Can adults grow new neurons? Until relatively recently, experts believed the answer was no. But neuroscientist, Sandrine Thuret explains why she believes humans can indeed generate new brain cells, a process called neurogenesis. She discusses the findings of the fascinating research in this area and gives practical advice on how we can help our brains better perform neurogenesis through our lifestyles- improving mood, increasing memory formation and preventing the decline associated with ageing along the way. This is an empowering and eye-opening conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/sandrine

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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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"How I hold myself during the day impacts how I feel."

At this time of year, many of us are wanting to kick-start lifestyle change. But where do we start? Personal trainer to the Hollywood stars, David Higgins, shares his top tips on this week’s episode. David believes that no matter who you are, the issues and obstacles are the same. We discuss how to bring about lasting behaviour change and create long term healthy habits. We delve into the problems of exercising with incorrect posture and the importance of breathing correctly. David explains how he empowers people to take control of their bodies and live fuller, healthier lives. I hope you find this conversation useful.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/hollywood

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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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 "Somewhere in peoples DNA is a desire for them to be part of a community"

Parkrun began 14 years ago, with a simple concept: a free five-kilometre time-trial around Bushy Park, south west London. It was a low-key, unofficial affair with socialising at its heart. Now over 5 million people across 20 countries have registered for the event! But why has it become so popular? Nick Pearson, Chief Executive of Parkrun and guest on this week’s Feel Better, Live More podcast, explains why. He believes that community is a basic human need that has been squeezed out by our lifestyles. We all crave community and that is what Parkrun is all about. It is inclusive and it doesn’t matter whether you run, jog or walk – there is always someone behind you. Even if you can’t run, you can volunteer, which can be even more beneficial than running for your social wellbeing and confidence. In fact, because of its success in making movement accessible to all, the Royal College of General Practitioners has partnered with Parkrun to promote the wellbeing of its staff and patients. 

Parkrun really is more than a health movement – it is a social movement that makes you feel part of your local community. It has transformed my weekends. If you haven’t already, I hope this podcast inspires you to give it a go!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/parkrun

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“We need to give our mental health the same care we give our physical health.”

This week, I’m in the hot seat being interviewed by friend, fellow GP and lifestyle medicine advocate, Dr Ayan Panja. We talk about the whirlwind of the last year and how those experiences have shaped me. After the huge success of my first book, The 4 Pillar Plan, it became clear to me that the area that people struggle with the most, myself included, is relaxing. In fact, The World Health Organisation have named stress as the health epidemic of the 21st Century. Indeed, one study found that 80-90% of what GPs see is in some way related to stress. Ayan and I discuss why stress has become such an issue and why it can be so damaging to our health. But what can we do about it? I talk about the areas covered in my new book, The Stress Solution, which is full of simple, practical tools that you can apply in your lives. I also share my top tips for reducing stress, from having a golden hour every morning without your phone to prioritising your relationships. I hope you find this conversation useful! You can pre-order the book on Amazon now.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/stress

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Are you struggling with IBS or some aspect of your gut health? Right now, IBS affects almost 20% of the UK population at some point in their lives and it can be a major cause of distress and disability for the people who suffer from it. This week, I talk to nutritional therapist and author, Jeannette Hyde, about some of the common problems that she sees in her practice. She shares simple tips for treating these, improving symptoms of IBS and manipulating our microbiome - from time restricted eating to the foods that can help (and hinder) our gut health. Jeannette explains why she steers clear of the FODMAP diet for her clients and how personalisation is key when it comes to finding a diet and lifestyle that works for us. Jeannette and I also discuss alcohol consumption, something that is often overlooked or underestimated when we take a look at our lifestyles.

But gut health isn’t all about what we eat. We discuss how stress and other factors can also play a huge role. This conversation is full of great tips and I hope you find that it helps you!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/gutmakeover

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Have you ever thought about how important our feet are? And how they're connected to so many other parts of our bodies? This week's podcast is with Nick and Mike from ‘The Foot Collective’, a group of Canadian physical therapists on a mission to help humans reclaim strong, functional and pain-free feet through foot health education.

The feet are an often neglected part of our body. If you’re experiencing hip, knee or back pain, your feet may be the cause. Nick and Mike explain that although there are many ailments that many of us just write off as something that we just have, or that we've inherited, in actual fact, there may be something we can do to improve these conditions. The truth is, that while we might have a genetic susceptibility, our environment and our lifestyles also determine what happens to our bodies.

In our modern lives, we create an imbalance in our bodies by sitting too much and this can expose us to risk of injury. The Foot Collective give some brilliant tips on what we can do to avoid this. We also discuss orthotics and the damaging effects of wearing narrow shoes which squash our feet and talk about how we can help restore our feet to their natural state. After experiencing back pain for years, I found working on my feet made a huge difference. I hope you find this podcast helps you!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/footcollective

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“The most important thing is love and that starts with yourself”

Once beer-swilling rugby players, my guests on this week’s episode are identical twins Stephen and David, who now make up The Happy Pear. They share their incredible journey into healthy vegan living and talk about their desire to start a health food revolution – with the goal of making healthy food and lifestyle mainstream. It all started with a small humble vegetable shop and they now own a chain of natural food shops and cafés in Ireland as well as having their own plant-based food range in the UK. But for The Happy Pear, the cafés were also about creating a community around them, something which they have achieved in a truly inspiring way. We talk about how fundamental community is to our happiness and health. Their story is captivating and their energy is almost tangible. It’s impossible not to feel uplifted, positive and happy in their company – I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/happypear

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“We live in a society that generates addiction in most of its members.”

This week, I talk to renowned addiction expert, physician and best-selling author, Dr. Gabor Maté. He calls for a compassionate approach toward addiction, whether in ourselves or in others. Dr Maté believes addiction is not a choice, neither is it all about drugs and illicit substances. Instead, he believes that addiction affects most of us – whether it be to alcohol, nicotine, sugar, work or exercise…the list is endless. According to Dr Maté, the source of addiction is not to be found in our genes but in our early childhood.

We also talk about how our emotional stress translates into physical chronic illnesses and how we now live in a culture that doesn’t meet our human needs. Indeed, the conditions necessary for healthy child development are increasingly under threat in today’s society. Loneliness and lack of meaningful connection are on the rise, as are the rates of autoimmune disease and addiction. We discuss how the way we live our modern lives is impacting us more than we realise.

It was a real honour to sit down and talk eye-to-eye with Gabor about his truly revolutionary work. This was a deep and powerful conversation and I hope it helps you in your lives.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/gabor

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“I do have real fears about whether or not the toxicity will increase to dangerous levels”

The statistics are devastating. Plastic has increased twenty-fold over the past 50 years and will double again in the next 10 years. Already present in the stomachs of nearly all the world’s marine birds, by 2050 plastics in the ocean may outweigh fish, covering large swaths of the Pacific in floating garbage slicks. But what effect does this plastic have? When ingested by big fish, like whales and seals, it lowers their immune system, lowers their ability to reproduce and even sends them mad. There is little research relating to its effects on human health but there are some papers about BPA and its possible impact on male fertility. Whilst much more robust research is needed in this area, how long are we willing to wait before we take action?

This week, I talk to campaigner and Head of Oceans at Greenpeace, Will McCallum, about what effect single-use plastic (any plastic you use once and then throw away) is having on our planet and what we can do to stop it. Shockingly, even if you throw your coffee cup in the recycling bin, the chances are, it still won’t be recycled and may end up in the ocean. The same is true of the 35 million plastic bottles we use in the UK every day. Although the statistics may sound gloomy, small policy change can make a big difference. Now more than ever before, we have access to the people in power via social media and are able to ask for real change and we will be heard.

We also discuss how environmental health and human health are inseparable and how the current state of the environment is a reflection of our always on the go, highly stressed lifestyles.

Will shares some brilliant ways we can all make a difference including buying a reusable coffee cup, water bottle and bag as well as saying no to straws. This is an essential and empowering conversation – I hope you enjoy it! 

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/plastic

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“There is no family in the country that’s going to be untouched by depression”

Worldwide, depression will be the single biggest cause of disability in the next 20 years. But treatment for it has not changed much in the last three decades.  In the world of psychiatry time has apparently stood still.  Up until now, depression has not been considered to be a physical illness but rather something that is all in the mind. In this week’s episode, I talk to world-leading researcher, Professor of Psychiatry and author, Edward Bullmore, about the new science on the link between depression and inflammation of the body and brain. We delve into how and why we now know that mental disorders can have their root cause in the immune system and how identifying the root cause in each individual patient would lead to more effective targeted treatment.  Professor Bullmore explains that stress is probably the biggest risk factor for depression and we talk about how lifestyle can be used to combat it. I hope you enjoy the conversation!  My upcoming book 'The Stress Solution' is full of actionable tips to help you live a calmer, happier life. You can pre-order it on Amazon.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/inflamedmind

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