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This show is the antidote to health fads, hype, and misinformation. Dr Chana Davis chats with experts in science and medicine to help you make informed choices. Learn about nutrition, fitness, vaccines, happiness, women’s health, and more.
Episodes
Jan 20, 2023
Jan 20, 2023
21 min
Join us for a candid conversation about your urinary tract or "human plumbing" with Dr Kelly Casperson, a board-certified urologist who is passionate about empowering people to take care of their bodies.
Urinary tract issues are incredibly common, yet rarely discussed. Dr. Casperson sheds light on "normal" urinary tract function and what can go wrong, including UTIs and incontinence. We also discuss potential solutions, including bladder training, pelvic therapy, and medical interventions.
This episode is the first of a two part conversation with Dr. Casperson. In Part 2, we discuss her book: You Are Not Broken, and the broader topic of sexual wellbeing in women.
Note: This show does not constitute personal medical advice; it provides general advice and resources for those who suffer from urinary tract issues. Always talk to your healthcare provider about your unique situation.
For more from Dr. Kelly Casperson
@kellycaspersonmd on Instagram and Facebook
You Are Not Broken Podcast: https://www.kellycaspersonmd.com/podcast
Website: https://www.kellycaspersonmd.com
Other resources
American Urological Association: https://www.auanet.org
Canadian Urological Association: https://www.cua.org
Jan 6, 2023
Jan 6, 2023
12 min
To kick off Season 3, host Dr. Chana Davis shares a bit about herself and her mission for the show.
Dr. Davis gives a whirlwind tour of her journey from curious kid to geneticist to science communicator. She also sheds light on the passion for bringing you leading health experts to share practical information, helping you separate fact from fiction, and showing you how science is done.
For more of Dr. Chana Davis' work, follow her on social @fueledbyscience and check out her website: www.fueledbyscience.com
Dec 15, 2022
Dec 15, 2022
35 min
Join us for a conversation about misinformation and science denial, with Dr. Sara Gorman. This episode will help you contribute to one of the most important battles of our times: the fight between misinformation and evidence-based information. Dr. Gorman sheds light on where misinformation comes, why we are all vulnerable, how to protect ourselves, and how to engage productively with others who have been misled.
Dr. Sara Gorman is a public health expert and author who is passionate about fighting misinformation and creating a higher quality information environment for everyone. She has a Master's in Public Health from Columbia University and a PhD in English literature from Harvard. She is the co-founder of Critica Science, a community committed to making rational decisions about health and security. Her first book examines the psychology of healthcare decision making and irrational beliefs; her second book (in progress) is about conspiracy theories and distrust in science.
More from Dr. Sara Gorman
- Twitter @critica_life
- Critica Science: https://www.criticascience.org
- Those Nerdy Girls: https://dearpandemic.org/
Dr. Gorman's Books
- Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Science That Will Save Us
- Modern Medicine: Conspiracy Theories and Distrust in the 21st Century (under contract with Oxford University press)
Other resources and related links
- Breast cancer screening mammography decision aid for women in their 40s: https://bsd.weill.cornell.edu
- Breast cancer screening article on Those Nerdy Girls (by host Dr. Chana Davis): https://dearpandemic.org/breast-cancer-screening/
- COVID-19 contagiousness article on Those Nerdy Girls (by host Dr. Chana Davis): https://dearpandemic.org/10-day-positive-contagious/
ABOUT THE SHOW
Get Real Health is hosted by Chana Davis, PhD a scientist with a passion for helping others use science to make smart choices, big and small. Access more of her work at fueledbyscience.com or on social @fueledbyscience (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
Nov 23, 2022
Nov 23, 2022
30 min
Join sleep expert Dr. Lauren Hale to learn about why is sleep important and how we can improve our sleep.
Many of us are not getting enough sleep, and paying a steep price. Dr. Hale explains that poor sleep impacts us in many different ways, from mood and energy, to food choices, to mental and physical performance. She also shares concrete tips for investing in sleep so that you can reap the rewards of good sleep.
Dr. Hale is a sleep health researcher and professor at Stony Brook University. She's on the Board of Directors of the National Sleep Foundation, serves on the National Scientific Advisory Board for the Children and Screens Institute and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Sleep Health. Dr. Hale is also a founding member of Those Nerdy Girls at Dear Pandemic, where she answers questions about sleep health.
Links for Dr. Lauren Hale:
Twitter @LaurenHalePhD
Stony Brook University
Those Nerdy Girls
Resources:
National Sleep Foundation
Sleep Health Journal
https://www.sleephealthjournal.org
Good Sleep Summary from NIH
Good Sleep Summary from NIH
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ABOUT THE SHOW
Get Real Health is hosted by Chana Davis, PhD a scientist with a passion for helping others use science to make smart choices, every day.
Access more of Dr. Davis' work at fueledbyscience.com or on social @fueledbyscience (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter)
Nov 1, 2022
Nov 1, 2022
31 min
Join Dr. Carla DiGirolamo to learn about all things stress - the good, the bad, and the ugly. How and why does stress impact your health and wellbeing? What can you do about it?
Today's conversation focuses primarily on midlife health in women, as this is Dr. DiGirolamo's area of expertise. We discuss how stress shows up in her fertility patients and her fitness coaching practice, and how we can reduce stress with a small investment of time and energy.
Dr. DiGirolamo is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and obstetrician/gynecologist, and has a PhD in molecular pathobiology. She is also a certified menopause specialist, CrossFit Trainer and Nutrition Coach. Dr. DiGirolamo currently works as a fertility & menopause specialist at Boston IVF and as a private coach.
Note: For more from Dr. DiGirolamo, see Episode 44 on what expect during menopause and Episode 45 on navigating menopausal hormone therapy.
Dr. Carla DiGirolamo's links:
Athletic Aging newsletter: https://www.athleticaging.blog
Website: https://fitforlifemd.com
Social Media: @fitforlifemd
Jul 27, 2022
Jul 27, 2022
34 min
Join us to demystify menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo, a reproductive endocrinologist and menopause specialist.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The potential benefits and risks of menopausal hormone therapy
- How to navigate different hormones, formulations and doses of MHT
- What the term bioidentical means and how it's often misused
- When hormone testing is useful, when it's not, and why
Dr. DiGirolamo has profound expertise in hormones, menopause, and mid-life health. She is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and obstetrician/gynecologist, and has a PhD in molecular pathobiology. She is a certified menopause specialist through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) and a certified CrossFit Trainer and Nutrition Coach. Dr. DiGirolamo currently works as a private coach and as a fertility / menopause specialist at Boston IVF.
Note: For more from Dr. DiGirolamo, see Episode 44 on what expect during menopause and Episode 46 on stress.
Dr. Carla DiGirolamo's links:
Athletic Aging newsletter: https://www.athleticaging.blog
Website: https://fitforlifemd.com
Social Media: @fitforlifemd
Other Resources
Joint position statement by the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on best practice recommendations for the care of women experiencing the menopause (June 2022)
The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society
Estrogen Matters (by Dr. Avrum Bluming & Dr. Carol Tavris; deep dive on breast cancer risk and hormone therapy)
Hormone Therapy: WHI Controversy Part 1 (Podcast with Dr. Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris)
Hormone Therapy: WHI Controversy Part 2 (Podcast with Dr. Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris)
Jun 27, 2022
Jun 27, 2022
36 min
Join us for a conversation about the menopause transition with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo, a reproductive endocrinologist and menopause specialist.
We dig into the gory details of what to expect and why changing sex hormones impact our minds and bodies in so many ways - from hot flashes, to body composition, vaginal changes, sex drive, depression, anxiety and more. We also discuss the vital importance of fostering a healthy mindset during this time of change.
Dr. DiGirolamo has a profound understanding of our complex hormonal systems thanks to her extensive medical training and PhD in molecular pathobiology. She is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and obstetrician/gynecologist and a NAMS-certified menopause specialist. Currently, Dr. DiGirolamo is a partner at Boston IVF, where she helps her patients navigate menopause and fertility challenges.
Dr. DiGirolamo is also deeply passionate about life-long fitness and truly walks (and rocks!) the talk. She is a certified CrossFit Trainer and Nutrition Coach and loves empowering women to improve their health and vitality.
Note: This episode is the first of a two-part conversation. In part two, we discuss menopausal hormone therapy and lifestyle interventions to help you thrive during menopause and beyond.
More from Dr. Carla DiGirolamo:
Athletic Aging newsletter
https://www.athleticaging.blog
Website
https://fitforlifemd.com
Social Media @fitforlifemd
Other Menopause Resources:
https://www.athleticaging.blog
Website
https://fitforlifemd.com
Social Media @fitforlifemd
Other Menopause Resources:
North American Menopause Society
https://www.menopause.org
https://www.menopause.org
Jun 10, 2022
Jun 10, 2022
26 min
Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan joins us to talk about fitness, body composition, and metabolism, with a focus on women's health. We discuss practical ways to apply the latest research to support your health and fitness.
Abbie Smith-Ryan, PhD is a professor of exercise physiology and sports nutrition at UNC Chapel Hill. She directs the Applied Physiology Lab and is a fellow of several professional organizations including the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). Dr. Smith-Ryan has received numerous awards including Nutrition Researcher of the year and Young Investigator of the Year for the NCSA.
Her research focuses on exercise and nutrition interventions to modify body composition, cardiovascular health, and metabolic function. She is extremely passionate about women's health and has recently been studying the menopause transition.
In this episode, we discuss:
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Body composition: Why the number on the scale is not the best predictor of health; how body composition is affected by menopause and aging.
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Metabolism: What the term "metabolism really means, how it's measured, and how much we can, and cannot, control it.
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Muscle: Why women should prioritize muscle mass; why building and maintaining high quality muscle is so important, especially as we age.
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Fitness: Which types of exercise give you the most "bang for your buck"
Connect with Dr. Smith-Ryan through her website, Twitter or Instagram:
Studies
Metabolic effects of menopause: a cross-sectional characterization of body composition and exercise metabolism (2022)
May 9, 2022
May 9, 2022
30 min
Join nutrition scientist Dr. Megan Lee and host Dr. Chana Davis for a conversation about the link between food and mental health, with a focus on depression.
Megan is a Senior Teaching Fellow and researcher at Bond University in Australia. She has a Bachelor in Psychology and completed her PhD in Nutritional Psychiatry weeks after this conversation (May 2022). Throughout her career, she has published research on food and mood, body image, disordered eating, and more.
In this episode, Dr. Lee gives an overview of what we know, and what we don't know, about the link between diet and depression. She also sheds light on the murky relationship between depression and vegan / vegetarian / plant-based diets, a topic that she is actively researching.
As always, this episode takes you behind the scenes to see how science is done and helps you navigate health headlines with confidence - and skepticism.
Connect with Dr. Megan Lee on Twitter @meganleephd or her website:
Links:
Plant-based dietary quality and depressive symptoms in Australian vegans and vegetarians: a cross-sectional study
Apr 19, 2022
Apr 19, 2022
29 min
Dr. Brenda Davy joins us to talk about what we drink and why it matters - from hydration, to fluoridation, to weight management.
Dr. Davy is a Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise at Virginia Tech. She earned her PhD in Human Nutrition and MS in Exercise Physiology and is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Her areas of expertise include obesity and body weight regulation; water and beverage intake and health; diet and cardiovascular diseases; and dietary intake assessment.
This episode spans a wide range of topics including how beverages impact energy intake, how to stay hydrated, and how to make beverage choices that support your lifestyle and body weight goals. As always, we look behind the curtain to see how science is done, and how real scientists put their knowledge into practice.
Note: This conversation does not address controversial aspects of weight management like the harmful impacts of diet culture and weight stigma. Please see previous episodes with Dr. Gabrielle Fundaro (Ep #23) and Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford (Ep #28) for discussions of these important topics.
Connect with Dr. Brenda Davy on Twitter or at Virginia Tech:
Resources:
CDC Re-Think Your Drink:
Rev Your Bev Campaign:
Fluoride and Health (Canada):
Fluoride in Water (US CDC):