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In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores hay fever through the lens of immunology, bringing clarity to one of the most common and often underestimated conditions worldwide.
Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is an immune response shaped by genetics, environment, and a system designed to protect you, reacting to something that was never meant to be a threat.
Beneath the sneezing and the itchy eyes is a story about your immune system making a spectacular case of mistaken identity.
This episode covers how sensitisation works, the three overlapping pollen seasons, the hidden food connection most people never realise, the relationship between hay fever and asthma, and why hay fever is getting worse globally, and what that means for the hundreds of millions of people living with it.
Practical, clinically grounded, and with some tips that may genuinely change how you manage this season.

References:

1. Global prevalence of allergic rhinitis: 
Allergic Rhinitis: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Overview. Frontiers in Medicine, 2022.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.874114/full
2. Pollen seasons lengthening. Anthropogenic climate change is worsening North American pollen seasons. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2021.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013284118
3. UK pollen season. Climate Central — Pollen Season and Climate Change.
https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/pollen-season-climate-change
4. United airway disease : hay fever and asthma connection. United Airway Disease: Current Perspectives. Journal of Asthma and Allergy, PMC.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4872272/
5. Oral Allergy Syndrome. Stanford Health Care.
https://stanfordhealthcare.org/content/dam/SHC/clinics/menlo-medical-clinic/docs/Allergy/Oral%20Allergy%20Syndrome.pdf

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores caffeine beyond the morning habit, bringing clarity to the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance.

Caffeine is not just a pick-me-up. It is a molecule with a thousand-year history, a fascinating pharmacology, and a surprisingly complex relationship with your body.
This episode traces caffeine from its origins in the Ethiopian highlands, through the coffeehouses of the Ottoman Empire and the penny universities of Oxford, to the biology of what happens the moment it enters your bloodstream.

The conversation covers how caffeine works in the brain, why your genetics determine how long it stays in your system, and what that means for your heart, your sleep, and your health.
It explores the science behind energy drinks, the truth about decaf, the clinical reality of caffeine dependence, and emerging research linking caffeine to neurodegeneration.

Alongside the science, the episode draws on history, culture, and a little Sufi poetry to place caffeine in its full human context, and asks what it means to consume something so powerful, so unconsciously.

A grounded, science-based, and warmly delivered look at the molecule the world runs on, and what it is actually doing to you.

References: 

1. Cornelis MC, El-Sohemy A, Kabagambe EK, Campos H. Coffee, CYP1A2 Genotype, and Risk of Myocardial Infarction. JAMA. 2006;295(10):1135-1141.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/202502

2.Silverman K, Evans SM, Strain EC, Griffiths RR. Withdrawal Syndrome after the Double-Blind Cessation of Caffeine Consumption. New England Journal of Medicine. 1992;327(16):1109-1114.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199210153271601

3.Gardiner C, Weakley J, Burke LM, et al. The Effect of Caffeine on Subsequent Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sleep Medicine Reviews. 2023;69:101764.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36870101/

4.Zhao Y, Lai Y, Konijnenberg H, et al. Association of Coffee Consumption and Prediagnostic Caffeine Metabolites With Incident Parkinson Disease. Neurology. 2024;102:e209201.
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209201

5.StatPearls. Caffeine Withdrawal. National Library of Medicine. Updated 2025.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430790/
Comprehensive clinical reference on caffeine withdrawal including DSM-5 criteria, symptoms, and timeline.

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores insulin beyond the usual association with diabetes, bringing clarity to one of the most important hormones in metabolism.

Insulin is not just about blood sugar. It is central to how the body uses, stores, and manages energy every day. This episode explains how insulin works, how glucose moves through the body, and how balance is maintained after every meal through a clear and practical framework.

The conversation explores insulin resistance, why it develops over time, and how it connects to prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, and other related conditions. It also outlines the role of lifestyle factors including diet, movement, sleep, and stress in shaping metabolic health.

Alongside the science, the episode also draws on a personal story and a symbolic lens to connect these ideas to everyday life, and introduces a way of thinking about insulin as a system of order and structure within the body.

A grounded, science-based look at how the body manages energy, and why understanding insulin is key to long-term health.

References:

1. Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes – CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/insulin-resistance-type-2-diabetes.html

2. Insulin Resistance – StatPearls, NCBI
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507839/

3. Prediabetes and Insulin Resistance – NIDDK, NIH
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/prediabetes-insulin-resistance

4. Insulin Resistance – Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22206-insulin-resistance

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores the science of clutter and how the environments we live in influence attention, stress, and decision making.

Research in neuroscience and behavioural psychology shows that visual clutter increases cognitive load and forces the brain to work harder to filter information. Over time this can contribute to mental fatigue, distraction, and decision fatigue.

The episode examines how clutter interacts with attention regulation, stress physiology, eating behaviour, and everyday habits. It also looks at why the spaces people live in matter clinically, influencing safety, mobility, and how health behaviours unfold at home.

Set within the wider context of modern life and information overload, this conversation invites listeners to reconsider their surroundings and the role physical space plays in supporting clarity, focus, and wellbeing.

References:

1. Visual clutter and attention (Princeton Neuroscience Institute); McMains S., Kastner S. (2011)

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21228167/

Princeton Neuroscience Institute explanation of visual competition:

https://ipalab.princeton.edu/document/296 

2. Clutter and stress hormones (UCLA “Life at Home” study): Saxbe, D. E., & Repetti, R. L. (2010)

https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167209352864

PDF:https://repettilab.psych.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/302/2023/03/no-place-like-home.pdf 

3. Cluttered environments and eating behaviour (Cornell study): Vartanian, L. R., Kernan, K. M., & Wansink, B. (2016)

https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916516628178

4. Cognitive load theory: Sweller, J. (1988)

https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4

5. Behavioural activation and small task completion: Dimidjian, S. et al. (2011)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2011.02.003

6.Indoor allergens and respiratory health: Arshad, S. H. (2010)

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2010.10.007

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores the science of breathing and why something so automatic can reveal how the body is functioning.

We breathe roughly twenty thousand times a day, yet most of us rarely pause to notice it. This episode explores how breathing sits at a unique intersection between physiology and awareness, reflecting the state of the nervous system, stress responses, and recovery.

Drawing on physiology alongside traditional observational practices such as Swara Yoga, this conversation explains how breathing patterns, the nasal cycle, and autonomic regulation interact. Long before modern physiology described the shifting airflow between nostrils, traditional systems had already recognised this natural rhythm through careful observation of breath.

Set within the wider conversation on metabolic health, the episode explores how breath connects oxygen delivery, cellular energy, and nervous system balance. By learning to notice the body’s signals through breathing, listeners are introduced to one of the simplest ways to understand how the body regulates stress, recovery, and internal balance.

References:

1. Russo MA, Santarelli DM, O’Rourke D. The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human.European Respiratory Society Journal Breathe
https://breathe.ersjournals.com/content/13/4/298

2. Lehrer P, Gevirtz R. Heart rate variability biofeedback and regulation of autonomic function.Frontiers in Psychology
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00756/full

3. Telles S, Singh N, Balkrishna A. Physiological effects of yogic breathing practices.International Journal of Yoga
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6137615/

4. Eccles R. The nasal cycle in health and disease.Clinical Otolaryngology
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-4486.2000.tb00239.x

5. Jerath R, Beveridge C, Barnes V, Jerath V.Physiology of long pranayamic breathing: neural respiratory elements may provide a mechanism that explains how slow deep breathing shifts the autonomic nervous system. Medical Hypotheses.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21782306/

6. Vidigal-Lopes M, et al.Respiratory modulation of cardiovascular control.The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(18)30403-9/fulltext

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of MOHIVATE, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores vitamin D beyond the headlines, bringing clarity to one of the most discussed nutrients in modern health.

Often called the sunlight hormone, vitamin D sits at the intersection of health and environment, linking bone health and calcium balance with immune regulation and deficiency risk. This episode explains what vitamin D really does and why more is not always better.

Set against the background of recent headlines and supplement trends, this conversation brings clarity to testing, dosing, and safe supplementation, and explores why deficiency remains common in modern indoor lifestyles.

Alongside the science, the episode traces the history and evolutionary story of vitamin D, showing how human biology has always been shaped by sunlight and environment.

With clinical insight and practical perspective, this episode invites you to understand vitamin D as a foundational part of health in modern life.

References

1. NICE Vitamin D Guidance (UK)

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph56

2. NHS Vitamin D Overview (UK)

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

3. SACN Vitamin D and Health Report (UK Government)

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-vitamin-d-and-health-report

4. NIH Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (USA)

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/

5. Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline (International)

https://www.endocrine.org/clinical-practice-guidelines/vitamin-d-for-prevention-of-disease

6. Evaluation, Treatment and Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/96/7/1911/2833671

7. Vitamin D Testing and Clinical Use (MedlinePlus / NIH)

https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/vitamin-d-test/

8. Public Health England and NICE Vitamin D Statement

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vitamin-d-supplementation-during-winter-phe-and-nice-statement

9. Vitamin D and Immune Function Review 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3166406/

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of MOHIVATE, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores what metabolism really means and why it is much bigger than body weight alone.

Metabolism is the body’s living energy system. It includes how cells produce fuel, how tissues repair and rebuild, how the body switches between glucose and fat for energy, and how daily habits influence this regulation over time.

From ATP and mitochondria to fuel selection, metabolic flexibility, and energy use across the day, this episode translates core metabolic physiology into clear, everyday language.

We also unpack why metabolism is often misunderstood, why body size does not equal metabolic health, how adaptive responses protect survival during under-fueling, and why consistent lifestyle signals matter more than extreme plans.

You will hear how metabolic health connects with blood sugar balance, lipids, inflammation, muscle tissue, hormones, and long term disease risk, and how small repeatable habits support the system better than dramatic interventions.

With clinical clarity, warmth, and usable physiology, this episode brings metabolism back to where it belongs. Inside the body, not inside diet myths.

Clear science. Calm perspective. Practical foundations.

References

1. Physiology of Metabolism — NCBI Bookshelf, StatPearls: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546690/ 

2. Metabolism: Clinical & Experimental — peer-reviewed journal: https://www.metabolismjournal.com/ 

3. Cell Metabolism — high-impact physiology journal: https://www.cellmetabolism.org/ 

4. Understanding type 2 diabetes mechanisms — The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology review: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(24)00157-8/fulltext  

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this Valentine’s week episode of Mohivate, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores love, attachment, and awareness through the lens of emotional regulation and nervous system science.

This conversation brings together philosophy, psychology, science, and culture to explain how emotional triggers shape behaviour, how regulation supports healthier relationships, and why the pause between feeling and reaction protects both connection and heart health.

You will learn practical regulation skills, insights from attachment theory, emotional awareness tools, and simple ways to respond more steadily during difficult moments. A grounded, science-backed look at why regulated minds connect better.

References:

1. Emotion Regulation — Gross, J.J. Stanford Overview

https://web.stanford.edu/~psyphy/Psychological_Review_1998.pdf

(This is the foundational scientific model of emotion regulation used widely in psychology and neuroscience)

2. Book : Atlas of the Heart : Brené Brown

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Atlas-Heart-Meaningful-Connection-Experience/dp/1785043773/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1Y0VW74DZB064&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._Gy7lXqWgLRzJjFUzDsUoIAs5ZsrHjg8xJwdfHKHEcXSXbBUnmukojKueIn9THkx2oZ0d2kpYSM6Kr645rLW_k4T4Nr27nBgcno1-AsuuWHHggqktGRyg3DME0SxAh6SYKr0yi1SLT5BJvjGNHQ7HguLvBER63jKB4TrxcLlVaa9I9RPgdyjFPNdDxhTGLMhjpVfbm0s4Kt5IhBO3v0lOw.kZe7N2qOBwZOWgScSdKE9uyKnh4vtkWPByR99rjNZ74&dib_tag=se&keywords=atlas+of+the+heart+brene+brown&qid=1770764133&sprefix=atlas+of+the+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-1

3. J. Krishnamurty: On Love and Loneliness

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0F6YX2DNV?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of MOHIVATE, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores the science of iron and how it supports energy, oxygen delivery, brain function, and cellular energy production.

From early iron deficiency without anemia to ferritin interpretation, common symptoms, root causes, and treatment approaches, this episode translates iron physiology and blood tests into practical human language.

We discuss how iron deficiency actually shows up, why it is often missed, how doctors read iron panels, and what works when iron is truly low.

Clear science. Calm guidance. Practical takeaways.

References:

1.World Health Organization. Iron deficiency and anemia guidelines: https://www.who.int/health-topics/anaemia

2.NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron fact sheet for health professionals: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/

3. Oral iron supplementation and hepcidin response, alternate day dosing evidence: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29032957/

4. Iron deficiency overview and management reviews: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhaem/home

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.

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In this episode of MOHIVATE, Dr Mohi Sarawgee explores grief beyond death as a human and biological response to loss in its many forms. From bereavement and illness to invisible losses that shape identity and life, this conversation unpacks how grief is felt, understood, and carried.

References:

1. The Five Stages of Grief — Cleveland Clinic
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21259-stages-of-grief

2. NHS- https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/bereavement/

3. Find your own Peace- Mohi Sarawgeehttps://mohisarawgee.blogspot.com/2013/02/find-your-own-peace.html

Just a gentle reminder: this episode is for information, education, and inspiration only. It’s not a substitute for your doctor’s advice. For any personal health concerns, always seek guidance from your doctor.