Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter
25 episodes - English - Latest episode: 12 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1.5K ratingsShould I do a juice cleanse? Do I really need 8 glasses of water a day? Is it actually possible to "boost" my immune system? You’re constantly bombarded with news stories, ads, and social media posts telling you how to optimize your health—but a lot of these sources that pretend to be backed by science have another agenda. Dr. Jen Gunter is here to bust the lies you’re told—and sold—about your health, debunking some of the stickiest myths out there while helping you to understand how your body really works. Produced in partnership with Transmitter Media.
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Episodes
Fixable: Kelli - "How do I deal with a communication breakdown?"
May 01, 2023 17:47 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThis is an episode of Fixable, a new business call-in podcast from the TED Audio Collective hosted by Harvard Business professor Frances Frei and CEO and best-selling author Anne Morriss. Kelli is a nurse at a leading teaching hospital where communication issues are not only leading to resentment – they could also be affecting patient care. After hearing from Kelli about the larger problems at play in the healthcare space, Anne and Frances discuss the link between communication and ...
The Truth About "The Zone"
February 22, 2023 20:29 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThis week on Body Stuff we’re excited to introduce TED’s newest podcast, Good Sport, hosted by veteran sports producer Jody Avirgan. What can sports teach us about life – and each other? Good Sport brings you invigorating stories from on and off the field to argue that sports are as powerful and compelling a lens as any to understand the world – from what happens when you age out of a sport, to how we do or don't nurture talent, to analyzing how sports arguments have become the mode...
Can a chiropractor really fix my back?
July 06, 2022 13:19 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBBack pain is extremely common. (The U.S spent around $135 BILLION on it in 2016 alone!). It’s also complicated, because sometimes it’s one thing, but often it’s a combination of factors with no single “root cause” or fast fix, and many doctors unfortunately don’t do a good job of evaluating back pain, or even explaining it. So when medical practitioners advertise quick fixes and fast relief, it's easy to fall prey to procedures that might do you more harm than good to you and your w...
What we need to understand about opioids | Body Stuff
June 29, 2022 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBWhen we are in pain, we often turn to over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen. Sometimes, however, we’re prescribed opioid painkillers, and there’s a perception that this will be a more effective treatment, because opiods are the “strongest” treatment. But a lot of what we think we know about opioids is due to propaganda from pharmaceutical companies and confusing medical guidelines. In today’s episode, Dr. Jen breaks down opioids: what ARE they? What do they do in our brai...
Why are people worried about vaccines and fertility?
June 22, 2022 04:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBIt’s no shock that how we communicate about vaccines matters. A LOT. For example, one of the reasons some people don’t want to get vaccinated against COVID19 is because of anti-vaccine propaganda that falsely links the vaccine with infertility. Unfortunately, these kinds of myths are part of the playbook that’s been employed by anti-vaccine propagandists for… well, pretty much as long as there have been vaccines. And while this kind of targeted misinformation was predictable, powers...
Do I really have a food allergy?
June 15, 2022 04:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBThese days it can feel like anyone can be allergic to anything– with sensitivities ranging from common allergies to certain foods and animals to more unusual things, like semen or the chemicals used to treat leather. But is that true–ARE we becoming more allergic to things? What IS an allergy anyway and what are things that simply mimic an allergic reaction? Can you have a temporary allergy, and do we ever develop them later in life? In this episode, Dr. Jen explores theories of how...
You shouldn't have to choose between filling your prescriptions and paying bills | Kiah Williams
June 08, 2022 04:00 - 17 minutes - 16.2 MBThere’s a new episode out of Body Stuff for subscribers of TED Audio Collective + on Apple Podcasts; subscribe there for early access to Body Stuff and more. Otherwise see you here next week for more episodes that bust the lies you’re told and sold about your health. And today, we’re sharing an episode of TED Health, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective. As prescription drug costs skyrocket in the US, thousands of people are forced to forgo lifesaving medications—all while m...
Got yeast?
June 01, 2022 04:00 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBIt might surprise you to know that if you’re a healthy human, you have yeast living in your body (and if you’ve had a delicious slice of bread or mouthwatering glass of wine, you also have fungi to thank for that). But what DOES yeast do for human health–and at what point does yeast become a problem? How much yeast is too much? And what treatments are appropriate for things like yeast infections? In today’s episode, Dr. Jen takes a look at the science to answer these questions and m...
Do you really need 8 hours of sleep?
May 25, 2022 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBWe all know a good night’s sleep is essential, but for many people, sleeping well (or falling asleep at all) can be difficult and even stressful– and there’s no shortage of tales about what prevents people from catching their ZZZs. In this episode, Dr. Jen digs into ``how to sleep'' culture– from blue light blockers to sleep hygiene enthusiasts, to the 8 hours a night rule to… witches?! Don’t sleep on this episode–because it might just have you skipping the melatonin supplements an...
Can I speed up my metabolism?
May 18, 2022 14:38 - 30 minutes - 28 MBFrom metabolism gummies to spicy foods, the Keto diet to intricate exercise routines—it seems there’s always something that is being sold or promoted to speed up your metabolism. But do most of us even know what our metabolism IS? And is there any way to hack it (you know, so we can eat pizza all day and not stress about it)? In this episode, Dr. Jen outlines what science knows about this process and why the myths and misunderstandings about our metabolism’s ability to change can ac...
The unexpected link between taste and smell
May 11, 2022 04:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBSniffing a fragrant flower, inhaling the aroma of a good cup of coffee, breathing in your loved one’s signature scent–these are just a few of the joys you might feel deprived of when you lose your sense of smell. But smell is a surprisingly underrated sense and many of us don’t know– How DOES our sense of smell work? Is it related to taste? And if we lose it, how do we get it back? Dr. Jen Gunter walks us through the fascinating wonders and mysteries of smell, unpacks the latest neu...
Trailer Season 2
April 27, 2022 04:00 - 1 minute - 1020 KBCan you REALLY boost your metabolism? Is blue light actually ruining your sleep? How much vaginal yeast is healthy and when is it … too much? Body Stuff is BACK for a second season to bust the lies you’re told—and sold—about your personal health. Join Dr. Jen Gunter as she addresses common myths– from breaking down the incredible ways our senses of taste and smell work, to debunking some of the harmful misconceptions about opioids, to addressing the biggest pain on our backs (litera...
Listen now: WorkLife season 5
April 12, 2022 04:41 - 4 minutes - 3.67 MBWorkLife with Adam Grant is back for a fifth season! Organizational psychologist Adam Grant knows that you spend a quarter of your life at work–and in this show, he talks to some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover how we can actually enjoy all that time. From breaking down “The Great Resignation” to identifying the work culture that’s right for you, to learning the art of the pitch, this season is packed with actionable insights to help you make work not suck. To ...
Is my dentist scamming me? | Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi
November 11, 2021 11:25 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBWhen a dentist tells us something is wrong with our teeth, we tend to follow their advice. But when Mona visits two different dentists, they give her two wildly different diagnoses (with wildly different price tags). So how do we know who's telling the tooth? Mona digs up the dental data to look for answers, and finds that in reality, the study of dentistry is riddled with holes. This is an episode of Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective. I...
Do you need to do a detox?
July 07, 2021 04:00 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBPut down the cayenne-lemon water, and step away from the “diet” teas, says Dr. Jen Gunter. She’s joined by a hepatologist who explains why these cleanses and “natural” detoxes can do more harm to your body (and bank account) than good, and shares what you can do to keep your body’s natural detox system running smoothly. Thanks to Dr. Kaveh Hoda and Dr. Alan Levinovitz for sharing their insights on this episode.
What’s normal anxiety and what’s an anxiety disorder?
June 30, 2021 04:00 - 36 minutes - 33.2 MBAnxiety exists to keep us alive. But how can you tell when it crosses the line from survival instinct to serious problem? For the more than 30-percent of Americans who will experience an anxiety disorder, stigma around mental health problems makes it hard to find out. Dr. Jen breaks down where those stigmas originated, the science behind our brain’s threat-detection system, what makes it malfunction, and the most effective ways of treating it. Thanks to our guests, Dr. Kali Cyrus an...
Does perfect skin really exist?
June 23, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBThere are YouTube tutorials, magazine columns, and entire online communities dedicated to finding the “perfect skin care routine.” But what we consider to be “perfect” skin is rooted in racist, sexist and ageist ideas. So what do we need to do to protect this amazing organ that is the first line of defense for the body? Jen is joined by a dermatologist who helps scrub out skin care myths and shares acne-fighting essentials, and a sociologist who digs into the roots of racism in medi...
Can you boost your immune system?
June 16, 2021 04:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBWe’ve been told products like goji berries and pomegranate juice will boost your immune system—but attempts at “boosting” your immune system can do more harm than good. In fact, over the counter supplements contribute to over 20,000 ER visits per year! So is there a safe way to boost our immune systems, and should we even be doing it in the first place? An immunologist takes us through the body and down the “wellness” aisle to debunk products you’ve been sold and shares what you can...
Is Drinking Milk Essential for Building Strong Bones?
June 09, 2021 04:00 - 25.6 MBGot milk? When it comes to building strong bones, you shouldn’t just stick to the dairy aisle—but many people are starting to skip it all together, with a demonic narrative evolving around milk in recent years. So which should we believe? To find out, Jen travels to the hills of Mongolia to learn all about lactase and breaks down the basics of what makes bones weak, and where to find the key ingredient to make them stronger (spoiler: it’s not in your grocery cart). Read the full tex...
Is drinking milk essential for building strong bones?
June 09, 2021 04:00 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBGot milk? When it comes to building strong bones, you shouldn’t just stick to the dairy aisle—but many people are starting to skip it all together, with a demonic narrative evolving around milk in recent years. So which should we believe? To find out, Jen travels to the hills of Mongolia to learn all about lactase and breaks down the basics of what makes bones weak, and where to find the key ingredient to make them stronger (spoiler: it’s not in your grocery cart). Read the full tex...
Is menopause the beginning of the end?
June 02, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBThere are only two mammals who have evolved to survive after their child bearing years: toothed whales and humans. This stage of life is called menopause, and it makes humans an evolutionary wonder! But our perception of it has been shaped by centuries of stigma and shame—up until recently it was even considered a "disease" by the medical establishment that needed to be cured. Menopause isn’t a disease, but that doesn’t mean it’s a party either. There can be troublesome symptoms for...
Is Menopause the Beginning of the End?
June 02, 2021 04:00 - 28 MBThere are only two mammals who have evolved to survive after their child bearing years: toothed whales and humans. This stage of life is called menopause, and it makes humans an evolutionary wonder! But our perception of it has been shaped by centuries of stigma and shame—up until recently it was even considered a "disease" by the medical establishment that needed to be cured. Menopause isn’t a disease, but that doesn’t mean it’s a party either. There can be troublesome symptoms for...
Why are we so awkward about poop?
May 26, 2021 04:00 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBWhen most people think about poop, they think about shame and embarrassment. It’s something they don’t want to talk about and that prevents us from learning things—like the number of times a day we should be going number two—that can keep us healthy! On this episode, Dr. Jen tells us why some of the things we’ve been told about poop are a load of crap, what makes the gut the “second brain” of the body, and how what you eat goes from food to feces. By the end, you’ll know everything ...
How much water do you actually need a day?
May 19, 2021 04:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBGlowing skin, increased energy, higher mental function and weight loss: These are just a few of the benefits we have been promised for the low cost of 8 glasses of water a day. But can this magical elixir really do all that it claims? Dr. Jen Gunter takes us behind the fascinating (and scandalous) history of hydration pseudoscience, unpacks the investigative report that ROCKED the beverage industry, and sits down with a nephrologist who tells us what's fact and what's fiction about ...
Trailer: Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter
May 12, 2021 04:00 - 2 minutes - 1.99 MBDr. Jen Gunter is here to bust the lies you’re told—and sold—about your health. Each week she'll debunk a medical myth while helping you to understand how your body really works.