105: Bacon, Biohacking, and How to Live Your Best Life – With Abel James

In this episode of Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations, Dr. Izabella Wentz interviews Abel James, the New York Times bestselling author of The Wild Diet, podcast host, musician, and longtime leader in the ancestral health movement. Together, they discuss how the wellness world has evolved over the past decade, why real food still matters, and how modern health culture can sometimes drift into unhealthy extremes. Abel also shares powerful lessons from coaching on a national weight loss television show, recovering from a serious car accident, and learning how to prioritize sustainability, nervous system healing, muscle preservation, and longevity over perfection. This episode offers a refreshing perspective on what true wellness really looks like – especially as we age. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why “real food” is still one of the most powerful healing tools we have. Abel explains why so many health trends come and go, but foundational principles like eating nutrient-dense whole foods continue to stand the test of time. He also shares why reclaiming your health starts with removing the foods and habits that disconnect you from your body. The dangerous problem with modern weight loss culture (especially muscle loss). Abel shares behind-the-scenes insights from coaching on ABC’s weight loss competition show, and how his client lost 87 pounds, improved mobility, and maintained the results without extreme restriction. Why wellness can quietly become unhealthy. Abel shares why many people turn health into an obsession, chasing perfection through restrictive diets, overtraining, or extreme fitness goals. He explains why true health should give you more freedom, creativity, and energy for life – not make your world smaller. How aging changes what your body needs (and why that’s not a bad thing). From marathon running to heavy lifting, Abel talks honestly about the habits that worked in our 20s but no longer support long-term health. He shares how his own recovery journey shifted his focus toward mobility, recovery, strength preservation, and sustainable movement practices. The surprising connection between neuroplasticity, stress recovery, and healing. After a severe car accident, Abel explored therapies like PRP prolotherapy, ketamine infusions, and medically supervised psilocybin-assisted healing to support nervous system recovery. He also explains why nervous system healing is becoming such an important part of longevity conversations. Why AI can never replace human intuition and wisdom. Abel shares why concerns about relying too heavily on AI-generated health advice, especially when it comes to complex medical information, can be dangerous. Critical thinking, mentorship, books, and learning from real human experience are key when it comes to longevity and overall wellness. Tune in to learn more about longevity, sustainable wellness, nervous system healing, and how to create a healthier life that actually feels good to live. Be sure to subscribe to the Thyroid Pharmacist Healing Conversations podcast so you don’t miss an episode! Sign up for the Thyroid Pharmacist Weekly Thyroid Solutions Newsletter here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/gift/ For the full list of resources and products mentioned in this episode, and to get the full episode transcript, see complete show notes here: https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/podcast/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices