The Energy Balance Podcast

BV #29: Sauna vs. Cold Plunge, Cravings vs. Addiction, HIIT, Fasting, & "Healthy" Stress (Q&A)

June 3, 2026·1h 12m
Episode Description from the Publisher

Free Energy Balance Food Guide: https://jayfeldmanwellness.com/guide 
The Nutrition Blueprint: https://mikefave.com/the-nutrition-blueprint/ 
Theresa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingrootswellness/   
Timestamps: 0:00 – intro  1:36 – good vs. bad cravings: how to tell the difference  4:28 – how to use cravings to understand what your body actually needs  10:15 – healthy hunger vs compulsive eating  15:27 – should we limit calories, carbs, fat, or salt? are carbs addictive?  17:51 – one common reason people feel better on low-carb, keto, and carnivore diets  20:07 – how chronic stress and trauma shape cravings and compulsive behaviors  22:26 – is sugar really addictive like a drug?  26:08 – does a bad response mean it’s a bad craving?  31:12 – how to understand your cravings  35:53 – your response to foods is only part of the picture  39:38 – where sauna, exercise, cold exposure, and fasting fall on the stress spectrum  45:14 – cold plunging vs saunas: why Jay says sauna is better  48:57 – pros and cons of fasting  51:35 – is exercise beneficial because it causes stress?  57:00 – the benefits of sauna use and whether heat shock proteins are really beneficial  59:39 – where walking, HIIT, saunas, and cold plunges fall on the “stress spectrum”  1:02:04 – why metabolic markers can improve from stressors  1:04:35 – can HIIT and endurance training ever be beneficial from a bioenergetic perspective?  1:06:55 – how much exercise is too much?  1:09:27 – how carbs restored energy and recovery for a former carnivore athlete

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