Real Health with Karl Henry

I regularly get asked what's in my weekly food shop and what do I buy in the supermarket from people wanting advice and tips to ensure they're set up for a week of healthy eating. This week's episode deals with just that - it's my top tips for your ten food shop essentials. It's the ten foods that are in my shopping trolley every week. The food shop is crucial to your health, stocking up with the...

He’s the World Rugby Player of the Year, a multiple European Cup, Pro14 and Six Nations winner and Johnny Sexton joins me on this week’s Real Health podcast from the Laya City Spectacular that was recently held in Dublin’s Merrion Square. Johnny talks to me about his down-time and off-season, as well as the return to pre-season training in preparation for what will be the biggest of years with the...

It all began with a veg shop in Greystones, and what started as a simple dream has, over the last fifteen years, become an overnight success story with books, cafes, TV shows, online courses, and of course, their food products. The Happy Pears are one of Ireland's great health and food business successes and on this week's show, Stephen and David Flynn, join me to tell me how it happened. Their en...

Gut health is everything to do with your bowel and its healthy functioning is a vital part of your daily life. Frances Flannery, aka Your Gut Friend, is a gut health specialist and continuing our health masterclass series, she joins me on this week’s Real Health podcast. Bloating, constipation, these are issues people don’t like to talk about, but Frances has some great professional insights and a...

It’s another exclusive Real Health interview this week when I had the opportunity to speak to one of Ireland’s favourite sports people, Brian O’Driscoll. From a sunny Herbert Park, Brian spoke honestly about the lows of life after rugby, how he needed to train hard again to find happiness and balance in his life, and why he needed to partner up to help motivate himself when it came to training and...

After 30, your brain starts to shrink. It's a scary fact and as it's our most important organ it makes sense that we should look after it and keep it fit. After all, you brush and care for your teeth every day, surely you should be doing the same for your brain? That's what this week's guest, Sabina Brennan, says on this week's Real Health podcast. Continuing our health masterclass series, Sabina...

Let's talk about sex. In the first of a masterclass health series on the Real Health podcast, I'm talking about sexual health and sexual communication with sex educator and owner of Sex Siopa, Shawna Scott. Shawna gives her tips for improving sexual communication as well as explaining our evolving sexual needs and why we shouldn't be afraid to try new things out with our partner. "The things we’re...

Personal trainer, Dominic Munnelly, is back to answer more of your fitness and gym questions on this week’s episode of the Real Health podcast with me Karl Henry. Dominic is one of Ireland’s leading personal trainers and when he was on the show two months ago he had so much information to give I had to invite him back on again and to answer more of your health and fitness questions. Dominic covers...

Marty Morrissey is one of Ireland’s best-loved TV personalities but there’s so much more to the GAA commentator that you probably never knew. Marty joined me live at Bloom 2019 where we discussed going outside your comfort zone, taking on life’s challenges and why it’s so difficult for him to find a happy life-balance. Candidly, he admitted that he still needed to lose three stone and why, having...

If you want to establish healthy habits into your life then make them simple and easy to implement. People like simple things and these ten tips to help transform your life aren’t difficult – and that’s the secret. On this week’s episode, from focusing on your happiness to taking steps to improving your sleep, as well covering food, finances and training, these ten ways will help make a difference...

Did you know about the eating plan that says you can stay in great shape physically and mentally while still enjoying delicious food? According to dietitian and author of Mediterranean Mood Food, Paula Mee, we can have it both ways and she joined me on this week’s episode of the Real Health podcast to discuss the recipes, science and habits behind the Mediterranean style diet. It may be well estab...

"If you can walk comfortably for thirty minutes, then running is worth giving it a shot. Most people stop because they’re trying to do much. Lower your expectations from the start and start small. Little wins make you more likely to get out the door." Mary Jennings, author of Get Running and founder of running classes website, ForgettheGym.ie, joins me on this week's episode to explain how and why...

As Leinster Rugby look to add a record-breaking fifth European Cup to their trophy cabinet, it’s an exciting time to be involved with the club and from a health and fitness perspective, I wanted to find out some of the tips and insights into what makes them one of true greats on the European scene. Joining me on the show from Leinster Rugby HQ were Performance Nutritionist, Daniel Davey, and Cilli...

The next time you reach for a snack or something to eat, ask yourself, are you really hungry? Mindful eating - the practical approach to bringing calm and awareness to meal times - is the topic for this week's episode as I'm joined by Aisling Larkin, co-founder of Foodoppi. Disordered eating can lead to things quickly spiralling out of control, but you can bring mindfulness back to where you are a...

Waking up in a pool of blood at the bottom of a flight of stairs in a karaoke bar was the final straw for TodayFM’s Dermot Whelan. He needed to find a way to deal with life’s stresses and that’s when he discovered meditation as he explains to me on this week’s Real Health episode. Since then, he has spent a year in California to train as a mediation teacher and he now gives workshops around the co...

Aged six, Bernard Dunne sat on Barry McGuigan's knee and told McGuigan that someday he too would be like him. Twenty-three years later Bernard Dunne became a world boxing champion and proved his skill, determination and focus to achieve. Ten years on from that magical moment, he joins me on the Real Health podcast to talk about the power of self-belief and never letting the negative thoughts in yo...

If you're looking to lose some weight for the summer holidays or just want to feel better about your body, then this week's episode is for you as I give you the 10 REAL ways to lose weight. Bringing you the benefit of all my years of experience in personal training, these tips really do work. I cover everything from muscle v fat, cardio training, calories, food planning, and how to avoid the train...

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is this week’s guest on the Real Health podcast as I give him and two of his staff a six-week fitness challenge and I ask you, the listeners, to also test yourself against the Taoiseach over the next six weeks. “It was following on from the Operation Transformation Metabolic Age Test that I did and had me coming out at 53,” Leo Varadkar explained to me. “I’m actually 40...

She’s a best-selling author of two books, Owning It and The Confidence Kit, has a chart-topping podcast and is looking to crack the US with her brand of no-nonsense advice on living with anxiety and Caroline Foran is my guest on this week’s Real Health episode. Describing the rise of anxiety in people’s lives as an ‘epidemic’, the success of Caroline Foran’s books and podcast has shown how much it...

This week’s episode is all about your skin. Your skin? Yes, your skin, one of our vital health organs. If you exercise at all you know what it’s like to sweat and if you’re a healthy eater, you will also know how important good food is for your skin too. We’re not just talking vanity here either. Healthy skin is also a barometer of good health and treating your body well. So who better to give us...

You made it! It's my 7th and final Daily Health Boost to help kickstart your daily routine and today's tip is focusing on what you can achieve going forwards so listen in and I hope you find it effective. For more Real Health episodes and information you can visit the show page at: https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/ Don’t forget to rate and subscribe the show and get in t...

We're nearly there for our week-long daily health boosts to help kickstart your days and I hope these short tips are making a small difference? Today's Daily Health boost is a good way to make a positive impact on your life. Listen in to find out more! For more Real Health episodes and information you can visit the show page at: https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/ Don’t fo...

Dominic Munnelly is one of Ireland’s leading personal trainers with twenty years’ experience and a philosophy rooted in the athletic over the aesthetic focused on mobility and movement over abs and muscle. I wanted to find out more from Dominic to get some of his training tips for more effective results and we covered everything from exercises to diet and nutrition, supplements and agility. “It’s...

Day 5 of your 7 day Daily Health Boost tips and I hope they're making a difference? Today's tip is focused on emotional fitness so give it a go and let me know how you're getting on! For more Real Health episodes and information you can visit the show page at: https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/ Don’t forget to rate and subscribe the show and get in touch - I’m on Twitter...

How are you getting on with the Daily Health Boosts? Are you sticking with them? Today's tip is a simple but very effective tip for burning calories. So simple but it works! For more Real Health episodes and information you can visit the show page at: https://www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-real-health-podcast/ Don’t forget to rate and subscribe the show and get in touch - I’m on Twitter and Insta...