Healthy Lifestyle Solutions with Maya by Maya Acosta

September 22, 2023

Healthy Lifestyle Solutions with Maya

by Maya Acosta

“You have more power over your health than what you’ve been told.”

Introduce yourself.

A husband and wife team, Dr. Riz & Maya, initially began their podcast in late 2018 to reach out to their community and patients.

Dr. Riz is a vascular surgeon who works with advanced cases of cardiovascular disease, and Maya is a health and wellness educator.

Together they learned about the power of plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine to prevent, halt, and in some cases, reverse chronic diseases.

They worked together on the podcast until the pandemic caused Dr. Riz to spend more time treating patients who were developing limb blockages due to COVID.

Maya rebranded the podcast as she ventured off as a solo podcaster in 2021. Today, she focuses on women’s health while still addressing lifestyle medicine. Her podcast releases two episodes per week; one expert interview and a solo health episode.

Share an experience that has shaped who you are today.

As far as a story, my husband is a vascular surgeon who treats advanced cases of atherosclerosis mainly caused as a result of lifestyle choices. I was the one who introduced him to healthier ways of eating. Physicians are not trained in nutrition or exercise.

We now work together to help patients and people in our community to prevent the disease that he treats. I like to brand myself as “The Surgeon’s Wife” because my work is mainly driven as a result of seeing so much pain and suffering in my husband’s patients. Most people think that common chronic conditions are genetic.

On the contrary 90% of disease can be prevented by eating whole plant-based foods, exercising, managing stress, having healthy relationships, getting enough sleep and reducing smoking/alcohol.

We help people make these lifestyle modifications so that they can improve their quality of life.

Tell us about your podcast audience.

The majority of the listeners are women from all walks of life. They are mainly located in the United States, Canada, the U.K., and Australia. These are developed countries where advanced chronic diseases are expected.

Listeners tune in because they are facing health issues, have a sick loved one, or want to prevent chronic disease. They expect to hear from health professionals such as physicians, cardiologists, dietitians, nurses, and physician assistants.

We invite specialists to come on the show to speak about heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, weight issues, breast cancer, and other common ailments.

We talk about the prevalence of disease and contributing factors and discuss what lifestyle modifications patients can make to improve their health outcomes. All topics are relevant and of interest to the listeners.

What makes your podcast unique?

The podcast is unique in that it covers the field of Lifestyle Medicine. Lifestyle Medicine consists of 6 pillars: nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and minimizing alcohol intake.

While each topic is expected in the health and wellness world, the podcast host interviews health providers who are board-certified in the field of lifestyle medicine.

This means they are trained to counsel patients on getting adequate sleep, eating more plant-forward, etc. Health professionals learn to guide patients in making long-term sustainable changes for long-term success.

This insightful lecture by Dr. Pritesh Mutha explores the critical role of the human gut microbiome in overall health. The discussion covers the impact of dietary choices, lifestyle factors, and the environment on gut health, emphasizing the connection between the gut and the immune system. Dr. Mutha highlights the prevalence of autoimmune diseases and the reversible nature of poor gut health through conscious dietary and lifestyle changes. The lecture concludes with practical advice on replenishing the microbiome through exposure to nature, soil, and a whole-food, plant-based diet.

Key Takeaways:

Diverse Microbiome is Essential: A diverse and healthy gut microbiome is crucial for overall well-being. Dr. Mutha stresses the importance of maintaining diversity through dietary choices and exposure to nature.
Holistic Approach to Immunity: Boosting the immune system is not just about vaccines; a healthy gut plays a fundamental role. The lecture advocates for focusing on strengthening the immune system through lifestyle choices, including diet and stress management.
Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet: The cornerstone of a healthy gut is a whole-food, plant-based diet rich in fiber. Consuming various fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds is key to supporting a thriving gut microbiome and reducing the risk of various diseases.

About Dr. Mutha:
Dr. Mutha is a board-certified Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology physician with advanced training in Interventional Gastroenterology and Endoscopy. He is an associate professor at UT Health Houston and has published several peer-reviewed publications in top medical journals. In this session, Dr. Mutha will discuss the role of plants in a healthier gut microbiome and how that translates to better gut health and overall health.

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