विवरण
Is everything we've been taught about nutrition actually true?
From calorie counting and high-protein diets to coffee, weight loss, and food labels, wellness advice has never been louder or more confusing.
In this episode of The Masoom Minawala Show, I sit down with Layla Al Naif, holistic nutritionist and wellness educator, to separate health trends from science-backed habits. We dive into the biggest nutrition myths, why many people struggle with energy, gut health, and weight loss despite "doing everything right," and the simple changes that can make a real difference.
If you've ever wondered whether you should drink coffee first thing in the morning, how much protein you actually need, or whether "low-fat" and "sugar-free" products are really healthier, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why working out alone doesn't lead to weight loss
- Why eating too little can put your body into survival mode
- The truth about high-protein diets and the 130g protein trend
- Should you drink coffee immediately after waking up?
- The simple morning habit that could improve your energy
- How to read food labels the right way
- Why ingredients matter more than calories and macros
- The truth about protein powders and third-party testing
- Are protein bars actually healthy?
- Why Layla prefers whole foods over processed alternatives
- The problem with low-fat, sugar-free, and "free-from" products
- Homemade electrolytes vs. expensive electrolyte powders
- Gut health, hormones, inflammation, and sustainable nutrition habits
- Practical advice to build a healthier relationship with food
Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve gut health, balance your hormones, or simply understand nutrition better, this episode will challenge many of the beliefs we've accepted as facts.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Precap
1:02 - Introduction
2:02 - Layla's Journey with food
7:16 - Is anti inflammatory different for different people?
8:42 - How to identify good v/s bad gluten
9:20 - Read the label
12:02 - Electrolytes that you should be having
17:10 - How should one's morning be like?
20:30 - Stop having coffee first thing in the morning
21:27 - The 3 pm crashes
24:24 - Rushes lunches? Take a Break
29:54 - Is The 3 Pm Crash because of lunch?
32:49 - Late night snacking
34:40 - What is intuitive eating?
38:56 - Nervous system and its connection to food
42:36 - Why people struggle to lose weight?
46:17 - Protein bars
48:09 - Protein intake obsession is ridiculous
49:27 - Dairy is inflammatory
52:11 - Where did this protein obsession came from?
56:04 - Why is lettuce hard to digest?
57:05 - Low fat? Be mindful
1:01:11 - Isabgul and its benefits
1:03:51 - Thoughts of juices?
1:06:13 - Is Matcha good?
1:09:48 - One trend Layla hates
1:10:48 - Long term mindset to approach intuitive eating
1:13:01 - Relationship between food and the way we speak
1:18:13 - One principle to take away
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Social Media:
My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masoomminawala/
My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/masoomminawala/?trk=public_profile_browsemap&originalSubdomain=in
About Me:
Masoom Minawala is the Founder and Creative Director of MSF Media, a women-focused media company built around one conviction: India's women are the largest underserved media audience in the world. She hosts The Masoom Minawala Show, a long-form podcast for ambitious women, and is an angel investor backing women founders across lifestyle, fashion, and digital media. A Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 honouree and pioneer of the #SupportIndianDesigners movement, Masoom has spent over a decade bringing Indian fashion, craft, and culture to global audiences.
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