On Health with Houston Methodist

Few diets have generated as much buzz as intermittent fasting, a way of eating that involves abstaining from food consumption on a regular schedule. Touted as about when you eat rather than what, it's gained great popularity as a means of weight loss. But its value beyond losing weight may be its promise of a host of other benefits — better heart health, improved cognitive function, blood sug...

How do you know if you have sleep apnea? It’s common, with estimates suggesting that more than 20% of adults suffer from this sleep-related breathing disorder. Snoring is often assumed to be the primary sleep apnea symptom. But if you don’t snore, does that mean you’re in the clear? In today’s episode, we cover the most common signs of sleep apnea, why it leads to more than just bad sleep and how...

Is it just us or has the bread aisle gotten complicated? Really complicated? White bread, multigrain, honey wheat, whole wheat — to name only a few. How do you know what’s actually healthy and what’s not? In this episode, we take one of the most confusing aisles in the grocery store and break it down into its simplest parts: the nutritious grains you can trust and the refined ones you can’t. Hosts...

We all know that the first crack of dawn is the prime time for some folks, an ungodly hour for others. But what do we really know about early birds and night owls, like who’s more productive or creative -- or healthier? It turns out, people’s chronotype, their natural inclination to sleep and wake at certain times, has a bigger impact on them than previously thought. In this week’s episode, we tal...

Hosts Zach Moore, Katie McCallum and Todd Ackerman kick off the third season of On Health with Houston Methodist, sharing what listeners can expect each Tuesday morning for the next ten weeks. Stay tuned for topics ranging from whether it's bad to be a night owl and how weather affects our mood to what you should know about sleep apnea and tips for keeping your brain young. If you enjoy these...

If you're among the estimated 25 million Americans suffering from seasonal allergies, spring may not be your favorite time of year. It marks the start of watery red eyes, runny nose, sneezing and coughing, all signs of airways inflamed because the immune system is overreacting to the presence of pollen, mold or some other allergen. What can an outdoor lover do? Are allergy seasons getting lon...

Most people switch to diet soda as a way to appease their sweet tooth without losing control of their waistline. But some pretty serious accusations have been made about these calorie-free drinks. Links to cancer and other health conditions have been debunked, but what about weight gain and increased sugar cravings? In this episode, we discuss whether your diet soda habit is really any healthier,...

You probably don't think about your health when you buy shoes, but they support one of the body's most complex structures — your feet, the site of 25% of your bones and muscles. According to polls, 8 in 10 adults experience problems with their feet. What's more is that the wrong shoes or wrong fit can also affect your legs, knees, hips, back and neck. What do you need to know to cho...

Few of us are strangers to having our hearts broken. Whether the cause is a breakup, crushed dream or death of a loved one, a broken heart inflicts a special kind of pain. It's considered an emotional state, but we allude to more than just our frame of mind when we describe it. We "feel it in our bones," say our chest hurts and call it heartbreak, after all. In today's episode,...

We let them into our hearts, our homes, even our bedrooms. Yes, we adore our pets, a love affair that goes back tens of thousands of years, even if it began because these domesticated animals served a specific purpose, such as protection or pest control. Most pets today play less functional roles. Or do they? In today’s episode, we learn how pets aren’t just our trusted companions. They’re also pa...

The average smartphone user unlocks their phone about 150 times a day. Staying in touch, taking photos, getting directions, watching videos, reading the news — there are many reasons we rely on our smartphones so much. But they can also become a distraction. In today’s episode, we explore the double-edged sword that is the smartphone, a tool that can improve our lives but also cause a reliance bor...

Heartburn is one of the most common digestive disorders in the world. But is that post-eating burning sensation in the middle of your chest just an annoying fact of life or something more concerning? What are the risk factors? And should you be eliminating certain foods from your diet? In this episode, we discuss the causes of heartburn, when and when not to worry and the best ways to prevent and...

Fitness trackers collect an impressive amount of data these days. But with endless metrics to sift through, it’s not always clear whether you’re meeting your health and fitness goals. Do steps matter most? Or are exercise minutes more important? What’s the difference between activity and exercise anyway? In today’s episode, we learn how to effectively use our fitness trackers and how the payoffs c...

Whether you’re on the fence about getting an air fryer or have one but aren’t quite sure how best to use it, you might have some questions about this trendy cooking appliance. Is food cooked in an air frier always healthier, even fries and wings? What else can you make in it? In today’s episode, we talk all things air fryer — including how they work and tips for cooking with one. Hosts: Zach Moore...

Forming good habits is tough. Breaking bad ones can be even harder. But why? There’s perhaps no better time to explore this question than at the start of the new year, when many of us are resolving to make healthy changes in our lives. In today’s episode, we discuss the psychology of habits and get tips for sticking to our New Year’s resolutions and other goals we set for ourselves.  Hosts: Zach M...

Hosts Zach Moore, Katie McCallum and Todd Ackerman kick off the second season of On Health with Houston Methodist, sharing what listeners can expect each Tuesday for the next ten weeks. If you enjoy these kinds of conversations, be sure to subscribe. And for more topics like this, visit our blog at houstonmethodist.org/blog . 

We're all aging, so it's never too soon to think about how to enter your golden years as healthy as possible. In today's episode, self-proclaimed "resident old guy", Scott Jones, shares his journey toward healthier aging. As he takes us inside appointments with his health care team, we learn steps we can take today to avoid some of the worst pitfalls of getting older — no...

Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, or hypertension. What's more, only about 1 in 4 of those have the condition under control. What can you do to control high blood pressure — or better yet, prevent it from developing in the first place? In today's episode, we get the lowdown on high blood pressure, the leading cause of stroke and major risk factor for other concerning h...

You may assume you’re getting enough vitamin D, but some 42% of American adults are deficient in the nutrient, according to the National Institutes of Health. Moreover, the problem is becoming more common, according to doctors. What are the consequences? And how treatable is a deficiency? In today’s episode, our expert talks about how worried we should be about the trend. Hosts: Zach Moore, Todd A...

Germs are everywhere. Not all are bad, of course, but you may be wondering what it takes to protect yourself from the ones that can make you sick. Should we disinfect our phones every day? How long is too long to use a towel without washing it? In today’s episode, we get an answer to these and other questions about how best to live among germs.  Hosts: Zach Moore (interviewer), Katie McCallum Expe...

Hydration powders and products are flooding the wellness space these days — promising to maximize water uptake and prevent dehydration. The concept is nothing new, of course. Sports drinks have existed for decades. But is staying hydrated really more complicated than just drinking plain old water? In today’s episode, we discuss everything from hydration basics to when water may not be enough. Host...

Most American adults take some sort of nutritional supplements, according to recent surveys, often without looping in their doctor. But since the FDA stopped regulating the industry decades ago, consumers don't know whether the supplements they take are beneficial or dangerous — or worth the (often pricey) expenditure. In today's episode, we enlist a primary care physician well versed in...

After two fairly quiet flu seasons (an unexpected blip of good news amid the COVID-19 pandemic), you may have been lulled into complacency about the influenza virus. But early signs suggest the flu is returning from its exile in a big way this year. In this episode, we discuss why experts are concerned we're in for a severe season, how the flu is different from COVID-19 and answers to common...

Many of us have a habit of sticking cotton swabs into our ears each day. We do it under the guise of personal hygiene, but do our ears even need to be cleaned in the first place? And given that the ear is a very delicate organ responsible for one of your five senses, should we really be sticking things inside of it? In today's episode, we hear some answers to these questions and discuss other...

Sure, healthy eating and brunch may not seem like they go together. But how about if you order avocado toast? It seems like a healthy choice, especially compared to other brunch options like chicken and waffles or biscuits and gravy. In today’s episode, we deconstruct avocado toast and put its ingredients through a wellness check. Hosts: Zach Moore, Katie McCallum (interviewer)  Expert: Kylie Arri...