Advanced Glycation Explained: How to Look 10 Years Younger is the skin-savvy, science-rich episode of Five Rivers that teaches you how to slow visible aging while slashing hidden Type 2 diabetes damage. Host Dr Sumeet teams up with integrative-nutrition analyst Shannon Davis to translate the complex chemistry of advanced glycation into simple food, cooking, and lifestyle tweaks you can start tonight. If you want to look 10 years younger, lower A1C, and create share-worthy wellness content, this 26-minute master class belongs on your watch list.

When excess glucose or fructose collides with proteins in your bloodstream, the reaction called advanced glycation creates sticky compounds known as AGEs (Advanced Glycation End products). These AGEs cross-link collagen, stiffen arteries, cloud eye lenses, and accelerate nerve damage. People with unmanaged blood sugar or char-grilled diets build AGEs rapidly, aging skin and organs in parallel. Shannon Davis explains how sugar-protein “caramelization” inside the body mimics that golden crust on barbecue—and how swapping cooking methods, sequencing carbs, and adding antioxidant spices can drop AGE intake by 45 % in a week.

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Habit Stacking for Health: Small Steps, Big Impact is the spotlight topic on this week’s Five Rivers podcast, proudly powered by Heald. Host Preetpal Singh sits down with behavioral-change strategist Nadeem Ashraf to prove that disciplined Habit design—not heroic motivation—drives lasting results for metabolic Health. Whether you’re living with Type 2 Diabetes, producing evidence-based wellness content, or simply tired of white-knuckle programs that fizzle, this episode shows how Small routines deliver a Big Impact when they’re carefully Stacking onto anchors you already perform.

A 2025 JAMA Network analysis found adults who added one friction-free Habit each week lost 5 lb more and cut fasting insulin 12 % compared with “all-at-once” dieters. Meanwhile, Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab reports that Stacking routines improved six-month adherence to exercise prescriptions by 43 %—proof that Small Steps create a Big metabolic Impact even in high-stress U.S. lifestyles.

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In this powerful episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald, host Dr. Sumeet Arora is joined by Dr. Todd Smith, a seasoned physician, to explore the evolving landscape of diabetes management in today’s world. Titled “Culture, Care & CGMs: Key to Modern Diabetes Management”, this conversation dives deep into how personalized care, cultural sensitivity, and the use of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are reshaping the way we approach Type 2 diabetes and metabolic health in the U.S.

Dr. Smith shares firsthand clinical insights on why early intervention in pre-diabetes is critical, how emotional and financial burdens compound after a diabetes diagnosis, and what healthcare systems can do to catch and reverse insulin resistance before it escalates. Discover how CGMs aren't just for the tech-savvy—they’re an empowering behavior modification tool that enables users to track real-time blood glucose trends, identify triggers, and actively reverse metabolic decline.

What makes this episode especially relevant is the attention to health disparities and the need for culturally competent care. Dr. Smith outlines real-world examples from his practice in Minneapolis, where diverse communities such as Somali and Southeast Asian populations bring unique dietary habits, languages, and family structures to the healthcare table. The discussion highlights how understanding cultural nuances and removing judgment from care conversations can make or break a patient’s long-term outcome.

You’ll also hear about the SMART goal approach in diabetes care, the importance of educational resources, the role of AI and health apps in interpreting CGM data, and why mental health support is a non-negotiable element in chronic disease care.

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Are you constantly tired, struggling to lose weight, or waking up feeling foggy, even after a full night’s rest? In this eye-opening episode of Five Rivers, sponsored by Heald, host Preetpal Singh sits down with Dr. Shilpa Pandey, a board-certified sleep medicine expert, to decode how poor sleep could be sabotaging your metabolism, hormones, and long-term health.

Titled "Tired and Gaining Weight? Your Sleep Hormones Are to Blame", this conversation dives deep into the misunderstood connection between sleep deprivation, weight gain, and chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Dr. Pandey breaks down how critical hormones like leptin and ghrelin regulate hunger and satiety and how disrupted sleep throws them completely out of balance.

From understanding the difference between fatigue vs. sleepiness to learning about sleep's effect on your immune system, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity, this episode is packed with science-based insights and relatable real-life scenarios. You’ll also hear about how shift work, blue light exposure, and late-night snacking loops can trigger metabolic chaos that no amount of willpower can fix without restoring sleep quality.

This isn’t just about getting 8 hours of sleep, it’s about hormonal timing, circadian rhythm alignment, and recognizing the early signs of sleep disorders.

If you’re on a wellness journey, trying to reverse insulin resistance, or wondering why your best efforts at dieting still leave you stuck, this conversation will change the way you think about restorative sleep as a foundation for metabolic health and weight management.

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Hunger, Hormones and Health: What Your Body’s Really Telling You kicks off this week’s Five Rivers episode, powered by Heald, and delivers a front-row seat to the most important conversation happening inside your body right now. Host Preetpal Singh welcomes ultramarathon runner, CEO, and founder of an IT company Vinayak Sharma to decode how everyday hunger signals, master hormones, and whole-person health metrics interact, information every U.S. viewer managing Type 2 diabetes, pursuing wellness, or producing health podcasts needs to hear.

The CDC projects one-third of Americans may develop diabetes by 2050, yet most treatment still ignores the hormonal conversation beneath calorie counts. Vinayak shows how small, evidence-backed changes to meal timing, nutrient ratios, nightly wind-downs, let your body’s real messages surface, lowering A1C, reducing visceral fat, and boosting morning energy without crash diets.

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Move for Joy, Not Just Results: A Fresh Take on Fitness, welcome to a new episode of Five Rivers, the health-and-wellness podcast proudly sponsored by Heald. Host Preetpal Singh sits down with movement specialist Nadeem Ashraf to explore why joyful exercise matters just as much as measurable progress. If you’re living with Type 2 diabetes, striving for sustainable weight loss, or simply looking for motivation to get moving again, this conversation is for you.

In today’s show, we break down the neuroscience of enjoyment, the psychology of habit formation, and the metabolic advantages that fun, low-stress workouts deliver. You’ll discover how prioritizing pleasure over punishment can improve insulin sensitivity, stabilize blood sugar, and help reverse diabetes progression. From salsa steps in your living room to five-minute walk breaks between Zoom calls, Nadeem shares practical hacks that fit real American lifestyles.

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Hunger, Hormones and Health: What Your Body’s Really Telling You ? That's the big question on this week’s Five Rivers podcast, proudly sponsored by Heald. In this eye-opening episode, host Preetpal Singh sits down with functional-nutrition expert Shannon Davis to decode how daily hunger signals, metabolic hormones, and overall health form a real-time language your body uses to tell you what it really needs. If you live with Type 2 Diabetes, struggle with stubborn weight, or simply want to upgrade your wellness routine, this conversation is really for you.

Understanding what your body’s really telling you about hunger and hormonal signals is essential, especially for anyone managing type 2 diabetes or committed to improving their health. Shannon Davis shares her expert knowledge on how hormones like insulin, ghrelin, and leptin work together, influencing appetite and metabolic health. We dive into practical tips for managing hunger hormones to support a balanced diet and better health outcomes.

Whether you are living with type 2 diabetes, a health podcaster looking for valuable content, or a wellness advocate interested in hormonal health, this episode provides actionable information. As part of the Five Rivers podcast series, sponsored by Heald, our mission is to empower you with knowledge that fosters long-term health and wellness.

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The Paradox of Happiness: Why Feeling Good Can Feel Heavy?

That’s the big question on this week’s Five Rivers podcast, powered by Heald. Host Preetpal Singh sits down with Heartfulness practitioner Srikanth Katakam to untangle how feeling good can sometimes weigh on both mind and metabolism, especially for people managing Type 2 diabetes in the U.S. healthcare landscape.

In just under an hour, we cover the neuroscience, psychology, and physiology behind the “happiness load.” You’ll hear how dopamine-driven pleasure spikes mirror glucose spikes, why chronic optimism without balance can elevate cortisol, and how that cascade erodes insulin sensitivity and sabotages metabolic health.

Whether you’re a wellness coach, health podcaster, clinician, or someone actively reversing diabetes, this conversation equips you to convert fleeting highs into steady-state tranquility, without sacrificing joy. We drill into continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), behavioral psychology, sleep hygiene, and mindful movement, delivering practical tips you can apply TODAY to flatten both emotional and glycemic volatility.

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