In this episode, I take a deep dive into the Blue Zones - longevity hotspots around the world where populations live the longest, healthiest lives. I discuss the 5 cornerstones of their lifestyles that have been identified to contribute towards their health - natural movement, nourishment, connection, reflection and purpose.
May 19, 2019•25 min
I am delighted to bring you guys a Part 2 of my interview with UK-registered dietitian from Ireland Maeve Hanan (@dieteticallyspeaking on Instagram - give this girl a follow!), who runs the blog www.dieteticallyspeaking.com and is a wonderful voice of reason in person and online on all things food and nutrition. Maeve advocates a no-nonsense, healthy and sustainable approach to how we eat and this is clear from the balanced, evidence-based content she shares. In this second episode, we dive stra...
May 05, 2019•37 min•Ep. 28
I am VERY excited to bring my podcast spotlight onto Nutrition, as a Part 1 of 2! My guest this week is UK-registered dietitian from Ireland (and friend of mine!) Maeve Hanan who runs the blog www.dieteticallyspeaking.com and is @dieteticallyspeaking on Instagram. Maeve advocates a no-nonsense approach to nutrition and this is clear from the balanced, evidence-based content she shares. In this episode, we take a close look at the basics around carbohydrates and fats, dive into some myth-busting ...
Apr 28, 2019•53 min•Ep. 27
This week's episode is focused on an area that doesn't get enough attention - mental health. I'm really excited to bring you guys the second interview on my Podcast - this week I'm chatting to Joe O'Brien, creator of the fantastic Instagram page and Podcast Head First (@headfirst0). Joe has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Masters in Health Psychology, and his message and content is centred around raising awareness about mental health and reducing stigma around the topic, all through ...
Apr 21, 2019•54 min•Ep. 26
In this week's episode, I chat about the potential negative effects from unregulated health information online, how media myths confuse us and can lead to real world health harms, and why we need to trust and seek evidence-based information from qualified healthcare professionals in person - not Dr. Google!
Apr 14, 2019•29 min•Ep. 25
In this week's episode, I chat about two really important health topics - alcohol intake in Ireland and the goal for a tobacco-free society. These lifestyle factors get less attention compared to diet and physical activity on social media but they are just as essential to address.
Apr 07, 2019•30 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, I chat through a much requested topic - my path from medical school to hospital training as a doctor, and the challenges I faced along the way. I also share some VERY exciting news about a recent development in my medical career - the beginning of my path to become a public health specialist!
Mar 31, 2019•31 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, I discuss the 4 key things I think as doctors we should know about nutrition for our patients. I chat about the 'doctors giving dietary advice' debate and explore why we need to move past the debate to focus on doing our best for our patients, clearing up dietary confusion and collaborating with nutrition and dietetic professionals.
Mar 24, 2019•21 min
In this week's episode, I discuss the concept of Healthy Ageing, a major focus of healthcare in Ireland (and globally!) given our ageing population and implications this has for healthcare services and society. I discuss simple healthy lifestyle tips for boosting our brain health and the importance of raising awareness around dementia prevention and management.
Mar 17, 2019•25 min•Ep. 21
In this episode, I discuss three game changers from the last year of my life - the power of self talk, mindfulness and gratitude. I chat about why we need to tune into our inner voice, talk to ourselves like we would our best friend, and remember to be grateful for the little things in life.
Mar 10, 2019•17 min•Ep. 20
In this week's episode, I bring you the first interview on The Irish Balance Podcast! My friend and fellow doctor Ceppie Merry joins me to chat all things health, wellness, her recent fellowship in Integrative Medicine and, of course, we chat about The Blue Zones, and finding your why!
Mar 04, 2019•55 min•Ep. 17
The long awaited Shift Work episode is here! As many of you will know, I am currently doing a full time Public Health & Nutrition Masters, and my thesis topic is shift work and its effect on health. In this episode, I share my own experience in shift work as a medical doctor, and of course, bring you the healthy lifestyle tips from my research in this area to date! I hope those of you involved in shift work (or your family/friends!) find it helpful!
Feb 24, 2019•24 min•Ep. 19
In this week's episode, I share my thoughts on a frequently asked question - Where do you find motivation? I discuss where my motivation for my career and my healthy lifestyle habits comes from, as well as the concept of Ikigai and finding your 'why' in life!
Feb 17, 2019•21 min•Ep. 16
In this week's episode, I discuss the importance of exercise as part of our lifestyles! I dive into the topic of resistance training and why it's so essential for Healthy Ageing in body and mind. I also share some simple tips to get you started with your strength journey!
Feb 10, 2019•17 min•Ep. 15
In this week's episode, I dive into the importance of Sleep! Why quality and quantity of Sleep are equally important for our physical, mental and emotional health, and what the recommended sleep hours are. I share the simple tips I follow to get a good night's sleep too. I hope you guys enjoy this week's episode and find it helpful to better your bedtime!
Feb 03, 2019•17 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, I'm sharing my journey to better stress management, using the various techniques I've built up over the past year in particular. I chat about mindfulness, meditation, exercise, breathing exercises and many other options you can try out for yourself to build your personal stress-busting toolkit! As always, I hope this episode helps you, and I would love to hear your feedback!
Jan 27, 2019•22 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, I discuss our relationship with our smartphones and social media. It's definitely something I'm trying to monitor myself and not overdo it with screen time! I've also shared the tips I've found super helpful to reduce my screen time over the past 6 months. I hope you find them useful too!
Jan 20, 2019•16 min•Ep. 12
In this episode, I'm sharing a reflection on the first Semester of my Masters in Public Health and Nutrition at University College Dublin! I'm absolutely loving the course and have learnt so much already. I discuss what public health is, why it's so important and the three key things I've taken from my first Semester! Roll on Semester 2!
Jan 13, 2019•21 min•Ep. 7
In this week's episode, I'm discussing the important topic of Sustainable Eating! What is it? Why is it such a hot topic? Why is it important for us all to be aware of? With so much discussion in the media around the environmental impact of animal protein, #Veganuary and far too many Netflix documentaries scaring everyone (!) I'm bringing the focus to one we can all relate to - our health and that of the environment.
Jan 10, 2019•25 min•Ep. 6
To me, balance is a journey we're all on. It's pretty tricky to say we live balanced lives 24/7! I called my blog The Irish Balance partly to share my journey to balance with you guys. In this episode, I talk about what balance means to me, and share my top 4 tips for keeping my healthy habits on track - even when 'life happens!'
Jan 07, 2019•17 min•Ep. 5
In this week's episode, I'm going to discuss the SMART technique for goal-setting. It's my favourite way to define my goals in all areas of life - nutrition, physical activity, stress management, sleep hygiene, it's applicable to them all! Tune in to set goals smartly & make your New Year's Resolutions for 2019 a sustainable part of your life.
Jan 03, 2019•11 min•Ep. 4
Have YOU set your New Year's Resolutions? The first full episode of my Podcast series focuses on simple and sustainable ideas for healthy lifestyle changes you can take on for 2019!
Dec 30, 2018•19 min•Ep. 3
Welcome to The Irish Balance Podcast - a series by me, Dr. Ciara Kelly, a medical doctor with a special interest in public health, preventive medicine and health promotion. This introduction tells you about who I am, my passion and message as a doctor to you all, and what you can expect from this new Podcast in 2019.
Dec 30, 2018•14 min•Ep. 2