NHA Today Podcast

National Health Association
  • 5.0 (44)
  • Alternative Health
  • Weekly

The NHA Health Science Podcast, hosted by Dr. Stephan Esser, explores the science and real-world application of whole food, plant-based living. Through expert interviews and practical conversations, the show brings clarity to today’s most important health topics - helping you prevent disease, improve well-being, and take control of your health. Learn more at: healthscience.org/podcast

  1. 1d ago

    What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Brain from Alzheimer's with Dr. William Nields

    Why Protecting Your Memory Starts Long Before You Notice a Problem What if the best time to reduce your risk of cognitive decline is long before you notice memory problems? In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Dr. William Nields, founder of Headwaters Longevity Clinic, about emerging approaches to Alzheimer's prevention, early detection and healthy aging. Dr. Nields explains how changes associated with Alzheimer's disease can begin years before symptoms appear and why identifying potential risk factors early may be valuable. They explore the roles of nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep and circulation, along with newer testing methods being studied to assess cognitive function. You'll also learn how everyday habits may support memory and long-term cognitive health, what researchers are discovering about the gut-brain connection and why prevention is such an important focus. In This EpisodeWhy Alzheimer's-related changes may develop before symptoms appearWhat research suggests about slowing or improving cognitive declineHow comprehensive cognitive assessments may help identify risk factorsThe relationship between nutrition, healthy fats and memoryWhy physical activity supports cognitive functionHow sleep contributes to memory and brain maintenanceThe importance of blood flow and vascular healthEmerging research into the gut microbiomePractical lifestyle choices that may help reduce dementia riskWhile there is no guaranteed way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, Dr. Nields shares why addressing modifiable risk factors early may offer opportunities to support cognitive health as we age. About Dr. William NieldsWilliam Nields, MD, is the founder of Headwaters Longevity Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from the University of South Florida College of Medicine and completed his residency at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. His work combines lifestyle medicine, functional medicine and conventional medical care, with a focus on chronic disease prevention, longevity and cognitive health. Website: https://www.HeadwatersLongevity.com Email: Will@HeadwatersLongevity.com Instagram: @WillNields X: @HeadwatersJax LinkedIn: William Nields, M.D. About Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Connect with the National Health AssociationBecome a member: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership Website: https://healthscience.org Upcoming events: https://healthscience.org/events/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation Subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast for more conversations about nutrition, lifestyle medicine and healthy aging.

    What You Can Do Now to Protect Your Brain from Alzheimer's with Dr. William Nields

  2. Oct 22

    Are Your Emotions Controlling Your Eating Habits? with Dr. Stephan Esser

    The Hidden Psychology Behind Food Cravings and Why Knowing Better Doesn't Always Mean Eating Better You know what healthy eating looks like. So why is it still so hard to make the choices you know are good for you? In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser explores the science of emotions and eating, revealing why our relationship with food is shaped by much more than hunger or nutritional knowledge. From childhood memories and emotional triggers to dopamine, cravings and the powerful appeal of ultra-processed foods, Dr. Esser explains why we often reach for foods that don't support our health, even when we know better. He also explores how self-perception, stress, relationships and our environment influence our eating habits. Most importantly, he shares practical ways to recognize your triggers, distinguish emotional hunger from physical hunger and develop healthier coping strategies that support lasting change. In This EpisodeWhy knowing what to eat doesn't always change our behaviorHow emotions and childhood experiences shape our food choicesWhy ultra-processed foods can be so difficult to resistThe difference between physical hunger and emotional hungerHow dopamine and the brain's reward system influence cravingsWhy self-perception and emotional intelligence matterHow to manage stress without turning to foodPractical strategies for building a healthier relationship with foodDr. Esser challenges us to ask a simple but powerful question: Why do I eat what I eat? Understanding the answer can help us move beyond willpower and begin creating habits that support our health. About Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. He is passionate about helping people understand how nutrition, movement and other lifestyle choices can support lifelong health and well-being. Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the NHA: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership Learn more: https://healthscience.org Upcoming events: https://healthscience.org/events/ NHA YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation Subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast for more conversations about nutrition, lifestyle medicine and creating a healthier life.

    Are Your Emotions Controlling Your Eating Habits? with Dr. Stephan Esser

  3. Oct 16

    Better Mental Health Starts with These 6 Lifestyle Pillars with Casie Mair-Miley

    Your Mental Health and Physical Health Are More Connected Than You ThinkWhat if the way you eat, sleep, move and manage stress could have a bigger impact on your mental health than you realize? In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and lifestyle medicine specialist Casie Mair-Miley about the powerful connection between mental and physical health. Casie shares the deeply personal story of her daughter's struggles with severe mental illness and years of psychiatric treatment that weren't bringing the improvement her family hoped for. She explains how incorporating the six pillars of lifestyle medicine became a turning point for her daughter and ultimately transformed Casie's approach to psychiatric care. Together, they explore the gut-brain connection, how nutrition and everyday habits influence mental well-being and why taking care of your body is an important part of supporting your mental health. In This EpisodeCasie's personal journey into lifestyle psychiatryThe surprising connection between gut health and mental healthHow nutrition can influence mood and emotional well-beingThe six pillars of lifestyle medicineWhy sleep and movement matter for mental healthHow ultra-processed foods and cravings affect our habitsWhy alcohol can make anxiety and sleep problems worseThree practical changes you can make starting todayCasie closes with three simple recommendations: move your body every day, keep your phone out of the bedroom and consider alcohol-free alternatives. About Casie Mair-MileyCasie Mair-Miley, DNP-S, MSN Ed, PMHNP, DipACLM is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. She has worked with children, adolescents and adults in mental health settings since 1998. After experiencing the benefits of lifestyle medicine within her own family, Casie is pursuing an approach to psychiatric care that integrates lifestyle changes with mental health treatment. Website (Coming Soon): https://lifestylepsychnp.com Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casiemair-miley/ About Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the NHA: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership Learn more: https://healthscience.org Upcoming events: https://healthscience.org/events/ NHA YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation Subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast for more conversations about nutrition, lifestyle medicine and creating a healthier life.

    Better Mental Health Starts with These 6 Lifestyle Pillars with Casie Mair-Miley

  4. Oct 8

    Your Kidneys Work Hard. Are You Protecting Them? with Dr. Stephan Esser

    Your Kidneys Do More Than You ThinkYour kidneys filter roughly 50 gallons of blood every day, help regulate blood pressure and fluid balance, remove waste and play important roles in everything from vitamin D to maintaining the delicate pH balance your body needs to function. So, what are you doing to protect them? In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser breaks down how your kidneys work, what can damage them and the everyday choices that can help support kidney health for years to come. He explores common kidney problems including kidney stones, high blood pressure-related kidney damage and diabetic kidney disease, along with important markers such as GFR, BUN and creatinine. He also discusses how diet, hydration, medications and other lifestyle factors can affect kidney function. Most importantly, Dr. Esser focuses on the factors you can influence. From managing blood pressure and blood sugar to eating more whole plant foods, staying hydrated and knowing your numbers, there is a lot you can do to take better care of these hard-working organs. In This EpisodeWhat your kidneys actually do all dayImportant kidney health markers to knowWhat causes kidney stones and how diet may affect your riskHow high blood pressure and diabetes can damage the kidneysThe stages of chronic kidney diseaseMedications and supplements that may affect kidney functionHow nutrition influences kidney healthWhy hydration mattersWhat to monitor to better understand your kidney healthEveryday choices that can help protect your kidneysAbout Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. He explores practical ways nutrition, movement and other lifestyle choices can support better health and quality of life. Follow Dr. Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the NHA: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership? Learn more: https://healthscience.org Upcoming events: https://healthscience.org/events/ Subscribe to the NHA Today Podcast for more conversations about nutrition, lifestyle medicine and creating a healthier life.

    Your Kidneys Work Hard. Are You Protecting Them? with Dr. Stephan Esser

  5. Oct 1

    Build Strength That Keeps You Active for Life with Jen Dieter

    Strength Is FreedomWhat do you want to still be able to do 10, 20 or 30 years from now? Travel. Garden. Play pickleball. Carry your grandchildren. Get off the floor without help. Keep doing the things that make your life yours. In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with physical therapist and world champion weightlifter Jen Dieter to talk about building strength for the life you want to keep living. Jen is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy, an 11-time CrossFit Games qualifier, five-time world record holder in Olympic weightlifting and two-time World Champion. But her message is not just for athletes. Jen did not begin CrossFit and weight training until she was 38, after years without intentional exercise. She explains why muscle is an investment in your future and why strength training, balance, quick footwork and functional movement matter more as we age. Most importantly, Jen encourages listeners to think beyond the scale or the mirror. Ask yourself what you want your body to be able to do years from now, then start training for that life today. In This EpisodeWhy muscle is an investment in your futureWhy it is never too late to get strongerWhat functional strength really meansHow balance and quick footwork support real-life movementWhy fear of injury can lead to lost functionHow to start strength training if you are new to itWhy fitness goals should go beyond weight and appearanceJen leaves listeners with three practical places to start: lift something that feels heavy for you two or three times a week, give your cardiovascular exercise a purpose and test what your body can actually do. About Jen DieterJen Dieter, MPT is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy. She has spent 28 years helping people move beyond pain and return to the activities they love. REAL Movement Physical Therapy: http://www.realmovementphysicaltherapy.com Instagram: @jensmash13 About Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast. Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the NHA: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership? Learn more: https://healthscience.org Upcoming events: https://healthscience.org/events/

    Build Strength That Keeps You Active for Life with Jen Dieter

  6. Sep 23

    How to Close the Gap Between Lifespan and Healthspan with Charlyn Black, MD, ScD

    We may be living longer, but are we actually living healthier? In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Charlyn Black, MD, ScD, physician, public health researcher, educator and co-author of Plant Powered Seniors, to explore the growing gap between lifespan and healthspan. Healthspan refers to the years of life spent in good health, rather than years marked by chronic disease, frequent medical care and declining function. Dr. Black explains that while lifespan has increased, the amount of time many people spend in poor health has also increased. In the United States, she points to recent data suggesting that this gap now exceeds 14 years. But aging does not have to mean simply accepting a steady decline in health. Dr. Black explains how our bodies and nutritional needs change as we get older, from changes in nutrient absorption and muscle response to hydration, appetite and caloric needs. She also shares how her own approach to nutrition and movement has evolved as she has aged and why even people who have followed a healthy lifestyle for years may benefit from making adjustments. The conversation also goes beyond individual choices. Drawing on her career in public health, Dr. Black discusses how our food environments, institutions and public policies can either support healthier choices or make them much harder. She argues that improving population health requires both personal action and environments that make healthy living easier. Above all, her message is an encouraging one: it is never too late to make a difference in your health. Whether you are already thriving or managing chronic conditions, changes in nutrition, movement and other lifestyle habits can still matter. In This EpisodeThe important difference between lifespan and healthspanWhy living longer does not necessarily mean living healthierHow nutrition needs and physical function change as we ageWhy a whole food, plant-powered diet may be especially valuable later in lifeThe role of movement in maintaining strength, mobility and independenceWhy sleep, social connection, stress management and avoiding risky substances matter for healthy agingWhy willpower alone is not enough to create healthier populationsHow our food environment influences the choices we makeSimple ways to begin improving your health at any agePlant Powered SeniorsDr. Black is a co-author of Plant Powered Seniors with registered dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Written specifically for adults 50 and older, the book explores how nutritional needs change with age and how plant-powered nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits can support better health throughout the later decades of life. Learn more and purchase Plant Powered Seniors: https://plant-poweredseniors.com/ Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the National Health Association: https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership? Learn more about the NHA: https://healthscience.org Explore upcoming NHA events: https://healthscience.org/events/ If you enjoyed this episode, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who wants to spend more of their years living with health, strength and independence.

    How to Close the Gap Between Lifespan and Healthspan with Charlyn Black, MD, ScD

  7. Sep 17

    Plant-Based Cruising & Adventure with the NHA

    Where healthy living meets unforgettable travelCan you explore the world, enjoy incredible food and still stick to the healthy lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to build? In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Wanda Huberman, Executive Director of the National Health Association, and Lisa McCarl, RN, MS, CTA, of McCarl Travel, LLC, to explore how NHA is bringing plant-based living and unforgettable travel together. Lisa and Wanda take listeners behind the scenes of NHA’s plant-based cruises, including the work that goes into coordinating with cruise line culinary teams, arranging private dining and making sure ships are prepared for the way NHA travelers eat. On some voyages, NHA chefs even work alongside the ship’s culinary team to help bring the NHA approach into the kitchen. But the food is only part of the experience. These trips give travelers the opportunity to explore destinations around the world while connecting with people who share their commitment to healthy living. Wanda and Lisa share how friendships formed during NHA trips often continue long after everyone returns home. The conversation offers a look at cruises throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Lisa also explains why many trips are planned years in advance, how the wait lists work and why joining one can still be worthwhile when a trip appears to be full. Wanda also shares a preview of NHA’s land-based adventures, including upcoming trips to Rwanda and Botswana organized with World Vegan Travel. From wildlife encounters and hiking to cultural experiences, these trips offer even more ways to see the world while keeping healthy food, adventure and community at the center of the experience. If travel is on your wish list, discover what’s ahead and how NHA is making it easier to explore the world without leaving your healthy lifestyle behind. Links & ResourcesExplore NHA Plant-Based Travel: https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/ Join the NHA Whole-Food, Plant-Based Travel Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nhaplantbasedtravel Connect with Lisa McCarl, CTA, ECC, VTA | McCarl Travel, LLC: https://www.thetravelinstitute.com/agent/25665/ Watch NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/

    Plant-Based Cruising & Adventure with the NHA

  8. Sep 9

    The Pelvic Floor Problems We’re Not Talking About with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC

    What everyone should know about building strength and supporting pelvic healthUrinary leakage, chronic constipation, pelvic pain, painful sex, organ prolapse and changes after childbirth or with aging are incredibly common. But that doesn’t mean they’re something you simply have to accept. In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC, a physical therapist who has specialized in pelvic health, women’s and men’s health and spine care since 1999. Laura explains what the pelvic floor actually does and why these muscles are so important for bladder and bowel control, stability, movement and sexual health. Like other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor can become weak, overly tight, injured or poorly coordinated after childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, athletic activity and other changes throughout life. One of Laura’s most important messages is simple: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. Urinary leakage, for example, may become more prevalent with age, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do about it. The conversation also challenges the idea that better pelvic health simply means doing more Kegels. Some people need to strengthen their pelvic floor, while others need to learn how to relax and coordinate these muscles correctly. Even someone who is very active and physically strong can have pelvic floor dysfunction. Laura and Dr. Esser also explore the connection between the pelvic floor and chronic constipation, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, organ prolapse and changes that occur as we age. Laura explains why maintaining muscle strength and coordination matters and when working with a pelvic floor physical therapist may help. Most importantly, this is a conversation about understanding your body and knowing that it’s okay to talk about symptoms that can feel personal or embarrassing. Laura shares practical ways to support pelvic health, from staying active and hydrated to learning how the pelvic floor should contract and relax. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms now or simply want to maintain strength and function as you age, this episode offers an important reminder: your pelvic floor is part of your overall health, and it deserves attention too. Links & ResourcesSmart Body Physical Therapy: https://www.smartbodypt.com/ Listen to Laura’s podcast, Pelvic Like It Is: https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/pelvic-like-it-is/id1871478598 Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/ Watch NHA Today on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociation Learn more about the National Health Association: https://www.healthscience.org/

    The Pelvic Floor Problems We’re Not Talking About with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC
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About

The NHA Health Science Podcast, hosted by Dr. Stephan Esser, explores the science and real-world application of whole food, plant-based living. Through expert interviews and practical conversations, the show brings clarity to today’s most important health topics - helping you prevent disease, improve well-being, and take control of your health. Learn more at: healthscience.org/podcast

Information

  • Creator
    National Health Association
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    191
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 National Health Association
  • Show Website
    NHA Today Podcast

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