Why does sugar have such a bad reputation? Which foods are surprisingly high in added sugar? In my interview with Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, Cassie Wright, she answers these questions and many more! We also discuss: alternative sweeteners, natural vs added sugar, the physiological effects of sugar on the cardiovascular system and the arteries, the current dietary guidelines for sugar intake, and also provide many helpful tips for reducing your sugar intake. And check out vitalitahealth.com for low sugar dessert recipes.

Health disclaimer: This podcast discusses wellness strategies for heart health in an informational and educational manner only, with information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury. You should consult a physician or other trusted health care professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this podcast. Lisa Henderson and Vitalita Health accept no liability for any loss or damage you may incur.

Today’s show is all about improving your physical fitness to enhance your health in a variety of ways and to increase your enjoyment of life. Life is creative and you have a lot of control over what happens - create the life that you want for yourself, starting now!

In our interview, Exercise Physiologist Nick Beltz, PhD discusses the “Rule of 3”, a rule of thumb to get you started with attaining a basic level of fitness. He also discusses: how different types of exercise benefit health, how much exercise you need for basic fitness and for optimal health, and easy exercise ideas to get you started. He also explains how resistance (strength training) can improve your balance and benefit your body in a variety of ways. Join us!

This podcast episode provides an introduction to Qi Gong and features an interview with Lauri Amidon. Lauri is the board president of the Institute of Qigong and Integrative Medicine. She has studied and practiced Qi Gong for 13 years, and is a certified Yi Ren® Qigong instructor.

In Part 2 of our interview with Steve Wolf, PhD, we continue our discussion about anger, emotional intelligence and the heart. Highlights from the interview:

• Anger is a suit of armor for more vulnerable emotions
• Emotion creates pressure that needs to be released in some way
• Many of us are not encouraged in childhood to express our feelings and anger is often learned in early childhood as a way to express or release a more vulnerable emotion
• Dr. Wolf explains how improving our emotional intelligence will help us identify these patterns and learn how to deal with vulnerable feelings in a more constructive and healing way
• Practical and even surprising ways you can release feelings of anger in a constructive way
• Learning how to do this will improve our relationships and also improve our heart health by decreasing the emotional pressure on the heart

Health disclaimer: This podcast discusses wellness strategies for heart health in an informational and educational manner only, with information that is general in nature and that is not specific to you. This podcast is not intended to replace medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury. You should consult a physician or other trusted health care professional before adopting any of the suggestions in this site. I accept no liability for any loss or damage you may incur.

Anger seems so prevalent right now, and it can be so destructive to our relationships with others and to our own heart. In this episode, I interview Clinical Psychologist and anger management expert, Steve Wolf, PhD, to gain insight about how we can manage and release anger in a constructive way. In Part 1 of our interview, he discusses emotional intelligence, getting control over the impulse of anger and guides me through a breathing and mindfulness technique which can be used to calm anger. Visit my website: vitalitahealth.com for additional resources and links related to this podcast.

Med Diet Part 2

Part 1 of our 2-part series: Understanding the Mediterranean diet; this episode brings to life the flavors and cultures of the Mediterranean diet and also explains the health benefits in detail. It features an interview with the Director of Nutrition at Oldways, a non-profit which promotes traditional diets around the world.

The focus of this episode is on Sleep and Heart Health. This show features a fascinating interview with Researcher and Assistant Professor at NYU Langone Health, Azizi Seixas, PhD. Dr. Seixas has conducted research into sleep, mental health and cardiovascular health. In this interview, he provides valuable insights into the connection between sleep and heart health, as well as practical tips you can use tonight to get a better nights' sleep.

Visit vitalitahealth.com for resources/links which accompany this episode.

In this episode, I interview Exercise Physiologist, Dan Zeman. He has extensive experience with heart patients in cardiac rehab and has also worked with a variety of professional athletes and sports teams to improve performance. A major topic in this interview is exercise and longevity. We also discuss the physiological effects of exercise on the heart, having fun with exercise and changing how we think about exercise. The interview offers some fresh and even surprising ideas. The episode also provides some practical tips to get you started with exercise safely.

Introduction to this podcast and to host Lisa Henderson - her story, purpose and approach, in her own voice