Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing.

A long healthy life is no accident. It begins with good genes, but it also depends on good habits. If you adopt the right lifestyle, experts say, chances are you may live up to a decade longer. So, what’s the formula for success?

National Geographic Explorer and author Dan Buettner has lead teams of researchers across the globe to uncover the secrets of Blue Zones—geographic regions where high percentages of centenarians are enjoying remarkably long, full and happy lives. In this week’s episode, I talk with Dan about his adventures in the Blue Zones and discuss what we can all learn from his findings.

Dan found commonalities amongst each of these Blue Zones which led to a formula for success that includes lifestyle, community and purpose. We delve into all these areas and discuss how achieving a long, healthy and happy life is something that goes far beyond personal responsibility. People in these longevity hot spots do not pursue health and happiness. Health and happiness ensues from the environment which they are in. Dan explains what you can do to design your surroundings to stack the deck in favour of health, longevity and happiness.

We also discuss Dan’s Blue Zones Project - a health and longevity initiative that models the principles of communities around the world that have the longest living people and applies those principles to other cities and communities. The results have been staggering.

Finally, Dan explains how he has changed his own lifestyle following his research and he shares his top tips for living a longer and more fulfilling life. This is a fascinating conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/bluezones

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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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When was the last time you were completely alone?  Not alone by modern standards, but truly alone - with no mobile phone or outside influences providing information to your brain. Can you think of a time?

Global icon, prolific mountain runner and guest on this week’s episode, Kilian Jornet believes that it is only when you take away the storm of information, that you can discover what your true priorities are. And for him, the mountains are the tool to do just that. Not only do they allow him to explore the beauty of nature, they allow him to discover himself. He explains that by pushing his body to its limits, all the masks that he wears in everyday life are removed and he is able to find out who he really is.

Kilian and I discuss the benefits of solitude, failure and visualisation. We delve into Kilian’s amazing feat of climbing Everest twice in one week and talk about how immersing oneself in a challenging situation can be a form of mediation. Finally, Kilian shares some brilliant tips to help us all connect with ourselves and live our best lives.  I found Kilian’s single-minded drive to live the life he wants to live truly inspiring – I hope this conversation inspires you too. 

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/66

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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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Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were more confident? This week, I sit down with hypnotherapist, anxiety expert and author, Chloe Brotheridge, to talk about how confidence is a skill that everybody can learn. Chloe explains that by taking small steps to challenge yourself, you can retrain your nervous system and gradually, you will be able to achieve things that you never thought would be possible. 

We discuss how shame can be the root of many of our anxieties and why striving for perfection is so problematic. We talk about how we can all cultivate more acceptance by embracing things as they are. Finally, we delve into the importance of learning to say no – in a world where we are all struggling to find time for ourselves, by saying no to the things you don’t want to do, you are freeing up time for the things you do want to do and saying yes to yourself. Chloe finishes with some brilliant tops tips that will help you transform the way that you feel. This is a really empowering conversation – I hope it helps you in your lives.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/bravenewgirl

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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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Time is the most precious commodity we have, yet despite all the advances in technology, most of us are more time poor than ever before. Cultural commentator and best-selling author, James Wallman, believes that few of us really understand which experiences bring us joy and success, and which don’t. In fact, for many of us, free time can be harder to enjoy than time at work.

James argues that just as we have learned to spot the differences between junk foods and superfoods, we need to learn the equivalent rules for time. He has drawn on research from psychology, economics and culture to create a seven-point checklist that he believes will help you avoid empty experiences and fill your free hours with exciting and enriching ones instead.

We discuss the importance of putting ourselves in challenging or unusual situations, having fulfilling relationships, achieving a state of flow and being in nature. James also talks about the importance of having status and significance for happiness and explains how we can all attain this in our lives. Finally, James gives his top tips for leading a happy and fulfilling life. This is a really lively conversation and James is bursting with anecdotes – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/64

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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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Gut health is a hot topic these days, with more and more research showing that our gut health impacts so much more than our digestive system. The gut is now being implicated in a host of different conditions, from joint pain to depression. But why is gut health so problematic for so many of us in the 21stCentury?

I discuss this with clinical researcher, author and gut expert, Dr Michael Ruscio, on this week’s episode. We talk about the increase in hygiene practices and antibiotic use and ask whether we have traded life expectancy and infant mortality for allergy and autoimmune conditions. We delve into what happens in the gut in the first three years of life and discuss what you can do to improve your gut health.

We also discuss the use of probiotics and Dr Ruscio explains how you can figure out which probiotics are right for you. Finally, Dr Ruscio shares some fantastic top tips to help you live your best life. This is a really interesting conversation – I hope you find it useful!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/63

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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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This week, I sit down with one of the most influential Zen Buddhist monks and teachers in South Korea, Haemin Sunim. He offers a unique perspective on vulnerability, authenticity and the journey to finding out who we really are. Haemin believes that we have become used to sacrificing the present for the sake of the future and that intentional living is key to happiness. He argues that only by accepting yourself – and the flaws which make you who you are – can you have compassionate and fulfilling relationships with your partner, family and friends. 

We discuss the importance of stealing back some down-time in our busy lives and learning to say no. Haemin reveals what he does each day to bring about happiness and calm in his own life as well as some brilliant tips that we can all put into practice to improve the way that we feel. This is an uplifting and thought-provoking conversation – I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/62

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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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Mental health problems are extremely common - it is estimated that 1 in 4 of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. Yet so many of us still view these illnesses as a weakness or a personal failure.

On this week’s episode, I sit down with best-selling author and one of the most prominent voices in the mental health arena, Matt Haig to talk about all things related to mental health. We discuss how society’s understanding of mental health can be very limited and often very toxic and how talking about it and understanding the different textures that exist under its banner is essential.

We explore the pressures put on us by modern society, how work place cultures affect our mental health and the need to teach our children about mental health.

As someone who has suffered from depression and anxiety, Matt shares his own personal journey and explains how he finds optimism in dark places. Finally, Matt shares his top tips on improving the way that you feel. This is an open, honest and really important conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/61

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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 do you experience stress? Women and men generally experience stress in very different ways and women are much more likely to feel overwhelmed and exhausted than men. But why is this?

Guests on this week’s episode, Drs Emily and Amelia Nagoski believe that the reason lies in the fact that what’s expected of women and what it’s really like to be a woman in today’s world are two very different things—and women exhaust themselves trying to close the gap between them. 

They explain the importance of separating the stress from the stressor. Stressors are the external forces that are giving you stress. Stress is an experience that happens in your body – it’s a physiological cycle that has a beginning, a middle and an end. And you can complete the stress response cycle even without fixing the problem and getting rid of the stressor. They explain the various ways in which we can do this – from laughing and crying to having a warm embrace with a loved one. We also discuss the importance of human touch and how imagination is a surprisingly powerful way of completing the stress response cycle. 

Emily and Amelia share their own personal journeys and share some brilliant tips, that are simpler, easier and quicker than you may think. This is a really passionate and inspiring conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/60

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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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We are all bombarded by stress throughout our daily lives and it comes in many different forms, but how do we actually know what impact that stress is having on our bodies? One of the key messages from today’s conversation is a reminder of how unique we all are.

My guest on this week’s episode is nutritionist and researcher, Alessandro Ferretti, who has spent years researching the effects of various stressors on the body by meticulously monitoring the heart rate variability (HRV) and blood sugar levels of both his clients and himself.

He shares the fascinating findings of his research and explains that what causes stress on our bodies can be different for different individuals - one man’s medicine really can be another man’s poison - and the way we perceive an event is key.

We also discuss the effect of shift work on our bodies, how type 2 diabetes is not just a dietary problem, how the wrong timing of meals can act as a significant stressor on the body and the impact of caffeine and insufficient sleep.

Finally, he gives some brilliant tips for optimising your health. This is a really informative conversation – I hope you enjoy it!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/alessandro 

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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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Whether it's a dream job, a successful relationship, losing weight or running a marathon, you have the power to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Yet for most of us, life just passes us by.

In this week’s episode, neuroscientist and executive coach, Dr Tara Swart, explains how we can all take back control of our lives by training our brains to create the life we want to live.

She explains the science behind ‘the law of attraction’ and talks about how what we think and feel are so intimately connected with what goes on in our bodies. We discuss the power of journaling and how creating a vision board – a collage that represents everything you aspire to – can be a surprising way to focus your intentions and construct a life that’s true to your innermost wishes.

Dr Swart also talks about the concept of value tagging – placing a new idea at the front of your mind by thinking about it often. Finally, she gives her top tips for getting the most out of life. This conversation could change your life for the better – I hope it does!

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/58

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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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