60 episodes

This show is the antidote to health fads, hype, and misinformation. Dr. Chana Davis chats with experts in science and medicine about how to make smart choices for your health and wellbeing.

Get Real Health with Dr. Chana Davis Get Real Health

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 15 Ratings

This show is the antidote to health fads, hype, and misinformation. Dr. Chana Davis chats with experts in science and medicine about how to make smart choices for your health and wellbeing.

    Weight Loss Medications to Treat Obesity (Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford)

    Weight Loss Medications to Treat Obesity (Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford)

    Tune in to learn about the promise and pitfalls of weight loss medications, with Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician.
     
    This episode focuses on a popular medication called semaglutide, which is sold as Ozempic or Wegovy. Dr. Stanford explains how this drug works and shares the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of what to expect. We also discuss how medications fit into the broader picture of obesity management and why Dr. Stanford is a vocal advocate for defining and treating obesity as a chronic disease. 
    Dr. Stanford is an internationally recognized leader in obesity medicine. She practices and teaches at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and is Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School (HMS). Dr. Stanford received her BS and MPH from Emory University as an MLK Scholar, her MD from the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine as a Stoney Scholar, her MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government as a Zuckerman Fellow in the Harvard Center for Public Leadership, and her executive MBA as a merit-based scholarship recipient from the Quantic School of Business and Technology. She completed her Obesity Medicine & Nutrition Fellowship at MGH/HMS after completing her internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Stanford is also the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership, advocacy, and service.
     
    Connect with Dr. Fatima Cody StanfordTwitter @askdrfatima
    Instgram @askdrfatima
    https://askdrfatima.com

    Disclosures: Dr. Stanford has advised or consulted for: Novo Nordisk, Calibrate, GoodRX, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Gelesis, Eli Lilly, Rhythm, MelliCell, Vida Health, Vira Health, Sweetch

    • 28 min
    How Social Factors Impact Your Health (Dr. Annalijn Conklin)

    How Social Factors Impact Your Health (Dr. Annalijn Conklin)

    Tune in to learn about the social factors that shape our health with Dr. Annalijn Conklin. Social determinants of health, like education, food security, job security, social connections, and gender, play a major role in our health and disease.
     
    Dr. Annalijn Conklin is a social epidemiologist who studies how diseases like obesity and heart disease, are shaped by social factors, and how these intersect with gender. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia where she leads a research program to support healthy aging and reduce heart health inequities in Canadian women. Her diverse training experiences include a post-doc at UCLA on social policy and global health, a PhD in epidemiology from Cambridge, and a Master's in Public Health from Columbia University.
     
    This conversation challenges the popular narrative that health is a personal responsibility that we bear alone and encourages listeners to re-think what it means to make healthy choices.
     
    Connect with Dr. Annalijn Conklin
    Twitter @AnnalijnConklin
    https://pharmsci.ubc.ca/directory/annalijn-i-conklin
     
    Recommended Resources
    Social Determinants of Health (World Health Organization): http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/
    Beyond the Conversation community: https://beyondtheconversation.org

    • 28 min
    Genetics 101 & Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing (Dr. Alex Dainis)

    Genetics 101 & Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing (Dr. Alex Dainis)

    Join two geneticists to learn about your genes and direct-to-consumer genetic testing. Dr. Alex Dainis and Dr. Chana Davis both have PhDs in human genetics and are passionate about spreading their love of science.
     
    In this episode, we describe how our DNA makes us who we are, and explain basic concepts including genes, variants, transcripts and phenotypes. We also discuss the pros and cons of consumer genetic testing, including the way that genetic risks are often misinterpreted. Last but not least, we share how our scientific backgrounds shape the way we navigate the world, and why it's important to view science as a process, not a set of facts.
     
    Dr. Alex Dainis earned her PhD in genetics at Stanford University and is currently a freelance science communicator and video producer. Her successful social media channels bring biology, chemistry, and genetics to over 125,000 followers world-wide.
     
    Note: For professional help with a genetic medical condition, consult your physician and/or a genetic counsellor.
     
    Connect with Dr. Alex Dainis
    @alexdainis on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok
    Helicase Media video production: https://helicasemedia.com/
     
    Recommended ResourcesReactions by ACS: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJ9oJ2GUF8Vmb-G63ldGWg
    Chemistry for Life Podcast: https://chemforyourlife.com
    Those Nerdy Girls: https://thosenerdygirls.org
    Science Sam: https://www.samanthayammine.com
    Space Gal: https://www.thespacegal.com/about
    Unbiased Sci Pod: https://www.unbiasedscipod.com

    • 36 min
    Immunology 101 & Supporting Your Immune Health (Dr. Liz Marnik)

    Immunology 101 & Supporting Your Immune Health (Dr. Liz Marnik)

    Learn about your immune system with Dr. Liz Marnik, a scientist, professor, and passionate science communicator.
     
    In this episode, Dr. Marnik sheds light on how our immune systems work, and what we can do to keep them in tip top shape. We also talk about immune health myths and misinformation, and why we should be skeptical of "immune boosting" and "anti-inflammatory" claims.
     
    Dr. Marnik has a PhD in genetics/immunology and is an assistant professor of Molecular Biochemistry at Husson University, in Maine. She is also very active on social media and Substack, where she writes about COVID-19, vaccines, and other immunology topics.
     
    Dr. Liz Marnik and Dr. Chana Davis (host) met through the unofficial "Nerdy Neighbourhood" - a group of clinicians, researchers, and public health experts dedicated to reaching the public with practical, digestible, science-based, information. 
     
    Connect with Dr. Liz Marnik
    Instagram @sciencewhizliz
    Newsletter: https://fromthescienceclass.substack.com
    Website: https://www.elisabethmarnikphd.com/
     
    Recommended Resources
    British Immunology Society: https://www.immunology.org
    Amoeba Sisters: https://www.amoebasisters.com
     
    Members of the "Nerdy Neighbourhood"- Women in STEM who are passionate about science communication
    Fueled by Science: https://fueledbyscience.com
    Those Nerdy Girls: https://thosenerdygirls.org
    Unambiguous Science: https://www.unambiguous-science.com
    Unbiased SciPod:https://www.unbiasedscipod.com
    SciMoms: https://scimoms.com
    Impact: https://www.impact4hc.com

    • 35 min
    Carbs, Sugar Spikes, and Blood Glucose Monitors (Dr. Nicola Guess)

    Carbs, Sugar Spikes, and Blood Glucose Monitors (Dr. Nicola Guess)

    Join me to learn about the carbs, sugar spikes, and blood glucose monitors with diabetes expert Dr. Nicola Guess. 
     
    Dr. Guess discusses the pros and cons of closely tracking your blood sugar using CGMs (continuous glucose monitors). These devices have a long history of use in people with diabetes, and are gaining traction in healthy people for biohacking or personalized nutrition. She sheds light on how blood glucose profiles differ between people who are diabetic and not diabetic, and why a glucose spike is not necessarily cause for alarm. She also explains why not all carbs are equal, and why a carb-centric approach to nutrition can be problematic. 

     


    Dr. Nicola Guess is an expert in diabetes prevention and management, who brings a clinical, scientific and public health lens to the table. She see patients in her private clinical practice, and is a leading diabetes researcher at the University of Oxford.
     
    Connect with Dr. Nicola Guess
    - Substack: https://drguess.substack.com
    - Oxford: https://www.phc.ox.ac.uk/team/nicola-guess
    - Twitter: @Dr__Guess
    - Instagram: @dr__guess
     
    Related episodes
    Type 2 Diabetes Prevention: Dietary Strategies
    https://fueledbyscience.com/podcast/nicola-guess-2/
    Type 2 Diabetes Management: Dietary Strategies
    https://fueledbyscience.com/podcast/nicola-guess-1/
     
    Resources

    American Diabetes Association: https://diabetes.org
    Diabetes UK: https://www.diabetes.org.uk
    Diabetes Canada: https://diabetes.ca/

    • 40 min
    Bone Health Part 2: Osteoporosis Treatments (Dr. Joy Wu)

    Bone Health Part 2: Osteoporosis Treatments (Dr. Joy Wu)

    Join me to learn about osteoporosis treatments with bone health expert Dr. Joy Wu.
     
    We discuss lifestyle and medications that can halt bone loss, or even help rebuild bone. Dr. Wu also sheds light on the biology of bone and some of the factors that inform the optimal treatment for each patient.
     
    Dr. Wu is a board-certified endocrinologist who specializes in osteoporosis and other bone mineral diseases. She treats patients and leads cutting-edge research at Stanford University, where she is Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Gerontology and Metabolism and Vice Chair of Basic Science in the Department of Medicine.
     
    This episode is the second of a two-part conversation. In part one, we discuss osteoporosis prevention.
     
    Connect with Dr. Joy Wu
    Twitter @JoyYWu
    https://twitter.com/JoyYWu
    Stanford profile:
    https://profiles.stanford.edu/joy-wu
     
    Resources
    Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
    https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org
    Osteoporosis Canada
    https://osteoporosis.ca
    Hormone Health Network of Endocrine Society
    https://admin.hormone.org
    American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (for physicians)
    https://www.asbmr.org/

    • 20 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

MAMullins ,

Informative interviews with experts

The host has a knack for finding highly qualified guests who are good communicators in their field. The podcast doesn’t skimp on the science, but neither does it leave the lay listener in the dust. The host knows her stuff, too, and her questions are alway pertinent; it’s obvious that the guests enjoy her as much as she enjoys them. In this time of rampant misinformation, I listen to this as much for mental health as I do for information, happy to listen to solid facts conveyed by experts.

yyy yyy ,

Very insightful discussions with experts

A unique chance to listen to top researchers and experts in their fields. The host is enthusiastic about sharing her passion for health and the scientific thought process with her audience. She does an excellent job of preparing the discussions with careful research and addressing the most common concerns, questions and objections one hears about. Highly recommended!

Owi F ,

Amazing

This is a must listen for anybody who wants the straight facts without an agenda. Highly recommended

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