NHA Today Podcast

Strength Is FreedomWhat do you want to still be able to do 10, 20 or 30 years from now?Travel. Garden. Play pickleball. Carry your grandchildren. Get off the floor without help. Keep doing the things that make your life yours.In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with physical therapist and world champion weightlifter Jen Dieter to talk about building strength for the life you want to keep living.Jen is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy, an 11-time CrossFit Games qualifier, five-time world record holder in Olympic weightlifting and two-time World Champion. But her message is not just for athletes. Jen did not begin CrossFit and weight training until she was 38, after years without intentional exercise.She explains why muscle is an investment in your future and why strength training, balance, quick footwork and functional movement matter more as we age.Most importantly, Jen encourages listeners to think beyond the scale or the mirror. Ask yourself what you want your body to be able to do years from now, then start training for that life today.In This EpisodeWhy muscle is an investment in your futureWhy it is never too late to get strongerWhat functional strength really meansHow balance and quick footwork support real-life movementWhy fear of injury can lead to lost functionHow to start strength training if you are new to itWhy fitness goals should go beyond weight and appearanceJen leaves listeners with three practical places to start: lift something that feels heavy for you two or three times a week, give your cardiovascular exercise a purpose and test what your body can actually do.About Jen DieterJen Dieter, MPT is the founder and lead clinician of REAL Movement Physical Therapy. She has spent 28 years helping people move beyond pain and return to the activities they love.REAL Movement Physical Therapy:http://www.realmovementphysicaltherapy.comInstagram:@jensmash13About Dr. Stephan EsserDr. Stephan Esser is a board-certified physician specializing in sports medicine and lifestyle medicine and the host of the NHA Today Podcast.Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the NHA:https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?Learn more:https://healthscience.orgUpcoming events:https://healthscience.org/events/

We may be living longer, but are we actually living healthier?In this episode of the NHA Today Podcast, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Charlyn Black, MD, ScD, physician, public health researcher, educator and co-author of Plant Powered Seniors, to explore the growing gap between lifespan and healthspan.Healthspan refers to the years of life spent in good health, rather than years marked by chronic disease, frequent medical care and declining function. Dr. Black explains that while lifespan has increased, the amount of time many people spend in poor health has also increased. In the United States, she points to recent data suggesting that this gap now exceeds 14 years.But aging does not have to mean simply accepting a steady decline in health.Dr. Black explains how our bodies and nutritional needs change as we get older, from changes in nutrient absorption and muscle response to hydration, appetite and caloric needs. She also shares how her own approach to nutrition and movement has evolved as she has aged and why even people who have followed a healthy lifestyle for years may benefit from making adjustments.The conversation also goes beyond individual choices. Drawing on her career in public health, Dr. Black discusses how our food environments, institutions and public policies can either support healthier choices or make them much harder. She argues that improving population health requires both personal action and environments that make healthy living easier.Above all, her message is an encouraging one: it is never too late to make a difference in your health. Whether you are already thriving or managing chronic conditions, changes in nutrition, movement and other lifestyle habits can still matter.In This EpisodeThe important difference between lifespan and healthspanWhy living longer does not necessarily mean living healthierHow nutrition needs and physical function change as we ageWhy a whole food, plant-powered diet may be especially valuable later in lifeThe role of movement in maintaining strength, mobility and independenceWhy sleep, social connection, stress management and avoiding risky substances matter for healthy agingWhy willpower alone is not enough to create healthier populationsHow our food environment influences the choices we makeSimple ways to begin improving your health at any agePlant Powered SeniorsDr. Black is a co-author of Plant Powered Seniors with registered dietitians Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina. Written specifically for adults 50 and older, the book explores how nutritional needs change with age and how plant-powered nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits can support better health throughout the later decades of life.Learn more and purchase Plant Powered Seniors:https://plant-poweredseniors.com/Connect with the National Health AssociationJoin the National Health Association:https://membership.healthscience.org/join-membership?Learn more about the NHA:https://healthscience.orgExplore upcoming NHA events:https://healthscience.org/events/If you enjoyed this episode, follow the NHA Today Podcast, leave a review and share it with someone who wants to spend more of their years living with health, strength and independence.

Where healthy living meets unforgettable travelCan you explore the world, enjoy incredible food and still stick to the healthy lifestyle you’ve worked so hard to build?In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Wanda Huberman, Executive Director of the National Health Association, and Lisa McCarl, RN, MS, CTA, of McCarl Travel, LLC, to explore how NHA is bringing plant-based living and unforgettable travel together.Lisa and Wanda take listeners behind the scenes of NHA’s plant-based cruises, including the work that goes into coordinating with cruise line culinary teams, arranging private dining and making sure ships are prepared for the way NHA travelers eat. On some voyages, NHA chefs even work alongside the ship’s culinary team to help bring the NHA approach into the kitchen.But the food is only part of the experience. These trips give travelers the opportunity to explore destinations around the world while connecting with people who share their commitment to healthy living. Wanda and Lisa share how friendships formed during NHA trips often continue long after everyone returns home.The conversation offers a look at cruises throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Alaska, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Lisa also explains why many trips are planned years in advance, how the wait lists work and why joining one can still be worthwhile when a trip appears to be full.Wanda also shares a preview of NHA’s land-based adventures, including upcoming trips to Rwanda and Botswana organized with World Vegan Travel. From wildlife encounters and hiking to cultural experiences, these trips offer even more ways to see the world while keeping healthy food, adventure and community at the center of the experience.If travel is on your wish list, discover what’s ahead and how NHA is making it easier to explore the world without leaving your healthy lifestyle behind.Links & ResourcesExplore NHA Plant-Based Travel:https://www.healthscience.org/plant-based-travel/Join the NHA Whole-Food, Plant-Based Travel Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/nhaplantbasedtravelConnect with Lisa McCarl, CTA, ECC, VTA | McCarl Travel, LLC:https://www.thetravelinstitute.com/agent/25665/Watch NHA Today on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociationFollow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/Learn more about the National Health Association:https://www.healthscience.org/

What everyone should know about building strength and supporting pelvic healthUrinary leakage, chronic constipation, pelvic pain, painful sex, organ prolapse and changes after childbirth or with aging are incredibly common. But that doesn’t mean they’re something you simply have to accept.In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser sits down with Laura Bunso, PT, MTC, a physical therapist who has specialized in pelvic health, women’s and men’s health and spine care since 1999.Laura explains what the pelvic floor actually does and why these muscles are so important for bladder and bowel control, stability, movement and sexual health. Like other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor can become weak, overly tight, injured or poorly coordinated after childbirth, surgery, menopause, aging, athletic activity and other changes throughout life.One of Laura’s most important messages is simple: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal. Urinary leakage, for example, may become more prevalent with age, but that doesn’t mean there is nothing you can do about it.The conversation also challenges the idea that better pelvic health simply means doing more Kegels. Some people need to strengthen their pelvic floor, while others need to learn how to relax and coordinate these muscles correctly. Even someone who is very active and physically strong can have pelvic floor dysfunction.Laura and Dr. Esser also explore the connection between the pelvic floor and chronic constipation, postpartum recovery, pelvic pain, organ prolapse and changes that occur as we age. Laura explains why maintaining muscle strength and coordination matters and when working with a pelvic floor physical therapist may help.Most importantly, this is a conversation about understanding your body and knowing that it’s okay to talk about symptoms that can feel personal or embarrassing. Laura shares practical ways to support pelvic health, from staying active and hydrated to learning how the pelvic floor should contract and relax.Whether you’re experiencing symptoms now or simply want to maintain strength and function as you age, this episode offers an important reminder: your pelvic floor is part of your overall health, and it deserves attention too.Links & ResourcesSmart Body Physical Therapy:https://www.smartbodypt.com/Listen to Laura’s podcast, Pelvic Like It Is:https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/pelvic-like-it-is/id1871478598Follow Dr. Stephan Esser on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/esserhealth/Watch NHA Today on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociationLearn more about the National Health Association:https://www.healthscience.org/

There’s always another diet, supplement or biohack promising better health. But what if we’re making it more complicated than it needs to be?Dr. Asa Frey and Dra. Joanna Frey believe the fundamentals of human health haven’t changed. At their residential lifestyle center, Back to the Garden in Puerto Rico, they focus on seven foundational pillars: presence, whole plant foods, movement, nature, sunlight, sleep and healthy relationships.In this episode of NHA Today, Dr. Stephan Esser talks with Dr. Asa and Dra. Joanna about why these basic principles can be more powerful than constantly chasing the latest health trend and why knowing what to do is only part of the equation.They explore the role of presence in actually making healthy habits stick, simple ways to interrupt stress during a busy day and why getting outside, moving your body and protecting your sleep are non-negotiables in their own lives. They also discuss their medically supervised water fasting program, how they prepare patients before a fast and why fasting isn't meant to be a quick fix for the habits that contributed to poor health in the first place.You’ll also hear how they bring these same principles into family life, what they’ve learned from raising their children with healthy habits and why lasting change often begins by becoming the example rather than trying to change everyone around you.Better health may not require another hack. It may mean getting back to the things your body has needed all along.Links & ResourcesBack to the Garden:https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/enBack to the Garden en Español:https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/Get the Back to the Garden App:https://www.backtothegardenpr.com/en/btgappFollow Dr. Esser on Instagram:@esserhealthWatch NHA Today on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@nationalhealthassociationLearn more about the National Health Association:https://www.healthscience.org/