On Health with Houston Methodist

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?

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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.

There's a reason headache is considered slang for "nuisance" or "annoyance." Simply put, they can wreak havoc on your day — or life, if you get them often. We're all bound to experience a headache at some point, but some people — 1 in 7 globally — suffer from migraine, the usually recurrent, particularly throbbing version. Migraine is considered the third most common condition in the world, but it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. So how do you know if that nagging headache is actually a migraine — and what you can do about it? In this episode, we learn when it's time to get help as we talk all things migraine with a neurologist.

Expert: Dr. Julia Jones, Neurologist

Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Notable topics covered:

• What is a headache, what is a migraine, and where is there overlap? 
• Which headache types are most often confused with migraine 
• Migraine causes compared to other headache types 
• The most common (and not-so-common) migraine triggers 
• Do other conditions make people think they have migraines when they don't? 
• When to seek care for headache or migraine 
• What home remedies work for managing a migraine 
• Migraine treatments — both for active migraines and preventive treatments 
• What can people do to prevent migraines? 
• Can someone be "cured" of migraines? 

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

Almost half of adults have high blood pressure — the “silent killer” — so you’re not alone if you’re concerned yours isn’t in a healthy range. Medication might seem the obvious course of action, but it’s not the only way to lower your numbers, whether they’re already in the dangerous zone or just starting to creep up. In fact, there’s a lot you can do to prevent and lower high blood pressure — and even get off medication if that’s your goal. In this episode, a preventive cardiologist explains how the choices you make every day affect your blood pressure and offers strategies for maintaining healthy numbers.

Expert: Dr. Sadeer Al-Kindi, Preventive Cardiologist

Interviewer: Katie McCallum

Notable topics covered: 

• How high blood pressure’s effect on arteries resembles pipe corrosion in the oil industry 
• It’s not just stroke and heart disease – high blood pressure can also affect the kidneys and brain 
• The lifestyle factors that help prevent and lower high blood pressure 
• It’s never too late to reverse high blood pressure 
• The single best thing you can do to lower your blood pressure 
• Whether behavior changes are enough to help avoid or get off blood pressure medication 
• Is vaping as bad for blood pressure as smoking? 
• You may not think you’re getting that much salt, but are you reading food labels? 
• How much you can expect your blood pressure to drop if you get down to a healthy weight 
• Actionable ways to achieve the lifestyle needed to maintain a healthy blood pressure 

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

Most everyone knows acute inflammation, that short-lived redness and swelling that characterizes the healing process in response to injury or infection. But you may not be so familiar with chronic inflammation, a low-grade, insidious condition linked to the biggest killers of Western world, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. A constant state of immune system overactivity, chronic inflammation is all but invisible, meaning people typically don't know they have it until disease has developed. Are there telltale signs? And what can you do to prevent it? In this episode, we learn about the condition the World Health Organization ranks as the greatest threat to human health.

Expert: Dr. Joshua Septimus, Primary Care Physician

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman

Notable topics covered:

• What we know about how chronic inflammation causes disease 
• Why it took so long for low-grade inflammation to come into the chronic disease spotlight 
• Do the "-itises" (sinusitis, colitis, tendonitis) have anything to do with chronic inflammation? 
• The link between processed food and the risk of low-grade inflammation 
• The best test to determine if you have chronic inflammation 
• Are there pharmaceutical treatments targeted at chronic inflammation? 
• It's not just what you eat — the other factors that can promote low-grade inflammation 
• Does being significantly overweight always predispose a person to chronic inflammation? 
• The best dietary approach to prevent chronic inflammation

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

Hosts Zach Moore, Katie McCallum, Todd Ackerman and Kim Rivera Huston-Weber kick off the new season of On Health with Houston Methodist. Each week, we'll be joined by a Houston Methodist expert to explore an everyday wellness trend or significant health topic. Stay tuned for episodes on everything from whether it's better to walk fast or walk far to how to tell a headache from a migraine to what to do when your joints start aching. Also on the schedule: tips for reading food labels and a Halloween special on the science of fear. Episodes drop every Tuesday morning for the next 10 weeks.

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

Christen Press, Catarina Macario, Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson, Beth Mead, Janine Beckie — some of the biggest names in soccer will be missing the 2023 Women’s World Cup due to ACL injuries alone. The frequency of the injury in women’s soccer has been talked about for decades, but are ACL tears on the rise? And why is this devastating injury so prevalent in the women’s game specifically? In this episode, we ask a physical therapist and former women’s professional soccer player for her perspective on the issue and path moving forward. 

Hosts: Katie McCallum (interviewer), John Dabkowski

Expert: Jordan Jackson, Physical Therapist and Former Professional Soccer Player

Notable topics covered: 

• From youth to club to pro soccer, Jordan weighs in on how she's seen injury shape careers 
• Jordan never tore her ACL, but she also had a unique training experience growing up 
• Are ACL tears in women’s soccer on the rise, or are we just hearing about them more now? 
• Women are more likely to tear (and re-tear) their ACLs, but why? 
• Moving beyond the conversation about women’s wider hips, knee valgus and quad/hamstring ratio 
• Is wider adoption of movement training the key to reducing injuries? 
• What the research says about menstrual cycles and injuries 
• Why prevention and rehab strategies will need to be personalized 
• Studying the benefit of movement training in girls’ youth sports 
• The research says it all — now it’s time for meaningful change 

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

Heat, exercise, anxiety. There are a few things that make people sweat — more than we likely want, given how uncomfortable and embarrassing sweat can sometimes be. But what do you actually know about it? In this episode, we discuss everything from the important role sweating plays in your body to whether someone can sweat "too much" and everything in between.

Hosts: Katie McCallum, John Dabkowski (interviewer)

Expert: Mag Ayyad, Exercise Dietitian

Notable topics covered: 

• Why we sweat when we’re hot — and when we’re not 
• Genetics, geography, activity level: What determines how much you sweat? 
• The actual composition of sweat might surprise you 
• Once you start sweating, how do you stop? 
• Sweat and body odor: It’s not your sweat — per se — that smells 
• How hygiene products can affect your sweat 
• Everyone sweats. Or do they? 
• Mag’s tips for heavy sweaters 
• John and Katie do sweat tests (and share their results) 

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

Hot dogs are a classic summer cuisine. In fact, Americans will eat 150 million of them on the Fourth of July alone. But hot dogs, as well as other types of processed meat, have a dark side — they’re classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 carcinogen and linked to stomach and colorectal cancers, heart disease and more. If this is news to you, you're not alone. In this episode, we discuss everything from how processed meat affects the body to how much we can eat without taking on health risks. 

Hosts: Zach Moore, Katie McCallum (interviewer)
 

Expert: Dr. Valentine Millien, Gastroenterologist 

Notable topics covered: 

• What counts as processed meat 
• Why processed meat is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen 
• What's in processed meat that makes it so bad for us? 
• It's more than digestive issues — processed meat leads to inflammation throughout the body 
• It's not a bad idea to let your doctor know if you've eaten a lot of it in your lifetime 
• Deli meat, charcuterie, beef jerky: Are some types of processed meat less harmful? 
• The truth about "nitrate-free" deli meat 
• You don't have to stop eating processed meat, but how much is too much? 
• Whether the deli meat sliced behind the counter is better than pre-packaged options 
• Dr. Millien's recommendations for healthy swaps 
• The importance of following colorectal cancer screening guidelines 

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

We all have go-to workout songs — ones you can always count on to help you get the darn thing done, no matter how unmotivated you are to exercise or how hard your workout gets. What is it about the connection between music and exercise? Is it just a way to distract us from the task at hand and make working out more bearable? Or does a song's tempo have a way of improving our physical performance? In this episode, we explore the effect music has on the brain and whether what we listen to can make for a more effective workout.

Hosts: Zach Moore (interviewer), Katie McCallum

Expert: Maegan Morrow, Senior Music Therapist

Notable topics covered:

•  How the brain senses and responds to music 
• Beats per minute: How both heart rate and musical tempo are measured 
• Why synchronizing your heart rate to a song's tempo makes for effective exercise 
• How Maegan uses these principles to help rehabilitate brain injury patients in the ICU 
• Whether the volume of what you listen to matters during a workout 
• Tips for building the perfect workout playlist 
• Ways to determine the beats per minute of your favorite songs 
• Running vs. weightlifting vs. HIIT: Do you need different playlists for different types of exercise? 
• Why your workout playlists need more than high tempo songs 
• TV shows, audiobooks, podcasts: Does it matter if you don't listen to music?

Links:

• On Health with Houston Methodist Workout Playlist

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Dementia is older Americans' most feared diagnosis, according to surveys. This is understandable given that, by 2050, such diseases are projected to rob nearly 14 million people — more than twice the current number — of their memories, personalities, ability to function. Is it just fate or can you do anything to prevent dementia? In this episode, we explore the risk factors for dementia, lifestyle strategies and interventions to keep your brain healthy and whether cognitive impairment is inevitable if you live long enough.

Hosts: Zach Moore, Todd Ackerman (interviewer)

Expert: Dr. Gustavo Román, Neurologist

Notable topics covered: 

• Alzheimer's and other types of dementia: The differences 
• How much age related mental decline is to be expected? 
• Blood flow: Its role in the development of dementia 
• How much of dementia is determined by genetics 
• When's a good age to implement prevention strategies? 
• Should you get tested to see if you're at risk? 
• The connection between hearing loss and dementia 
• Can vitamins prevent or delay dementia symptoms? 
• The best brain exercises aren't crosswords or word puzzles 
• Research to develop statin-like drugs for the 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.

Ice cream is one of America's favorite desserts, but all those calories and sugars and fats have lots of people considering alternatives — keto ice cream, plant-based ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, sorbet, sherbet, their own homemade ice cream. But are any really healthier? And what's the taste trade-off? In this episode, we talk with a dietitian about how we're biologically wired to like ice cream, the secret ingredients in the alternatives and what's a healthy framework for enjoying dessert.

Hosts: Zach Moore (interviewer), Katie McCallum

Expert: Amanda Beaver, MS, RDN, LD, Wellness Dietitian

Notable topics covered:

• The feel-good neurotransmitters that ice cream triggers in the brain 
• Is there such a thing as a "healthy" amount of ice cream? 
• Ice cream parlors vs. store-bought ice cream: Yes, there's a difference 
• Sugar-free, keto, vegan: The new wave of "healthier" ice creams 
• Ingredients substituted for sugar and fat and their potential downsides 
• DIY: How to make healthier ice cream at home 
• Gelato, froyo, soft serve, sorbet: Better choices than traditional ice cream? 
• Ever heard of banana nice cream? Frozen chocolate-covered bananas? 
• How to build a well-balanced smoothie 
• Beaver's tips for getting satisfaction out of dessert without overdoing it 

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