In this empowering follow-up to their previous episode on breast milk, Sarah and Ashley take a deep dive into how the modern diet has transformed the fatty acid composition of breast milk—and what that means for a child’s lifelong health. From allergies and immune suppression to metabolic issues, cognitive development, and even cancer risk, the girls explore how polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) are impacting babies from day one. But it’s not all doom and gloom. They break down the science behind breast milk composition, share real studies, and most importantly, offer practical, hopeful strategies for how moms (and future moms) can shift their diet—even within days—to radically improve their baby’s nourishment and resilience. Whether you're already breastfeeding, planning for pregnancy, or just curious about food’s generational impact, this episode will leave you informed and inspired.

00:00 – Coming Up

00:47 – Mother's Breast Milk Has Undergone a Radical Transformation

02:31 – Explanation of How Breast Milk Now Mimics Formula in Fatty Acid Profile

04:14 – Historical Data on Rise of Linoleic Acid in Breast Milk

05:53 – Allergies and Breast Milk Composition

09:20 – Metabolic Suppression and PUFAs as Immunosuppressants

11:59 – Consequences of PUFAs in Milk: Cognitive Impairments, Autism, and ADHD

14:03 – Childhood Obesity and Early-Life PUFA Exposure

16:30 – Body Fat and Metabolic Impact of High PUFA Diets

18:14 – Trans Fats in Breast Milk

20:00 – Breast Milk: Fat- vs Mineral-Derived Content

22:04 – Linoleic Acid and Mammary Tumors

24:14 – 1985 Study: Diet Changes Breast Milk Fat in 3 Days

25:38 – Low-Calorie Diets During Breastfeeding and Fat Stores

27:52 – How to Optimize Fat Quality in the Maternal Diet

29:10 – Saturated Fat vs Carbs During Breastfeeding

31:57 – Beneficial Saturated Fats: CLA and C15:0 From Dairy

34:10 – Raw Milk, History, and Ancestral Practices

36:42 – Milk vs Milk Replacements: Nutrient Comparison

39:00 – Fast Shifts in Milk Composition—Encouraging Data

41:00 – Central Nervous System Risks From High PUFA Exposure

42:21 – Prioritizing Whole Food Fats Over Added Fats

44:25 – Calorie Balance and Metabolic Consequences

48:22 – Total Fat, Type of Fat, and Weight Timing Matters

49:57 – Fertility Focus: Prepping Body and Family Health

51:32 – Closing Message: Empowerment Through Better Food Sourcing

In this powerful episode, Ashley and Sarah dive deep into the science behind breast milk and how a mother’s nutrition—*before and during pregnancy*—can shape the gut health, cognitive development, and immune system of her baby. From Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) to the rise of PUFAs (polyunsaturated fatty acids) in modern diets, they explore how we got so far from nature, and what we can do to get back.Discover why breast milk composition isn't fixed, how the fatty acids in your body impact your child, and what recent research is saying about the connections between diet, autism, metabolism, and more.Whether you're already a parent, planning for the future, or just passionate about reclaiming real health—this conversation will leave you informed and inspired.________________________________________________________Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g ⭐ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NTIxm2iqgIdnqI2j2FICr?si=477cfb0440fe40ce⭐ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-in-resilience/id1663060063____________________________________________________________

Keep Up With Us!🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative.com/ {The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}🥚Waitlist for our eggs: https://angel-acresfarm.com/pages/waitlist-for-eggs{Low PUFA, corn & soy free, pasture-raised eggs, delivered directly to your door}______________________________________________________________________Follow Us On Social Media➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1➡️ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strong-sisters-103331317/➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077➡️ THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@strong.sistas?invite=2____________________________________________________**00:00 – Coming up****00:37 – How Diet Shapes Breast Milk Composition****02:01 – It’s Not Just About What You Eat While Pregnant****03:44 – The Pharmaceutical Narrative and Gene Blame****05:05 – Infant Formula vs. Breastfeeding and PUFA Concerns****05:51 – Raw Milk, Microbes & Baby Gut Health****08:01 – The Body Knows When Not to Reproduce****09:33 – HMOs: Fueling Your Baby’s Microbiome****11:05 – HMO Supplements vs. Natural Formation****13:06 – Running on Adrenaline During Pregnancy? Not Ideal****14:10 – Diet Type Affects HMO Variety and Baby's Microbiome****16:20 – The Natural Role of Carbs in Breast Milk****18:04 – Why Fat Type Matters****20:22 – PUFA could be Everywhere: Chicken, Pork, Even in Restaurants****22:00 – Breast Milk Is Made from What’s In You****23:19 – Linoleic Acid in Breast Milk Over Time****24:35 – Autism Links and PUFA Breakdown Byproducts****26:50 – Metabolism, Enzymes, and Fat Conversion****29:05 – Your Brain Runs on Your Metabolism****29:35 – PUFA and Child Cognitive Outcomes****32:15 – Global Rise in PUFA and Cognitive Decline****34:01 – 70% of Breast Milk Fat Comes from Body Fat Stores****35:58 – Historical Insight: Food Scarcity and Breast Milk****36:28 – PUFA and Autism Rates Over Time****37:41 – Why PUFAs Disrupt Metabolism and Cause Damage****40:28 – We've Been Poofed: 25% of Calories Now Come from PUFAs****42:05 – PUFA in Animal Products from Feed Changes****45:29 – Fat-Pharma Connection: Cholesterol and PUFA****46:08 – Un-Poof Yourself: Why This Conversation Matters****47:18 – Sneaky PUFA in “Health” Foods****49:15 – What About the Dad's Role in All This?****52:38 – Final Takeaways: You Build Your Baby with Food****54:25 – Fun Fact: Cow Horns, Detox, and Breast Milk****55:41 – Join the Low PUFA Food Movement at Nourish**

In this episode of *Rooted in Resilience*, we welcome our first guest of the season—health coach and bioenergetic researcher Jay Feldman—for a deep dive into the world of ice baths, hormesis, and stress-driven health trends. From the truth about fat burning and cold exposure to how our metabolism adapts (or shuts down) under chronic stress, we unpack the biochemical realities behind popular biohacks. We also explore how short-term boosts might come at the cost of long-term metabolic health—and what a truly sustainable health approach looks like.Whether you’re a cold plunge fan or someone navigating the aftermath of restrictive diets, this episode is a must-listen.

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Subscribe To The Rooted In Resilience Podcast:⭐ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCSpofOL75STGMvUUlD5em7g ⭐ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NTIxm2iqgIdnqI2j2FICr?si=477cfb0440fe40ce⭐ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rooted-in-resilience/id1663060063

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Keep Up With Us!🖥️ Website: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/🗞️ Newsletter: https://www.armstrongsisters.com/newsletter-signup👩🏼‍🌾 Our Farm CoOp, Nourish: https://nourishcooperative.com/ {The highest quality food you can find, delivered directly to your door. Low PUFA chicken and pork, 100% grass-fed beef and lamb, traditional sourdough, raw dog food, & more}🥚Waitlist for our eggs: https://angel-acresfarm.com/pages/waitlist-for-eggs{Low PUFA, corn & soy free, pasture-raised eggs, delivered directly to your door}

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Follow Us On Social Media➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strong.sistas/➡️ X: https://twitter.com/strong_sistas➡️TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@strong.sistas?_t=8oW270Feyz5&_r=1➡️ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/strong-sisters-103331317/➡️FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083808037077➡️ THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@strong.sistas?invite=2

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0:00 - Fuel, Energy & Stress Hormones0:34 - Meet Jay Feldman1:15 - Jay's Health Journey & Ray Peat's Influence3:53 - Introduction to Hormesis & Biohacking5:42 - Mainstream Claims vs. Hidden Costs of Ice Baths7:32 - Can Stress Make You Healthier?9:25 - Fat Burning ≠ Fat Loss11:53 - Long-Term Effects of Chronic Stressors16:50 - PUFAs: The Hidden Danger in Fat Oxidation20:16 – Common Biohacking Hormesis Examples22:02 - How to Actually Lose Fat25:48 – The Cost of Boosting Metabolism Through Stress28:57 - Metabolic Debt & The Body’s Adaptive Response31:25 - Constrained Energy Expenditure Research by Herman Pontzer32:55 - Recovery & Rebound: Refeeding After Restriction35:50 - Redefining Health & Sustainable Metabolism37:25 - Is all stress bad? The Hans Selye distinction42:25 – Positive Adaptation: What Stressors Actually Help You Thrive43:57 - Find What Fuels You45:24 - PUFA 101: The fats that slow us down46:08 - Squirrels, Hibernation & Metabolism Downregulation48:00 – Wrap-up + Where to find Jay’s work