Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring

By: The Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University
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  • Summary

  • Next Level Health bridges the gap between traditional and integrative health through research-backed integrative approaches. Each episode comprehensively explores the latest scientific studies and expert opinions, offering practical insights and actionable advice for optimizing health and well-being. Hosted by Dr. Melinda Ring and featuring leading professionals in the field of integrative medicine, our podcast explores a wide range of topics ranging from nutrition to acupuncture to the latest mind-body therapies and herbal medicine. Whether you're a healthcare provider, a student, a wellness enthusiast, or someone seeking a deeper understanding of integrative practices, Next Level Health provides the knowledge and tools to help you make informed decisions. Join us as we uncover the synergy between conventional treatments and holistic therapies, empowering you to take a comprehensive approach to your wellness journey.
    2024
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Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living Physical Illness & Disease
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Episodes
  • Healthy People Have More Fun with Dr. David Katz

    Healthy People Have More Fun with Dr. David Katz
    Dec 16 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. David Katz, a leader in lifestyle medicine and preventive medicine specialist about actionable steps people can take to combat chronic diseases and optimize their health and well-being, so they can add more time and energy to life and enjoy doing the things they love, longer. They discuss the rise in obesity and chronic diseases and the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods as well as the role of policy and education in improving public health. Discover practical tips for a healthier lifestyle such as "Tastebud Rehab" and insights on how to align your lifestyle with joy and vitality. [00:00:00] Katz emphasizes that maintaining good health is not a moral obligation but rather as an opportunity and a source of joy. He states that "healthy people have more fun" because good health allows individuals to spend more time and energy doing the things they love. [00:02:29] Katz shares a career-defining moment inspired by a pivotal 1993 JAMA article called “Actual Causes of Death in the United States” and how the knowledge of modifiable root causes of chronic diseases reshaped his research focus toward translation and application rather than discovery. [00:06:15] Despite the efforts of those in lifestyle medicine, Katz recognizes that he and his colleagues are “failing” at helping Americans improve their health and lifestyles because chronic diseases and obesity rates continue to rise. [00:10:02] He says there are many reasons for this rise of poor health and points to the addictive nature of ultra-processed foods. He explains the food industry's deliberate design of addictive food products and provides practical tips for reducing sugar and processed food intake through what he calls "Tastebud Rehab." Katz and Ring also discuss other ways to help people transition to healthier eating habits, including the pros and cons of gradual changes versus going “cold turkey” and the use of GLP-1 agonists to jumpstart the process. [00:28:16] Other approaches that could help people live healthier lives include regulatory policies and aligning government, private sector innovations, and individual efforts to promote healthier lifestyles. [00:31:43] Katz highlights the importance of educating medical students and other healthcare providers about nutrition and Ring refers to the recently proposed 36 nutrition competencies for medical school curriculum. [00:40:26] Katz encourages listeners to identify small, fixable aspects of life that could lead to greater vitality. He highlights the importance of sustainable lifestyle changes and the power of community support in achieving long-term health goals. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html
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    43 mins
  • “What Matters to You?” The Profound Effect of Purpose with Dr. Benjamin Kligler

    “What Matters to You?” The Profound Effect of Purpose with Dr. Benjamin Kligler
    Nov 25 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Benjamin Kligler, a leader in integrative medicine and Executive Director of the Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation at the Veterans Health Administration (VA) who is responsible for advancing the Whole Health Model of care at the VA. They explore how Whole Health shifts the focus of care from “What’s the matter with you?” to “What matters to you?” They also dive into the importance of research in integrative medicine, such as an observational study Kligler conducted that showed veterans using Whole Health experienced significantly greater reductions in opioid use compared to those receiving conventional care. Find out how tools such as Whole Health can impact health and wellbeing for patients and empower clinicians, too. [00:01:53] Dr. Kligler explains how his interest in integrative medicine began with a college course in ethnobotany and evolved when he began combining conventional medicine with holistic approaches when treating patients as a Family Medicine physician. [00:05:17] As part of his approach to medicine, Kligler tries to help patients being in charge of their health. He cites Dr. Andrew Weil’s book “Spontaneous Healing: How to Discover and Enhance: Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself” as a major influence on his approach that emphasizes intrinsic healing capacities and personalized care. [00:10:51] Research became an important part of his career once he realized that it is "language of conventional medicine" and an important avenue for generating new knowledge to further conversations and validate integrative approaches. [00:16:09] The Whole Health Model has been very successful in the past decade at the VA and some highlights include using Whole Health to help veterans reduce opioid dependency by incorporating complementary therapies like acupuncture and health coaching into their care. [00:25:35] Dr. Kligler shares an inspiring story of a veteran, who is also a pastor, who was suffering with chronic pain and was able to reduce his pain and reliance on opioids through the Whole Health Model. The patient was also able to reconnect with his purpose in life, which he says is an important end goal because people who report a low sense of purpose have 2.5 times the risk of an early death compared to people with a high sense of purpose at age 50. [00:29:23] Dr. Ring says she asks doctors and nurse practitioners training in integrative medicine to compare the whole health inventory to a standard patient intake form and reflect on the difference between the two from the perspective of a patient. Dr. Kligler adds that adopting tools such as the inventory from the Whole Health approach transforms the physician-patient dynamic by fostering a collaborative partnership. This approach helps clinicians move away from viewing patients as individuals who need to be “fixed,” especially when many of the challenges patients face don’t have straightforward solutions. He says this approach could curb physician burn out, too. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html
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    37 mins
  • Compassionate Healing- Modern Advocacy & Traditional Herbal Wisdom with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog

    Compassionate Healing- Modern Advocacy & Traditional Herbal Wisdom with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog
    Nov 11 2024
    In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, a leader within the field of integrative medicine, whose unique background includes training as an herbalist, midwife, physician and is the Founding Director of Medicine Lodge Ranch. She's also a leader in education, overseeing the Fellowship of Integrative and Functional Medicine at UC Irvine's Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. and Former Fellowship Director, University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. They discuss how botanical medicine, holistic approaches and self-advocacy can transform health. Dr. Low Dog has served on the White House Commission for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy, advised the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health at the NIH, and chaired expert panels on dietary supplements in the U.S. Pharmacopeia for over 25 years. She is the author of more than 54 peer reviewed articles, 25 textbook chapters, and multiple books. [00:02:27] Dr. Low Dog’s Journey to Medicine From midwifery and herbalism to medical school, Dr. Low Dog describes how her holistic background shaped her approach to healthcare and her passion for integrative medicine. [00:09:38] Addressing Major Health Challenges in the U.S. Dr. Low Dog thinks some of the most pressing health concerns facing Americans today include the mental health crisis, obesity and chronic diseases. She explores how integrative medicine offers a more whole-person approach to tackling these challenges. [00:20:27] The Power of Botanical Medicine Drawing from her extensive knowledge and years of practice as an herbalist and medical doctor, Dr. Low Dog shares insights into botanical medicine's role in health, sharing specific examples of plants like echinacea, comfrey and hops that serve both food and medicinal purposes. [00:32:38] Final Reflections on Health Advocacy and Self-Care Dr. Low Dog views the doctor/patient relationship as a partnership but says self-advocacy in healthcare is very important. She also reflects on the preciousness of life and the need for self-compassion as a foundation for making healthier choices. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html
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    36 mins

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