Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

My guest today believes that the single biggest problem with our health these days is not that we carry too much fat but that we don’t carry enough muscle. She believes that if we start to focus and prioritise our largest organ – our muscle – we can burn more fat, improve our body composition, decrease our risk of disease and increase our energy levels.

Dr Gabrielle Lyon is a family medicine and osteopathic doctor who has specialised in geriatric care. What she’s seen and learned as an end-of-life physician has led her to investigate the importance of skeletal muscle as a means for people to live longer, stronger and better lives. She now focuses her practice on what she calls Muscle-centric Medicine.

In this conversation, Gabrielle makes the case that the quality of our lives is in direct correlation to the health our muscles. Gaining muscle, she explains, won’t just help us slim down. It can change metabolism, reversing insulin resistance and other risk factors for chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And it’s equally important for reducing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), protecting our skeleton, improving mobility and balance, and reducing fall risk with age.

Many of us aren’t aware that we lose muscle mass from as early as our 30s - so for most of us, it’s something we need to prioritise immediately. Gabrielle explains what type of protein we should be eating and how much, we cover what exact combination of exercise Gabrielle recommends to her patients and we discuss why for women in their peri-menopausal years, muscle loss is a very real problem that needs addressing.

Gabrielle is realistic about the amount of effort her recommendations require and I find it really refreshing that she’s not trying to sugar-coat anything to make it more palatable. She’s someone who deeply cares about the health of her patients and wider society and wants to empower us all with practical knowledge that will help improve the quality of our lives.

I really enjoyed my conversation with Gabrielle – I hope you enjoy listening. Gabrielle also has her own podcast The Dr Gabrielle Lyon Show https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dr-gabrielle-lyon-show/id1622316426

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/296

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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We all have times when we lack self-confidence, but loss of confidence can sometimes hold us back and stop us living the life we want to live.

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

Today’s clip is from episode 254 of the podcast with Vanessa Van Edwards, an expert in body language, facial expressions, and nonverbal communication. 

Vanessa calls herself a ‘recovering awkward person’. She certainly doesn’t come across like that - she exudes confidence and charisma. In this clip she reveals some of the techniques that helped her transform and that you can start using today.

Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://www.drchatterjee.com/295

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:

UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ

US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

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DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

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Today I’m excited to welcome Dr Gabor Maté back to the podcast for a third time. Gabor is a fellow physician, author, speaker and friend who brings warmth and wisdom to every conversation we have. He’s a renowned expert on addiction, trauma, stress and childhood development – and someone with a unique understanding of how our spiritual, emotional and physical lives are connected.

Gabor’s latest book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture is quite simply a masterpiece, which has the potential to help people the world over. It connects two of the most important factors in modern health – individual trauma and the pressures of modern-day living.

During this conversation, we discuss the prevalence and nature of addiction. We ask what ‘normal’ means these days when it comes to health. And why it is that success rarely equates with contentment.

Gabor defines childhood trauma and we discuss how parents can be aware of what causes it – but, importantly, why they shouldn’t look back and feel shame or blame. He shares some very personal insights that demonstrate that he’s as human as the rest of us, and how he’s found peace today.

We talk about self-awareness as a key factor in being a good doctor; why ‘psychosomatic’ should be a diagnosis not a dismissal, and how stress burdens the body, undermines immunity and causes emotional distress. Gabor shares some fascinating new research on the different personality traits that link to chronic disease. And he gives his view on why 80% of all autoimmune disease is seen in women.

This was a very special conversation, one which I hope you will find comforting, motivating and full of hope.

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/294

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if you could prevent ageing or even reverse it?

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

Today’s clip is from episode 208 of the podcast with one of the world’s leading scientific authorities on ageing - biologist and Harvard professor, David Sinclair.

The key to staying young, he explains, is inducing hormesis, a state of survival in our bodies, and, in this clip, he describes some simple habits that can help to switch on our bodies’ longevity genes.

CAUTION: This podcast discusses fasting and its advice may not be suitable for anyone with an eating disorder. If you have an existing health condition or are taking medication, always consult your healthcare practitioner before going for prolonged periods without eating.

Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/208

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:

UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ

US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee

Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee

Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

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The tired brain remembers negative experiences but forgets the positive ones. Is there a more powerful statement in favour of going to bed earlier and prioritising our sleep? Modern life has seen us push into the night, staying up later and extending our social and work lives around the clock. But this, says today’s guest, goes against what our bodies are wired to do.

Russell Foster is Professor of Circadian Neuroscience at Oxford University and author of the fantastic new book, Life Time: The New Science Of The Body Clock And How It Can Revolutionise Your Sleep and Health. Russell explains that living out of sync with our circadian rhythms doesn’t just lead to sleep disruption and tiredness. The further we stray from them, the more we become vulnerable to chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, suppressed immunity, dementia and mental illness. But he’s not here to scare us – rather share the strategies that we can all use to get back on track.

During this compelling conversation, we cover the science behind exposure to natural daylight at the right times. We talk chronotypes – and if there’s anything you can do to change being a lark or an owl. Russell explains the dangerous phenomenon of ‘microsleeps’ and why 4am is the most dangerous time to be on the roads. And we cover the unique problems faced by night-shift workers and new parents, including what they, their families and employers can do to mitigate their health and safety.

We also chat about the value of sleep trackers and blue-blocking glasses. Russell busts the myth that we all need eight hours’ sleep or that you mustn’t read a Kindle before bed. And he reveals the best time of day for sex (clue: it’s different depending on whether you want to conceive or relax). And for all those insomniacs who go to sleep fine but wake during the night? There’s some wisdom towards the end of our conversation that you’ll want to hear!

This is a fact-filled episode, full of fascinating insights. I hope you enjoy listening.

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

If you're a healthcare professional, come and see me and Professor Russell Foster speak live in November. https://bit.ly/3RD1DSq

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/292

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

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For the last in the current series of Feel Better Live More, I’m welcoming back someone I know you’ll love. Professor Tim Spector was my first-ever guest, and he returns for the third time today, with the very latest on gut health and personalised nutrition.

Tim is a professor of genetic epidemiology and Head of the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London. He’s a world-leader when it comes to the gut microbiome – and Director of the British Gut Project – whose research has transformed what we know about food and health. Tim is author of two excellent books, The Diet Myth and Spoonfed: Why Everything You Know About Food Is Wrong.

This conversation will bring you up to date with all Tim’s most recent findings and practical advice. But don’t worry if you’re new to the subject of gut health, as we also provide a need-to-know guide to get you up to speed.

We start by discussing why gut health is such a hot topic. Tim explains that, unlike our genes, it’s something we can influence, thereby improving not just digestion but almost all aspects of our wellbeing. He reveals the gut-friendly properties of plant fibre, polyphenols and fermented foods. And because diversity is key, Tim shares some of his own food hacks for getting to 30 different plant foods a week.

Tim believes the obesity crisis is more of a food crisis, fuelled by ultra-processed foods. We discuss a move towards counting quality instead of calories, and why the new mandatory calorie labels are unhelpful for most people. We also talk about personalised nutrition and the revolutionary PREDICT studies, carried out for Tim’s ZOE nutritional science company, which found people can have dramatically different biological responses to the same foods. The results have led him to develop a personalised nutrition testing kit and app that you can try too.

Our conversation covers much more, including the benefits of time restricted eating for gut health, why skipping breakfast isn’t bad for you, and the pros and cons of health trackers. Tim also reveals the gut parasite that 1 in 4 of us have, which rather than making us ill, can actually have huge benefits for our health.

This is a fascinating conversation; full of practical and actionable information. I hope you enjoy listening.

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/291

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What if the only thing separating you from living your perfect life is the dialogue that exists within your subconscious mind?

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

Today’s clip is from episode 199 of the podcast with Peter Crone, also known as ‘The Mind Architect’

In this clip, he explains why we all have the power to choose how we respond to any situation and the impact this can have on how we live our lives.

Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore

Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/199

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:

UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ

US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee

Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee

Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

CAUTION: This episode contains mild swearing.

What’s holding you back from pursuing your dreams? What if the ‘when’ you’re waiting for never comes? Today’s guest believes confidence is a by-product of taking action – and she wants you to take action now.

Lisa Bilyeu is a British-born but now American-based entrepreneur who co-founded the billion-dollar company Quest Nutrition. She also hosts a weekly YouTube show, Women of Impact, and is the author of the brand new book, Radical Confidence. It’s a lively and inspiring read – part memoir, part self-help manual for anyone who wants to rewrite their own script and overcome ‘the purgatory of the mundane’.

In this conversation, Lisa explains how she went from being a supportive, stay-at-home wife to husband Tom (Bilyeu, who you may remember from episode 110) to someone in hot pursuit of her own dreams. Being a housewife for eight years was an arrangement she and Tom agreed on, to enable him to make their fortune. But with time, her gratitude for their comfortable life was holding her back from fulfilling her potential. She explains how her own ‘radical confidence’ came as the result of taking a risk and trying something new.

I think that’s such a powerful way of looking at it, that confidence is a consequence. It’s a useful way of seeing so many areas of life where we might be telling ourselves we can’t change, be it losing weight, getting fit or getting that new job. The truth is, says Lisa, we already know what we have to do. We just need the conviction to get going.

This conversation is packed with other gems of wisdom from Lisa’s life. From the intentional communication that underpins her marriage, to the realisation that the only hero she really needed was herself. From finding the solution to her gut-health problems, to the ‘No BS’ trick she and Tom use for working out what they really want from life. All this, and much more, in this fantastic episode. I hope you enjoy listening.

Thanks to our sponsors:

https://www.calm.com/livemore

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore

http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/289

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We react to every single situation in life with our breath and we have the power to choose how we respond to any situation by controlling our breath.

Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart.  Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.

Today’s clip is from episode 113 of the podcast with human performance specialist Brian MacKenzie.

In this clip, he explains how we can use the power of our breath to become more present and help counteract the stresses and constant stimulus of modern-day life.

Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore

Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/113

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:

UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ

US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee

Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee

Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are the people around you supportive of your health goals? If you were to embark on a new routine, would your friends be a help or hindrance? For today’s episode, I was delighted to welcome my good friend James Maskell for a conversation around friendship, community and the concept of ‘group medicine’.

James is a health entrepreneur, author and community builder. He studied health economics and it’s now his mission to curb rising healthcare costs across the globe with a model that puts people first. His latest book, The Community Cure, looks at how helping groups of people with common health concerns come together can solve the very problems they share – an idea similar to Alcoholics Anonymous. He runs virtual health coaching groups in the US, which have been successful for everything from autoimmune disease to depression, chronic pain to digestive disorders. And he believes there are few conditions that couldn’t be helped by a collective mentality.

We discuss a 2006 NHS version of this concept, which famously saw patients work together to reverse their type 2 diabetes through diet. It saved one practice £70,000 a year in drug costs, which would have equated to £270 million if rolled out across the UK.

But it’s not just health-focused communities that can feel the benefit of coming together in groups and James and I discuss the profound benefits of men’s groups. When people share their experience, solutions and support each other to live well, amazing things can happen. I hope this conversation encourages you to reach out, find your tribe, and see what you can do for each other. 

Thanks to our sponsors:

https://www.athleticgreens.com/livemore

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore

Order Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgp

Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/287

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices