Wellness: Fact vs. Fiction

By Danielle BelardoMedicine Alternative Health Health & Fitness Nutrition

Wellness: Fact vs. Fiction episodes

August 03, 2022Small Changes, Big Differences – Eating to Lower Cholesterol
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo for the highly anticipated episode on nutrition and lipids. In Part 3 of the cholesterol series, Danielle addresses the impact of diet on cardiovascular disease risk and LDL cholesterol by sharing the key findings from a variety of research papers and studies. The main takeaway is that your overall dietary pattern is what matters most and no one food in one dose will cause disease. So go ahead, be an omnivore, vegan, pescatarian, or whatever works for you, as long as you’re including the advice from today’s episode.

This week Danielle addresses the following questions surrounding nutrition and lipids:
What is dietary cholesterol and how does it impact lipids?
How can you lower LDL cholesterol without raising triglycerides and reduce APOE?
Which interventions lower cardiovascular risk the most?
Which foods are high in saturated fats and what dietary recommendations lower the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL cholesterol?
Why does polyunsaturated fat lower LDL cholesterol?
Which oils are better for your lipid levels?
What is fiber, why is it important in your diet, and how does it lower cholesterol?
Which foods are packed with viscous fiber, and how much per day should you consume?
What is a portfolio diet and what kind of impact does it have on LDL cholesterol?

Find all the papers and research studies discussed this week on Instagram @wellnessfvfjournalclub.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction

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37 min
July 27, 2022All You Need to Know About Cholesterol Metabolism
This week, Dr. Danielle is back for part two of her highly requested cholesterol series, where she is setting you up with the foundational knowledge about cholesterol and lipid metabolism. She covers why this topic is so important for your health, and she arms you with the tools to debate any cholesterol denier or self-proclaimed bio-hacker at your next dinner party. In order to truly understand the way nutrition, diet, lifestyle, and medications impact cholesterol and heart disease, you have to understand lipid metabolism. The Cholesterol class is in session!

On today’s episode, Danielle addresses the following questions surrounding cholesterol metabolism:
Why is lipid metabolism important?
Where does cholesterol actually come from and how does your body make it? And how does your body get rid of cholesterol?
What happens when cholesterol is turned into bile?
What happens to VLDL, LDL, and HDL particles in the body? Where do they go?
What happens when we eat food, including dietary cholesterol?
How do the cells in your small intestine play a role in lipid metabolism?
What are chylomicrons, what do they do, and why aren’t we measuring them?
How does our body know how to regulate the amount of cholesterol it makes?

And much more!

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction


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23 min
July 20, 2022Why Everyone Should Care About Cholesterol
This week, Dr. Danielle is hopping on the mic solo to dive into one of your most requested topics (drum roll, please) — cholesterol. As a cardiologist, lipids and cholesterol are practically her second language, and she has heard every question under the sun from her patients. In part one of this multi-part series, she covers the foundations of cholesterol, common terminology, and myths and misconceptions. Welcome to Cholesterol 101!

On today’s episode, Danielle addresses the following questions surrounding cholesterol:
What is it and is it true your body needs it?
How does LDL cholesterol cause heart disease?
What does a lipid panel tell you?
What is the difference between total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and apo B, and how does each one relate to cardiovascular risk?
What are some of the values we are looking to target to get an optimal lipid panel?
Is it true that high HDL cholesterol is beneficial?
What is the difference between small vs large LDL particles and how do they impact the risk of developing atherosclerosis?
How useful are Triglyceride/HDL ratios in determining cardiovascular risk?

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction

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36 min
July 13, 2022The Full Spectrum – SPF & Sun Protection Must-Haves
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, board certified dermatologist and the internet’s favorite skincare myth buster, Dr. Ranella Hirsch. Today’s episode addresses some of the biggest and longest-standing misconceptions about sunscreen. They share their SPF and sun protection must-haves and why the most important thing is to find a product that works for you.

Danielle and Ranella discuss:
How often you should apply sunscreen and how much you really need
Whether makeup with SPF protects your skin and how to layer your products
Common misconceptions about SPF, water resistant sunscreen, and the UV index
The latest hot topic that sunscreen makes you vitamin D deficient—is it true?
Differences between mineral, chemical, and DIY sunscreens



Dr. Ranella Hirsch is a board certified dermatologist highly sought after by media for her expertise in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology. She often lectures to physicians in the fields of laser surgery and cosmetic dermatology and is currently involved in a number of clinical studies of laser technologies and skin care. She’s also recognized as a leading mythbuster on Instagram, where she can be found as @RanellaMD. She is the co-founder of Atolla Skin, which was acquired last year by Function of Beauty.

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1 hr 4 min
July 07, 2022Personalized Nutrition – Too Good To Be True?
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, clinical and academic dietitian Dr. Nicola Guess, as they unpack whether "personalized nutrition" is worth all the hype. It’s the latest hot topic all over social media, and with a new trend comes new supplements, testing kits, online programs, and apps. So, could this diet be the miracle worker it claims to be, or is this just another excuse for pseudoscientists to make a few bucks? Tune in to learn the facts (and fiction) about personalized nutrition and whether it’s just too good to be true.

Danielle and Nicola discuss:
What personalized nutrition actually is and why online programs can be problematic
Nutrition buzzwords such as microbiome and inflammation
Why the nutrition industry can get away with monetizing bogus products
The positive role big tech companies could play in the health industry

Dr. Nicola Guess is an experienced clinical and academic dietitian, registered in the UK and the US. Her clinical and research interests are in obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiometabolic disease. She has worked in the NHS and currently runs a private consultancy. Her expertise in type 2 diabetes is globally recognized and she is a Diabetes UK Allied Health Professional Fellow, a National Institute of Clinical Excellence Scholar, a Winston Churchill Travel Fellow, and a Fulbright Scholar.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Nicola @dr__guess.

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48 min
June 22, 2022Demystifying Mental Health Myths
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, clinical psychologist Dr. Jonathan Stea, for a highly requested and informative episode about all things mental health. With the rise of pseudo-psychology circulating on social media, Dr. Stea has been on a mission to drown out the mental health misinformation noise by amplifying scientific communication in a digestible, creative way. Tune in to hear how Dr. Stea answers some important questions surrounding depression, anxiety, and much more.

Danielle and Jonathan discuss:
What depression and anxiety are and how they are diagnosed
Evidence-based therapies to treat depression, anxiety, and other disorders
Pharmaceutical treatment options including SSRIs and SNRIs and their effectiveness
The impact of exercise on mental health

Jonathan N. Stea, Ph.D., R. Psych., is a registered and practicing clinical psychologist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary. Clinically, he specializes in the assessment and treatment of concurrent addictive and psychiatric disorders. He is interested in topics related to science communication and health misinformation in popular media, especially with respect to addiction and mental health. He is a coalition member of Science Up First which distributes and amplifies best-in-class, science-informed content surrounding COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine. He is the co-editor of the forthcoming book Investigating Psychology: Pseudoscience, Fringe Science, and Controversies out in 2023.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Jonathan @jonathanstea and Science Up First @ScienceUpFirst.

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1 hr 11 min
June 15, 2022What Everyone Needs to Know about Medical Guidelines
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, past Chief of Cardiology, author and women’s health advocate Dr. Martha Gulati. Martha is an expert in women’s heart health and an influential voice for women’s empowerment in the medical field. On today’s episode she sheds light on whether the health claims on your Instagram are fact or fiction and how guidelines are working to keep this from being detrimental to your health and wellness.

Danielle and Martha debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding:
The rigorous process of creating guidelines
How unbiased committees are created
Why medical guidelines are (always) better than anecdotal advise
How, even as a layman, you can use guidelines to ensure the credibility of your healthcare

Martha Gulati, MD is the President-Elect of the American Society for Preventive Cardiology. She was a Professor of Medicine and the inaugural Chief of Cardiology at the University of Arizona. She is the author of the best-seller, “Saving Women’s Hearts”. She served as the chair of the national chest pain guidelines that were released in late 2021. She recently joined the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute as a professor of cardiology and is the director of prevention, the associate director of the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center and holds the Anita Dann Friedman Endowed Chair in Women’s Cardiovascular Medicine and Research.

Check out Martha’s book - Saving Women’s Hearts HERE!

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Martha @drmarthagulati.

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1 hr 6 min
June 08, 2022Organic Food, GMOs & The Dirty Dozen - The Unexpected Truth
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, media expert and creator of @foodsciencebabe, Erin. Erin is revealing the facts behind food science and exposing the harmful myths, trends, and truths of the food industry that have been plastered throughout the media over the past years. Danielle and Erin address the impacts that the food industry has on our health, the health of those working in the field, and whether we really need to worry about consuming pesticides. With the new-found knowledge from today’s episode, you’ll be able to make more educated and healthy food choices!

Danielle and Erin discuss:
Is organic food better than non-organic food?
The environmental impact of organic vs non-organic food
Should you be scared of eating pesticides?
Erin has a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering from the University of MN, has worked in the conventional and organic food industries for over 10 years, and is the creator behind @foodsciencebabe where she challenges the beliefs of the food industry by using science based information to answer hard-hitting questions.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Erin @foodsciencebabe.

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51 min
June 01, 2022Understanding Obesity – From Stigma to Solutions
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, associate professor, author, and co-owner of the Bariatric Medical Institute, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff. Yoni is on a mission to destigmatize obesity and shed light on the life-changing pharmaceutical therapies available to patients. Yoni and Danielle address the impact weight stigma has on the quality of medical care for individuals with obesity and how we need to stop blaming patients for this complex, multi-factorial, neuro-hormonal condition. With these changes, the days of the diet guru will be dead and gone!

Danielle and Yoni discuss:
Solutions for healthcare providers to evaluate their own bias in order to improve the quality of care for patients
Advice for patients who have obesity to advocate for themselves while navigating this stigma in healthcare
The physical and mental health benefits of various treatments
Why patients deserve individualized, personalized recommendations for weight management


Yoni Freedhoff, MD, is an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Ottawa, and he is the founder and medical director of the Bariatric Medical Institute. He is the author of the #1 national bestseller, The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work. Dr. Freedhoff is a sought-after international speaker and has made appearances on The Today Show, feature-length documentaries, The New York Times, and more.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Yoni @yonifreedhoff and check out his blog Weighty Matters.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:

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59 min
May 25, 2022The Shady Side of Wellness - Spiritual Thinking & Conspiracy Theories
Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, multi-faceted author, media expert, and co-host of the Conspirituality Podcast, Derek Beres. Derek is pulling back the curtain on the wellness industry and exposing the harmful trends, tactics, and patterns of pseudoscience influencers that have turned spirituality into paranoia. Today’s eye-opening episode will leave you with the tools to weed through spiritual disinformation and recognize a “wellness” opportunist when you see one.

Danielle and Derek discuss:
The meaning and origins of conspirituality
How the wellness industry has been taken over by conspiracy theories and fake progressive wellness utopianism
How charismatic influencers exploit their followers and tips to avoid scamfluencers
The horseshoe effect in wellness and why it is a major red flag

Derek Beres is a Los Angeles based writer and the Senior Editor at Eco. Currently, he is co-writing Conspirituality: How New Age Conspiracy Theories Became a Public Health Threat with Matthew Remski and Julian Walker. He has been featured in over forty publications, including Rolling Stone, Women’s Health, Big Think, Yoga Journal, and National Geographic. He is also the co-founder of EarthRise SoundSystem and has produced records for Six Degrees Records and Vieux Farka Toure.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Learn more about Derek at derekberes.com.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this episode possible. Check out these deals just for you:
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1 hr 5 min

About Wellness: Fact vs. Fiction

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Wellness: Fact vs. Fiction with cardiologist Dr. Danielle Belardo, a podcast dedicated to debunking wellness trends, exploring fact-based medicine, and busting any headline that’s more…