We've all heard of processed foods, but what about ultraprocessed foods, which make up more than half of the typical American diet? In this special Chasing Life: Spotlight, CNN Medical Correspondent Meg Tirrell explores how these foods became so widespread and the potential risks they pose to our health. She speaks with Professor Marion Nestle , a leading authority on nutrition and food policy and NIH senior investigator Kevin Hall , who conducted the first and only controlled clinical trial on ...
May 07, 2024•34 min•Ep. 440
The U.S. is grappling with a recently discovered outbreak of avian influenza in dairy cows, driven by the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus. It's the first instance that the bird flu virus has been detected in US cattle. How concerned should we be about drinking milk or even eating chicken? And could this lead to the next pandemic? Sanjay speaks with epidemiologist Prof. Michael Osterholm , director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, about the com...
Apr 30, 2024•31 min•Ep. 439
Global temperatures are rising, severe storms are intensifying and people are feeling climate anxiety. Does saving the planet mean living without comfort or convenience? Can policies and technology turn things around? CNN Chief Climate Correspondent, Bill Weir believes taking better care of the earth and our ourselves can go hand-in-hand. He talks with Dr. Sanjay Gupta about what’s working, what needs to change and why there is reason to be optimistic about the future. They also discuss Weir’s c...
Apr 23, 2024•36 min•Ep. 438
For many of us, our weight and eating habits feel deeply intertwined. But how do you strike a balance between eating for pleasure and eating for fuel? How can we reframe our relationship with food – so it doesn't revolve around what’s “bad” or “good?” Sanjay speaks with Dr. Linda Shiue, an internal medicine physician, trained chef, and the author of Spicebox Kitchen . Dr. Shiue sheds light on sustainable approaches to healthy eating and we’ll hear from listeners about the foods that bring them j...
Apr 16, 2024•28 min•Ep. 437
When it comes to optimizing our mental and physical health, many of us focus on managing our weight and metabolic function. But what happens when the numbers are good but the way we feel about our bodies is bad? Should we be striving to love the way we look? Or is it better to not think about our bodies at all? Actress and activist, Jameela Jamil thinks a lot about health, food and diet culture. After years of struggling with anorexia, “The Good Place,” star and host of the "I Weigh with Jameela...
Apr 09, 2024•31 min•Ep. 436
Keto. High protein. Intermittent fasting. So many diets claim to be the best way to lose weight. But do diets actually work? Research shows that diets don’t lead to long-term weight loss for most people, and that even two people following the same “healthy” diet can have wildly different results. Stanford University nutrition professor Dr. Christopher Gardner has spent more than 20 years studying nutrition and comparing different diets. He spoke to CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gu...
Apr 02, 2024•29 min•Ep. 435
There's no shortage of products and procedures promising a quick way to weight loss. But do they work? Or is it all just marketing and hype? In this episode, Sanjay speaks with Dr. Mikhail Varshavski – better known as Doctor Mike — who has made it his mission to debunk medical misinformation. He’ll dive into popular weight loss methods, how they supposedly work, and the truth behind cleanses, juices, tummy teas, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 26, 2024•33 min•Ep. 434
Thirteen years ago, Seattle-based writer Lindy West wrote an essay that took the internet by storm called “Hello, I’m Fat.” That essay would become the 2016 New York Times best-selling memoir, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman, and later a Hulu television series. On today’s episode, Lindy, who is still writing and hosts a podcast , sits down with CNN’s Chief Medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta for a candid and honest conversation about living as a self-described “fat” person, and how the way sh...
Mar 19, 2024•31 min•Ep. 433
How much do our genetics determine our destiny when it comes to how much we weigh? Cambridge geneticist Giles Yeo says your genes play a bigger role than you might think. “In casino terms, the house will always win if the die is weighted just a little bit one way versus the other.” On today’s Chasing Life, Professor Yeo, a pioneer in the field of obesity research, joins Dr. Sanjay Gupta to explain his ground-breaking research into why some people are genetically predisposed to eat more, and why ...
Mar 12, 2024•33 min•Ep. 432
Weight gain is a common complaint among women in their 40s and 50s, with many blaming it on the ups and downs of menopause. But what exactly is the connection between menopause and weight gain? And can anything to be done to avoid it? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to Dr. Monica Christmas, the director of the menopause program at the University of Chicago Medicine and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology. She explains effective strategies for tackling midlife weight gain and share...
Mar 05, 2024•31 min•Ep. 431
Alabama’s Supreme Court has ruled that embryos are children and anyone discarding frozen embryos could face wrongful death charges. So where does this leave fertility doctors and their patients in the state? And could this ruling have national implications? For this special episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to IVF expert, Dr. Eve Feinberg from the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. She explains how embryos are handled during the IVF process and why the ruling is contentious fo...
Feb 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 430
Children and adolescents are expected to gain weight as they age, but how much is too much? Childhood obesity rates are on the rise, along with disordered eating among teens. So how can kids and their parents address this head on? Dr. Jack Yanovski, a pediatric endocrinologist at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development recommends first determining who is most concerned about the weight. From there, he tells Sanjay about the causes and consequences of high body weight in kids...
Feb 20, 2024•38 min•Ep. 429
Long before WeightWatchers became a weight loss empire, the legacy dieting company started as a small support group in the 1960s. The company rose to popularity preaching a message of moderation and making healthy choices. But in what some call a surprising pivot, WeightWatchers is changing the way the company does business. On today’s Chasing Life, CEO Sima Sistani sits down with Dr. Sanjay Gupta to share why she’s making these big changes, namely, embracing telehealth and weight loss drugs lik...
Feb 13, 2024•31 min•Ep. 428
It’s become a multibillion-dollar business: weight loss drugs. Demand is high, as is the cost. How did medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound become so popular and so profitable? And what kind of impact might they have on the future of food and healthcare? Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to his CNN colleague Meg Tirrell for answers, and a little context about the business behind these new medications. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Feb 06, 2024•34 min•Ep. 427
New drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro are billed as a revolutionary new approach for losing weight. But are these actually miracle drugs? Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to Yale School of Medicine assistant professor Dr. Jorge Moreno to explain the science behind these medications – from the benefits to the risks to the unknowns. Plus, what anyone who’s interested in taking these drugs should know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jan 30, 2024•30 min•Ep. 426
Everybody knows losing weight is tough. But why? While diet, exercise, and willpower might have something to do with it. The root may lie in how we humans have evolved as a species. Could our bodies be hardwired to resist shedding pounds? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to Daniel Lieberman, a paleoanthropologist and professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard University. He’ll explain how our bodies evolved to hold onto fat as a strategy for survival. Plus, we'll get tips for exercising an...
Jan 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 425
At the start of 2024, many of us are thinking about how to look and feel our best. For some of us, that means making changes to our weight. But what does weight really tell us about our health? And are there other metrics we should be looking at? In this episode, Sanjay speaks with Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine physician and scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor at Harvard Medical School. She explains what makes a “healthy weight,” and why changes in diet an...
Jan 16, 2024•29 min•Ep. 424
Chasing Life is taking a short break and will be back with new episodes next month. But for now, we want to highlight a powerful new season of the CNN podcast, All There Is with Anderson Cooper. In the first episode of the second season, Anderson Cooper continues his deeply personal journey through grief and, learn from others who’ve experienced life-altering losses. He also talks with psychotherapist and author Francis Weller, whose book “The Wild Edge of Sorrow” gives him hope for facing his g...
Dec 26, 2023•38 min•Ep. 423
It’s that time of year when we start to think about what we want and who we’ll be in 2024. Maybe you’d like to eat more brain food, or set some boundaries around your screen time. Maybe you’re wondering how to keep fit as you age, or how to forgive someone in your life. However you’re looking to grow, Chasing Life has advice for you. In our final episode of 2023, Dr. Sanjay Gupta rounds up some of the top tips from all our wonderful guests. You never know what could change your life! Learn more ...
Dec 19, 2023•30 min•Ep. 422
How can we test our brain health? What happens to the brain during pregnancy? And how easily does the brain heal from alcohol? On today’s episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, answers listener’s questions about the inner workings of the brain, and shares what he has learned after decades in the operating room and reporting on this powerful, 3.5 pound organ. Plus, Dr. Gupta shares his top tips for keeping sharp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...
Dec 12, 2023•25 min•Ep. 421
During the holiday season, we’re often encouraged to make amends and forgive people, but what does it take to really forgive someone? And what happens to your brain and body when you do... or don’t? In this episode, Sanjay talks with forgiveness science pioneer, Robert Enright. He’s been studying and writing about forgiveness for decades at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and he says forgiveness is a choice, and that your ability to do it can be strengthened like a muscle. Enright walks us t...
Dec 05, 2023•38 min•Ep. 420
If you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, taking out the trash or doing laundry is normally the last thing on your mind. Therapist KC Davis says that’s by design. Sometimes, brains are too focused on survival mode to complete even the simplest of tasks. So how can we beat this mental block? On today’s episode, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN’S Chief Medical Correspondent, sits down with Davis to discuss the link between messiness and mental health. Plus, Davis shares her approach to tackling clutter from ...
Nov 28, 2023•34 min•Ep. 419
Online dating has changed the way we approach and pursue relationships. Like so much in modern life, potential partners are at the mercy of an algorithm that decides who we interact with. But has technology actually changed what we’re looking for? Can attraction and desire be predicted? Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and Chief Science Advisor at Match.com, has been on the front lines of the clash between a centuries-old phenomenon and relatively new technology. In this episode, she ta...
Nov 21, 2023•34 min•Ep. 418
Nearly one in five US adults are diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. As the use of antidepressants have steadily risen since their introduction in the 1980s, what have we learned about depression? Is depression truly a “chemical imbalance” of the brain? And why do antidepressants work for some people and not others? Sanjay talks to Dr. Charles Raison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, about what we now believe causes depression, and most import...
Nov 14, 2023•38 min•Ep. 417
More than three years after the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, many long Covid patients are still experiencing brain fog, extreme fatigue, and myriad other health issues, leaving some unable to complete even the most basic of daily tasks. How should long Covid patients approach treatment, let alone everyday life? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to David Putrino, the director of rehabilitation innovation for the Mount Sinai Health System. He tells us about his latest research into identifying a ...
Nov 07, 2023•37 min•Ep. 416
The spooky season can be a divisive one. Some of us love being scared, and others avoid it at all costs. Author Stephen King has been terrifying readers for nearly 50 years, and knows what makes us scream. So how does he do it, and what’s happening in our brains when we’re afraid? Does anything frighten the king of horror? Sanjay talks to King, one of his favorite writers, about his latest book, “Holly,” and the benefits of fear in everyday life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...
Oct 31, 2023•32 min•Ep. 415
Many of us have been told that foods like blueberries, salmon, and leafy greens are “good for the brain.” But what does that really mean? Can eating certain foods make us smarter? More alert? Less stressed? Sanjay talks to nutritional psychiatrist and personal chef, Dr. Uma Naidoo about what foods improve brain function and influence the way we feel. She’ll also share her secret sauce: a few nutritious and delicious ways to eat carbs, fats and sugar. To learn more about how CNN protects listener...
Oct 24, 2023•38 min•Ep. 414
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the latest news cycle, you’re not alone. That’s why, on today’s podcast, Dr. Sanjay Gupta turns to psychiatrist and author Dr. Gail Saltz from the New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill-Cornell Medical College, to talk about the toll violent images and videos from Israel and Gaza can have on our mental health – even if you’re watching from afar on the news or social media. They’ll address how to talk to children and teens about the ever-evolving situation and shar...
Oct 17, 2023•27 min•Ep. 413
From the NFL to youth soccer, sports teams have been forced to reckon with decades of research showing the risks of repeated blows to the head through contact sports. At the same time, participation in organized team sports has been found to be extremely beneficial for the developing brain. So how should parents square those facts and find a safe middle ground for their kids? In this episode, Sanjay speaks to Julie Stamm, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Depa...
Oct 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 412
What happens in the brain during menopause? As it turns out, the brain gets remodeled, and even rewired, during that very specific time of life. And, while menopause often includes symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, and mood swings... you may be surprised to learn it’s not all bad! On this episode of Chasing Life, Dr. Sanjay Gupta learns from neuroscientist Dr. Lisa Mosconi that there are upsides to this biological phase natural to half the human population. Plus, ways female-identifying peop...
Oct 03, 2023•33 min•Ep. 411
