14. Darin Olien: The Deceptive Nature of Ultra-Processed Foods, Toxins in our Products, Top Tips on Nutrition, Daily Stress Busters + More

What if simple lifestyle changes could transform your health in ways you never imagined? In this episode of Extend with Darshan Shah, MD with my guest, Darin Olien, we dig into the basics—nutrition, exercise, and stress management—that lay the foundation for a healthier life.

Darin also explains why cutting out ultra-processed foods in favor of fresh, whole ingredients is a game-changer for mental clarity, energy, and resilience. From practical tips like staying hydrated to learning the art of nose breathing, we explore how these small, daily habits make a big impact.

We also tackle the hidden influences shaping our food choices and the sneaky ways ultra-processed foods become part of our diets, his powerful journey through plant-based nutrition, touching on the environmental and economic factors tied to our food systems and so much more.

Darin Olien is the author of Fatal Conveniences, where he details exactly what the modern world is doing to our health, and how to fix it. He’s also the author of New York Times bestseller SuperLife, host of the SuperLife podcast, and co-host of the Netflix series Down to Earth with Zac Efron.

We also discuss:

(01:35) Relationships, Malibu Fires, and Recovery

(07:56) Optimizing Health Through Basic Lifestyle Changes

(18:21) Understanding Bioaccumulation and Toxins

(23:37) Healthy Eating and Social Media Manipulation

(31:54) Impact of Subsidized Meatonomics on Health

(44:39) Exploring Super Life for All

(01:19:12) Toxic Exposure and Risk Reduction

(01:26:19) Detoxifying Your Life Naturally

(01:48:17) Navigating Sustainable Business Practices

and more

To learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/

Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/

To learn more about Darin Olien: Website:  https://superlife.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darinolien/