Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

Should 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

A special new podcast from Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

October 31, 2024 • 28 mins

TED Health's very own Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider has a new podcast, Before We Go. This is the first episode -- if you'd like more from Before We Go, check it out wherever you are listening to this.

Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider's world shifts when her father calls to say that he has been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. As they navigate uncharted emotional terrain, Shoshana and her father explore options, including one they ha...

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Fixable: Kelli - "How do I deal with a communication breakdown?"

May 1, 2023 • 27 mins

This 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...

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The Truth About "The Zone"

February 22, 2023 • 33 mins

This 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...

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Can a chiropractor really fix my back?

July 6, 2022 • 28 mins

Back 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 tha...

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What we need to understand about opioids | Body Stuff

June 29, 2022 • 30 mins

When 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...

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Why are people worried about vaccines and fertility?

June 22, 2022 • 29 mins

It’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 kin...

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Do I really have a food allergy?

June 15, 2022 • 29 mins

These 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 lif...

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You shouldn't have to choose between filling your prescriptions and paying bills | Kiah Williams

June 8, 2022 • 17 mins

There’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 ...

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Got yeast?

June 1, 2022 • 32 mins

It 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...

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Do you really need 8 hours of sleep?

May 25, 2022 • 32 mins

We 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...

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Can I speed up my metabolism?

May 18, 2022 • 30 mins

From 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 misunderstand...

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The unexpected link between taste and smell

May 11, 2022 • 34 mins

Sniffing 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 wo...

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Trailer Season 2

April 27, 2022 • 1 min

Can 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,...

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Listen now: WorkLife season 5

April 12, 2022 • 4 mins

WorkLife 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 act...

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Is my dentist scamming me? | Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

November 11, 2021 • 24 mins

When 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...

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Do you need to do a detox?

July 7, 2021 • 32 mins

Put 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.

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What’s normal anxiety and what’s an anxiety disorder?

June 30, 2021 • 36 mins

Anxiety 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 ...

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Does perfect skin really exist?

June 23, 2021 • 34 mins

There 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 s...

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Can you boost your immune system?

June 16, 2021 • 35 mins

We’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 debu...

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Is drinking milk essential for building strong bones?

June 9, 2021 • 28 mins

Got 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 (spoile...

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Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}A special new podcast from Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Fixable: Kelli - "How do I deal with a communication breakdown?"

The Truth About "The Zone"

Can a chiropractor really fix my back?

What we need to understand about opioids | Body Stuff

Why are people worried about vaccines and fertility?

Do I really have a food allergy?

You shouldn't have to choose between filling your prescriptions and paying bills | Kiah Williams

Got yeast?

Do you really need 8 hours of sleep?

Can I speed up my metabolism?

The unexpected link between taste and smell

Trailer Season 2

Listen now: WorkLife season 5

Is my dentist scamming me? | Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi

Do you need to do a detox?

What’s normal anxiety and what’s an anxiety disorder?

Does perfect skin really exist?

Can you boost your immune system?

Is drinking milk essential for building strong bones?

Popular Podcasts

A special new podcast from Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider

Fixable: Kelli - "How do I deal with a communication breakdown?"