On Health with Houston Methodist

Think you don't need to worry about your blood sugar? It's time to reconsider. A shocking 1 in 3 adults over age 20 have prediabetes, an early warning sign that there's too much sugar in the blood. What's more, nearly 80% of people are unaware they have the silent precursor to type 2 diabetes. In this episode, we discuss the factors that put you at greatest risk and the steps to take when it comes to managing blood sugar and preventing diabetes.

Expert: Dr. Archana Sadhu, Endocrinologist

Interviewer: Katie McCallum

Notable topics covered:

• What is blood sugar, what is prediabetes and when do you need to worry about it?
• All about glucose regulation, insulin resistance and how type 2 diabetes develops
• Why you should eat fruit rather than drink fruit juice
• When and how often should we be getting our blood sugar checked?
• The factors that increase the risk of prediabetes and warrant earlier screening
• Dr. Sadhu's three keys to maintaining healthy blood sugar levels
• We used to be hunters and gatherers, now we're processed food eaters
• Simple vs. complex carbs: How each affects blood sugar
• Continuous glucose monitors: Should someone without diabetes consider wearing one of these devices?
• Diabetes prevention in a bottle? What you should know about blood sugar supplements

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

If the phrase "heart-healthy diet" makes you think of poached chicken and steamed vegetables without salt or seasoning, you're not alone. But eating to improve heart health — whether to control blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels or slow coronary artery disease — doesn't mean signing up for a lifetime of bland food. In this episode, we explore the different ingredients, simple swaps and best cooking methods to help achieve our health goals without sacrificing one of life's great pleasures — enjoying delicious food.

Expert: Amanda Beaver, Registered Dietitian

Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Notable topics covered:

• Do you need to fear sugar in a heart-healthy diet?
• The salt shaker isn't your enemy — discover the true culprit for excess sodium intake
• Tips & tricks to shopping for (and cooking with) ingredients from the grocery store's middle aisles
• Sea salt, iodized, Kosher, Himalayan pink: Is one better than the other?
• Why you should revisit (or bulk up) your spice drawer or cabinet
• Can acid make smaller amounts of salt go farther in dishes?
• MSG, the controversial ingredient that can add savoriness with two-thirds less sodium
• Healthier choices when shopping for cooking oil
• Why not all fats are bad — and the swaps that can help improve our heart health
• Is there a healthier option to white table sugar?
• Why your mindset should be "what can I add" rather than "what I should take away"
• Why cooking method matters and why we should use our oven or air fryer more

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

Apologies for the bathroom talk, but we need to discuss a growing (and concerning) digestive trend. A recent study reported that almost half of all Americans are struggling with chronic gastrointestinal issues. It’s also estimated that 1 in 3 of us wouldn’t discuss our symptoms unless our doctor asked us about them first. Yikes. In today’s episode, we cover those bathroom questions you’ve been too hesitant to ask about yourself. 

Expert: Dr. Eamonn Quigley, Gastroenterologist 

Interviewer: Katie McCallum 

Notable topics covered: 

• The undeniable increase in digestive issues 
• From top to bottom, a list of the GI problems that can affect the body 
• The digestive “red flags” that should never be ignored 
• Other GI symptoms you shouldn’t wait to seek care for 
• The interesting connection between your brain and your gut 
• Lactose intolerance, gluten sensitivity: How common are they really? 
• Where to begin if you think the problem is your diet 
• Can food allergy and microbiome tests provide answers? 
• The effectiveness of digestive supplements, probiotics, prebiotics and more 
• Signs that antacids, laxatives and other over-the-counter treatments aren’t enough 

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

You may think of colorectal cancer as an older person’s disease, but over the last 30 years rates in people younger than age 50 have increased by 50%. Indeed, for people under 50, colorectal cancer is now the No. 1 cause of cancer death in men and the No. 2 cause in women, behind only breast cancer. Why are cases jumping?  What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer? And how can you reduce your risk? In this episode, we talk with a colon and rectal surgeon about the alarming trend that’s something of a mystery even to doctors.

Expert: Dr. Tareq Kamal, Colon and Rectal Surgeon

Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Notable topics covered:

• Is colorectal cancer more aggressive in younger people than those over 50? 
• Are the risk factors different for those diagnosed at younger ages?  
• Learn the symptoms of colorectal cancer – and whether they differ among age groups 
• The current screening recommendations for colorectal cancer & how they’ve evolved  
• Colorectal cancer screening tests – which may work for you? 
• Colonoscopy: What to do if you’re anxious; is prep that bad? 
• What colorectal cancer treatment plans can look like  
• What younger people are being misdiagnosed with when they’re experiencing colon cancer 
• How to advocate for yourself if you are having symptoms 
• What people of all ages can do to help lower their risk of colorectal cancer 

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

It’s been called the most common and serious condition you’ve never heard of. Metabolic syndrome, which afflicts an estimated 1 in 3 U.S. adults, occurs when the body’s metabolism is disrupted, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. Why is it on the rise? What triggers it? And how can you boost your natural metabolism to prevent the condition? In this week’s episode, we talk to an endocrinologist about why some people can eat so heartily without gaining weight, how much of metabolism is genetic and which groups are most at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. 

Expert: Dr. Laila Tabatabai, Endocrinologist 

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman 

Notable topics covered: 

• Is a fast metabolism always preferable to a slow one? 
• The surprising ages when metabolism slows — and doesn’t slow 
• The counter-intuitive effect of starvation diets on metabolism 
• Should doctors more routinely test patients for metabolic rate? 
• Whether pills that claim to boost metabolism work 
• The ties between fertility and metabolic health 
• The cluster of risk factors that indicate metabolic syndrome 
• Insights from metabolic health research that can help people shed weight 
• Best exercise for speeding up metabolism — aerobic or strength training? 
• The best diets to prevent metabolic syndrome 
• Why middle-aged women have a harder losing weight than men 

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

The phrase “Got milk?” has taken on new meaning in recent years. Cow’s milk hasn’t gone anywhere of course, but the options have expanded to also include soy milk, almond milk, oat milk — even milk made from peas. Whether it's going in your coffee, cereal, oatmeal, smoothie or a glass by itself, which type is best for you? In this episode, we “pour over” everything there is to know about traditional and plant-based milks.

Expert: Kelly Gaines, Wellness Dietitian

Interviewer: Zach Moore

Notable topics covered:

• Whether milk really builds strong bones
• Pasteurized, homogenized, filtered: What does it all mean?
• Is whole milk too high in fat? And more questions about cow’s milk, answered
• What does “organic” mean on a milk label anyway?
• Ultra-filtered milk: Too good to be true?
• How to think about milk if it’s just going in your coffee
• Moo-ve over dairy milk: A plant-based milks deep dive
• Is almond milk as healthy as its proponents claim?
• Some plant-based milks have protein and added sugar problems
• The plant-based milk Gaines recommends the most and least

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

Are supplements helpful, harmful or just a waste of money? Is avocado toast the healthiest choice at brunch? Can you lower your blood pressure without taking medications?

Hosted by Zach Moore, Katie McCallum, Todd Ackerman and Kim Rivera Huston-Weber, On Health with Houston Methodist is a podcast for the health conscious, curious and even skeptics out there. Each week, your hosts are joined by a Houston Methodist expert to explore an everyday wellness trend or significant health topic.

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

It’s no secret that America is facing an obesity crisis. But is there hope on the horizon? The new wave of weight-loss medications — Wegovy and Zepbound  — certainly seem to be game changers. Whereas previous options helped people lose only around 5% of their weight, these new medications can lead to up to 22% weight loss. But you’re not alone if you have questions. In this episode, we discuss everything we know (and don’t yet know) about the new class of weight-loss medications.

Expert: Dr. Garth Davis, Weight Loss Surgeon

Interviewer: Zach Moore

Notable topics covered: 

• How weight-loss medication compares to bariatric surgery
• Weight-loss medications vs. supplements
• The many reasons why losing weight often isn’t as simple as diet and exercise 
• How the new wave of weight-loss medications work
• All about GLP-1 agonists, including why achieving “the GLP-1 effect” promotes weight loss
• Who should consider taking these medications? And are they covered by insurance? 
• Just one tool to get weight off: why diet and exercise still matter
• Will you need to stay on this medication forever?
• How these medications also benefit heart health, type 2 diabetes management and more
• The potential side effects of weight-loss medications

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

Statistics show nearly 2 in 5 U.S. adults have high cholesterol, the excess of fat in the blood that can raise the risk of heart disease. For decades, people were told that foods high in cholesterol — eggs and butter, for example — were the major culprits. Now dietary cholesterol is thought to play only a minor role. So what are the real causes of high cholesterol, which lab results are most meaningful and what can you do to improve your numbers? In this episode, we talk to a preventive cardiologist about the revolutionary new thinking regarding cholesterol.

Expert: Dr. Khurram Nasir, Cardiologist

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman

Notable topics covered:

• The essential functions cholesterol serves in the human body
• How too much cholesterol sticks to the arteries and wreaks havoc
• Shocking statistics about people's lack of cholesterol awareness
• LDL, HDL, triglycerides: what they mean, how important each is
• Are high levels of so-called good cholesterol actually not good?
• How often is cholesterol a result of genetics? How much is under your control?
• New kid on the block: lipoprotein(a) as an emerging risk factor
• What are the best diets for keeping cholesterol in the desired range?
• The heart scan that tells whether you might not need cholesterol testing
• Statins: Should more people be on them? Can you ever get off them?

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog. 

Running may get all the hype, but walking is Americans’ favorite form of exercise, according to numerous surveys. It’s low-impact, free and easy to get started, and it provides both long-term health benefits and the chance to unwind and recharge. Whether you’re a seasoned walker or just getting started, how much do you really know about the popular form of exercise? In this episode, we learn what matters most when it comes to using walks to better your health.

Expert: Jonathan Williams, Fitness Coordinator

Interviewer: Zach Moore                     

Notable topics covered: 

• The varied health benefits of walking 
• What makes for a good walk? 
• Why walking posture matters (and what it should look like) 
• Think walking is pretty basic? The way you plant your feet is important 
• Is it better to walk fast or walk far? 
• What type of walk is best for weight loss? Heart health? Mobility? 
• The number of steps per day we should aim to reach 
• Walking shoes: what to consider 

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog.