Food, Genes, and the Rhythm of Sleep: Unlocking the Secrets of Health - EP 16 w/ Dr. Erica Jansen

Dr. Erica Jansen is an Assistant Professor in Nutritional Sciences and a Research Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Michigan. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 2016, followed by postdoctoral training, including a fellowship in the Division of Sleep Medicine at Michigan Medicine. Dr. Jansen's research focuses on the interplay between diet, sleep, and cardiometabolic health across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on adolescence. Her work examines how early nutritional environments affect childhood obesity and puberty timing, the bidirectional associations between sleep and diet, and the role of epigenetic markers in mediating these relationships.

In this episode, Ryan sits down with Dr. Jansen to explore the powerful connections between sleep and diet. They discuss how inconsistent sleep and eating patterns can impact health, the relationship between sleep duration and weight, and the broader effects of circadian misalignment. Dr. Jansen also offers practical advice for teens on improving both their sleep and diet to build a strong foundation for overall health.