Sex and mental health are deeply connected — but rarely discussed together. Dr. NeelimaDeshpande, gynecologist, urogynecologist, and psychosexual therapist, joins meto explain how anxiety, trauma, and stress show up in the bedroom, what theloss-of-desire pattern really looks like, and how this connection changesacross life stages. A candid, evidence-based conversation for anyone who's everfelt too embarrassed to ask.

Snoring isn't just annoying — it can be a warning sign. In this episode,I sit down with Dr. Seemab Shaikh, Founder President of IASSA (IndianAssociation of Surgeons for Sleep Apnea) and one of India's pioneering voicesin sleep medicine, trained in Germany, Singapore, and Norway.

We unpack what obstructive sleep apnea really is, why it's sounder-diagnosed in India, the red flags most people ignore, whether pranayamacan help, the link between weight/neck size/body type and OSA risk, the truthabout CPAP alternatives, and what the mouth-taping trend gets right (andwrong).

If you snore, sleep next to someone who does, or wake up tired no matterhow long you sleep — this episode is for you.

Pleasure and nourishment werenever opposites — your culture already knew that. Science is just catching up. 🍛

Sarita Bhagwat walked away from20 years in finance to study gastronomy at Boston University. In this episode:what gastronomy really means, how stress rewires digestion, the meal she'llnever forget, and why the future of fine dining might look a lot like yourgrandmother's kitchen. Plus a rapid-fire round — ghee vs. olive oil, the mostoverrated superfood, and the one childhood food rule she's unlearned.

Is dairy actually as bad — or as good — for you as everyone claims? Food scientist joins Rita Date to separate real dairy science from marketing spin.

They talk about what a food scientist's day-to-day actually looks like, whether lactose intolerance is overestimated in Indian populations, how GLP-1 medications and the protein boom are reshaping dairy innovation, and where Indian dairy stands against global standards. Kirin also breaks down the misleading label claims showing up on Indian shelves — and where dairy protein genuinely outperforms plant protein, and where it doesn't.

If you've ever second-guessed a dairy label at the supermarket, this one's for you.

VO2 Max, resting heart rate, Zone 2 — you've heard the terms, but what do they actually mean for your heart? Cardiologist Dr. Tanmay Kulkarni breaks down what your heart rate zones really tell you, whether Zone 2 cardio deserves the hype, cardio vs. strength training, wearable accuracy, and what to change in your 20s, 30s and 40s+ — all in plain language.He can be reached:(phone - 8551 913753email- [email protected])

Your gut isnot just about digestion. It's running your immune system, your hormones, yourskin, and your mood — and most of us are unknowingly destroying it every day.

In thisepisode, Rita sits down with Dr. Shivani Doctor, Integrative Health Specialistand founder of Integrative Health and Aesthetics (Washington DC). Trained incardiothoracic surgery and functional medicine, Shivani now works with clientsworldwide to address the root causes of chronic health issues — starting withthe gut.

This is ano-nonsense, myth-busting conversation covering microbiome tests, food allergypanels, fermented foods vs probiotics, the gut-brain axis, IBS, and whyone-size-fits-all diets don't work. Plus — is dahi actually enough?

From engineer and global consultant to ultramarathoner, yoga scholar, breathwork facilitator, and founder of the Billion Habits Movement, Manjunath KB has lived many lives in one.

In this episode of the Rita Date Podcast we explore success, purpose, resilience, breathwork, relationships, and why mastering your energy may be the key to mastering your life.

A thoughtful conversation about what really helps us flourish in today's world.

connect with him on social media- https://www.instagram.com/manjunath.kb?igsh=N2tjaXdyOW4wcWc4

Do you havetrauma—even if nothing “bad” happened to you?

In this RitaDate Podcast episode, I’m joined by trauma counsellor Shreya Choudharyfor a thoughtful conversation about what trauma really is, how it affects ourmental health, and why healing involves more than simply understanding ourpast.

We explore:
• The hidden signs of trauma
• High-functioning trauma and why so many people miss it
• The connection between trauma and anxiety, burnout, and self-worth
• Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses
• Why trauma lives in the body, not just the mind
• How trauma shapes our relationships and boundaries
• Gentle first steps toward healing

Whetheryou're curious about trauma, struggling with recurring emotional patterns, orsimply interested in understanding yourself better, this conversation offerspractical insights and hope.

She Built a Restaurant Empire on Food That Actually Heals You What if eating healthy wasn't a sacrifice — but the most satisfying thing you did for yourself every day? Sonal Barmecha built Santé Spa Cuisine at a time when "healthy restaurant" was almost a contradiction in terms in India. Ten years and multiple cities later, she's proven that food can be nourishing, delicious, and a serious business. In this episode of the Rita Date Podcast, Rita asks Sonal to unpack the real story behind Santé — the early pushback, the brand-building, the challenge of scaling without losing soul — and the food wisdom Sonal has gathered over a decade of feeding people better. You'll walk away with: - Sonal's personal food rules (simple, not extreme) - The underrated ingredients she thinks everyone should eat - How to prioritise local, organic, and seasonal — without overthinking it - Realistic habits you can start this weekWhether you're trying to eat better, build something purposeful, or just understand why healthy food doesn't have to be boring or expensive — this one's for you. Spotify and AppleSonal Barmecha built one of India's most loved healthy restaurant brands before the wellness wave arrived. Now she's sharing the food rules, habits, and hard-won lessons that got her here.Expect: the Santé Spa origin story, her personal approach to eating, underrated ingredients, and the one message she has for anyone who thinks healthy food is too complicated..................................................................................................................Also connect with us on social media : website link : https://ritadate.com/Rita date :- https://www.instagram.com/rita.date?igsh=em5wenpseXYyN2Zw&utm_source=qrSpotify:- https://open.spotify.com/show/51cdPYRezpg4QP7wQzKJxK?si=ocnPLiiQRzqvRQxfENqeeQApple podcast :- https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/breathe-india-the-mind-nutrition-movement-podcast/id1773905527#indianutrition#nutrition #nutritiontips #nutritionmatters #diet #dietplan #nutritionadvice #nutritioncoach #healthyindiandiet #nutritionzone#fitindians #fitindiamovement #protein #immunity

The Sleeping Brain: What a Neurologist Wants You to KnowWe are supposed to be sleeping for one-third of our lives. Sounds too much, but in fact it is crucial.In this episode of The Rita Date Podcast, senior paediatric neurologist Dr. Nandan Yardi returns for Part 2 of our series on the brain, lifestyle, and neurological health. This time, we go deep on sleep — what actually happens in your brain while you rest, why chronic sleep deprivation is accelerating neurodegeneration. Dr. Yardi brings over three decades of clinical experience to a conversation that is part neuroscience masterclass, part practical guide. We cover - the stages of sleep, - the link between poor sleep and conditions like dementia, Parkinson's, and epilepsy,- why so many of us wake at 3 AM- whether your sleep tracker is helping you or quietly making things worse.And then we get practical — which yogic tools actually calm a racing mind, what Yoga Nidra really is and how it differs from sleep, and the one simple practice Dr. Yardi would recommend you try tonight.Whether you're a chronic poor sleeper, a late-night scroller, or just curious about what your brain is doing while you dream — this episode is for you.🔗 Miss Part 1? Catch our first conversation with Dr. Yardi on the role of yoga and lifestyle in neurological disease here.For more information on Dr. Nandan Yardi and his work: https://epilepsyindia.com/.................................................................................................................Also connect with us on social media : website link : https://ritadate.com/Rita date :- https://www.instagram.com/rita.date?igsh=em5wenpseXYyN2Zw&utm_source=qrSpotify:- https://open.spotify.com/show/51cdPYRezpg4QP7wQzKJxK?si=ocnPLiiQRzqvRQxfENqeeQApple podcast :- https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/breathe-india-the-mind-nutrition-movement-podcast/id1773905527#health #healthylifestyle #healthandwellness #healthtips #healthyliving #healthymind #wellnessjourney #healthyhabits #healthychoices #healthgoals #healthyindia #healthylivingindia #indianhealthblogger #fitindia #indianfitnessblogger #stayfit #healthyindianlifestyle #weightcontrol