13 May Metabolic Freedom: How to Burn Fat at Any Age with Metabolism Expert Ben Azadi
If you’ve spent years blaming your age for stubborn weight gain, mysterious fatigue, and hormone chaos, prepare to have everything you thought you knew completely dismantled.
What if your metabolism hasn’t actually slowed down at all? What if the “healthy” oils in your kitchen are silently sabotaging your cells for years? And what if the weight loss advice you’ve followed religiously has been scientifically designed to fail?
Ben Azadi is here to challenge everything midlife women believe about weight gain, hormone chaos, and energy crashes. If you’ve been struggling with stubborn weight, mysterious fatigue, or the frustrating “I’ve tried everything” syndrome, this conversation might just change your entire perspective on your midlife body.
The staggering reality is that only 7% of Americans are metabolically healthy, according to a 2022 study. For the other 93%: your body isn’t broken; it’s likely just following the wrong instruction manual.
By challenging outdated health myths, focusing on what truly matters (hormones and inflammation rather than calories), and building metabolic flexibility, midlife women can transform their health without extreme measures or deprivation.
The Truth About Your Midlife Metabolism
One of the most powerful revelations from chatting with Ben disputes the common belief that our metabolism inevitably slows with age. According to a comprehensive 2021 Duke University study with 6,600 participants aged 1-95, there are actually no significant metabolic changes between ages 20-60. Even after 60, the decline is only 0.7% annually—and primarily due to muscle loss, not aging itself.
This means the excuse of “my metabolism is slowing down because I’m getting older” simply isn’t backed by science. With proper nutrition and muscle-preserving strategies, a 75-year-old woman can potentially maintain the same metabolic rate as her 25-year-old self.
The Calorie Counting Scam
For decades, women have been told that weight loss boils down to a simple equation: calories in, calories out. This approach is fundamentally flawed and treats symptoms rather than root causes.
As Ben says: “You don’t have a weight problem. There’s no such thing as a weight problem—it’s a weight symptom. The real problem is hormones and inflammation.”
The metabolism isn’t a bank account or math equation but a complex chemistry lab. Creating a calorie deficit might work short-term for some people, but it’s unsustainable long-term because:
- Your metabolism eventually slows to match lower calorie intake
- Hunger hormones increase while satiety hormones decrease
- The body starts preserving fat stores due to perceived starvation
Interestingly, people can increase their calorie intake with whole foods, protein, and fats while decreasing carbs and still lose weight—because it’s inflammation and hormones, not calories, that actually determine fat loss.
Fasting: Finding Your Sweet Spot
Intermittent fasting has become increasingly popular, but it’s important to remember that it must be customized, especially for women. Rather than viewing fasting as “good” or “bad,” understand it as a hormetic stress—beneficial when properly dosed but potentially harmful when overdone.
For women specifically:
- Those with menstrual cycles should fast differently than postmenopausal women
- Start with a 12-hour overnight fast (e.g., 7pm to 7am)
- Gradually expand to 13-14 hours if your body adapts well
- Monitor sleep quality and heart rate variability as indicators of stress adaptation
The constant grazing approach popularized in the 90s (eating every 2-3 hours) continuously spikes insulin, preventing fat-burning and accelerating aging. Every time we eat, we secrete insulin, which blocks fat oxidation.
The Seed Oil Problem
One of the most alarming conversations centered around seed oils, which Azadi considers highly inflammatory and damaging to cellular health. These oils have infiltrated approximately 80% of our food supply—even in health food stores and high-end restaurants.
The “Inflammatory Eight” to avoid include:
- Canola oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Corn oil
- Sunflower oil
- Safflower oil
- Soybean oil
- Rice bran oil
- Grape seed oil
What makes these oils so harmful is their processing method. High heat, pressure, and chemical extraction damage the molecular structure of polyunsaturated fats. When consumed, these damaged fats embed into cell membranes within hours and remain there for years—with a half-life of 680 days.
The healthier alternatives include:
- Butter
- Ghee
- Beef tallow
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Olive oil
Medication vs. Lifestyle Interventions
While acknowledging there’s sometimes a place for medication, it is important to address root causes rather than merely treating symptoms. Particularly with type 2 diabetes—which affects millions of Americans—lifestyle interventions can be remarkably effective.
My mom successfully delayed diabetes medication for 10 years through diet changes alone! For those already on medication, lifestyle modifications can potentially reduce dosages or even eliminate the need for medication entirely.
Rather than relying on pharmaceuticals as first-line interventions, you might explore natural alternatives when appropriate. For example, the herb berberine works similarly to metformin for blood sugar management without being a pharmaceutical.
The Foundation Before Biohacking
While many midlife women are drawn to trendy biohacking tools—red light therapy, infrared saunas, wearable tech, and supplements—these are merely “add-ons” that complement foundational health practices.
The fundamentals should always come FIRST:
- Quality sleep
- Mental wellness
- Proper nutrition
- Movement
- Stress management
Once these basics are established, biohacking tools can enhance results—but they cannot replace the fundamentals.
Finding Metabolic Freedom
What makes Azadi’s approach to fat loss refreshing is its flexibility. Rather than promoting extreme diets like permanent ketosis or carnivore, he advocates for “metabolic flexibility”—the ability to shift between different fuel sources efficiently.
This means you can enjoy occasional treats without derailing your health, provided you’ve built a strong metabolic foundation. The more muscle mass you maintain, the greater flexibility you’ll have with your nutrition.
For those ready to embark on this journey, Azadi’s new book “Metabolic Freedom” offers a 30-day guide to restore metabolism, heal hormones, and burn fat—proving that midlife isn’t a sentence to declining health but potentially the beginning of your healthiest years yet.
Get Ben’s new book “Metabolic Freedom” at http://metabolicfreedombook.com and receive exclusive bonuses including a complete metabolism masterclass.
The contents of the Midlife Conversations podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider. Some episodes of Midlife Conversations may be sponsored by products or services discussed during the show. The host may receive compensation for such advertisements or if you purchase products through affiliate links mentioned on this podcast.
