Explore every episode of the podcast NHA Today Podcast

Your kidneys filter roughly 50 gallons of blood every day, help regulate blood pressure and fluid balance, remove waste and play important roles in everything from vitamin D to maintaining the delicate pH balance your body needs to function.

So, what are you doing to protect them?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser breaks down how your kidneys work, what can damage them and the everyday choices that can help support kidney health for years to come.

He explores common kidney problems including kidney stones, high blood pressure-related kidney damage and diabetic kidney disease, along with important markers such as GFR, BUN and creatinine. He also discusses how diet, hydration, medications and other lifestyle factors can affect kidney function.

Most importantly, Dr. Esser focuses on the factors you can influence. From managing blood pressure and blood sugar to eating more whole plant foods, staying hydrated and knowing your numbers, there is a lot you can do to take better care of these hard-working organs.

• What your kidneys actually do all day
• Important kidney health markers to know
• What causes kidney stones and how diet may affect your risk
• How high blood pressure and diabetes can damage the kidneys
• The stages of chronic kidney disease
• Medications and supplements that may affect kidney function
• How nutrition influences kidney health
• Why hydration matters
• What to monitor to better understand your kidney health
• Everyday choices that can help protect your kidneys

Dr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. He explores practical ways nutrition, movement and other lifestyle choices can support better health and quality of life.

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Join the NHA:
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

Learn more:
https://healthscience.org

Upcoming events:
https://healthscience.org/events/

Subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast for more conversations about nutrition, lifestyle medicine and creating a healthier life.

What do you want to still be able to do 10, 20 or 30 years from now?

Travel. Garden. Play pickleball. Carry your grandchildren. Get off the floor without help. Keep doing the things that make your life yours.

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with physical therapist and world champion weightlifter Jen Dieter to talk about building strength for the life you want to keep living.

Jen is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy, an 11-time CrossFit Games qualifier, five-time world record holder in Olympic weightlifting and two-time World Champion. But her message is not just for athletes. Jen did not begin CrossFit and weight training until she was 38, after years without intentional exercise.

She explains why muscle is an investment in your future and why strength training, balance, quick footwork and functional movement matter more as we age.

Most importantly, Jen encourages listeners to think beyond the scale or the mirror. Ask yourself what you want your body to be able to do years from now, then start training for that life today.

• Why muscle is an investment in your future
• Why it is never too late to get stronger
• What functional strength really means
• How balance and quick footwork support real-life movement
• Why fear of injury can lead to lost function
• How to start strength training if you are new to it
• Why fitness goals should go beyond weight and appearance

Jen leaves listeners with three practical places to start: lift something that feels heavy for you two or three times a week, give your cardiovascular exercise a purpose and test what your body can actually do.

Jen Dieter, MPT is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy. She has spent 28 years helping people move beyond pain and return to the activities they love.

REAL Movement Physical Therapy:
http://www.realmovementphysicaltherapy.com

Instagram:
@jensmash13

Dr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast.

Join the NHA:
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

Learn more:
https://healthscience.org

Upcoming events:
https://healthscience.org/events/

We may be living longer, but are we actually living healthier?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Charlyn Black, MD, ScD, physician, public health researcher, educator and co-author of Plant Powered Seniors, to explore the growing gap between lifespan and healthspan.

Healthspan refers to the years of life spent in good health, rather than years marked by chronic disease, frequent medical care and declining function. Dr. Black explains that while lifespan has increased, the amount of time many people spend in poor health has also increased. In the United States, she points to recent data suggesting that this gap now exceeds 14 years.

But aging does not have to mean simply accepting a steady decline in health.

Dr. Black explains how our bodies and nutritional needs change as we get older, from changes in nutrient absorption and muscle response to hydration, appetite and caloric needs. She also shares how her own approach to nutrition and movement has evolved as she has aged and why even people who have followed a healthy lifestyle for years may benefit from making adjustments.

The conversation also goes beyond individual choices. Drawing on her career in public health, Dr. Black discusses how our food environments, institutions and public policies can either support healthier choices or make them much harder. She argues that improving population health requires both personal action and environments that make healthy living easier.

Above all, her message is an encouraging one: it is never too late to make a difference in your health. Whether you are already thriving or managing chronic conditions, changes in nutrition, movement and other lifestyle habits can still matter.

• The important difference between lifespan and healthspan
• Why living longer does not necessarily mean living healthier
• How nutrition needs and physical function change as we age
• Why a whole food, plant-powered diet may be especially valuable later in life
• The role of movement in maintaining strength, mobility and independence
• Why sleep, social connection, stress management and avoiding risky substances matter for healthy aging
• Why willpower alone is not enough to create healthier populations
• How our food environment influences the choices we make
• Simple ways to begin improving your health at any age

Dr. Black is a co-author of Plant Powered Seniors with registered dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Written specifically for adults 50 and older, the book explores how nutritional needs change with age and how plant-powered nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits can support better health throughout the later decades of life.

Learn more and purchase Plant Powered Seniors:
https://plant-poweredseniors.com/

Join the National Health Association:
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

Learn more about the NHA:
https://healthscience.org

Explore upcoming NHA events:
https://healthscience.org/events/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who wants to spend more of their years living with health, strength and independence.

Can you explore the world, enjoy incredible food and still stick to the healthy lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to build?

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Wanda Huberman, Executive Director of the National Health Association, and Lisa McCarl, RN, MS, CTA, of McCarl Travel, LLC, to explore how NHA is bringing plant-based living and unforgettable travel together.

Lisa and Wanda take listeners behind the scenes of NHA’s plant-based cruises, including the work that goes into coordinating with cruise line culinary teams, arranging private dining and making sure ships are prepared for the way NHA travelers eat. On some voyages, NHA chefs even work alongside the ship’s culinary team to help bring the NHA approach into the kitchen.

But the food is only part of the experience. These trips give travelers the opportunity to explore destinations around the world while connecting with people who share their commitment to healthy living. Wanda and Lisa share how friendships formed during NHA trips often continue long after everyone returns home.

The conversation offers a look at cruises throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Lisa also explains why many trips are planned years in advance, how the wait lists work and why joining one can still be worthwhile when a trip appears to be full.

Wanda also shares a preview of NHA’s land-based adventures, including upcoming trips to Rwanda and Botswana organized with World Vegan Travel. From wildlife encounters and hiking to cultural experiences, these trips offer even more ways to see the world while keeping healthy food, adventure and community at the center of the experience.

If travel is on your wish list, discover what’s ahead and how NHA is making it easier to explore the world without leaving your healthy lifestyle behind.

Explore NHA Plant-Based Travel:
https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/

Join the NHA Whole-Food, Plant-Based Travel Facebook Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/nhaplantbasedtravel

Connect with Lisa McCarl, CTA, ECC, VTA | McCarl Travel, LLC:
https://www.thetravelinstitute.com/agent/25665/

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

Urinary leakage, chronic constipation, pelvic pain, painful sex, organ prolapse and changes after childbirth or with aging are incredibly common. But that doesn’t mean they’re something you simply have to accept.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC, a physical therapist who has specialized in pelvic health, women’s and men’s health and spine care since 1999.

Laura explains what the pelvic floor actually does and why these muscles are so important for bladder and bowel control, stability, movement and sexual health. Like other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor can become weak, overly tight, injured or poorly coordinated after childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, athletic activity and other changes throughout life.

One of Laura’s most important messages is simple: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. Urinary leakage, for example, may become more prevalent with age, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do about it.

The conversation also challenges the idea that better pelvic health simply means doing more Kegels. Some people need to strengthen their pelvic floor, while others need to learn how to relax and coordinate these muscles correctly. Even someone who is very active and physically strong can have pelvic floor dysfunction.

Laura and Dr. Esser also explore the connection between the pelvic floor and chronic constipation, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, organ prolapse and changes that occur as we age. Laura explains why maintaining muscle strength and coordination matters and when working with a pelvic floor physical therapist may help.

Most importantly, this is a conversation about understanding your body and knowing that it’s okay to talk about symptoms that can feel personal or embarrassing. Laura shares practical ways to support pelvic health, from staying active and hydrated to learning how the pelvic floor should contract and relax.

Whether you’re experiencing symptoms now or simply want to maintain strength and function as you age, this episode offers an important reminder: your pelvic floor is part of your overall health, and it deserves attention too.

Smart Body Physical Therapy:
https://www.smartbodypt.com/

Listen to Laura’s podcast, Pelvic Like It Is:
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/pelvic-like-it-is/id1871478598

Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

There’s always another diet, supplement or biohack promising better health. But what if we’re making it more complicated than it needs to be?

Dr. Asa Frey and Dra. Joanna Frey believe the fundamentals of human health haven’t changed. At their residential lifestyle center, Back to the Garden in Puerto Rico, they focus on seven foundational pillars: presence, whole plant foods, movement, nature, sunlight, sleep and healthy relationships.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Dr. Asa and Dra. Joanna about why these basic principles can be more powerful than constantly chasing the latest health trend and why knowing what to do is only part of the equation.

They explore the role of presence in actually making healthy habits stick, simple ways to interrupt stress during a busy day and why getting outside, moving your body and protecting your sleep are non-negotiables in their own lives. They also discuss their medically supervised water fasting program, how they prepare patients before a fast and why fasting isn't meant to be a quick fix for the habits that contributed to poor health in the first place.

You’ll also hear how they bring these same principles into family life, what they’ve learned from raising their children with healthy habits and why lasting change often begins by becoming the example rather than trying to change everyone around you.

Better health may not require another hack. It may mean getting back to the things your body has needed all along.

Back to the Garden:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/en

Back to the Garden en Español:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/

Get the Back to the Garden App:
https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/en/btgapp

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
@esserhealth

Watch NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

What if getting older didn’t have to mean slowing down?

At 84, Vesanto Melina, MS, Registered Dietitian, is living proof that our later years can still be active, productive and full of purpose. She’s still writing books, speaking, counseling clients and hitting the gym for five fitness classes a week. And she has decades of science and experience behind what she teaches.

Vesanto is the author or co-author of 15 books on plant-based nutrition, including books recognized by the American Library Association as go-to resources in the field. Her latest, Plant-Powered Seniors, was written with Brenda Davis, RD and Dr. Charlyn Black. She also co-authored the #1 Amazon bestseller Plant-Powered Protein. Vesanto has taught nutrition at Bastyr University and the University of British Columbia, received both the Ryley-Jeffs Memorial Award and a lifetime achievement award as a dietitian and served as lead author of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ position paper on vegetarian diets across the life cycle.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Vesanto about what she’s learned from more than three decades of vegan living and a lifetime spent studying nutrition. They dig into why she now emphasizes a well-planned plant-based diet, why legumes deserve a bigger place on our plates and the nutrients that become especially important as we age, including protein, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3s.

They also explore the other side of healthy aging: staying strong and independent. Vesanto shares how exercise supports bone health, balance and fall prevention, why small changes can make a meaningful difference and why it’s never too late to improve the way you eat and live.

Whether you’re already in your 70s or 80s or thinking about the health you want decades from now, this conversation offers a different vision of aging and practical ways to stay strong, active and engaged for the years ahead.

Order Plant-Powered Seniors:
https://plant-poweredprotein.com/

Learn more about Vesanto Melina:
https://nutrispeak.com/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram:
@esserhealth

NHA Today on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org/

Better health doesn't require waiting for the perfect time or changing everything overnight. Sometimes it starts with one better choice today.

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician Dr. Jeffrey Pierce about the power of small, consistent changes and how much influence our everyday habits can have on our long-term health.

Drawing on more than 18 years of experience in family medicine, Dr. Pierce shares how his approach to patient care evolved beyond simply managing chronic disease with medications to helping people address its underlying causes through lifestyle.

The conversation takes a closer look at fatty liver disease, a condition Dr. Pierce says affects an estimated one in three American adults. He explains why fat can accumulate in the liver, how the condition is often discovered and four lifestyle approaches that may help improve it, including healthy weight loss, a low-fat whole food, plant-based diet, regular movement and certain approaches to meal timing and fasting.

Dr. Esser and Dr. Pierce also discuss the growing interest in testosterone replacement, what the research says about potential benefits and risks and why nutrition, exercise, sleep and overall metabolic health deserve attention before looking for a quick fix.

Finally, Dr. Pierce shares one of his own favorite prescriptions for health: gardening. For him, growing food brings together movement, nutritious food and time to slow down and reconnect.

The message throughout the conversation is refreshingly simple: don't wait for the perfect day. Start with what you can do today and build from there.

• What Dr. Pierce learned about health and nutrition from practicing medicine in the U.S. and abroad
• Why lifestyle can have such a powerful influence on chronic disease
• What fatty liver disease is and why it deserves more attention
• Four lifestyle approaches that may help improve fatty liver
• What to consider before pursuing testosterone replacement
• How sleep and other lifestyle factors can affect hormonal health
• Why small changes can be more sustainable than waiting to make one dramatic transformation
• How gardening can support physical, nutritional and emotional well-being

Book an appointment with Dr. Pierce through Lifestyle Telemedicine:
https://lifestyletelemedicine.com/find-your-doctor/jeffrey-pierce/

Follow Dr. Pierce on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/drjeffpierce/

Join the National Health Association:
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

Learn more about the NHA:
https://healthscience.org

Explore upcoming NHA events:
https://healthscience.org/events/

If this conversation inspired you, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share this episode with someone who might be waiting for the "perfect" time to make a healthy change. Sometimes the best time to begin is simply today.

Plant-Based Travel: Safari Adventures, Incredible Food and the Trip of a Lifetime

Explore the world without leaving your healthy lifestyle behind. In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Wanda Huberman of the National Health Association and Brighde Reed of World Vegan Travel to explore the NHA’s upcoming whole-food, plant-based travel adventures.

From getting remarkably close to lions, elephants, hippos and giraffes on safari in Botswana to trekking to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in Rwanda, Wanda and Brighde share what makes these trips unforgettable. They also reveal what travelers can expect from the food, including abundant whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free meals, and why these small-group adventures can be a great option even for solo travelers.

Plus, hear what’s ahead for NHA Plant-Based Travel, including upcoming adventures in Botswana, Rwanda, France and Tuscany.

NHA Plant-Based Travel: https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/
Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @esserhealth
NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation

What does it really take to create lasting health?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with longtime educator, researcher and lifestyle medicine pioneer Dr. Frank Sabatino for a thoughtful conversation about the principles that support lifelong health.

Together, they explore why lasting wellness is about far more than calories or willpower. Dr. Sabatino shares his compassionate approach to weight management, the importance of whole food, plant-based nutrition and how factors like sleep, stress, purpose, community and self-compassion all work together to influence our health.

Whether you're just beginning your health journey or looking to strengthen the habits you've already built, this conversation offers practical wisdom and timeless principles to help you create a healthier, more meaningful life.

• Why lasting health is about more than diet alone
• The difference between weight loss and true health
• How whole food, plant-based nutrition supports long-term wellness
• The role of stress, sleep and movement in healthy living
• Why community and purpose matter for lasting behavior change
• How self-compassion can transform your health journey
• Practical advice for building sustainable lifestyle habits

🌿 Balance for Life Florida Retreats with Dr. Frank Sabatino
https://HealthfulLivingOceanRetreat.com

🌿 Join the National Health Association
https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?

🌿 National Health Association
https://healthscience.org

🌿 Upcoming NHA Events
https://healthscience.org/events/

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who is looking to build a healthier life through evidence-based lifestyle medicine.

Type 2 diabetes has become one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, but research continues to show that lifestyle can play a powerful role in preventing and even reversing the disease.

In this solo episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser explores the science behind insulin resistance and shares five evidence-based lifestyle strategies that have been shown to dramatically reduce diabetes risk and improve blood sugar control. You'll learn why excess body fat, inflammation, nutrition and physical activity all play critical roles in metabolic health, and how small daily changes can lead to meaningful long-term results.

🌿 Join the National Health Association: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?
🌿 Learn More: https://healthscience.org
🌿 Upcoming Events: https://healthscience.org/events/

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with a friend or family member. Your support helps us continue bringing evidence-based education on nutrition, lifestyle medicine and true health to people around the world.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, but what if we stopped waiting for symptoms and started preventing it decades earlier?

In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with renowned cardiologist Dr. Joel Kahn to explore how the future of heart disease prevention is shifting from reacting to illness to identifying risk early through advanced testing, lifestyle medicine and personalized care.

Dr. Kahn shares why a normal cholesterol panel doesn't always tell the whole story, the role of genetics and inflammation in heart disease, and why prevention begins long before a heart attack. He also discusses how nutrition, sleep, exercise and stress management work together to protect long-term heart health.

Whether you're looking to reduce your risk, better understand your heart health or simply stay healthy for years to come, this conversation offers practical, science-based insights you can start applying today.

• Why heart disease often develops silently for years before symptoms appear
• How advanced testing can identify risk long before a heart attack
• Why cholesterol is only one piece of the heart health puzzle
• The importance of inflammation, genetics and lipoprotein(a)
• How sleep quality impacts cardiovascular health
• The role of a whole food, plant-based lifestyle in preventing heart disease
• Why early prevention is one of the most powerful tools for lifelong heart health
• How modern medicine is helping personalize heart disease prevention

Guest: Dr. Joel Kahn
Host: Dr. Stephan Esser

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast and share it with someone who wants to take a proactive approach to protecting their heart.

What happens when the worst moment of your health journey becomes the foundation of your life's purpose?

For Anthony Masiello, it started with a letter that told him his body was a bad bet. It ended with an organization helping thousands of people transform their health.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Anthony Masiello, founder of Lifestyle Telemedicine, former NIH and Novartis healthcare tech executive, and a man who lost 160 pounds over 20 months through lifestyle medicine alone, for one of the most inspiring personal transformation conversations the show has had.

Anthony's story is remarkable not just for the weight he lost but for who he became on the other side. From introvert to extrovert. From fear-driven to purpose-driven. From a data scientist who helped build systems that managed disease to a founder whose organization is helping thousands of people escape it altogether.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The moment a life insurance denial became the turning point that saved his life
• How he switched from trying to lose weight to trying to get health and why that changed everything
• How he lost 35 pounds in his first 8 weeks and 160 pounds over 20 months
• What G-BOMBS are and how they became the foundation of his recovery
• How his doctor took him off blood pressure medication before he finished losing the weight
• What it feels like to break through limitations you had accepted as permanent
• How health transformed his confidence, his identity, and his sense of purpose
• Why he stopped comparing himself to others and only compares himself to his worst
• What Lifestyle Telemedicine does and how it is making lifestyle medicine accessible
• Why every time someone searches for how to get healthy they are casting a vote for change

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ABOUT ANTHONY MASIELLO

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Anthony Masiello is the founder of Lifestyle Telemedicine, a healthcare organization making lifestyle medicine accessible nationwide through telemedicine. A former NIH human genome project researcher and Novartis Pharmaceuticals technology executive, Anthony lost 160 pounds through lifestyle medicine in 2006 after being denied a life insurance policy at 33. He has since run marathons, hiked mountains, and built an organization dedicated to helping others do the same.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube

Subscribe

Lifestyle Telemedicine: https://lifestyletelemedicine.com

Lifestyle Telemedicine on Instagram

Anthony Masiello on LinkedIn

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram

On January 2nd, 2018, Christa Barfield read an email from her boss, sent back a resignation reply, and gave three weeks notice. Three weeks later she was on a plane to Martinique, alone, for the first time out of the country - turning 30 and looking for what came next. What she found was a family of Black farmers running a CSA. She had never farmed before. She has not stopped since.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Christa Barfield, founder of Farmer Jawn, a 128-acre regenerative organic farm operation across three Pennsylvania counties, that has grown from 10 CSA families to a 100-person waitlist, two retail farm stores, and a new food-is-medicine corner store concept launching in the most medically underserved neighborhood in Philadelphia.

Christa's work sits at the intersection of food access, food equity, health, and community. Her slogan: agriculture is the culture. Her mission: make the small farmer the center of the health system. Her next project: Corner Jawn.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The moment Christa quit her healthcare job, booked a solo trip to Martinique, and found farming
• What a CSA is and why the model works for urban food access
• What sustainability actually means and why it cannot exist without profitability
• Why Christa calls agriculture a communal sport and how community fills her back up
• The Corner Jawn concept: a food-is-medicine corner store in a Philadelphia food desert
• Why she charters a school bus every Saturday to bring city residents to her farm
• The ancestral connection she feels putting her hands in soil as a Black farmer
• What the Farmer Jawn formula is and why she is bringing it to the NHA Conference
• How to grow food even if all you have is a glass of water and some scallions

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Conference recordings (catch Christa's talk): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Farmer Jawn website: https://www.farmerjawn.co

Farmer Jawn on Instagram: @FarmerJawn_

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @EsserHealth

In their mid-fifties, Jason and Deborah DeSalvo left suburban life behind, bought a 43-acre farm in New Jersey, and started growing their own food. They also went completely WFPB SOS-free. Neither of them had ever farmed before.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Jason DeSalvo, co-owner of Cold Brook Farm - a regenerative certified organic farm in Western New Jersey whose grains have been selected by culinary luminary Dan Barber and served at Michelin-starred restaurants. Jason shares what six years of regenerative farming has taught him about soil, food, health, and the surprising truth about grains.

Jason and Deborah will be presenting Whole Grains: Myths vs. Reality at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026 - a full hour deep dive into the science and the story behind the grain they grow.

In this conversation you will learn:

• What regenerative farming actually means and how Jason took dead soil to 11% organic material in six years
• Why healthy soil produces more nutritious food and why you can taste the difference
• The truth about grains: why ancient and heirloom varieties are nothing like modern wheat
• Why hulless oats from a small farm taste completely different from what is in the store
• How grains at 13 to 14% protein challenge the where-do-you-get-your-protein question
• How Jason and Deb went WFPB SOS-free in their mid-fifties -- and what changed
• 3 to 4 tips for growing your own food even if you only have an apartment balcony
• Why nature is the seventh pillar of lifestyle medicine

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ABOUT JASON DESALVO

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Jason DeSalvo and his wife Deborah run Cold Brook Farm, a regenerative certified organic farm in Western New Jersey. Their grains have been selected by Dan Barber and served at Michelin starred restaurants. They converted to a WFPB SOS-free lifestyle in 2022 under the care of Dr. Ron Weiss of Ethos Primary Care and now manage nearly 120 acres of organically grown grains. They will be speaking on Whole Grains: Myths vs. Reality at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Cold Brook Farm website: https://www.coldbrookfarmnj.com

Cold Brook Farm on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coldbrookfarm/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

At 420 pounds, Chuck Carroll could barely walk across the street. Today he is one of the most recognized plant-based advocates in the country and host of one of the most popular health podcasts in the world. This is how he got there.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Chuck Carroll, host of The Exam Room podcast for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, weight loss champion, and NHA conference moderator, for an honest, warm, and practical conversation about plant-based weight loss, breaking through plateaus, the engineered addictiveness of fast food, and what it actually takes to never give up on yourself.

Chuck's personal story is remarkable. He lost over 200 pounds through diet and lifestyle change, walked 5 miles every lunch break in any weather, and has not been through a fast food drive-through in 16 years. But this episode is less about the number on the scale and more about the mindset, the systems, and the community that make transformation stick.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The 3 tangible tips for getting unstuck on your weight loss journey

• Why the scale not moving does not mean you are not getting healthier

• How sugar, fat, and salt are engineered to be as addictive as crack cocaine

• Why Chuck believes 95% of people can see results without any additional intervention

• How to build movement into your workday so you do not have to drag yourself to the gym

• What to pack for travel so you never have to compromise your eating on the road

• Chuck's 4 reasons for staying plant-based -- and the one he never expected

• Why people who give you a hard time about eating plants will eventually come around

• What Chuck is bringing to the NHA Annual Conference as panel moderator this June

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ABOUT CHUCK CARROLL

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Chuck Carroll is the host of The Exam Room podcast for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and one of the most recognized plant-based advocates in the country. Known as the Weight Loss Champion, a name given to him by NFL players who witnessed his transformation, Chuck lost over 200 pounds through plant-based nutrition and has spent the years since helping others do the same. He will be moderating panels at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Chuck's website: https://chuckcarroll.com

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Most people use moderation as a reason to keep doing what they are doing. Dr. Columbus Batiste says that is exactly the mindset that can have lasting health implications.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Dr. Columbus Batiste, board-certified interventional cardiologist, author, and co-founder of Healthy Heart Nation. Known as the Healthy Heart Doc, Dr. Batiste has spent his career doing what most cardiologists do not: asking patients not just what they eat, but what they eat for their health - and then building a plan around what they actually want.

His personal story is the backbone of this conversation. His father was health-conscious, ran a health food store, and juiced long before it was fashionable - but also loved sodas

and sweets in moderation. He died from the effects of diabetes. Reading Caldwell Esselstyn's chapter titled Moderation Kills changed the course of Dr. Batiste's career.

In this conversation you will learn:

• Why moderation is a justification we only apply to things we know we should not be doing

• The three most heart-protective food groups and why they work at the cellular level

• How to talk to patients (or yourself) about food in a way that actually creates change

• The SELFISH acronym: seven pillars of heart health from spirituality to humor

• Why 80% of health outcomes happen outside the doctor's office

• The role of stress, presence, and relationships in cardiovascular disease

• Dr. Batiste's take on AI in medicine and what an elderly patient said that stopped him cold

• What he is bringing to the NHA Annual Conference this June

---

ABOUT DR. COLUMBUS BATISTE

---

Columbus Batiste, MD is a board-certified interventional cardiologist, co-founder of Healthy Heart Nation, and author of Selfish: A Cardiologist's Guide to Curing a Stressed and Broken Heart. He is the Regional Chief of Cardiology for Southern California Permanente Medical Group and a celebrity media contributor featured in documentaries, articles, and podcasts worldwide. He will be speaking at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

---

LINKS AND RESOURCES

---

Full episode and show notes:

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Dr. Batiste's website: https://drbatiste.com

Follow Dr. Batiste on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyheartdoc/

Dr. Batiste on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drbatiste/

Book - Selfish: A Cardiologist's Guide: [add purchase link]

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Can water fasting really reverse chronic disease? And is it safe to do?

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Esser sits down with the person best qualified to answer those questions: Dr. Alan Goldhamer, founder of TrueNorth Health Center and the

world's foremost expert on water-only fasting.

Over 42 years and more than 25,000 fasting patients, Dr. Goldhamer has done more to document the safety and efficacy of medically supervised water fasting than anyone alive. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and his team is now preparing a landmark 3,000-person study to track health outcomes across a lifetime.

In this conversation, Dr. Goldhamer explains:

• What water fasting is and how it differs from other types of fasting

• Which conditions respond best to medically supervised water fasting

• The real risks of fasting - and how TrueNorth manages them safely

• Why refeeding after a fast is just as important as the fast itself

• Who is and is not a good candidate for water fasting

• How to access TrueNorth health coaching remotely without traveling to the facility

• Why salt, oil, and sugar hijack the brain's satiety system

• The Navigator Study: a 3,000-person lifetime health tracking project

• What Dr. Goldhamer is presenting at the NHA Conference this June

---

ABOUT DR. ALAN GOLDHAMER

---

Dr. Alan Goldhamer is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder of TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. He has supervised more than 25,000 fasting patients over 42 years and has published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals on fasting and lifestyle medicine. He is the author of The Pleasure Trap and co-author of Can Fasting Save Your Life?

He will be presenting new research on health span at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

---

LINKS AND RESOURCES

---

Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA True North Community (water fasting + plant-based living): https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?_ga=2.196155116.1397875101.1780330419-1283726110.1775770362

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

TrueNorth Health Center: https://www.truenorthhealth.com

Books:

The Pleasure Trap: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/pleasure-trap?v=9

Can Fasting Save Your Life?: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/can-fasting-save-your-life

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Most health-conscious people are doing most things right. So why aren't the results matching the effort?

Dr. Joel Fuhrman has spent more than 30 years answering that question and in this episode he brings his full perspective to the NHA Today audience.

Dr. Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, creator of the Nutritarian diet, and author of 12 books - seven of them New York Times bestsellers, including Eat to Live, the book that has introduced millions of people to the science of nutrient-dense eating.

He is also a longtime friend, mentor, and advocate of the NHA, and a speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, Dr. Fuhrman covers his personal origin story, the science behind his H=N/C equation, why the last 10% of commitment makes all the difference, and what he is building at his Longevity RX clinic in San Diego.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The H=N/C equation - why health equals nutrients over calories and what that means day to day

• Why diversity and nutrient density both matter, and why eating only kale will not cut it

• How body fat produces inflammation and fuels cancer risk

• Why Dr. Fuhrman went to medical school specifically to be an anti-medicine doctor

• His elite figure skating career and how a fasting-based injury recovery changed his life

• The three foods that naturally suppress appetite better than any GLP-1 drug

• Why the last 10% of commitment produces disproportionate results

• What is inside the Longevity RX clinic and the regenerative technology they are using

• Which of his 12 books he recommends every viewer read right now

---

ABOUT DR. JOEL FUHRMAN

---

Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, nutritional researcher, and creator of the Nutritarian diet. He is the author of 12 books - seven New York Times bestsellers -- including Eat to Live and Eat for Life. He has dedicated more than 30 years to preventing and reversing disease through nutrition and has been a central figure in the natural hygiene and plant-based medicine movement for decades. He will be speaking at the NHA Annual

Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

---

LINKS AND RESOURCES

---

Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Dr. Fuhrman's website: https://www.drfuhrman.com

Longevity RX clinic: https://www.drlongevityrx.com

Dr. Fuhrman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drfuhrman

Dr. Fuhrman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelfuhrmanmd/

Dr. Fuhrman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drfuhrman/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Every time you chew and swallow, you are unleashing biochemical weapons inside your body that are either pushing you toward cancer or away. The choice of which direction is largely yours.

That is the message Dr. Kristi Funk has been delivering to women for years - and in this episode she brings it directly to the NHA Today audience.

Dr. Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon, bestselling author of BREASTS: The Owner's Manual, and a women's health expert known to millions from Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also a keynote speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, she shares the science and the story behind her own transformation from a Mediterranean meat-eater to a 100% plant-based physician - and what that shift taught her about what she should have been telling her patients all along.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The nine daily choices that affect nine processes in your body, pushing you toward cancer or away
• Why Dr. Funk went fully plant-based in a single day after reading the science for her book
• The real numbers on alcohol and breast cancer risk (they are higher than you think)
• Why sleep may be the most overlooked lifestyle factor in fighting cancer
• What to look for in your personal care products, cookware, and water supply
• How to go from a C to a B+ on your anti-cancer report card without overhauling your whole life
• What the BCAC framework means and why it matters before, during, and after a diagnosis

---

LINKS & RESOURCES

---

Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Pink Lotus website: https://pinklotus.com

Make an appointment or telehealth: https://pinklotus.com/care or 833-800-7522

BREASTS: The Owner's Manual: https://pinklotus.com/elements/breasts-the-owners-manual-by-dr-kristi-funk/

Pink Lotus Power Up community:

Breast Buddies: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/breastbuddies/

Cancer-Kicking Kitchen: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/cancerkicking/kitchen

Follow Dr. Funk on Instagram and X: @drkristifunk

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @esserhealth

Most people know what they should do to be healthier. So why is it so hard to actually do it?

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Luanne Spiros, a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200, ACSM Cancer Exercise Specialist, master beekeeper, and behavioral change expert who has spent her career helping people build healthy habits that actually last.

This conversation cuts through the generic advice and gets into the real mechanics of change. Why is movement easier to start with than nutrition? What makes the social environment so powerful? And what three skills does everyone need to make healthy living stick for life?

You will also hear about her work in oncology yoga and what she will be leading at the NHA Annual Conference in June.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• Why movement tends to be the better entry point than nutrition for most people
• The three S's: social, skills, and setting -- and why they make or break healthy living
• Three skills everyone needs to build lasting health habits
• Why reward beats fear as a long-term motivator (and what the research says)
• The hardest parts of going plant-based and how to plan around them
• How to build exercise into your life so it stops feeling like something to bolt on
• What oncology yoga is and how it gives cancer patients agency and hope
• How to handle a partner or household that isn't on the same page

Book recommendations from this episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Willpower by Roy Baumeister.

---

LINKS AND RESOURCES

---

Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Follow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

---

About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.

What if one dietary change could unlock fertility, reverse autoimmune disease, and transform every area of your health — when conventional medicine said it wasn’t possible?

That’s exactly what happened to Robyn Denning.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Robyn Denning — yoga instructor, health coach, and NHA conference speaker — to trace her remarkable journey from a life fueled by Diet Coke and little sleep, through three miscarriages, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and an MS diagnosis, to a place of vibrant health — without medication.

Robyn’s story isn’t just inspiring. It’s a practical map for anyone navigating chronic illness, struggling to build sustainable movement habits, or simply trying to stay consistent when they no longer feel urgently unwell.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

→ How eliminating gluten resolved three years of unexplained fertility challenges

→ The dietary shift that undiagnosed Robyn’s MS within six months

→ Why the maintenance phase is often harder than the healing phase

→ How to build a movement practice that actually sticks — even if you’ve tried and failed

→ The yoga philosophy of ‘using poses to get into the body’ — and why it changes everything

→ The role of gratitude in sustaining long-term health changes

──────────────────────────

🎤 ABOUT ROBYN DENNING

──────────────────────────

Robyn Denning is a yoga instructor, health coach, and wellness educator whose personal health journey, including overcoming celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and MS through diet and lifestyle. now informs the way she teaches and coaches others. She will be leading yoga sessions and sharing her story at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25–28, 2026.

──────────────────────────

🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

──────────────────────────

• NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation/podcasts

• Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

• NHA Annual Conference (June 25–28): healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

• Follow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

──────────────────────────

About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine — with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.

Welcome to Season 2 of the NHA Today podcast.

Dr. Stephan Esser officially steps in as the new host of NHA Today - bringing a powerful legacy, a fresh perspective, and a clear vision for the future of health.

A fourth-generation plant-based advocate, Dr. Esser shares the deeply personal story that shaped his path from growing up at his grandfather’s health retreat, founded by NHA pioneer Dr. William L. Esser, to witnessing firsthand the transformative power of lifestyle medicine.

In this introductory episode, he outlines what listeners can expect from the show moving forward: science-based, practical, and honest conversations about what actually creates lasting health.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The foundational principles of whole-person health
• Why lifestyle (not products) drives long-term wellness
• How to cut through misinformation and take control of your health
• What it means to become the “CEO of your own health”

This episode sets the tone for a new chapter of NHA Today focused on clarity, empowerment, and real, sustainable results.

🎧 Tune in and discover how simple, science-backed choices can help you reclaim your health and vitality.

What role do antioxidants, nitric oxide, and plant diversity play in optimizing your health?

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN, sits down with her husband, Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, to continue their deep dive into mitochondrial health and plant-based nutrition.

Together, they explore how antioxidant-rich foods, polyphenols, and nitrate-dense vegetables directly support energy production, cardiovascular health, and long-term wellness.

As a plant-based family raising a daughter together—alongside two rescue cats from their time living in Costa Rica—Kylie and Cyrus bring both clinical expertise and real-life application to this conversation.

• Why fruit is not the enemy and how it supports metabolic health
• The critical role of antioxidants and polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress
• How eating a diverse range of plant foods strengthens cellular function
• Why nitrate-rich vegetables (like spinach, beets, and celery) support nitric oxide production
• How nitric oxide improves blood flow, exercise performance, and recovery
• Simple ways to incorporate these foods into your daily routine

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD & Kylie Buckner, RN
Website: https://www.evolution-health.co

National Health Association
https://www.healthscience.org

What if your gut symptoms weren't random—but signals pointing to a deeper root cause?

In this episode of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with Dahlia Marin, RDN, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Gastrointestinal Nutritionist, to explore a functional, root-cause approach to gut health.

Dahlia specializes in complex digestive conditions like SIBO, IBS, and gut dysbiosis, combining clinical experience with her own personal healing journey. Together, Kylie and Dahlia unpack why so many people remain misdiagnosed, overlooked, or stuck in symptom management cycles—and what it really takes to heal.

They dive into the often-missed contributors to gut dysfunction, the importance of a full health timeline, and how nutrition—especially a plant-based, microbiome-focused approach—can support lasting gut repair.

This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering for anyone navigating digestive issues or looking to better understand their body.

• Why gut issues are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood
• The root causes behind IBS, SIBO, and gut imbalances
• How life events, stress, and diet shape gut health over time
• The role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics
• How a plant-based approach can support gut healing
• Why a personalized, whole-person intake is essential

Dahlia Marin / Married to Health
Website: https://www.marriedtohealth.com
Program: https://www.marriedtohealth.com/good-gut-sibo-ibs-program
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriedtohealth/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Marriedtohealth

National Health Association
https://www.healthscience.org

What if your kitchen could become your sanctuary?

In Episode 163 of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with whole-food plant-based chef and educator Stefanie Dougherty of Green Sage Life to explore how cooking can become a mindful, creative, and deeply nourishing ritual.

Together they discuss:

• How plant-based cooking can shift from "chore" to creative joy

• Why engaging your senses reduces stress and builds mindfulness

• The powerful antioxidant role of herbs and spices

• How global spice blends transform simple meals

• Why beauty and nourishment go hand-in-hand

• The difference between "wellness rules" and the art of living well

Stefanie shares practical kitchen tips, from sharpening your knife to layering flavors and reminds us that health is not just science. It's art. It's ritual. It's presence.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, curate what you consume, and rediscover joy in your everyday meals.

National Health Association (NHA):
https://www.healthscience.org

🌿 Stefanie Dougherty – Green Sage Life
Website: https://www.greensagelife.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greensagelife/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greensagelife

🌿 Kylie Buckner
Website: https://www.evolution-health.co
Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast

🎧 More NHA Today episodes:
https://www.healthscience.org/podcast

The grocery store can feel overwhelming and that's not accidental.

In Episode 162 of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN, sits down with registered dietitian Cassandra Sampson to break down how to read food labels, avoid marketing traps, and become an empowered consumer.

From the "health halo" effect to hidden added sugars and labeling loopholes, this episode gives listeners practical, real-world tools they can use immediately in the grocery aisle.

If you've ever wondered:

• Is "plant-based" automatically healthy?

• What does "0g trans fat" really mean?

• How do I know if a packaged food is minimally processed?

This conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why the front of the package is marketing and the back is truth

• The FDA labeling loophole around "0 grams" claims

• The 5:1 carbohydrate-to-fiber rule

• How fiber and protein work together in whole plant foods

• What "clothe the carb" means for blood sugar stability

• How marketing influences grocery store behavior

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org

Cassandra Sampson, RD:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition_nibbles_dietitian
Website: https://cassandragolden.com

Kylie Buckner:
Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast

🎧 More NHA Today episodes: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast

Is weight loss really the answer — or is the real work about healing your relationship with food and your body?

In this episode of NHA Today, host Eileen Kopsaftis sits down with registered nurse and wellness educator Mary Marshall, creator of Mindset Over Weight, to explore a powerful shift in the conversation around weight, dieting, and health.

Together, they unpack:

• Why weight cycling (losing and regaining weight) may be more harmful than maintaining a stable higher weight

• How dieting disrupts hunger and fullness hormones (ghrelin & leptin)

• Why intuitive (or attuned) eating is not "eat whatever you want"

• The neurological impact of chronic dieting

• The real risks behind GLP-1 medications

• How shame and self-criticism sabotage long-term health

Mary shares why health can exist across a wide range of body sizes — and how learning to listen to internal signals can restore peace, metabolic balance, and self-trust.

This is a compassionate, research-informed conversation about moving from self-judgment to self-care.

🌿 Mary Marshall, RN – Mindset Over Weight
Website: https://www.mindsetoverweight.com/
Newsletter: https://www.mindsetoverweight.com/newsletter/
Foundations Program: https://www.mindsetoverweight.com/foundations/
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1959fzHkem/

National Health Association (NHA):
https://www.healthscience.org

🎧 More NHA Today episodes:
https://www.healthscience.org/podcast
NHA Today YouTube 

What if poor vision isn't permanent and glasses aren't the only solution?

In Episode 160 of NHA Today, guest host Eileen Kopsaftis sits down with Mila Casey, a Russian-trained ophthalmologist turned holistic vision educator, to explore the science and philosophy behind natural vision improvement.

After experiencing her own vision decline during a stressful life transition, Mila discovered the Bates Method and improved her eyesight enough to stop wearing progressive lenses. She now teaches others how stress, muscle tension, and vision habits may contribute to refractive errors and how simple daily practices can support healthier eyesight.

This episode challenges conventional eye care and offers practical steps listeners can try today.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The difference between conventional eye care and natural vision improvement

• Why stress and muscle tension may affect eyesight

• How blinking and palming support eye relaxation

• The role of nutrition in macular health and cataracts

• Why constant sunglasses use may impact eye muscle function

• What eye conditions may respond to lifestyle-based vision practices

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

Website milaswellnessvision.com

Social Media: Facebook Group

YouTube: @milacasey5591

Book Mentioned: Optimal Eyesight by Esther Joy van der Werf

🔗 National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org

Eileen Kopsaftis: https://havelifelongwellbeing.com

More episodes of NHA Today: https://www.healthscience.org

Mental health isn't just about diagnoses and prescriptions, it's about the whole person.

In Episode 159 of NHA Today, host Eileen Kopsaftis sits down with licensed professional counselor Kylea Rorabaugh to explore a whole-person approach to mental and emotional well-being.

Kylea shares why she moved beyond traditional, diagnosis-driven therapy and how nutrition, nervous system regulation, and personalized, non-cookie-cutter strategies can help people build lasting resilience.

The conversation challenges the idea that people are "broken" or destined to struggle forever and offers hope rooted in practical, integrative solutions.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why diagnosis-first models can sometimes limit healing

• How nutrition directly impacts mental and emotional health

• The connection between the nervous system and chronic stress

• Why medications may not always address root causes

• What to look for when choosing a mental health professional

• Why no one is "broken" and why hope is always possible

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

🔗 National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org

🌿 Eileen Kopsaftis: https://havelifelongwellbeing.com

🎧 More episodes of NHA Today: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast

From the NHA Today Archives — foundational principles of plant-based nutrition that still resonate.

In this replay episode of NHA Today, host Dr. Frank Sabatino speaks with Dr. Joel Fuhrman, board-certified family physician, bestselling author of Eat to Live, and founder of the Eat to Live Retreat.

Dr. Fuhrman shares insights from decades of clinical experience using whole-food, plant-based nutrition to address chronic disease, slow aging, strengthen immunity, and support sustainable weight loss. The conversation explores the power of nutrient density, the role of plant diversity, immune resilience, and the importance of individualized care over rigid dietary dogma.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why nutrient density matters more than calories alone

• The concept of "moderate caloric restriction with micronutrient excellence"

• How plant diversity supports immune function

• The relationship between protein intake and aging

• Why sustainable weight loss requires behavioral retraining, not shortcuts

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, the oldest health organization in the U.S. dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

🔗 National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org

🌱 Dr. Joel Fuhrman: https://www.drfuhrman.com
📘 Eat to Live: https://www.drfuhrman.com

🎧 More episodes of NHA Today: https://www.healthscience.org

From the NHA Today Archives!

As many people look to refresh their routines and build healthier habits, this replay episode of NHA Today offers simple, realistic guidance for making plant-based eating sustainable.

Host Stephanie Peacock speaks with Natalie Golba, co-founder of The Healthiest Chef, about how basic meal prep strategies can remove overwhelm, save time, and support lasting whole-food, plant-based habits—especially during seasons of reset like spring.

Rather than focusing on perfection, Natalie emphasizes starting small, building confidence in the kitchen, and creating systems that make healthy choices easier day after day.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why meal prep doesn't need to be complicated or time-consuming

• How a few foundational foods can support multiple meals

• The role of plant diversity in digestion and gut health

• How to build habits that stick without restriction or burnout

• Why confidence and flexibility matter more than rigid plans

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, the oldest health organization in the U.S. dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

🔗 National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org

🍽 The Healthiest Chef: https://www.healthiestchef.com
📸 Natalie Goba (Instagram): @NatalieGolba 

🎧 Listen to more episodes of NHA Today: https://www.healthscience.org

From the NHA Archives  and newly relevant today.

In this replay episode of NHA Today, guest host Maxime Sigouin revisits a powerful conversation with Dr. Csilla Veress, ND, an attending clinician at True North Health Center, exploring the science and real-world impact of medically supervised water-only fasting on gut health, stress, and long-term healing.

Drawing from over a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Veress explains why fasting works so differently in a supervised, low-stress environment and why so many people struggle to replicate results at home.

This episode takes on added significance following the recent announcement of the new NHA–True North community, designed to extend education, connection, and support beyond the clinical setting.

It also coincides with the release of Maxime Sigouin's new book, Forever Fit, which reinforces many of the principles discussed here: sustainable habits, environment-driven success, and lifelong vitality through intentional living.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How water-only fasting impacts the gut microbiome

• Why stress is the #1 barrier to lasting health

• What happens in the body during a supervised fast

• Why environment matters more than willpower

• Practical first steps toward meaningful health change

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, the oldest health organization in the U.S. dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

🔗 National Health Association (NHA): https://www.healthscience.org
🔗 Learn more about the new NHA–True North Community: www.healthscience.org/community

📘 Forever Fit by Maxime Sigouin
🔗 ForeverFitBook.com

🏥 True North Health Center: https://www.healthpromoting.com
🔗 Dr. Csilla Veress: https://www.drcsillaveress.com

🎧 Listen to more episodes of NHA Today: healthscience.org/podcast

Why do so many people know what's healthy—yet struggle to follow through?

In this episode of NHA Today, host Dr. Frank Sabatino sits down with Timaree Hagenburger, MPH, RDN, LD/N, also known as The Nutrition Professor, to explore the critical gap between nutrition knowledge and real-life behavior change.

With over 20 years of experience in plant-based education, public health nutrition, and community-based programs like WIC, Timaree shares powerful stories that reveal why information alone isn't enough—and what actually helps people succeed long term.

Together, they discuss food cravings and withdrawal, taste-bud transformation, cultural food identity, and why community, pleasure, and practical support are essential for sustainable whole-food, plant-based living.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why motivation fades after inspiration—and how to prevent it

• How taste buds and cravings change after removing processed foods

• Why restriction fails but joy and variety succeed

• How community support turns short-term change into lifelong habits

• Real-world plant-based success stories from public health settings

NHA Today is the official podcast of the National Health Association, the oldest health organization in the U.S. dedicated to evidence-based, healthful living.

🔗 Learn more or join the community: https://www.healthscience.org

Guest Resources
🔗 Website: https://thenutritionprofessor.com

📘 Books: https://foodiebars.com/shop/ 

In this special episode, host Dr. Frank Sabatino is joined by Mark Huberman (President of the National Health Association), Wanda Huberman (Executive Director), Dr. Alan Goldhamer (Founder & Director of TrueNorth Health Center), and Dr. Lisa Acocella, physician and educator at TrueNorth.

Together, they share the story behind an exciting new collaboration:
a joint NHA + TrueNorth community membership designed to help people sustain a whole-food, plant-based, SOS-free lifestyle long after leaving a retreat—or even if they've never attended one.

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why community and connection are essential for long-term health success

• The roots of lifestyle medicine in natural hygiene and NHA's 77-year legacy

• Why water-only fasting and SOS-free eating remain foundational principles

• The challenges people face after returning home from health centers

• How this new membership provides education, guidance, and peer support

• Why standards matter in a world increasingly diluting plant-based principles

• How incremental change can still honor a clear health direction

• What members receive through the new NHA + TrueNorth partnership

This is a hopeful, grounded conversation about autonomy, healing, and the power of shared values.

🌐 National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/

🌐 TrueNorth Health Center: https://www.healthpromoting.com 

➡️ Explore the new community option here: NHA + TrueNorth Community Membership

We are replaying some of our most listened to episodes from the past year starting with this incredible from earlier this year this episode, led by Chuck Carroll, host of The Exam Room Podcast from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM).

Chuck is joined by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz ("Dr. B"), The Gut Health MD, for a wide-ranging conversation on gut health, healing, and lifestyle medicine. Together they explore:

• Why heartburn and GERD are really gut motility issues

• The role of diet, fiber, and the microbiome in supporting long-term health

• The risks of long-term reliance on reflux medications

• How stress, sleep, and exercise influence digestion through the gut-brain axis

• The importance of community, including Dr. B's Gut Health Collective

• Insights from his upcoming book Plant Powered Plus

This episode delivers practical strategies and empowering science for anyone looking to improve their gut health and overall well-being.

• 🌐 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Sciencemagazine: healthscience.org

• 🎙️ Thank you to Chuck Carroll and The Exam Room Podcast for guest hosting! Listen here: The Exam Room Podcast (PCRM)

• 🌱 Explore more from Dr. Will Bulsiewicz: The Gut Health MD

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this episode, Cyd Notter speaks with psychologist, vegan educator, and author of The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World, Angela Crawford, PhD, about Food & Mood and the powerful connection between nutrition and mental health.

You'll learn:

• How food choices can influence depression, anxiety, and emotional resilience

• The role of inflammation, the gut-brain connection, and key nutrients like fiber

• Why many people struggle socially when transitioning to plant-based eating (and how to handle it)

• Practical strategies for emotional eating, setbacks, and staying consistent

• How lifestyle pillars like sleep, movement, stress management, and community support mental wellbeing

Whether you're plant-based, plant-curious, or just looking for better mental clarity and wellbeing, this conversation offers science-backed insights and compassionate guidance.

Links & Resources
🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/📺 Explore NHA Today episodes on YouTube: NHA Today Playlist
🎙 Listen on podcast platforms: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/ 

Connect with Angela Crawford, PhD
🌐 Website: https://angelacrawfordphd.com
📘 Book: The Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World (see her Book tab on site)
🍲 Food for Life / cooking classes: (available via her website)

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this episode, guest host Cyd Nader speaks with chronic pain expert, educator, and author Eileen Kopsaftis who is a leader in movement science and founder of Have Lifelong Wellbeing.

Eileen has helped people eliminate pain, age well, and reclaim mobility for over 30 years. Her bestselling books, Pain Culprits and Aging Culprits, challenge common myths about the human body and uncover what really creates chronic pain, posture imbalances, and unnecessary physical decline.

In this powerful and practical discussion, Eileen shares:

• Why posture absolutely matters, adespite what some experts claim

• The surprising connection between posture, pain, and circulation

• Why poor ankle mobility is one of the biggest hidden drivers of pain

• How the thoracic spine is the "silent saboteur" of shoulder and back function

• How to assess your own posture at home (standing and lying down)

• What causes hunching, "Dowager's hump," and forward head posture

• Why aging decline is not inevitable

• How lifestyle, nutrition, and movement support healthy function long term

• What to do (and what not to do) to improve posture safely

Eileen also explains why braces often make posture worse, the role of whole food, plant-based nutrition in improving circulation, and simple daily habits to move better and feel better at any age.

Website: https://havelifelongwellbeing.com 
YouTube: Have Lifelong Wellbeing
Books: Pain Culprits, Aging Culprits

00:00 Welcome
01:00 Meet Eileen Kopsaftis
02:00 Does posture matter? Why experts disagree
03:00 The vanity factor & why posture affects confidence
05:00 Why people "shrink" with age (and why it's NOT aging)
07:00 Forward head posture: how 1 inch = 10 extra pounds of pressure
09:00 Can posture be corrected later in life?
11:00 Shoulder mobility, thoracic spine function & pain
13:00 Fall risk and center of gravity
15:00 The natural spinal curves and why they matter
17:00 Causes of excessive kyphosis
20:00 Degenerative disc disease and lumbar artery circulation
23:00 Ankle mobility: the most overlooked posture culprit
27:00 Workstation habits & standing desk tips
29:00 Why chair posture affects the whole spine
33:00 How the thoracic spine moves (type 1 & type 2 motion)
35:00 Exercises for ankle, hip & trunk function
38:00 Everything is connected
41:00 Posture self-assessment (standing & lying down)
48:00 What actually improves posture
49:00 The role of whole food, plant-based eating in pain and function
52:00 Why posture corrections must be individualized
55:00 How to work with Eileen
58:00 Final encouragement: aging doesn't equal decline

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/
🎧 Listen to all NHA Today podcast episodes: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @nationalhealthassociation

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this episode, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Terri Chrisman, board-certified nutritionist, lifestyle medicine professional, and author of the new book Fabulous Health. Terri shares her deeply personal journey from vegetarianism to veganism to fully embracing a whole food, plant-based lifestyle and the science that inspired her along the way.

Terri discusses:

• How her international life led her to explore health and nutrition

• Why going vegan didn't automatically mean "healthy"

• Her transition from processed vegan eating to whole food, plant-based living

• The emotional and psychological side of eating

• Why people struggle to change and how the Transtheoretical Model explains it

• What inspired her to write Fabulous Health

• Why lifestyle medicine must include sleep, stress, movement, and connection

• Her go-to 5-minute noodle bowl that anyone can make

• How her family health history motivates her commitment to this lifestyle

A warm, engaging episode packed with science, storytelling, and practical wisdom.

Learn more about Terri: https://fabuloushealth.net
Book: Available on Amazon + signed copies for U.S. residents via her website

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/
🎧 Listen to all NHA Today podcast episodes: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @nationalhealthassociation

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this inspiring episode, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Lianna Levine Reisner, co-founder and president of Plant Powered Metro New York (PPMNY). Lianna shares her personal health transformation, how she brought plant-based education to diverse communities, and why building supportive local networks is the key to long-term lifestyle change.

Together, they explore:

• Lianna's journey from personal experimentation to a whole food, plant-based lifestyle

• How PPMNY empowers multicultural communities across the NYC metro area

• The role of mentorship, jumpstarts, and community events in helping people thrive

• Strategies for parents raising plant-based kids in traditional school environments

• How local groups can partner with restaurants and expand healthy food access

Whether you're new to plant-based living or a seasoned advocate, this conversation offers heartfelt wisdom, practical ideas, and a powerful reminder of the impact community can make.

00:00 Introduction
00:45 Meet Lianna Levine Reisner
03:00 Lianna's plant-based health journey
07:00 Raising plant-based children
11:00 Food environment challenges for families
15:00 Finding and building community
17:20 How Plant Powered Metro NY began
25:00 The four pillars: awareness, education, empowerment & community
28:00 Jumpstarts, mentorship & national collaboration
34:00 Multicultural outreach & bridging communities
40:00 Connecting with underserved populations
44:00 Working with restaurants for healthier options
45:40 Quick meal ideas from Lianna
49:20 Where to find PPMNY

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/
🌱 Explore Plant Powered Metro New York: https://www.plantpoweredmetrony.org/
🎧 Listen to all NHA Today podcast episodes: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/
📺 Subscribe to our YouTube channel: @nationalhealthassociation

After years of living in constant pain and relying on prescription medications, Tim Kaufman found a way to take back his life through the healing power of a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.

In this episode of NHA Today, hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams sit down with Tim to discuss his incredible transformation—from being over 400 pounds and battling addiction, to completing marathons, triathlons, and inspiring thousands through his platform Fat Man Rants.

🌱 In this episode you'll learn the following:

• How Tim overcame chronic pain and addiction through a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.
• The mindset shift that turned short-term motivation into lifelong purpose 
• How gratitude and consistency became his daily tools for success
• Why community and accountability are key to sustainable change

💬 "I didn't just want to lose weight—I wanted my life back."

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest hosts Justin & Stephanie Williams

🌐 Follow Tim Kaufman:

Instagram — @fatmanrants

YouTube — Fat Man Rants

Facebook — Fat Man Rants

Website — fatmanrants.com

After years of struggling with health issues and endless prescriptions, Michelle Cen discovered the healing power of food. In this episode of NHA Today, she shares her powerful transformation—from daily pain and fatigue to vibrant health—through a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.

🌱 In this episode:

• How Michelle's health struggles inspired a deep dive into nutrition and lifestyle medicine

• The turning point that led her to the National Health Association

• What changed when she transitioned to a 100% whole-food, plant-based diet

• The emotional, mental, and physical benefits she experienced along the way

• How she's now helping others take control of their health naturally
  
  

💬 "You can't just treat the symptoms—you have to address the root cause. Once I changed what I ate, everything began to heal." — Michelle Cen

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest hosts Justin & Stephanie Williams

📘 Learn More: 

Michelle works with TrueNorth Health Center, Plant Chompers, and the Eternal Spring Institute for Wellness, supporting health programs and plant-based initiatives.

Follow her on Instagram: @michelle.cen_

🌐 https://www.michellecen.com/

From bar food and burnout to vibrant plant-based living — Erin and Dusty Stanczyk, founders of EatMoveRest, share their transformation story with hosts Justin and Stephanie Williams on NHA Today.

Discover how Erin's health scare and Dusty's digestive struggles sparked a journey from conventional medicine to lifestyle medicine — leading to a thriving online community, retreats in Costa Rica, a bestselling cookbook (The Happy Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook), and a plant-powered family of five.

🌱 In this episode:

• How food became their medicine after years of frustration with "normal" medical answers

• The turning point that led them to Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and the power of plant-based nutrition
  
  Building community through retreats, YouTube, and their EatMoveRest Club

• Parenting and raising healthy, plant-based kids

• Why compassion and connection go far beyond what's on your plate
  
  

📗 Learn more about Erin & Dusty's work: https://eatmoverest.com
📘 Follow EatMoveRest:
Instagram → @eatmoverest
YouTube → EatMoveRest
Facebook → facebook.com/eatmoverest
Pinterest → pinterest.com/eatmoverest

Special thanks to guest hosts Stephanie & Justin Williams

Connect with them:

Website: https://www.plantbasedcapitalregion.org/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5065227353518556

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedcapitalregion/

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! In this inspiring episode of NHA Today, guest host Chuck Carroll from The Exam Room Podcast (PCRM) talks with Javant—founder of Healthy Vegan Eating and the Healthy Vegan Lifestyle App—about how he transformed his life through a whole-food, plant-based diet. After losing 80 pounds and improving his health, Javant made it his mission to help others take control of theirs through nutrition, mindset, and community.

🌱 In This Episode:

• How Javant went from prediabetic to thriving on a plant-based lifestyle

• The philosophy behind "making your own" and his upcoming cookbook

• The power of mindset and community in creating lasting health

• How nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mindset form his four pillars of wellness
  
  

📘 Learn More:
Follow @HealthyVeganEating on Instagram for oil-free, whole food, plant-based recipes and inspiration.
Explore the Healthy Vegan Lifestyle App and preorder Make Your Own cookbook, available on Amazon and other retailers.
Listen to more from The Exam Room Podcast with Chuck Carroll → https://pcrm.org/podcast

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this heartfelt episode, guest host Cyd Notter talks with Jennifer Diamond, plant-based nutrition coach and YouTube creator, about navigating grief and emotional eating while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

You'll learn:
✅ How to honor your emotions without turning to food for comfort
✅ Simple coping tools for stress, loss, and emotional overwhelm
✅ How to create "plant-based comfort foods" that heal, not harm
✅ Ways to build new habits when life feels out of control
✅ Why self-compassion is key to long-term wellness

Jennifer also shares her personal story of loss, resilience, and rediscovery—proving that even through grief, growth and healing are possible.

🎧 Listen to more NHA Today episodes:
https://www.healthscience.org/podcast

🌿 Learn more about the National Health Association:
https://www.healthscience.org

💚 Connect with Jennifer Diamond:
Website: https://www.thejenniferdiamond.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thejenniferdiamond
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejenniferdiamond

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest host Cyd Notter.

Learn more about her work: www.cydnotter.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/cydnotter

📸 Instagram: @cyd_notter

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱
In this episode, guest host Cyd Notter sits down with Shoshana Chaim—Canadian wellness expert, international speaker, and co-host of The Plant Trainers Podcast—to explore how to optimize cellular health for energy, recovery, and longevity.

You'll learn:
✅ How cellular communication and redox signaling affect every system in your body
✅ Why even healthy lifestyles sometimes need a deeper, cellular approach
✅ The top daily habits that protect mitochondrial and hormonal health
✅ What "biohacking" really means in a plant-based lifestyle
✅ How to build resilience, reduce inflammation, and age with vitality

Shoshana also shares her personal story of helping her husband reverse heart disease through plant-based nutrition—and how her own health transformation led to a passion for helping others heal at the cellular level.

💚 Connect with Shoshana Chaim
Website: https://www.shoshanachaim.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/planttrainers
Podcast: https://www.planttrainers.com

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest host Cyd Notter.

Learn more about her work: www.cydnotter.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/cydnotter

📸 Instagram: @cyd_notter

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

 In this episode, guest host Cyd Notter sits down with Dr. Shobha Rayapudi—board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, epidemiologist, researcher, chef, and co-founder of Gift of Health, a nonprofit organization helping thousands reverse chronic disease and regain vitality through lifestyle change. Together, they explore the missing link between goals and success—and why our habits, not our willpower, determine long-term health. Dr. Shobha breaks down the science of habit formation and how to turn healthy intentions into automatic daily actions.

You'll learn:

✅ The 5 key steps to forming habits that last

✅ Why small, consistent actions work better than motivation bursts

✅ How dopamine influences your behavior (and how to use it for good)

✅ Why accountability increases your success rate to 99%

✅ How to shift from "willpower" to "skill-power" for sustainable change

Dr. Shobha also shares her personal journey from traditional medicine to lifestyle medicine—and the revelation that true healing happens when patients learn the skills to make lasting change, not just receive advice.

👉 Connect with Dr. Shobha Rayapudi

🌿 Website: giftofhealth.org 

📘 Facebook: Gift of Health 

Instagram: giftofhealth_org

Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest host Cyd Notter.

Learn more about her work:

www.cydnotter.com

Facebook: facebook.com/cydnotter

Instagram: @cyd_notter

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

In this episode, guest host Cyd Notter talks with Dr. James Thompson, retired allergist and immunologist, integrative nutrition coach, and author of Fearless Wellness. Together, they explore how lifestyle and nutrition can build a strong, balanced immune system.

You'll learn:
✅ How the immune system really works—and why 70% of it lives in your gut
✅ The best plant-based foods for immune support and longevity
✅ The connection between gut health, brain function, and inflammation
✅ How lifestyle changes can reduce the need for medications
✅ The "Fearless" eight-pillar model for holistic health

Dr. Thompson also shares his journey from clinical practice to community health education and the mission behind the Healthy Living with a Vision Foundation, which empowers individuals to take control of their health through plant-based nutrition and accessible wellness programs.

👉 Connect with Dr. James Thompson

• Instagram: @fearlessmd21

• Dr. Thompson's website: https://fearlessmd21.com

• Healthy Living with a Vision Foundation: https://healthylivingwithavision.org

• Fearless Wellness on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9HKrE9i

🔗 Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine: https://healthscience.org

🎙️ Special thanks to guest host Cyd Notter.

Learn more about her work: www.cydnotter.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/cydnotter

📸 Instagram: @cyd_notter

👉 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to NHA Today for weekly conversations on plant-based nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and whole-body wellness.

#NHAToday #PlantBasedHealth #LifestyleMedicine #GutHealth #FearlessWellness

Welcome to NHA Today, the official podcast of the National Health Association! 🌱

Can the food on your plate lower your risk of breast cancer? 🌱 In this episode of NHA Today, guest host Chuck Carroll sits down with Caryn Dugan, co-founder of The Doc & Chef and founder of the Center for Plant-Based Living.

Caryn shares her personal journey—losing her father to cancer, facing her own melanoma diagnosis, and discovering how a whole-food, plant-based diet can reduce the risk of breast cancer and recurrence. Together with Dr. Jim Loomis, she now travels the world teaching how lifestyle medicine can help fight cancer before it starts.

💡 What you'll learn in this episode:

• How a plant-based diet supports breast cancer prevention

• The cancer-fighting power of cruciferous vegetables and alliums

• The truth about soy and breast cancer risk (hint: it's protective, not harmful)

• Simple ways to start cooking with more plants—even if you're new in the kitchen

• Why awareness and prevention must extend beyond Breast Cancer Awareness Month

🎁 Special Offer for NHA Podcast Listeners:

Caryn has offered a free month of membership to the Center for Plant-Based Living using the promo code CHUCK. The community, which she runs with Dr. Jim Loomis, includes live cooking classes, a recipe library, group support, and access to evidence-based nutrition guidance and much more! Visit plantbasedcenter.com to learn more

👉 Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to NHA Today for weekly conversations on plant-based nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and whole-body wellness.

• 👉 Connect with Caryn Dugan

  Website: PlantBasedCenter.com

  Instagram: @plantbasedcenter

  YouTube: The Doc & Chef

• Learn more about the National Health Association, explore membership, and subscribe to Health Science magazine:  https://healthscience.org

• 🎙️ Thank you to guest host Chuck Carroll for leading this conversation. You can also find his work here: The Exam Room Podcast (PCRM)