We live in a world where it often feels like there is no time to think about what we eat, let alone how we eat it. We reach for quick fixes, fad diets, or the latest supplement promising to change everything overnight. But as Sammy from Nutrition with Sammy explains, the real problem is not always what is on the plate but how we approach food in the first place.
In this episode of Business Built Freedom, we sat down with Sammy Barnett to talk about the surprising truth: our bodies aren’t just reacting to food, but to the state we’re in when we consume it. From chewing to breathing to slowing down, Sammy explains why digestion starts long before food even hits your stomach.
Key Takeaways
- Copying someone else’s diet is a shortcut to failure – nutrition is as unique as your fingerprint.
- Stress is the hidden saboteur of digestion; fight-or-flight mode literally turns off your ability to absorb nutrients.
- Chewing is underrated. Slow down, chew properly, and let your body do its job.
- Business (and health) thrives when you reduce chaos and listen to feedback – whether from your clients or your body.
From Stress to Nutrition: Sammy Barnett’s Journey
For Sammy, nutrition isn’t just about calories or macros. It’s about behaviour, environment, and the way our modern lifestyle hijacks digestion. Too often we treat food like fuel for a machine—just shovel it in and keep moving—without realising that our bodies are sensitive to how we eat, not just what we eat.
One Size Does Not Fit All
One of Sammy’s biggest concerns is the way people try to copy what others are doing. Whether it is a new juicing regime or a strict vegan plan, too many of us follow someone else’s diet instead of listening to our own bodies.
When asked whether Australians have the right balance between meat and plant-based foods, Sammy stresses that it depends on heritage, body type, and digestion speed. Some people thrive on vegetarian diets; others become ill without animal products.
“It is like your fingerprint,” she says. “Everyone’s needs are different. What makes one person feel energised might leave someone else sluggish.”
She also highlights how environmental factors affect health. Clients often felt better on holidays despite eating “worse” foods, simply because they were relaxed and away from stress. It was not the diet that changed. It was the context.
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The Stress Connection: Eating in Fight or Flight
Even when we think we are doing the right thing by eating salads and fresh juices, our bodies may not be absorbing nutrients properly. Sammy points out that modern life keeps most of us in “fight or flight” mode. When stress hormones take over, digestion effectively shuts down.
“We are sitting there stressing while we eat,” she explains. “Our nervous system is ready to run away from a tiger, not digest food.”
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Forget Quick Fixes
Sammy also warns against the broader quick-fix mentality. From juicing cleanses to miracle pills, the wellness industry thrives on shortcuts that promise rapid change but rarely deliver lasting results. True health, Sammy explains, comes from slowing down, paying attention, and building strong foundations.
Instead of chasing quick fixes, Sammy encourages people to slow down and start observing how different foods affect them. A simple food diary that notes symptoms like fatigue or bloating can be more revealing than any trendy plan.
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What Digestion Really Needs
Sammy explains that digestion works like a Lego factory. Your role is to chew and prepare the blocks, while your digestive system’s job is to break them into the smallest possible pieces so your body can use them to build neurotransmitters, energy, and resilience.
“We are spending money on food and supplements, but if the digestive ‘factory’ is not switched on, we are just flushing it away,” Sammy explains.
When you rush, skip chewing, or eat in a stressed state, you’re jamming the conveyor belt and clogging the system. The result is brain fog, fatigue, and wasted nutrients that pass through your system without doing much good.
Want to know if your systems are running smoothly or if you’re flushing money away? We can audit your workflows and tech stack just like Sammy audits nutrition.
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Small Changes for More Energy and Focus
Efficiency isn’t just for business. It also applies to your body. Sammy recommends small practices that can change digestion dramatically.
- Take a deep breath before eating to signal safety to your nervous system.
- Chew properly, sometimes up to 32 times for meat, to give your digestive system a head start.
- And, pay attention to whether you’re truly hungry or just eating out of habit or boredom.
- Start the day with protein instead of just cereal or coffee. Combine protein and healthy fats, such as nuts and yoghurt, with berries, to stabilise blood sugar and avoid the energy rollercoaster.
“Most people know what they should do,” she admits. “The real question is why we keep making poor choices when we know better. That often comes back to stress and emotions.”
Instead of treating food as a daily reward, Sammy encourages finding other ways to feel good—whether it is walking the dog, having a laugh, or taking a moment to breathe.
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Build a Healthier Relationship with Food
Sammy’s mission is to reconnect people with their bodies in ways that go beyond food. Her workshops with adults and kids focus on awareness, presence, and reducing stress.
By teaching people to slow down and listen to their natural cues, she helps them achieve balance without rigid rules or extremes. Here’s what it teaches us about business:
- Copycats fail
- How to reduce chaos, whether in digestion or operations
- How to stay lean and efficient without cutting corners
- Aligning with your values
If you would like to hear more from Sammy or bring her expertise to your workplace or school, you can find her at Nutrition with Sammy and on Instagram.
