As we head into 2026, many of us are thinking about goals: what to improve, what to let go of, and how to live better. But what if the real question isn't how long we live, but how well we live?

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia shift the conversation from lifespan to healthspanL the number of years you live with vitality, independence, mental clarity, and joy. Dr. Carling explains why modern medicine has extended lifespan without protecting quality of life, and how inflammation, nutrition, stress, and mindset quietly determine how we age.

You'll learn how acupuncture, real food, emotional resilience, and intentional thinking can slow decline, restore balance, and help you build a future where strength, clarity, and purpose last well into later decades.

This episode is a powerful invitation to rethink your 2026 goals, not as resolutions, but as investments in your future self.

In this episode:

• The difference between lifespan and healthspan and why it matters

• Why many people spend their final years managing illness instead of enjoying life

• How inflammation quietly accelerates aging

• The role of acupuncture in regulating inflammation, circulation, hormones, and stress

• Why nutrition at the cellular level shapes long-term vitality

• How mindset and emotional health directly influence aging

• Why purpose, joy, and curiosity protect brain and immune health

• How to reframe goals around vitality instead of restriction

• A simple framework: repair, restore, and reinforce

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

Herniated discs are painful, frustrating, and surprisingly common, but what most people don't realize is how closely disc health is tied to lifestyle, nutrition, posture, and overall inflammation.

In this episode, Dr. Holly Carling and Alicia break down the different types of herniated discs, why they happen, and how disc degeneration develops over time. Dr. Carling explains the major contributors such as dehydration and poor nutrition to smoking, inactivity, excess sugar, and spinal misalignment, and why supporting collagen, hydration, and nutrient density is essential for long-term disc health.

You'll also learn how acupuncture works to reduce inflammation, relieve nerve compression, improve circulation, and support true healing rather than simply masking symptoms.

In this episode:

• The four main types of herniated discs and how they present

• Why aging is not the only cause of disc degeneration

• The role of hydration, protein, vitamins, and minerals in disc repair

• How sugar accelerates collagen breakdown and joint degeneration

• Lifestyle factors that weaken discs (posture, smoking, inactivity, obesity)

• Nutrient deficiencies that impact bone, disc, and connective-tissue integrity

• How acupuncture reduces inflammation, pain, muscle tension, and nerve irritation

• Why holistic care (acupuncture + nutrition + supplementation) supports long-term healing

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.

We all know we're supposed to slow down when we eat… but does savoring your food actually change anything? According to Dr. Holly Carling: absolutely.

In this episode, Dr. Carling and Alicia take you deep into the science and sensory experience of savoring your meals. You'll learn how slowing down boosts dopamine, increases satisfaction, improves digestion, prevents overeating, and even strengthens emotional well-being.

Dr. Carling breaks down how the brain, taste buds, smell, texture, and even sound work together to create flavor and why savoring activates parts of the brain that fast eating never reaches. You'll also learn about umami, kokumi, and how richness, warmth, and mouthfeel influence satisfaction on a neurological level.

Whether you want to improve digestion, stop overeating, enjoy your favorite foods more fully, or build a healthier relationship with food, this episode will change the way you experience every bite.

In this episode:

• The neurological benefits of savoring: dopamine, reward pathways, memory, emotional balance

• How the gustatory cortex processes flavor (and why slowing down enhances it)

• Why aroma, texture, temperature, and even sound shape your eating experience

• What umami really is and how it helps food feel comforting and grounding

• The meaning of kokumi, the Japanese word for richness and deep satisfaction

• How savoring improves digestion through saliva, enzyme signaling, and taste-bud activation

• Why slowing down reduces bingeing and increases fullness cues

• How savoring can make "treat foods" less harmful and more satisfying

For full show notes, resources and links head to: https://vitalhealthcda.com/podcasts/

The Vital Health for You Podcast is for everyone. Get to know us more by connecting with us at our website or on our Facebook page.

*Disclaimer: The statements made in this episode about specific products have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. All information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other healthcare professional.