Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy
Meera & Ashok Vasudevan bring 50+ years of experience as leaders in the Plant-based & Natural Food industry. Their entrepreneurial journey continues with the recent acquisition of 2 heritage brands- Annapurna & Captain Cook
In this timely podcast series titled "Pay the farmer, Not the Pharmacy" they show you how to unleash the magic in your kitchen with evidence-based tips & tricks that improve digestion, enhance gut health, build immunity and provide simple solutions to affordable wellness. Pay the Farmer, Not the pharmacy. Brought to you by CSAW, the Centre for the Spread of Affordable Wellness.
Also, included are other talks, interviews and discussions of Ashok Vasudevan on a range of issues, not only related to food to wellness
Episodes
55 episodes
Break the Inflammation Cycle, Part 2: The Fallout — How Stress Wrecks Your Sleep (And What to Eat About It)
You survived the stressful day. You ate okay. But now it's 2 AM and you're staring at the ceiling, brain running laps. In Part 2 of "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera explore the stress-sleep connection—and why a bad night sets you...
•
5:52
Break the Inflammation Cycle, Part 1: The Trigger — Why Stress Hijacks Your Cravings
Ever wonder why a stressful day ends with you elbow-deep in a bag of chips? It's not weakness—it's biology. In this first episode of our 4-part series "Break the Inflammation Cycle," Ashok and Meera break down the cortisol-craving connection an...
•
5:32
The Sunshine Deficiency: Why Gen Z Is Ditching Pills for Real Food
In this episode of "Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy," hosts Meera and Ashok dive into a surprising health crisis affecting Gen Z: a massive vitamin D deficiency that's leaving 78% of young adults drained, foggy, and fighting weaker immune syst...
•
4:11
Seasonal Healing Rhythms. Autumn Foods
🍂 Episode 3 of Seasonal Healing Rhythms is here!Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they explore "Autumn Foods: Nature's Immunity Arsenal" - how fall's harvest provides exactly what you need to prepare for winter and strengthen your ...
•
7:45
Seasonal Healing Rhythms. Summer Foods: Nature's Air Conditioning System
🌞 Episode 2 of Seasonal Healing Rhythms is here!Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they explore "Summer Foods: Nature's Air Conditioning System" - how Asian and tropical cultures mastered internal cooling through food science, long ...
•
7:24
Seasonal Healing Rhythms. Spring Awakening
Welcome to our new series: Seasonal Healing Rhythms!Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they explore how eating with nature's calendar provides exactly what your body needs, when it needs it. First up: "Spring Awakening: Nature's Gre...
•
7:24
Kitchen Balance: Cracking the Omega Code
🧩 The great fat puzzle solved! Why inflammation runs wild in modern bodies.Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they crack "The Omega Mystery" - how the delicate balance of essential fats in our diet got completely flipped over...
•
6:13
The Fiber Vanishing Act: Where Did All the Fiber Go?
🌾 The great fiber mystery solved! Where did all the digestive magic go?Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they uncover "The Fiber Vanishing Act" - how our great-grandmothers effortlessly got 35-50 grams of fiber daily while we strug...
•
6:39
The Vitamin Vanishing Act: What Happened to Our Food's Nutrition?
🌱 Your food isn't what your grandmother ate - and now we know why!Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they uncover "The Vitamin Vanishing Act" - how modern agriculture traded nutrition for productivity, and what you can do about it i...
•
7:25
Food Forensics - "The Liquid Gold Heist"
🕵️♀️🕵️♂️Join detective duo Meera and Ashok Vasudevan as they investigate "The Liquid Gold Heist" - how the world's most precious traditional oils were systematically stolen from our kitchens and replaced with industrial counterfeits!
•
7:24
The Micronutrient Detective - "The Case of the Anxious Magnesium Thief"
Think your anxiety might actually be a mineral deficiency in disguise? In this first episode of our new "Micronutrient Detective" series, hosts Ashok Vasudevan and Meera crack the case of why so many people feel anxious, can't sleep, and get mu...
•
4:33
Food Forensics - "The Case of the Nutrient-Robbed Tomato"
🕵️♀️ Welcome to Food Forensics - In this eye-opening episode, hosts Ashok Vasudevan and Meera expose the nutritional heist that's been happening right under our noses. Did you know today's tomato has 62% less calcium and 30% less vitamin C tha...
•
6:02
Food Forensics: The Great Grain Robbery - A Global Investigation"
🕵️♂️🕵️♀️Join hosts Meera and Ashok Vasudevan in our biggest Food Forensics investigation yet - "The Great Grain Robbery." From Wonder Bread in Chicago to instant ramen in Singapore to maida rotis in Mumbai, the same nutritional heist has deva...
•
6:38
Sleep Better, Eat Smarter. How your diet powers your Zzzzs.
Discover how the foods you eat can dramatically improve your sleep! In this lively episode of “Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy,” Meera and Ashok Vasudevan reveal the surprising science behind nutrition and sleep—from melatonin-rich kiwis and c...
•
5:49
From Cane to Stevia: Decoding Sweet Choices
Dive into the science (and surprises) behind what sweetens your day! Hosts Meera and Ashok debunk common myths about sugar, jaggery, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, stevia, monk fruit—and even artificial sweeteners. With real research, playf...
•
6:38
YES- we can reverse Type 2 Diabetes.
Can you truly reverse Type 2 diabetes with smart food choices and regular exercise? On this episode of Pay The Farmer Not The Pharmacy, Meera and Ashok go beyond calorie counting to reveal what really works for diabetes control and eve...
•
5:31
Grains of Truth: The Real Story Behind Gluten
In this episode of Pay The Farmer Not The Pharmacy, Meera and Ashok dive deep into the gluten craze sweeping kitchens and conversations everywhere. Is gluten truly the villain many claim it to be, or just misunderstood? Together, they:...
•
4:36
Glycemic Index vs. Glycemic Load: The Speedometer and Odometer of Your Blood Sugar
Confused about Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL)? You’re not alone! In this zippy, science-backed episode, Meera and Ashok break down the difference between GI and GL using a fun car analogy—think of GI as your blood sugar’s speedomete...
•
5:16
Marrakesh Magic: Spices, Tea, and Timeless Health
Join Ashok and Meera as they explore the vibrant markets and timeless kitchens of Marrakesh, Morocco, uncovering the secrets behind the city’s radiant health and joyful living. Discover how Marrakesh’s people thrive on fresh, locally grown vege...
•
7:02
The Jab vs. The Plate: Can GLP-1 Drugs Like Ozempic Outdo Eating Well?
Are GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro really the miracle jabs for a longer, healthier life-or is there a smarter, tastier way to get the same benefits? Join Meera and Ashok as they break down the latest science from The Times UK, exploring ...
•
6:32
Zymology: The Fun Side of Fermentation
Unlock the tangy secrets of zymology-the science of fermentation! Join Meera and Ashok as they take you on a lively, science-packed journey from ancient food traditions to your modern kitchen. Discover how fermented favorites like sauerkraut, k...
•
4:15
From Buzzwords to Better Health: What Natural & Organic Really Mean
Are “natural” foods really as wholesome as they sound? What makes organic the gold standard for your health and the planet? Join Ashok and Meera, live from the stunning Batu Batu Island at the Unreasonable accelerator retreat, as they dish out ...
•
7:40
Butterfly Boss: Master Your Thyroid Naturally
Is your energy tank running low, or are you feeling way too wired? Your thyroid might be trying to tell you something! Join Meera & Ashok on this episode of “Pay the Farmer, Not the Pharmacy” as they serve up fast-paced, science-backed hack...
•
5:13