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The Power of Plants, Love and Connection with Dr Gemma Newman #155

Feb 10, 2021 1h 26m 20 insights
This week I’m delighted to welcome friend and fellow GP, Dr Gemma Newman to the podcast. Gemma is someone who I really respect, not only is she incredibly knowledgeable, she always leads with kindness and compassion – values that I aspire to myself. Gemma has recently released her first book, The Plant Power Doctor: A Simple Prescription for a Healthier You. Having been a doctor for 17 years, Gemma has learned a lot by interacting with her patients but like for so many of us, she has also learned powerful life lessons through her own life experience. Gemma has a strong family history of heart disease and in her early days as a junior doctor, she found herself to be carrying excess weight and was exhausted. This led to her making some changes to what she ate and how she moved, which helped her lose weight. In fact, she dropped from a size 18 to a size 8 but when she checked her blood levels, she found some concerning results. Initially, Gemma put these results down to her genes and did nothing more about it until she started researching a whole-food plant based diet. Following this research, she decided to give this way of eating a go and she shares the transformative effect it had on her and some of her patients. This is a wide-ranging conversation. We discuss how many of the chronic illnesses we face - including heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, hormonal dysfunction and obesity - can be helped with changes to our lifestyle. We also talk about Gemma’s own near-death experience and the topic of spirituality. Finally, Gemma shares her brilliant top tips, which you can put into practice immediately to change the way that you feel. At the heart of all Gemma’s advice is compassion and kindness and I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Show notes available at https://drchatterjee.com/155 Follow me on instagram.com/drchatterjee/ Follow me on facebook.com/DrChatterjee/ Follow me on twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Actionable Insights

1. Cultivate Self-Love & Worth

Actively love yourself and cultivate an inner sense of self-worth, as this foundation is crucial for naturally making healthier choices and achieving long-term health success.

2. Identify Your Core Values

Start each day by recalling your top three personal values (e.g., love, integrity, family) to remember what’s important and guide your actions and behavior throughout the day.

3. Practice Gratitude & Compassion

Engage in gratitude by noticing the present moment and emotions without judgment, and focus on compassion for yourself and others, as this positively impacts your biology, hormones, and immune system.

4. Prioritize Overall Well-being

Shift your focus from solely weight loss to embracing healthy habits for overall well-being and how you feel about yourself, allowing weight loss to be a beneficial side effect rather than the primary goal.

5. Increase Plant-Based Foods

Prioritize a whole foods plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts, and seeds to improve energy, satiety, and long-term health, including managing chronic diseases.

6. Nourish Gut Microbiome Gradually

Consume fiber-rich plant foods, introducing them gradually like lifting weights, to feed your gut bugs and build a healthy microbial environment for long-term health and better tolerance.

7. Engage in Mindful Movement

Incorporate regular physical movement, recognizing its profound benefits for brain health, thoughts, self-perception, hormones, and endorphins, extending beyond mere calorie burning.

8. Ensure Adequate Sleep

Prioritize sufficient sleep, as it is crucial for supporting gut health, immune function, and overall physical and mental well-being, including the circadian rhythm of your gut bugs.

9. Increase Dietary Fiber

Boost your fiber intake to prevent constipation, which helps the body excrete unwanted hormones like estrogen and supports overall hormonal balance.

10. Manage Excess Weight

Reduce excess body fat, as fat cells act as hormone factories, and decreasing their size can lead to a reduction in exposure to excess hormones, improving hormonal health.

11. Reduce Inflammatory Foods

Decrease consumption of foods high in omega-6s, oily processed items, and animal products, which can increase prostaglandin levels and contribute to more painful or heavier periods.

12. Limit Plastic Exposure

Minimize exposure to environmental plastics by avoiding microwaving food in plastic and opting for non-plastic water bottles, as phthalates can disrupt hormonal balance.

13. Introduce Diet Changes Gradually

When adopting new eating habits, make gradual switches and consider doing so privately initially to reduce pressure and increase the likelihood of sustained success.

14. Make Simple Food Swaps

Replace favorite dishes with healthier, plant-based alternatives (e.g., lentil bolognese, three-bean chili) to easily change your dietary repertoire without feeling deprived.

15. Utilize Freezer for Meal Prep

Prepare meals or components on the weekend and freeze them to simplify healthy eating during the week, reducing decision fatigue and time constraints.

16. Start with One Plant-Based Meal

Begin your plant-based journey by incorporating just one plant-based meal per week, focusing on enjoyment and gradually expanding as you feel comfortable.

17. Recognize Exhaustion as Signal

Pay attention to feelings of exhaustion and lack of energy, as these can be crucial signals indicating a need to make lifestyle changes for better health and well-being.

18. Set Specific Health Goals

Define clear and specific health goals to provide direction and motivation, helping you to stay on track and avoid inconsistent progress in your health journey.

19. Foster Loving Relationships

Actively nurture loving relationships, as having even one close connection can significantly improve long-term health, stability, and happiness outcomes.

20. Discuss Death Openly

Engage in conversations about death and what constitutes a ’life well-lived,’ aiming to reduce fear and foster a focus on legacy and connection.