Dive Into Health MD

In this insightful interview, Dr. Domenica Melinda Urzi shares her journey from sociology research to uncovering the hidden truths about our food system. Discover how pesticides, seed monopolies, and ultra-processed foods impact our health and what practical steps you can take to eat more mindfully and support the long term health of yourself, your family and your community.

KEY TOPICS:

Impact of pesticides on farm workers and consumers

Seed monopolies and their effect on biodiversity

Nutrient loss in processed foods and food quality

Practical tips for reducing pesticide exposure.

The importance of seasonality and local food

Guest Name: Dr. Domenica Melinda Urzi

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Food and Health

10:07 The Impact of Pesticides on Health

20:01 Understanding Organic Food and Its Limitations

24:08 The Seed Monopoly and Nutritional Implications

34:14 The Importance of Local and Seasonal Eating

47:50 Processing and Nutritional Depletion of Food

51:12 Understanding Ultra-Processed Foods

58:19 The Nutritional Impact of Processing

01:00:25 The Cycle of Snacking and Addiction

01:07:00 Navigating Food Choices for Families

01:11:15 Practical Steps for Healthier Eating

01:18:29 Empowering Children with Food Literacy

01:24:58 Marketing and Its Impact on Kids

01:31:49 The Importance of Food Literacy

Check out Dr. Urzi's Book : https://amzn.to/4twXVfE

Clean, Nutrient-Dense Seafood: Smell, Sourcing, Lab Testing, and Regenerative Aquaculture (with Seatopia’s James Arthur Smith)

Dr. Akshita Mehta interviews James Arthur Smith, founder and CEO of Seatopia, about sourcing clean, sustainable seafood using measurable nutrient and contaminant data. They explain that truly fresh fish should not smell fishy (fishiness signals oxidation), should have firm texture (mushiness suggests mishandling and poor freezing/defrosting), and that buying frozen and thawing at home can be safer than “fresh” market fish that may have been previously frozen. Wild versus farmed is framed as context-dependent, emphasizing what the fish ate and its environment, with concerns about biomagnified toxins like mercury and microplastics. Smith describes industrial fishing limits, aquaculture’s growth, species-appropriate feeds (microalgae/insect protein) to boost EPA/DHA, and regenerative multi-trophic aquaculture using shellfish and kelp to improve ecosystems. Seatopia’s approach includes third-party lab testing, publishing certificates of analysis, and standards for low mercury and no microplastics.

Affiliate Code: DIVEINTOHEALTH

Instagram

YouTube 

00:00 Fresh Fish Baseline

00:52 Podcast Intro And Takeaways

02:41 Why Lab Testing Matters

05:14 Healthy Food Practicality

07:59 Seafood Risks And Omegas

09:34 Docuseries From Source To Plate

13:18 Food System Trust Issues

18:02 Shrimp Additives And Value

19:42 Market Freshness Smell Texture

23:13 Wild Capture Limits

27:38 Aquaculture Feed And Omegas

30:09 Microalgae DHA Benefits

33:55 Super Freezing And Safety

36:01 Taste And Satiety

36:41 Wild vs Farmed Fish

40:04 Regenerative Aquaculture Basics

43:40 Questions to Ask Seafood

44:30 Seatopia Testing Standards

49:44 Why Mercury Builds Up

52:55 Salmon Nutrition and Safety

59:25 Farmed Salmon Color Feed

01:01:41 Mindful Eating and Water

01:04:07 Can Regenerative Scale

01:10:35 Closing Thanks and Outro

Meet your host, Dr. Akshita Mehta, and her good friend and frequent co-host, Dr. Divya Kurian—two double board-certified physicians on a mission to redefine how we think about health. In this kickoff episode, they dive into their personal journeys, what drew them to Lifestyle Medicine, and why focusing on daily habits is the key to long-term wellness. This is your starting point for understanding the “why” behind everything we’ll explore on this podcast.

Dr. Akshita Mehta is a neuroradiologist and lifestyle medicine physician exploring how we can mitigate disease that we see daily in practice through daily life choices. Interviews include farmers, health experts, physicians, scientists and food producers to break down how to find healthy food ingredients and other daily habits that shape the health we experience.