When Food Meets Medicine | The Functional Medicine & Health Podcast

Dr Remi Olukoya
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

When Food Meets Medicine is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Remí Olukoya, PharmD. Each episode features medical experts, oncologists, pharmacists, and functional medicine practitioners in evidence-based conversations about how food, supplements, and lifestyle choices affect your medications and health outcomes. From cancer nutrition to diabetes reversal, GLP-1 drugs to food-drug interactions — this is the medical podcast for patients, caregivers, and clinicians who want the full picture.

  1. 4d ago

    Your Arroz Con Pollo Is Not the Problem: Diabetes, Metformin & Cultural Food Safety | Lorena Drago RD

    Your metformin prescription says twice daily — but 50% of monolingual patients only take it once because the label is in English, and no clinician asked if they understood. After three years, their A1C hasn't budged. Healthcare calls it non-compliance. It's actually a system failure. Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Lorena Drago joins Dr. Remi to expose the hidden gaps in diabetes medication counseling: the dosing confusion caused by language barriers, the B12 depletion metformin causes (and why salmon, not liver, is the food your patient will actually eat), the GI side effects that drive patients to quit therapy, and the false choice between culture and health. Key takeaways: 1. Verify dosing comprehension in the patient's primary language — English-only labels are a medication safety failure. 2. Metformin depletes B12; screen long-term users and recommend culturally relevant food sources, not generic supplements. 3. Timing metformin with meals prevents GI side effects that lead to abandonment. 4. Real diabetes outcomes require asking what foods matter to the patient's family — that's clinical, not optional. For anyone managing diabetes, prescribing for multicultural populations, or counseling patients on medication and food: this is the conversation your clinic needs. Resources: - Book: Foods That Clash With Your Prescriptions — https://pharmaplansystems.com/physical-book - MediMeal Safe App — https://pharmaplansystems.com/app - Personalized Meal Plan — https://pharmaplansystems.com/meal-plan Subscribe to When Food Meets Medicine wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more at https://pharmaplansystems.com

  2. Aug 11

    Hot Flashes, Brain Fog & HRT: What Your Doctor Never Told You About Menopause | Dr. Tope Roberts

    Eight months without sleep. Night sweats at 3 AM. Brain fog so thick you forget words mid-sentence. Two doctors called it stress. Nobody checked her hormones. And that's the problem we're solving today. In your 40s, estrogen begins to decline — and the symptoms (brain fog, mood swings, irregular periods, sleep disruption, weight changes) are often misdiagnosed as anxiety, depression, or stress. The result? Women are prescribed antidepressants, sleep aids, and blood pressure medications before anyone has even checked their hormonal status. Dr. Tope Roberts, a Family Medicine physician specializing in women's health from Calgary, Canada, joins us to explain the clinical picture of perimenopause, why women are being missed, and the treatment options you deserve to know about. Key takeaways from this conversation: 1. **Perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis that requires hormonal assessment first.** If you're in your 40s with brain fog, fatigue, mood swings, or irregular periods, your doctor should be checking your hormones — not just treating symptoms in isolation. 2. **Estrogen decline affects multiple body systems at once.** Cognitive function, sleep, mood, metabolism, and joint health are all influenced by estrogen. Treating one symptom while ignoring the hormonal root perpetuates suffering and often leads to unnecessary medications. 3. **Not every woman needs hormone therapy, but every woman deserves to know her options.** From lifestyle strategies to menopause hormone therapy (MHT) to targeted medications and supplements — the choice must be informed and made by you and your care team together. Dr. Roberts brings both scientific rigor and patient-centered compassion to questions about hormonal health, nutrition during perimenopause, and the medications that interact with hormonal transitions. Resources: 📚 Book — Foods That Clash With Your Prescriptions: https://pharmaplansystems.com/physical-book 📱 MediMeal Safe App: https://pharmaplansystems.com/app 🥗 Meal Plan: https://pharmaplansystems.com/meal-plan Subscribe to When Food Meets Medicine wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more at https://pharmaplansystems.com

  3. Aug 4

    Pediatric Drug-Food Interactions: What Every Parent Must Know | Dr. Mariam Yusuf-Oghome

    Welcome to Season 2! We're diving deep into the conversations that matter most: pediatric medication safety and what happens when growing bodies meet prescriptions designed for adults. Most pediatric medications were never formally tested on children—most drug data is extrapolated from adult studies. So what does that mean for your child's safety? In this premiere episode, Dr. Remi Olukoya sits down with Dr. Mariam Yusuf-Oghome, Consultant Pediatrician and Nutrition Specialist, to reveal the gaps in pediatric drug research, the hidden food-drug interactions that change how medications work, and what every parent needs to know before their child takes a prescription. From amoxicillin and orange juice to seizure meds and protein intake, you'll learn how what your child eats directly impacts whether their medication actually works. Key Takeaways: 1. Children are not small adults—their metabolism, anatomy, and biochemistry are profoundly different, yet most pediatric dosing is based on adult data. 2. Food-drug interactions in children are real and often invisible to parents, affecting drug absorption, metabolism, and blood levels in ways most families never hear about. 3. Pediatric nutrition isn't optional—it's foundational to medication effectiveness, disease prevention, and long-term health in growing bodies. Dr. Mariam brings two decades of clinical experience, specialized training from Boston University and UC, and a fierce commitment to child advocacy. She believes the conversation between food and medicine has to begin long before a child ever needs a prescription. Subscribe to When Food Meets Medicine wherever you listen to podcasts. Learn more at https://pharmaplansystems.com

  4. Trailer

    Season 2 Is Here — Here Is What Is Coming

    Season 2 of When Food Meets Medicine launches August 4th. In this solo preview episode, Dr. Remí Olukoya, PharmD — licensed pharmacist and founder of PharmaPlan Systems — walks you through what is coming: 12 episodes, 11 specialist guests, and the most culturally specific food-drug interaction conversations the show has ever had. This season covers: food and diabetes medication, antidepressants and food, menopause treatment options, cultural diets and kidney disease, PCOS and hormones, prenatal medications and food safety, pediatric medications, and a solo deep-dive on neurological medications and food. If you are managing a chronic illness, caring for someone who is, or working in healthcare — this season was made for you. Subscribe on Spotify so Episode 1 lands in your feed on August 4th. Free food-drug interaction guide: pharmaplansystems.com/free-guide Ask a Pharmacy Counter question: instagram.com/medimealsafe — comment QUESTION Email Dr. Remí: podcast@pharmaplansystems.com Keywords: food drug interactions, pharmacist podcast, medication safety, food as medicine, chronic illness, diabetes diet, kidney disease nutrition, menopause medication, PCOS diet, prenatal nutrition, pediatric medication, neurological medications, cultural nutrition, patient education, pharmacy podcast

  5. Jun 16

    When Food Becomes Medicine: A Metabolic Approach to Cancer | Dr. Nasha Winters

    When Food Becomes Medicine: A Metabolic Approach to Cancer | Season 1 Finale | When Food Meets Medicine — a health podcast, functional medicine podcast, and medical podcast series hosted by Dr. Remí Olukoya, PharmD. In this season one finale, host Dr. Remi Olukoya welcomes Dr. Nasha Winters, a naturopathic oncologist who was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 ovarian cancer at 19 years old and given three months to live. Twenty-eight years later, she has not only survived but has dedicated her career to understanding the metabolic approach to cancer, working with over 10,000 patients and co-authoring the foundational text The Metabolic Approach to Cancer. This conversation explores the Warburg effect and why cancer cells metabolize glucose differently, how mitochondria serve as sensors that respond to our dietary and environmental choices, and the critical food-drug interactions that can determine treatment success or failure. Dr. Winters shares research showing that fasting less than 13 hours per night was associated with 36% higher breast cancer recurrence, and discusses how her clinical retreats demonstrated measurable metabolic changes within just four days of intervention. For patients navigating cancer, caregivers seeking to help, and clinicians wanting to expand their understanding of integrative approaches, this episode offers science-backed insights on creating a metabolic terrain that supports healing alongside conventional treatment. What you will learn in this episode: The Warburg effect and why cancer cells use glucose differently from healthy cellsHow mitochondria function as sensors, translators, and responders — and what that means for cancerWhy 93% of Americans are metabolically compromised and what to do about itFasting research: how 13 hours of overnight fasting reduced breast cancer recurrence by 36%Critical food-drug interactions including grapefruit, tamoxifen, St. John's Wort, and curcumin at high dosesThe chronotherapy evidence: why the time of day you take chemotherapy changes how well it worksWhy the terrain — not just the tumour — determines treatment outcomesHow to find a therapeutically trained oncology nutritionistThe preconception research: what your father ate affects your disease risk in your lifetimeResources mentioned:The Metabolic Approach to Cancer — Dr. Nasha WintersRavenous — Sam AppleCircadian Code — Dr. Sachin PandaFasting Cancer — Dr. Walter Longodrnasha.com | Tend the Terrain podcast | Tend the Terrain SubstackMediMeal Safe app — pharmaplansystems.comMediMeal Plan — pharmaplansystems.comFoods That Clash With Your Prescriptions — Dr. Remí Olukoya Find When Food Meets Medicine on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon Music.Subscribe so you never miss an episode: pharmaplansystems.com/podcast Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your physician, pharmacist, or healthcare team before making changes to your diet, medications, or treatment plan.

  6. Jun 9

    Does Your Blood Type Actually Determine Which Foods Are Safe With Your Medication?

    Ever wondered if your blood type really determines which foods are safe with your medications? In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover the truth behind the popular blood type diet phenomenon and learn about the food-drug interactions that actually matter for your health. Dr. Ugomma Okorougo, a family medicine physician, public health specialist, and nutrition coach, joins Dr. Remi Olukoya to separate science from social media hype. You'll learn why grapefruit affects over 85 medications, discover how cultural dietary practices impact medication safety, and understand when to seek emergency care for food-drug interactions. Dr. Okorougo shares compelling patient stories that illustrate the critical importance of honest communication with healthcare providers about your actual eating habits, supplements, and traditional remedies. This episode empowers you with practical knowledge to advocate for yourself in healthcare settings while maintaining your cultural food traditions safely. Whether you're managing chronic conditions or taking over-the-counter medications, you'll gain actionable insights that could significantly impact your treatment outcomes. Subscribe to When Food Meets Medicine wherever you listen to podcasts.

  7. Jun 2

    Raising Healthy Kids, Childhood Obesity & Medications

    One in five children in the United States is obese, and doctors are now prescribing blood pressure and cholesterol medications to kids—medications that used to be reserved for adults over 50. In this episode, you will learn the practical, real-world strategies for preventing childhood obesity before it starts, not the textbook version that sounds perfect but the version that actually works with screen-loving, broccoli-hating kids. Host Dr. Remi Olukoya sits down with Dr. Mojibola Ogunfowora, a board-certified pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist with over 30 years of experience, to discuss what parents can do today to build healthy habits that last a lifetime. You will discover the 5-2-1-0 formula and how to implement it in your daily routine, why prevention is far more powerful than treatment when it comes to childhood obesity, and practical strategies for creating healthy eating and activity patterns that work for real families with busy schedules. Dr. Ogunfowora shares evidence-based approaches that have helped countless families across different cultures and communities, from Lagos to London to Houston. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or anyone who cares about a child's future health, this episode provides actionable insights you can start using immediately. The best medicine is often the one a child never has to take because you prevented the need for it in the first place. Subscribe to When Food Meets Medicine wherever you listen to podcasts.

  8. May 26

    Can cannabis really help my cancer symptoms?

    Cannabis and chemotherapy — what does the science actually say? In this powerful episode, Dr. Remi Olukoya sits down with Dr. Donald Abrams, integrative oncologist at UCSF, to break down the real evidence behind cannabis use in cancer care. They explore CBD vs. THC, drug–drug interactions, CYP450 risks, timing around chemo, and why so many patients use cannabis without telling their clinicians.A warm, honest, and deeply practical conversation every cancer patient — and every oncology clinician — should hear. Presented by PharmaPlan Systems — ethical health tech that makes food–drug safety simple.

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When Food Meets Medicine is a health podcast hosted by Dr. Remí Olukoya, PharmD. Each episode features medical experts, oncologists, pharmacists, and functional medicine practitioners in evidence-based conversations about how food, supplements, and lifestyle choices affect your medications and health outcomes. From cancer nutrition to diabetes reversal, GLP-1 drugs to food-drug interactions — this is the medical podcast for patients, caregivers, and clinicians who want the full picture.

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