Footwear: How to Avoid Common Shoe Mistakes

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.

There’s a lot to consider when deciding what’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food choices often come down to personal and cultural tastes, our dietary needs and other factors such as time, money and access. And then there’s always the big, looming question: Is this food healthy for me? There’s only one way to find out: reading the food labels, including the Nutrition Facts. We discuss what you should (and shouldn’t) focus on as you debate whether that box of crackers goes into your shopping cart. 

Experts: Mag Ayyad, Clinical Exercise Dietitian

Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Notable topics covered:

• Why you should turn that food packaging around
• The top five things to look for when reading the Nutrition Facts
• How to use serving size effectively
• Macronutrients:  What you should eat more of and what you should limit
• Is the “Percent Daily Value” metric helpful or hurtful when evaluating a food?
• How to tell how natural a product is (or isn’t) and other lessons from the ingredients list
• Yes, front-of-packaging label claims are regulated, but that's not the whole story ...
• Which grocery aisles are the most deceptive in portraying themselves as healthy?
• Buying organic: Are the supposed benefits worth the higher cost?
• Are expiration or best-by dates canon, or just mere suggestions?
• What to do if you need extra help with your diet

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

Achy knees that creep up on you with age. Lower back pain from overdoing it in the gym. Joint pain doesn’t just disrupt your day to day, it can be tricky to course correct. Should you stop exercising for a few days? Modify your workouts until the pain resolves? Could extra stretching and foam rolling do the trick? And when is it time to see a physical therapist? In this episode, we discuss all things joint pain, including effective strategies for relieving and preventing it. 

Experts: 

• Dr. Scott Rand, Sports Medicine Physician 
• Corbin Hedt, Physical Therapist 

Interviewer: Katie McCallum

Notable topics covered: 

• Muscle soreness vs. joint pain vs. injury: How to tell the difference 
• The most common reasons we develop joint pain 
• Could the cause of your knee pain be hiding in your hips? 
• More examples of how joint pain often isn’t as simple as the area in question 
• Can you be genetically predisposed to joint pain? 
• Everything you need to know about physical therapy 
• “Your muscles aren’t tight, they’re weak.” 
• Are foam rollers and massage guns worthwhile? 
• The surprising percentage of people who have back pain 
• Workout rule No. 1: Don’t neglect the basics 

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 Halloween, which caps a month of people watching their favorite scary movies, braving haunted houses and generally celebrating all things spooky. Is it normal to seek out things that frighten us? Aren’t we wired to avoid them instead? The mix of chemicals the brain releases is no different whether the fear is real or fictitious so what accounts for the difference between getting a rush and feeling terrorized? In this episode, we talk to a neuroscientist and Halloween enthusiast about what happens in the brain when we’re scared, the many distinct types of fear and why people either love or loathe the horror genre.  

Expert: Dr. Philip Horner, Neuroscientist 

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman 

Notable topics covered: 

• The appeal of a holiday dedicated to curdling blood and tingling spines 
• Horror’s function: distraction, adrenaline release, overcoming fears 
• Safety in numbers: Why we like watching a scary movie in a crowded theater 
• Why humans, uniquely among species, are afraid of the dark 
• Common phobias: From heights to public speaking to spiders to needles 
• Children’s literature: Why many classic fairy tales are so dark 
• Fear’s physical manifestations: Is it unhealthy to be terrified? 
• What fight or flight situations and existential anxiety have in common   
• Some classic scientific studies of fear 
• Is that seemingly universal fear innate or learned? 
• The woman whose brain condition has made her fearless. Literally. 
• Nightmares: Why things that didn’t scare us in life do in our dreams  

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

An estimated 80% of moms experience “mom brain,” the forgetfulness and concentration difficulties that come with pregnancy and motherhood. Ask a mom to describe the condition and she might mention anything from having a hard time finding words and engaging in conversation to lapses in judgment, missed appointments and emotional breakdowns. Science hasn’t quite caught up with how impactful mom brain can be on a woman’s work-life balance … yet. To understand what we know and what we’re still learning about mom brain, we talk to a clinical psychologist who is also a mom to two young girls. 

 Expert: Dr. Jessica Rohr, Clinical Psychologist, Director of Women’s Mental Health 

Interviewer: Melissa Schafer  

Notable topics covered: 

• Mom brain isn’t just a colloquialism: How the brain changes during pregnancy 
• Why objective research findings don’t always match the subjective experiences of moms 
• Why mom brain research is in its infancy: A deep dive into the historical exclusion of women in medical studies 
• Whether “dad brain” also exists 
• Neuroplasticity: One of the benefits that comes with the cognitive changes in motherhood 
• Does mom brain ever go away? 
• Navigating the shift from seeking perfection to simply being a good person and mother 
• What spouses, loved ones and friends can do to support a new mother 
• How to reframe conversations like, “I want you to want to do the dishes.” 
• Tips, tools and workarounds for overcoming the challenges of mom brain 

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