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. 6d ago

    Collagen Banking, Perimenopause & Skin Longevity with Dr. Mary Alice Mina

    Your skin starts losing collagen in your 20s — and at menopause, up to 30% can drop in 5 years. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mary Alice Mina breaks down how to bank collagen before you need it, what perimenopause does to your skin, and why some peptide injections at med spas are landing patients with permanent scars. Dr. Mina shares insights on skin health, aging, and the evolving role of social media in medicine. Dr. Mary Alice Mina is a board-certified dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon based in Atlanta. She runs a direct-pay practice, teaches residents and medical students, and hosts The Skin Reel podcast, where she covers evidence-based skin health for real life. Keywords: skin health, aging, skincare, prevention, social media, dermatology, collagen, lasers, supplements, hormone therapy Key Topics: – What collagen banking is and when to start (hint: your 30s) – Why perimenopause causes up to 30% collagen loss and what drives skin changes in midlife – How retinoids build collagen 300% — and why they outperform supplements – What biostimulants like Sculptra and Radiesse actually do under the skin – The difference between CO2, Erbium, and microneedling lasers for collagen stimulation – Why AGEs from sugar accelerate skin aging and how to reduce them through diet – The new US-approved sunscreen ingredient (Bemotrizinol/BEMT) and what it means for UVA protection – Why peptide injections at med spas are causing mycobacterial infections and permanent scarring – How stress and the skin's own HPA axis directly affect skin health Chapters: [00:00] – Introduction: Dr. Mina's path from dancer to dermatologist-entrepreneur [01:00] – Why doctors need to be public-facing — the void filled by influencers [07:27] – Skin as an organ: more than aesthetics [09:09] – Intrinsic vs. extrinsic aging: what you can and can't control [13:32] – Collagen banking: how to start and what actually works [17:48] – Lasers for collagen: CO2, Erbium, and microneedling explained [18:43] – Biostimulants: Sculptra and Radiesse — how they build collagen precisely [23:01] – Sunscreen basics: SPF 30+, UVA/UVB, and the new BEMT ingredient [28:07] – Perimenopause and skin: estrogen, fat redistribution, and collagen loss [32:17] – Stress and the skin's HPA axis [34:32] – Diet, sugar, AGEs, and collagen degradation [37:47] – The peptide injection warning: what's going wrong at med spas [44:16] – Men's skincare basics [45:55] – Serum shelf life and vitamin C oxidation [51:46] – Dr. Mina's morning routine and sleep habits Connect with Dr. Mary Alice Mina Podcast: The Skin Reel (available wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube) Instagram: search @Dr. Mary Alice Mina Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. #collagenbanking #perimenopauseskin #skinlongevity #dermatologist #skinaging #retinol #lifestylemedicine #sunscreen #diveintohealthmd #theskinreel

  2. Sep 28

    Fibermaxxing, Seed Oils, and Protein- What the Research Shows with Dr. Christopher Gardner

    Dr. Christopher Gardner is a Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and Director of Nutrition Studies at the Stanford Prevention Research Center. He led the identical twin study featured in the Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat and is currently running a 120-person randomized controlled trial with San Francisco firefighters on plant-rich diets. keywords: food, nutrition, joy in eating, firefighter health, regenerative farming, documentary, plant-rich diet, planetary health, protein requirements, diet quality, seed oils, fats, vegetarian, vegan, carnivore, nutrition science, dietary guidelines In this episode, you'll learn: – Why most Americans already exceed the protein recommendation — and what the numbers are – How the body handles extra protein: no storage pool exists; it converts to carbohydrate – Why the amino acid "incompleteness" of plant protein is largely a myth – What fibermaxxing is and why the fiber gap may matter more than the protein gap – The seed oil debate: cold-pressed vs. chemically extracted and what it means for health – Why replacing seed oils with beef tallow contradicts decades of cardiovascular science – What Gardner's 600-person Stanford weight loss trial showed about diet quality vs. diet type – The real story behind the twin study muscle loss finding — a misrepresented outlier Timestamps: [00:00] – Protein storage explained: why extra protein converts to carbohydrate, not muscle [02:28] – How protein requirements are calculated and where Americans land (0.66 → 0.8 → 1.2 g/kg) [09:57] – Protein in perimenopause and aging: where the high-protein craze is coming from [10:34] – Why people feel better on high-protein diets — what is actually driving the change [15:49] – Carnivore vs. vegan diets: why the human body is more resilient than diet wars suggest [17:03] – Why a definitive long-term trial comparing extreme diets may never exist [23:35] – Inside the Stanford twin study and the Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat [26:09] – The muscle loss controversy: what Gardner says really happened [30:36] – Full fat vs. low fat dairy: what the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee found [38:23] – Seed oils explained: omega-6, omega-3, and where the fear is coming from [44:37] – Cold-pressed vs. chemically extracted oil: does quality of the oil matter? [47:53] – The firefighter study: what Gardner is researching right now Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. #fibermaxxing #seedoils #proteinmyth #plantprotein #lifestylemedicine #stanfordnutrition #twinstudy #guthealth #nutrition #diveintohealthmd

  3. Sep 21

    From Cardiac Arrest to Triathlete at 78: The Power of Lifestyle Medicine with Dr. Akil Taher

    Dr. Akil Taher is a practicing family physician at 78, a heart disease survivor, and a triathlete. He has run marathons, climbed Kilimanjaro at 66, completed the Mount Kailash Yatra, and done 200-mile bike rides — all after open bypass surgery at 61. His story is proof that adversity can be a beginning, not an end. In this episode, you'll learn: – Why LP(a) is the cardiovascular risk factor 99% of Americans haven't tested – What actually reduces LP(a) — and what doesn't (statins won't help) – The 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine — and how to make them stick – Why sleep is not the absence of being awake — it's where your brain cleans itself – How one physician went from couch potato to triathlete at 78, step by step Keywords: lifestyle medicine, heart health, aging, exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, chronic disease prevention, inspiring story Timestamps: [00:00] Intro: chronic disease is largely preventable [01:11] Dr. Taher's three hats: physician, heart disease survivor, athlete [07:52] The 5 worst years: diagnosis at 54, depression, and nearly losing the will to go on [11:11] The moment of clarity: two choices after bypass surgery [12:46] The promise to the ICU nurses — and the half marathon 7 months later [16:06] The 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine — and the 7th [18:53] Exercise: aerobic, strength, and balance — "big legs, big brain" [21:24] Sleep: the glymphatic system, daylight savings data, and sleep hygiene [24:37] Stress: why chronic sympathetic activation drives disease [29:58] Social connection: Blue Zones, loneliness, and why community heals [33:57] LP(a): the "crocodile" — stickier and more dangerous than LDL [36:41] What reduces LP(a): PCSK9 inhibitors, amla, whole food plant-based diet [39:37] Who should retest: children with family history (age 5), menopausal women [43:19] How the transformation happened: meditation in motion, step by step [56:12] Walk me through your day: morning water, coffee, the 15-ingredient smoothie Dr. Taher's YouTube Explanation of Lp(a) and Link to Book: Akil Taher on Lp(a) Akil Taher's Book: Open Heart Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: koalendar.com/e/meet-with-akshita-mehta-2 Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  4. Sep 14

    Why Seed Oils Aren't the Enemy: Omega-6, Dairy, and Protein with Dr. Walter Willett

    Dr. Walter Willett is a leading physician and nutrition researcher whose work has shaped our understanding of diet, chronic disease, cardiovascular health, diabetes, cancer, and long-term wellness. In this episode, Walter Willett joins Akshita to discuss the most debated topics in nutrition, including dairy, seed oils, omega-6 fatty acids, protein, calcium, regenerative agriculture, and ultra-processed foods.Akshita shares her background as a neuroradiologist and explains why she began exploring food as a potential upstream driver of disease. She also discusses her docuseries and CME course on food systems, food quality, and helping physicians guide patients toward healthier choices. Key takeaways Omega-6 fatty acids are essential and are not inherently inflammatory.The omega-6 : omega-3 ratio may be less useful than looking at overall intake and context.Dairy is not essential for a healthy diet, although ~ one serving per day may fit into a balanced eating pattern.Dairy’s main nutritional concern is saturated fat, especially when larger amounts displace healthier fats.A vegan diet can be healthy, but vitamin B12 and other nutrients must be addressed.Physical activity and resistance training are more important for bone health and insulin sensitivity than simply adding more protein.Modern seed oils are generally healthy; the historical concern was largely related to partial hydrogenation and trans fats.“Ultra-processed food” is a broad category that does not reveal enough about sugar, salt, refined grains, fiber, or overall nutritional quality.Eating fruits and vegetables remains a priority, even when organic options are unavailable.Walter describes his Mediterranean-style, plant-forward eating pattern and the importance of regular movement. Timestamps 00:00 - Akshita’s background and interest in food systems 03:45 - Omega ratios and nutrition lab testing 04:28 - Why omega-6 fats are misunderstood 07:50 - Dairy, saturated fat, and essential fatty acids 10:41 - Why dairy is optional, not essential 15:02 - Vitamin B12 and plant-based diets 18:10 - Calcium and fracture risk 25:41 - Grass-fed dairy and environmental impact 31:51 - Milk hormones and IGF-1 43:57 - CLA and dairy health claims 49:19 - Are seed oils healthy? 53:53 - Why “ultra-processed” is too broad 61:25 - High-protein diets and what most people need 65:05 - Resistance training and insulin sensitivity 66:44 - Meat, antibiotics, and sustainability 68:08 - Pesticides and the importance of produce 74:34 - Walter Willett’s daily eating pattern 75:45 - Exercise, sleep, and long-term healthNotable quotes Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call: Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet, supplements, exercise routine, or medical care.

  5. Sep 8

    How to Overcome Insomnia: Micronutrient Deficiency, Nervous System and CBTI+ACT - Dr. Nishi Bhopal

    Dr. Nishi Bhopal is a board-certified integrative psychiatrist and sleep medicine physician and founder of Pacific Integrative Psychiatry in California. She combines functional medicine with evidence-based psychiatry to treat insomnia and mental health at the root level. She educates clinicians through her YouTube channel IntraBalance and offers a patient-facing sleep coaching program called Effortless Sleep. In this episode, you'll learn: – Why hyperarousal — not sleep hygiene — is the real driver of chronic insomnia – How the two-process model (sleep drive + circadian rhythm) governs all sleep – Why sleep regularity beats duration, per a 60,000-person UK Biobank study – What orthosomnia is and how wearables can silently worsen insomnia – Why melatonin is a phase-shifter, not a sleep aid — and how to use it correctly – Which deficiencies in ferritin, magnesium, vitamin D, and B12 disrupt your sleep – How CBTI+ACT outperforms sleep medication for long-term insomnia treatment – Why 30% of chronic insomnia patients have undiagnosed sleep apnea – How blue light's role in sleep disruption has been vastly overstated [00:00] Introduction to Dr. Nishi Bhopal [09:59] Wearables, orthosomnia, and the Oura Ring [16:51] The two-process model: sleep drive and circadian rhythm [25:51] Melatonin: dose, timing, quality, and the JAMA 2023 study [34:52] The blue light myth — and what actually matters at night [37:12] The CSH framework: Circadian rhythm + Sleep Drive + Hyperarousal [40:17] CBTI + ACT: why behavioral therapy beats medication long-term [43:43] What actually causes insomnia: the hyperarousal connection [45:06] Sleep apnea hiding inside insomnia: the 30% physicians miss [52:41] Micronutrients for sleep: ferritin, magnesium, vitamin D, B12 [1:01:53] Walk me through your day with Dr. Nishi Bhopal Connect with Dr. Nishi Bhopal: Website: intrabalance.com Instagram: instagram.com/intrabalance YouTube: youtube.com/c/IntraBalance Practice: pacificintegrativepsych.com Sleep coaching: effortlesssleep.co (Effortless Sleep program) 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. Sep 4

    Financial Vital Signs: The Link Between Financial and Personal Health with Coach Jose Nadela

    Coach Jose Nadela is a financial coach who specializes in helping doctors and medical professionals build clarity, confidence, and calm around their personal finances. With over 20 years in international corporate finance across 13 countries, he now helps physicians reach what he calls "financial tranquility" — through education and personalized coaching. He does not manage investments or sell products. In this episode, you'll learn: – Why financial health is a core pillar of overall well-being — and how it affects your sleep, relationships, and focus – How to assess your financial vital signs with zero judgment – What net worth, cash flow, and emergency funds reveal about where you actually stand – Why high income doesn't automatically mean financial health for physicians – How your childhood relationship with money still shapes your decisions today – What "financial tranquility" means — and why it's a better goal than financial freedom – How to build a financial plan that starts with your life goals, not your investments [00:00] Coach Nadela's background: 20+ years in international corporate finance, 13 countries, now coaching physicians [03:52] Why financial stress doesn't stay in your bank account — and how it spills into health, relationships, and career decisions [08:06] The financial health checkup: using the medical vital signs framework to assess your personal finances [10:41] The 7 financial vital signs: income, cash flow, debt, emergency fund, insurance, retirement, and investments [14:23] Why your financial plan should start with your life — not your money, not your investments, and not what other doctors are doing [21:44] Redefining retirement: stop treating it as a distant event and start building future flexibility now [26:07] Investment fundamentals: diversification, low cost, and understanding the purpose behind each investment [29:48] What financial tranquility actually looks like — and why peace of mind is the real metric [32:17] The ROI of investing in yourself: skills, health, relationships, and the quality of your decisions [40:55] Making financial reviews a habit — and why pairing them with something you enjoy works Connect with Coach Nadela: Website & Free Financial Clarity Call Free Financial Literacy Course for Doctors A short course to help doctors do their own Financial Health Checkup: Instagram: @coach_nadela4doctors LinkedIn: Jose Nadela YouTube: @coachnadela Connect with Dive Into Health MD Book a discovery call Email: hello@diveintohealthmd.com YouTube: youtube.com/@diveintoHealthMD, Instagram: instagram.com/diveintohealthmd, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/diveintohealthmd This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

  7. Sep 1

    All Things Beans: How To Tolerate Them If You Can't, Cooking & The Organic Label with Lisa Riznikove

    Lisa Riznikove is the Chief Bean Officer at Foodocracy and Primary Beans, an online marketplace connecting home cooks directly with small farmers and independent food makers. She took over Primary Beans to keep a fair, direct marketplace alive for small organic and heirloom bean growers — and her kids' sports team has been known to request her black bean brownies. In this episode, you'll learn: – Why the organic label is valuable: real proof, not just a marketing claim – Why bean bloat is usually a fiber problem, not an intolerance – How kombu (kelp) cuts the gas-producing carbs in beans — and adds flavor – Why cannellini and kidney beans need a hard 10-minute boil before cooking – What the USDA's new organic rules require, and what they cost farmers – Why some small organic farms are giving up their certification – What a bean's "best buy" date really means (it's not a safety date) – Why heirloom beans taste different but aren't necessarily more nutritious – Whether you need to soak beans before cooking (usually not) [00:00] – Why the USDA organic label exists and what it proves [05:19] – There's no such thing as "chemical-free" — what organic inputs really are [09:47] – What happens when small farms can't afford organic certification [16:06] – Why your farmers market beats any label for nutrient density [18:58] – The life cycle of a bean: seed to harvest [28:15] – GMO vs. hybrid: the difference nobody explains [39:57] – How to store beans (skip the pretty pantry jar in direct sunlight) [44:41] – What "best buy" dates really mean [49:29] – How to prep beans: rinsing, picking through, and what "splits" are [51:41] – Do you need to soak beans? Usually not — here's when you do [54:19] – The pressure cooker method, plus the kombu (kelp) trick for less gas [57:25] – Why "I can't tolerate beans" is usually a fiber-ramp-up problem [1:04:49] – The one cooking rule that prevents most bean-related stomach issues [1:06:37] – About Lisa, Foodocracy, and Primary Beans Connect with Lisa Riznikove Shop: shopfoodocracy.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.

  8. Aug 24

    Unproven Peptides, GLP1s, and Reversing America's Obesity Rate — Dr. Krishna Vedala

    Dr. Krishna Vedala is a board-certified internal medicine and obesity medicine physician based in Oklahoma City, with a Master of Public Health and an MBA. He is the host of the Connected by Health podcast and a passionate advocate for prevention, physician leadership, and making obesity medicine accessible to all patients. In this episode, you'll learn: – What peptides are and why only one is truly FDA approved – How GLP-1s reversed the US obesity rate for the first time ever – How dual and triple agonists differ — and which one best preserves muscle – What labs to monitor if your patients utilize unproven peptides – How GLP-1s are getting patients off blood pressure meds, insulin, and diabetic drugs – Where oral formulations, pediatric prevention, and new indications are headed Timestamp: [00:00] Dr. Vedala's background in internal medicine, obesity medicine, public health, and why he ended up in primary care [09:17] Peptides 101: what they are, which are FDA approved, and the difference between GLP-1s and unproven compounds like TB500, NAD+, and ipamorelin [13:18] The US obesity rate dropped from 39% to 36% — the first reversal ever — with 11% of Americans now on a GLP-1 [16:47] Compounded GLP-3 from China, patient overdoses, and what clinicians can actually say or do [22:19] Tapering off GLP-1s: why weight comes back without lifestyle change, and how to find the right maintenance dose [28:18] From semaglutide to tirzepatide to retatrutide: why the glucagon receptor changes the muscle-wasting equation [41:19] Emerging indications: autoimmune disease, alcoholism, Alzheimer's dementia, and the type 3 diabetes theory [44:03] Getting patients off blood pressure medication, insulin, and cholesterol drugs — and why that's the actual goal [53:34] Obesity medicine in 10 years: oral GLP-1s, pediatric prevention strategies, and the decline of injectable reliance [58:51] How to evaluate a compounding pharmacy: ingredient sourcing, sterility protocols, and pricing red flags Connect with Dr. Krishna Vedala: Podcast: Connected by Health Connect with Akshita: Instagram: @diveintohealthmd | Website: diveintohealthmd.com This episode is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your physician before making changes to your medications or health regimen.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dr. Akshita Mehta

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