Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring – Details, episodes & analysis

Can the food you eat be as powerful as cancer-fighting drugs? In this episode, Dr. William Li reveals to Dr. Melinda Ring which everyday foods can boost your health, energy, and even fight diseases such as cancer. He is a world-renowned physician-scientist, speaker, author and leader of the Angiogenesis Foundation. Dr. Li shares his groundbreaking research on how food can be a powerful tool for healing, energizing, and thriving. He discusses his grocery and supplement list for better health, the science behind food as medicine, and the critical role of gut health and inflammation in our overall health and well-being.

https://youtu.be/sGWd8wCtRzY

00:00 – Introduction to Dr. William Li

• Dr. Li's background as a physician and scientist.
  
  

• Overview of his books Eat to Beat Disease and Eat to Beat Your Diet.
  
  

• The importance of food as medicine.
  
  

02:15 – Dr. Li's Go-To Grocery List

• Recommended foods for better health.
  
  

• How food impacts energy, gut health, and metabolism.
  
  

07:16 – The Power of Dietary Fiber and Polyphenols

• Foods rich in dietary fiber in the produce aisle such as avocado, mushrooms and raspberries.
  
  

• The role of fiber in gut health and inflammation reduction.
  
  

08:36 – Overcoming Food Addiction

• How processed foods can create addiction.
  
  

• Tips for incorporating healthy foods into your diet without feeling deprived.
  
  

09:03 – The Negative Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods

• How ultra-processed foods increase inflammation and damage gut bacteria.
  
  

• The long-term health risks associated with processed food consumption.
  
  

13:44 – Discovering New Foods and Sharing Recipes

• Dr. Li's personal journey of discovering new foods.
  
  

• Example of fiddleheads, forged and sold at a farmers' market and found to be rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This highlights the importance of curiosity in food exploration.
  
  

17:25 – How Food Rewires Our Biology

• The science behind how food activates the body's defense systems.
  
  

• How these systems protect us from diseases like cancer.
  
  

22:37 – The Role of Supplements: Resveratrol, EGCG, and Probiotics

• When and why certain supplements may be beneficial and which ones Dr. Li takes.
  
  

• Dr. Li's advice on balancing food and supplements for optimal health.
  
  

25:51 – Probiotics: Lactobacillus and Akkermansia

• The health benefits of specific gut bacteria.
  
  

• How Akkermansia affects immune response and cancer treatment.
  
  

30:23 – Surprising Food Combos for Maximum Health Benefits

• How to enhance the health benefits of coffee by skipping dairy in coffee.
  
  

• The power of tomatoes and how to absorb more lycopene by cooking them in olive oil.
  
  

38:15 – The Importance of Sourcing Quality Food

• Organic vs. conventional food choices.
  
  

• How to choose the best quality food within your budget.

44:01 – Practical Tips for Healthy Eating at Home

• Cleaning produce properly.
  
  

• Choosing healthier oils and cooking methods.
  
  

• Dr. Li's advice on making better food choices in daily life.
  
  

49:16 – The Holy Trinity of Healthy Beverages

• Water, tea, and coffee are essential health-promoting drinks – the holy tinity.
  
  

• How to maximize the benefits of each and avoid common pitfalls.

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What if healthcare focused less on disease and more on creating health? In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. David Rakel, a trailblazer in integrative medicine and professor and chair of the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community, to explore Salutogenesis — a transformative approach that shifts the focus from illness to well-being.

Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/XN1jPxzWCoE

[00:00:00] – Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

• Dr. Melinda Ring introduces Dr. David Rakel, a pioneer in integrative medicine.
  
  

• Overview of today's discussion on Salutogenesis and its impact on healthcare.
  
  

[00:02:06] – Dr. Rakel's Journey to Integrative Medicine

• Dr. Rakel shares his path from rural Idaho to becoming a leader in integrative health.
  
  

• Key moments that sparked his interest in shifting the focus from disease to health.
  
  

[00:06:00] – The Need for a More Holistic Healthcare Approach

• Discussion about the frustration with the current healthcare system's focus on specialists.
  
  

• Dr. Rakel advocates for a more comprehensive, generalist approach to healthcare.
  
  

[00:09:09] – What is Salutogenesis?

• Dr. Rakel defines Salutogenesis, the science of health creation.
  
  

• The story behind the term and how it applies to healthcare today.
  
  

[00:13:19] – The Shift from Disease Care to Health Creation

• Dr. Rakel highlights the need for a new healthcare model that focuses on health and wellbeing.
  
  

• The importance of looking at what's right with a person instead of focusing on disease.
  
  

[00:17:18] – The Value-Based Care Model vs. Traditional Healthcare

• Dr. Rakel explains the value-based care model, focusing on patient outcomes, cost-efficiency, and improved experiences.
  
  

• How the traditional RVU model leads to unnecessary tests and treatments.
  
  

[00:20:10] – The Challenge of Reducing Polypharmacy

• Dr. Rakel discusses the dangers of polypharmacy, where patients are prescribed multiple drugs.
  
  

• How a Salutogenic approach can reduce the need for excessive medications.
  
  

[00:23:06] – Integrative Medicine and Functional Medicine: A Double-Edged Sword?

• Dr. Rakel and Dr. Ring discuss the use of functional medicine tests and supplements, comparing them to traditional medical practices.
  
  

• The importance of using a Salutogenic approach without falling back into old patterns.
  
  

[00:27:00] – The Role of Primary Care in Health

• Dr. Rakel emphasizes the value of primary care and how increasing investment can improve overall healthcare outcomes.
  
  

• How primary care can reduce emergency visits and improve health equity.
  
  

[00:29:47] – Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Primary Care Challenges

• Dr. Rakel discusses how the current healthcare system creates disparities, especially when access to primary care is limited.
  
  

• The need to make primary care more equitable to improve patient outcomes.
  
  

[00:32:55] – The Need for a Comprehensive, Team-Based Approach

• Dr. Rakel advocates for interprofessional teams that include mental health professionals, physical therapists, and health coaches in primary care.
  
  

[00:34:34] – Final Thoughts on Taking Your Health to the Next Level

• Dr. Rakel shares a personal message about the power of perception and how it affects our health.
  
  

• The importance of seeing things through a positive lens and fostering compassion for better health outcomes.
  
  

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In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Jeffrey Bland, who is known as the founder of the Functional Medicine movement and who is recognized for bringing personal lifestyle medicine into mainstream medical practice. Dr. Bland discusses his career path that led him to create functional medicine and explores its intersection with integrative medicine, the origins and philosophy of Functional Medicine and how everyone can take an active role in their health, practicing good habits, and understanding their unique body functions to achieve long-term wellness. 

[00:01:43] The Shift from Chemistry and Environmental Science to Healthcare: Bland's career path to developing functional medicine as a field was not linear. He started his journey as a professor of chemistry and environmental science, and his passion for understanding the root causes of chronic disease led him to found the Institute for Functional Medicine and pursue functional medicine​. He discusses the influence of Linus Pauling, the catalytic sabbatical at the Linus Pauling Institute, and his decision to start training doctors in medical nutrition.

[00:07:23] Defining Functional Medicine: He explains that the core of functional medicine focuses on identifying root causes of chronic diseases and looking at the body as an interconnected system rather than isolated organs. He also discusses the importance of personalizing care based on systems biology​.

[00:17:20] Seven Core Physiological Processes – Bland discusses the seven fundamental physiological processes that functional medicine focuses on, including gut health, metabolic detoxification, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and immune system function. These processes aim to improve health resilience and prevent chronic diseases​.

[00:35:29] Owning Your Health: Bland shares his personal wisdom about health ownership, encouraging listeners to actively engage in their health journey through understanding their body's functions and making proactive lifestyle choices. He emphasizes health as a practice​​

Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺

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In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Andrew Weil, who is known as the "Father of Integrative Medicine."  They discuss the evolution of the field, the benefits of botanical remedies and the importance of holistic approaches to health. They also dive into the potential of cannabis and psychedelics in therapy, the need for better nutrition education in medical schools, and the benefits of a more holistic approach to health.

[00:02:10] Dr. Weil talks about his early love for plants and medicinal botany: Dr. Weil shares the story of how his interest in plants, inherited from his mother and grandmother, led him to pursue a career in botany and integrative medicine. He credits his Harvard mentor, Richard Evans Schultes, for sparking his passion for medicinal plants and their superior qualities over isolated chemical compounds.

[00:05:48] Integrative medicine recognizes the complexity of the human body: Weil talks about the reductionist approaches of conventional medicine. Weil says whole-person approaches, including botanical remedies, often produce better, safer outcomes compared to pharmaceutical interventions.

[00:10:00]  Importance of Diet, the anti-inflammatory pyramid, and avoiding processed foods: Drs Ring and Weil dive into the topic of nutrition, with Dr. Weil describing the origins of his anti-inflammatory diet. He advises avoiding refined, processed, and manufactured foods, as they contribute to inflammation and chronic disease. The importance of returning to whole, natural foods is highlighted as a foundation of health.

[00:24:35] Healthy aging, cannabis, psychedelics, and the future of integrative medicine: Dr. Weil discusses his work on healthy aging and his forward-thinking research on cannabis and psychedelics. He believes these substances hold great therapeutic potential, not only for psychiatric conditions but also for treating chronic diseases. Dr. Weil sees a bright future for integrative medicine as more research and public interest develop.

Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺

Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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Welcome to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring, a new podcast that brings together leaders in integrative medicine, functional medicine, and lifestyle medicine to talk about holistic approaches to health that blend modern science with time-tested wisdom.

Dr. Ring is the director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health and the Tina Trott Professor of Integrative Health at Northwestern University. For more than 20 years Dr. Ring has partnered with patients to incorporate holistic health practices into their daily routines and help them find actionable ways to optimize their health.

Please leave a comment on our YouTube channel or in a review on Apple Podcasts, and follow Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring, to become a part of a community dedicated to living healthier and happier lives. 

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Whether you're navigating menopause or simply striving for more vitality, this episode of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring offers valuable insights that could help you live a more vibrant and balanced life. Dr. Deanna Minich, a renowned nutrition scientist and author of The Rainbow Diet, joins Dr. Ring to discuss how phytonutrients from colorful plants can support everything from hormone balance to brain health and beyond. 

[00:02:00] Dr. Minich explains the role of colorful foods in fertility, perimenopause and menopause and  how different colors in food correspond to specific body functions, such as inflammation and hormone balance. She highlights the benefits of orange foods, like tangerines and mangoes, which help support ovarian health and reduce decline during perimenopause.

[00:05:53] She says there are protective effects in carotenoids, found in colorful foods, on fat tissues, particularly for skin health, especially during menopause. She also emphasizes the role of purple foods like blueberries and purple sweet potatoes in protecting against oxidative stress.

[00:10:27] Aging men should focus on red and green foods that support prostate and heart health, Minich says. She highlights the role of lycopene and green leafy vegetables in preventing inflammation and promoting cardiovascular health.

[00:13:21 Dr. Ring asks the importance of detoxification, particularly during weight loss or with medications like GLP-1. Minic advocates for incorporating omega-3s into the diet to support detoxification and cellular health.

[00:28:25] Melatonin is a favorite topic of Minich and she says it is not just important for sleep, but for immune health, brain function, and detoxification. She explains how melatonin helps with circadian rhythm synchronization and the removal of brain toxins, especially during sleep.

[00:36:35] Through her research, Minich has found that eating colorful foods nourishes the body and soul. She encourages listeners to make meals enjoyable and artistic, emphasizing the importance of colorful plant-based foods in daily life.

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This episode dives into a topic that could redefine healthcare as we know it. How can we shift from a disease-centered system to one that truly supports whole person well-being? Host Dr. Melinda Ring is joined by Dr. Tracy Gaudet, known for her pioneering work with the Veterans Health Administration, where she led the development of the Whole Health model, to discuss the need to shift from a disease-centered system to one that prioritizes the whole person. Dr. Gaudet highlights the importance of community-based healthcare, emphasizing that wellness begins outside the clinic and shares her vision for training future healthcare leaders through the Doctor of Whole Health Leadership Program at Southern California University Health Sciences.

[00:00:17] - Dr. Gaudet shares her path in medicine from becoming an OBGYN to being named the founding Executive Director of the University of Arizona's Program in Integrative Medicine to becoming a leader in the Whole Health movement, highlighting her experience at the Veterans Health Administration.

[00:02:25] - She explains the Whole Health Model, which emphasizes a shift from disease-centered care to a patient-centered approach that begins with exploring what truly matters to individuals—health, purpose, and life satisfaction.

[00:12:02] -  Dr. Gaudet discusses the urgent need for a transformation in American healthcare, emphasizing the breakdown of the current system and how the Whole Health model could provide the solution.

[00:21:03] -  The conversation turns to the importance of leadership in healthcare reform, with Dr. Gaudet introduced the first-of-its-kind Doctor of Whole Health Leadership Program at Southern California University Health Sciences. She has designed the program to train the next generation of leaders who will drive systemic change.

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In this episode of Next Level Health, Dr. Melinda Ring  and Dr. Robert Rountree dive into science-backed strategies to help you optimize your health and well-being. They discuss the role of inflammation in chronic diseases, how to repair and maintain gut health the critical role of mitochondria  and how artificial intelligence may lead to true personalized medicine.

https://youtu.be/8cR909NXa6M

Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺

Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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In this episode of Next Level Health, Dr. Melinda Ring sits down with Dr. Michael Roizen, a trailblazer in lifestyle medicine, bestselling author, and the first-ever Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic. They talk about how lifestyle choices impact your "real age," six key health markers that determine your longevity and disease risk and how walking 10,000 steps per day, strength training, and jumping are essential to a healthy lifespan. They also discuss how Cleveland Clinic's employee wellness program has saved the organization tens of millions of dollars over the years and how it could be implemented at the national level. 

https://youtu.be/LS2eCOklYXY

• [00:02:26] Understanding Real Age vs. Chronological Age
  Dr. Roizen recently celebrated his 79th birthday, but his real age is closer to age 57. He explains the concept of real age, which reflects the biological age of somebody based on their health choices, such as consistently choosing to eat salmon versus red meat. He shares how lifestyle factors impact longevity at an epigenetic level.

• [00:06:34] Revolutionizing Workplace Wellness at Cleveland Clinic
  As the first Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Roizen implemented the groundbreaking Healthy Choice Program, a voluntary initiative to improve employee health. The program reduced healthcare costs by millions of dollars annually for the institution and employees were incentivized to take part through payments made directly to them for meeting the goals of the program.

• [00:15:23] The Six Normals for Optimal Health
  A cornerstone of the Healthy Choices Program is for each participant to reach "six normals." These are key health metrics that predict long-term wellness, including optimal blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, blood sugar and no nicotine. He discusses how medications and lifestyle changes can be used to reach these targets.

• [00:23:07] Exercise & Movement: What Science Supports
  The discussion dives into the importance of taking 10,000 steps per day, participating in resistance training, and jumping for maintaining bone density and overall health. Dr. Roizen also touches on myths around Zone 2 training and why strength training is critical for aging well.

• [00:35:52] The Most Overlooked Risk: Preventing Falls
  Finally, he shares a key insight about falls being a leading cause of death in older adults. He emphasizes balance training, practicing standing on one leg, and learning how to fall safely to prevent life-threatening injuries.

Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺

Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. David Katz, a leader in lifestyle medicine and preventive medicine specialist about actionable steps people can take to combat chronic diseases and optimize their health and well-being, so they can add more time and energy to life and enjoy doing the things they love, longer. They discuss the rise in obesity and chronic diseases and the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods as well as the role of policy and education in improving public health. Discover practical tips for a healthier lifestyle such as "Tastebud Rehab" and insights on how to align your lifestyle with joy and vitality.

• [00:00:00] Katz emphasizes that maintaining good health is not a moral obligation but rather as an opportunity and a source of joy. He states that "healthy people have more fun" because good health allows individuals to spend more time and energy doing the things they love.

• [00:02:29] Katz shares a career-defining moment inspired by a pivotal 1993 JAMA article called "Actual Causes of Death in the United States" and how the knowledge of modifiable root causes of chronic diseases reshaped his research focus toward translation and application rather than discovery.

• [00:06:15] Despite the efforts of those in lifestyle medicine, Katz recognizes that he and his colleagues are "failing" at helping Americans improve their health and lifestyles because chronic diseases and obesity rates continue to rise.

• [00:10:02] He says there are many reasons for this rise of poor health and points to the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods. He explains the food industry's deliberate design of addictive food products and provides practical tips for reducing sugar and processed food intake through what he calls "Tastebud Rehab." Katz and Ring also discuss other ways to help people transition to healthier eating habits, including the pros and cons of gradual changes versus going "cold turkey" and the use of GLP-1 agonists to jumpstart the process. 

• [00:28:16] Other approaches that could help people live healthier lives include regulatory policies and aligning government, private sector innovations, and individual efforts to promote healthier lifestyles.

• [00:31:43]  Katz highlights the importance of educating medical students and other healthcare providers about nutrition and Ring refers to the recently proposed 36 nutrition competencies for medical school curriculum. 

• [00:40:26] Katz encourages listeners to identify small, fixable aspects of life that could lead to greater vitality. He highlights the importance of sustainable lifestyle changes and the power of community support in achieving long-term health goals.

Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺

Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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