Overview of Hidden Stressors That Are Making You Sick & The Truth About Juicing — The Model Health Show with Shawn Stevenson (guest: Drew Canole)
This episode features Shawn Stevenson interviewing Drew Canole (founder of Organifi) about hidden, non-obvious stressors that drive chronic illness, weight gain, low energy and poor mental/sexual health — and a practical, nuanced look at juicing and other popular health tools. Drew frames health around “safety signals” for the nervous system (not just calories in/calories out) and shares lifestyle, nutritional and mindset practices he uses and recommends, along with product context (shilajit gummies, creatine, hydrogen tabs, etc.).
Key topics discussed
- Juicing: benefits, common mistakes and which juices Drew prefers (greens, cucumber, lemon, ginger, turmeric; cautious with fruit-heavy juices).
- Hidden stressors: light exposure (blue light/LED flicker), chemical exposures (glyphosate, microplastics), mold, disconnection from food sources.
- Nervous system and “safety signals”: how chronic stress alters metabolism, weight regulation, libido and healing capacity.
- Shilajit (shilajit): background, mechanism (minerals + humic/fulvic acid), and clinical evidence for testosterone improvements.
- Practical nervous-system tools: breathwork, phone rules, grounding, baths, sauna/cold exposure, sleep hygiene.
- Fitness and supplementation: strength training, morning cardio, creatine, protein intake and lifestyle as foundational health practices.
- Mentorship, environment and mindset: the value of mentors, focused media/teacher selection and lifestyle rituals.
Main takeaways
- Juicing can be beneficial when used properly — prioritize vegetable/green-based juices and low-fructose additions (cucumber, celery, lemon, small amounts of green apple; limit high-fructose fruit for those with metabolic risk).
- Many chronic illnesses and weight issues are amplified by constant sensory/chemical stressors — improving perceived bodily safety (via environment, relationships and routine) supports healing and weight loss.
- Small, consistent nervous-system practices (breathwork, reduced blue light, phone-free family time) produce outsized health effects — they lower cortisol and increase parasympathetic activity.
- Shilajit (in clinically tested doses) may support testosterone and energy; Organifi offers shilajit gummies at 250 mg twice daily (study dose) and positions minerals + fulvic/humic acids as delivery enhancers.
- Strength training, consistent movement and selected supplements (creatine, protein) are foundational for energy, mitochondrial health and long-term resilience.
- Mentorship, focused learning and being in supportive environments are powerful, often-overlooked health contributors.
Notable insights & quotes
- “If you’re not horny, you’re not healthy.” — Drew (used to highlight libido as a marker of systemic health).
- “Health isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about removing hidden stressors, restoring essential nutrition, and rebuilding safety in the body.” — Drew
- Practical lab-backed tip shared: a 2015 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (90 days, men 45–55) found purified shilajit increased total and free testosterone vs. placebo (study cited by Drew/host).
- Simple breathing practice: two inhales, longer exhale; repeated every hour for 2–3 minutes to stimulate parasympathetic tone and reduce cortisol.
- “80% of the nutrition we absorb in our bodies is not from food. It’s from the environment and the information we take on (light, voices, relationships).” — Drew
Practical recommendations / action items
- Juicing
- Prefer green/vegetable juices (cucumber, celery, lemon, kale/spinach sparingly due to oxalates/goitrogens; add ginger/turmeric).
- Limit fruit-heavy juices (pineapple, orange) if you are pre-diabetic, have fatty liver, or are insulin-sensitive.
- Avoid pasteurized/store juices (lose enzymes, heat‑damaged nutrients); fresh-pressed is preferable.
- Nervous-system hygiene
- Set hourly reminders to breathe for 2–3 minutes (long exhale emphasis).
- Create phone-free zones (e.g., when entering home/family time).
- Reduce evening/early-morning blue light (screens, LED flicker).
- Practice grounding: sunlight exposure, walking barefoot, connecting to natural food sources where possible.
- Environment & food sourcing
- Choose organic where possible, reduce processed animal products (beware of chlorine-washed poultry), and know your farmers/sources.
- Grow herbs at home (cilantro, parsley, thyme) to boost connection and micronutrient access.
- Supplements & fitness
- Consider an evidence-backed shilajit protocol for 8–12 weeks (Drew cites 250 mg twice daily as the tested dose).
- Strength training + 30–45 min morning cardio (3–3.5 hours weekly target) for metabolic health.
- Creatine: effective for strength, cognition and cellular energy — dosing/context matters (Organifi gummies cited: 1,500 mg per gummy → 3 g per two gummies).
- Simple self-care rituals: daily baths with Epsom salt/baking soda (25 minutes), cold plunge/sauna when available, consistent sleep and protein intake (~1 g protein per lb of body weight mentioned anecdotally by Drew).
- Social & mental
- Cultivate mentors and limit “paralysis by choice” by selecting 1–2 teachers and following them closely.
- Exchange value with mentors/teachers (offer help, show up; relationships are reciprocal).
Evidence & product notes (what was cited)
- Shilajit clinical trial: 2015 randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study — 250 mg twice daily for 90 days showed increases in total and free testosterone in men aged 45–55 (referenced by guest).
- Drew and Shawn emphasize product quality: Organifi claims third‑party testing, careful sourcing of shilajit and testing of finished gummies for active levels.
- Promotional offer mentioned: 20% off Organifi purchases at Organifi.com/model (shilajit gummies, creatine gummies, hydrogen tabs, green/red blends, etc.) — included by guest/host as sponsor info.
Quick “what to start today” checklist
- Set an hourly reminder for 2–3 minutes breathing (two inhales, long exhale).
- Make one green juice (cucumber, celery, lemon, a small green apple) or a green smoothie and note how you feel.
- Create one phone-free transition zone (e.g., no-phone from door to family room).
- Walk outside in sunlight for 5–10 minutes after waking.
- Schedule two strength-training sessions this week + one 30–45 minute morning cardio session.
- If interested in shilajit, consider researching the 2015 clinical trial and, if appropriate, a 6–8 week trial at the study dose (250 mg twice daily) before making decisions about other interventions.
Where to find more / guest & host resources
- Drew Canole: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok (search “Drew Canole”).
- Organifi products and promo: Organifi.com/model (20% off mentioned on the episode).
- Suggested follow-ups (from the conversation): breathwork practices, studies on shilajit, creatine literature, research on environmental stressors (mold, glyphosate, EMF) and nervous system health.
This episode blends practical, immediately applicable lifestyle guidance (breathwork, phone rules, green juices, lifting) with nutritional supplementation context and a strong emphasis on restoring safety signals for the nervous system as a core pathway to better long-term health.