Ep. 331 Hunger Habit: Impact of Lifestyle, Self-Talk and Trauma with Dr. Jud Brewer

Today, I have the pleasure of reconnecting with the incredible Dr. Jud Brewer, who was previously on the podcast in June 2020 in episode 99.
Dr. Brewer is an internationally recognized addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is also a professor at Brown University and a former TEDx speaker, with his talk in 2016 amassing over 19 million views.
In our conversation, we discuss his latest book, The Hunger Habit, and explore many subjects, from the differences between homeostatic and hedonistic hunger to detachment from body awareness. We look at self-talk, self-judgment, and dopamine survival mechanisms, addressing issues like stress-eating and comfort-eating within the context of the food and reward system. Dr. Jud also shares his perspective on macro tracking, explaining why he does not endorse it, and he introduces his 21-Day Challenge, emphasizing the need to build awareness around our habits and be present. Lastly, we dive into how trauma impacts binge eating, touching on adverse childhood events and effective ways to reflect on our past experiences and how they affect our current behavior.
Dr. Jud’s wealth of knowledge and insights offer a fresh perspective on the interplay between our habits, mental well-being, and relationship with food. Stay tuned!