Episode 28: Beans, Bloating, and the Science of Poop with Erin Judge

When GLP-1 medications change your appetite, how do you make sure your body still gets the nutrition it needs? In this episode of Discovering Nutrition, Eliisa sits down with integrative registered dietitian Erin Jowett to explore nutrition on GLP-1 medications, the challenges of eating with a reduced appetite, and the importance of planning for weight maintenance. Drawing on her experience in medical weight management and longevity care, Erin explains how she distinguishes hunger, appetite, and cravings, why nutrient density matters when portions get smaller, and how nutrition tracking can help people make every bite count. Together, they discuss protein, muscle preservation, fiber, hydration, constipation, hair loss, and how Cronometer can support a closer look at nutrient intake. They also explore the emotional side of weight management, the influence of diet culture, and the shame that can surround using medication for weight loss. Whether you’re considering GLP-1 medications, already taking one, or curious about the nutrition behind weight management, this episode offers a practical and compassionate conversation about nourishing your body, building sustainable habits, and thinking beyond the number on the scale. Watch more episodes of Discovering Nutrition on YouTube, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favourite podcast platform. Guest: Erin Jowett, RDCompany: Integrative Weight and WellnessWebsite: integrativeweightandwellness.com Key Notes

Most of us don't think twice about what happens after we flush—but what if your poop could tell you about your gut health, hydration, and even your long-term health? In this episode of Discovering Nutrition, Eliisa sits down with Scott Hickle, Co-Founder and CEO of Throne, to explore how our bathroom habits can reveal valuable insights about digestion, hydration, food intolerances, and overall wellness. Scott shares the story behind building a smart toilet device that automatically tracks gut health and hydration, why poop became such a taboo topic, and how continuous health tracking could help people detect changes in their health earlier. Together, they discuss the Bristol Stool Scale, fiber, coffee, period poops, travel constipation, GLP-1 medications, hydration, and why understanding your own digestive patterns may be one of the most overlooked tools in preventive health. Whether you're curious about gut health, fascinated by the science of digestion, or simply wondering if your poop is "normal," this episode offers an educational—and surprisingly entertaining—look at one of the most important indicators of overall health. Watch more episodes of Discovering Nutrition on YouTube, or listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and your favourite podcast platform. Guest: Scott Hickle Company: Throne Science Website: https://www.thronescience.com Key Notes- Why Scott founded Throne after learning how often patients send photos of their stool to physicians. - What your poop can reveal about gut health, hydration, digestion, and overall wellness. - Why bowel movements became a taboo topic—and how that impacts public health today. - Understanding the Bristol Stool Scale and what a healthy bowel movement actually looks like. - How stress, travel, hydration, fiber, coffee, hormones, and food intolerances affect digestion. - Why colorectal cancer is increasing in younger adults and the importance of early detection. - How continuous tracking can help identify patterns that traditional recall often misses. - The science behind hydration, underhydration, and why water may be the "forgotten nutrient." - How GLP-1 medications can affect digestion and bowel habits. - Why personalized health tracking is key to understanding your own body's unique patterns.

In this episode of Discovering Nutrition, Eliisa sits down with Joel Holdener, a Cronometer user from Revelstoke, BC, to talk about his health transformation, his relationship with food, and how tracking helped him take control of his nutrition. Joel shares how he started using Cronometer in December 2024 after reaching his heaviest weight of 328.9 pounds, and how simply seeing what he was eating became the catalyst for major change. Joel opens up about the motivation cycles that kept him starting and stopping in the past, why extreme restriction didn’t work long term, and how tracking helped him move away from shame and toward awareness. Together, he and Eliisa discuss calorie deficits, moderation, binge-and-restrict cycles, GLP-1s, food noise, hydration, sleep, protein, body recomposition, and the role strength training has played in helping Joel feel healthier and more confident. They also explore Joel’s experience navigating an autoimmune diagnosis, why improving his physical health became something he could control, and how starting with small, realistic changes helped him build momentum. Whether you’re just starting your own health journey, trying to build consistency, or looking for a more sustainable way to track your nutrition, this episode offers an honest and inspiring look at what can happen when you stop relying on motivation and start building habits that last. Follow Joel on Instagram: beefyy.lifts

In this episode of Discovering Nutrition, Eliisa sits down with fitness coach, creator, and Bounce Forward co-founder Marlie Cohen to explore what sustainable health and fitness can look like for women navigating motherhood, busy schedules, changing bodies, and years of diet culture. As a mom of two, Marlie shares why she rejects the pressure to “bounce back” and instead helps women build strength, confidence, and habits that move them forward. Marlie shares her own journey with postpartum fitness, macro tracking, and rebuilding trust with food. Together, she and Eliisa discuss the all-or-nothing mindset, why so many women fear carbohydrates, and how tracking nutrition can create more awareness and freedom rather than restriction. They also explore why under-eating during the day can lead to cravings at night, how food noise impacts daily choices, and why consistency matters more than perfection. Whether you’re trying to improve your relationship with food, build muscle, feel stronger, or create a routine that fits into real life, this episode offers an honest and practical look at macros, motherhood, strength training, and sustainable progress.

In this episode of Discovering Nutrition, Eliisa sits down with Aaron Davidson, Founder and CEO of Cronometer, to explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in nutrition tracking and health technology. Together, they discuss why AI has become one of the biggest topics in digital health, how Cronometer approaches AI differently, and why accuracy, trust, and user privacy remain central to every feature they build. Aaron shares an inside look at how AI is already making nutrition tracking easier through tools like photo logging, voice logging, and AI Coach, while exploring why no AI system should replace critical thinking or reliable nutrition data. They also discuss the balance between innovation and responsibility, how AI can help people better understand their health, and why human expertise continues to play an essential role alongside emerging technology. Whether you’re curious about AI, interested in the future of nutrition tracking, or wondering how to separate meaningful innovation from hype, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about building health technology people can trust. Key Notes: