NHA Today Podcast

Can water fasting really reverse chronic disease? And is it safe to do?

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Esser sits down with the person best qualified to answer those questions: Dr. Alan Goldhamer, founder of TrueNorth Health Center and the

world's foremost expert on water-only fasting.

Over 42 years and more than 25,000 fasting patients, Dr. Goldhamer has done more to document the safety and efficacy of medically supervised water fasting than anyone alive. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and his team is now preparing a landmark 3,000-person study to track health outcomes across a lifetime.

In this conversation, Dr. Goldhamer explains:

• What water fasting is and how it differs from other types of fasting

• Which conditions respond best to medically supervised water fasting

• The real risks of fasting - and how TrueNorth manages them safely

• Why refeeding after a fast is just as important as the fast itself

• Who is and is not a good candidate for water fasting

• How to access TrueNorth health coaching remotely without traveling to the facility

• Why salt, oil, and sugar hijack the brain's satiety system

• The Navigator Study: a 3,000-person lifetime health tracking project

• What Dr. Goldhamer is presenting at the NHA Conference this June

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ABOUT DR. ALAN GOLDHAMER

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Dr. Alan Goldhamer is a doctor of chiropractic and the founder of TrueNorth Health Center in Santa Rosa, California. He has supervised more than 25,000 fasting patients over 42 years and has published 24 papers in peer-reviewed journals on fasting and lifestyle medicine. He is the author of The Pleasure Trap and co-author of Can Fasting Save Your Life?

He will be presenting new research on health span at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA True North Community (water fasting + plant-based living): https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?_ga=2.196155116.1397875101.1780330419-1283726110.1775770362

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

TrueNorth Health Center: https://www.truenorthhealth.com

Books:

The Pleasure Trap: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/pleasure-trap?v=9

Can Fasting Save Your Life?: https://www.healthpromoting.com/store/book/can-fasting-save-your-life

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Most health-conscious people are doing most things right. So why aren't the results matching the effort?

Dr. Joel Fuhrman has spent more than 30 years answering that question and in this episode he brings his full perspective to the NHA Today audience.

Dr. Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, creator of the Nutritarian diet, and author of 12 books - seven of them New York Times bestsellers, including Eat to Live, the book that has introduced millions of people to the science of nutrient-dense eating.

He is also a longtime friend, mentor, and advocate of the NHA, and a speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, Dr. Fuhrman covers his personal origin story, the science behind his H=N/C equation, why the last 10% of commitment makes all the difference, and what he is building at his Longevity RX clinic in San Diego.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The H=N/C equation - why health equals nutrients over calories and what that means day to day

• Why diversity and nutrient density both matter, and why eating only kale will not cut it

• How body fat produces inflammation and fuels cancer risk

• Why Dr. Fuhrman went to medical school specifically to be an anti-medicine doctor

• His elite figure skating career and how a fasting-based injury recovery changed his life

• The three foods that naturally suppress appetite better than any GLP-1 drug

• Why the last 10% of commitment produces disproportionate results

• What is inside the Longevity RX clinic and the regenerative technology they are using

• Which of his 12 books he recommends every viewer read right now

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ABOUT DR. JOEL FUHRMAN

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Dr. Joel Fuhrman is a board-certified family physician, nutritional researcher, and creator of the Nutritarian diet. He is the author of 12 books - seven New York Times bestsellers -- including Eat to Live and Eat for Life. He has dedicated more than 30 years to preventing and reversing disease through nutrition and has been a central figure in the natural hygiene and plant-based medicine movement for decades. He will be speaking at the NHA Annual

Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Dr. Fuhrman's website: https://www.drfuhrman.com

Longevity RX clinic: https://www.drlongevityrx.com

Dr. Fuhrman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/drfuhrman

Dr. Fuhrman on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joelfuhrmanmd/

Dr. Fuhrman on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drfuhrman/

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

Every time you chew and swallow, you are unleashing biochemical weapons inside your body that are either pushing you toward cancer or away. The choice of which direction is largely yours.

That is the message Dr. Kristi Funk has been delivering to women for years - and in this episode she brings it directly to the NHA Today audience.

Dr. Funk is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon, bestselling author of BREASTS: The Owner's Manual, and a women's health expert known to millions from Good Morning America and The Doctors. She is also a keynote speaker at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25 to 28, 2026.

In this conversation with Dr. Stephan Esser, she shares the science and the story behind her own transformation from a Mediterranean meat-eater to a 100% plant-based physician - and what that shift taught her about what she should have been telling her patients all along.

In this conversation you will learn:

• The nine daily choices that affect nine processes in your body, pushing you toward cancer or away
• Why Dr. Funk went fully plant-based in a single day after reading the science for her book
• The real numbers on alcohol and breast cancer risk (they are higher than you think)
• Why sleep may be the most overlooked lifestyle factor in fighting cancer
• What to look for in your personal care products, cookware, and water supply
• How to go from a C to a B+ on your anti-cancer report card without overhauling your whole life
• What the BCAC framework means and why it matters before, during, and after a diagnosis

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LINKS & RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28, 2026): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Pink Lotus website: https://pinklotus.com

Make an appointment or telehealth: https://pinklotus.com/care or 833-800-7522

BREASTS: The Owner's Manual: https://pinklotus.com/elements/breasts-the-owners-manual-by-dr-kristi-funk/

Pink Lotus Power Up community:

Breast Buddies: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/breastbuddies/

Cancer-Kicking Kitchen: https://pinklotus.com/powerup/cancerkicking/kitchen

Follow Dr. Funk on Instagram and X: @drkristifunk

Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: @esserhealth

Most people know what they should do to be healthier. So why is it so hard to actually do it?

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Luanne Spiros, a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 200, ACSM Cancer Exercise Specialist, master beekeeper, and behavioral change expert who has spent her career helping people build healthy habits that actually last.

This conversation cuts through the generic advice and gets into the real mechanics of change. Why is movement easier to start with than nutrition? What makes the social environment so powerful? And what three skills does everyone need to make healthy living stick for life?

You will also hear about her work in oncology yoga and what she will be leading at the NHA Annual Conference in June.

In this conversation, you will learn:

• Why movement tends to be the better entry point than nutrition for most people
• The three S's: social, skills, and setting -- and why they make or break healthy living
• Three skills everyone needs to build lasting health habits
• Why reward beats fear as a long-term motivator (and what the research says)
• The hardest parts of going plant-based and how to plan around them
• How to build exercise into your life so it stops feeling like something to bolt on
• What oncology yoga is and how it gives cancer patients agency and hope
• How to handle a partner or household that isn't on the same page

Book recommendations from this episode: Atomic Habits by James Clear, Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, Willpower by Roy Baumeister.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

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Full episode and show notes:

NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgXfvjZj34HbsD3-47eEC2kjBWeIvNhHl

Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

NHA Annual Conference (June 25 to 28): https://checkout.healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

Follow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

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About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.

What if one dietary change could unlock fertility, reverse autoimmune disease, and transform every area of your health — when conventional medicine said it wasn’t possible?

That’s exactly what happened to Robyn Denning.

In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Robyn Denning — yoga instructor, health coach, and NHA conference speaker — to trace her remarkable journey from a life fueled by Diet Coke and little sleep, through three miscarriages, celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and an MS diagnosis, to a place of vibrant health — without medication.

Robyn’s story isn’t just inspiring. It’s a practical map for anyone navigating chronic illness, struggling to build sustainable movement habits, or simply trying to stay consistent when they no longer feel urgently unwell.

In this conversation, you’ll discover:

→ How eliminating gluten resolved three years of unexplained fertility challenges

→ The dietary shift that undiagnosed Robyn’s MS within six months

→ Why the maintenance phase is often harder than the healing phase

→ How to build a movement practice that actually sticks — even if you’ve tried and failed

→ The yoga philosophy of ‘using poses to get into the body’ — and why it changes everything

→ The role of gratitude in sustaining long-term health changes

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🎤 ABOUT ROBYN DENNING

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Robyn Denning is a yoga instructor, health coach, and wellness educator whose personal health journey, including overcoming celiac disease, Hashimoto’s, and MS through diet and lifestyle. now informs the way she teaches and coaches others. She will be leading yoga sessions and sharing her story at the NHA Annual Conference, June 25–28, 2026.

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🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES

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• NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation/podcasts

• Subscribe on your favorite platform: https://www.healthscience.org/podcast/

• NHA Annual Conference (June 25–28): healthscience.org/2026-nha-conference

• Follow Dr. Esser: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/

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About NHA Today: The National Health Association has championed the science of true health for over 75 years. NHA Today brings that legacy into your weekly routine — with honest, evidence-based conversations to help you live your most vital life.

Welcome to Season 2 of the NHA Today podcast.

Dr. Stephan Esser officially steps in as the new host of NHA Today - bringing a powerful legacy, a fresh perspective, and a clear vision for the future of health.

A fourth-generation plant-based advocate, Dr. Esser shares the deeply personal story that shaped his path from growing up at his grandfather’s health retreat, founded by NHA pioneer Dr. William L. Esser, to witnessing firsthand the transformative power of lifestyle medicine.

In this introductory episode, he outlines what listeners can expect from the show moving forward: science-based, practical, and honest conversations about what actually creates lasting health.

Together, we’ll explore:

• The foundational principles of whole-person health
• Why lifestyle (not products) drives long-term wellness
• How to cut through misinformation and take control of your health
• What it means to become the “CEO of your own health”

This episode sets the tone for a new chapter of NHA Today focused on clarity, empowerment, and real, sustainable results.

🎧 Tune in and discover how simple, science-backed choices can help you reclaim your health and vitality.

What role do antioxidants, nitric oxide, and plant diversity play in optimizing your health?

In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN, sits down with her husband, Cyrus Khambatta, PhD, to continue their deep dive into mitochondrial health and plant-based nutrition.

Together, they explore how antioxidant-rich foods, polyphenols, and nitrate-dense vegetables directly support energy production, cardiovascular health, and long-term wellness.

As a plant-based family raising a daughter together—alongside two rescue cats from their time living in Costa Rica—Kylie and Cyrus bring both clinical expertise and real-life application to this conversation.

• Why fruit is not the enemy and how it supports metabolic health
• The critical role of antioxidants and polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress
• How eating a diverse range of plant foods strengthens cellular function
• Why nitrate-rich vegetables (like spinach, beets, and celery) support nitric oxide production
• How nitric oxide improves blood flow, exercise performance, and recovery
• Simple ways to incorporate these foods into your daily routine

Cyrus Khambatta, PhD & Kylie Buckner, RN
Website: https://www.evolution-health.co

National Health Association
https://www.healthscience.org

What if your gut symptoms weren't random—but signals pointing to a deeper root cause?

In this episode of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with Dahlia Marin, RDN, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Gastrointestinal Nutritionist, to explore a functional, root-cause approach to gut health.

Dahlia specializes in complex digestive conditions like SIBO, IBS, and gut dysbiosis, combining clinical experience with her own personal healing journey. Together, Kylie and Dahlia unpack why so many people remain misdiagnosed, overlooked, or stuck in symptom management cycles—and what it really takes to heal.

They dive into the often-missed contributors to gut dysfunction, the importance of a full health timeline, and how nutrition—especially a plant-based, microbiome-focused approach—can support lasting gut repair.

This conversation is honest, practical, and empowering for anyone navigating digestive issues or looking to better understand their body.

• Why gut issues are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood
• The root causes behind IBS, SIBO, and gut imbalances
• How life events, stress, and diet shape gut health over time
• The role of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics
• How a plant-based approach can support gut healing
• Why a personalized, whole-person intake is essential

Dahlia Marin / Married to Health
Website: https://www.marriedtohealth.com
Program: https://www.marriedtohealth.com/good-gut-sibo-ibs-program
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriedtohealth/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Marriedtohealth

National Health Association
https://www.healthscience.org

What if your kitchen could become your sanctuary?

In Episode 163 of NHA Today, guest host Kylie Buckner, RN sits down with whole-food plant-based chef and educator Stefanie Dougherty of Green Sage Life to explore how cooking can become a mindful, creative, and deeply nourishing ritual.

Together they discuss:

• How plant-based cooking can shift from "chore" to creative joy

• Why engaging your senses reduces stress and builds mindfulness

• The powerful antioxidant role of herbs and spices

• How global spice blends transform simple meals

• Why beauty and nourishment go hand-in-hand

• The difference between "wellness rules" and the art of living well

Stefanie shares practical kitchen tips, from sharpening your knife to layering flavors and reminds us that health is not just science. It's art. It's ritual. It's presence.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, curate what you consume, and rediscover joy in your everyday meals.

National Health Association (NHA):
https://www.healthscience.org

🌿 Stefanie Dougherty – Green Sage Life
Website: https://www.greensagelife.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greensagelife/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@greensagelife

🌿 Kylie Buckner
Website: https://www.evolution-health.co
Green Glow Lifestyle Podcast

🎧 More NHA Today episodes:
https://www.healthscience.org/podcast