Jay Shetty & Elissa Goodman ON 3 Health Secrets From Celebrities' Favorite Nutritionist

In this On Purpose episode, Jay Shetty welcomes Elissa Goodman, a holistic nutritionist and cleanse expert based in Los Angeles.

Goodman shares her unique approach to cleansing, emphasizing nourishment and reducing inflammation with a diet rich in vegetables and plant-based foods.

Goodman shares with Jay how her cleansing programs help reset the body, improve digestion, and enhance overall well-being. The conversation also touches on the importance of regular blood work, proper sleep, meditation, journaling, and making health decisions tailored to individual needs.

What Is Cleansing?

Elissa Goodman explains to Jay Shetty that cleansing often has a negative connotation related to deprivation and starvation. However, her approach to cleansing is different. After creating cleanses for Cafe Gratitude, she observed significant health improvements in people within five days.

Goodman's cleanses are anti-inflammatory and include a wide variety of vegetables, focusing on nourishment and reducing inflammation. She highlights that most people need cleanses due to unhealthy diets filled with processed foods and toxins. Therefore, the nutritionist recommends regular cleansing, especially plant-based foods for quick absorption and energy.

Living an Unhealthy Life

In today's world, many of us accept feeling unwell as the norm. Jay Shetty shares his own experience of improving his health through changes in diet, sleep, and well-being routines. Similarly, Goodman has surpassed health issues and decided to turn her life around and become more in tune with her body.

Elissa Goodman reveals to Jay Shetty that she was born with a low white blood cell count, a cause for frequent illness. Despite her demanding career and poor lifestyle choices, she moved to California for a healthier environment. At 32, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and was forced to adopt a healthier lifestyle, including becoming vegan, juicing, and focusing on emotional well-being.

Although radiation treatment led to additional health issues, she recovered and had two healthy daughters. Goodman faced further challenges when her husband was diagnosed with cancer and passed away; this series of events strengthened her commitment to health. Today, Goodman feels better than ever and is convinced that healthy habits sustain her well-being.

A Healing Mindset

Elissa Goodman beat cancer without traditional Western methods. To her, healing was possible due to her mindset and self-belief. She told Jay Shetty that many people hinder their healing process because they lack self-love and self-esteem. She encourages the audience to believe in their ability to heal and gives examples of people who were cured of stage four cancer without using conventional treatments.

Moreover, Goodman highlights the significance of nutrition, particularly the benefits of consuming vegetables and juicing; she has been juicing for thirty years now. The nutritionist prefers cold-pressed juice to retain nutrients and has recently incorporated blending to include fiber and recommends consuming 8-10 cups of vegetables daily.

Goodman shared with Jay Shetty the benefits of celery juice. The juice is high in mineral content and plays a crucial role in combating dehydration. To help with overall health and functioning, the nutritionist suggests consuming complex carbohydrates like legumes, beans, quinoa, and sweet potatoes for gut health and the central nervous system.

Your Body Knows What It Needs

Jay Shetty told Elissa Goodman how many people, including him, wait for a health crisis before taking their well-being seriously. He shared his own experience of realizing his genetic predisposition to diabetes and cholesterol despite a healthy diet. This realization made Jay commit to his health. Yet he notes that people often revert to unhealthy habits once they feel better and need repeated wake-up calls.

Goodman explained that since COVID-19, more people are taking their health seriously. She emphasizes the importance of thorough bloodwork to identify underlying health issues like high blood sugar, thyroid imbalances, and heavy metals. It is a proactive approach that allows her to address potential health problems before they become severe.

Goodman also highlights to Jay Shetty the significance of gradual habit changes, such as improving hydration, increasing plant-based foods, and enhancing sleep quality. However, she advises against overwhelming clients with too many changes at once. The nutritionist teaches clients to use muscle testing to determine the right supplements for their bodies. Listen to your body and instincts; they will tell you what you need.

Learn How to Read the Labels

Goodman explains to Jay Shetty that, similar to supplements, snacks often contain many unrecognizable ingredients, including harmful additives like certain dyes and soy lecithin. She recommends choosing products with fewer recognizable ingredients, as these are generally healthier.

Moreover, processed foods can lead to various health issues, including digestive problems. So, Goodman advises that 75-80% of your diet should consist of simple, natural foods. She also notes the challenge of transitioning to less processed foods, as they may not taste as good due to lower sugar and salt content, but are ultimately better for health.

A Typical Cleanse

When working with clients, Goodman's cleanse includes a detox tonic with coconut kefir, chlorophyll, apple cider vinegar, lemon, ginger, and her homemade superseed bar. The cleanse also features bone broth or vegan broth, salads, salad dressings, fermented vegetables, soups, evening lattes, digestive enzymes, and magnesium.

For clients transitioning from an animal protein diet to a plant-based one, Goodman includes magnesium to aid digestion. She also offers a gut cleanse incorporating activated charcoal, which helps reduce gut bacteria and aids in weight loss. The gut cleanse also includes chia pudding, sauerkraut, and Tulsi tea to promote anti-inflammatory benefits and better sleep.

Stress Manifests in the Digestive Tract

Digestive health is a crucial aspect of our overall health, but people shy away from discussing it publicly. Goodman explains that emptying the bowels once a day is good, twice is great, and three times is perfect. She attributes common digestive issues to a lack of fiber, hydration, and stress. Animal proteins take much longer to digest than plant-based foods, which contributes to digestive problems.

Goodman recommends digestive enzymes and probiotics to aid digestion. She explained to Jay Shetty that plant-based foods take 90 minutes to digest, whereas animal proteins take 14 hours. Goodman also suggests eating simpler foods with fewer additives, hydrating, and getting enough sleep for better digestion.

Overwhelming the Body

Jay Shetty asked Goodman about common health mistakes people make. The nutritionist highlights over-supplementing due to social media influence; many follow restrictive diets without understanding if they are necessary. Jumping on a trend may not be what your body needs; therefore, Goodman advocates for individualized health choices.

The nutritionist also shares with Jay Shetty the pitfalls of over-exercising, which often leads to elevated cortisol and adrenal fatigue. It is important to observe your overall health and avoid extreme practices. Therefore, Goodman suggests focusing on simple, real foods, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and not stressing over health practices. Moreover, incorporate meditation and yoga in your daily schedule to stay in tune with your body and maintain a balanced approach to health.

Shamanic Rituals and Plant Medicine

Goodman shares with Jay Shetty that at 58, a psilocybin journey helped her confront and release negative subconscious patterns, fostering peace and self-love. Despite years of therapy, meditation, and other practices, this experience was pivotal in her self-understanding journey.

Goodman practices meditation, yoga, journaling, and nature exposure regularly, especially to morning sunlight, to maintain her mental and physical health. Health practices don't need to be complicated; you only need to reconnect with yourself.

During the psilocybin journey, a shaman guided the nutritionist through releasing deep-seated fears and stressors. The process involved intense emotional release, such as crying or shouting, followed by profound peace. Goodman shared with Jay Shetty that while the journey was powerfully transformative, the result needs to be maintained. In addition, she also journals and practices breathwork to continue releasing negative patterns and sustaining a sense of calm and self-love.

Becoming Self-Aware

Elissa Goodman opens up to Jay Shetty about the roots of her health challenges, tracing them back to her childhood when she was frequently labeled as the "sick kid" by her mother. This early conditioning led her to subconsciously expect illness, a belief she carried well into adulthood. However, through her personal journey, she realized the importance of addressing subconscious blocks to achieve true healing.

Goodman emphasizes that many of her clients face similar challenges, where unresolved childhood traumas manifest as physical health issues. She shared with Jay Shetty the significance of alternative therapies, such as hypnosis and energy healing, in uncovering these deep-seated issues. Goodman encourages the audience to recognize that their current habits and health patterns are not fixed; they are learned behaviors that can be changed with effort and awareness. She also stresses the importance of exploring various health modalities and being open to new approaches, which can significantly enhance well-being and longevity.

More From Jay Shetty

Listen to the entire On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast episode on “Elissa Goodman ON 3 Health Secrets from Celebrities’ Favorite Nutritionist & 2 Health Trends You Are Wasting Your Money on” now in the iTunes store or on Spotify. For more inspirational stories and messages like this, check out Jay’s website at jayshetty.me.