Here's a sobering fact: more than 75% of the population in America over the age of 65 has not one, but two degenerative diseases. The rise in chronic illness is affecting nearly every family in America. However, today's guest challenges the idea that we must accept this as a natural part of the aging process. Dr. Camillo Ricordi, a distinguished scientist, author, and pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine, joins us. Throughout his remarkable career, he has made countless contributions to advancing cellular and organ transplantation, particularly in the treatment of diabetes, thereby revolutionizing medical practices and offering hope to countless patients worldwide. Having been born and raised in northern Italy, his professional journey and research endeavours have led him to several universities and medical centers across the U.S., and eventually to Florida, where he founded the Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami. Now, with his groundbreaking new book, "The Health Span Code - How to Reverse Your Biological Age", Dr. Ricordi shifts his focus towards addressing one of the most severe pandemics we face: an unhealthy lifespan. The traditional notion of life expectancy is outdated. What we need to focus on is the quality of life we can expect as we age. His book delves into the captivating science behind biological aging and the factors that can accelerate it. A significant portion of our discussion will center around a major contributor to this decline: the body's inability to manage sugar effectively, which sets us on the path of metabolic dysfunction, often leading to diabetes. Uncontrolled sugar intake can have a detrimental effect on a healthy lifespan. However, there are proactive steps we can all take to slow down, and even reverse, this process. I have known Camillo for nearly 40 years, as we are connected through marriage. It is both a pleasure and an honor to introduce him to our listeners. For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast

Crack The Health Span Code | Dr. Camillo Ricordi

From the moment we lift our heads off the pillow and put our feet on the floor… our days are filled with movement. In fact we make hundreds of movement decisions every single day. For the most part we don’t think of our movements as ‘choices’... but in fact whether they are conscious or unconscious – we’re the boss of how our bodies move and the consequences of those choices. I recently spoke with author Katy Bowman about her newest book: “Rethink your Position – an updated guide to everyday body alignment and movement. It’s chock-full of sensible – doable solutions to make your body your new best friend. Back as a guest on this NEW episode of The Art of Living podcast, nobody knows body mechanics quite like Katy. She’s made significant contributions to the field of human movement with her holistic, sensible approach to health… and truly practices what she preaches. In today’s episode, Katy talks about the numerous benefits of movement, going beyond the obvious to explore lesser-known advantages that you may have never heard about, including the profound effects on your health. During our conversation, you will discover:  Katy’s “Head Ramping” technique to save you from “tech-neck” The best Sleep shapes for a healthy spine and reduced pain Simple, easy toe exercises that lead to Better Balance Why your Calves are your second heart – crucial for good circulation

Rethink Your Position | Katy Bowman

Many of us are searching for a magic bullet to improve our longevity, whether it be a supplement, medication, or exotic superfood. And yet, when it comes to enhancing our health span and preventing cognitive and physical decline, it turns out that exercise is the most potent tool we have at our disposal… even more than nutrition, sleep, or medication.   Exercise is the key to living a longer, healthier life, and nobody knows that better than today's podcast guest, Dr. Bob Sallis.   Bob is a visionary physician who helped launch the groundbreaking initiative, Exercise is Medicine in 2009 while president of the American College of Sports Medicine. By introducing a new approach of focusing on lifestyle and specifically exercise to extend your health span and prevent chronic diseases, Bob helped start the game-changing discussions that there is a new approach to aging.   For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Staying Younger, Longer | Dr. Bob Sallis

Change Your Brain Every Day | Dr. Daniel Amen

New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Robert Lustig, is sounding the alarm on the problems caused by processed foods and sugar. His new book, Metabolical, takes a deep dive into what’s fueling the continual increase of lifestyle diseases. By now, you know these diseases by heart… type 2 diabetes, hypertension, lipid problems, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, and the list goes on.   One of Robert's defining messages is that these lifestyle diseases aren’t druggable, but they are foodable. You're about to find out what that means in today's episode. Food is the only lever you have to affect biochemical change to improve your health. As Dr. Lustig says, "If we do not fix our food and change the way we eat, we will continue to court chronic disease, bankrupt healthcare, and threaten the planet."  Here are some highlights from the show...   "My job is to kill the calorie, I want it gone as a unit of measure because it is absolutely completely useless. It’s only gotten us into more and more trouble."   "All food is inherently good; it’s what’s been done to the food that can make it bad. All of your cells either respond positively or negatively to the specific components of your food."    "Essentially, all you need to know are two precepts, six words total: protect the liver, feed the gut."    "Everybody kept saying, 'eat less, exercise more, eat less, exercise more.' Guess what? We ate less, we exercised more, and we only gained more weight."   Buckle up!    For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Dr. Robert Lustig | Metabolical

Many of us are walking around in a tired and dazed state, resting poorly at night, and living in a low-energy loop. Exhaustion is often the result of living out of sync with your circadian rhythms, which is the inner clock that dictates the ebb and flow of hormones, body temperature, and blood pressure.    Today’s guest, Dr. Michael Breus explains all of this in his new book,  Energize! Go from dragging ass to kicking it in 30 days.    Dr. Breus is a sleep specialist and clinical psychologist, and right now he’s mr. popular! You can’t turn on the TV without seeing him on some talkshow. He was recently on The Today Show, and Live with Kelly and Ryan. Michael was a previous guest on this podcast, you can find that in the archives, it’s episode #63.    For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Going from Exhausted to Energized | Dr. Michael Breus

On today’s show, Dr. Kathyrn Schmitz is talking about her book, Moving Through Cancer. Her empowering message will not only resonate with anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer but with their family and loved ones as well.    Dr. Kathryn’s many, many accomplishments include holding the position of Distinguished Professor of Public Health Sciences at Penn State’s College of Medicine and Penn State Cancer Institute, and as a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine.    Her must-read book,  Moving Through Cancer, presents the science of using exercise as a tool to help reduce the risk of developing some of the most common cancers. The groundbreaking power of this book is its step-by-step guide that takes you from diagnosis to thriving you using strength training and exercise to improve your mental and physical health before, during, and after cancer diagnosis and treatment.    For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Moving Through Cancer | Dr. Kathyrn Schmitz

When we think of the names of women who have seemingly defied the aging process, who comes to mind? Helen Mirren, Cate Blanchett, and Judy Dench. These are just a few women who have  decided to celebrate their natural beauty. We admire them for their confidence, talents, and sense of style. But in a culture that’s obsessed with youth, it can be difficult to embrace the aging process and be proud of the skin you’re in.   Today’s guest is Dr. Naeemah Ruffin, also known as “the face fitness doctor.”   Naeemah is is an Assistant Clinical Professor at Mt. Sinai Hospital and the CEO and founder of Bellantz, which specializes in personalized face fitness with expansive range of exercises tailored to tone the facial muscles to create a more youthful and symmetrical facial appearance. She also has Clinical Skincare line that’s formulated with plant-based natural and organic ingredients to repair, restore, and revitalize the skin.   In today’s conversation, we’ll talk about specific facial exercises to lift and tighten certain areas of your face that have decreased muscle tone over time. There is evidence-based research that supports facial exercise as a natural facial rejuvenation in addition to correcting facial symmetry, especially in those with Bell’s Palsy.   We’ll also talk about facial expressions that are working for and against you. And of course, we can’t talk about the face without chatting about skin care.    For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Facial Contouring | Dr. Naeemah Ruffin

We’re in the third decade of the 21st century, if you’re currently in your 40s, 50s, 60s, or beyond, then you’ve been a part of the modern fitness industry. To those of you who have been exercising most of your adult lives, congratulations: You are in the first generation of active adults who have had access to gyms and exercise throughout their life span.    The original intent of exercise was to sculpt attractive bodies of lean, well-defined muscle. Now, scientists have had the opportunity to study how exercise affects the aging process. What we are learning is that exercise, especially high-intensity exercise, just may be the key to aging awesomely.    Today’s guest, Pete McCall, is author of Ageless Intensity: High intensity workouts to slow the aging process. The book includes four aspects of fitness that will help turn back the clock. As Pete highlights in his book, focusing on exercise  intensity may be the key to reducing the biological effects of time.    I’m excited about this conversation with Pete, because he always provides straight-forward, science-backed information. But more importantly, he gives you useful tricks and tools to control aging and keep you feeling young. 

Don’t let aging happen to you | Pete McCall

Today, we’re welcoming back Dr. Sara Gottfried. In past episodes, we’ve talked about how hormones impact every system of your body. In today’s episode, we’ll take it one step further. Because as she points out in her new book, “Women, Food and Hormones”  food is the backbone of the hormones you make. When it comes to your health and metabolism, food is medicine.     In her newest book, Dr. Gottfried presents a groundbreaking new plan that helps women balance their hormones so they can lose excess weight and feel better. And, she lays the groundwork for how to get your body to flip the switch from burning carbohydrates to burning fat.    Dr. Gottfried is a multiple New York Times bestselling author, and Harvard-educated women’s health expert. Over the past two decades, Sara has seen more than 25,000 patients, and specializes in identifying the root causes underlying her patients’ conditions to achieve true and lasting health transformations, not just symptom management. 

Women, Food, and Hormones | Dr. Sara Gottfried, MD

If you’ve tried everything to gain control of your health and manage your weight but still feel like you can’t reach your goals, I think you’ll appreciate today’s conversation about Uric Acid.    The scientific literature is bursting with evidence that chronic elevated uric acid lies at the root of many pervasive health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease. But it’s not something that’s being discussed in  mainstream medicine and media…. Until now.     Today’s guest, David Perlmutter is a Board-Certified Neurologist and six-time New York Times bestselling author. He serves on the Board of Directors and is a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.    His groundbreaking book, Grain Brain, showed that the fate of your brain is not in your genes. It's in the food you eat. By the way, that book made it to the top… #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.    David’s new book, Drop Acid, alerts us to the dangers of elevated uric acid, and how it’s a Key to Losing Weight, Controlling Blood Sugar, and Achieving Extraordinary Health.   

Drop Acid - The Dangers of Uric Acid | David Perlmutter

Welcome to On Health: The Art Of Living, where I bring you the latest research and info on how to live a healthier, more vibrant, more passion-driven life.  To help you better understand the importance of gut health, and support your journey to better digestive function, I’ve invited Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, lovingly known as “Dr B” back on the show!    If you missed our last discussion,  check out episode 90. It’s all about identifying weaknesses in the  gut, what habits lead to a poor microbiome, the role of pre & probiotics, and some really valuable information you can learn from your bowel movements.    Today we’re going to expand on that discussion. The microbiome is this super organism ecosystem that is arguably the center of human health. We rely on all these microbes to keep us healthy and when they fail, we fail. Making peace with your microbiome is one of the biggest steps you  can take to  improve your health and wellbeing.   When you take care of your gut, just about everything else in your body...from your immune  system to your moods to your brain and heart health are all impacted.    For many, it’s food sensitivities. For some, it’s irregular bowel movements. For most, it’s not understanding fiber. You get the picture. If you have gut issues and food sensitivities, and your goal is to feel better or you're just curious about exploring more plant based eating then you will want to listen up!.   Dr. B is a genius in helping you understand what’s going on in your gut. He has a new book, The Fiber Fueled Cookbook, that will put you on a healing path to restore function to your gut.  It is a step by step program to support your journey to better digestive Function.  Whether you have gut issues or want some outrageously good tasting recipes, it is all here.   Dr. B is not your ordinary doctor.  He's an award-winning gastroenterologist and an internationally recognized gut health expert. His New York Times Best-selling book, Fiber Fueled is changing lives. It’s a must-read for optimizing your microbiome and learning which foods help create a vibrant and healthy microbiome.    Dr. B is a rockstar. When he talks, I listen.    Understanding your gut is a gateway to revealing what’s happening in your body. Let’s get started! Welcome back, Dr. B!

The gut doctor, Dr. B | Making Peace With Your Microbiome

Dr. Felice Gersh is back on the podcast by popular demand! She's been on the show twice before sharing science-backed information on intermittent fasting, and today's podcast is all about the Big M... menopause.  In this episode, we discuss step-by-step approaches that guide you through the menopausal phases (pre and post), and how to handle everything from hot flashes to fuzzy thinking... from irritability to insomnia. This show is full of straightforward and practical advice that every woman needs to take control short-term symptoms and long-term health.  I asked the Fit Over 40 Facebook group which topics of the book they’d be most interested in discussing, and the answers came in loud and clear...   Weight gain Body shape change Sex drive decrease Joint pain Appetite fluctuations  We’ll dive into all of those topics in today's NEW Art of Living episode!  Her new book, Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know is full of information that prepares you for what lies ahead in the menopausal journey (pre and post), and find solutions for all of the symptoms.  Dr. Felice Gersh is board-certified in both OBGYN and integrative medicine. She’s the director of the Integrative Medical Group of Irving, a comprehensive women’ health care practice. As a clinical assistant professor, she teaches students and residents, as well as lectures across the country. For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Menopause Pre + Post, What You Need to Know

ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING FACTS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY IS THAT WE ARE MUCH BETTER AT CREATING FAT THAN WE ARE AT BURNING IT OFF.  TODAY’S GUEST OFFERS THE TOOLS TO HELP YOU FLIP THAT SWITCH TO BECOME WHAT HE CALLS A “FAT-BURNING BEAST” IN HIS NEW BOOK “TWO MEALS A DAY: THE SIMPLE, SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY TO LOSE FAT, REVERSE AGING, AND BREAK FREE FROM DIET FRUSTRATION FOREVER.”   HE IS A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR, AN ELITE ENDURANCE ATHLETE, THE FOUNDER OF PRIMAL KITCHEN AND THE PRIMAL BLUEPRINT; PLUS, HE  PUBLISHES A WONDERFUL AND CRAZY SUCCESSFUL BLOG CALLED “MARK’S DAILY APPLE.”

Two Meals a Day | Mark Sisson

Look around you. Where you are right now is the destination that represents every step you’ve ever taken, every road you’ve ever traveled down, every choice you’ve ever made.    Whatever those habits were, however small or large they seemed at the time…which book to read, what shoes to wear…they’re all pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that form a picture of you today. Each one, in its own way, contributed something to making your life what it is today.   If you’re happy with your life, congratulations! If you don’t, then perhaps it’s time to change some habits.    Today’s guest, Dr. Patrick Porter, is a master on specific, practical techniques to rewire your brain to make starting a new habit a little easier. He’s an award-winning author and speaker, including a recent TED talk. He’s also the creator of BrainTap, which is distinctively designed to relax, reboot, and optimize your brain’s peak potential.    For more podcasts, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Building Habits That Last

Until around age 30, your muscles grow larger and stronger. At some point in that third decade, you start to lose muscle mass and function. You can lose as much as 3-5% of that muscle mass each decade after age 30. The term for this is “age-related sarcopenia.”  Even if you’re active, you can still lose muscle if you’re not training and eating properly. Why is all of this so important? That’s the topic of the show today.   I’m a big believer that STRONG WOMEN STAY YOUNG! Each year, I see more evidence on the importance of muscle mass as the key to staying younger, longer.   I produced my first strength training video in 1985. And, that’s the time period when I first heard about our next guest, Dr. Wayne Westcott.   He was lecturing, writing articles, and involved in cutting-edge research about strength training. He was answering all the questions...how much, how often, slow, heavy, light, when, where, how? Why is it important? When it comes to strength training, Wayne was, and still is, the go-to expert and deep source of knowledge for maintaining strength at any age.   He’s the author of over 25 books including Strength Training Past 50, and thousands of articles,   After listening to Wayne you will probably start tweaking your exercise routine. 

Strong Women Stay Young… Latest Protocols For Strength Training

Women’s bodies go through many complex stages in a lifetime. Each of our journeys are unique, and they can include the excitement and stress of building our careers, through the rollercoaster of pregnancy and its postpartum aftermath, to the shifting hormonal dance of menopause. With each stage comes dramatic physical and emotional changes that often manifest themselves in seemingly unrelated symptoms.   We all tend to look at these symptoms, such as weight gain, digestion issues or anxiety, as separate issues, independent of one another.   Many times, we just don’t connect the dots. In this time of over-specialized medicine, we might struggle, because symptoms are often treated individually, not as a whole… especially related to incremental weight gain.   How are weight, digestion, anxiety, and many other symptoms related? Today’s guest, Dr. Sara Gottfried has a surprising answer for you.   Dr. Gottfried is a multiple New York Times bestselling author and Harvard-MIT educated women’s health expert. In her newest book, Brain Body Diet, she delivers a revolutionary 40-day program to reconnect the brain and body to prevent and reverse symptoms and diseases afflicting millions of women.

Cutting-Edge Protocol For A Robust, Healthy Brain

We’re increasingly coming to understand  that the way to bolster your immune system begins with the microbiome. Surprisingly, the microbiome in your gut is home to 70% of our immune system.   The human gut is complex and has a huge impact on whole-body health. A healthy gut supports a strong immune system, brain health, and heart health. A balanced microbiome can create easier weight loss and weight management and have a positive impact your moods and quality of sleep.  To help better understand the importance of gut health, I’ve invited Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, lovingly known as “Dr B” on the show. He’s a respected gastroenterologist  who has devoted his practice to understanding the microbiome.    Dr. B’s New York Times Best-selling book, Fiber Fueled: The Plant Based Gut Health Program For Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome is a must-read.  It’s a step-by-step approach that shows a simple, science-backed process for optimizing your gut microbiome. And as you do, you will transform your health.   Today, we’re going to discuss how to identify weaknesses in the  gut, what habits lead to a poor microbiome, the role of pre & probiotics, and some really valuable information you can learn from your bowel movements. Yes, that’s right… poop! We spend a lot of time talking about what goes in our body, but today we’re also going to talk about what comes out.    Get ready for some honest and straightforward discussion. It could just be the most powerful conversation that will empower you to change your health for the better.  For more, visit www.kathysmith.com/podcast.

Optimize Your Gut for Easy Weight Loss | Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

Today’s guest, Dr. Felice Gersh will be answering the most frequently asked questions I get about time-restricted eating. Last year’s podcast with Felice was one of our most popular shows.   As most of you know, time-restricted eating is a nutritional approach based on when you eat. Basically, all meals and snacks are consumed within a particular window of time each day. Outside that window, no calories are allowed. This approach to eating can boost weight loss, lengthen lifespan, reduce insulin resistance, improve heart health and have positive effects on your immunity.   You can check out Dr. Felice’s first episode at kathysmith.com/podcast. Just click on episode 85.   Today, we’re going to delve a little deeper into all the questions you have been sending me about time-restricted eating, including… What is the best time of day to eat for weight loss? What are the potential downsides to fasting? Is there science behind it? Can I exercise while fasting? What do I eat when I’m not fasting?  As a reminder, Felice is an award-winning physician, a board-certified gynecologist, and obstetrician, also trained in integrative medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton, and her medical degree from USC School of Medicine. 

Time-Restricted Eating Separating Fads from Facts

I might be stating the obvious, but just to be perfectly clear… eating a vegan or vegetarian diet doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re eating a healthy diet. There’s an enormous difference between simply eliminating animal products from your meals, and adopting a whole food, plant-based diet. That’s just one of the topics we’re going to get into today with the amazing Dr. Joel Kahn.  Joel is one of the world’s top cardiologists who believes that plant-based nutrition is the most powerful source of preventative medicine on the planet. He is the author of The Plant-Based Solution, and sometimes refers to himself as the Top Broccoli in the united states.  On our previous episode, we covered a lot... including how research has linked plant-based diets to a decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure...plus, it could prolong your life. That’s episode 71.  For long-time listeners, you’ve heard from some of the top plant-based researchers, scientists, and advocates in the country and in the world. Those guests have included John pop  Lewis the Badass Vegan, Dr. Valter Longo from USC,  Dr. Zach Bush whose specialty is gut health, and of course… Dr. Joel Kahn.    And yet, the optimal way to eat still has controversy swirling around it. There are different camps offering conflicting information, and often times it can get muddled, confusing, and emotional. I look forward to hearing more science as well and delve into some of the questions I’m getting from the listeners, including…  What are the healthiest fats, whether you’re vegan or not? And, can you be vegan and still in ketosis?  Dr. Joel is one of my favorite people, and I’m excited to share his message with you today.  There’s a lot to cover! Whether you’re sitting down to a green smoothie, heading out for a walk, or listening in the car let’s get this show started! 

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