The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Show

Dr. Autumn Smith On Healing Naturally, Eating Well, & What Actually Matters In Your Food

February 20, 2026

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  • The quality of meat, particularly whether it is grass-fed/grass-finished and how it is processed (e.g., traditionally cured vs. highly processed deli meat), significantly impacts its nutritional value and health implications. 
  • Organ meats like liver and heart are among the most nutrient-dense foods available, offering critical nutrients like Vitamin A, B12, iron, and CoQ10, and should be intentionally incorporated into the diet. 
  • Glycine, an amino acid abundant in collagen-rich foods like bone broth and gelatin, acts as a calming neurotransmitter and plays a crucial role in regulating immune cell overreaction, potentially reducing chronic inflammation. 
  • Dr. Autumn Smith has been consuming Paleovalley products like superfood bars, bone broth, and meat sticks for 12 years to obtain necessary nutrients. 
  • Wild Pastures was founded out of concern over the depletion of American topsoil, aiming to support agriculture that rebuilds the soil through regenerative farming practices. 
  • Paleovalley and Wild Pastures are offering listeners discounts via their respective websites, and a giveaway featuring favorite products is planned for those who follow Paleovalley on Instagram and comment on Lauryn Bosstick's latest post. 

Segments

Deli Meat Quality Concerns
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(00:01:18)
  • Key Takeaway: Not all processed meats are equally harmful; the processing method, such as traditional fermentation versus high processing with artificial additives, determines the health impact.
  • Summary: The host expressed concern over social media claims labeling common deli ham and turkey as worse than cigarettes. Dr. Smith clarified that processed meats vary greatly; traditionally fermented or cured meats are different from those highly processed with artificial additives. Consumers should ask butchers about preparation methods, such as whether ham is traditionally prepared.
Decoding Meat Labels
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(00:03:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Labels like ‘grass-fed’ do not guarantee grass-finished status or freedom from antibiotics, and ‘pasture-raised’ is often poorly defined, leading to consumer confusion.
  • Summary: Grass-fed does not automatically mean grass-finished, nor does it guarantee the absence of antibiotics. The meat market is highly consolidated, with factory-farmed meat dominating grocery stores despite misleading labels. Consumers should seek out local sources or ask specific questions when shopping at stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts.
Vital Farms Egg Controversy
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(00:05:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The Vital Farms egg controversy centered on high linoleic acid levels, which result from a greater proportion of corn and soy in the chickens’ diet, even if they are pasture-raised.
  • Summary: The issue with Vital Farms eggs was the elevated linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) content, which can be pro-inflammatory when consumed excessively. This elevation is directly linked to the amount of corn and soy in the animals’ feed, rather than just the time spent on pasture. While linoleic acid is an essential nutrient, excessive intake, especially combined with seed oils, is concerning.
Red Flags in Meat Sourcing
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(00:10:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Meat quality reflects the land it comes from, and red flags include any use of hormones or antibiotics, and meat from animals raised solely on grain and soy in factory farms.
  • Summary: Antibiotic use in livestock is a major concern for Dr. Smith. Meat acts as a ‘photograph of the land,’ with its 30,000 nutrient compounds changing based on the animal’s diet and soil health. Greater diversity in pasture leads to higher omega-3 fatty acids in the resulting meat.
Nutrient Density of Organ Meats
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(00:11:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Organ meats, especially liver, are vital for combating common micronutrient deficiencies like iron, Vitamin A, and B12, which are often inadequately addressed by plant sources alone.
  • Summary: Beef and organ meats are highlighted as highly nutrient-dense foods that have been unfairly demonized. Liver is noted for curing pernicious anemia in 1934 due to its synergistic nutrient profile (iron, copper, B12, Vitamin A). Consumers hesitant about eating organs can start with capsules or milder options like chicken liver.
Vitamin A Deficiency Causes
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(00:16:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Many people are deficient in pre-formed Vitamin A (retinol) because they rely on plant sources like carrots, which contain a precursor form requiring 12 times more conversion than animal sources.
  • Summary: The richest natural source of Vitamin A and B12 is liver. People often believe they get enough Vitamin A from carrots and sweet potatoes, but this plant-based form requires significantly higher intake compared to the retinol found in animal products. Historical demonization of animal products contributes to this deficiency.
Cheese Sourcing and Fatty Acids
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(00:17:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Ideal cheese should be sourced from grass-fed, grass-finished, and raw milk, as the animal’s diet directly influences the beneficial fatty acid profile, including higher omega-3s and CLA.
  • Summary: The ideal cheese choice involves grass-fed, grass-finished, and raw milk products to maximize cardiovascular protective compounds like Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). The animal’s feed dictates the fatty acid profile in the resulting dairy product, with grass-fed resulting in three times the omega-3s compared to grain-fed.
Introducing Meat to Infants
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(00:19:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Introducing bone broth first can prepare an infant’s digestive tract to better handle the introduction of nutrient-dense meats, leading to healthier development.
  • Summary: Chewing food is important, and infants benefit from early animal product consumption; the egg yolk was the first food for one of the host’s children. Bone broth seemed to prepare the digestive tract, allowing for the later introduction of pureed meats. Meatsticks are an easy, soft option for young children due to their fermented tenderness.
Protein Leverage Hypothesis
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(00:22:55)
  • Key Takeaway: The protein leverage hypothesis suggests that appetite turns off once the body achieves a maximum intake of necessary amino acids, explaining why snacks lacking protein lead to overconsumption.
  • Summary: Consuming a quick protein shake, even just with water, can immediately satisfy cravings for unhealthy snacks like ice cream or candy. This occurs because the body is searching for amino acids; once satisfied, the drive to eat other macronutrients diminishes. Bone broth protein, being high in protein and lacking sugar, is an excellent tool for this satiety mechanism.
Glycine Benefits and Deficiency
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(00:24:22)
  • Key Takeaway: Glycine is a conditionally essential amino acid that calms the brain (aiding sleep) and prevents immune cells from overreacting, thus mitigating excessive inflammation.
  • Summary: Glycine acts as a calming neurotransmitter, improving sleep quality, and is vital for preventing the overreaction of immune cells (macrophages) to injury or stimuli. The body is estimated to have an 8 to 10-gram daily deficiency, which contributes to rampant inflammation. Food sources include bone broth, gelatin, and collagen, which contain about 30% glycine.
Protein Powder Red Flags
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(00:34:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Protein powders are often notorious for heavy metal contamination, especially chocolate and plant-based varieties, and consumers must scrutinize processing methods like spray drying versus water-based agglomeration.
  • Summary: Heavy metal testing, such as that done by Consumer Labs, is crucial for protein powders, with plant-based options often showing higher levels. Consumers should avoid artificial sweeteners and be mindful of processing, preferring water-based methods over those using solvents that process hides or hooves into powder. Integrity and transparency, evidenced by third-party testing, are key when selecting supplements.
Top Nutrient-Dense Foods
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(00:39:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Research on nutrient deficiencies consistently ranks organ meats (liver, heart, kidney) at the top, far surpassing grains, as the most effective sources for essential nutrients like Vitamin A and B12.
  • Summary: Organ meats significantly outperform grains in providing key nutrients like Vitamin A, calcium, B12, and folate. Beef, eggs, goat, and dark leafy greens follow closely, alongside wild fish like sardines and mackerel. Eating blueberries and sardines weekly is suggested as a strong anti-inflammatory foundation.
Paleovalley Product Longevity
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(00:47:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Dr. Smith has consumed Paleovalley products for 12 years to meet essential nutrient needs.
  • Summary: The speaker has relied on Paleovalley products, including superfood bars, bone broth, and meat sticks, for over a decade. The company continues to develop new whole-food products, such as fish roe. These products are designed to deliver nutrients that the speaker’s body desperately required.
Founding Wild Pastures
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(00:47:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Wild Pastures was established to support regenerative agriculture and combat soil depletion, which some predict could severely limit food production within 60 years.
  • Summary: The motivation for creating Wild Pastures stemmed from realizing the current state of American agriculture and the rapid depletion of topsoil. Concerns exist that soil quality could degrade to the point where growing food becomes difficult for future generations, possibly within 60 years. The company connects regenerative farmers and ranchers, who understand the methods but lack market access, with consumers.
Wild Pastures Sourcing and Products
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(00:48:21)
  • Key Takeaway: Wild Pastures exclusively sources American-raised, regeneratively raised meats, with breakfast sausage and steaks being highly recommended.
  • Summary: All meats offered through Wild Pastures are raised in America using regenerative agricultural practices. Specific product recommendations include the breakfast sausage and steaks, which are enhanced by simple seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. The company also offers a ‘primal blend’ which includes organ meats.
Giveaway and Discount Information
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(00:48:45)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners can enter a giveaway by following Paleovalley on Instagram and commenting on Lauryn Bosstick’s latest post, while discounts are available for both Paleovalley and Wild Pastures.
  • Summary: A giveaway featuring favorite products from both the speaker and Dr. Smith is being organized. To enter, participants must follow @Paleovalley on Instagram and share their favorite part of the episode on Lauryn Bosstick’s most recent post. Discounts for first-time purchasers are available at paleovalley.com/skinny and wildpastures.com/skinny.