In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman welcome world-renowned physician, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Dean Ornish — founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and pioneer of lifestyle medicine.

For over four decades, Dr. Ornish's groundbreaking research has proven that comprehensive lifestyle changes — including nutrition, movement, stress management, love, and connection — can not only prevent but even reverse chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and now early Alzheimer's disease.

Together, they explore:

• 💪 The science behind reversing heart disease and Alzheimer's naturally

• 🧠 Why small, consistent steps can drive big, lasting health transformations

• ❤️ How love, compassion, and social connection are medicine for the heart and mind

• 🥗 The impact of a whole-food, plant-based diet on longevity and emotional well-being

• 🧘 The role of stress management and mindfulness in true healing

• 🌍 How lifestyle medicine empowers people and systems to move from "sick care" to real health

Dr. Ornish's message is clear: change doesn't have to be radical to be powerful. Every small, mighty step — in how we eat, move, breathe, and connect — brings us closer to healing, purpose, and joy.

If you're ready to reimagine what's possible for your health and well-being, this conversation is a must-listen.

Nutrition is the focus of this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, as hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with Jerold Mande, CEO of Nourish Science, former senior advisor at the USDA, FDA, and White House, and adjunct professor at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Together, they dive deep into how food as medicine can transform public health, healthcare costs, and equity across America.

From designing the Nutrition Facts Label to shaping landmark food and tobacco policies, Jerold Mande has spent decades on the front lines of nutrition science, food labeling reform, and evidence-based public health.

This conversation uncovers:

🍎 Why food is the most powerful — yet underutilized — lever for better health outcomes

🏥 How the U.S. "sick care" system can shift toward true healthcare through nutrition policy

💰 The role of the food industry, government, and NIH in advancing (or blocking) nutrition research

🌍 How inequities in food access, food deserts, and food swamps perpetuate chronic disease

⚖️ Why we need systemic reform — including a National Institute of Nutrition and accountability for ultra-processed foods

Mande also shares a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the FDA, the origins of modern food safety laws, and how America can reclaim public health leadership by treating food as the foundation of wellness, not disease. If you care about nutrition policy, preventive healthcare, food systems, and health equity, this is a must-listen episode that challenges the status quo — and offers a roadmap for change.

🌐 Learn More & Connect with Us

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Together, let's redefine what it means to live well — through science, compassion, and community. 💙

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with award-winning health journalist Julia Belluz, co-author of the groundbreaking book Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us. Julia shares her personal journey with weight, health reporting, and how our modern food environment, not just individual choices, plays a central role in the global epidemic of obesity, chronic disease, and nutrition-related illnesses.

Together, we explore:

• Why food systems and the rise of ultra-processed foods are reshaping our health
• The truth about metabolism, calories, carbs vs. fat, and why diet debates often miss the bigger picture
• How research from The Biggest Loser revealed surprising insights about long-term weight loss and metabolism
• The promises and pitfalls of precision nutrition, supplements, and continuous glucose monitors
• The dangers of blame and shame culture around food and the urgent need to rethink public health and food policy

(2:00) - Julia's Background

(7:52) - Metabolism and 'The Biggest Loser'

(17:58) - Diet Tribes

(25:46) - Personalized Nutrition

(34:49) - Tobacco's Influence on Food

(42:51) - GLP-1s

(49:41) - Rapid-Fire Questions

Julia brings her evidence-based lens to topics like diet fads, nutritional science, food addiction, and toxic food environments, while Moain and David connect these insights to practical strategies for living well. If you're curious about the science of food, nutrition myths, and how to make healthier choices in a world stacked against us, this conversation will change the way you think about eating.

Support for Food Intelligence: The Science of How Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us was provided by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Buy Julia's book: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Intelligence-Science-Nourishes-Harms/dp/059333230X

Stay connected at: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com