episode: when you're exhausted, you reach for quick fixes—and that's where the protein obsession begins.

#BreakTheInflammationCycle #PayTheFarmer #SleepHealth #SleepScore #CircadianRhythm #FunctionalFood #Melatonin #StressAndSleep #GutHealth #AntiInflammatory #NutritionScience #FoodTiming #SleepBetter #WellnessPodcast #PayTheFarmerPodcast #MeeraVasudevan #AshokVasudevan

Thanks for tuning in to "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy"!

Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

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https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V

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Ever wonder why a stressful day ends with you elbow-deep in a bag of chips? It's not weakness—it's biology. In this first episode of our 4-part series "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera break down the cortisol-craving connection and why your brain treats a work deadline like a saber-toothed tiger attack.

We explore how chronic stress rewires your gut bacteria, tanks your nutrient absorption, and sets the stage for inflammation. But here's the good news: the right foods can interrupt the cycle before it spirals.

This episode covers: the science of cortisol and blood sugar spikes, why modern stress triggers ancient survival responses, functional foods that calm your system (hint: it's not just "eat a salad"), and how this episode sets up everything that follows in the series.

Next episode: how stress wrecks your sleep—and what to eat about it.

#BreakTheInflammationCycle #PayTheFarmer #StressEating #CortisolCravings #FunctionalFood #GutHealth #AntiInflammatory #NutritionScience #StressResponse #FoodIsMedicine #WellnessPodcast #HealthyEating #MindBodyConnection #ChronicStress #PayTheFarmerPodcast #Meeravasudevan #AshokVasudevan #CSAW

Thanks for tuning in to "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy"!

Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

Stay Connected

#PayTheFarmerNotThePharmacy

#PlantBasedWellness

#NaturalFood

#AffordableWellness

#GutHealth

#ImmunityBoost

#NutritionTips

#CSAW (Centre for the Spread of Affordable Wellness)

#Meeravasudevan
#Ashokvasudevan
https://umaglobalfoods.com/

https://csaw.co

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V

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In this episode of "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy," hosts Meera and Ashok dive into a surprising health crisis affecting Gen Z: a massive vitamin D deficiency that's leaving 78% of young adults drained, foggy, and fighting weaker immune systems. But here's the twist—instead of reaching for supplement bottles, Gen Z is getting smart about functional foods.

Discover why those tiny vitamin D pills aren't cutting it, how kombucha and kimchi are becoming wellness warriors, and why your diet should be a harmony, not a solo act. From adaptogens that crush stress to nootropics that sharpen your brain, we're breaking down the delicious, cost-effective way to tackle nutritional gaps.

Tune in to learn: ✨ Why 78% of Gen Z is vitamin D deficient (hint: it's not just the weather) ✨ The truth about low-dose supplements and why they're not enough ✨ How functional foods like kefir, ashwagandha, and green tea can transform your health ✨ Why this approach saves you money AND tastes way better than pills

Remember: The best investment in your health starts on your plate, not in a pill bottle!

· #PayTheFarmerNotThePharmacy

· #GenZHealth

· #VitaminD

· #FunctionalFood

· #Wellness

· #HealthPodcast

· #Nutrition

· #GutHealth

· #HealthyLiving

· #GenZWellness

· #NutritionPodcast

· #HolisticHealth

· #FoodIsMedicine

. #MeeraVasudevan

. # AshokVasudevan

Thanks for tuning in to "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy"!

Hosted by Meera & Ashok Vasudevan

Stay Connected

#PayTheFarmerNotThePharmacy

#PlantBasedWellness

#NaturalFood

#AffordableWellness

#GutHealth

#ImmunityBoost

#NutritionTips

#CSAW (Centre for the Spread of Affordable Wellness)

#Meeravasudevan
#Ashokvasudevan
https://umaglobalfoods.com/

https://csaw.co

https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/pay-the-farmer-not-the-pharmacy/id1512934794

https://open.spotify.com/show/34nzNQQ62O8tygMaut2h8V