Real Health with Karl Henry

On this week’s episode of Real Health, we’re discussing obesity in Ireland, the main causes of the disease and what treatments are available for it. Last month, the World Health Organisation released a report that said obesity has reached “epidemic proportions” in Europe. It showed that the disease is causing 200,000 cancer cases and 1.2 million deaths a year. Here in Ireland, over six in 10 adults are overweight or obese and we rank ninth in a table of 53 countries for obesity. To discuss obesity and the impact it has on our health, I’m joined by Donal O’Shea, HSE Clinical lead for Obesity. Donal says for adults who have severe and complex obesity, the treatment is not to eat less and move more. “You develop obesity because you have a genetic predisposition, and you get too much energy from the environment for those genes...what we have now is surgery as a very effective evidence-based treatment and we now have medication that’s coming and is now licensed in Europe.” We also discuss calories appearing on restaurant menus, something Donal says can have a positive impact on people’s health: “The calories on menu boards...it works. It’s proven to impact by about 100 calories per purchase for 30pc of people who are looking at the menu. That’s a massive reach at population level. Only vaccination would have that kind of population reach as a health measure.” For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/ And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever considered that being sad could actually be a good thing? Or do you avoid that emotion at all costs? Well, my guest this week will help us understand what sadness is good for, and how to transform pain and vulnerability into strength. Susan Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking and her Ted Talk The power of introverts has gotten millions of views online. Her new book Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole aims to help readers to embrace sadness and understand that it can be a superpower. Susan says embracing sorrow is not about wanting to be sad but understanding it is a part of being human: “It’s not that sadness is a pleasant state. You didn’t realise it was pleasant, but it really is. That is not the thing. It’s rather that sadness is an inevitable part of human life...it also happens to be a way that connects us to each other.” We also discuss why it is important for leaders to show more than just the strong or angry emotions traditionally associated with positions of power. Susan says embracing a wider range of emotions can help people relate to those in those kinds of roles: “When leaders are willing to express sorrow about something that’s happened...that is seen as a more relational power. What people will say about those kinds of leaders is that they feel like they’re on their side and that they are in it together.” For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/ And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of Real Health, we’re busting some of the biggest food myths out there. There’s no doubt that you’ve heard some of the more common ones, like the claim that sugar is toxic, or dairy can cause cancer.Bringing us the latest research and debunking some of the widely shared food myths, is registered dietitian Sarah Keogh. With years of experience working as a dietician, Sarah has heard all the misconceptions out there: “I overhear some hilarious conversations...it’s people saying, ‘oh I’ve heard this or heard that’ and then suddenly, nobody is drinking milk” she says. While sometimes it is people misinterpreting the science, Sarah says this can lead to people becoming fearful of some foods or ingredients: “The other thing I hear a lot is that sugar causes cancer. That one actually has frightened a lot of people. If I’m doing talks, and people are [asking] ‘does it feed cancer?’ and ‘should you not give up sugar if you have cancer?’. The studies again, are not showing that.”We also discuss myths that surround fruit and vegetables and chat about saturated fat and the suggestion that it is actually good for you. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie.Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of Real Health, we are looking at phone usage and when it can start to have a negative impact on our lives. With daily tasks and communication more dependent on smart devices than ever, how can you recognise when normal usage has tipped into dangerous territory? To discuss this, I am joined by psychotherapist and author of the Phone Addiction Workbook, Hilda Burke. Hilda says that although phone addiction has not been officially recognised as an addiction, those who use their devices a lot can show signs of addictive behavior: “There are some of the hallmarks of addiction amongst heavy phone users...it is that thing of, if I cannot get the hit, how disturbed do I feel? If I am without it overnight or during the day, how on edge do I feel?” Hilda explains that a key indicator of addiction is when someone starts putting the substance ahead of things we would highly value in our lives: “You go to the nearest playground, and you will often see a mom or a dad that are looking at their device. The kid can be hanging upside down, breaking their neck but what is on the phone is more important.” We also discuss what phone usage does to your brain, why it can be a highly addictive activity and some ways to help you break the cycle of overuse. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/ And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s fair to say, I’m a bit obsessed with my fridge. My weekly routine of organising the food shop into glass containers is something I look forward to doing. Aside from making it look good, can fridge organisation help reduce food waste? What goes on each shelf and are there some foods that should never be kept in there? Joining me to answer all these questions, is home economist at TUS Midwest, Agnes Bouchier-Hayes. I always sort my food into separate glass containers to keep in the fridge. While it does look neat and tidy, does it help keep food fresher for longer? Well, according to Agnes those glass containers can help with this: “The glass absorbs the cold, so when you open and close the fridge, you are keeping the food at a more constant temperature.” Agnes points out that there are a lot of foods that should not be taken out of the packaging they come in: “Plastic is not great. However, there are small laser holes in packaging that reduces the oxygen exchange. When you take something out of the packaging, you are opening it up to the environment and to the oxygen. Whereas when it is kept in its plastic packaging...[food] is more stable and you will get longer out of it.” We also discuss why it is so important to keep your fridge clean and I ask the all-important question, should eggs be kept in or out of the fridge? For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/ And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of Real Health, I’m bringing you my top tips for weight loss. Weight loss is about more than simply wanting to change how you look. We know weight is one of the big predictors of health-related issues as we get older. By carrying more of it on our bodies, you are putting pressure on your joints and aging the body quicker. So, wanting to lose some excess fat is a great thing to do for your health. Now that we’re coming into the summer, it's the perfect time to try and make some positive changes, both with your movement and your diet. While many people might think the focus should be on upping the amount of exercise, diet is arguably more important. Making changes to what you eat, contributes to about 60pc to 70pc of the results that you will experience. One of the easiest changes you can make to your diet, is ensuring you leave twelve hours between dinner and your breakfast the next morning. By doing this, it gives your body time to digest the food you’ve eaten. If for example, you have your breakfast at 7am, aim to finish eating by 7pm that evening. Not only does this ensure you are leaving a good amount of time before you start eating again, it also helps stop you snacking late into the night too. I also give you tips for tracking your food, how to incorporate movement into your day and how intense your exercises should be, so you achieve the results you want. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/ And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from. The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of Real Health, I’m bringing you my top tips for weight loss. Weight loss is about more than simply wanting to change how you look. We know weight is one of the big predictors of health-related issues as we get older. By carrying more of it on our bodies, you are putting pressure on your joints and aging the body quicker.So, wanting to lose some excess fat is a great thing to do for your health. Now that we’re coming into the summer, it's the perfect time to try and make some positive changes, both with your movement and your diet. While many people might think the focus should be on upping the amount of exercise, diet is arguably more important. Making changes to what you eat, contributes to about 60pc to 70pc of the results that you will experience. One of the easiest changes you can make to your diet, is ensuring you leave twelve hours between dinner and your breakfast the next morning. By doing this, it gives your body time to digest the food you’ve eaten. If for example, you have your breakfast at 7am, aim to finish eating by 7pm that evening. Not only does this ensure you are leaving a good amount of time before you start eating again, it also helps stop you snacking late into the night too. I also give you tips for tracking your food, how to incorporate movement into your day and how intense your exercises should be, so you achieve the results you want. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie.Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s show, we are tackling the issue of burnout. It is something that we’ve all become more aware of, especially over the course of the pandemic. While hopefully the stresses of lockdowns, home schooling and working at the kitchen table are behind us, life post Covid is bringing its own strains. Some people may be thriving with the new hybrid work life, but it might not be for everyone. So, with Workplace Wellbeing Day tomorrow, it is the perfect time to take a look at what can be done to beat burnout. I’m joined by burnout expert and psychotherapist, Siobhan Murray. Over three years ago, Siobhan joined me on the podcast to chat about her newly released book, The Burnout Solution. A lot has happened in those three years, and burnout has never been more topical. Siobhan says while burnout is commonly associated with work, she says it can be caused by many different situations: “A term I much prefer using which is; Burnout is emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion brought on by emotionally demanding situations...That emotionally demanding situation could be work, it could be family, it could be extended family...so it's not just work.”We also discuss what some of the common symptoms of burnout are, what you can do if you think a loved one might have burnout and what workplaces should do in order to mind their employees. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and realhealth@independent.ie.Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all either heard it before or offered it as advice; “It could be worse” or “Everything happens for a reason.” And while people might mean well, sometimes it's the last thing you want to hear when you are having a tough time. Is there an obsession with looking at the bright side of things? Well, our guest on Real Health this week certainly thinks so. I’m joined by psychotherapist Whitney Goodman to discuss how too much positivity can turn negative.Her new book, Toxic Positivity: Keeping It Real in a World Obsessed with Being Happy, looks at exactly that. Whitney explains that timing is important in determining when positivity will turn toxic: “I think timing is one of the biggest factors that brings positivity from being helpful or healthy into the relm of being toxic. When we use it at a time when someone is struggling and looking for a different type of support, that is when we can really see it go wrong.” Even aspiring to be happy all the time is not something Whitney believes we should be aiming for: “This goal that we are striving towards is actually going to make us more miserable because we are missing out on so much good data and information and experiences when we try to avoid everything in life that isn’t happiness or positivity.”We also discuss positive affirmations and what advice we should give when someone needs help or support.For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and Twitter and realhealth@independent.ie.Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The area of diet supplements can be a confusing one to navigate. You have to think about what vitamins you should be taking, what form they should come in and if they are worth the money. On this week’s episode of Real Health, I’m taking you through everything you need to know about supplements, with dietitian and sports nutritionist Kathryn Stewart. Kathryn says you only have to look to the name to know what supplements are meant to do. “You shouldn’t be using them as a replacement or a substitution. They are always in addition to what you are eating already. You want to think, can I get this from a certain food [and] am I getting enough from food? If that’s a no and something is low previously, then maybe you require supplements” she says. We also talk about some of the supplements that people should be taking all the time. Many of us have heard the advice from professionals about Vitamin D, but Kathryn also thinks omegas are something people need to consider. “If people do eat fish it tends to be the less offensive ones or the less smelly ones...but salmon, trout, mackerel sardines, the oily fish, they’re the ones where you’ll get the omegas from.” As omegas are crucial for brain and heart health, Kathryn recommends having two portions of these types of fish a week and if you can’t, then you should consider taking a supplement. For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/And you can get in touch - I’m @KarlHenryPT on Instagram and Twitter and realhealth@independent.ie.Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe on Apple and Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts from.The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.