Libsyn Directory

305 - Body On Fire: How To Fight Inflammation With Cardiologist Dr. Monica Aggarwal

Release Date: 10/23/2024

323 - What Are the Signs of Burnout? How Chronic Stress Hijacks Your Hormones, Energy & Career

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"Burnout is why I left. I just started talking myself out of it, that we shouldn’t do it anymore. I just kind of ignored those feelings. It’s strange to fall out of love with something that you’ve done every single moment of every single day for a very long time. Maybe it’ll be too sooner than later, right? But right now, that is going to keep it fresh. I want to keep this feeling." -Dotsie Bausch “I’m talking about how important B complex vitamins are for stress, and yet I’m at home, in my hotel room, on the road, grinding so hard that I’m not taking my own advice. I...

322 - Surprising Fiber Benefits, Heavy Metal Detox and Avoiding Gray Hair with Alexandra and Jason

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"A study that was done in 2022, it looked at over 4,000 adults over a 26-year span, and it found that just a 5-gram increase in fiber led to a lot less inflammation in the body. And they measured inflammation by C-reactive protein, which you can ask your doctor about when you get your next blood test to measure your CRP, or C-reactive protein, to see how inflamed you are. And when you have lower inflammation, this also lowers your heart attack risk. So, higher fiber in your diet can lower your heart attack risk by as much as 30%. Who knew, right?" -Alexandra Paul Today, we’re diving into the...

321 - The Pros and Cons of Cold Plunges & Antibiotics Plus Tips for Healthy Living with Alexandra & Jason

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"I have wondered if heart attacks could be an issue because it is a shock to the body when you walk into a cold shower. I don’t know. When you did those plunges, did you sort of slowly go in, or did you go in all at once because it’s easier that way?" -Alexandra Paul "No. I go all in, all at once. For me, if I do the gradual process—where I’m just dipping a toe in, literally just dipping a toe in—the feedback that my mind will give me is: ‘Danger, danger, danger. Do not do this.’ So I do it because I want to override that fear response and the danger signals that my brain is...

320 - How to Avoid Dementia and Alleviate Depression with Alexandra & Jason

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"You’ve also probably heard that playing an instrument helps your brain. And they did this study with twins. One twin played an instrument, and one twin didn’t. And the twin who played an instrument had a 64% lower likelihood of developing dementia. If you just remove your cataracts, you immediately improve your chances of not getting dementia by 30%." -Alexandra Paul “So, I want to introduce a food that is not prevalent yet in Western culture. And it’s one of the most incredible foods that has been growing in the Caribbean and tropical areas of Africa. It’s called…” -Jason...

319 - Gluten-Free Diet Concerns, Do Detoxes and Cleanses Work and How Much Water Should We Drink? with Alexandra & Jason

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"So, if you keep a pitcher of water in your fridge, or if you prefer room temperature, you just put it on a counter, cut up some fruit or cucumber to give it a fancier taste. And I actually thought that’s what you did, Jason, because I kind of imagined you having water with, like, cucumber in it. I’m not that fancy, but it’s the easiest thing in the world. I mean, now that you’re saying it, there’s no reason why I wouldn’t. It makes it a little more interesting. Right?"-Alexandra Paul -Jason Wrobel We’re bombarded with health advice—ditch gluten, detox your body, drink more...

318 - Debunking Paleo, Tips to Stay Lean, a Cancer Fighting Supplement and Nighttime Eating with Alexandra & Jason

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In this episode, Alexandra and Jason dive into the surprising role plants played in human evolution, challenging common Paleo diet myths. They share expert-backed strategies for staying lean long-term, including how to feel more satisfied with meals, and make time for exercise. Plus, Jason reveals his go-to superfood beverage and favorite breakfast recipes. The duo also answers your burning questions—exploring the potential health benefits of amla (Indian gooseberry) as a cancer-fighting supplement and whether late-night eating poses real risks. Don’t miss this packed episode full of...

317 - Lose Weight & Keep it Off; Are Seed Oils Bad for You?; Microplastics in Our Brains with Alexandra & Jason

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“GLP-1 is this thing that they are putting in medications now to lower our appetite. And GLP-1 is made by our bodies too, but it’s down in our lower part of our intestine, and processed foods generally get processed way up high in the intestine because they don’t have a lot of fiber—they just get processed right away. But the higher-fiber whole foods make it down there and trigger the GLP-1 sensors to say, ‘Oh, we’ve got food, let’s cut off that appetite drive.’” -Alexandra Paul In this episode, Alexandra and Jason break down the real science behind weight loss—what...

316 - Exercise vs. Bad Diets, Intermittent Fasting, Soy Limits and The Alcohol/Cancer Link with Alexandra & Jason

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“So, for people who might think, ‘You see, the vegan diet is too expensive’—no. You can get frozen fruits and vegetables too if you can't get the fresh ones. Absolutely, absolutely. This is true. And I'll do a tangent on your tangent. One of the things that I always recommend to people when I've done nutrition coaching in the past is, if they're price-sensitive, getting dried legumes and dried beans. They are some of the most nutrient-dense and cost-effective things you can buy.” -Alexandra Paul and Jason Wrobel How much cardiovascular exercise do you really need? What’s the truth...

315 - Acidic Foods & Inflammation, Eating for your Hormones, Toxic Air Protection and Vegan Breast Milk with Alexandra & Jason

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Today’s episode tackles big health questions and real-life challenges. Can breastfeeding vegans provide all the essential nutrients for their babies? A groundbreaking study from Amsterdam has the answer—and it may surprise you. Plus, can you rewire your microbiome to reverse lactose intolerance? If so, should you? And Jason shares firsthand what it’s like living with Los Angeles' post-wildfire air—spoiler: the real danger isn’t just in the smoke. From nutrition myths to hidden environmental threats, we’re cutting through the noise with facts that matter. Don’t miss this...

314 - Get Rid of Joint Pain, Lower Inflammation, Elevate Your Chi, How Vegans Get Plenty of Iron with Dotsie, Alexandra & Jason

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Get ready for a jam-packed episode that’s as exciting as it is informative! We’re diving into the power of black foods, the protein-packed perks of fava bean tofu, and tackling the big question: can you really get enough iron on a vegan diet? We’ll also explore how plant-based diets help combat inflammation and share a hot-off-the-press study debunking myths about plant-based alternatives—all with a side of Violife cheese deliciousness. Don’t miss this feast for your mind! Podcast sponsors: - Vedge Vegan Collagen: – use code S4G for 30% off your order. - ...

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Dr. Monica Aggarwal is the perfect example of what can happen when you don’t take care of your body … she’s also the perfect example of what can happen when you do take care of your body. Living under the constant pressure of defined gender norms in a subspecialty medical profession, Dr. Aggarwal strived to be perfect. After finishing school and experiencing several miscarriages, she had three children in four years and tried to be Super Mom along with her full-time job as a cardiologist. Ultimately, her body broke down and she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Months passed until she took control of her health—not with medicine, but with lifestyle. When she prioritized sleep, plant-based eating, and more gentle forms of exercise, she put her disease in remission. This is part one of our two-part interview with the fabulous and knowledgeable Dr. Aggarwal. We just couldn’t cover everything in one short hour. Buckle up and get ready to learn.

“So there's a study that shows that if you have high genetic risk and you have a poor lifestyle, your risk of building plaque stays here. But if you have that same high genetic risk and you have a great lifestyle, you can reduce that risk by 50 percent. So similarly, if you look at somebody with low genetic risk, then that person has a good lifestyle, they will have maybe a risk of heart disease of this. But if they have a low genetic risk and a poor lifestyle, they will double their risk by 50 percent. So why are we not working on lifestyle? Such a big and important problem. The reality is that our medical system is so flawed because we focus on acuity-based care and not value-based care, and that's fundamentally the problem.” - Dr. Monica Aggarwal

What we discuss in this episode:

- Expectations placed on women in the medical field

- Gender roles

- Dr. Aggarwal’s story of healing

- Rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune disorders

- Understanding inflammation and disease

- Inflammatory foods and triggers

- Understanding heart disease and risk

- Preventative measures to decreasing risk of illness

Resources:

- Book: Body on Fire: How Inflammation Triggers Chronic Illness - https://www.amazon.com/Body-Fire-Inflammation-Triggers-Chronic/dp/1570673926

- Instagram: @drmonicaaggarwal - https://www.instagram.com/drmonicaaggarwal/