Medicine Redefined

Medicine Redefined

By Altamash Raja, DO and Darsh Shah, DOMedicineHealth & Fitness
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Medicine Redefined episodes

  • 172. Ultra-Processed Minds: Trauma, Addiction & the Food We Eat | David Wiss, PhD

    Dr. David Wiss, a registered dietitian with a PhD in Public Health from UCLA and a minor in Health Psychology. David is the founder of Nutrition in Recovery and the creator of the Wise Mind Nutrition app, which blends nutritional psychology, behavioral change, and trauma-informed care. His work sits at the cutting edge of nutritional psychiatry, functional medicine, and public health—and today’s conversation will leave you thinking deeply about how food shapes not just our bodies, but our minds, behaviors, and even our societal structures.


    In this episode, we cover:

    • The spectrum between disordered eating and full-blown eating disorders like ARFID
    • How ultra-processed foods hijack our brain’s reward system and mimic addiction
    • The emerging connection between gut health, inflammation, and mental health
    • Why early life trauma shapes long-term food behaviors and emotional regulation
    • How Dr. Wiss’s personal recovery journey inspired the Wise Mind Nutrition app and his unique clinical approach


    Mentioned in show:

    David's Website

    Wise Mind Nutrition App

    Nutrition in Recovery

    ARFID

    Nova Institute Think Tank

    Food Politics - Dr. Mike Podcast

    Recommended Article -Nutritional Criminology


    Social Media

    Instagram


    1 hr 22 min
  • 171. Microplastics Are Everywhere But Should You Care?

    In this unscripted deep dive, Altamash and Darsh tackle the overlooked but increasingly relevant topic of microplastics—what they are, how they affect our bodies, and what practical steps we can take to reduce exposure. From water filtration and air quality to household hacks and consumer habits, they explore the intersection of environmental toxins, chronic disease, and health optimization. Plus, the conversation veers into everything from sauna myths and visceral fat to book abandonment and the art of communication. A curious, wide-ranging discussion grounded in evidence and everyday life.


    Podcasts mentioned in the show

    Toxins on Medicine Redefined

    Rhonda Patrick on Modern Wisdom

    Peter Attia on Microplastics


    Studies

    Abdominal fat causing pain?

    43 min
  • 170. Owning Your Practice and Your Future with The Rise of Direct Specialty Care | Sarah Weinstein, DO

    Dr. Sarah “Sassy” Weinstein—triple board-certified in family medicine, sports medicine, and lifestyle medicine. After finishing her family medicine residency, Dr. Weinstein headed to Colorado for a sports medicine fellowship, then expanded her expertise by becoming board-certified in lifestyle medicine. Now practicing in Princeton, New Jersey, she blends advanced sports medicine techniques with holistic, lifestyle-focused care—all within a direct specialty care model that cuts out needless insurance barriers.

    In this episode, you’ll discover:

    • How she built a fulfilling practice by leaving draining environments behind and embracing direct specialty care.
    • Smart strategies for marketing and community outreach, helping her connect authentically with patients who need her most.
    • A blueprint for handling logistics in a cash-based model, from price transparency to collaboration with imaging centers.
    • Practical lifestyle medicine tips to address inflammation, enhance recovery, and boost overall wellness.
    • Advice for medical trainees and early-career physicians on finding autonomy and renewed passion in the evolving healthcare landscape.

    Core Sports Medicine

    1 hr 9 min
  • 169. Feeling Stressed is Optional: Redefining Burnout, Identity & Purpose | Robyn Tiger, MD

    Dr. Robyn Tiger is a board-certified physician and founder of StressFreeMD, a platform dedicated to helping healthcare professionals navigate burnout and reclaim a sense of calm in their daily lives. After overcoming her own high-pressure struggles as an interventional radiologist, Dr. Tiger dove deeply into lifestyle medicine, mind-body techniques, and cognitive behavioral tools—eventually developing a holistic approach to sustainable stress management. She is the author of Feeling Stressed Is Optional and a sought-after speaker who educates medical trainees, institutions, and practitioners on evidence-based strategies for improving mental well-being. Through her coaching and online programs, Dr. Tiger empowers others to prioritize self-care, rediscover their “why,” and cultivate resilience in the face of modern healthcare’s most pressing challenges.

    In this episode:

    - Revisiting Dr. Tiger’s JourneyHow her initial struggles with burnout shaped her holistic, mind-body approach to stress relief.

    - Labels & IdentitiesWhy identifying solely as a “doctor,” “mom,” or “Type A” may keep you stuck—and how to break free.

    -Stress: Good vs. BadUnderstanding healthy stress (eustress) and how to prevent chronic distress from impacting your health.

    - Practical Self-Care ToolsBusy-physician strategies to eat well, move mindfully, sleep better, and support mental health.

    - Aligning with Your PurposeReconnecting with your deeper “why,” so you can show up better for your patients, colleagues, and loved ones.


    Social media:

    Website

    Instagram

    Linkedin


    1 hr 2 min
  • 168. Rewiring the Brain: Unlocking the Secrets to Neurodegenerative Disease Prevention | Leonaura Rhodes, MBChB

    Today, we are honored to welcome Dr. Leonaura Rhodes, a physician, public health expert, neurotherapist, and certified brain health coach. With over three decades of experience, she has dedicated her career to helping individuals optimize brain function, manage stress, and design fulfilling lives. Dr. Rhodes combines her expertise in medicine, coaching, and neuroscience to empower people with actionable strategies for peak health and longevity.

    In this episode, we explore neurodegenerative diseases, the lifestyle factors that influence brain health, and practical steps to protect cognitive function as we age.


    Topics include:

    • Understanding neurodegenerative diseases: causes, progression, and common types like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and vascular dementia.

    • The role of genetics vs. lifestyle—can we prevent cognitive decline?

    • The 11 key factors that influence brain aging and cognitive function.

    • The power of exercise, sleep, and diet in maintaining long-term brain health.

    • How stress, inflammation, and gut health contribute to neurodegeneration.

    • The latest insights on supplements like creatine and their impact on brain performance.

    • How to build a resilient mind and optimize mental well-being through mindfulness and stress management.

    1 hr 29 min
  • Hype vs. Reality: The Biggest Health Trends of 2025
    In this episode, we revisit our 2024 health predictions to see what we got right—and what we completely missed. Then, we dive into the biggest winners and losers of 2025, the most overhyped health trends, and the breakthrough technologies that will actually make an impact.
    Plus, Altamash shares his personal experience with surgery and recovery, revealing the critical lessons he learned about muscle loss, nutrition, and what most people (and even doctors) overlook when it comes to post-surgical healing.
    Resources mentioned in the show:
    ⁠ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery⁠⁠: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34242915/
    Study on Sleep Regularity & All-Cause Mortality⁠⁠: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37738616/
    Study on Muscle Atrophy Post-Surgery & Nutritional Strategies⁠: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8156786/
    ⁠JAMA Open Access Paper on Nutrition Competencies for Medical Trainees⁠: https://www.google.com/search?q=%E2%81%A0JAMA+Open+Access+Paper+on+Nutrition+Competencies+for+Medical+Trainees%E2%81%A0&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS1124US1124&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
    55 min
  • 167. Hype vs. Reality: The Biggest Health Trends of 2025

    In this episode, we revisit our 2024 health predictions to see what we got right—and what we completely missed. Then, we dive into the biggest winners and losers of 2025, the most overhyped health trends, and the breakthrough technologies that will actually make an impact.

    • Plus, Altamash shares his personal experience with surgery and recovery, revealing the critical lessons he learned about muscle loss, nutrition, and what most people (and even doctors) overlook when it comes to post-surgical healing.

      Tune in to hear:
      • The 2025 health trends that are here to stay—and the ones that need to go.
      • AI’s growing role in healthcare and how it’s changing the game.
      • The truth about wearables, biohacking, and ultra-optimized living.
      • Why traditional insurance models are on the decline.
      • A deep dive into surgical recovery: what helps, what hurts, and how to bounce back faster


      Resources mentioned in the show:
      • ESPEN practical guideline: Clinical nutrition in surgery
      • Study on Sleep Regularity & All-Cause Mortality
      • Study on Muscle Atrophy Post-Surgery & Nutritional Strategies
      • JAMA Open Access Paper on Nutrition Competencies for Medical Trainees






    56 min
  • 166. Bridging Health and Design Through Architecture and Sustainable Agriculture | Denzel Hill

    Denzel Hill is an architectural designer with a unique perspective, aiming to connect the built world with nature to create healthier communities. He is the founder of Under One Sun Creative Consulting, an architectural design and visualization company. His company focuses on providing architectural drawings for custom residential builders and affordable home developers, emphasizing sustainability and communication. Denzel's vision focuses on designing healthy spaces with an emphasis on food security and a high quality of life. He is passionate about incorporating agriculture into the residential landscape, envisioning homes and communities that integrate elements for food production. Denzel is also committed to teaching and mentorship, believing it is key for progress. His journey is also informed by his background as a student-athlete at Columbia University, where he developed resilience, discipline, and perseverance


    Mentioned in the show:

    Tower Garden

    The Biggest Little Farm

    What The Health

    Social media:

    Substack

    Instagram

    Linkedin

    1 hr 26 min
  • 165. Can We Rebuild Trust in Healthcare After the COVID-19 Pandemic? | Heather Hammerstedt, MD, MPH

    Dr. Heather Hammerstedt is an emergency medicine physician, lifestyle medicine coach, and founder of Wholist Health. With over 20 years of experience in acute and chronic care, she has dedicated her career to addressing the root causes of illness through integrative approaches. Dr. Hammerstedt’s unique perspective combines her frontline emergency medicine work with her passion for coaching patients on nutrition, mindfulness, and movement.


    In this episode, we discuss:

    • Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ongoing impact on healthcare inefficiencies.
    • The growing distrust between patients and providers and its implications for care.
    • Alarmism in health messaging and the role of social media health experts.
    • Who should lead public health conversations: clinicians, influencers, or multidisciplinary teams?
    • Strategies for clinicians to navigate systemic barriers and moral injury.
    • Simple lifestyle changes—nutrition, sleep, and movement—that can transform health.

    • Resources mentioned in the show:

      • JAMA Network Open: Proposed Nutrition Competencies for Medical Students and Physician Trainees
      • Wholist Health
      • Dr. Matt Ramsey’s Podcast: 43cc

      • 48 min

      About Medicine Redefined

      From the publisher's feed

      Medicine Redefined challenges outdated conventions by elevating conversations around what health truly means. Hosts Dr. Darsh Shah and Dr. Altamash Raja spotlight clinicians, scientists, thought…

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