The Mouth-Body Connection: How Oral Health Shapes Whole-Body Healing

The immune system: we hear about it all the time, especially this time of year as cold and flu season is in full swing. But there’s a lot more to it than just your susceptibility to a runny nose. 50 million people suffer from immunologic diseases, ranging from an overactive immune system (autoimmunity) to an underactive one (immunodeficiency), and many stages in between. The field of immunology is much more expansive than you might think, spreading into neurology, gastroenterology, epigenetics, psychosocial health, and even mindfulness and gratitude. My guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Leonard Calabrese, is an expert in immunology and rheumatology. In fact, he is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Vice Chair of the Department of Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases. Dr. Calabrese is the director of the RJ Fasenmyer Center for Clinical Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic and holds joint appointments in the Department of Infectious Diseases and the Wellness Institute.

27 Feb 201955min

If there was something you could do everyday to boost your focus and productivity, feel energized, reduce stress, sleep better, maintain a positive outlook, and support whole-body health, wouldn’t you do it? It’s for all these reasons, and more, that I consider meditation a foundational pillar to good health. I used to think I didn’t have time for meditation but now I know I don’t have time NOT to do it—it’s become that integral in helping me manage all of my other many responsibilities and passions. Since starting, I’m happier than ever, have found the love of my life, and my business is rocking. Today, on The Doctor’s Farmacy Podcast, I talk to my good friend and personal meditation teacher, Emily Fletcher, about meditation for the modern world. Emily is the founder of Ziva, the creator of The Ziva Technique and regarded as a leading expert in meditation for high performers.

20 Feb 201948min

It’s never too late to turn your life around. Doing deep emotional work can not only help us find better health and happiness, it can also help us discover our true purpose and understand how to fully share our gifts with others. Being vulnerable and open to reality, rather than focusing on the stories we tell ourselves, is a major step in the right direction. My guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy has done all of that and more. You probably recognize Lisa Lampanelli’s name from the world of comedy, with a career spanning more than 30 years. She has numerous tours, Grammy nominations, and national TV guest appearances and specials under her belt. Lisa made national headlines in 2012 when she lost more than 100 pounds with the help of bariatric surgery. The comedian went on to speak with unflinching honesty about her lifelong food and body-image issues and has since gone from insulter to inspirer. Now, in her 50’s, she’s done a career overhaul and works as a life coach, food and body-image workshop leader, speaker, and storyteller.

13 Feb 201957min

Think about how often you check one of your many social media accounts. Chances are you spend a pretty good portion of your time, productivity, and brain power participating in these apps each day. Though it may seem harmless, or even beneficial, the ubiquitous use of social media is working against our health. Our brains evolved to process social cues from real people; the more we’re on social media the less we’re having real-world interactions that challenge and support our cognition. My guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy has never had a social media account—and he’s managed to thrive! Cal Newport is an associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University and writes about the impact of technological innovations on our culture. Newport is the author of six books, including Digital Minimalism and Deep Work. As we dive into the topic of social media, Cal shares his expertise on how it’s impacting public health and culture in ways much greater than you might expect.

6 Feb 201959min

There are many health topics considered too taboo to talk about—menstruation being one of them. By ignoring this completely normal part of women’s health we miss out on the ability to empower young girls to become educated, strong women who support communities and positive social change. Overcoming stigmas and challenging cultural norms is what my guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Miki Agrawal, was born to do. Miki is a successful entrepreneur who creates innovative products to disrupt industries and change perspectives. She co-founded and led THINX, the high-tech, period-proof underwear brand, and most recently founded TUSHY, a company revolutionizing the American bathroom and making bidets mainstream in the US, to support better health for our sensitive private areas and the environment, all at once. Miki is also founder of the gluten-free pizza chain WILD and the author of Do Cool Sh*t and Disrupt-Her. She was recently named Fast Company’s Most Creative People of 2018 and Most Impressive Women Entrepreneurs by Inc. Magazine. She is also a graduate of Cornell University and proud mama of an amazing little boy, Hiro Happy.

30 Jan 201946min

Obesity and type 2 diabetes create trillions of dollars in direct and indirect healthcare costs each year, due to their high prevalence and their ability to promote a wide range of other chronic diseases. These diseases are perpetuated by subsidies of the wrong kinds of foods—like sugar and flour—making them cheaper and more widely available while creating a vicious cycle of poor health. It’s social detriments to health like this that support a sick-care system, as opposed to empowered wellness. My guest on this week’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Toby Cosgrove, shares his decades of experience in working to turn our healthcare system around for the better and change the future of medicine as we know it. Toby and I met at the World Economic Forum many years ago, when I jokingly asked how he would feel about emptying out his hospitals and cutting the angioplasties and bypasses at Cleveland Clinic in half using a systems-based approach. At that time, Dr. Cosgrove was the CEO and President of Cleveland Clinic; he went on to become my boss when I joined the Cleveland Clinic team.

23 Jan 201945min

Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is estimated to impact more than 2 million Americans. This term encompasses different disorders relating to inflammation in the digestive tract, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. And up until now, traditional gastroenterology took a linear view of treatment options, ignoring the impacts of diet and lifestyle, while many patients continued to struggle. Today’s guest on The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dr. Miguel Regueiro, is part of the positive shift happening in the conventional approach to IBD. Dr. Regueiro is the chair of Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology; his main clinical and research interest is IBD, with a focus on the natural course of these diseases and postoperative prevention of Crohn’s disease. Recently, he has been involved in developing new models of healthcare, including the first-of-its kind specialty medical home for IBD. This innovative healthcare delivery system has defined the concept of specialty medical home and will lead to further clinical programs and investigation of alternative models of care.

16 Jan 201941min

How did a skeptical journalist find his way from depression and panic attacks to a more balanced, mindful life? Meditation. For a long time, meditation was sold in a way that made many people wary of its actual benefits. But now, we know this practice of sitting calmly, focusing on the breath, and watching thoughts come and go can actually produce physiological shifts in the brain and in our ability to cope with the stressors of life. Our guest on today’s episode of The Doctor’s Farmacy, Dan Harris, walks us through his own journey into meditation and the amazing payoff it’s had in his life. Dan is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and the co-anchor of ABC's Nightline and the weekend editions of Good Morning America. He is the author of two New York Times best-sellers, 10% Happier & Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book. He went on to launch the 10% Happier podcast and an app called 10% Happier: Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics.

9 Jan 201943min