51 episodes

Join Vegan nutritionist, Apollo ReCode Coach and Amen Certified Brain Trainer Kate Kunkel for fun, frank, and information-packed conversations with experts in the field of brain health. Kate and her guests offer valuable, practical information and inspiration to help you make the best choices to create a better brain for a better life.

Brain Health Matters Kate Kunkel

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 5 Ratings

Join Vegan nutritionist, Apollo ReCode Coach and Amen Certified Brain Trainer Kate Kunkel for fun, frank, and information-packed conversations with experts in the field of brain health. Kate and her guests offer valuable, practical information and inspiration to help you make the best choices to create a better brain for a better life.

    From Heart Patient to Mountaineer: A Plant-Powered Transformation

    From Heart Patient to Mountaineer: A Plant-Powered Transformation

    We’re honored and delighted to have Dr. Akil Taher, who has done everything from triathlons to skydiving, hang gliding and scuba diving. He did all of this AFTER going through open-heart surgery at age 61.


    Since heart disease is one of the major risk factors that can contribute to the likelihood of developing dementia, I just had to invite him to share his story of plant-powered transformation. 

    Some Highlights:

    2:30 Why older people are happier than young people, despite physical illnesses
    4:31  How what he called the “See Food” diet and a Type A Personality nearly killed Dr. Taher
    08:34 How denial sent Dr. Taher on a downward spiral 
    12:00 the importance of fiber in your diet
    14:10 why pockets in your colon are NOT normal, despite what North American doctors tell you
    15:47 Making the choice to be in control
    19:00 First marathon post-bypass surgery and an amazing gift in a dream
    22:00 First mountain climbing expedition 1 year post-bypass
    24:28 Dr. Taher’s Six Pillars of Health
    31:40 What is broken heart syndrome?
    33:41 Going plant-powered is delicious and does not have to be complicated 
    36:00 What exercises are best for your heart (and your brain?)


    41:39 Dr. Taher’s Book is OPEN-HEART
    Follow Dr. Taher on Facebook






    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 44 min
    Control Anxiety in a Holistic Way to Enhance and Protect Your Brain

    Control Anxiety in a Holistic Way to Enhance and Protect Your Brain

    This week, Kate Kunkel interviews Dr. Nafisa Sekandari, a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in anxiety based disorders.

    Since mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, are well-known risk factors for dementia, this week’s discussion with Dr. Nafisa Sekandari, licensed clinical psychologist, is very important when considering your brain health.

    We know that medications prescribed for mental health issues have many serious side effects and do not solve the root of any problem, and the medications themselves can and do have serious effects on the brain.

    But Dr. Sekandari has a holistic and integrative approach to creating long term control of anxiety, without medication or long-term therapy. You’ll learn some amazing tools to nip panic attacks and overcome anxiety in this inspiring podcast. 

    Dr. Nafisa Sekandari is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in anxiety based disorders, and through holistic and integrative interventions, helps her patients and online course students create long term control of their anxiety and OCD symptoms, without medication or long term therapy.  

    Her recent book "Calm Within: Transform Anxiety Naturally With The 3 Step AIM Program" was recently published and is available on amazon.com and where ever books are sold.  
     
    Some highlights of the show: 

    03:00 Anxiety does not manifest the same in everybody 
    04:43 The connection between gut health and mental health, specifically, anxiety
    06:35 Remove the stigma by demonstrating the physical reality of anxiety
    08:15 Do genetics play a role?
    10:46 So many kinds of anxiety – what about OCD?
    16:03 Stress, inflammation and anxiety
    18:29 How to use positive self-talk to reduce anxiety
    22:35 The most important hours for the best sleep – this is important!!!
    24:45 Dr. Sekandari shares powerful tips to get the best sleep
    26:51 How to stop a panic attack
    32:06 How to reach Dr. Sekandari

    To learn about Dr. Sekandari’s Transforming Anxiety Conference (January 2024) visit https://www.transforminganxiety.com/attend  

    Website: https://www.transforminganxiety.com 
        Instagram: dr_nafisa_sekandari
    Linked in: dr-nafisa-sekandari
    Youtube: @DrNafisaSekandari
    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 33 min
    Can Grounding Improve your Brain?

    Can Grounding Improve your Brain?

    There are so many ways that being connected to the earth can help improve your sleep, your creativity, and especially your brain health.

    This week's guest on Brain Health Matters is Dr. Laura Koniver, the Intuition Physician, and she shares many important ways that we can improve our overall health and of course our brains, simply by making that all-important connection to the earth. 
    Some Highlights of the Interview:

    03:06 Medical evidence of the importance of grounding
    06:09 How to ground, even if the weather is bad or you’re not in a safe area

    08:33 The brain benefits of grounding
    10:55 How grounding can help in the fight against developing dementia
    15:10 Can hugging a tree help your brain?
    18:21 The fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. – pharmaceuticals
    22:55 How grounding can help you achieve better sleep and the importance of reducing your exposure to EMF at night
    30:44 Creativity and purpose – how they make your brain healthier and you happier
    34:10 A real-life example of grounding’s benefits to working through a problem
    35:52 The importance of grounding for the health of the cerebrospinal fluid, in which our brains are always bathed

    38:54 Learn more from Dr. Koniver here:

    Laura Koniver’s website: https://intuition-physician.com/
    Laura’s book, "The Earth Prescription" https://www.amazon.com/Earth-Prescription-Discover-Grounding-Practices/dp/B093N712ZF

    NOW is the time to start a healthier brain protocol that includes many of the things Dr. Koniver talked about - healthier sleep, purpose, creativity, and of course, connection to the earth. 
    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 42 min
    Clinical Trial proves that dementia can be reversed

    Clinical Trial proves that dementia can be reversed

    Dr. Heather Sandison is a naturopathic doctor who has dedicated her career to supporting those suffering with dementia. She has created unique, successful solutions for patients and caregivers using clinical, residential, research and educational platforms.

    Because we are both determined to make dementia rare and optional, I am excited to have her back on the show to shatter common misconceptions about Alzheimer’s and share the results of her successful clinical trial in which dementia patients reversed cognitive decline!

    Some important points from the interview:
     
    07:11 the results of the clinical trial
    09:11 Comparing the results of Dr. Sandison’s trial with that of Dr. Dale Bredesen
    11:58 Why it is so important to acknowledge cognitive decline early
    13:47 How Alzheimer’s is impacted by diabetes. (For more information, watch Dr. Beverly Yates’ interview on Brain Health Matters. Link:
    16:11 The first steps toward a healthier brain
    19:27 Several fun ways to improve brain function


    Dr. Sandison's Website HERE
    Results of Dr. Sandison's Clinical trial can be found HERE


    NOW is the time to start a healthier brain protocol.


    One way to do that is to join Kate for Tune Up Your Brain. With fun and easy activities that you can incorporate into your everyday life, this program is the fastest way to improve your memory with a beautiful melding of brain science with the healing power of music and sound. Check it out HERE 

    There are many more episodes of Brain Health Matters along with the latest brain health research on our WEBSITE 



    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 33 min
    Does Diabetes Affect Your Brain?

    Does Diabetes Affect Your Brain?

    Be sure to subscribe to be among the first to get this important information, and help getting the word out is very much appreciated. Write a review or share our podcast with those who can use some help with brain health.

    Learn the many ways YOU can take control of your health by visiting BrainHealthMatters.Today or visiting our BLOG

    This week's episode: 

    Dr. Beverly Yates is an internationally acclaimed diabetes expert who helps people get control over their blood sugar. Alzheimer's disease has been called type three diabetes. The cognitive symptoms of uncontrolled diabetes are very similar to dementia, and the hormonal dysregulation that comes with diabetes can have a hugely detrimental effect on our brains. In this podcast, you will learn the five lifestyle factors that comprise the Yates protocol, and how important this is for brain health.

    Some key points:

    03:15  What will be the social, personal, and financial impact of millions of people suffering with dementia in the next few years?  

    04:00 The difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes 

    05:45 What does insulin resistance mean? 

    08:48 Is pre-diabetes something to worry about?  And can it also affect the brain?

    12:15 The first two of the Five steps in The Yates Protocol

    15:11 Read labels!

    16:59: The dangers of artificial sweeteners

    18:37 Step Three: Sleep. Why is it so important? 

    20:15 Step Four: Stress can be a hijacker of your blood sugar and your sleep  

    22:21: Living with Type One diabetes, and what are the twin gremlins?

    22:06: Step Five: Exercise and strength training are blood sugar sponges, 

    29:34: Best ways to test and monitor your blood sugar and the benefits of a CGM continuous glucose monitor. 

    31:05: How some of us react negatively to ordinarily “healthy” foods. 

    34:09: Dr. Yates' closing thoughts and advice:

    Dr. Gates contact information:


    https://naturalhealthcare.com/ 
    https://naturalhealthcare.com/blogs/news 
    https://www.youtube.com/drbeverlyyates 



    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 37 min
    Go Plant-Powered for a Healthier Brain and a Longer Life

    Go Plant-Powered for a Healthier Brain and a Longer Life

    This week's gust is Kim Murphy, a certified Plant-Based Health Coach and the founder of Simply Plant Based Kitchen and an Amazon best-selling author of her new book, Plant Powered.

    She was inspired to start a whole food plant based lifestyle to improve her own health after she lost her Dad to Alzheimer’s. 

    Kim started her business,  Simply Plant Based Kitchen, because she wanted to help busy & overwhelmed people learn how to make whole food plant based eating simple, easy, and delicious so they can feel amazing and have their best health.

    Some Key Points from the Podcast:

    03:11 A powerful inspiration to get healthier
    08:07 It’s all about the “why” – and Diet vs. Lifestyle
    10:25 Eating death
    12:21 What your body does with processed foods
    14:20 Why the fat in nuts and seeds is better
    15:47 Do you really have to steer clear of fruit?
    18:00 Tips to a successful transition to a whole foods plant-based diet
    21:46 But what about the cost of eating healthy?
    24:42 Dealing with a mixed-meal family and the holidays
    29:10 A gift from Kim: The Ultimate Plant-Based Grocery List
              (Hint – There’s a lot more on there than lettuce!)
    30:19 Plant Based - the book

    Visit Kim's WEBSITE
    Claim Kim's Gift:
    BUY Plant-Powered



    Start your Brain Health Journey with Five Easy Things you can do Right Now to Improve Your Brain https://harplady.lpages.co/five-steps-to-a-better-brain/

    To learn even more about the power of a whole foods, plant-based diet for a healthier brain, check out Kate’s books, "Don't Let the Memories Fade", "The Vegan Brain" and "The Musical Brain"

    Check out the Brain Health Matters BLOG for many more ways to improve your brain and your life!

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
5 Ratings

5 Ratings

Mxsandy12 ,

Awesome physical and mental health pod!

Uplifting and so helpful! Yay for Vegans!

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