Healthy Looks Great on You

Belly Fat: Are you in the danger zone?

Find Out If Your Belly Fat is In the Danger Zone —and What to Do About It
First things first:
 
❌ You don’t need a clock.
 
❌ You don’t need another app.
 
✅ You just need a tape measure.
 
(And a little honesty.)
 
Here’s how to check — the right way:
How to Measure Your Belly Fat Accurately
1. Grab a flexible tape measure (the kind used for sewing, not the metal construction one from the garage!).
 
2. Stand up straight, but relax. No sucking it in like a before-and-after photo. Inhale, exhale, and let your body be.
 
3. Find your measuring spot:
○ Place the tape measure right around your belly button, just above your hip bones.
 
○ Make sure it’s snug but not cinched tight. It should rest comfortably against your skin — not digging in.
 
4. Look straight ahead and read the measurement — no tilting your head or pulling tighter.
Honesty is power here.
🚩 What Your Measurement Means
● For women: A waist circumference greater than 35 inches (89 cm) signals an unhealthy amount of visceral (belly) fat, increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health issues.
 
● For men: Over 40 inches (102 cm) is considered unhealthy.
 
The greater the waist measurement, the higher the health risks.
 
👉 If you’re over 35 inches (ladies) or over 40 inches (gentlemen), it’s time to take action — but not with shame or crash diets — with smart, sustainable shifts that work with your body, not against it.
🍴 Let’s work on this together!
Eating plant-based can be a challenge, but for me the challenge is eating out. But if I back up a step, the real problem is that I didn’t plan, so we hop in the car.
And I can promise what you eat in a restaurant, order for take-out, or pull out of a package is NOT healthy for any part of your body, including your waistline.
What you need is not willpower. You need a plan and I’m here to help. Make sure you are on my email list. I'm sharing super-helpful tools and recipes.
An INSTANT POT and NINJA BLENDER are great time saving tools. (*contains affiliate links)
Subscribe HERE for all the tips and recipes
Belly fat is a signal, not a life sentence.
To reach any destination, you have to know where you are starting. Later, we can map out the steps to get there.
🌟 Your Next Step
Listen to this episode, where I invite you to join my journey to lose a few inches. I recently did this successfully, and I’d like to share more with you, including recipes, so make sure you are on my email list.
Subscribe HERE
Stay tuned next week. I’ll talk more about belly fat causes and cures. You've got this. And healthy looks great on you.
Episode on type 2 diabetes

Don't fall for food marketing tricks

 You want to eat healthy and you're doing your best. But the grocery store, it can feel like a minefield of marketing buzzwords, multi-grain, all natural, lightly sweetened or made with real fruit. They all sound healthy, right? But are they? We are going to look at the sneaky and misleading world of food marketing under a magnifying glass today so that you know how to shop smart at the grocery store.
 I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper. I practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 20 years until I landed on the other side of the sheets as a very sick patient. When my own body betrayed me, I took a handful of pills to manage my disease and another handful to counteract the side effects. My health was out of control.
Through surgery, medications, and lots of prayers, I  regained my strength only to face another  diagnosis. My doctor challenged me to make radical changes through lifestyle medicine. Now I feel great and I want to help you make changes that make a difference. Healthy Looks Great On You podcast takes you to mini medical school so you can learn the power of lifestyle medicine.
If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you.
 Being healthy isn't just about willpower. It's about knowledge. And once you learn how to spot these tricks, you'll shop smarter, eat better, and feel more in control. This is episode 1 69. Don't fall for marketing tricks in the grocery store. You really do want to eat healthy and you check the labels and try to make good choices, but let's be honest, grocery shopping can feel like walking through a maze of healthy sounding words that don't always mean what you think.
There are eight common phrases that show up everywhere on cereals, yogurts, granola bars, juices, and they sound wholesome and smart and safe. But behind the scenes, they are misleading at best and downright deceptive at worst.
By the end of this episode though, you are going to be a label reading pro. You'll learn how food companies use marketing tricks to make junk food sound healthy, and how you can spot the truth with a quick glance at the label  because who's got time to stand in the grocery store aisle and read all the labels?
I will say that if you missed my episode on reading a nutritional label, then you should go back and listen to that and I'll put a link in the show notes, but it's episode number 115, or you can go to my website, healthy Looks Great on you.com, and just type label in the search bar and it will come up.
But if you're ready to decode the deception, let's get started. We're going to go to mini medical school, and today our class is psychology. Psychology is an important part of overall health, and marketers know it. That's why they spend millions and millions of dollars on food packaging, they're counting on you to be pulled in by the front of the package.
And the last thing they want you to do is turn it over and read the nutrition label because that's where the facts are listed. That's why I wanted you to go back and listen to episode 115. But today you're going to learn that the front of the package is just bait and there's always a hook.
 Here's what I'm talking about. Calming earth tones so that it looks natural, farm scenery so that it feels wholesome. And there are some buzzwords that sound really good, but they're not. And we call all of that a health halo. And what they're trying to do is give you the impression that unhealthy food is good for you.
 
Today, we're going to look at eight common terms that are used on the front of the package labeling, and then I'm going to give you one. Just one piece of advice that is going to change the way you do your grocery shopping, so stay tuned. Let's start with those eight labels. The first one, and you will see this everywhere, is multi grain, and that sounds so healthy 
because fiber is so important in our diet to have a healthy gut. And so we want to have grains in our diet, but multi-grain, no, that's not what we need. It's whole grains that we need. and you see what happens. They can use the word multi-grain when they just mean processed grains, but more than one of them.
  So they could have one or two or even 10 grains that have been entirely stripped of their nutrients, and they can still call it multi-grain. And that sounds like a healthy mix of grains, but it's not.  even if the flour is wheat flour and it's enriched. And refined, then it's just an unhealthy grain in disguise, and what you really need is whole grains that still have the brand and the germ, because that's where the fiber is, that's where the B vitamins are antioxidants.
All of that is found in whole grain. So what you really should look for is 100% whole grain. Otherwise, multi-grain is usually a trick.
   And a little twist on that is number two made with whole grains. Okay? How much whole grains, if it doesn't say 100%, it might be only 2% and the other 98% might be pure junk. So always look for 100% whole grain
 and make sure the whole grain, like whole wheat or whatever grain we're talking about is the very first ingredient, because otherwise you could just be getting a trace of whole grains so that they can legally make the claim and the rest is just junk.
 Number three is one of my favorites because it sounds so incredibly good and it's not all natural. Why would that be bad? Well, first of all, there's absolutely no regulation in this claim. They can say all natural, and it means nothing because there's no definition of that term. And even high fructose corn syrup, which I think we can all agree is to terrible for you, could be considered natural, and it makes it sound like it's coming straight from the earth and hasn't been processed 
and it makes you feel safe, but it's not regulated. Number four is no added sugar. Well, that sounds good because we want to cut back on the sugar in our diet because it has inflammatory properties and it's bad for your heart and your blood vessels and your brain, but no added sugar can still have tons of sugar.
It can have juice concentrates
or something like evaporated cane juice. Brown rice syrups. These are all just sugars in disguise. 
And listen, the type of sugar absolutely matters. Sugar from fruit - healthy; sugar from processed foods, very unhealthy.
And speaking of fruit, that leads us to the next deceptive marketing term, which is made with real fruit. Okay. How much real fruit, like did you add a fleck of watermelon and call that made with real fruit? 
 And it's not fresh fruit either. I mean, it sounds like they're cutting up apples or putting whole blueberries in there, but it may just be juice concentrate and listen, that is not healthy. You cannot eat a fruit gummy and pretend you're eating fruit. And that leads us to number six, which is lightly sweetened.
 That's a vibe, not a fact. What does lightly even mean? There's absolutely no rule behind that phrase. What you should do instead is check the number of grams of sugar  there's no lightly sweetened term according to the FDA. So you could have 10 grams of sugar that's added and still just wear this label and pretend. 
And I recommend that you get all of your sugar from whole food sources like oranges and bananas, blueberries and strawberries, carrots and potatoes
Okay, and coming in at number seven is probably one of your favorites. Organic. And yes, organic is great if you're trying to reduce exposure to pesticides, but it doesn't mean healthy. You can have organic candy and organic potato chips. It only means that the ingredients were grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizer.
But organic sugar is still sugar, and an organic cookie is still a cookie 
and last on the list is another buzzword and that is gluten-free. And listen, if you have celiac disease or if you're one of 10% of people who have a gluten sensitivity, that's a big deal. But again, gluten-free cookies are still cookies and gluten-free makes it sound like that it's low carb or low sugar or low, anything bad.
And what it really means is no gluten. Well, what is gluten? It's a protein that's found in the whole grain, but unless you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, there's really not a benefit to trying to eat a gluten-free diet. And you may just get tricked into eating more junk food because you think because it says gluten free, that it's better for you and it's not.
So here's what you should do instead, check the ingredient list. And typically the fewer the ingredients the better. And if there is no label, that means you picked it up in the produce aisle. And that's best. Second is look at that nutrition label and remember. It's on the back. You can see how much added sugar there is.
You can look at the fiber content, how many milligrams of sodium there is, and I have episodes on all of this. If you're interested, just go to my website, type whatever you're looking for in the search bar.
And before I give you my number one tip, I have a challenge for you. I want you to be a label detective. In fact, I would say as soon as you finish this episode, go to your pantry and just pick up a package of food. Look at those claims that are made on the front of the packaging.
And see if you have fallen for one of these tricks. But then I want you to flip it over and read the label, the nutrition labels on the back, and see if the hype matches the ingredients. And don't worry, there's no test on this for mini medical school, and you don't have to be perfect. But I do want you to be aware, here's your one tip.
Never look at the front of the package. There is literally no information there that you need. Flip it over and read the back label, if you wanna take it to the next level, then try to eat foods that have one ingredient like spinach or beans because real food doesn't need a marketing tip. If this episode has made you look at your grocery little differently, that's a win.
 I recommend that you go back and scroll through old episodes to get more tips like this. But if you learned something really helpful and new today, would you consider subscribing to this podcast or leaving a review? Even better, share this episode with a friend who's trying to get healthy too, because we need to spread the truth and not marketing hype because healthy looks great on you.
And all of us.
SUBSCRIBE
Episode 115 How to Read a Nutrition Label
 

Stop Those Spinning Thoughts with Carol Feil

You’re lying in bed. Your body is exhausted, but your mind is replaying things you wish you’d said in a conversation earlier that day, rehearsing conversations that haven’t even happened, or mentally writing tomorrow’s to-do list.
Sound familiar?
You’re not broken.You’re not alone.And you’re not powerless.
In this week’s episode of the Healthy Looks Great on You podcast, I’m joined by my friend Carol Feil to talk about something so many of us struggle with:
Episode 168: How to Stop Spinning Thoughts So You Can Sleep
Inside, we unpack: Why your thoughts spin out of control, especially at night. How people-pleasing, perfectionism, and fear fuel mental loops What it means to recognize a thought… and replace it The power of scripture, stillness, and reframing Why controlling your thoughts during the day is the key to sleeping at night
Mental overload affects more than sleep.It also affects relationships, health, and sense of peace. 
If you’ve ever felt hijacked by your own mind, this episode is for you.
Listen now to Episode 168:
You can change the soundtrack in your mind for restful sleep.
 ~Dr. Vickie
Visit www.CarolFeil.com to learn more about being seen, known and loved.

5 Hacks to Boost Mental Sharpness

 
Your brain is the muscle you’re forgetting to train
We talk a lot about physical fitness — steps, reps, squats, smoothies.
But how often do you work on brain fitness?
Here’s the truth: You can’t afford to ignore it.
I’ve seen the negative impacts of cognitive decline up close — the slow fade of memory, decision-making, even personality changes. Dementia doesn’t just steal thoughts. It steals connection, identity, and independence.
But what if we could do something now to keep our brains sharper, longer?
This week on the podcast, I’m sharing:5 Hacks to Boost Mental Sharpness (and Train Your Brain Like a Muscle)
I’ll walk you through:
What neuroplasticity really means — and how to unlock it
Why you need to challenge your brain, not just fuel it
How learning new things protects cognitive function
The connection between powerful muscles and longevity
And why restorative sleep is the foundation of brain health
Your brain is your most valuable asset.  Let’s take care of it together!
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Lumosity

How to do your own research

When you see medical information, how do you know if it's true or just hype? You're often told to do your own research, but how? 
  I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper. If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you.
Episode 1 66 "How to do your own Research."
Five years ago, the world shut down. And I remember that day so clearly. I called my mother and I said, where are you? And she was getting a mammogram and I said, go home and stay home for the next several weeks. I worked from home, visited with my friends outside and distanced, and we wore a mask in public. 
I even hosted my family for Thanksgiving outside on the deck. Honestly, it was one of the most memorable thanksgivings ever. I used the china tablecloths, and I even moved the dining room chairs outside. Fortunately, the weather was perfect,  but was all that really necessary.  People started asking questions and coming up with their own answers. 
I've wanted to do this episode for a long time. But it's not about covid. We'll get to that later, but this is the time in history when people were encouraged to start doing their own medical research. However, to my knowledge, nobody's giving you instructions on how.
I love people and I love helping people learn to optimize their health through evidence-based lifestyle medicine. And if anything I say offends you, let's talk about it. You can email me at DrVickie@healthylooksgreatonyou.com, and I'll schedule a call with you. I will not, however, engage with anyone on social media. That's just not a good way to have a conversation. We should do it in person.
If you've listened to this podcast before, you know we're going to mini medical school to learn how to do your own research. But I suppose that only equips you to do mini research. Right? On top of that, there are a lot of pre-reqs for medical school classes, like statistics and basic biology.
So let's start  there with a couple of definitions. In vivo versus in vitro. I bet you didn't see that coming, but stick with me. This is important.  In vitro refers to in the lab, either in a test tube or a Petri dish, in vivo refers to a living organism.
And you need to understand that humans are unique. What affects a jellyfish may not affect a dog the same way. And what affects a monkey, may not have the same effects on your brother, even if he acts like one sometimes.
So when doing your own research, it's important to understand where the experiment took place. For example, I recently saw someone touting the benefits of an old drug that we used to use for bladder cancer until better treatments were developed. When I looked at the source, the studies were done on mouse melanoma cells from the lab. In other words, they gave a mouse cancer, took the cancer cells out, mixed 'em in a dish with this drug, and voila, the cancer cells died.  Okay? If I need something to kill mouse cancer cells in a Petri dish, please sign me up. But you get the picture.  
Now, I mentioned that I looked at the source, and if you hear me say one thing today, it's, look at the source. Always, look at the source. And it's also important to talk about the pace of science. As studies are done, new information becomes available, and recommendations may change. If you listen to the end of my podcast, I say that at the end of every episode. And listen, I do a ton of research for every one of these episodes. It takes me hours and hours longer than the writing, recording, editing, and publishing. But that still doesn't mean a new study won't come out tomorrow and make the information that I'm sharing outdated. So if you're going to do your own research, you gotta keep up and make sure there's not a more current, better designed study that suggests something different.  
Let me put it like this. About a year and a half ago, I moved away from the town where I had lived for 28 years, and the whole entire time I lived there, there was this big red brick building right there on Main Street. Now, I hadn't been back in a while, but the other day I went and when I drove down Main Street, that building was white.
Now if I hadn't been there recently, I would believe with all my heart that there was a big red brick building on Main Street.  But things change, and if you look at a study that's five years old, you need to understand that five years is a really long time in the world of science and research. We may have learned a lot of new information since then. Things change. So keep that in mind when you're doing your own research.
Now I've been talking about sources and I'll keep doing it, but here's the deal. I see a lot of information shared without any source, medical and otherwise no source. Just a so-called fact, and people share it like it's the gospel truth. 
Can I be frank?  I see a lot of my friends share misinformation. I. How do I know it's misinformation? Because I am a big time skeptic and I don't take anything at face value and neither should you.  But if you're going to share something, especially medical advice, please be sure it's credible and not just something that matches your bias.
Bias is another term we need to understand because I promise it affects you, me and the scientist doing the research. So let's talk about the scientist first. I'm going to call her Dr. Ink, and she believes with all of her heart that writing with blue ink causes your hair to fall out. I mean, she is convinced it's true.
So she starts asking people who suffer hair loss, "Did you use a blue ink pen before your hair fell out?" Now, here's what typically happens. People who suffer hair loss and used black ink, they just kind of move on. But those bald people who used blue ink raised their hand. Me, me, me, me, me. See, Dr. Ink was right. Blue ink causes hair loss.  
Now, I know that's a ridiculous example, but seriously, bias is huge in research. You see, what Dr. Ink should have done is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial because that is the gold standard In research. A well-designed study would look at people randomly, not just those you select out because either they have hair loss or they used blue ink. That creates bias.  
And Dr. Ink needs to use invisible ink so that she's blind to who used blue Ink versus who used black Ink. But Dr. Ink has decided that she's really onto something in her practice because every single person who has hair lost used blue ink, so she decides to go against the grain and share that information.
We call that anecdotal evidence, or as my professor used to say, "You are unencumbered by data."  Here's the deal - even if Dr. Ink sees thousands of patients in the grand scheme of things, she does not have data.
Speaking of data, we need to talk about some statistical terms. I'll let you do your own research so that you better understand things like confidence intervals. Which is the range of values within which we are confident that a true effect exists. For example, if a study finds a treatment has an effect size of 0.5 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.2 to 0.8, this tells you with 95% confidence, the true effect size is between 0.2 and 0.8.
Got it.  Okay. Bottom line, a more narrow confidence interval suggests more accuracy. But seriously, if you've ever read a medical study, they talk this way. So if you're going to do your own research, you really do need to understand statistics. You  need to understand P values, which tells you if a result is statistically significant. Very generally speaking, a P value should be below 0.05. But even that doesn't mean that there's practical significance. So when you look at a P value, ask yourself if it even really matters.
Class isn't over yet. Let's talk about the power of a meta analysis, and I'm not talking about meta the Facebook platform that could get me censored.
I'm talking about combining lots of smaller studies from multiple different sources so that the statistical power is increased and bias is decreased. They aren't perfect and they don't even prove causality, and that's our next term. Just because someone used blue ink and their hair fell out, doesn't mean the blue ink caused their hair to fall out. Remember that.
Okay, now that class is over, we need to go to the lab. And I'm talking about the other meta, and that is Facebook or your social media platform of choice. And listen, I'll be honest, I am grieved because you can say what you want about doctors, but I have been around a lot of doctors my whole adult life, and with a few exceptions, nearly all of them are trustworthy and care so deeply about their patients. But somewhere along the way, their expertise has been replaced.
And, hold on, just hear me out. There are some real world examples. One of my Facebook friends, and I don't even remember who shared something medical from someone I will not name because I don't even know her, but I did investigate a little bit because the claim she was making was clearly erroneous and it was being shared widely.  Here's what I found. She has 458 Facebook friends and describes herself as a wife and mother with a green thumb. But wait, there's more. She's a biohacker. Always learning. And claims, "I can help you be healthy." Hey, that's my gig. 
Her previous jobs included food and beverage manager at a major hotel chain as well as a casino worker.  She's giving widely shared medical advice.
I didn't even know what a biohacker was, so I did my own research and Googled it. It's do it yourself, biology.  But she wasn't sharing biology. She was sharing blatant medical advice, albeit incorrect everything from vaccines to cancer treatment.
So next time you see anything that's medical advice, check the source,  no source, then don't share it. 
If you haven't hung up on me yet, let's keep going and talk about cough CPR. I mean, you wanna help someone, right? If they're home alone and they're having a heart attack, they should cough. This started circulating social media in 1999, and I guess Facebook kept coughing because recently it was resurrected. And listen, it's not true, and here's why it matters. If you're having a heart attack and you're home alone, you should dial 9 1 1 and take an aspirin.
And if you're telling people to cough because you think it could help, I want you to think about this. Could it hurt? Is it true?  Do your own research and check your source. Lemme say that louder. Check your source. I did. And here's another one. 
I saw someone share a post that was later edited to say they weren't giving medical advice, and they encouraged people to do their own research and come to their own conclusion.  But then they proceeded to talk about how something in particular is a cure for everything from cancer to covid, high cholesterol, diabetes. It's an anti-microbial agent against bacteria and viruses. It increases your immunity, protects you from heart disease, it's anti-inflammatory, and it treats autoimmune diseases and get this with no side effects.  Now, let me ask you a question. If there's really a drug that can do all of that, then why has Big Pharma not snatched it up off the shelves, patented it and made buckets of money from it? 
That's a serious question. So I checked the source. The person giving/not giving medical advice has studied at a university and owns not one, but two businesses. One is an engraving business and the other is a handyman business.  I mean, you probably wouldn't listen to me about how to fix the hinges on your doors, but that ought to be a two-way street, and if you need something engraved, you're probably not going to go see a doctor. 
But what if it's credible? You know, like a well-known TV doctor. Here's a post that's been going around for years  on Wednesday, which Wednesday? Who knows? Because there's no source. Dr. So-and-so, and I'm not even going to say the name, had a show on the fastest growing cancer in women thyroid cancer, and they said there was something called a thyroid guard that should be used during mammograms. And the post goes on to say, by coincidence, I had my yearly mammogram yesterday, and I felt a little silly, but I asked about the guard and sure enough, the technician had one in a drawer and I asked why it wasn't routinely used. Answer, I don't know. You have to ask for it. Well, if I hadn't seen the show, how would I have known to ask someone was nice enough to forward this to me? I hope you pass it on to your friends and family. Well, apparently a lot of people did that.
Now, first of all, this one started in 2010. Second of all, Dr. So-and-so really only discussed dental x-rays, not mammograms in that particular episode. Why does it matter? I don't know. Do you think the truth matters? Do you think credibility matters? And to my fellow followers of Jesus, remember what Paul said to the Philippians, whatever is true,  I'm just asking you to push pause before you post.
Do your own research, check the source.  And if there is no source, keep scrolling unless you can verify it's true.  I think it's time we had some straight talk about facts in medicine. I may wade into some controversial waters.
There is one thing that's really being promoted right now as the cure all for everything. And one of my Facebook friends is passionate about this and post all kinds of sources that look very credible. They vary in age from 2015 to 2022. Some of them are in mice, some are in vitro, and there are a few case studies. You know what a case study is, right? It's a single circumstance that happened and got reported in the literature.
For example, someone got a wart on their finger and they put baking powder on it, and the wart went away. So someone writes a paper about it so that everyone knows that this one time, this one thing happened. Now if I get a wart on my finger, I'm gonna use one of those little bandaid thingies, and if that doesn't work, I'm going to the dermatologist and having it frozen off with liquid nitrogen.
Even though somebody somewhere put baking soda on their wart and it went away. Now, please don't think I'm being snarky. I want you to think critically because if you're going to do your own research, you need to be aware - it's complicated. Harvard Medical School calls it the Wild, Wild West of online cancer information, and we live in an information age.
It's so available and with that comes responsibility.  And I'm passionate about this because it's dangerous. It's very dangerous. Think about it. 
What if you posted something that was medical advice? Discouraging people to get treatment for a disease that can be deadly.  And they saw a lot of other people posting the same thing, so they thought it must be true and they ignored medical advice and had a bad outcome. 
The erosion of expertise is dangerous. False claims about cancer treatments really rile me up,  and I've witnessed it firsthand. Patients who wanted to try drinking carrot juice instead of following the standard recommendations.  And it never worked. But listen, I think carrots are great for you. In fact, I think you should eat a variety of vegetables.
A healthy diet promotes good health.  But if you need some shelves built in your closet, call a handyman. And if you get  cancer, please trust your doctor. I'm totally serious. 
I hope I haven't offended you, and I hope you've learned a lot about how to do your own research, and I also hope you appreciate my sense of humor. I want you to share this with your friends and family. Let's get the word out. And definitely eat the carrots. 
 And instead of drinking juice, eat them whole because whole carrots are naturally healthy and healthy.
Looks great on you.  
The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change

Intentional steps for habit change and managing stress with Shelley Fourney

 Have you ever seen a therapist or maybe you've wanted to see a therapist and you haven't? Well, in today's episode, you are going to visit with Shelly Forney, and she is a licensed therapist who specializes in solution focus brief therapy.   Now, I'm not gonna promise that you're going to have all the tools you need to navigate whatever stress is going on in your life, but if you're trying to make a habit change or if you just need a starting place to take those first small steps, you're going to love this interview.
 I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper. If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you.  
Shelley is a licensed clinical social worker who practices as an individual therapist. Her favorite thing to dois help people move forward, one little baby step at a time, not big steps.
When people try to manage stress, they tend to plan for the next six months, but Shelley encourages them to think about what needs to happen to get through today. She asks questions to guide people to think about what works for them.
She says, " I'm not an expert on your life, but you are. My job is to ask you good questions help you facilitate what it is you want." 
What works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for another. You are the expert on you, so if someone tells you what you should do about stress, anxiety, sleep and depression, it often doesn't work. 
You don't need 20 tips, you need a solution that works for you. That's what I teach in my sleep course. 
If someone tells you to change a habit, like quit smoking, Shelley asks why it matters to them, not the doctor. Because it has to be important, or they won't be successful. 
Shelley uses Solution Focus Brief therapy. Her approach is to ask her clients, "What do you want?" then she helps them move forward. 
In particularly stressful situations where there's been a loss she tries to help them get through minute by minute, or a week at at time. It's effective and rewarding. 
She recommends starting with what is working in your life. We all have routines that help us stop and head back in the direction we want to do. 
It's not a quick fix, but it can impact your day using tiny steps. 
For someone deep in grief, it might mean getting through the next hour, by accomplishing basic things, like eating and drinking. Shelley views her role as validating the next tiny step they've decided to take. 
She ask really good questions and people come up with solutions and how to change things in their lives. She listens and helps them find things in their life that will work for them. 
When it comes to spinning thoughts, which is a form of feeling anxious, she recommends practicing gratefulness. You can't be anxious and grateful at the same time.
She encourages people to have compassion and grace for themselves. Instead of ruminating, think of it as an opportunity to learn. 
 The hand to heart technique can be used to interrupt spinning thoughts, by simply placing your hand on your shoulder. The act of touching tells our nervous system we are safe and can automatically calm your mind. 
It feels weird at first, but what will you accomplish by negatively talking to yourself? It works.
Set goals that can be pretty easily achieved. Then celebrate small wins. People often set goals that are too big and hard to achieve. Instead, figure out some first steps. If you want to exercise, decide what time of day and what you are going to wear. Pare it down to increase success rather than setting a lofty goal and failing. It's not about where you'd like to be, we are working on that. But what is it for today or this week? Baby steps in the right direction leads to more success.
Form a visual picture of where you'd like to be. What does happy look like to you?
Mental health is often like physical health. One thing causes another thing to be worse, spinning in a vicious cycle. Shelley would prescribe exercise, healthy eating and journaling for all of her clients.
Her practice is called Intentional Steps. Visit her website: www.intentionalsteps.usGo follow Shelley Fourney, Intentional Steps on Facebook and Instagram. She posts really helpful videos. 
  
The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change
 
 

Why do my joints hurt?

 Do you ever feel like the Tin man needing some WD 40 just to get moving? Let's talk about what causes joint pain and how to prevent and treat it.
 I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper. If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you. 
Episode 164. Why do my joints hurt?  When I sit for a while the urge to groan when I stand up comes pretty naturally and I'm really trying hard to fight it, but I've put  quite a bit of strain on my joints over the years, and I'm not alone. One in five adults have some form of arthritis.
Back in the day, old people called it rheumatism. I haven't heard that term in a while, but now I am old people. But rheumatism is used synonymously with arthritis. It's a catchall term and it doesn't necessarily refer to rheumatoid arthritis. And listen, there are over 100 different types of arthritis, but today we're only going to focus on osteoarthritis because it's by far the most common affecting over 32 million people in the United States. 
And the prevalence is increasing, making it the third most common disease that is going upward behind high blood pressure and dementia. Grandpa can tell it's going to rain because his rheumatism is acting up, and in fact, damp weather can make arthritis pain flare,  but it's more than just aches and pains. Osteoarthritis is serious. In fact, it's the leading cause of disability in the United States. It's also expensive. The price tag is reported to be over $150 billion a year. Some of that is lost wages and some is because of joint replacement, and it is important to see a doctor and have your pain evaluated.  
Let's go to mini medical school and learn about joints. No, not that kind of joint. Although CBD oil and marijuana have been studied for joint pain and they are effective - every bit as effective as placebo, that  smells like weed. Go figure. But I meant the articulation between bones and other structures that allow us to move. Now that I think about it, the word joint can refer to your banking account, something you smoke, a fastener to hold the roof on your house, or in this case, a place where bones meet.
So let's look at all the players that gather in this meeting place besides bones. You've got ligaments and tendons that hold the joint together, and both of these are strong bands of connective tissue. The ligaments connect bone to bone. And that supports and limits movement while tendons connect muscle to bone and that controls movement.
You've also got cartilage that covers the surface where two or more bones meet and that's designed to reduce friction. You know when two or more are gathered, there's always friction, so you need something to smooth things out. Another structure that helps reduce friction is a fluid filled sac called the bursa, and this is filled with a thick, clear, sticky fluid called synovial fluid that is secreted by the synovial membrane and that lines the joint and seals it into a capsule.
And there are lots of different types of joints besides the ones I mentioned earlier. Some of them move in just one direction, like your elbow, and those are called hinge joints. Others allow rotation like your neck. That's called a pivot joint. Shoulders and hips are the ball and socket joints to allow movement in several directions. And the wrist is similar, but without pivots, so it's called an ellipsoidal joint.
Okay. Now you've completed orthopedics 101. Oh, wait. Since we're discussing osteoarthritis today, you probably need to know that osteo means bone. And you've probably heard people say that they had a knee replacement because it was bone on bone. Well, osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage is gone, and it's a gradual process that occurs over many years usually.  
You probably know that the biggest risk factor for osteoarthritis is age. But listen, it's not a normal part of aging due to wear and tear, though clearly it can develop where there's been a prior injury. It's hard to think about it when you're young and doing back handsprings or shooting hoops or making tackles, but often those old injuries do eventually catch up with you.
But, even without an injury, repetitive occupational or avocational activities can leave their mark. But get this, being sedentary does its own damage.
Does that mean that runners are destined to ruin their knees? Actually no. Even though they're asking a lot from that three to five millimeter layer of cartilage, genetics plays a role too. So choose your parents very wisely. But even if your parents have osteoarthritis, it doesn't mean that you will, because lifestyle is a huge factor. And since I'm here to talk to you about lifestyle medicine. Let's talk about the things you can control, and we're mostly going to focus on two pillars of lifestyle medicine, and that's physical fitness and diet. 
If you have joint pain, you've got to keep moving because if you stop, you might not be able to start again. Being fit helps with pain and stiffness. It improves your joint mobility, and all of that helps with quality of life, and mood. But here's the deal. Your skeletal system consists of joints, bones, and muscles.
So if people with arthritis don't maintain that musculoskeletal strength, it leads to a whole cascade of events.  Weaker muscles leads to less balance that can result in a decline in function, which leads to less stability and that can result in falls with injuries like brain trauma and hip fractures.
In fact, 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls, and falls are the leading cause of disability and death in seniors and exercise helps prevent falls. Not only does it keep you stronger, it boosts your confidence because oddly enough, people who are afraid of falling actually fall more than the less cautious people.
Now, I'm not telling you to be reckless, but I am suggesting that you exercise. And get this strengthening muscles even reduces joint pain. And if you have arthritis, one of the best exercises is walking.
Tai Chi is also recommended, and I've visited China before and it's very common to see elderly people. I'm talking about really elderly people gathered in outdoor spaces participating in this ancient martial art. It involves slow, continuous movement that is specifically tailored to improve strength and balance. But if you currently don't have access to a park in China, then maybe you could find a YouTube video and even better find a friend and a park nearby  and use a YouTube video. 
And if you have access to a swimming pool. Oh, swimming is such an excellent exercise for people with arthritis.  But whatever you do, don't do nothing. Keep moving. Park in that spot that's furthest from the door. Don't ever drive to the mailbox. Find something you enjoy and keep moving.
Inactivity is the very worst thing you can do if your joints hurt. Now, of course, you should consult your doctor or healthcare provider first. And I'm not talking about joint pain from an acute injury. I'm talking about old fashioned aches and pains. Any joint in the body can be affected, but the most common ones are knees, hands and hips.
Check, check, check. Actually, my knees are pretty good, but I definitely have hip pain and intermittently pain in my hands.  But guess what? It is not from cracking my knuckles. That's a myth. Osteoarthritis is referred to as wear and tear arthritis, and that makes sense. I delivered a lot of babies with these hands and did a lot of surgeries, and probably gymnastics took a toll on my hip as well.
But listen, you don't have to abuse your joints to get osteoarthritis. You can also get it from neglect. Being sedentary increases your risk for... you name it. So if you sit all day, set your watch and at least get up and move around every hour. So we've covered age, previous injury, repetitive motion overuse, and inactivity as risk factors for osteoarthritis.
But you wanna know what else puts a lot of strain on your joints.  Obesity. In fact, weight loss can really help with osteoarthritis, especially of the knees, if only it were that simple. But get this, losing one pound takes four pounds of pressure off your knees. 
There are lots of different treatments from ointments to over-the-counter pain relievers, prescription medications physical therapy and surgery.  But sometimes you can't fix joint pain and you have to focus on managing it instead of trying to cure it. Whatever you do, take care of your body by being fit, active and maintaining a healthy weight, which by the way depends way more on diet than exercise  and eating a joint friendly diet.  So what kind of diet should you eat for arthritis? You know, there's the DASH diet for high blood pressure and the MIND diet for cognitive health, the Mediterranean diet for heart health.
But is there a diet for joint health? Not specifically, but all of the above diets have some things in common. They reduce inflammation and they promote whole unprocessed foods and avoiding foods that make inflammation worse.  You know those that are easy to grab and eat.
You do need protein for your joints, but don't fall into the trap of buying packaged food that touts 30 grams of protein on the front label. My mom kept a little carton of a protein drink that her friends had recommended because it had 30 grams of protein.  I reminded her don't pay attention to the front of the package. It's just marketing. Turn it over and read the nutrition label. I really think you should go back and listen to my episode on this. It's one of my favorites, and I put a link in the show notes.  
But if you eat a well-balanced diet, you don't need more protein. Now, I might argue that if you get your protein from meat and dairy. You need better protein.  Things like whole grains, soy products, beans, legumes, lentils, nuts and seeds. And did you know that fruits and vegetables contain protein? Plus they have fiber, which is crucial for weight loss and a healthy gut. And they don't contain bad fat and cholesterol.
If you want to know more about growing your own protein, listen to my interview with Jill Mc Sheehy on her podcast, the Beginner's Gardener.  And she has a follow-up episode on how to actually grow that stuff in your garden. So if you're into gardening, this is a don't miss episode. And yes, there's a link in the show notes.  
Also, certain spices like garlic and turmeric may help with inflammation and joint pain, but please just add them to your food. I know, I know taking a supplement seems so much easier, but it's not better. Green tea and coffee also have some anti-inflammatory properties, so drink up. But only in the morning, so it doesn't interfere with your sleep.
And even though we're focusing on diet and fitness today, poor sleep, loneliness and stress all contribute to chronic inflammation. And of course, smoking is not good for your joints either.
Look, inflammation is a normal process in your body designed to help your body heal, but chronic inflammation is terrible for your body. Plants contain phytochemicals that lower inflammation like antioxidants, fiber polyphenols, and Omega-3 fatty acids and the Mediterranean diet and the dash diet. Also focus on whole foods that contain these, and it's great for your heart too. Use unprocessed olive oil when you cook and think variety.
Focus on adding more plants and more colors to your diet. It, but the standard American diet is really the complete opposite. It's pro-inflammatory things like sugar, which can hide in so many places like protein drinks. In fact, that carton that my mom gave me contained a ton of refined sugar, and that's what we're talking about, refined sugar, not whole fruits, fried foods, saturated fats, and dairy and meat - especially processed meats and lunch meats. That includes bacon, but it also includes deli turkey, cheeses, and most oils, which are in mayonnaises and salad dressings. Fast foods, processed snacks, donuts, pizza, french fries. Listen, if you go to the grocery store and buy something and you have to fight that little plastic bag to get it open to put your produce in there, it's probably good for you. But if you just pull it off the shelf and it's in a box or a package. Beware and at least turn it over and read the nutrition label and ignore the front. And don't fall for marketing. 
Processed carbohydrates and refined greens are found in breads, pastries cakes, pasta, cookies, crackers, and energy bars. You know, they're just cookies in disguise.  Did I just describe your pantry? Hmm? Let me add canned soups, which are extraordinarily high in sodium. And all things that contain MSG and artificial sweeteners like aspartame can also worsen inflammation as well as alcohol.
What about gluten?  I probably need to do a whole episode to discuss that, but gluten is found in processed grains as well as whole grains, and some people do have a sensitivity. I believe most people need whole grains in their diet, and yes, there are some that do not contain gluten, but be smart about your choices. There are lots of packaged foods that shout gluten free on the front, and they're just gluten-free junk food.
What I suggest instead is pay attention to the connection between your diet and your joints. For me, it's chips and cheese dip that make my joints hurt worse. Maybe it's the cheese with all that saturated fat, all that salt or the bad oils that they're cooked in. But chips and cheese dip are not whole unprocessed foods. They aren't healthy for me or you, and there's a price to pay for eating them.
So if you do figure out something that makes your joints hurt worse, eliminate that from your diet and see if it helps.  The bottom line is that plants are good for your joints and they're good for your health and healthy. Looks great on you. 
  LINKS:
Grow Your Own Protein: The Beginner's Garden Podcast
READ A NUTRITION LABEL
Join my email list for more resources and to get each episode in your inbox. 
The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change.

Cholesterol: Good vs. Bad

 You've gone to the doctor and had your cholesterol checked, but what do all those numbers mean? And is there anything you can do to lower your cholesterol without medications? I'm so glad you asked. 
I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper. If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you.
 This is episode 1 64. Cholesterol, the Good versus the Bad.
When I was about 26 years old, I had my cholesterol checked for the first time. Imagine my surprise when the number was 256.  Yikes. Now admittedly, the hospital where I was doing my residency had a fast food restaurant conveniently located right there in the cafeteria and my go-to: hamburgers and french fries.
But also I have a strong family history of significantly elevated cholesterol.  The doctor said I could lower it some and I should diet and exercise and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But guess what? I eventually lowered my cholesterol to 156 without medication, and I'm going to tell you how you can do it too.
But first, let's start at the beginning and go to mini medical school and learn exactly what is cholesterol. Technically we call it a lipid, which is sort of like a fat that circulates in your bloodstream. Structurally, these compounds make up parts of cell membranes and functionally they help regulate the transport across these membranes, so that's good. Right? Well, yes, we do need cholesterol to help move and store energy, produce hormones, and absorb vitamins. But you know, too much of a good thing. We'll get to that.
Lipids don't dissolve in water, so they have to hitch a ride on proteins to travel through the blood, and when they get hitched, they change their name to lipoproteins. Now this is gonna sound familiar if you've ever had a lipid panel drawn.  HDL stands for high density lipoproteins and LDL stands for low density lipoproteins.  Where does it come from? Well, your body actually makes it in both the liver and small intestines. Then it's stored in the liver where it's converted to bile acids, so you can get rid of it.
Is it bad or good? Well, that depends. HDL cholesterol reduces inflammation, prevents blood clots, and helps transport oxygen. And your body makes all of it that you need all of it. But here's the deal. Not only does your body make cholesterol, but we also eat it. Most of the cholesterol in the standard American diet comes from meat, eggs, cheese, and dairy products. Oh, well, who can afford eggs anyway?
But seriously, cholesterol is sneaky. Rather than announcing its presence, it just slips through your blood vessels undetected, but it leaves a calling card and we call it plaque. This buildup in the wall of the arteries can lead to hardening of the arteries and therefore cardiovascular disease.
Think about it. If a plaque gets big enough, it can compromise blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke. And this can also happen with smaller plaques when a piece breaks off. I told you cholesterol is sneaky. Most people who have high cholesterol have no symptoms. We call it hyperlipidemia, and that's why you need to know your numbers and you need to know what they mean. 
I guess all those burgers weren't helping me have healthy blood vessels when I was in my twenties.  But that's not the whole story. We could go to mini medical school and learn the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol, or we could just call them good cop, bad cop. Because that kind of sums it up. The reason LDL cholesterol is the bad cop is because it causes a fatty buildup inside the arteries and that impairs blood flow and puts you at increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.
You've seen those detective shows where they lock someone in an interrogation room and they just yell at 'em. No, it's not exactly the same, but I bet you'll remember now that LDL the bad cop cholesterol can make you have a heart attack. Now the good cop HDL cholesterol can actually lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
You know, it's the reassuring I'll be your friend cop. Picture the scene, bad cop is giving the suspect a really hard time and good cop comes in and sends the bad cop away.   Stick with me here. HDL, good cholesterol carries at least a little bit of the LDL or bad cholesterol out of the arteries where it causes damage and into the liver where it can be broken down and eliminated.
So speaking in very general terms, you want your HDL cholesterol to be high and your LDL cholesterol to be low. We'll get to specific numbers in a sec. I do want to mention triglycerides. They are not the same thing as cholesterol, but they hang out together because you know, birds of a feather... When you have a lipid panel done, they often measure the whole flock, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides.
You've also probably heard about the ratio and yes, it's very important, but whose side are these triglycerides on anyway? Well, they're the most common type of FAT in the body. And like all things in our bodies, they have a purpose and that is to store excess energy from your diet. And yeah, that's the problem.
Most of us have plenty of excess in our diet.  Hamburgers and french fries, or as Steve Martin said in the old Pink Panther movie, "Am barger." If you don't know that scene and that didn't make you laugh, please google it and watch a clip.
 The bottom line is that high triglycerides combined with high LDL means fatty buildup in the walls of the arteries, and that increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Okay, I hope you're convinced that Steve Martin is hysterical and you need to see the clip from the Pink Panther, and you need to get your cholesterol checked. 
You are convinced, right? Don't believe me. The American Heart Association recommends that if you are over the age of 20, you should have your cholesterol checked and depending on your risk factors, every four to six years after that, until you get older and have an increased risk of. every dang thing.
So now you've had your blood drawn and the doctor calls you with your results.  No. Oh yeah. Your results are now on the portal and you want to know what they mean.  I do have to tell you that context matters and you really should discuss the results with your doctor, but if you don't hear from them, I'll give you some generalities for people who do not already have cardiovascular issues, and by the way, you should fast for at least 12 hours before you go to the lab and get this. You shouldn't have the test done if you're sick or stressed. Stress affects cholesterol too. It wreaks havoc on your body in so many ways. First of all, people who are stressed often smoke more, drink more, sleep less, exercise less socially isolate and eat more junk. So there's that, but also our old friend Cortisol, the stress hormone also plays a role. Cortisol is our body's way of preparing us to physically respond to a threat. So it triggers the release of glucose and fatty acids into the bloodstream and muscles. So energy is available for slaying dragons   threatening our safety, and that's a good thing when there are dragons pulling up in your driveway. Not so much if you live in a constant state of stress. Of course, if you have prolonged stress, you'll have to go ahead and surrender that vein in your arm and get your lipids checked anyway, because when it comes to your numbers, you need to know.
So let's get to those numbers. Total cholesterol should be below 200 milligrams per deciliter, and if it's between 201 and 239, that's considered borderline high cholesterol, and if it's above 240, that's just plain over the limit. Now, LDL cholesterol should be below 130 or even much lower than that if you are at risk of heart attack or stroke, HDL should ideally be above 60 and triglycerides below 150.
Any numbers outside of these parameters should be taken seriously because you have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, especially if you continue to eat ham ba burgers.  Now, let's say you do hear from your doctor's office. You know, the nurse calls and says you either need to take a cholesterol lowering medication like a statin or that you need to eat a low cholesterol diet and exercise. Thank you very much. But shouldn't we have a more detailed conversation about this result?  You bet. Your cholesterol is just one group of numbers. It's not the whole picture. Your risk of heart disease is impacted by other factors like smoking, high blood pressure, your family history, your age, and yes, of course your diet.
And we are going to talk about a heart healthy diet in a bit. But first, let's discuss that conversation you're having with the nurse who calls from the doctor's office and said, we've sent in a prescription for a statin.  Hold up a minute. This literally happened to me last year. My total cholesterol was 202, a whopping two points above the normal range, and my ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol was excellent.
So I questioned this recommendation,  but what are the recommendations? Remember, I am board certified in lifestyle medicine, which is a subspecialty of conventional medicine. So we're not opposed to treatment with medication when indicated, but before we go firing off prescriptions, we should at least examine the indications.
If your cholesterol is abnormal, and I would argue that mine is not thanks to some serious changes in my lifestyle and not my inherited tendencies, then you may need a cholesterol medication. Depending on your age and the likelihood of developing heart disease, but if you're not at risk for heart disease, then you might not need a medication, even if your cholesterol is high. At least not for now, because here's the deal, the number of your years only increases and age is a risk factor for heart disease, which by the way, is the number one killer of Americans. So let's say you are at risk and your cholesterol is high and your doctor wants you to take a medication quick pharmacology review.
These medications can help the body make less cholesterol, which is one source. They can block the absorption of cholesterol from food, which is another source, and on top of that, they can actually help your body get rid of cholesterol faster. Sounds great. Right, and it can be, you should probably take medication if you have known heart disease, especially if you've actually had a heart attack or stroke.
And because diabetes is such a big risk factor for cardiovascular disease, you may need to take a medication if you have type two diabetes, even if your cholesterol isn't high. And that's to prevent heart disease. Of course, you need to discuss all of this with your personal healthcare provider, and I recommend following their advice after you've had a conversation about options and risk. The most commonly prescribed class of medications are statins, but there are others.
But can you lower your cholesterol without medications? I'm living proof  exercise helps raise your good cholesterol and lower your bad cholesterol, but you gotta do it regularly. Ideally, 30 minutes, five days a week, or if you wanna step it up a notch, 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week.
And remember, vigorous means you cannot have a conversation if you're talking, you are not exercising vigorously. You gotta be huffing and puffing to reach this level. So if you decide to stick with moderate, you can talk, but you can't sing. But here's the beauty of exercising - every little step in the right direction has immediate benefits, so you can start small and see results.
Resistance training is great to build muscle strength and burn energy. You know, bands, weights, pushups, things like that. Or maybe you could start walking briskly. Or go to the gym and join a class for built-in accountability and social connections.  
Let me give you a startling fact.  People who have a heart attack are four times more likely to die within three years if they don't have social connections. The older you get, the stronger the association. And if you're wondering how in the world that could be, it turns out the key is caring about others. When you value people in your life and you know they value you, you are more likely to make healthier choices like not smoking and positive relationships help manage stress and lower inflammation, and that damages blood vessels and also contributes to heart disease. 
Sleep matters too. As part of an overall healthy lifestyle, you should aim for seven to nine hours per night and less than six hours a night is associated with higher cholesterol levels.  In the past, medical literature reported a positive association between drinking a glass of red wine and heart health. Turns out that's probably not true and moderate to heavy drinking  unquestionably raises your risk for heart disease. You know, if your liver's working overtime to get rid of alcohol, it's much less effective in dealing with cholesterol.
Now, your Dr. may not have mentioned any of this except diet and exercise. So let's park there for a minute. A healthy weight is often associated with better numbers, but that isn't always true. Genetics also plays a big role, but whether you're at an ideal weight or overweight, changing your diet can have a huge impact on your cholesterol.
In fact, depending on how much change you're willing to make, I would say that you can lower your cholesterol to a healthy level. And if you're interested in making healthy habit changes, you might want to go to my website Healthy Looks Great on you.com and sign up for Kickstart to Better Health. And for sure, you're going to want to stay tuned for an upcoming interview I have on Habit Change. Subscribe to this podcast. There's a link in the show notes or go to the website Healthy looks great on you.com.
Either way, you should listen to your doctor. And make sure they listen to you as well. You may need medication to lower your cholesterol, and you may need to make lifestyle changes, especially if your numbers are going up in the wrong direction, even a little.
But if you're motivated to do it without medications, let me harp on your diet. Hear me when I say this. When it comes to cholesterol or weight loss, diet matters more than exercise. Of course you should do both, but if you don't change your diet, exercise may not have the impact you're looking for. If you want to reduce the intake of cholesterol, stay away from trans fats, sometimes referred to as partially hydrogenated oils. They've basically been outlawed and banned anyway, but sometimes these transitions take some time to implement. Just make sure packaged pastries and things like margarine, which you shouldn't be eating anyway, don't have them. Avoid foods that are high in any kind of saturated fat.  
Here's my top five list of foods that are high in cholesterol. Maybe we can find some hints about why my cholesterol was high eating in that fast food restaurant every day.
Number one is red meat, beef, pork,  and especially processed meats like bacon, sausage, and hot dogs. Ah, remember what those hamburgers did to my cholesterol numbers.
Number two is fried foods, and yes, I ordered french fries with my burgers. And fried foods are particularly bad when certain oils are used.
Number three is sugar sweetened beverages and good grief. I drank a Coke with my burger and fries. No wonder my numbers were bad.
Number four is sweets, pastries, pies, cakes, cookies, and ice cream. Yep. I probably ate that too.
Number five is dairy, especially whole milk, cream, butter, and unfortunately cheese, which I also put on my burger. Good grief. I was daring my cholesterol to be high with all the foods from the naughty list.
So what am I doing now? Well, I'm glad you asked. Here's a fun fact.  You really don't find cholesterol in plants. So eat plants, eat a lot of plants, eat different plants, eat plants that have different colors. Usually the darker, brighter the color, the more nutrients it has.
Cholesterol's only found in processed foods, meat and dairy. But you wanna know what's only found in plants. Fiber and a high fiber diet is so important in lowering your cholesterol. It creates a healthy gut microbiome. Think of it like a sponge too, that soaks up cholesterol out of your bloodstream and helps remove it.
Things like unprocessed oatmeal, whole wheat bread, whole grain brown rice, and popcorn. Also, beans, broccoli, sweet potatoes, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, all kinds of berries and nuts are on the good list. You didn't just ask me about eggs, did you? Goodness, that's a whole other conversation. And so is the other player in this conversation, triglycerides. But I will tell you that if you have high LDL cholesterol, you should at least limit your consumption of eggs.
And the bottom line is that HDL cholesterol is your friend. It can help protect you from cardiovascular disease. And LDL Cholesterol levels should be low for heart health. That's easy to remember. H stands for high. L stands for low, and in some cases your doctor will want it really, really low. Below 70. So is cholesterol good or bad? The answer is yes. Cholesterol helps with cell membrane transport, absorption of vitamins, brain function, hormone production. But don't get the wrong idea. LDL cholesterol causes fatty buildup in the arteries, and that can be a huge threat to your health. So lower your bad cholesterol with medications if you need it, but definitely lower it with lifestyle changes because lower LDL is better for your health and healthy. Looks great on you.   
The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change 

Struggling with insomnia?

 Are you struggling with insomnia? Do you just wish you could fall asleep as soon as you lay your head down on the pillow? Or maybe you go to sleep, but then you wake up and you can't go back to sleep?  Do recurring spinning thoughts in your head keep you awake at night, and have you struggled with insomnia for so long that you dread going to bed because you just know you're not going to sleep? 
Listen, good sleep is possible. There are evidence-based and researched, proven methods to help you get the rest you need. Of course, the proof is in the Zzz's. I'm Dr. Vickie Petz Kasper, and I'm board certified in lifestyle medicine and I have a particular passion about helping people sleep. Here's why. For many years I lived a very healthy lifestyle.
I paid attention to my diet and my physical activity, my social connections, and I managed my stress through my faith. But the one area of my health that I totally neglected was sleep. And eventually it caught up with me. I developed a rare autoimmune disease that causes profound weakness.  I've been in remission now for a few years and I'm thankful for that, but I'm also thankful that I can lay down every night and get a good, solid eight hours of sleep,  and I can help you do it too.  The other reason I'm so passionate about helping people sleep is there just aren't a lot of good resources. I mean, if you wanna go on a diet, you can find a nutrition or a dietician to help you with a meal plan. And if you wanna get more physically fit, you can join a gym or take a class or even hire a personal trainer.
And if you're struggling with stress, you can see and should see a trained, licensed mental health care provider.  But if you're struggling to sleep, you could see a sleep specialist. But those are a little far and few between. And if you go to your regular doctor.  They've likely only gotten a limited amount of training in sleep.
And if you look at the textbooks for medicine, the recommendation is not sleeping pills, it's lifestyle modifications, and I can help you sleep better through lifestyle modifications. Now, I'm not offering to treat you medically,  I'm just providing you with education and information, and I can help you get the results you're looking for.
Here's how I created an online digital course called Unlock the Secret to Sleep Your Personal Sleep Solution. This six week course will be delivered on March 17th, but it's only available for registration today and tomorrow it ends March 12th, 2025.
Enrollment is closed, so don't go another sleepless night without checking out   📍 healthy. Looks great on you.com/. Unlock the secret to sleep on that page, I can answer all your questions, give you more information about the course,  but it's basically videos and downloadable cheat sheets and checklist and templates and all the tools that you need to help you get a good night's sleep for your mental health, your emotional health, and your physical health because healthy looks great on you.   
The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change 

Is Your Health Keeping You Awake? 4 medical conditions that can ruin your sleep

 Are you laying in bed exhausted but wide awake? Maybe it's pain racing thoughts or waking up gasping for air. Your insomnia may be due to an underlying medical condition more than stress  or bad sleep habits. Today we will look at four medical conditions that can disrupt your sleep.   I'm Dr.Vickie Petz Kasper.
If you're ready to take control of your health, you're in the right  place. Whether you're focused on prevention or you're trying to manage a condition. I'll give you practical steps to start your own journey toward better health because healthy looks great on you.
 This is episode 1 62. Is your health keeping you awake? Four medical conditions that cause insomnia.  Not sleeping is frustrating not only during the long nights, but also dragging through the day without the mental clarity you need. And maybe you know why you can't sleep, or maybe you're trying to treat the symptoms without addressing the root cause.
Today we're going to look at four medical conditions that keep you from getting the rest you need. Because if you can identify the cause, you can get started on a path to better sleep. So let's pull back the covers and see what wakes you up. Number one is ouch. Chronic pain can keep you tossing and turning low back pain, shoulder pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia.
All of these things can cause discomfort, which makes it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Pain and sleep have what we call a bidirectional relationship. Think of it like a two-way street. Pain makes it harder to sleep and poor sleep makes pain worse. Climbing under the covers can be uncomfortable and that can aggravate pain.
Plus, even if you can get to sleep, pain can tap you on the shoulder or anywhere else for that matter and wake you up. This leads to fragmented sleep when what you need is deep restorative sleep, which is crucial for healing and less deep sleep. Makes your pain threshold go way down. So that you're more sensitive to pain.
On top of that, pain is frustrating and insomnia is maddening, and when they get in bed together, it can heighten anxiety, which triggers alertness and all of that makes it harder to drift off to dreamland.  Arthritis is not a good bed partner. Inflammation and stiffness tend to get worse when you're inactive.
That's why you feel like the tin man who needs a shot of oil to get moving in the morning. Non-restorative sleep latches onto fibromyalgia too, and it doesn't let go. Sleeping position can worsen back pain, shoulder pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome. So optimize your sleep position for better sleep. If you have arthritis, use supportive pillows to reduce any pressure on joints. If you have nerve pain like carpal tunnel syndrome, try sleeping in a brace to immobilize your wrist. And if you have back pain, put a pillow under your knees or sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs and before you go to bed, try taking a warm bath or using a heating pad because that can relax your muscles and help with stiffness. Cold packs can be even better at reducing inflammation and also try gentle stretching exercises or massage before bed to relieve the tension in those muscles. But don't do a strenuous workout that will just increase your cortisol levels and keep you from sleeping. 
The most important thing is to always address the root cause. If you are having unexplained pain, you need to work with your doctor to manage your condition.  
Number two is gastroesophageal reflux disease. Do you wake up with heartburn or maybe even a sore throat? It might be your stomach acid, keeping you awake.
Acid reflux symptoms can worsen during the night disrupting sleep.  Here's what happens. Many people experience heartburn, regurgitation, and just discomfort when laying down, and that makes it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. The reason is that gravity keeps stomach acid down during the day, but then when you lay down flat, that acid easily flows back up into the esophagus. This can lead to a burning sensation or an irritation in the throat, or even coughing and choking. Many people with gastroesophageal reflux experience brief wakenings throughout the night, even though they may not realize it, it often occurs during REM sleep, which is that mind restoring deep sleep. 
And acid irritation can stimulate the throat and the lungs, which can cause coughing, wheezing, or a sensation of mucus buildup that makes it harder to breathe comfortably and stay asleep. Years ago, I was misdiagnosed with asthma when what I really had was severe reflux because I was on prednisone, all that acid would go down into my lungs and I would wake up sputtering and coughing.
But it wasn't asthma. It was a spasm of my larynx, which is where your airway closes off for a brief period of time, and that's not pleasant. 
It can also irritate the vocal cords causing hoarseness or even a sour taste in the mouth.
Some people just have chronic GERD. Some people have a hiatal hernia. Pregnancy certainly makes it worse and so does obesity,  so here are some suggestions. First of all, sleep on your left side. This keeps the stomach in a position that's lower than the esophagus, and so that kind of helps manage the reflux just by using gravity. 
More effective than that is to elevate your head. You can either use a wedge pillow or just put some bricks under the headboard of your bed to raise it by a few inches,   and especially avoid late night eating. Don't eat within two to three hours before your bedtime and avoid large meals, spicy foods, citrus, alcohol, caffeine, and fatty foods before bed.
And if this is something that only bothers you occasionally, it's certainly fine to take an over the counter antacid, but this is also a condition that needs to be evaluated by a healthcare provider to make sure nothing else is going on.  
 Reflux disease can be confused with sleep apnea as well. Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. It's usually characterized by loud snoring or waking up choking. As you can see, that could be confused with gastroesophageal reflux disease, but  it can also be periods of time where you don't breathe at all, and what happens is your oxygen levels go down and that affects all of your organs, especially your brain and your heart. It can put you at risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and dementia. 
It's more common in men than women, but women certainly can get it and they especially get it after menopause . The soft palate gets a little more lax. It's more common in people who are overweight, but that does not always hold true. If you are having any symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, it's important to see your healthcare provider and have a sleep study if you are in fact doing what we call desaturating, meaning that those oxygen levels are going down. You need an official sleep study to see if you would benefit from an implantable device or a CPAP machine. And if you are diagnosed with sleep apnea and you're overweight, losing weight can certainly help, as well as avoiding anything sedating like alcohol, sleeping pills, or antihistamines. 
There are lots of medical conditions that can cause you to not sleep.  Things like thyroid disease, diabetes, heart failure, COPD. But today I want to talk a little bit about mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, because your mind isn't the only thing affected. Your sleep is too. 
You see, mental health and sleep are deeply connected. Poor sleep can worsen mental health. While mental health disorders make it harder to sleep, it's a vicious cycle, and understanding the connection is the first step toward breaking it.
So let's go to mini medical school for just a moment and see how mental disorders can affect sleep. You see, chronic stress increases the levels of cortisol and what we call adrenaline, and that makes it harder for your body to wind down  and cortisol levels that are high in the evening can actually interfere with melatonin production, which is the sleep hormone, so that can delay sleep onset. On top of that, mental health conditions can reduce deep sleep, which is that slow wave sleep, and it also can reduce REM sleep, which is when you're dreaming, that can lead to fragmented and non-restorative sleep.  The problem with depression is a lot of times people go into REM sleep too quickly and they have vivid dreams or nightmares. 
One of the characteristic findings of depression is people who wake up super early in the morning and can't go back to sleep. Then you can start associating the bed with stress, and that just makes insomnia worse over time. The same with anxiety.  Worrying and overthinking at night can lead to difficulty falling asleep.  It can also make your muscles tense, make your heart race, and make you feel like you're having a panic attack. 
People with a DHD often struggle with delayed sleep on set too. They just stay up half the night even though they're exhausted, because a lot of times their brains can't make that transition from awake to asleep, and they're more prone to restless sleep, frequent waking, and grogginess in the morning.
So what do you do about it? 
While overall lifestyle is super important for treating ADHD, depression and anxiety, it's also very important to be under the care of a healthcare provider and a mental health care provider. Counseling can be very effective for dealing with anxiety and depression. 
But if your symptoms are less serious and you just have spinning thoughts that won't stop, the main thing I suggest is learn to relax your body and your mind. We have to put our minds in neutral. And I think a lot of us go through the whole day, just go, go, go, go, go, and then we lay down at night, and our brains won't turn off because they don't ever turn off. I'm going to give you my very best tip on how to shut down your mind - journaling. I always say it's a cheap psychiatrist.  And that's just one simple step you can take to try to shut off your mind. But I heard a sleep specialist say one time that relying on sleep tips is kind of like asking a nutritionist, "How can I eat heart healthy?" And they say, "Eat more broccoli." It's a lot more complicated than that, and that's why I created a comprehensive online digital course called Unlock the Secret to Sleep Your Personalized Sleep Solution.
I hope you won't miss the opportunity to enroll in this course. It's only available until March 12th, 2025.
The course will be released on March 17th. And I also have a FREE LIVE SLEEP MASTERCLASS happening tomorrow morning at eight o'clock. It's free, but registration is required. There's a link in the show notes or you can just go to healthy looks great on you.com and look for "Six Surprising Reasons You're Tossing and Turning." We'll talk about those six reasons and what you can do about it.
A lot of people have had insomnia for such a long period of time that they've lost hope that anything can help them sleep better, and it's just not true. You can sleep better. Are there magic wands? No. It takes some work, but I can help you every step of the way. 
I want to leave you with one tip. Don't watch the clock. If you wake up during the night, resist the urge to pick up your phone and see what time it is. If you have an alarm set, you can rest easy. You're not going to oversleep, and you don't need to know what time it is. All that does is expose your brain to blue light, which suppresses melatonin and creates anxiety about what time it is and about not sleeping and that only leads to further insomnia. So don't watch the clock. That's my number one piece of advice today. I have lots more I can tell you in UNLOCK THE SECRET TO SLEEP - Your Personal Sleep Solution. I sure hope you'll enroll today before this opportunity is gone  because when you sleep better, your health is better and healthy, looks great on you.
 The information contained in this podcast is for educational purposes only and is not considered to be a substitute for medical advice. You should continue to follow up with your physician or health care provider and take medication as prescribed. Though the information in this podcast is evidence based, new research may develop and recommendations may change.
UNLOCK THE SECRET TO SLEEPFREE LIVE SLEEP MASTERCLASS
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