Can plants help blood sugar? In this episode of Five Rivers sponsored by Heald , host Sandeep Misra (Co-Founder & CGO, Heald) sits down with Rev. Dr. Brooke Brimm, Founder of Vegan Soul Foodie®️ and Minister of Mind, Body & Spirit, for a powerful conversation on fiber, gut health, plant-based eating, and type 2 diabetes. This episode explores how a plant-based diet, high-fiber foods, and better daily habits may support blood sugar balance, metabolic health, and a more sustainable diabetes reversal lifestyle.

If you have ever wondered about vegan diabetes meals, gut microbiome and diabetes, foods that help blood sugar, fiber for blood sugar control, or whether plants can help insulin resistance, this podcast is for you. Brooke Brimm brings a unique perspective that connects nutrition, lifestyle, mind-body wellness, and spiritual health in a way that feels practical, grounded, and human. This is not just a conversation about food. It is a conversation about healing, consistency, energy, and building a healthier relationship with the body.

Throughout this episode, we unpack topics like type 2 diabetes management, plant-based nutrition, whole food lifestyle, gut health for beginners, healthy habits for blood sugar, diabetes-friendly foods, vegan lifestyle for metabolic health, and the deeper connection between mind, body, and spirit. Whether you are actively working on reversing type 2 diabetes, trying to improve glucose control, exploring a vegan wellness journey, or simply looking for smarter ways to eat for long-term health, this discussion offers real value.

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Discover the science behind the gut-brain axis and blood sugar regulation in this deep, expert-led episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald. In this conversation, Dr. Shwetha Vijan P, MSc Food Science & Nutrition, Team Lead of Nutrition Services at Heald, sits down with Dr. Catherine Brown, MS, RD, CDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Clinical Lead at Flourish Nutrition, to unpack how the gut microbiome, stress, cravings, inflammation, mood, metabolism, digestion, and insulin resistance may all connect.

This episode is built for anyone interested in type 2 diabetes, diabetes reversal, blood sugar management, gut health, lifestyle medicine, nutrition science, functional nutrition, dietitian insights, healthy eating, metabolic health, and evidence-based wellness. The gut-brain axis has become an increasingly discussed topic in nutrition and diabetes science, with recent research and expert discussions focusing on how the microbiome may influence glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, inflammation, and overall metabolic function

Throughout this podcast, Catherine Brown explains how daily food choices, digestive health, fiber intake, gut bacteria, stress patterns, and lifestyle habits may shape blood sugar outcomes over time. If you are someone trying to understand the gut microbiome’s role in type 2 diabetes, this episode delivers actionable insight without hype. You’ll hear discussion around gut health and diabetes, microbiome diversity, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, mood and food behavior, blood sugar spikes, food quality, long-term lifestyle change, and science-backed nutrition strategies.

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Hormones don’t stay constant across a woman’s life and when they shift, metabolic health can shift with them.

In this episode of the Five Rivers Podcast ( sponsored by Heald ), Dr. Sumeet Arora (Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinologist, American Board Certified ) sits down with Dr. Aimee Browne, MD (Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility + Lifestyle Medicine) to explain PCOS in a way that finally makes sense.

PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is one of the most common metabolic disorders in women, yet it’s still misunderstood. Many people think PCOS only means “cysts on the ovaries” or that irregular periods automatically equal PCOS. In this conversation, Dr. Browne breaks down what’s actually happening under the hood: the “triad” of insulin resistance, inflammation, and weight gain that can disrupt brain-to-ovary signaling leading to irregular cycles, skipped periods, high androgens (male hormones), acne, hair growth, fatigue, and fertility challenges.

One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Dr. Browne’s insulin resistance analogy, which illustrates how glucose struggles to enter cells when insulin resistance is present, creating ripple effects such as fatty liver, disrupted ovulation, and hormonal imbalance. You’ll also learn why lifestyle factors matter hugely for treatment, but they’re not the original cause and why some women respond very differently to the same foods due to underlying metabolic programming and genetics.

If you’re searching for answers about irregular periods, PCOS symptoms, insulin resistance in women, fertility and PCOS, or how to prevent long-term risks like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, this episode gives an evidence-based, practical framework. We also cover why PCOS can feel “confusing” across life stages (and why the diagnosis can appear to change), plus what to test, what labs rule out PCOS “impersonators,” and why early screening matters, especially after gestational diabetes.

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Sugar cravings aren’t a willpower problem, they’re a brain, stress, and biology problem.

In this episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald, host Sandeep Misra (Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Heald) sits down with Dr. Nicole Avena, Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Author of Sugarless to break down what actually drives cravings, how stress rewires appetite, and where GLP-1 drugs really fit into long-term metabolic health.

If you’re dealing with Type 2 diabetes, blood sugar swings, emotional eating, or constant sugar cravings, this conversation goes beyond surface-level advice. Dr. Avena explains the brain chemistry of cravings, the dopamine stress food loop, and why ultra-processed foods make it harder to stop once you start. We also dive into food psychology, nutrition science, and the real-world tradeoffs of using GLP-1 medications for weight loss and glucose control.

You’ll learn how stress hormones like cortisol impact blood sugar, why cravings spike during busy or emotional periods, and what actually helps reduce them sustainably without living in food guilt or bouncing between extreme diets. We also discuss how lifestyle changes, protein, fiber, sleep, and stress management can support better glucose control and make diabetes reversal strategies more realistic over time.

This episode is especially useful for anyone seeking evidence-based answers rather than hype. Whether you’re curious about GLP-1 drugs, struggling with sugar addiction, or trying to stabilize blood sugars naturally, this conversation gives you practical, science-backed clarity.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!

In this episode of the Five Rivers Podcast, host Sandeep Misra (Co-Founder & Chief Growth Officer at Heald) sits down with Dr. Eric Schabert, DO (board-certified Family Medicine + Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine) to break down why diabetes rates keep climbing even with more medications than ever and what actually moves the needle.

This video is for:

• Adults living with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes
• Anyone trying to build healthier habits and improve metabolic health
• People using (or considering) metformin, insulin, GLP-1s, or SGLT2s
• Family members supporting someone with diabetes
• Clinicians, coaches, and curious learners who want a clear, practical perspective

What you’ll learn:

• Why diabetes is rising so quickly in the U.S. and what the numbers really mean
• The “diet, diet, diet, exercise, medications” framework and why it still holds up
• How misinformation and “I-know-everything” influencers confuse people and delay progress
• Why lifestyle changes can sometimes lead to remission, especially when started early
• The real cost drivers of diabetes care (hint: it’s not just meds it’s complications)
• Why food quality, culture, and access matter and why one-size-fits-all plans fail
• How tools like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can help connect meals + movement to real outcomes

If diabetes has felt overwhelming, this conversation brings it back to basics, without shame, without extremes, and with a focus on what people can actually do.

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In this powerful episode of the Five Rivers Podcast, Sandeep Misra (Co-Founder, Heald) sits with Daniel Dent, Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach, and Corrective Exercise Specialist, about what it really takes to improve blood sugar, energy, and long-term health.

Forget the “one-size-fits-all” fitness routines and restrictive diets. This episode is all about practical, science-backed steps that make sustainable change possible even if you’re just getting started.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- Why “Train the habit, not just the muscle” is the real secret to lasting progress.

- How small, consistent actions lead to better blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity.

- Morning routines that lower cortisol and set your day up for success.

- Why hydration and low-impact movement are underrated diabetes tools.

- How sleep quality impacts blood glucose, cravings, and recovery.

Whether you’re managing Type 2 Diabetes, prediabetes, or simply looking to feel better and move smarter, this conversation breaks down the small wins that add up to big health changes.

Key takeaway:

A little is a lot. Tiny, intentional habits, such as a short walk, better sleep, and mindful eating, can completely shift your glucose, energy, and mindset.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!

Did you know 68% of people with Type 2 Diabetes over age 65 will die from heart disease, often without the classic chest pain warning signs? Diabetes can mask heart attack symptoms, making them “silent” but deadly.

In this episode of the Five Rivers Podcast, Sandeep, Chief Growth Officer at Heald sits down with Valerie Bachinsky, MSN, RN (Nurse Coach & Founder, NurseGuided Wellness) to explore:

- Why Type 2 Diabetes doubles to quadruples your heart attack risk

- The hidden connection between insulin resistance, inflammation, and atherosclerosis

- Why do many with diabetes never feel chest pain during a heart attack

- The overlooked drivers: stress, poor sleep, visceral fat, and sedentary habits

- Why focusing only on A1C misses the bigger heart risk picture

- One simple habit: a 10-minute walk after meals to lower glucose & protect the heart

- Nutrition truths vs. myths: plant-based power vs. the dangers of extreme diets (keto/carnivore)

- The mindset shift: progress over perfection for sustainable health

Whether you’re managing diabetes or preventing heart disease, this conversation will show you how small, consistent lifestyle changes can protect your heart, brain, kidneys, and beyond.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!

Fatty Liver (MASLD) Is Rising- Here’s How to Reverse It (Without Going “All or Nothing”)
Registered Dietitian & author Andy De Santis joins host Sandeep Misra to cut through hype and lay out what actually works for fatty liver (aka MASLD). We cover why it’s being diagnosed younger, especially in men, and the link to low testosterone and fertility.

Learn how insulin resistance drives liver fat, what labs/imaging matter (triglycerides, HDL, ultrasound/FibroScan), and the biggest dietary culprits (sugary drinks, refined carbs, processed/red meat, alcohol).

Most importantly: the playbook. Andy’s “curated high-polyphenol Mediterranean” pattern thinks fatty fish or EPA/DHA (algae) supplements, beans/lentils, nuts, berries/flax/coffee/tea, herbs & spices, olives/avocado, plus why aerobic exercise trims liver fat more than lifting alone. You’ll get day-one habits (fruit + nuts snack, canned-bean hack, daily walk, 4-7-8 breathing), why women should prioritize glucose control even more, and a sane mindset: it’s a game of averages, not perfection.

Takeaways: Fix the inputs, stack simple wins, and you can meaningfully reduce liver fat often without massive weight loss.

Visit HealD for more resources on diabetes management!