The Health Deli

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound seem to be everywhere these days. They’re helping people lose weight, manage diabetes, and potentially improve a growing list of health conditions. But are these medications really the miracle drugs everyone makes them out to be?

In this episode of The Health Deli, we’re back on location at the Winery at Young Farms with Dr. Jodie Elder, a certified ambulatory care pharmacist, to separate the hype from the reality. We break down how GLP-1s work, what kind of weight loss patients can realistically expect, the differences between pills and injections, and why these medications aren’t necessarily a quick fix—or a short-term commitment.

We also tackle the less glamorous side of GLP-1s: nausea, muscle loss, insurance headaches, sky-high prices, and the risks of compounded alternatives. Plus, we explore new programs making these medications more affordable and what happens when you stop taking them.

The results can be impressive. The price tag? Not so much.

Ticks are everywhere, and they're bringing more than just an appetite for your blood. With Lyme disease spreading across Michigan and beyond, it's time to talk about the tiny hitchhikers making outdoor adventures a little more complicated.

In this episode of The Health Deli, we're on location at the Winery at Young Farms with Ferris State pharmacy student Hadassah Krommendyk to explore the growing threat of Lyme disease. We dig into why ticks are spreading, how Lyme disease is transmitted, the symptoms you shouldn't ignore, and why a single tick bite can sometimes deliver more than one infection. We also discuss treatment options, progress toward a new Lyme disease vaccine, and practical ways to protect yourself.

Plus, we play a little "Fact or Cap" to bust some common tick myths. Should you burn a tick off with a cigarette? Do ticks jump from trees? And does every tick bite require antibiotics?

Spoiler alert: Ticks suck, but knowing the facts doesn't have to.

You’ve probably heard about the recent Cyclospora outbreak—but what exactly is it, why is Michigan seeing so many cases, and should you be worried about that bagged salad in your refrigerator?

In this episode of The Health Deli, the crew welcomes Dr. Karla Black from the Kent County Health Department to unpack one of the largest foodborne outbreaks in recent memory. We explore how this unusual parasite spreads, why it's so difficult for public health officials to trace, why symptoms can take weeks to appear, and what makes Cyclospora very different from more familiar illnesses like norovirus or salmonella.

Along the way, we discuss proper produce washing, why bagged lettuce has become a suspect, how outbreak investigations actually work, and what you should do if your "stomach bug" just won't go away.

It's equal parts epidemiology, public health detective work... and, yes, more diarrhea jokes than you'd probably expect.

Few health topics generate more debate than vaccines and autism. So instead of arguing online, we decided to do something radical—we read the evidence.

In this episode of The Health Deli, the crew examines the CDC's updated vaccine messaging and walks through the claims surrounding vaccines and autism one by one. Along the way, we tackle common misconceptions about correlation versus causation, aluminum in vaccines, the MMR vaccine, why autism diagnoses have increased over time, and what high-quality medical evidence actually tells us.

You'll also hear why ice cream doesn't cause shark attacks, why anecdotes aren't the same as data, and why scientific conclusions depend on evidence—not assumptions.

Whether you've always wondered where this controversy came from or simply want to better understand how scientists evaluate health claims, this episode offers a thoughtful, evidence-based look at one of the most talked-about topics in public health.

What happens when you lose your job, lose your insurance, and can’t get an appointment with a primary care provider for months?

In this episode of The Health Deli, we sit down with Deanna Durante, director of Hope House Free Medical Clinic in Big Rapids, Michigan, to explore the critical role free clinics play in helping people access healthcare. We discuss why primary care is the foundation of good health, the growing challenges of access to care, and how organizations like Hope House help bridge the gap for uninsured and underinsured patients.

Along the way, we talk about innovative programs that go beyond prescriptions and office visits—including medication assistance, chronic disease management, transportation support, gym memberships, spiritual care, and volunteer-driven services designed to help people regain control of their health. This episode shines a light on the volunteers, providers, and community members working every day to make that happen.

Visit https://www.hopehouseclinic.org/ to learn more.

IV hydration bars are popping up everywhere — promising faster recovery, boosted energy, glowing skin, and the ultimate hangover cure. But are they actually helping… or just an expensive shortcut with real risks?

In this episode of The Health Deli, we break down what’s really happening when you skip your body’s natural systems and pump fluids, vitamins, and electrolytes straight into your bloodstream. We talk about how IV therapy works in real medical settings, why your body usually regulates hydration just fine on its own, and what can go wrong when these treatments are done outside of controlled environments.

Sometimes the best fix is still the simplest one — water, rest, and maybe fewer bad decisions the night before.

If you grew up hearing things like “go outside with wet hair and you’ll catch a cold,” or “wait 30 minutes after eating before swimming,” or (somehow worse) “pee on a jellyfish sting”… this episode is for you.

In this episode of The Health Deli, we take a deep dive into some of the most common health myths we’ve all heard — and separate fact from fiction. We break down cholesterol confusion (are eggs really the enemy?), whether cold weather actually makes you sick, if reading in the dark ruins your eyesight, and what’s really going on when your brain is “only using 10%.”

Along the way, we unpack where these myths came from, what the science actually says, and why some of them have just enough truth to stick around for generations.

Spoiler: your coat won’t prevent illness, your eyes aren’t permanently damaged by dim lighting, and no, you should absolutely not be peeing on anything in public.

When was the last time you read a book? Not an email, a news headline, or a social media post...but an actual book?

In this episode of The Health Deli, the crew dives into the surprisingly powerful health benefits of reading. From lowering stress levels in as little as six minutes to improving sleep, boosting cognitive function, and even reducing mortality risk, books may be doing more for your body and brain than you realize. We talk about fiction as “emotional CPR,” the science behind neural connectivity and dementia risk, and why audiobooks absolutely count.

Whether you’re a lifelong reader, a podcast-only multitasker, or someone who hasn’t cracked a spine since high school, this episode might just convince you to dust off the bookshelf — or download Libby — and give your brain a workout.

Turns out, reading isn’t just a hobby. It’s preventive medicine.

Compounding is where pharmacy began — mixing, customizing, and creating medications tailored to individual patients. But in today’s world of blockbuster weight-loss drugs and viral telehealth ads, compounding has stepped into a much messier spotlight.

In this episode of The Health Deli, we break down what pharmacy compounding actually is, why it still matters, and how it’s regulated — from your local pharmacy to large outsourcing facilities. Then we tackle the hot topic: compounded GLP-1 medications. When shortages hit and demand exploded, compounded semaglutide flooded the market. Some of it was legal. Some of it lived in a gray area. And some of it raised serious safety concerns.

We talk sterility risks, dosing variability, FDA oversight, the New England compounding tragedy, and how patients can protect themselves in a world where convenience and cost sometimes compete with safety.

Compounding can be lifesaving. It can also be risky. As always, the difference is in the details.

Before insulin, a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes was essentially a death sentence. Treatment meant starvation diets, snake oil “cures,” and desperate families. In this episode of The Health Deli, we dig into the wild, dramatic, and sometimes messy history of insulin — from dog pancreas experiments and “brown goo” injections to Nobel Prize drama and 23,000 animals for a single pound of medication.

We trace how a 2AM idea led to one of the greatest medical breakthroughs of the 20th century, how insulin evolved from animal extracts to genetically engineered biosimilars, and how today’s pumps and continuous glucose monitors are getting us closer to an artificial pancreas.

From tasting urine in ancient medicine to closed-loop systems in 2025, this is the story of how insulin didn’t just treat diabetes — it changed humanity.