Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, journalist, author, and former wellness addict, Rina Raphael. After personally falling victim to commodified wellness, Rina has dedicated her career to unveiling the truth behind this "un-well" industry. On this episode, Danielle and Rina delve into the variables that have steered society into adopting "quick fixes" through fashionable wellness trends and why we shouldn’t feel bad about falling for them. Tune in for unique insight, perspective, and realness surrounding wellness that might have you thinking twice about your next self-care investment.  

Danielle and Rina discuss:   

• The dangerous lack of scientific evidence pertaining to commodified wellness  
• Marketing, well-funded messaging and its powerful nature  
• Why people lean towards alternative ways of healing and our flawed medical system  
• The importance of assurance when it comes to our health and how health "gurus" falsely sell assurance  
• How women, rather than men, are frequently targeted in the wellness space through scare tactics 
• Wellness mania and why it’s considered hyper-American  
• The ways in which we treat wellness as if it were fashion, and why this is so problematic 

Rina Raphael is a health, wellness, technology, and women’s issues journalist. She’s made a name for herself in the media world, having served as a wellness industry reporter for Fast Company magazine before contributing to publications such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Men's Health, among others. Her new book, The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self Care, provides an inside look at the boom of the wellness industry, its seductive marketing, and why we’re all falling victim to it. Her wellness industry newsletter Well To Do covers trends and news and offers market analysis.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Rina at @rrrins and find her new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self Care  

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Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert guest, world-renowned lipidologist, Dr. Thomas Dayspring, are back for part two of their masterclass in cholesterol and lipids. On today’s episode, Danielle and Thomas cover all the nitty-gritty details about the different FDA-approved cholesterol-lowering medications while also busting myths and misconceptions about statins. They also pay some attention to the forgotten step sister of lipidology—high triglycerides. If you are looking to support your cardiovascular health, this episode will leave you with an arsenal of tools to keep your cholesterol in check.  

Dr. Belardo and Dr. Dayspring discuss:   

• Why statins are first line therapy, how they lower LDL cholesterol and the powerful data we have for them   
• The differences between the various types of statins   
• How Zetia (ezetimibe) is used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood and when it is indicated for use   
• The different types of PCSK9 inhibitors, how they work, and how much they lower LDLC  
• Who has demonstrated mortality benefits from PCSK9 inhibitors and why they aren’t the first line of therapy instead of statins  
• ideal triglyceride ranges and medications available to lower them 

Dr. Thomas Dayspring is a world-renowned expert on atherothrombosis, lipoprotein, vascular biology, and advanced lipoprotein testing. With an extensive background of over 37 years in medicine as a clinical lipidologist, Dr. Dayspring has dedicated his career to cardiovascular health. In addition to 17 years of devoted consulting for patients with the most complex lipid disorders in the country, he has served as the Chief Scientific Officer at two of the largest cardiovascular labs for more than 7 years. He is also an official board member of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Clinical Lipidology. Dr. Dayspring has given over 4000 lectures in all 50 states and is considered one of the most requested speakers in the U.S. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Dr. Dayspring @Drlipid. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week for a special two-part episode with world renowned lipidologist, Dr. Thomas Dayspring, better known on his infamous twitter account as @Drlipid. On today’s episode, he dives headfirst into the world of lipidology, providing listeners with a detailed overview of all things cardiovascular health. Danielle and Thomas get right into the cardiovascular myths and misinformation out there, like the dangerous glamorization of certain diets and all natural supplements. So much necessary and educational ground to cover, so make sure to tune in for part 2 next week. 

Dr. Belardo and Dr. Dayspring discuss:  

• What is considered normal vs. abnormal lipoprotein levels  
• The main differences between primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease   
• The misinformation surrounding ApoB proteins and atherosclerosis  
• Why the keto diet is a threat to cardiovascular health   
• Benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy   
• Dr. Thomas’ concerns with plant-based supplements for cholesterol treatment  
• The powerful history of statins and why Dr. Belardo and Dr. Dayspring stand behind them as a treatment for cardiovascular disease 

Dr. Thomas Dayspring is a world-renowned expert on atherothrombosis, lipoprotein, vascular biology, and advanced lipoprotein testing. With an extensive background of over 37 years in medicine as a clinical lipidologist, Dr. Dayspring has dedicated his career to cardiovascular health. In addition to 17 years of devoted consulting for patients with the most complex lipid disorders in the country, he has served as the Chief Scientific Officer at two of the largest cardiovascular labs for more than 7 years. He is also an official board member of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Clinical Lipidology. Dr. Dayspring has given over 4000 lectures in all 50 states and is considered one of the most requested speakers in the U.S. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Dr. Dayspring @Drlipid. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, cardiologist and internal medicine physician Dr. Rohin Francis. Rohin is also a writer, comedian, and creator of the YouTube channel Medlife Crisis, where he tackles fascinating and offbeat science topics that don’t get covered elsewhere. On today’s episode, he covers the spectrum of all things exercise and cardiovascular disease related, with a sprinkle of humor (of course), and answers the burning question—is there such a thing as too much exercise? He may also help save you a few bucks as you eye up the latest flashy fitness tracker. 

Danielle and Rohin discuss:  

• How much exercise the average person needs weekly to accrue health benefits  
• The causes of atrial fibrillation (A-fib) in high-performance athletes  
• Target heart rate training and the importance of moderate exercise  
• The advantages and disadvantages of smart tracking health and fitness devices   
• The data surrounding heart rate variability and what we actually need to worry about   
• The fascinating results of the Apple Watch study   
• Harmful physical and emotional effects of medical over-screening 

Dr. Rohin Francis is a Consultant Cardiologist and a Doctoral Researcher at the University College London with a passion for science communication and education. Dr. Francis got his MBBS from St George's Hospital Medical School and trained as a physician at the Cambridge Deanery (Cambridge, UK) with a subspecialization in coronary intervention. Currently, Dr. Francis is undertaking a PhD on imaging techniques for acute myocardial infarction at University College London. Rohin has presented around the world and has been published extensively, including in The Guardian and numerous academic journals and websites. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Rohin @medcrisis. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, pediatric allergist and immunologist Dr. David Stukus, for a myth-busting episode about food allergies, intolerances, and "sensitivities." Danielle and David crack down on food "sensitivity" scams and unnecessary, unvalidated tests that people all over social media are falling victim to. Even allergies have a dark side, so tune in to learn what is fact and what is, simply, fiction. 

Danielle and David discuss:   

• The basic terminology and meaning of food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances  
• The difference between IgG and IgE and why IgG testing isn’t validated or accurate  
• Low histamine diets and the pseudoscience claims these diets make 
• How to use a trial, elimination, and reintroduction diet to discover food intolerances  
• Why an oral food challenge is the gold standard for allergy testing  
• Ways to find a provider to get an accurate allergy diagnosis   
• Red flags for spotting allergy misinformation on social media  

David Stukus, MD, is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy and Immunology. Prior to becoming the director of the Food Allergy Treatment Center, Dr. Stukus started the Complex Asthma Clinic at Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2011, which treats children with severe or difficult-to-treat asthma. He holds multiple leadership positions in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI) and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and is one of twelve allergists invited as a member of the Joint Task Force for Practice Parameters. He is the Social Media Medical Editor for the AAAAI, where he produces and hosts their podcast "Conversations From the World of Allergy." He has been named a Top Doctor in Pediatric Allergy every year since 2015. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Dr. Dave @allergykidsdoc.

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, the highly sought-after facial plastic surgeon to the stars, Dr. Kay Durairaj. On today’s episode, Dr. Belardo gets a full rundown of the pros and cons of Botox, fillers, rhinoplasty, and liposuction, and the two share their favorite non-surgical treatments. Dr. Kay empowers her patients (including Danielle) to call their own shots when it comes to beauty and provides them with the autonomy to make decisions about their aesthetics that stay true to who they are. The pursuit of beauty is on your terms. 

Danielle and Kay discuss:   

• The pretty vs. brainy dichotomy that is present in today’s society  
• The positive and negative effects of social media on beauty standards and self-image 
• The differences between non-surgical and surgical rhinoplasty and the costs associated with both interventions  
• What to look for on a specialist's resume to ensure you’re in good hands  
• What Kybella is, how it differs from liposuction, and its efficacy  

Dr. Kay Durairaj completed her surgical training at UCLA and is a member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. Her expertise is in Botox and neurotoxins, facial injectables and fillers, and she was voted one of the top 100 injectors in the country by her peers. She is Chairman of the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat Surgery at Huntington Memorial Hospital, and she serves as an advisor to multiple aesthetic industry organizations. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Dr. Kay @beautybydrkay. 

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Can fiber actually cause death? How about heart attacks? Panic attacks? On today’s episode, the fiber queen herself, Dr. Danielle Belardo, and her expert guest registered dietitian, Dr. Kevin Klatt, discuss the scientific evidence around dietary fiber. There is a lot of stir about fiber after the release of Wondery's top podcast, Fed Up, about the phenomenon diet F-Factor, founded by registered dietitian Tanya Zuckerbrot. Danielle and Kevin are on the mic to settle the fiber feud and advise listeners if they really should fear the fiber. Tune in to hear the fiber facts and whether these two doctors will be placing their F-Factor orders anytime soon.

Dr. Kevin C. Klatt, PhD, RD is a nutrition researcher and registered dietitian who provides individualized medical nutrition therapy and health coaching to patients/clients. Dr. Klatt completed his doctoral work in nutrition at Cornell University and his dietetic training at the National Institutes of Health. He is currently a researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Kevin @kcklatt 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, an internal and emergency medicine physician who has been dubbed the Latin Dr. Fauci, Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez-Arias. This week, Danielle and Mauricio dive into a topic that doesn’t get a lot of air time in the plant-based community but that is incredibly important—protein. It doesn't matter which area of the dietary spectrum you are in, this episode will be incredibly educational, informative, and helpful for you.  

Danielle and Mauricio discuss:   

• What is protein, and why is it so important to include it in your diet? 
• The meaning of RDA and how it affects protein intake   
• The daily protein recommendations for increasing muscle mass and losing weight, as well as ways to increase your intake 
• The physical and psychological benefits of resistance training and tips to include more in your workout routine even if you don’t like it  
• High-quality, vegetarian protein sources   
• Amino acid composition in animal vs. plant proteins and how much leucine to include each day 

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Dr. Mauricio González is a Mexican doctor who practices medicine in New York. He has a double major in internal medicine and emergency medicine from New York Medical College. Along with his wife, Mayte Moncada, he founded the Veggie Power Summit ® which is the largest congress in Latin America on plant-based nutrition. Various television networks have interviewed him to combat disinformation and he frequently collaborates with CNN en Español, Telemundo, Televisa, and Univision La Saga. He has also been interviewed by People Magazine, The Today Show, InStyle, and GQ Mexico and shared a forum panel with Dr. Tedros and Bill Clinton. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. All studies discussed can be found @wellnessfvfjournalclub. Follow Mauricio @dr.mauriciogonzalez and his wife Mayte @mayte_moncada_p. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist Dr. Garth Davis, for a myth-busting episode about weight loss surgery. Dr. Davis debunks the enormous amount of misinformation circling social media about the harm of these surgeries and provides an inside look into what you can expect before, during and after surgery. Danielle and Garth dive into the pros and cons of the most common weight loss surgeries and provide the facts so people can make an educated decision on whether bariatric surgery is right for them.   

Danielle and Garth discuss:  

• The anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract  
• The history of gastric bypass surgery and why it causes weight loss 
• Myths and misconceptions surrounding bariatric surgery 
• Criteria to qualify for bariatric surgery  
• The long term effects and success rate of surgery 
• How to find a great surgeon and what kinds of questions to ask 
• Risks and benefits associated with bariatric surgery 

Garth Davis, MD, FACS, FASMBS, is a board-certified bariatric surgeon and obesity medicine specialist physician in Houston, Texas. For more than 20 years, Dr. Davis has specialized in bariatric and general surgery and has performed thousands of weight loss surgeries. He is currently working at Houston Methodist West and Houston Methodist Downtown and serves as the Medical Director for the system’s Clinic For Chronic Metabolic Disease. He has started and led several of the largest multidisciplinary weight loss programs and is an invited keynote speaker on topics related to obesity and obesity surgery. Dr. Davis is a published author of two books: "Proteinaholic: How Our Obsession With Meat is Killing Us" and "The Expert’s Guide to Weight-Loss Surgery." He founded the two largest bariatric practices in Houston: the Houston Medical Clinic and the Davis Clinic. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Garth @drgarthdavis. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, obesity and nutritional epidemiologist Dr. Deirdre Tobias, for a masterclass on nutrition epidemiology and its impact on public health. Diedre opens up her nutrition epidemiology toolbox to explain the research and data supporting healthy dietary patterns and what nutrition tips you can implement in your own life. Danielle and Deirdre also bust the myth that whole grains and fruit are evil, so forget what you’ve read on social media! Whether or not you're in the medical field or just a hobbyist trying to learn to interpret science in a more robust way, this is the episode for you. 

Danielle and Deirdre discuss:  

• The basics of nutritional epidemiology and role of a nutritional epidemiologist 
• General healthy dietary patterns and the problems with a western diet  
• The reasons whole grains and fruits have been demonized 
• The table 1 method and how it can help you interpret scientific data 

Dr. Deirdre Tobias is an obesity and nutritional epidemiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. She received her doctorate and postdoctoral training at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Tobias was appointed as the Academic Editor for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2019. Her research focuses on the role of diet and lifestyle for obesity and its major chronic diseases, including gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association. She is assistant professor and co-Instructor for Nutritional Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

For more information on the research Deirdre does at Harvard, visit www.hsph.harvard.edu/deirdre-tobias 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Deirdre @deirdre_tobias. 

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Join Dr. Danielle Belardo for the highly anticipated episode on nutrition and lipids. In Part 3 of the cholesterol series, Danielle addresses the impact of diet on cardiovascular disease risk and LDL cholesterol by sharing the key findings from a variety of research papers and studies. The main takeaway is that your overall dietary pattern is what matters most and no one food in one dose will cause disease. So go ahead, be an omnivore, vegan, pescatarian, or whatever works for you, as long as you’re including the advice from today’s episode. 

This week Danielle addresses the following questions surrounding nutrition and lipids: 

• What is dietary cholesterol and how does it impact lipids?  
• How can you lower LDL cholesterol without raising triglycerides and reduce APOE? 
• Which interventions lower cardiovascular risk the most? 
• Which foods are high in saturated fats and what dietary recommendations lower the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL cholesterol?  
• Why does polyunsaturated fat lower LDL cholesterol?   
• Which oils are better for your lipid levels?  
• What is fiber, why is it important in your diet, and how does it lower cholesterol?  
• Which foods are packed with viscous fiber, and how much per day should you consume? 
• What is a portfolio diet and what kind of impact does it have on LDL cholesterol? 

Find all the papers and research studies discussed this week on Instagram @wellnessfvfjournalclub. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction 

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