Over half of cancer cases and deaths are considered preventable by making healthy lifestyle changes. In this episode, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen, a leading expert in integrative oncology and Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Dr. Melinda Ring, discuss six key areas of health and wellness people can use to reduce risk for developing cancer or to support healing and the reduce the risk of recurrence after a cancer diagnosis and treatment. They also delve into the controversial topic of biofield therapies and their potential impact on cancer treatment. The episode offers science-backed insights and personal anecdotes, providing actionable steps for optimizing health and well-being both before and after a cancer diagnosis.

https://youtu.be/HX0rCCZzrAk

00:00 Introduction to Next Level Health

00:49 Personal Story and Cancer Prevention

01:17 Meet Dr. Lorenzo Cohen

02:26 Understanding Integrative Oncology

04:26 Stress and Its Impact on Cancer

05:29 Integrative Medicine at MD Anderson

08:46 Biofield Therapies and Energy Medicine

18:18 The Mix of Six for Anti-Cancer Living

22:46 Final Thoughts and Personal Wisdom

25:10 Conclusion and Resources

For the first time in history, today's children are expected to have shorter lifespans than their parents — largely due to diet and lifestyle-related diseases. But there are things parents can do to help reverse this trend. In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with integrative pediatrician Dr. Elisa Song, author of Healthy Kids, Happy Kids, to explore how families can nurture true resilience — from the gut to the brain and beyond.

https://youtu.be/hilJIFyIfGw

00:00 – Kids' lifespans are shortening: why this matters
00:20 – Welcome to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring
00:51 – Introducing Dr. Elisa Song: integrative pediatrician and mom
03:11 – The alarming rise of chronic illness in children
05:35 – The microbiome at the root of modern childhood diseases
06:59 – How gut health shapes immune and mental health
12:17 – The role of birth and breastfeeding in microbiome development
13:26 – Why today's babies have fewer beneficial gut bacteria
18:03 – Antibiotics and long-term health: what parents need to know
23:34 – Restoring gut health through food and fermented recipes
26:23 – The vagus nerve: the bridge between the gut and brain
32:20 – Tools and devices that build calm and resilience
36:11 – Final advice for parents: small steps, big impact
37:23 – Closing thoughts from Dr. Ring

Protecting our brain and body in a world that's not always built for it can be a challenge. In this episode, Dr. Austin Perlmutter, a board-certified internal medicine physician unpacks the forces that inflame and impair our brains and offers tools to protect, nourish, and even rewire them.

00:00 Introduction to Brain Health

00:59 Meet Dr. Austin Perlmutter

01:36 Modern Challenges to Brain Health

04:06 Environmental Impacts on Brain Health

05:18 Diet and Brain Health

17:22 Inflammation and Brain Health

19:42 Practical Steps for Brain Health

19:50 Polyphenols and Brain Health

30:04 Muscle Health and Brain Health

32:53 Supplements and Brain Health

40:17 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Food is finally being recognized as an essential part of medicine in institutions and kitchens across the United States. In this episode of Next Level Health, Dr. Melinda Ring welcomes Dr. David Eisenberg, a Harvard-trained physician, pioneer of culinary medicine, and founder of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative—for an in-depth conversation on the Food is Medicine movement.

Watch on YouTube

https://youtu.be/zATxfxaBbE0

Topics include:

• Dr. Eisenberg's journey from baker's son to physician and integrative medicine leader

• The creation of Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives and the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

• How teaching kitchens are being scaled across hospitals, schools, and workplaces

• The research proving their impact on patient outcomes and lifestyle change

• National policy advances and nutrition competencies for medical education

00:00 – Introduction: Eat, Move, Think Better

00:30 – Welcome to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring

02:00 – Dr. Eisenberg's personal story: From bakers' son to doctor

09:00 – Early experiences in China: Acupuncture, tai chi, and culinary lessons

13:30 – Founding Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives

15:40 – The birth of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative

19:55 – Pilot studies: Teaching kitchens as laboratories for health

25:00 – The COVID pivot: From in-person kitchens to virtual learning

29:20 – Scaling impact: Teaching kitchens as broadcast studios

30:30 – Food is Medicine movement and national policy advances

36:40 – Nutrition competencies for medical education

41:50 – Challenges and future of implementation in medical schools

45:37 – Dr. Eisenberg's personal wisdom: Teach children to cook

47:41 – Closing reflections and gratitude

In this episode of Next Level Health @DrMelindaRing talks with @DrewRamseyMD about  how to build better mental health through our daily choices. Dr. Ramsey is a board-certified psychiatrist and pioneer in nutritional psychiatry. They cover the significance of essentials like sleep, nutrition, movement, and social connections for optimal mental health. Dr. Ramsey explains the concept of mental fitness and its scientific foundations like neuroplasticity and the role of inflammation and the microbiome. Practical tips on dietary choices, particularly the benefits of seafood, greens, nuts, and beans are shared. The conversation also touches on the importance of self-awareness, movement, and connection in mental health, and addresses the stigma around mental health, especially among men. Dr. Ramsey emphasizes simple, actionable steps for improving mental health through everyday choices.

Whether you're navigating menopause or simply striving for more vitality, this episode of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring offers valuable insights that could help you live a more vibrant and balanced life. Dr. Deanna Minich, a renowned nutrition scientist and author of The Rainbow Diet, joins Dr. Ring to discuss how phytonutrients from colorful plants can support everything from hormone balance to brain health and beyond.

[00:02:00] Dr. Minich explains the role of colorful foods in fertility, perimenopause and menopause and how different colors in food correspond to specific body functions, such as inflammation and hormone balance. She highlights the benefits of orange foods, like tangerines and mangoes, which help support ovarian health and reduce decline during perimenopause.

[00:05:53] She says there are protective effects in carotenoids, found in colorful foods, on fat tissues, particularly for skin health, especially during menopause. She also emphasizes the role of purple foods like blueberries and purple sweet potatoes in protecting against oxidative stress.

[00:10:27] Aging men should focus on red and green foods that support prostate and heart health, Minich says. She highlights the role of lycopene and green leafy vegetables in preventing inflammation and promoting cardiovascular health.

[00:13:21 Dr. Ring asks the importance of detoxification, particularly during weight loss or with medications like GLP-1. Minic advocates for incorporating omega-3s into the diet to support detoxification and cellular health.

[00:28:25] Melatonin is a favorite topic of Minich and she says it is not just important for sleep, but for immune health, brain function, and detoxification. She explains how melatonin helps with circadian rhythm synchronization and the removal of brain toxins, especially during sleep.

[00:36:35] Through her research, Minich has found that eating colorful foods nourishes the body and soul. She encourages listeners to make meals enjoyable and artistic, emphasizing the importance of colorful plant-based foods in daily life.

Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern

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