Jessie Inchauspé: 90% of Pregnant People Are Missing THIS Nutrient (Follow THIS Simple Diet To Reduce Glucose Spikes & Protect Your Baby’s Brain & Metabolism) - On Purpose with Jay Shetty Recap

Podcast: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

Published: 2026-02-23

Duration: 1 hr 12 min

Summary

In this episode, Jessie Inchauspé emphasizes the critical nutrients that pregnant individuals often lack and how these deficiencies can impact their child's long-term health. She argues that a well-informed diet during pregnancy can significantly shape a child's metabolic and cognitive development.

What Happened

Jay Shetty welcomes back Jessie Inchauspé, a biochemist and bestselling author known for her work on glucose and nutrition. Jessie highlights that an alarming ninety percent of mothers are not consuming the right nutrients necessary for their baby's growth and development during pregnancy. She challenges common myths, such as the idea that pregnant women can eat whatever they want because they are 'eating for two.' Instead, she asserts that what mothers eat actively calibrates their child's health, affecting everything from their metabolism to their vulnerability to diseases.

Jessie explains that the diet during pregnancy is not just a matter of calories but of quality nutrients. She identifies four critical nutrients—glucose, choline, protein, and omega-3s—that have profound effects on a baby's long-term health. For instance, too much glucose can predispose a child to type 2 diabetes, while inadequate choline can lead to fewer brain cells being formed. She notes that many mothers are missing out on these nutrients due to the prevalence of processed foods and misleading marketing from the food industry, thus highlighting the gap between scientific knowledge and what parents are actually informed about.

The conversation shifts to Jessie's new book, 'Nine Months That Count Forever,' which aims to educate expecting parents on the importance of their diet during pregnancy. She emphasizes that, contrary to the idea of being a passive 'oven,' pregnant individuals are more like 'soil' that nurtures and shapes the developing baby. This metaphor underscores the responsibility parents have in providing the right environment for their child's growth, making informed dietary choices more crucial than ever.

Key Insights