Jason Whistler

09/22/2025

If it's not obvious... I've been doing a deep dive into gut health and am close to completing a course developed by the Primal Health Institute and Dr. William Davis, a cardiologist and the New York Times #1 bestselling author of the Wheat Belly book series.

If you have any questions or concerns about your gut health -- let's chat.

🔥 Here’s something I wish more people knew about gut health:

It’s not always about what you eat… sometimes it’s about how your body processes it.

Two people can eat the exact same meal — let’s say salmon, veggies, and rice — and have totally different experiences.

👉 One feels energized and satisfied for hours.
👉 The other feels bloated, tired, and craving sugar an hour later.

Why? Their guts aren’t working the same way.

Factors like stress, sleep, past antibiotic use, acid reducers, and even genetics can change how well your gut breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and signals your brain.

That means it’s not just about “eating healthy.” It’s about supporting your gut so it can do its job.

However, with the right tweaks — like balancing meals differently, adding specific nutrients, targeted probiotics, or reducing hidden stressors — people often start noticing big changes in energy, focus, and mood surprisingly fast.

👉 Have you ever noticed any foods that affect you completely differently than someone else? What was it?

09/19/2025

🌱 Most people think of the gut as just a “digestion system.” Food goes in, nutrients get absorbed, waste goes out. End of story.

I used to think that way too, but it's not even close to true! Your gut is also home to trillions of microbes that do most of the digesting work for you and act like a hidden control center for your mental and physical health.

When that internal ecosystem is thriving, it:

- Produces neurotransmitters that support your mood.
- Maintains a barrier to keep unwanted stuff out of your body.
- Trains your immune system to fight off invaders.
- Helps regulate your metabolism, energy, and weight by affecting things like GLP-1, appetite, and cravings!

When it's out of whack, we get the opposite... and that’s when fatigue, brain fog, inflammation, and even low mood creep in.

The bad news is...

Based on current studies, as many as 1 in 3 Americans is suffering from some degree of gut microbiome disruption, and the majority of people, including doctors, think it's just "normal gut issues" or "old age."

Until I started my deep dive into health and gut issues, I used to think that way, too!

The good news is...

You don’t need fancy supplements, complicated eating plans, a doctor's visit, or even a health coach to start supporting your gut microbiome.

Just start with the basics, which are as simple as:

✅ Eating a wider variety of colorful plants.
✅ Choosing whole, minimally processed foods.
✅ Crowd out the junk with better choices.

Just remember... It’s less about perfection and more about developing and maintaining a friendlier environment for those microbes to thrive.

👉 With all that in mind, what’s one small shift you're willing to try this week to improve your gut health?

07/11/2025

While driving the other day, I saw a sticker on a Jeep that read, "Prepare for self-extraction".

That started me thinking about how that applies far beyond a Jeep owner pulling themselves out of a ditch. It applies, or should, to everything we do in life.

Which led me to the very broad question…

Are you, am I, prepared for self-extraction?

This is a term used by wilderness survivalists and military personnel to describe rescuing yourself from a bad situation when help is limited or nonexistent.

No one is coming to your rescue, so you can't just sit around and wait.

What does this have to do with life, health, and martial arts?

Everything.

I've seen, heard, and personally made the mistake of assuming someone else would bail me out if things go south.

I do encourage a certain degree of boldness in action.

Boldness based on preparation and a confidence couched in knowing I or you will be ok, whatever the outcome may be.

In a self-defense situation, this may mean doing whatever is necessary to survive a violent situation long enough to allow the police time to arrive.

In health, this means making better choices long before you get to the point of needing medical intervention. Walk more, eat more real food with fewer ingredients, don't wait until there is a problem, and then rely on a doctor to fix you… They can't save you from yourself!

In life, this is about having a plan, continual growth, and plenty of resources, guides, and friends…

So you can be truly capable and confident as you move through life.

And you can help each other along the way.

The self-extraction mindset isn't about being the lone wolf, or the army of one…

It's about standing confidently on your own two legs, owning your life and choices, enjoying the challenges and the journey, and being able to assist others to do the same.