Healing the Body with Meditation: Simple Daily Practices For Health & Happiness with Henry Shukman #590

Today’s guest proposes that awe is an emotion that’s all around us, waiting to be discovered – and in doing so, we can begin to transform our health and lives for the better.  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 340 of the podcast with professor of psychology and author of the book The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, Dr Dacher Keltner. Dacher has spent decades studying the science of happiness and in this clip, he shares how experiencing awe can transform our physical and mental wellbeing and why one of the ways we can access this best is through something called ‘collective effervescence’. I truly believe that Dacher’s work can help all of us find greater meaning and greater health. He’s done a fantastic job of finding the science to support his words, but I think we also know intuitively that what he’s saying makes perfect sense. Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore⁠⁠ Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://drchatterjee.com/340 Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠ 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 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.

Self-compassion is a crucial ingredient that is often overlooked when it comes to living a happier and healthier 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 163 of the podcast with one of the world’s leading experts on self-compassion Dr Kristin Neff. In this clip, she explains why self-compassion is so important for our wellbeing and our physical and mental health. She also gives some great tips to help us all silence our own inner critic. Kristin takes us through a beautiful practical exercise in finding self-compassion that I think you will really enjoy. This is such an important topic that doesn’t get spoken about enough in the conversation around health. Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore⁠⁠ Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://drchatterjee.com/163 Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠ 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 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.

Bone health is something most of us don’t think about until much later in life, but the reality is that the foundation for strong, healthy bones is built decades earlier – and what we do in our 20s, 30s and 40s can make all the difference to our health and strength in later years. Today, I’m delighted to welcome Dr Vonda Wright. Vonda is an orthopaedic surgeon and internationally recognised authority on active ageing and mobility. She believes that with mobility, smart nutrition and building relationships, we can harness our own power to control 70% of our health and ageing. Vonda specialises in sports medicine and is one of only a few female orthopaedic surgeons in the United States. She currently serves as the inaugural Chief of Sports Medicine for the Northside Hospital Orthopaedic Institute and is the founding director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA). She is also the author of several books, including her latest, Unbreakable: A Woman’s Guide to Ageing With Power, combines cutting-edge science with practical tools to help us protect our bones and our future health. In this fantastic conversation, we discuss: Why osteoporosis isn’t just a disease of old age, but one that begins much earlier in life, often decades before the first fracture. The idea of the “critical decade” – why our mid-30s to mid-40s are such a pivotal window for building bone strength, especially for women approaching menopause. The key lifestyle factors that influence bone density, from nutrition and protein intake to resistance training and impact exercise, and why it’s never too late to start. How scans such as DEXA and REMS can give a clearer picture of bone quality and help us take action before problems arise. The cultural and societal pressures that shape women’s health behaviours, and how these can sometimes work against long-term bone resilience. Simple, practical strategies for protecting your bones at every stage of life, supporting independence, mobility and confidence as we age. Vonda also shares her vision of ageing with strength, independence and vitality, and why she believes we can all take proactive steps to remain “unbreakable”. As Vonda explains, we have more control over our bone health than we might realise - and that knowledge should feel both comforting and empowering. Caring for our bones is really about caring for our future selves. By taking simple, consistent steps today, we can build the strength and confidence to live the way we want for years to come. I hope you enjoy listening. Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://www.betterhelp.com/livemore https://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://join.whoop.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/588   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Today’s guest has spent over 50 years conducting ground-breaking research showing that your thoughts can have a profound impact on your body. 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 537 of the podcast with Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, Dr Ellen Langer. Ellen has spent decades studying how our beliefs and perceptions can directly influence our physical health - from how we age, to how we heal, and even how our immune system functions. In this clip, we explore some of her landmark research. Ellen is a wonderful human, full of knowledge, expertise and passion. Thanks to our sponsor ⁠⁠⁠https://www.drinkag1.com/livemore⁠⁠ Show notes and the full podcast are available at https://drchatterjee.com/537 Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts ⁠⁠https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore⁠⁠ 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 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.

When we think of sunlight, vitamin D is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But the truth is, the full spectrum of light that we get exposed to when we spend time outside plays a vital role in how we sleep, how we feel and even how our cells create energy.   This week’s returning guest is Dr Roger Seheult, who believes that sunlight is one of the most accessible and underutilised tools we have for improving health – and the science he shares is compelling.   I’m delighted to welcome back to my Feel Better, Live More podcast for our third conversation.  Roger is a quadruple board-certified physician in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor at the University of California, Riverside, and Assistant Clinical Professor at Loma Linda University.   Alongside his clinical practice, he co-founded MedCram, a medical education platform with over one million YouTube subscribers, widely used by hospitals and medical schools worldwide. Roger is also a sought after lecturer and has received multiple awards for his contributions to medicine and education. His passion lies in making complex medical science accessible, and he regularly lectures to schools, hospitals and media outlets.   In this conversation, we discuss: Why deficiency in sunlight can show up as fatigue, poor sleep, inflammation or even raised cholesterol. The three “macronutrients” of light – visible, ultraviolet and infrared – and how each plays a different role in mood, immunity and cellular energy. How infrared light penetrates deep into the body, supporting mitochondrial function and how it may help protect against diseases such as diabetes and dementia. Why spending 15–20 minutes a day outside – even in the shade – can be enough to recharge our cells. The growing evidence that sunlight exposure lowers the risk of all-cause mortality, cancer and heart disease. Practical strategies for getting the benefits of sunlight safely, even if you live in colder climates or spend much of your day indoors.   Roger also shares his “eight laws of health” – simple, timeless principles that include nutrition, rest, fresh air and sunlight – and explains how neglecting them leads to the chronic conditions he often sees in his work in intensive care.   This is a fascinating conversation that will change how you think about sunlight. It isn’t just something that makes us feel good – it’s a fundamental part of how our bodies stay healthy. And the best part? It’s free and available to us all.   I hope you enjoy listening.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: https://www.boncharge.com/livemore https://www.calm.com/livemore https://thriva.co/   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/586   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.