Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing

The Evolution of Nutrition Science at Weight Watchers with Dr. Michelle Cardel

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Are you tired of nutritional misinformation and confusing fad diets? Dive into a science-backed discussion with Dr. Michelle Cardel, the Chief Nutrition Officer at Weight Watchers, who reveals the rigorous research driving the brand’s evolution into a holistic health program. Discover the startling truth about health inequities in multilingual resources, learn why culturally tailored nutrition is crucial for success, and understand WW’s progressive strategy for supporting members using GLP-1 medications. Learn more about evidence-based weight loss strategies needed for sustainable well-being for yourself and your family.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Dr. Cardel’s career evolution from academia to Weight Watchers

  • Behavioral weight management interventions for medically underserved groups

  • Solving health inequities in non-English nutrition resources

  • The necessity of culturally relevant and tailored nutrition education

  • Parenting strategies: modeling healthy behaviors and discussing health, not weight

  • Weight Watchers’ program evolution to a holistic four-pillar approach

  • The science-backed approach to supporting members on GLP-1 medications

  • Strategies for navigating and combating nutritional misinformation and fad diets

  • The scientific rationale behind the selection of ZeroPoint foods

  • The future of personalized nutrition and digital behavior change

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD:

Michelle Cardel, PhD, MS, RD is an obesity and nutrition scientist and registered dietitian with a focus on the development and implementation of evidence-based healthy lifestyle strategies, particularly for those from medically-underserved backgrounds. She serves as the Chief Nutrition Officer at WeightWatchers and is an adjunct professor and co-Director of the Center for Integrative Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Throughout her career, Michelle has authored over 125 scientific publications and received numerous honors including the Excellence in Emerging Outcomes Research award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Superior Accomplishment Award for Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of Florida Health Sciences Center, and the Outstanding Woman Award from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was also awarded Fellow Status for The Obesity Society and Practitioner of the Year, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of obesity.

At WeightWatchers, Michelle oversees clinical research, program innovation, and the food and nutrition database teams. In collaboration with fellow scientists and teams across the organization, she plans and executes research studies, then implements and disseminates the findings for WeightWatchers members, the scientific community and the greater community at large. She also leads the organization’s nutrition point of view using the latest in nutritional science and collaborates across the organization to translate the evidence in member content, programs, and beyond.

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Combating Breast Cancer with Dr. Kristi Funk

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

In this compelling episode, board-certified breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk shares her personal and professional journey, from traditional surgery to an advocate for holistic, plant-based medicine. She reveals the powerful role of lifestyle choices, including diet, exercise, and hormones, in preventing and combating breast cancer. Dr. Funk dispels common myths about foods like soy and dairy, offering science-backed insights for a healthier, more empowered life. Tune in to discover how you can actively take control of your breast health and reduce your cancer risk.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Dr. Kristi Funk’s journey from general to breast cancer surgery

  • The profound emotional impact of a breast cancer diagnosis on women

  • The power of nutrition and lifestyle in disease prevention

  • Dr. Funk’s transition to a plant-based, lifestyle-focused approach

  • Scientific evidence supporting a plant-based diet for cancer prevention

  • The relationship between dairy consumption and breast cancer risk

  • Understanding different types of fats and their effect on health

  • The truth about soy and its relationship to breast cancer

  • Navigating mammograms and other breast screening methods

  • The importance of physical activity and exercise

  • Managing hormone levels to reduce cancer risk

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Kristi Funk, M.D.:

Kristi Funk, M.D. is a board-certified breast cancer surgeon & physician, bestselling author, international keynote speaker and women’s health advocate. After graduating with distinction from Stanford University in 1991, Dr. Funk received her medical degree from the UC Davis, School of Medicine, and completed her surgical residency in Seattle, WA, followed by a surgical breast fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she excelled as a Director of their Breast Center until 2009. Dr. Funk then co-founded the Pink Lotus Breast Center in Los Angeles where she practices as a breast cancer surgeon and expert in minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment methods for all types of breast disease. She has helped thousands of women navigate breast issues, including well-known celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Sheryl Crow. As an ambassador and avid contributor to the Pink Lotus Power Up community, Dr. Funk hosts a cooking show in the Cancer-Kicking! Kitchen, frequently authors Breast Cancer 101 blogs, and provides instructional videos on breast health. Her extensive research into nutritional science caused her to expand the passion for her medical practice with the life-empowering Cancer-Kicking! Summit which teaches women (and men) how to maximally reduce their chances of facing cancer or any other controllable killer disease.

She is the go-to breast expert for Good Morning America and Dr. Phil’s Merit Street Media; she was a co-host of The Doctors tv show, and has repeatedly appeared on Today, Rachael Ray, The Dr. Oz Show, CNN, The View, and more, as well as countless radio and podcast interviews. Dr. Funk has received dozens of honors and awards and uses her appearances to educate and give back to the community. She resides in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband, Andy Funk, and triplet sons.

Combating Breast Cancer with Dr. Kristi Funk Read More »

How Not to Die. Quick Tips for Improving Longevity with Dr. Michael Greger

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Dive into the science of longevity with Dr. Michael Greger, the renowned physician and author of the “How Not to Die” series. In this episode, Dr. Greger shares the powerful personal story that launched his career and passion for plant-based nutrition. Learn about the “Daily Dozen” checklist of foods and habits that can transform your health, and hear his perspective on the state of nutrition science and the power of a healthy diet to prevent and reverse chronic diseases.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • The path that led Dr. Michael Greger to medicine and nutrition.

  • Reversing heart disease with a plant-based diet.

  • The “How Not to Die” book series and its purpose.

  • Daily Dozen checklist for healthy eating.

  • How to increase longevity through autophagy.

  • Supplements.
Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM:

Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM is a physician, New York Times best-selling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger has lectured at the Conference on World Affairs, the National Institutes of Health, and the International Bird Flu Summit, among countless other symposia and institutions; testified before Congress; has appeared on shows such as The Colbert Report; and was invited as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous “meat defamation” trial. In 2017, he was honored with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine with its Lifestyle Medicine Trailblazer Award.

Dr. Greger’s most recent scientific publications in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Critical Reviews in Microbiology, Family and Community Health, and the International Journal of Food Safety, Nutrition, and Public Health explore the public health implications of industrialized animal agriculture.

Dr. Greger is also licensed as a general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition and is a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He was featured on the Healthy Living Channel promoting his latest nutrition DVDs and honored to teach part of Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s esteemed nutrition course at Cornell University. Dr. Greger’s nutrition work can be found at NutritionFacts.org, which is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit charity.

Four of his books — How Not to Die, The How Not to Die Cookbook, How Not to Diet, and How Not to Age — became instant New York Times Best Sellers. He is also the author of Bird Flu: A Virus of Our Own Hatching and Carbophobia: The Scary Truth Behind America’s Low Carb Craze. Dr. Greger is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Agriculture and the Tufts University School of Medicine.

How Not to Die. Quick Tips for Improving Longevity with Dr. Michael Greger Read More »

Everything You Wanted to Know About Menopause & Heart Disease with Dr. Gina Lundberg

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

In this episode, Dr. Monica Agarwal sits down with Dr. Gina Lundberg, a leading cardiologist and expert in women’s heart health, to demystify the complex relationship between menopause and cardiovascular disease. They tackle a range of critical topics, from understanding the subtle symptoms of heart attacks in women to the latest research on hormone replacement therapy and its timing. Dr. Lundberg sheds light on how to navigate this crucial life stage with your heart in mind, providing essential information on the safest and most effective treatment options.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Cardiovascular disease awareness in women

  • The dismissal of women’s symptoms by medical professionals

  • The impact of menopause on heart health

  • Different types of hormone replacement therapy

  • Understanding the “timing hypothesis” for hormone therapy

  • Recommendations for safe hormone delivery methods

  • The relationship between menopause and bone density

  • The role of transdermal patches and oral hormones

  • Menopause as a cardiovascular disease risk factor

  • The importance of women in cardiology

  • The link between menopause and sexual health

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Gina Lundberg MD:

Gina Price Lundberg MD FACC is a preventive cardiologist with the Emory Clinic in East Cobb and at the Emory Saint Joseph Women’s Center. Dr. Lundberg is a Professor of Medicine at Emory University and Clinical Director of the Emory Womens Cardiovascular Health Center. She serves as the ACC Women in Cardiology (WIC) Leadership Council Chair and on the AHA Clinical Cardiology Leadership Council.

She is a National AHA Spokesperson. Dr. Lundberg has been a Board Member of the American Heart Association for Atlanta from 2001 until 2007 and was on the Southeast Affiliate Board 2006-2007. She also served on the SEA Strategic Health Initiatives Committee to promote Go Red for Women. She has been involved in every program related to the Go Red for Women initiative for the metro Atlanta area since its development in 2003.

She has been interviewed on the subject of Heart Disease in Women on CNN and in USA Today. Governor Sonny Perdue appointed Dr. Lundberg to the Advisory Board for the Department of Womens Health for the State of Georgia in 2007 until 2011. In 2005, Atlanta Woman Magazine awarded Dr. Lundberg the Top 10 Innovator Award for Medicine. In 2008, Atlanta Woman Magazine named her one of the Top 25 Professional Women to Watch and the only woman in the field of medicine. She was chosen a Top 10 Female Cardiologist on Social Media and is a Castle-Connally Top Doctor from 2016 to 2023. She was awarded the Castle-Connally Exceptional Women Doctor from 2017 to 2022.She has published over 65 articles in peer reviewed medical journals and contributed to several textbooks.

She attended the Medical College of Georgia and trained in Internal Medicine at Atlanta Medical Center (Georgia Baptist). Her cardiology fellowship was at Rush University in Chicago. She has been in practice in Atlanta since 1994. She is Board Certified in Cardiology and Internal Medicine and recertified in both in 2002. Dr. Lundberg has two children and considers motherhood her first and foremost career. Dr. Lundberg has lived most of her life in the metro Atlanta area. She enjoys spending time in the north Georgia mountains, snow skiing, travel and reading. She also enjoys serving as a short-term medical missionary and is involved in her church.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Menopause & Heart Disease with Dr. Gina Lundberg Read More »

Why Do We Like To Eat So Much? Understand Eating Behaviors with Dr. Michael Vallis

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Dr. Monica Aggarwal sits down with Dr. Michael Vallis, a leading health psychologist specializing in chronic disease management. They delve into the pervasive impact of “diet culture” and discuss how to shift focus from mere numbers to sustainable behavioral change. Dr. Vallis shares invaluable insights on self-compassion, navigating hunger cues, and practical strategies to overcome barriers in your health journey.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Why is sleep important?

  • Why so some people change and others don’t? What are the factors?

  • What drives self-improvement?

  • How can clinicians motivate change?

  • When people struggle with obesity, are the factors for change the same?

  • How do you help people change?

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Dr. Michael Vallis, PhD. R. Psych:

Dr. Vallis is a health psychologist based in Halifax, Canada. He is an Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.A from the University of Western Ontario, London, and his B. Sc. From Dalhousie University. His main area of expertise is adult health psychology, with an emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He spends most of his time training healthcare providers in behavior change for chronic disease management. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students and is active in research on motivation, behavioral change and adaptation to chronic disease. He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in academic publications, journal editing, and clinical practice guidelines. He was on the executive of the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity (2020) and lead author of the Psychological and Behavioural Chapter for these new guidelines as well as the 2006 guidelines. As well, he is an author of the Psychology and Mental Health chapter of Diabetes Canada’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (2023, 2018, 2013, 2004). He received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons, the 2021 Charles H Best award from Diabetes Canada and holds a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of the Diabetes Canada.

Why Do We Like To Eat So Much? Understand Eating Behaviors with Dr. Michael Vallis Read More »

Dr Brad Schoenfeld

How to Build Muscle for a Stronger, More Vital You with Brad Schoenfeld

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Dive deep into the science of strength and fitness with Dr. Brad Schoenfeld, a leading authority on muscle hypertrophy. Discover evidence-based strategies for building muscle effectively at any age, optimizing your training for growth, and understanding the nuances of progressive overload. The conversation also explores fascinating topics like maximizing cardiovascular fitness, the effects of cold water immersion, and insights gained from wearable technology. Tune in for expert advice to elevate your fitness journey.

Meet Dr. Brad Schoenfeld, PhD, CSCS, CSPS, FNSCA

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Understanding muscle hypertrophy and growth

  • Optimal training principles for muscle

  • Progressive overload and exercise selection

  • Building muscle across different age groups

  • Maximizing cardiovascular fitness and VO2 Max

  • Impact of cold water immersion on muscle

  • Insights from heart rate recovery & wearables

  • Importance of recovery and nutrition strategies

  • Mind-muscle connection and training intensity

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Dr. Brad Schoenfeld, PhD, CSCS, CSPS, FNSCA:

Dr. Schoenfeld is a professor of exercise science at Lehman College in the Bronx, New York, where he serves as the graduate director of the Human Performance and Fitness program. He also formerly served as the Sports Nutritionist for the New Jersey Devils hockey organization. Dr. Schoenfeld has published more than 300 peer-reviewed scientific papers on various exercise- and sports nutrition-related topics, and authored the seminal textbook, “Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy.” He was the recipient of the 2016 Dwight D. Eisenhower Fitness Award, presented by the United States Sports Academy for outstanding achievement in fitness and contributions to the growth and development of sport fitness through outstanding leadership activity, as well as earning the 2018 National Strength and Conditioning Association Young Investigator of the Year Award.

How to Build Muscle for a Stronger, More Vital You with Brad Schoenfeld Read More »

Understanding Sleep with Dr. Michael Breus

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Do you sleep well? Do you ever wonder about those stages on your Aura Ring/Apple Watch/Fitbit? Is there an optimal sleep amount? Is there a one sleep fits all?

Meet Dr. Michael Breus who is a clinical psychologist and sleep specialist. With the clever eponym, The Sleep Doctor, Michael Breus is a sleep guru. Recently named the Top Sleep Specialist in California’s Reader’s Digest, and one of the 10 most influential people in sleep, Dr Breus creatively teaches people about why sleep is important and how to achieve good sleep habits.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Why is sleep important?

  • Is there an optimal sleep pattern for each person? What are chronotypes related to sleep?

  • What is a circadian rhythm?

  • What are the hormones of sleep?

  • What are the stages of sleep and their significance? Is there one stage we should want more than other?

  • How do we maximize a sleep stage: more restorative, better for longevity, important for memory

  • What is the optimal amount of sleep? is it the same for everyone? Why do we sleep less as we age? Do we need less sleep as we age?

  • How do we create good sleep habits?

  • What is neuroplasticity and its correlation to sleep?

  • What do you think of the Apple Watch and Aura rings? 

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Michael Breus, PhD:

Dr. Breus is the author of The Power of When, (2016) a #1 at Amazon for Time Management and Happiness (#28 overall), a biohacking guidebook proving that there is a perfect time to do everything, based on your genetic biological chronotype. Dr. Breus gives the reader the exact perfect time to have sex, run a mile, eat a cheeseburger, ask your boss for a raise and much more. His newest book (2021) Energize! Go from dragging Ass to kicking it in 30 days, adds the concepts of Movement (not exercise), and Intermittent Fasting to his already famous Sleep Chronotypes. It was also named one of the top books of 2021 by The Today Show. His second book, The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan: Lose Weight Through Better Sleep (2011), discusses the science and relationship between quality sleep and metabolism. His first book, The Sleep Doctor’s 4-Week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health (Dutton/Penguin), an Amazon Top 100 Best Seller, is a do-it-yourself guide to better sleep. His latest book is Sleep, Drink, Breathe, Dr. Michael Breus shares the most recent science on these biobehaviors and inspiring patient stories that are the basis for his innovative strategy for optimizing your sleep, hydration, and breathing habits.

Dr. Breus has supplied his expertise with both consulting and as a sleep educator (spokesperson) to brands such as Hastens Mattresses, Ebb Therapeutics (FDA approved insomnia treatment), Apollo, Princess Cruise lines, Six Senses Hotel and Spa, Lighting Science Group, Advil PM, Breathe Rite, Crowne Plaza Hotels, Dong Energy (Denmark), Merck (Belsomra), BOSE, iHome, and many more.

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Life Hacks: Simple Changes to Improve Your Diet with Heather Borders

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

Have you met Heather Borders? Heather is a registered dietitian and focuses on getting patients to use plant-based nutrition to heal their illness. She meets people where they are and gives you the gentle nudges you need to heal your body. In this episode, we learn about Heather as she offers quick tips on change and why we struggle with our foods.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • Heather’s personal story. How did she become an RD?

  • Credibility in nutrition. How to navigate social media and nutrition advise

  • Why is it hard to change your diet

  • How should we navigate cooking for one and cooking on a budget.

  • Three changes we can all make and quick!

  • Scheduling a telehealth appointment with Heather
Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Heather Borders:

Heather Borders is an entrepreneurial culinary dietitian who, after successfully managing her own high cholesterol through diet, became motivated to help others do the same. She collaborates with clients to develop sustainable strategies for overcoming common challenges related to nutrition and lifestyle changes. Her clinical focus includes weight management, diabetes, cardiovascular health, gastrointestinal disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

Over the past decade, Heather has offered personalized nutrition counseling, grocery store tours, group and private cooking classes, and personal chef services. She co-piloted a transformative 90-day “Meals that Heal” community initiative with a local restaurateur, which combined nutrition counseling, interactive group cooking sessions, and provided one daily plant-based meal. Additionally, Heather collaborated with a local chef to create the “Dinner with a Doc” interview series, featuring monthly interviews with lifestyle medicine physicians and doctorate-level clinicians.

Before her career change in nutrition, Heather spent nearly seven years as a medical device Product Manager for Medtronic Ear Nose Throat and five years at Johnson Space Center training astronauts on the Electrical Power Systems and exercise hardware onboard the International Space Station.

Heather has her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of North Florida, an MBA and Master of Mechanical Engineering from Rice University, and a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University. She also has a certificate in Type 2 Diabetes Remission from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, has been a Food For Life Instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine since 2012, and completed Rouxbe’s Plant-Based Professional Culinary certification in 2014.

Life Hacks: Simple Changes to Improve Your Diet with Heather Borders Read More »

Introducing Ethnically Sensitive, Tasteful and Healthy Meals with Drs. Hari and Jenneffer Pulapaka

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

“I am not a medical doctor; how do I impact others with healthy eating? How do I impact change?”

Meet James Beard Chef Hari Pulapaka and Podiatrist Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka: A married couple trying to impact healthy changes in their patients, one bite at a time. They are a dynamic duo who focus on plant forward nutrition and healthy living in their respective areas of business. Whether, it is while teaching people how to cook, Hari brings in healthy tips and asks the questions of why we choose the foods we do. When it is foot health, Dr. Jennifer talks about how to use complex carbohydrates instead of refined ones to reduce their diabetes and improve their foot health.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • What motivates a chef and a podiatrist to want to change how people eat?

  • What does “change” mean?

  • What are simple things people can do to change their diet?

  • Hari and Jenneffer have written a new book about heart healthy plant-based eating. What were your goals in writing this?

  • Does eating healthy have to be hard? How can we make this simple and easy?

  • How do you encourage people to change?

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Hari Pulapaka, Ph.D., CEC, AAC, WCMC:

Originally from Mumbai, Hari has been residing in the United States since 1987. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Florida in 1995. A professional midlife crisis prompted him to pursue culinary arts, resulting in his graduation from classical culinary school in 2004 with top-of-the-class honors.

A four-time James Beard Best Chef semifinalist, Hari has been invited to cook at the historic James Beard House in New York City seven times. He was also a featured chef at the 2018 James Beard Awards in Chicago. In 2008, Hari co-founded the award-winning restaurant, Cress, located in DeLand, FL with his wife Jenneffer Pulapaka, which, during his co-ownership and leadership from 2008-2019, garnered numerous accolades, including being rated as ZAGAT’s #1. In 2017, Hari established his company, Global Cooking School, encompassing his culinary pursuits, which include teaching, philanthropy, and crafting world-class, globally inspired, and sustainably minded tasting menus. Hari is no longer affiliated with Cress Restaurant. Through the Global Cooking School, Hari channels all of his creative endeavors as a classically trained globally-inspired chef with a keen and focused eye on sustainable practices and mindfulness. For the past 3 years, Chef Hari has been creating diverse menus in an Omakase setting.

Recognized as a GRIST 50 fixer in 2016 for his innovative efforts in food waste reduction, Hari holds the title of Certified Executive Chef (CEC) with the American Culinary Federation and is an inductee into the American Academy of Chefs. Additionally, he is a Worldchefs Certified Master Chef (WCMC). Hari actively contributes to sustainability initiatives as a strategic advisor for Postelsia, a member of the Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) Group and the Academic Working Group of Food Tank, and a participant in the Zero Food Waste Coalition. He serves as Chef/Partner for Enroot Organics, PBC.

Hari is a prolific author, with multiple published books to his credit. His latest endeavor, coauthored with his wife, Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka, is titled “The Heart Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook: 101 Recipes for Lowering Blood Pressure, Reversing Heart Disease & Cardiac Recovery”. The book is published by Hatherleigh Press and distributed by Penguin Random House.

Hari Pulapaka is a dedicated and tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics at Stetson University since the year 2000.

About Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka:

DeLand Foot and Leg Center, under the leadership of Dr. Pulapaka, is redefining podiatric care. Having built a legacy as the first and longest-running female surgical podiatry practice in West Volusia County, Dr. Pulapaka is fueled by a mission to transform healthcare from reactionary to preventative medicine.

Her passion lies in empowering patients through lifestyle medicine, as evidenced by her groundbreaking achievement – becoming the first podiatrist board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine. This conviction guides her belief that “every patient deserves a physician who advocates for their holistic well-being.”

But Dr. Pulapaka doesn’t stop at advocacy. She actively shapes the future of healthcare, serving on the Board of Directors for the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care and the Podiatric Population Health Committee of the American Podiatric Medical Association. Her expertise extends beyond feet, reflected in her co-authorship of three books, including “The Heart Healthy Plant-Based Cookbook: Over 100 Recipes for Lowering Blood Pressure, Reversing Heart Disease & Cardiac Recovery” (October 2024).

Dr. Pulapaka’s commitment to plant-based wellness goes beyond publications. She holds certifications in Plant-Based Nutrition from Cornell and Culinary Health Education Fundamentals Coaching from Harvard. This deep knowledge fuels her mission to bridge the gap between nutrition and healthcare, empowering patients to heal from the inside out.

Shifting the paradigm from symptom management to root cause prevention, Dr. Pulapaka champions a sustainable future for healthcare. Join her on this journey towards a healthier world, one bite at a time.

Introducing Ethnically Sensitive, Tasteful and Healthy Meals with Drs. Hari and Jenneffer Pulapaka Read More »

Getting Friends and Family to Step 1 of Change with Dr Liz Klodas

Getting Friends and Family to “Step One” of Change with Dr Liz Klodas

Blog, Podcast, Seeking Voices: Exploring the Science of Health and Healing /

How many times have you heard from a doctor that you need to eat better and exercise for better health? Well, those of us who have been told this, know that it is much easier said than done.

Introducing Dr. Liz Klodas, a preventive cardiologist who created a food company to offer people a “step one” to make changes in their diet. She understands that it is hard to change and that sometimes having options that you can take out of the refrigerator or pantry that are healthful can get you started and on your way. I can’t wait for you all to hear my friend, Dr. Liz Klodas, talk about her journey as a cardiologist who decided to start a food company.

Key Areas We Discuss

  • What do physicians learn in their training about nutrition?

  • What makes a cardiologist start making her own food?

  • What is the step I of changing your diet?

  • What are practical changes that we can make to heal our bodies?

  • What does your company step I foods do?

  • What studies show that it works?

Do You Have A Health, Nutrition or Lifestyle Concern? Click-Here to Learn More How We Can Work Together Today!

About Elizabeth Klodas MD:

Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC is a preventive cardiologist and Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Step One Foods, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Step One Foods improves health by creating foods that augment the care and prevention of heart disease.

Dr. Klodas completed her Cardiology fellowships with both the Mayo Graduate School and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and founded Preventive Cardiology Clinic, where she continues to see patients. She authored a book for patients published by the American College of Cardiology: Slay The Giant: The Power of Prevention in Treating Heart Disease, and served as the Founding Editor of cardiosmart.org (the patient education website of the ACC). She remains involved in clinical research and patient education and is an active member of ACC’s Nutrition Workgroup. However, Dr. Klodas considers Step One Foods to be her most rewarding and impactful professional accomplishment. To date, Step One Foods has helped tens of thousands of individuals lower their cholesterol, improve cardiovascular health, and feel better.

Getting Friends and Family to “Step One” of Change with Dr Liz Klodas Read More »

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