Do you believe that food can be medicine? Most of us would agree that a healthy diet – whatever that means to the individual – is vital to our wellbeing. But can the right foods actually prevent and even cure illness? I know what I think, and my guest today not only agrees, he provides living proof! Dr Rupy Aujla was just 24 when he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, a heart condition rare in someone of that age. But it wasn’t Rupy’s years of medical training or even his consultant’s advice that turned his life around. It was only when he listened to his mother, looked to his diet, and transformed his eating that he was able to defy medical expectations and reverse his condition.This experience led Rupy to do a deep dive into how this ‘impossible’ feat was achieved and in this conversation, he shares some of the explanations he’s uncovered, including a reduction in inflammation and an improvement in the health of his gut. Back in 2015, he founded The Doctor’s Kitchen, a movement to inspire and educate people about nutritional medicine and help them eat well every day. He not only shares recipes but also explains the clinical research behind them and how they can help you with your health. And he does this via his bestselling books, podcasts and social media posts. Recently, Rupy has taken the decision to pause his NHS career and focus on making healthy eating more accessible by launching the Doctor’s Kitchen app, which is set to become a must-have resource for finding research-backed recipes tailored to your personal likes and health goals. It is available now on the App store.Rupy is a great friend and our lives have followed a similar path in many ways. We talk in-depth about the concept of food as medicine, as well as the polarising nature of discussions around diet. We also consider identity when it comes to career choice, and what it really means to be a doctor in the modern world. If you can help hundreds of thousands of people live better through your public platforms, is that any less meaningful than helping patients in a surgery or hospital each day? There’s lots to think about in this conversation and I hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed chatting.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.athleticgreens.com/livemorehttps://www.leafyard.com/livemorehttps://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpShow notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/269DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

In today’s episode, we’re revisiting one of our most popular episodes with James Nestor.Breathwork is where my personal and professional interests collide. How we breathe affects every body system we have and I’m excited to welcome James Nestor, science journalist and author of the book Breath, which explores the data behind this ancient, but some might say lost, art.And yes, it is an art. As we discuss, it doesn’t matter whether you follow a new or ancient technique to harness the potential of your breath, the principles are the same. What I love about James’ approach is he has no agenda to push. He hasn’t developed his own breathing technique, theory or product. He’s a journalist with an enquiring, sceptical mind. By his own admission, he came from a place where – like many of you, perhaps – he thought, ‘What’s all the fuss about breathing? It’s automatic, it’s easy, our bodies know what they’re doing’. But do they really?During this conversation, we cover some of the fascinating – objective – insights James has uncovered in his research. He explains the benefits of nasal breathing, the importance of masticating and how diet affects the skeletal development of our children’s mouths. James reveals how learning to chew more, chewing on one side and using mouth tape at night has changed the structure of his own mouth. His airways – and his wellbeing – have never been better. We discuss the long list of conditions breathing may improve; how athletes can benefit. And James reveals the therapeutic process behind some ‘super breathing’ techniques.Whether you’re already practising breathwork, you’re curious or yet to be convinced, James has a no-nonsense, rigorous approach we can all take something from. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemorehttps://www.leafyard.com/livemorehttps://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/268DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Consistency, self-belief and a positive mindset are so important when we are striving to reach our goals or make changes in our life. Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart.  Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.Today’s clip is from episode 149 of the podcast with the truly inspirational Joe Wicks.Joe has been inspiring wellbeing for nearly a decade, and, in this clip, he explains how he followed his passion against the odds and why optimism, compassion and healthy living are choices within everyone’s reach.Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJUS & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/149Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjeeFollow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjeeFollow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeukDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

Dr Joe Dispenza is a New York Times best-selling author, speaker and researcher who has spent decades studying neuroscience, meditation and the effect our thoughts have on our health and wellbeing. He believes that all of us are sitting on a huge amount of untapped potential and once we start to tap into it, we can create huge change in our lives for both our health and happiness. In this powerful conversation, we talk about the importance of mental rehearsal: the idea that instead of waiting for something to happen in the future in order to feel a certain way- instead, we can practice feeling that way right now.  We cover a variety of different topics including: the transformative effects of meditation and what happens in the brain when we practice, the 3 different kinds of stress and how chronic emotional stress can drive ill health and disease. Dr Joe explains how 90% of the thoughts we think are the same as the day before and how that keeps many of us trapped in negative thought patterns, until we learn to break free. At its core, this is a conversation about unlocking the power that exists within your own mind. This really is an inspiring and empowering conversation, and one that I think will challenge you (in a good way!!) to start thinking differently about your life.  I hope you enjoy listening.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.athleticgreens.com/livemorehttps://www.calm.com/livemorehttps://www.blublox.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/266DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

I am delighted to welcome former monk turned social media superstar, Jay Shetty. This episode was first released in September 2020. After having spent three years living as a monk in India, Jay believes that you don’t have to live like a monk to think like one. With his social media following now totaling over 32 million, Jay is transforming the ancient wisdom he has learned into bite-sized nuggets that will help us all live more meaningful and purposeful lives.So many of us these days are living lives that are not truly ours. Instead, we base our opinion of ourselves on what we think other people think of us. In today’s conversation, Jay and I talk about how we can figure out our own identity and live our truest and most authentic life. He talks us through his value audit exercise which will help us all on our way to living the life we really want.We also discuss the importance of staying open and curious to new ideas and how our childhood experiences play into all our relationships. We delve into gratitude and Jay shares some brilliant tips to help you get more out of your daily gratitude practice. This conversation is full of timeless wisdom, personal stories and actionable tips and I really hope it helps you live the life you were born to live.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.athleticgreens.com/livemorehttps://www.leafyard.com/livemorehttps://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/265DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

The brain is our most vital and complex organ, and there are some simple things we can do every day to help keep it healthy.Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart. Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.Today’s clip is from episode 129 of the podcast with neuroscientist Dr Lisa Mosconi.In this clip, Lisa explains how changes in the brain that cause dementia can begin in midlife, and what we do now can affect our brain health as we age. She gives some great tips on how to look after our brains, both for now and for the future.Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJUS & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/129Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

Social media has its flaws – but it can also be a force for good, creating communities and offering help to people who might not otherwise receive it. And my guest today is someone who uses her platform to do just that.Dr Julie Smith is a clinical psychologist, who’s passionate about making the tools of therapy accessible to all. And she has a real talent for doing so, to her audience of over four million people across social media, and now with the number one Sunday Times bestseller Why Has No One Told Me This Before? Julie has worked in the NHS and been in private practice for more than a decade, helping a diverse range of clients through difficult times. But she felt frustrated that it was only those clients sitting in front of her who were able to benefit from her years of training and experience.Therapy is about talking and working through your problems, but it also has an educational component, Julie explains. You learn about how your mind works, so you can influence your mood and cope better day-to-day. She realised this was something she could teach online so, back in 2019, set about posting short videos to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. These quickly went viral, earning her hundreds of thousands of followers. Recent topics include breathwork for when you feel overwhelmed, how to recognise addiction, and how to help someone having a panic attack.If you already follow Julie, you’ll be aware of her warm and friendly approach to helping us all build resilience. I think she’s brilliant at demystifying our thoughts, feelings and behaviours and encouraging small steps towards self-care. During this conversation we cover many of those steps, such as meta-cognition, journaling, emotional vocabularies, self-soothing and recognising your attachment style.As with all of Julie’s tools and teachings, the common theme is self-awareness. She’s helping people get a bird’s eye view on their life, notice patterns and perhaps make different choices. And, as we discuss, this can help not only our mental health and emotions, but our physical health too.I had such fun chatting to Julie and this is a wide-ranging and empowering conversation that I think can help all of us improve our mental well-being and resilience.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.leafyard.com/livemorehttps://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemorehttps://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpShow notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/263DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

CAUTION ADVISED: this podcast contains swearing. Is there a change you’d like to make in your life? Something you’re desperate to overcome, but can’t see how? Or a goal you’re scared to aim for, because it feels too far off? My guest on this week’s podcast might just convince you to have a go. He’s John McAvoy, endurance athlete extraordinaire, author and the man with one of the most inspirational stories I have ever heard. John was born into a notorious crime family and has served a total of 10 years in some of the UK’s highest security prisons, for armed robbery. He was raised into a life of organised crime and, as a teenager, it was the only career path he could see for himself. In fact, he bought his first gun at the age of 16 and very quickly became one of the UK’s most wanted men. How did he go from serving two life sentences to breaking British and World sporting records and giving talks to schoolchildren? From violent criminal to opinion leader, invited to 10 Downing Street for his views on the justice system? You’ll have to listen and find out. Not only is every part of John’s story worthy of a Hollywood movie script, the lessons and life advice he shares are relevant to each and every one of us. Whether you’re interested in his rowing and Ironman success, how he transformed his moral code or how he overcame adversity, this really is a compelling conversation. I know you’re going to be as gripped by John as I was.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemorehttps://www.athleticgreens.com/livemorehttps://www.leafyard.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpShow notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/262Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

After having spent three years living as a monk in India, Jay believes that you don’t have to live like a monk to think like one.Feel Better Live More Bitesize is my weekly podcast for your mind, body, and heart.  Each week I’ll be featuring inspirational stories and practical tips from some of my former guests.Today’s clip is from episode 122 of the podcast with the award-winning storyteller and former monk, Jay ShettyIn this clip we explore identity, the ‘monk mindset’ and living an authentic life, and Jay explains why so many of us these days are not living lives that are truly ours.Thanks to our sponsor http://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life:UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJUS & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes and the full podcast are available at drchatterjee.com/122Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website. 

The average person has 4,000 weeks on earth. It doesn’t sound like much does it? You’re probably doing mental arithmetic right now trying to work out how many weeks you might have left. But if that sounds like a pessimistic start to this podcast, fear not. My guest today is Oliver Burkeman, journalist and author, whose latest book is Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management For Mortals. And in this conversation, he shares a positive philosophy that can help us all overcome the overwhelm, make better choices, and build a meaningful relationship with time. We begin by talking about our concept of time and how we falsely believe it’s something we can control. We think of time as infinite and don’t realise how distraction – that modern-day temptation – is robbing it from us. Or maybe we do know time is finite, says Oliver, but we just feel overwhelmed by all the things we have to do or want to do. How will we fit them all in?The truth, he points out, is that we won’t. Many of the productivity hacks that we learn are a delusion. Time management doesn’t mean becoming more productive, it means deciding what to neglect. And once we realise we can never fit everything in, we get the freedom to prioritise.Thinking about our limited lifespan may sound bleak, but Oliver is convinced that imposing limits of knowledge like this can help us live a more fulfilled and less stressed life. We’re more likely to use time mindfully, or be more creative, when we know it’s finite. I absolutely loved talking with Oliver and I think his words will give you plenty to reflect on. In a world of demands, distractions and endless to-do lists, this conversation might be the most useful time-management tool of all.This conversation is full of mind-blowing facts and insights but it’s also really empowering and contains simple, practical tips that all of us can use to improve our lives. I hope you enjoy listening.Thanks to our sponsors:https://www.leafyard.com/livemorehttps://www.blublox.com/livemorehttps://www.athleticgreens.com/livemoreOrder Dr Chatterjee's new book Happy Mind, Happy Life: UK version: https://amzn.to/304opgJ, US & Canada version: https://amzn.to/3DRxjgpSupport the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/3oAKmxi. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/260DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.