Dive Into Health MD

Dr. Akshita Mehta
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Education

Dive Into Health MD is where physical, cognitive, and financial wellness collide. Your everyday habits are shaping who you are—and there’s so much worth exploring. On this podcast, we dive into the nuances of all three pillars, with a special passion for food. From uncovering how to find high-quality ingredients to navigating the modern food landscape, we break down the knowledge you need to make choices you can genuinely feel confident about. No pressure. Just curiosity. And a whole lot of discovery. Hosted by Dr. Akshita Mehta, with frequent appearances by Dr. Divya Kurian.

  1. 2d ago

    All Things Milk: A2, Grass-Fed Labels, Lab Results & What to Look For with Alexandre Family Farms

    Stephanie Alexandre is a fourth-generation dairy farmer and co-founder of Alexandre Family Farm — a certified organic, regenerative, A2A2 dairy on the Northern California coast. Alongside husband Blake and three of their five adult children, she runs one of the most rigorously tested small dairies in the country, plus a pastured egg operation that started as a kids' project and ended up in Whole Foods. In this episode, you'll learn: – What A2 milk is, why the protein mutation matters, and why most dairy is A1 – Why 98% of people who think they're lactose intolerant can digest A2 dairy – Why "grass-fed" on a milk label is legally meaningless — and what to look for instead – How 18 pasture seed varieties and regenerative farming affect milk nutrition – What lab testing 1,200 milk samples revealed about omega-3s, calcium, zinc, and heavy metals – How vat pasteurization differs from UHT and what it means for nutrients and shelf life – How to store milk properly and what breaks the cold chain before it reaches your fridge [00:00] – Stephanie's background: four generations of dairy, grass-based farming, going organic in 1999 [05:07] – What sets Alexandre apart: organic, regenerative, A2A2 [06:25] – What regenerative farming actually means: soil health, rotational grazing, compost, 18 seed varieties [09:52] – A2 milk explained: the protein mutation, digestibility, and why conventional dairy is A1 [13:31] – Why 100% grass-fed isn't right for every breed — and the genetics bred for it [16:06] – Why "grass-fed" labels are legally unreliable and what certifications actually matter [20:11] – What organic certification guarantees: rBST, antibiotics, and CCOF inspections [26:14] – Dairy products demystified: whole milk, half-and-half, kefir, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese [32:03] – Cream-top and non-homogenized explained [34:36] – Pasteurization: raw milk risks, vat (145°F/30 min), and UHT (280°F/2–5 sec) [37:50] – Cold chain: how milk goes from 37°F at the farm to your fridge — and where it breaks [42:25] – Lab results: #1 out of 1,200 samples for omega-6:omega-3 ratio, protein, calcium, B2, zinc; non-detectable heavy metals [53:05] – Pastured eggs: twice-weekly coop rotation and why dark yolks can be faked [56:40] – Dairy alternatives: what's actually in oat milk Connect with Alexandre Family Farm Website: alexandrefamilyfarm.com (product locator by zip code) Available at Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, and independent co-ops Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  2. Aug 10

    Reversing Insulin Resistance, Optimizing Health in Midlife and Joyful Medicine - Dr. Jennifer Davis

    Dr. Jennifer Davis is a pediatric ICU-trained physician and certified lifestyle medicine specialist who helps women in midlife reverse pre-diabetes and diabetes through what she calls "joyful medicine" — the intersection of healthy lifestyle habits and genuine enjoyment. She believes sustainable change has to feel good, and that joy itself is medicine. In this episode, you'll learn: – What "joyful medicine" means and why enjoyment is essential to lasting health change – How insulin resistance develops in midlife and what's driving it hormonally – Why fiber — not protein restriction — is the key lever for metabolic health – How gut microbiome, GLP-1, and short-chain fatty acids all connect – What labs to ask for beyond a standard A1C – Simple stress regulation practices anyone can start today – Why midlife is the crossroads — and why the body needs more nourishment, not less – How a plant shift (not going fully plant-based) can change how you feel within a week TIMESTAMP: [00:00] – Opening: why changing your diet can prevent recurrence and reverse disease [01:00] – Dr. Davis's background: pediatrician, lifestyle medicine specialist, joyful medicine [02:16] – Her journey: going plant-based, lifestyle medicine certification, and coaching friends through disease recovery [04:27] – Stress and metabolic health: why it's hard to measure and how to approach it [06:11] – Micro joy practices: meditation apps, walking in nature, and the power of just being present [09:41] – The plant shift: why she doesn't require patients to go fully plant-based [12:24] – Food quality: regenerative farms, farmer's markets, and why a farm carrot tastes nothing like a grocery store carrot [15:53] – Metabolic health explained: insulin resistance, GLP-1, hormones, and gut health [17:05] – Labs that give the full metabolic picture: A1C, fasting insulin, ApoB, LPA, hsCRP [19:26] – The six pillars of lifestyle medicine and how she uses them to reverse insulin resistance [21:00] – Fiber's role in metabolic health [22:37] – How fiber works: feeding the microbiome, producing short-chain fatty acids, and stimulating GLP-1 [24:45] – What happens hormonally in midlife: estrogen, cortisol, and why metabolic risk rises [27:32] – Sleep: blue light, wind-down routines, and keeping a consistent sleep-wake time [32:06] – Movement: the most important exercise is the one you'll actually do [33:39] – How quickly people feel a difference when they start making lifestyle changes [34:10] – Joy, purpose, and the Blue Zones connection Connect with Dr. Jennifer Davis https://nourishandthrivemedicine.com/ Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  3. Aug 3

    Why the Upstream Fix for Human Health Starts with Soil Health - Evan Harrison, CEO Kiss the Ground

    Evan Harrison is CEO of Kiss the Ground, a nonprofit advancing regenerative agriculture through storytelling and consumer education. He spent 25+ years in the music and digital media industries — leading digital at iHeartRadio and AOL Music — before turning his platform toward soil health and food systems. His daughter introduced him to the Kiss the Ground film in 2020, and he never looked back. In this episode, you'll learn: – What regenerative agriculture actually is and why it matters for human health – How soil health connects directly to the nutrients in your food – Why food transported thousands of miles is less nutritious before it reaches you – How to read food labels and find regenerative products at the store – Where organic, hydroponic, and GMO fit on the spectrum – Why farmers can't just switch to regenerative overnight — and what's changing that – How consumer awareness of regenerative farming grew from 4% to 13% in three years – What physicians can do to start talking about food sourcing as root cause [00:00] – Why physicians moving upstream — toward prevention — is what the food system needs [00:25] – Akshita on going from diagnosing disease to trying to prevent it [03:44] – Evan's journey: music industry, iHeartRadio, and how his daughter led him to soil [11:14] – How Kiss the Ground uses storytelling to shift consumer demand at scale [16:46] – What regenerative agriculture actually is: soil, carbon, water, and human health [19:27] – Consumer awareness of regenerative farming: from 4% to 13% in three years [21:18] – The tipping point theory: why 25% changes everything [23:26] – How to shop regenerative: certifications, labels, and the Kiss the Ground farm map [25:41] – Why food transported thousands of miles loses nutrient density before it reaches you [27:27] – Where hydroponics, vertical farming, and GMO fit in the bigger picture [32:29] – What the transition to regenerative looks like for farmers — and why it's not overnight [37:31] – What farms look and feel like two to five years after making the switch [39:01] – How to get regenerative products delivered to your door on subscription [41:50] – Why aren't all farmers switching? The financial hurdles and subsidy problem [45:36] – What Evan wants physicians to start telling patients about food and root cause Connect with Kiss the Ground Website: kisstheground.com Regenerative Farm Map: kisstheground.com/farm-map Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  4. Jul 28

    Kidney Disease, Prevention and When Supplements Don't Work with Dr. Jiten Mehta

    Dr. Jiten Mehta is a nephrologist trained at UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, now practicing critical care and chronic kidney disease at Southern California Kidney Consultants in Orange County. He serves as medical director for multiple dialysis units and has clinical interests spanning transplant care, glomerulonephritis, and autoimmune kidney disease. In this episode we discuss kidney disease, the unfortunate reality of dialysis, how to catch kidney disease early and what we can do to prevent some ICU presentations of acute renal failure. In this episode, you'll learn: – What foamy urine actually means and when to get tested – How diabetes silently damages your kidneys before you feel anything – Why your water quality depends on your zip code — and how to look it up – What an RO machine filters (and why remineralization matters) – When alkaline water and electrolytes help — and when they don't – How unregulated supplements sent patients to dialysis – When to use Cystatin C versus standard creatinine – How much protein your kidneys can actually handle – What to ask your doctor if kidney disease runs in your family [03:55] – Dr. Mehta's scope: ICU kidney care, CKD clinic, dialysis, and transplant support [05:30] – The two things nephrologists watch that most people don't associate with kidneys: sodium and urine protein [06:50] – Foamy urine and when to get tested for protein [08:21] – Why diabetic kidney disease is silent until it isn't [09:11] – How diabetes damages kidneys: TMP max, N-glycation products, and the onion ring analogy [12:38] – Diet, kidney health, and why making informed food choices is harder than it should be [15:47] – The cost and access barrier to eating healthier in underserved communities [17:37] – Your water quality is zip-code dependent — how to look it up [21:52] – RO machines explained: what each filter stage removes and why remineralization matters [27:25] – Alkaline water: limited data and cases where it caused harm [31:36] – Electrolytes: who actually needs them and who doesn't [34:50] – Supplements that sent patients to dialysis — and why the cause can't always be identified [38:19] – Why supplement risk differs from pharmaceutical risk: regulation, dosing, and batch consistency [46:26] – Cystatin C vs. creatinine: when to use which [51:24] – The protein hype: what we know about high intake [54:42] – Family history and genetic kidney risk: what to ask your doctor [56:13] – Walk through the day: ICU rounds, CKD clinic, exercise, and sleep after training Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  5. Jul 21

    Why the Same Herb Can Be Four Times More Potent Depending on How It's Grown with Ric Scalzo

    Ric Scalzo is the founder of Kokora, an herbal company built on triple-concentration processing and freeze-drying technology, and the driving force behind the Rick Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research at Sonoran University of Health Sciences. He previously founded Gaia Herbs and now operates a regenerative organic farm in Costa Rica. He has spent over 30 years studying the connection between soil health, plant potency, and human wellness. Time Stamps: 00:00 – Why soil microbiome is the missing link between farming and your gut health 01:24 – Ric's background: naturopathic practice, Gaia Herbs, and what led him to regenerative farming 02:13 – Treating the person, not the condition: the philosophy that shaped his career 03:32 – Organic vs. regenerative organic — what's the actual difference? 06:22 – How much more nutrient dense is regenerative produce vs. conventional? 06:37 – The turmeric study: 4x more curcuminoids and 5x more biomass from regenerative farming 09:26 – Does it apply to everyday produce like tomatoes and legumes? 10:56 – Ergothioneine: the longevity amino acid missing from most diets 12:10 – How to apply regenerative practices in your home garden, including a bio-ferment recipe 16:06 – Why not tilling your soil and keeping it covered matters more than you think 19:44 – How widespread is regenerative organic farming today? 21:44 – Stone Barns, Dan Barber, and regenerating dairy cows through regenerative agriculture 24:35 – Herbs vs. spices: what's the difference and why does it matter therapeutically? 25:41 – How herbs are harvested, dried, extracted, and processed from farm to capsule 29:21 – How to evaluate a supplement: what to look for on the label 30:38 – Maltodextrin, hexane, and the fillers most people don't know are in their capsules 33:07 – The three questions to ask before buying any herbal supplement 35:34 – Freeze drying vs. spray drying: why the processing method changes everything 36:44 – How Ric tests his products beyond standard industry requirements 40:43 – The IL-6 study: regenerative turmeric outperformed purified curcumin by tenfold 43:23 – Liver cell toxicity testing and why it matters for supplement safety Connect with Ric Scalzo: Company: Kokora Research: Rick Scalzo Institute for Botanical Research, Sonoran University of Health Sciences Connect with Dive Into Health MD: Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  6. Jul 9

    Design Your Life Through Resilience and Intention With Dr. Olga Deengar

    Dr. Olga Deengar is a hospitalist, certified life coach, and founder of Coach Olga MD. She helps high-achieving women physicians and professionals gain energy, clarity, and purpose using her signature DAMA framework. She's also a mom of three boys, host of the Coffee Playdate Podcast, and weekly newsletter writer. Timestamps: 00:51 – Welcome & intro to Dr. Olga Deengar 01:15 – Her background: hospitalist, life coach, DAMA framework, Coffee Plated Podcast 03:28 – Daily habits that would surprise you: 5 AM power hour + exercise 5x/week 06:57 – From full-time hospitalist to stay-at-home mom: the identity shift no one talks about 09:30 – A serious postpartum infection that reframed her entire life and led her to coaching 14:04 – What she sees as a locum hospitalist: why small gestures transform patient recovery 16:15 – How to stay out of the hospital: movement, nutrition, and sleep 18:11 – The DAMA Framework explained: Driven, Aligned, Building Momentum, Taking Action 21:20 – "I don't have enough time" — the #1 coaching challenge and how to reframe it 26:38 – Walk through her day: sleep with a 1-year-old and the magic power hour 28:55 – Parenting habits she swears by: breakfast guessing games, whiteboard check-ins, gratitude candle, journaling with kids 35:25 – Cognitive health: nightly meditation, Tony Robbins breathwork, and weekly journaling 40:10 – Financial health: multiple income streams, real estate, and growing a business 41:41 – Her #1 self-investment: consistency with physical health Connect with Dr. Olga Deengar Website & free discovery call: coacholgamd.com Instagram: @CoachOlgaMD Facebook: Coach Olga MD LinkedIn: Olga Deengar Podcast: Coffee Play Date Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd TikTok: tiktok.com/@diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  7. Jun 18

    What Happened To Our Wheat And How To Find Wheat That Doesn't Make You Sick with James Brown

    The wheat itself may not be the issue making people sick. It may be all of the other things that are either added to flour products or the way that the wheat has been stripped of nutrients. Finding whole wheat products including wheat berries give us an option to enjoy the bread and other foods that we love. Getting to know the baker and mill is the best way to know what's in your bread, but also what's not in your bread. If you've ever stood in the bread aisle wondering why two loaves that look identical can sit so differently with your body, this episode is the answer you've been looking for. Dr. Akshita Mehta sits down with James Brown, founder of Barton Springs Mill, to trace a wheat berry from the field to your kitchen — and to hand you the specific questions that separate flour worth eating from flour that's mostly starch. James has spent eight years stone-milling grain in the Texas Hill Country, and he opens with a myth worth retiring: GMO wheat doesn't exist on the U.S. market — it's not legally grown here. His point is bigger than that one fact. The wheat berry itself has changed remarkably little in what matters nutritionally. What's changed is everything that happens to it: seed coatings, field sprays, storage pesticides, the milling method, fortification, dough conditioners, and how long it sits before you eat it. Why this matters: Chronic disease is multifactorial — food quality is one thread, not the whole tapestry. But it's a thread you can actually pull on. When you can tell the difference between fresh stone-milled whole wheat and 18-month-old commodity flour, you're not eating perfectly — you're eating informed. That shift, repeated over years, may be where some of the real prevention lives. About the guest: James Brown is the founder of Barton Springs Mill in Dripping Springs, Texas, which stone-mills organic and heritage grains and publishes lab analysis on every grain it sells. The mill runs an education center and home-milling classes. Timestamps: 00:00 — Is your wheat GMO? (and why that's the wrong worry)03:51 — Gluten sensitivity, explained05:08 — How wheat actually changed: Borlaug, the dwarfing gene, ancient grains11:33 — The dozen things added between field and loaf15:41 — Stone milling vs. roller milling20:20 — Fermentation and the amylase enzymes30:00 — "Know Your Miller" and how to read a label37:18 — Shelf life, whole berries, and home milling56:56 — Red, white, and the new purple wheat1:16:19 — Why quality flour costs more Want to try Barton Springs Mill? CODE: LIFESTYLE 10 https://amyhalloran.net/mills/ Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  8. Jun 11

    Is Your Nervous System Making You Sick? How To Reset with Dr. Nancy Waiganjo

    How do you build resilience when life keeps delivering things you cannot control? The answer, according to Dr. Nancy Waiganjo, starts not with thinking your way through stress — but with learning to work with your body. In this episode, Dr. Waiganjo — internal medicine physician with 20 years in practice and creator of the Mind is Medicine app — walks through the neuroscience of stress, why chronic stress affects every organ system, and the simple bodybased practices that can reset the nervous system anywhere, at any time. Timestamps 00:00 — Opening montage: key quotes • 01:50 — Introduction • 02:05 — Dr. Nancy's background and what shifted her practice • 03:14 — Origin story: her own unexplained health symptoms • 05:51 — Patients presenting with symptoms after life events: the correlation • 09:43 — The nervous system as command center: the biology of stress • 15:29 — What to do about it: body-based practices explained • 17:42 — Live breathing exercise: the physiological sigh • 21:29 — Why talk therapy alone is not enough: the amygdala explained • 27:15 — Brain structural changes from meditation • 30:52 — Every organ system affected: Takotsubo, gut, immunity, chronic pain • 37:17 — Reversal of symptoms and the 42-day neural pathway timeline • 43:55 — Walk through Dr. Nancy's day: morning routine, gratitude, real-time regulation • 48:45 — Sleep, movement, and mindful eating as nervous system regulation • 57:44 — Social connection and financial health as pillars of wellbeing • 1:01:59 — Mind is Medicine app Mind is Medicine app: App Store Google Play Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube Instagram TikTok LinkedIn This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

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About

Dive Into Health MD is where physical, cognitive, and financial wellness collide. Your everyday habits are shaping who you are—and there’s so much worth exploring. On this podcast, we dive into the nuances of all three pillars, with a special passion for food. From uncovering how to find high-quality ingredients to navigating the modern food landscape, we break down the knowledge you need to make choices you can genuinely feel confident about. No pressure. Just curiosity. And a whole lot of discovery. Hosted by Dr. Akshita Mehta, with frequent appearances by Dr. Divya Kurian.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Akshita Mehta
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Akshita Mehta