Decoding Obesity

Episode 50: Very Low-Calorie Diet- What, Why, When??

You are probably already aware of cutting calories for weight loss. However, have you heard of the very low-calorie diet? Dr. Richard Lindquist is back on our show once again! He is one of the directors of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. He is a trustee of the Washington State Chapter of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. He has practiced as a full-time obesity specialist for 15 years and has now transitioned to consulting. Join me as I discuss Very-Low-Calorie Diet (VLCD) as a strategy for weight loss with him.

Episode 49: Low Carb, Keto, and Obesity

With the rise of obesity, various diets have appeared in the 21st century, aiming to curb weight as well as improve physical performance. One of the popular approaches is the ketogenic diet - a diet high in fat and proteins and very low in carbohydrates. In today’s podcast, I’m joined by a very special guest who will discuss the rationale behind the keto diet, how it helps people with obesity manage their weight loss, several misconceptions about the keto diet, his experiences in his years of teaching and helping people with this nutritional approach, and his expert opinion on the various studies on the ketogenic diet.

Episode 48: Did Ayurveda Really Have The Answer?

Man has always had a quest to improve his health and life. Ayurveda is one of the prominent ancient systems of medicine that was developed in India. There were no clinical trials at that time, but a keen eye for observing various phenomena. Our guest for today will be sharing with us her interest in Ayurveda and how its principles have completely changed her life.

 

Dr. Siri Chand Khalsa, a board-certified physician and wears many other hats. She is also a yoga instructor, reiki master who has had a lifelong interest in mindful living as a basis for the long-term vitality of mind, body, and spirit. She completed a residency in Internal Medicine at The Mayo Clinic in 2005 and is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Medicine. She studied the ayurvedic system of medicine thoroughly, after completing her training in allopathic medicine giving her a deep understanding of the same. Dr. Khalsa is currently supporting physicians who want to expand their personal understanding of the new ways of healing through an experiential process— utilizing techniques in Ayurveda, yoga, mindfulness, and plant-based nutrition.

Episode 47: Personal Stories- Gino West

Our guest on this episode has experienced obesity at close quarters. He suffered from it for all of his childhood and teenage years. But, when he got his calling to lose weight, he tweaked his lifestyle which gave him amazing results. He lost a whopping 140 lbs! How has he achieved this, you may ask? Listen to this episode to find out!

 

Chef Gino West, the owner of a meal preparation company called Prepped Wellness. Prepped Wellness is a meal-prep company operating in Youngstown, Ohio with a mission to deliver healthy and fresh meals to its customers.

Episode 46: Gut Microbes And Obesity

In our previous episode, we have tackled fiber, but we were also able to take a glimpse into its relationship with our gut bacteria. Well, what is the gut microbiome and how does it impact our health? Our gut (gastrointestinal tract) definitely plays a big part in our overall health and that’s what we’re about to dive deeper into on today’s episode!

 

What we eat certainly nourishes us, but it also nourishes the vast amount of microbes present in our gut. Because of the diversity and the huge ‘community’ these microbes build, it is almost as if there is an ecosystem within each one of us. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Supriya Rao, a gastroenterologist in the Greater Boston Area. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, and Obesity Medicine. She has a very keen interest in the gut microbiome.

Episode 45: Importance Of Dietary Fiber In Obesity

According to the 2020-25 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the daily fiber intake of Americans is inadequate. We all have heard about the importance of fiber at some point in time. In this episode, we take a deep dive into how fiber works, its different types, and how it actually benefits our overall health. Dr. Richa Mittal, who is a board-certified physician in Obesity Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine joins me to discuss this at length.

Episode 44: Is Your Diet Improving Or Worsening Your Cardiovascular Health?

Our diets can have a big role to play in obesity and but what about the effect of food on cardiovascular health? Health begins with the food we eat. Our arteries are the highways on which the blood transports oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body. Atherosclerosis is the process of fat and cholesterol deposition in our arteries which can impede this essential process. Our very special guest shares her thoughts on how diet can impact atherosclerosis.

Episode 43: Losing Over 100 lbs., How Did He Do It? Personal Story- Sean Mulroney

When you hear the word ‘obese’, what do we usually think of? When you encounter people suffering from obesity, what thoughts come to you? Do you see them as suffering from a disease that needs medical treatment or do you see them as people who are lazy, who lack willpower, and can’t do anything in life?

Today’s guest is going to bust these myths today. Sean Mulroney has seen some exceedingly difficult times in his life translating to his weight gain, but he has come out stronger on the other side. He hosts a podcast called The Obesity Revolution and runs a program with his personal trainer to help people in a similar situation. Through his podcast, he tries to spread awareness about obesity to others.

Episode 42: How To Improve Your Sleep To Impact Your Weight Loss

Sleep is such an essential part of living. We spend nearly a third of our lives sleeping, and for good reason! Can you even imagine going a full day without sleep? We already know what sleep deprivation does to us mentally and physically. Unfortunately, sleep has taken a backseat in our fast-paced lives. It has become something people take for granted. Sleep is important for us, not just for our cognition but also for our overall health. It is especially important in obesity and weight loss. To tell us more about how sleep affects our overall health and how sleep deprivation relates to obesity, we have with us, Dr. Smitha Patel. 

 

Dr. Smitha Patel is Board certified in Neurology, Sleep Medicine, and Integrated Medicine. She has launched iNeuro Institute which provides services in Integrative Neurology and sleep education.

Episode 41: Gift This for Valentine's Day

How do you like the idea of cooking an amazing meal for your significant other without breaking the bank this Valentine’s day? Dr. Sarita Golikeri is a Family Medicine physician and also certified in Culinary Medicine. Dr. Golikeri consults with patients on managing and preventing conditions like diabetes and high cholesterol through diet and nutrition. Join us as we discuss how you can cook great meals that are healthy and do not break the bank!