Feeling as if your body needs a reset after a stretch of questionable food and drink decisions? A body cleanse might sound like a practical answer, but do detox diets and supplements really help? In this episode, we explore whether your body needs help detoxifying itself and how to support optimal health.

Expert: Dr. Kyle Mueller, Primary Care Physician

Interviewer: Katie McCallum

Notable topics covered:

• Are greasy foods, sugary snacks and alcohol truly “toxic” to the body?
• Your body is naturally detoxifying itself all the time
• What does a detox diet do for the body?
• The hidden harms of juice cleanses
• Should you try a detox supplement instead?
• Why “cheat days” don’t work for everyone
• The principles of keeping a healthy body

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The use of ice and heat as medical therapy dates to ancient times, easy-to-apply treatments for the management of everything from inflammation to stiffness. They’re today’s go-to remedies for minor injuries and workout recovery, and a recent survey found they’re also American’s most-used relief option for chronic pain. But how do they work? Are you using them appropriately? And are some of the old ways of thinking about them out of fashion? In this episode, we explore all you need to know before you pull out that soft heating pad or chilly ice pack.

Expert: Dr. Megan Arthur, Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician

Interviewer: Todd Ackerman

Notable topics covered:

• To ice or to heat: slowing blood flow vs. promoting it
• Do some people just respond to one better than the other?
• They’re not just for sports injuries: ice and heat for other conditions
• Polar plunges: Do they provide any benefits in healthy people?
• Contrast therapy: The benefits of alternating cold and heat
• Is RICE being replaced by a more holistic approach?
• The best ways to intervene with ice and heat
• How long and how often should you apply ice or heat?

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A plant-forward diet is your best bet for healthy aging, according to a recent high-profile study, but it doesn’t mean becoming a vegetarian or vegan. Plant-forward diets encompass a wide range of diets that include some meat — including pescatarian, flexitarian, and the popular Mediterranean diet — all of which are rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes and beans. This eating pattern doesn’t mean going fully plant-based; it simply means deprioritizing meat as the star of your plate. In this episode, we delve into plant-forward eating, exploring its health benefits and how to get started with this approach.

Expert: Fatima Zamudio, Registered Dietitian

Interviewer: Kim Rivera Huston-Weber

Notable topics covered:

• The health benefits of a plant-forward diet
• Debunking myths around protein requirements, soy dangers and protein combining
• What does our plate look like when meat isn’t included?
• The types of plant-based protein to include with your meals
• How to veg-ify our favorite dishes
• Plant-based meat alternatives: Can we eat too many burger and sausage alternatives?
• The easiest meal for starting a plant-forward diet (and your day)
• Why you don’t have to identify as a vegetarian or vegan to eat plant-forward

If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog.