The Doctor's Kitchen Podcast

SHOW NOTESThis episode is for anyone dealing with constipation, bloating, reflux, abdominal pain or IBS.And really, anyone who wants to protect their gut, reduce stress and feel better overall.When we think about gut health, we usually start with food… what to eat, what to cut out, which diet or supplement to try next.And while nutrition is foundational, there’s another side we don’t talk about enough: the constant conversation between your brain and your gut 🧠💬My guest today is Dr Rabia Topan, an NHS consultant gastroenterologist and PhD researcher specialising in disorders of gut–brain interaction like IBS. She works at The Functional Gut Clinic with people who’ve often had “normal” tests for years, but very real symptoms.She’s also trained in cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy and yoga, bringing a practical, mind–body approach to gut health.We cover 👇• Breathwork techniques and why slowing your breath to around 6 breaths per minute can shift you into “rest and digest”• What the gut–brain axis actually is• Simple daily movements and pelvic floor exercises to support gut function• Practical toilet training tips for children• How cognitive reframing and gut-directed hypnotherapy can ease bloating, constipation and IBS• One habit you can start today to calm your nervous system and support your gut every morning🔗 Key links• Dr Rabia’s website with resources, yoga videos and more• Gut–brain hypnotherapy audio you can try at homeImportant disclaimer: The patient mentioned in this episode gave full consent for their story to be shared.Hope you enjoy!Dr Rupy x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your mouth isn’t separate from the rest of your body, it’s a key part of your airway, your microbiome, and even your inflammation levels. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Staci Whitman, functional dentist, to explore the everyday habits and products that can make a real difference to oral and whole-body health.We talk through mouth taping and why nasal breathing matters for oral health, sleep quality, and overall physiology. Who should avoid mouth taping, and safer options.How chronic mouth breathing affects dry mouth and the oral microbiome, gum health, cavities, bad breath, airway, sleep, and long-term facial/jaw development (especially in kids).Ancestral diets and how that plays a role in jaw development, and the dental impact of modern snack foods. Plus nutrients for dental health like vitamin D, K2, Calcium and vitamin C.And controversially we talk through fluoride in our water and toothpaste. What fluoride is used for and what the controversy tends to be about, and practical oral-health “non-negotiables” that matter alongside fluoride.Dr. Staci Whitman is a board-certified functional and integrative dentist specialising in the oral-systemic connection, how the mouth links to the gut, brain, hormones, and airway health. She’s the founder of Bloom Kids (a leading functional paediatric dental practice), co-founder of the Institute for Functional Dentistry, and co-founder of Fygg, a microbiome-friendly oral care line.🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m seeing “perfect” wellness routines everywhere! Red light masks, infrared saunas, ice baths, supplements lined up on the kitchen counter, breathwork, journaling, grounding mats… the list goes on.And yes, my wife has been trying most of them.So today, we’re doing something a bit different. We’re recreating those little “sofa consults” we have at home. We’ll be casually watching TV, and out of nowhere she pauses the show, turns to me dead seriously, and hits me with a question like…“Babe… what are your thoughts on grounding mats?”So the format is simple: she’s going to take us through her wellness routine from morning to night, and after each bit she’ll ask me what I think.I’ll give it a verdict, the why behind it, and a quick takeaway you can actually use, so you can make a choice as to whether you want it in your routine or not.If you liked this episode let me know by leaving a comment on Spotify, or shooting us a message on instagram. I’ll be watching out for them! 🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Constipation might not sound like the most glamorous topic, but it’s one of the most common and overlooked health issues in the UK. Around 1 in 7 adults and up to 1 in 3 children experience it, and it’s responsible for thousands of hospital admissions every year.This week I’m joined by Dr Angad Dhillon, Consultant Gastroenterologist and accredited Bowel Cancer Screening endoscopist at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. With advanced training from St Mark’s Hospital, one of the world’s leading centres for intestinal disorders, Dr Dhillon specialises in complex endoscopy, bowel health, and digestive wellbeing. He also happens to be my best friend from medical school who I’ve literally known over 2 decades!We talk about lesser known constipation strategies, what functional constipation means, how it can be related to other medical issues and what you should be optimising before you reach for a laxative, medications or supplements.Today we explore: 💬 What “normal” bowel habits look like and whether the bristol stool chart is useful 🥦 How to approach constipation with a dietary approach 🧘‍♂️ Why pooping posture, breathing, and stress matter for gut health 🌙 The link between sleep, circadian rhythm, and digestion ⚠️ Red flags that mean it’s time to speak to your doctorDr Dhillon's research work can be found here and give him a follow on social media @the_gut_doctor🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since writing about inflammation in Eat to Beat Illness and my last book Healthy High Protein, I’ve become fascinated by how this one process connects so many of the health issues I’ve seen in thousands of patients over my career.On the one hand, inflammation is brilliant, it helps us fight infections, repair injuries, and clear out damaged or cancerous cells. But when it doesn’t switch off or is constantly triggered, it becomes a slow burn in the background, driving heart disease, cancer, dementia, and even daily struggles like joint pain, gut problems, poor sleep, skin issues, and fatigue.The good news? Food gives us a direct way to influence it. Every time we sit down to eat, we can either fan the flames or gently cool them.In this episode, we explore: 🧬 What inflammation actually is (and the early warning signs of too much) 🥗 The science and benefits of an anti-inflammatory diet 🥑 My top 10 anti-inflammatory foods you can start eating today 🥩 Controversial takes on meat, dairy, and foods to limit 📊 How we measure inflammation, including our new “inflammation score” on the appThis is your practical guide to cooling chronic inflammation and protecting your long-term health, starting with what’s on your plate.🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen App - Special Black Friday Offer🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much plastic are we actually absorbing and what’s it doing to our health?In this eye-opening episode, I’m joined by Dr. Stephanie Wright, one of the UK’s leading scientists in microplastic research, to explore what happens when plastic pollution doesn’t just affect the environment, but our bodies too.We dive into: 🧪 What are micro- and nanoplastics, and how are they getting into our lungs, gut, and even blood? 🌍 The biggest sources of exposure in modern life from tires to tap water and food packaging to clothes as well as the city air I’m breathing in right now 🧬 How plastic particles could be contributing to chronic inflammation, hormone disruption, and affecting fertility 🧼 Whether we can actually detox or eliminate plastics from our body naturally and how the liver, fibre, and exercise may play a role 🔍 What we know so far about plastics and brain health, cancer, immunity, dementia, and morePlus, we cover simple, science-backed strategies to help reduce your exposure from filters and cooking swaps to smarter shopping and clothing choices.Dr Stephanie Wright is an Associate Professor in Environmental Toxicology in the Environmental Research Group at Imperial College London. She received a Ph.D. in Biosciences at the University of Exeter (2015), then completed 2 fellowships at King's College London. She has 15 years’ experience in microplastic research and lead the Microplastics Team. She’s also participated in microplastic working groups for the World Health Organisation and the European Commission.🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is it so hard to put our phones down even when we know they’re making us anxious? Today we’re going to unpack the neurochemistry of why we get hooked on devices and games, and how to reclaim our mental wellbeing from somebody who’s helping millions of people do this everyday. This week I’m joined by Dr. Alok Kanojia, Harvard-trained psychiatrist and co-founder of Healthy Gamer, to discuss digital devices, the science behind dopamine loops and how to develop a healthy relationship with our phones and more.We explore:📲 The brain circuits behind digital addiction (dopamine, the hippocampus, nucleus accumbens + more)⚠️ Signs your online use is tipping from healthy to harmful👨‍👩‍👧 Parenting in the digital age how to set boundaries without battles🧘 The surprising role of Vedic philosophy, meditation, and yoga in rewiring the brain🔑 Dr. K’s top tools for building a healthy, long-term relationship with technologyIf you’ve ever asked yourself “Am I addicted to my phone?” or struggled with screen time limits, this conversation blends science, psychiatry, and ancient wisdom to give you practical strategies for balance.We also take a massive tangent at the end of this podcast to talk about his spiritual side, the vedic teaching around personality traits and how Alok balances his beliefs about other worlds with a purely science informed approach. This is something I’m personally very interested in and while it’s a slight departure from the rigorous evidence based medicine approach we usually maintain on the DK podcast, I wanted to share this personal perspective with you all.Check out more from Dr.K https://www.healthygamer.gg/🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app🌐 View full show notes, including guest details, on our website☕️ Try Exhale Coffee here🥗 Join the newsletter and receive a 7 day meal plan📷 Follow on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.