Welcome to Radical Vitality! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Vivian Chen, founder of Plateful Health and Lumebox, to talk about how environmental toxins are adversely affecting our health and practical tips for managing them without feeling overwhelmed. 

Conventional Western medicine trains doctors to manage disease states and symptoms but not necessarily to create health and vitality in the body by focusing on the root causes of disease. In Dr. Vivian’s experience, she encountered firsthand illnesses that couldn’t be resolved through her conventional medical training. She became fascinated by the often poorly understood root causes of disease and simple lifestyle shifts that can promote health and healing and pivoted to integrative medicine.

Detoxification is a natural human process happening 24/7, though we’ve been made to believe it's something to achieve only through pills or 10 days of juices or smoothie cleanses. The detox industry has tapped into our human nature of wanting a quick fix. Ensuring our bodies are detoxing correctly is the crux of Dr. Vivian’s work, but that has to do with what is going in and out of our bodies more than taking any miracle cleanse. 

We discuss the role environmental toxins play in our bodies. Dr. Vivian emphasizes that people shouldn’t feel scared about environmental toxins or that they need to 100% overhaul their lives. Instead, the more you know, the more you can take small steps that add up to meaningful change! She offers several actionable tips for improving your body’s natural detox systems that you won’t want to miss. 

Dr. Vivian is also the founder of  Lumebox, an innovative red light therapy tool that improves skin conditions and decreases inflammation and pain. It is truly a fabulous product, and I swear by it! Lastly, we discuss the role of alcohol in our detox systems. She explains that when the body receives alcohol, it tries to break it down immediately, putting other functions on the back burner. This can lead other detoxification processes to slow down and show up as another symptom, like PMS or breast tenderness. 

Episode Outline:

(03:42) On filling in learning gaps after medical school 

(09:46) Detox fads

(17:46) The liver is in overwhelm

(20:31) Do toxins really matter?

(25:45) Toxins in the endocrine system

(31:28) “Things going in” tips

(40:46) Minimize toxin exposure through cookware

(45:55) “Things going out” tips

(53:32) Red light therapy and detox

(1:00:02) Alcohol and health

(1:04:12) Dr. Vivian Chen’s daily non-negotiable habits

Resources Referenced:

Read Count Down by Shanna Swan

Learn about your home’s water on the Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database

Check out the Air Doctor Air Filter use code platefulhealth

Connect with Dr. Vivian Chen:

Instagram: @plateful.health

TikTok: @plateful.health

Learn more on Dr. Vivian Chen’s website: platefulhealth.com

Learn about Dr. Vivian Chen's Detox Right Course HERE 

Enjoy the benefits of red light therapy with my affiliate link Lumebox

Check out Dr. Vivian Chen’s free Cookware Guide

Connect with Kanchan: 

Instagram: @chiefspicemama 

Website: spicespicebaby.com  

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Welcome to Radical Vitality! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a gastroenterologist and New York Times best-selling author, to discuss the fascinating interconnectedness of gut health with every aspect of our well-being. 

Gut health is inextricably linked with our overall health, disease risk and longevity. The science is emerging at breakneck speed and it’s telling us that most if not all of our chronic disease burden has a relationship of some sort with the health and vitality of our gut. There is compelling, accumulating evidence that when people have high-fiber, plant-rich diets, they significantly lower their risks of these diseases, and this is precisely what Dr. B speaks with me about today.

The microbiome is like a command center for human health, which includes digestion as well as metabolism, the immune system, hormones, mood, and brain health. Dr. B emphasizes the importance of examining one’s bowel movement patterns to identify potential problems and understand the possible interconnectedness of other symptoms with one’s gut health.

We speak about the imperative of eating a wide variety of plants and fermented foods. For me, the best way to ensure consistent diversity across plants is to make them delicious! Dr. B then walks us through two companies he is associated with, firstly Zoe, which I can vouch is amazing, that offers microbiome testing and very personalized diet suggestions, as well as 38TERA, which manufactures a truly innovative microbiome and prebiotic fiber supplement. 

If you want to learn more about how gut health is connected to seemingly every pillar of our health, from inflammation, exercise, sleep, skin, and even conditions such as leaky gut and acid reflux, and simple yet powerful ways to optimize it, this episode is not to be missed! 

Episode Outline:

(03:12) The importance of prioritizing gut health

(09:23) Signs that your gut health is great, or not

(12:33) Bristol Stool Scale

(19:20) Gut microbiome tests and the Zoe diet

(28:45) The gut loves consistent variety!

(34:42) Coffee and acid reflux

(38:01) Everyday foods Dr. B recommends for gut health

(42:29) America doesn’t have a protein problem but a fiber problem

(50:59) Fiber supplements vs the real thing

(52:43) Exercise and the gut connection(55:32) Small fasts yield big impact

(1:00:09) Truth behind leaky gut

(1:05:13) Hormesis, or how different kinds of stress impact the microbiome

(1:10:20) The nuance of probiotics 

Resources Referenced:

Efficacy of Probiotics in Children and Adolescents With Atopic Dermatitis: research paper

Bristol stool scale: diagram

Going Head to Head with Heartburn course: enroll here

How to Become FIBER FUELLED and Revolutionize Your Health: Momlight! podcast episode

Can Spices Improve Your Health? with Kanchan Koya: ZOE podcast episode

Connect with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: 

Instagram: @theguthealthmd

Website: theplantfedgut.com

Learn more about Zoe: zoe.com

Learn more about Dr. B's new science-based prebiotic supplement: 38tera.com

Buy Fiber Fueled

Buy The Fiber Fueled Cookbook

Connect with Kanchan: 

Instagram

Website

Subscribe on YouTube

Welcome to Radical Vitality! In this episode, I speak with Dr. Sue Varma, a distinguished psychiatrist and cognitive behavioral therapist, to discuss her latest book, Practical Optimism, which holds the keys to establishing greater meaning, mastery, and acceptance in your life. 

Dr. Varma’s new book, Practical Optimism, is written as a solution to the mental health crisis our society continues to face. Practical optimism is about becoming a resourceful, realistic, and thoughtful problem solver. It’s a mindset to develop so that you can cope with any crisis and use it as fuel to flourish, supported by life skills. 

Optimists are predisposed to better mental health than non-optimists. Dr. Varma draws a distinct line between toxic optimists and practical optimists. Optimists are defined as taking positive action steps, investing in themselves, and having better habits than non-optimists. Ultimately, she stresses, practical optimism is a practice, like yoga or journaling.

Dr. Varma introduces the 8 pillars to becoming a practical optimist as detailed in her book. In several cases, she compares how a pessimist and an optimist might handle the same situation to illuminate the best form of behavior. She also offers quick-to-implement tips for when you’re up against negative emotions, such as the name it, claim it, frame it, tame it framework. 

Ultimately, there is no health without mental health. Good and bad feelings will come and go, and they are all part of the human experience. This conversation with Dr. Varma is honestly full of amazing wellness tips that you can integrate into your daily wellness practice today!

Episode Outline:

(03:09) Dr. Varma’s passion for psychiatry began at home 

(05:55) Current state of mental health

(09:02) Optimists tend to be the mental healthiest

(12:04) Research of resilience

(14:54) How to become a practical optimist

(18:58) What to do with negative feelings 

(26:05) Introduction to the eight pillars of practical optimism

(31:43) Physical health supports an optimistic mindset 

(38:02) Intentional social media habits

(42:51) Tips for engaging in a healthy hustle culture 

(48:09) Dr. Varma’s non-negotiable daily habit

Resources Referenced:

Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zin

Connect with Dr. Sue Varma:

Instagram

Website

Newsletter

Order Practical Optimism: The Art, Science & Practice Of Exceptional Wellbeing

Connect with Kanchan: 

Instagram 

Website

Newsletter
Subscribe on YouTube

If you are tired of the nutrition wars, mindless bickering among so called health experts and diet debates and are looking for REAL solutions for optimal brain and overall health, this conversation is for you.

Drs. Ayesha and Dean Sherzai are clinicians, researchers and educators on a mission to help us prevent Alzheimers disease, prevent cognitive decline and enjoy optimal brain (and overall) health through the power of science-based dietary and lifestyle measures.

Learn about the best diet for brain health based on the scientific evidence and other key lifestyle practices that can help you show up as the sharpest version of yourself so you can share your gifts with the world, be present for those you love and essentially live a life of radical vitality.

Pick up their new book THE 30 DAY ALZHEIMER'S SOLUTION here and follow them on Instagram @sherzaimd. 

About the Sherzais:

Dr. Dean Sherzai is a behavioral neurologist / neuroscientist whose entire life has been dedicated to behavioral change models at the community and population level. He has revolutionized the world of public health nationally and internationally. Dean finished his medical and neurology residencies at Georgetown University with a subsequent fellowship in neurodegenerative diseases at the National Institutes of Health, followed by a second fellowship in Dementia and Geriatrics at the University of California, San Diego. He also holds two master’s Degrees; in advanced sciences at UCSD and in lifestyle epidemiology from Loma Linda University. He has received a PhD in Healthcare leadership focused on community empowerment from Loma Linda/Andrews University. Finally, he completed the executive leadership program at Harvard Business School. His vision has always been to revolutionize healthcare by empowering communities to take control of their own health.

Dr. Ayesha Sherzai finished two residencies at Loma Linda University; preventive medicine and neurology. She also holds a master’s in advanced sciences from UCSD. Subsequent to completing her residency Dr. Sherzai completed a fellowship in vascular neurology from Columbia University, and is currently enrolled to finish a PhD in women’s leadership. Knowing the importance of empowering her patients, and their communities Ayesha completed an extensive culinary training program and now teaches large populations how to make tasty, easy, and healthy food for their brain health.

If you are ready to go from feeling effing tired to effing fantastic, this episode with the wise and inspiring Dr. Amy Shah is a must listen.

Dr. Amy Shah is a Cornell, Harvard and Columbia trained double board certified physician who realised she herself was on the brink of burnout. When a dark moment in a car crash served as a wake up call, she decided that this sense of constant fatigue wasn't ok or normal and there had to be another way.

Combining the science around circadian rhythms, time restricted eating, fasting, microbiome and emotional health, Dr. Shah's blueprint is a game changing, revolutionary, science backed approach to reclaiming your energy and your life so you can enjoy Radical Vitality in this lifetime.

You can buy Dr Shah's brand new critically acclaimed book I'm So Effing Tired here and follow her on instagam @fastingmd. 

Dr. Ana-Maria Temple has been practicing medicine since 1995 and has treated over 36,000 patients. In her revolutionary new book The Rule of 5, Dr Temple shares her blueprint to transform our kids' (and families') health so we can live long, vibrant, disease-free lives.

Dr Temple's approach focuses on less not more medications, recognising that food and lifestyle can be our most potent solutions.Dr Temple also knows that in our modern world, this isn't always easy. Her own experience with her kids and their health struggles have led her to develop a very practical, step up step, compassionate and actionable road map where wellness is a family affair and every baby step adds up to more vitality for your kids and yourselves.

In this episode, Dr Ana-Maria educates, inspires and empowers us to raise healthy, strong, resilient kids by focusing on progress not perfection. She has inspired me to take the baby steps towards better family health and I know she will do the same for you.

Pick up Dr. Ana-Maria's book The Rule of 5 or learn more about working with her here. You can also follow her on instagram where she is always sharing valuable uplifting content to inspire radical vitality for our families and ourselves.

Anna Yusim went to the best colleges in America, got her medical degree from Yale University and did a Psychiatry residency at NYU. On paper, everything looked perfect, but somehow, despite all the external accomplishments, Dr. Yusim felt unfulfilled. In her journey to find personal fulfilment and happiness beyond that which is promised by the material world, she discovered the science of spirituality and began to integrate her discoveries into her own life and the lives of her patients, affecting their mental and overall health in profound ways.

In this heartfelt conversation, Dr Yusim shares the thesis of her incredible book FULFILLED: HOW THE SCIENCE OF SPIRITUALITY CAN HELP YOU LIVE A HAPPIER MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE. Her tips are practical, powerful and will result in a profound deepening of your wellbeing as it has done for so many of her patients. To learn more about Dr. Anna Yusim and her important work, visit https://www.annayusim.com/ and grab a copy her game changing book FULFILLED here.

Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN is a social media sensation with her Instagram account kids.eat.in.color now at over a million followers and her pragmatic, inclusive, empathetic and knowledgable advice on how to feed kids with minimal stress often going viral (for good reason)!

I had the good fortune of being able to sit down with Jennifer to chat about the inspiration for her platform, her powerful and down-to-earth approach to nourish our kids (and ourselves as moms!), her own health struggles and how she overcame them, and all her incredible programs, offerings and free resources to help more parents raise adventurous eaters without the stress and anxiety that is all too common these days. 

This chat was honest, refreshing and packed with insight. You can follow Jennifer on instagram @kids.eat.in.color or visit her website at www.kidseatincolor.com

This episode is sponsored by MegaFood but all opinions and discussion points are my own.

When it comes to recommendations on nutrition and health, the unique needs of women are often overlooked. In this episode, packed with information and insight, Dr. Erin Stokes, the Medical Director at MegaFood guides us through specific micronutrients and other aspects of health that women need to pay attention to for optimal vitality. If you are a woman looking to access your deepest health and radiance of body AND mind, this is a conversation you do not want to miss.

More about Dr. Erin Stokes

Erin received her Naturopathic Doctor degree from Bastyr University in 2001. Shortly afterwards she pursued her passion for education by becoming an instructor at Southwest Acupuncture College.

Erin combines her experience in private practice as a Naturopathic Doctor with an extensive background in the natural products industry. In her role as Medical Director at MegaFood, she has the opportunity to educate on health and wellness topics via webinars, podcasts, and radio shows. She is a registered Naturopathic Doctor in the state of Colorado, and lives with her family in Boulder, Colorado.

More about MegaFood

MegaFood is a leader in the natural supplements industry and the first company to have harnessed the nutritional power of farm fresh foods to make vitamins and supplements from scratch. They are a certified B corp, joining together with some of the world’s best brands to not just be the best in the world, but to be the best for the world by being committed to meeting rigorous standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. You can learn more about MegaFood and their top quality supplements and products here.

What we eat doesn't just impact our physical health but also has powerful implications for our mental health. In fact, the body and the mind are intimately connected and to help us understand how we can optimize our brain health with food, I sat down with Dr. Uma Naidoo, a rare kind of medical doctor who is not just a Harvard trained psychiatrist but also a nutrition expert AND a chef!!!! Dr. Naidoo recently released the bestseller, THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON FOOD and shares potent tips to help us improve our brain health with delicious food starting right now. You can learn more about Dr Uma Naidoo here and follow her on Instagram @drumanaidoo

More about Dr. Uma Naidoo

Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food and medicine space: a Harvard trained psychiatrist, Professional Chef graduating with her culinary schools’ most coveted award, and a trained Nutrition Specialist. Her nexus of interests have found their niche in Nutritional Psychiatry.

Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based Nutritional Psychiatry Service in the United States. She is the Director of Nutritional and Lifestyle Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) & Director of Nutritional Psychiatry at MGH Academy while serving on the faculty at Harvard Medical School.

She was considered Harvard’s Mood-Food expert, has been featured in the Wall Street Journal.