Wellness: Fact vs. Fiction

Latest Episodes:

The "No One Size Fits All" Approach to Weight Loss May 18, 2022

Show notes

TW: Diet, weight

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, registered nutritionist and researcher specializing in sustainable weight loss, Marie Spreckley. In her latest research, Marie posed the question — what does the experience of trying to achieve sustainable weight loss entail after completing a 1-year weight-loss program followed by one year of predominantly self-directed support? Tune in to hear the fascinating results and why there is no "one size fits all" approach when it comes to weight loss and health.

Danielle and Marie discuss:

The importance of a multidisciplinary, empathetic, and compassionate approach for success in weight loss and weight management
How personalized, agile treatment approaches have the potential to enhance long-term treatment outcomes for patients
The complexities of obesity and how it’s not *always* the right time to lose weight
How family, social commitments, food environment, time, and structure can impact weight loss

Marie Spreckley is a clinician, researcher, and academic specializing in obesity and weight management. She is currently in the final month of her PhD, which focuses on investigating behavioral determinants that increase the likelihood of achieving long-term weight loss outcomes with her own patient cohort. She also runs a private weight loss practice in London and teaches the Master of Science in Obesity and Weight Management at the University of South Wales. Prior to this, she spent over a decade working as a registered nutritionist for the NHS and in private practice, with a particular focus on sustainable weight loss and overall health improvements.

Thank you so much for taking the time to contribute to a generation that values fact over fiction! Be sure to rate, review, and follow on your favorite podcast app and let us know which not-so-wellness trend you’d like to hear debunked. Follow your host on Instagram @daniellebelardomd and the podcast @wellnessfactvsfiction. Follow Marie @mariespreckley

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GI Myths Busted – Coffee Enemas, Colonics & Parasites May 11, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, TikTok’s favorite gastroenterologist Dr. Austin Chiang, to get to the bottom (pun intended) of the most common GI myths. Austin is one of the most influential voices in the field of gastroenterology online, and on today’s episode he sheds light on the enormous amount of misinformation being shared on social media that could be detrimental to your health.

Danielle and Austin debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding:

Parasite cleanses and rope worms
Colonics and coffee enemas
Probiotics, candida and gut microbiome testing
Gluten-free diets and celiac disease

Dr. Austin Chiang is a triple board-certified, dual ivy-league educated and trained gastroenterologist and advanced endoscopist. In October 2021, he became the first Chief Medical Officer of the gastrointestinal business for Medtronic, the world’s leading medical device company responsible for products to help endoscopists better prevent colon cancer. Dr. Chiang is currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine and serves as the Director of the Endoscopic Weight Loss Program and Chief Medical Social Media Officer at Jefferson Health.

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Eat the Damn Banana (if you want!) - Understanding Carbs with Kevin Hall, PhD May 04, 2022

Show notes

TW: Diet, weight

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo for part two of her fascinating conversation surrounding carbs, energy balance, and body weight with NIH nutrition and metabolism scientist, Dr. Kevin Hall. Danielle and Kevin discuss the phenomenal research Kevin and his team have done evaluating the impact of different diets and their studies in regards to the carbohydrate insulin model. They debunk myths about low carb versus low fat diets, the effects of carbs and fat on appetite, and whether keto deserves all the hype. If you have ever had anxiety about eating a banana because of the carbs, this one is for you!

Dr. Kevin Hall received his Ph.D. in Physics from McGill University and is now a tenured senior investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he is the Section Chief of Integrative Physiology. His main research interests are the regulation of food intake, macronutrient metabolism, energy balance, and body weight. Dr. Hall is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the NIH Director’s Award, and his award-winning Body Weight Planner has been used by millions of people.

They discuss myths and misconceptions in regards to:

Calories, insulin, and glucose
Social media’ newest enemy, fruit
The latest fad diets

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The Science Behind Metabolism & Weight Loss with Kevin Hall, PhD Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

TW: diet, weight

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, NIH nutrition and metabolism scientist Dr. Kevin Hall. In part one of this fascinating conversation, Kevin and Danielle cover a lot of ground, including Kevin’s brilliant metabolic award studies at the NIH, which are a frequent topic of conversation in the nutrition world. They discuss Kevin’s research in metabolism, energy expenditure, and weight loss and take a deep dive into his research on participants from the reality TV show, The Biggest Loser. Today's episode explores whether or not the myth is true that extreme exercise, like that depicted on the TV show, prevents the a fall in metabolic rate during weight loss, and the possible reasons why physical activity aids in weight maintenance.

They discuss myths and misconceptions in regards to:

Metabolic adaptation and vigorous exercise
BMI and adipose (fat) tissue
Weight loss, weight gain, and weight maintenance

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Diet Soda, Artificial Sweeteners & Gut Supplements - Should You...? Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, bodybuilding coach and nutrition pseudoscience myth buster, Dr. Layne Norton. Layne is a champion powerlifter and bodybuilder who turned his passion for lifting weights into a career that has helped over 2k people reach their health and fitness goals. Today’s episode debunks misinformation about artificial sweeteners, gut health, and calories in vs. calories out. Danielle and Layne also dissect numerous studies related to sucralose, diet soda, and other sweeteners that will leave you stunned and perhaps a little bit thirsty. Permission granted to crack open a diet coke while listening.

Dr. Layne Norton is a bodybuilding, figure, and physique coach who received his BS in Biochemistry from Eckerd College with honors and his PhD in Nutritional Sciences with honors from the University of Illinois. He developed his own nutrition and fitness coaching app called Biolane and has a no-BS supplement line called Carbon by Layne Norton.

They discuss myths and misconceptions in regards to:

The health impacts of artificial sweeteners and whether they make you prone to diabetes and cancer
Whether sweeteners are linked to obesity and can hinder weight loss
The gut microbiome
Metabolism and calorie deficits

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Beyond Borders - Stories of Bravery, Dignity and Kindness From Ukraine Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

This is a very special episode as Dr. Danielle Belardo welcomes Ukrainian American physician Dr. Marianna Blokh and her mother, Natalia Blokh, to discuss the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on their lives and the lives of their loved ones, some of whom are still in Ukraine. Both Marianna and Natalia assisted with translating via facetime 24 hours a day for Danielle as she supplied medical attention to Ukrainian refugees crossing the border into Poland. The medical tent was the first stop and the bravery, dignity, and pain of the women, children and elderly individuals seeking refuge was undeniable. On today’s episode, Danielle shares her experience working at the border, updates listeners on a few of the inspiring people she met, and breaks down some of the misinformation and misconceptions about the war.

Special thanks to Marianna and Natalia, for their selfless dedication and willingness to share their story during these incredibly difficult times. Also, many thanks go out to all of the volunteers and non-profit organizations helping Ukrainian refugees and those impacted directly by the war, especially those who are unable to leave Ukraine. Praying for peace.

If you are able, please donate to the humanitarian efforts for those in Ukraine.

GoFundMe for Tim and Lena

Rescuers Without Borders

World Central Kitchen

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Feel the Burn – The Truth about Calories & Exercise Apr 06, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, Evolutionary Biologist and author of Burn, Dr. Herman Pontzer. Get ready for what you thought you knew about weight loss, metabolism and exercise to be completely turned on its head as Dr. Ponzter breaks down his latest findings on the physiology of humans and how diet, activity, and other ecological factors influence health. Danielle and Herman discuss the evolution of diets, the truth about losing weight, the energy budget, and the benefits of exercise. Dr. Ponzter shares his experience living with the Hadza hunter-gatherers in northern Tanzania and the ground-breaking research that came from it. This is one of those gasp-out-loud episodes, packed full of shocking truths about calories, weight loss, and the human body. The good news is, you can toss those fad diets out the window!

Dr. Herman Pontzer is an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology and Global Health at Duke University and is an internationally recognized researcher in human energetics and evolution. His lab research focuses on energetics and metabolism, including respirometry and doubly labeled water methods. Dr. Pontzer’s work has been covered in The New York Times, BBC, PBS, Washington Post, The Atlantic, NPR, Scientific American, and others.

They address myths and misconceptions in regards to:

Metabolism, energy expenditure, and aging
Exercise and calories burned
The starvation response, low calorie diets and weight loss
Basal metabolic rates and body fat percentage

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Ask an OB/GYN - IUDs, Missing Tampons & Implicit Bias Mar 30, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, TikTok’s favorite board certified OB/GYN and women’s health mastermind, Dr. Heather Irobunda. Get ready to be blown away by this incredibly educating and empowering conversation surrounding women’s healthcare and the role racism plays in maternal health. Heather explains the impacts of implicit bias, tiers of care, weathering, and redlining on minority groups and how systemic and overt racism leads to chronic stress health issues, specifically in women of color. Danielle and Heather also respond to your burning questions about women’s sexual health and weigh in on the pros and cons of the various contraceptive methods. This episode debunks misinformation left, right and center in the women's health space and nothing is off limits!

Dr. Heather Irobunda is a board certified obstetrician-gynecologist currently practicing at NYC Health and Hospitals. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Post Baccalaureate Program at the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She went on to complete her Doctorate of Medicine from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and joined the Guthrie Ambulatory Care Center as an attending physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, helping soldiers, spouses and veterans.

Myths and misconceptions in regards to:

Tampons and toxic shock syndrome
Periods, pregnancy and menstrual tracking
HPV vaccine age limits and who should get it
OB/GYN procedures and the pain discussion on social media

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The Hormone Myth – Is Imbalance Just a Buzzword? Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo and her expert of the week, board certified endocrinologist and hormone myth buster, Dr. Arti Thangudu. After last week's episode, the questions poured in about fake diagnoses and predatory tests, so Arti is here to cut through the functional medicine noise and dispel the misinformation about adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, hormone supplements, and alternative medicine testing. With new “wellness” accounts being created on the daily, it is no wonder people are confused with what and who to believe when it comes to hormonal health. On today’s episode, Arti and Danielle discuss the difference between adrenal insufficiency and adrenal fatigue, the complexities of the thyroid, and social media’s hottest new hormone — cortisol.

Dr. Arti Thangudu, MD, is a triple board-certified physician and endocrinology, diabetes, and thyroid specialist who provides high-level, well-rounded care at Complete Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Thangudu received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and completed a rigorous internship in internal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. She then relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, to complete her internal medicine residency at Tulane University. Dr. Thangudu also holds board certification in internal and lifestyle medicine and is certified in plant-based nutrition.

Myths and misconceptions discussed include:

Hormonal imbalance and hormone tests
Hypothyroidism vs hyperthyroidism
Effects of adrenal and thyroid supplements
The correlation between weight loss and hyperthyroidism

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Functional “Medicine” - Magical Cures & Dangerous Supplements (Part 2) Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

Join Dr. Danielle Belardo for part two of the fiery conversation about “functional” medicine with her expert guests, registered dietician Dr. Kevin Klatt, and board certified family physician Dr. Spencer Nadolsky. With the countless marketing scams and supplements to choose from, it’s easy to fall under the spell of predatory practitioners who claim to have the “magical” cure for all your ailments. Today’s episode is packed full of advice to help you fight off these functional medicine sharks and make informed decisions when it comes to your health. Danielle, Spencer and Kevin discuss the red flags to watch out for, which (if any) supplements are worth your money, and they review the ridiculous products found on Mark Hyman’s website. It’s time to put your wallet away and step away from the unregulated supplements!

Dr. Kevin C. Klatt, PhD, RD is a nutrition researcher and registered dietitian who provides individualized medical nutrition therapy and health coaching to patients/clients. Dr. Klatt completed his doctoral work in nutrition at Cornell University and his dietetic training at the National Institutes of Health. He is currently a researcher at the Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Spencer Nadolsky is an obesity and lipid specialist physician who focuses on exercise and nutrition as medicine. He earned a degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina and completed his medical degree at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (Virginia Tech Campus). His residency training was done through the VCU-Riverside Family Medicine program. He is also the creator of LiftRx.

Myths and misconceptions discussed include: