Episodes

  • The Connection Between Weight Stigma and Inflammation in the Body

    The Connection Between Weight Stigma and Inflammation in the Body
    Mar 2 2024
    In this new episode, we're diving deep with the extraordinary Dr. Natalie Keirns, a postdoctoral research fellow studying cardiovascular behavioral medicine. Dr. Keirns earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Oklahoma State University in 2023 and her research is nothing short of groundbreaking. Get ready to be dazzled as we uncover the intricate links between psychosocial stress and cardiometabolic disease, and explore Dr. Keirns' revolutionary psycho-behavioral approaches to disease prevention. What's truly captivating is Dr. Keirns' investigation into how weight stigma stress impacts our physical health. We'll delve into concepts like internal weight stigma and the surprising effects on blood cortisol levels, while learning how to safeguard our mental well-being. So buckle up, listeners! Today's episode isn't just about knowledge—it's about empowerment and reclaiming control over our health journey. Join us for an inspiring and informative conversation with the remarkable Dr. Natalie Keirns!
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    38 mins
  • Developing a Healthy Mindset and Intention Around Nutrition

    Developing a Healthy Mindset and Intention Around Nutrition
    Aug 28 2023
    It’s been a while…. But I am back with an amazing guest who I am so lucky to call one of my friends: Ellen Amico. After graduating with a major in psychobiology and a minor in food studies from UCLA, Ellen is now attending USC to pursue her master's of science in nutrition, healthspan, and longevity at USC. After both struggling with one herself and working at an eating disorder treatment center in Beverly Hills, Ellen has incredible advice to share on how to find a healthy balance of healthy habits and nutrition in our everyday lives. Get ready to hear an incredible episode talking about personal journeys and mindset switches to breaking down seemingly complex healthy habits into simple steps to make them long-lasting!
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    38 mins
  • Training the Brain to Crave Healthier Foods

    Training the Brain to Crave Healthier Foods
    Mar 5 2023
    Join me in my first episode of 2023 in my conversation with Dr. Janet Tomiyama, a psychology professor at UCLA who also is the head of the Dieting, Stress, and Health lab at UCLA. Her research interest focuses on the harmful health consequences of stress, dieting, and fat shaming, and has even been covered in the media. Today we are going to be discussing one of her studies that were mentioned in the Washington Post which covered how we can actually re-train our brains to crave healthier alternatives when we are stressed. We cover how our bodies change during times of stress, how it affects our brains, and what we can do to combat it with an adaptive coping mechanism.
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    23 mins
  • Managing a Healthy Lifestyle in College

    Managing a Healthy Lifestyle in College
    Dec 14 2022
    In this episode, I am so excited to be speaking with someone who shares the same college atmosphere as I'm sure many of you listeners do! I am speaking with Leah Roga, another student at UCLA who shares a student's perspective on her own fitness and health journey. We talk all things gym, nutrition, reverse dieting, and how to balance it all!
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    33 mins
  • The Psychology of How Food Insecurity Changes Eating Behavior

    The Psychology of How Food Insecurity Changes Eating Behavior
    Oct 23 2022
    Welcome back to another episode after a while, and I promise we are hitting the ground running!! Today, I am speaking with Dr. Lauren Hofschneider, who is actually my health psychology professor at UCLA. She takes a psychophysiological perspective in her research to investigate how factors, such as stress, subjective social status, and perceptions of scarcity, shape food choice overall. In this episode, we cover the psychological basis of eating behaviors, as Dr. Hofschneider connects what she has uncovered about food scarcity to dieting behaviors. Get ready for an incredible episode!
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    24 mins
  • Probiotics 101: Everything You Need to Know

    Probiotics 101: Everything You Need to Know
    Jul 10 2022
    In today’s episode, we cover everything you need to know about probiotics, and there is no one better to speak on the subject than Dr. Tien Dong. Dr. Dong is a gastroenterologist at UCLA who is also the PI of his own lab. His research is focused on evaluating the impact of the brain-gut microbiome axis on obesity and fatty liver disease. Dr. Dong is actually currently embarking on an exciting project of his own where he is working on creating his own probiotic blend! Get ready for an exciting episode to have all your questions about probiotics answered.
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    23 mins
  • How Physical Activity Can Improve Our Microbiome

    How Physical Activity Can Improve Our Microbiome
    Jul 3 2022
    In today’s episode, we cover a topic we have yet to regarding its effects on health, and it is an understatement to say it is a huge passion of mine. Join in as I speak with Michelle Guan, a medical student at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA regarding the research she did on the effect physical activity has on the microbiome. To say Michelle is extraordinary is not enough to describe her- she graduated summa cum laude from UCLA with a degree in psychobiology and a minor in biomedical research. After graduating, she worked for a year as a clinical research associate at Cedars Sinai in the field of gastrointestinal cancers, which sparked her interest in GI. Throughout medical school, Michelle has worked on research projects understanding how lifestyle factors alter the brain-gut microbiome axis to contribute to increased susceptibility to obesity and also changes in mental health. She has presented her work at multiple national conferences and is planning on pursuing a career in gastroenterology, all before her fourth year in medical school! Join in for this incredible episode combining two passions of mine with an incredibly educated and talented guest!!
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    21 mins
  • Educating the Youth on Tobacco Use- Partnership with Saahas

    Educating the Youth on Tobacco Use- Partnership with Saahas
    Jun 29 2022
    In this special episode of the Brain Food Podcast, I am so excited to be partnering up and working with Sahaas for Cause, a non-profit organization that focuses on creating impactful programs to stabilize the lives of the South Asian community.. Our main goal with this project is to engage south Asian community members in tobacco control efforts with an emphasis on advancing policy or systems change and increasing awareness about tobacco or tobacco-related products after a CEA study was done showing how many youth younger than age 14 would start smoking e-cigarettes without the knowledge of its harmful side effects. Today I am speaking with Dr. Hemant Kulkarni a Consultant in Paediatric Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Sheffield Children's Hospital in the UK. His clinical interests include general respiratory, ciliary brush biopsies, sleep-disordered breathing, and long-term ventilation, making him an incredible speaker on the subject of the effects of tobacco. More information regarding Sahaas for Cause!: https://www.saahasforcause.org/
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    20 mins