The Health Myths We've Believed Too Long: Victor Dedaj on Wellness, Vitamins & Truth

The Health Myths We've Believed Too Long: Victor Dedaj on Wellness, Vitamins & Truth

If you've ever felt tired by 3 PM, lost in a maze of conflicting vitamin advice, or quietly wondered why the wellness rules keep changing every few years, this conversation will feel like a long exhale. Real wellness isn't a strategy. It's a conversation with the body you've been ignoring. In this episode of Wellness Reimagined, Shreya sits with Certified Wholistic Health Coach Victor Dedaj to unlearn the myths around cholesterol, salt, eggs, and modern nutrition, and to rebuild a gentler, more honest relationship with our health. Expect clarity, not another protocol. ABOUT THE GUEST: Victor Dedaj is a Certified Naturopathic Practitioner, Certified Wholistic Health Coach, and the author of How to Be Happy, Healthy and Whole. Based in New York, he has spent over two decades helping people separate genuine nutritional truth from the noise of the modern wellness industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Cholesterol is not the villain we've been told. Your liver makes about 80% of it daily because your brain, hormones, and vitamin D production depend on it. Lower cholesterol levels are often associated with shorter lifespans, not longer ones. * Eggs are a near-perfect food. The yolk holds most of the nutrients and 40% of the protein. Eating only the whites means missing what makes the egg actually nourishing. * Salt isn't the enemy either. The countries with the highest salt intake, like Japan, South Korea, and France, have some of the longest longevity rates. Healthy kidneys handle salt with ease. * The body whispers before it screams. Low energy, persistent small pains, and afternoon crashes are early signals worth listening to, not dismissing. * 70% of your immune system lives in your gut, and 80–90% of serotonin plus 50% of dopamine are produced there. Healing the gut often heals more than digestion. * Consistency beats intensity. The compound effect works for you or against you. Small daily choices, food, sleep, sunlight, gratitude, become real results over months, not days. * Work on the subconscious mind in the first hour after waking and the last hour before sleep. That's when you are most impressionable, and where lasting change quietly takes root. CONNECT WITH THE GUEST: * Website: https://www.victordedaj.com [https://www.victordedaj.com] * Free Health Evaluation: https://www.yourfreehealthevaluation.com [https://www.yourfreehealthevaluation.com] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordedaj [https://www.linkedin.com/in/victordedaj] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victor.dedaj.3 [https://www.facebook.com/victor.dedaj.3] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victordedaj/ [https://www.instagram.com/victordedaj/] * X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/victordedaj [https://twitter.com/victordedaj] * Email: victordedaj@victordedaj.com [victordedaj@victordedaj.com] * Book: How to Be Happy, Healthy and Whole (available on Amazon) EPISODE CHAPTERS: [00:00] Welcome to Wellness Reimagined — Why the Rules Keep Changing [03:00] How Victor Found Holistic Health — The Books That Broke His Beliefs [06:45] The Cholesterol Myth — Why Eggs and Animal Fats Were Wrongly Demonized [12:15] The Salt Story — What Japan, South Korea & France Quietly Got Right [16:40] Why We Outsource Our Health — The Brain's Filter and Modern Overwhelm [20:30] The Body's Whispers — Early Signals Most People Miss [24:10] Gut Health, Serotonin & the Compound Effect of Small Choices [27:50] Setbacks, Patience, and the Truth About Real Healing (timestamps approximate) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik] 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. > Refer a Guest > Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at services@podhealth.club with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. > Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DY4HFPYGHBYQN] 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows [https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork] 🤝 Be a Guest [https://www.podhub.club/beaguest] 📩 Newsletter Substack [https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/] 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14498362/] > 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. > If you have concerns about any content, please contact us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] here > > By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. [https://www.podhub.club/terms-privacy/standard-podcast-disclaimer] #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #wellnessreimagined #holistichealth #wellnessmyths #cholesteroltruth #guthealth #naturopathy #wholisticwellness #realfood #compoundeffect #healingjourney #vitaminsupplements #nutritionmyths #mindbodyconnection >

Reimagining Wellness Beyond the Product: Thomas R. Wilson on Finding Your Own Path

Somewhere along the way, wellness turned into another job: more metrics, more products, more pressure. This episode is for anyone who has felt like they were failing a wellness plan that was never built for them, and is ready to ask what wellness could actually be. Host Nazish sits with advocate and storyteller Thomas R. Wilson on reimagining wellness as a personal experiment rather than a product. Thomas speaks candidly about neurodiversity, depression, self-worth, and learning to listen to his own life instead of the mainstream script. About the Guest: Thomas R. Wilson is a writer, advocate, storyteller and speaker who founded R&H Creative Advocacy and Storytelling. Drawing on lived experience of neurodiversity and mental health, he uses storytelling to build inclusive spaces around wellness. Key Takeaways: * Mainstream wellness is often sold as a product. When it fails, question the product, not yourself. * There is no single path to wellness. Finding your own is the point. * Listening to your body starts with self-worth, not more rules. * Reframe setbacks by asking what you can learn from them. Connect With the Guest: * Website: rhcreativeadvocacyandstorytelling.net [https://www.rhcreativeadvocacyandstorytelling.net/] * LinkedIn: Thomas Wilson (linkedin.com/in/thomas-wilson-42762927b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-wilson-42762927b/]) * Instagram: instagram.com/rhstorytelling [https://www.instagram.com/rhstorytelling] * All links (Linktree): linktr.ee/ndttrpg [http://linktr.ee/ndttrpg] Episode Chapters: [00:00] Welcome to Wellness Reimagined: what if wellness is not what we were told? [03:30] The Reset on the Couch: depression, neurodiversity and a hard, honest question (approx.) [09:00] Wellness as a Product: the most underrated problem with mainstream wellness (approx.) [14:00] When the Model Was Never Built for You: the strange freedom of that realization (approx.) [19:00] Listening to the Body: why self-worth comes before the signals (approx.) [24:00] Treating Life as an Experiment: reframing risk and failure (approx.) [28:00] Still, Not Stagnant: what a long-term wellness life looks like (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik] 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. > Refer a Guest > Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at services@podhealth.club with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. > Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DY4HFPYGHBYQN] 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows [https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork] 🤝 Be a Guest [https://www.podhub.club/beaguest] 📩 Newsletter Substack [https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/] 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14498362/] > 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. > If you have concerns about any content, please contact us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] here > > By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. [https://www.podhub.club/terms-privacy/standard-podcast-disclaimer] #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #wellnessreimagined #wellnessjourney #mentalhealth #neurodiversity #selfcompassion #mindfulwellness #selfworth #holisticwellness #mentalhealthawareness #reframefailure #stillness #personalgrowth >

Rethinking Wellness: What It Really Means Beyond the Noisy Industry, with Ana Smith

The word wellness gets printed on water bottles and yoga ads until it almost loses meaning. True wellness isn't a product, it's a relationship with your own life. This episode is for anyone tired of the industry's pressure. Host Shreya sits with Ana Smith. A leadership strategist and executive coach, Ana unpacks why one-size-fits-all wellness fails, what real rest looks like, and why honest self-listening matters more than any program. About the Guest: Ana Smith is a leadership strategist, executive coach, and 2x TEDx speaker who created the mindset intelligence framework. Founder of Brightflare Performance Solutions, she blends neuroscience and leadership to help people perform without burning out. Key Takeaways: * A perk isn't a system. Yoga classes or a gym stipend won't fix wellness if the root goes unaddressed. * Under stress, do you react or respond? Mindset intelligence is noticing your patterns and choosing differently. * Protect your sleep. No screens an hour before bed, a cooler room, and sunlight and water on waking. * The deepest practice is honest self-listening. The answer is usually inside, not in the next protocol. Connect With the Guest: Connect with Ana Smith: * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anasmithtalentstrategist [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anasmithtalentstrategist/] * Website: brightflare.com [https://brightflare.com/] * Book a call: calendly.com/anasmith-yourcoach [https://calendly.com/anasmith-yourcoach] Episode Chapters: [00:00] The Word That Lost Its Meaning — reclaiming wellness from the noise [03:00] Meet Ana Smith — beyond marketing, into the human question (approx.) [05:00] Why Sleep Became Her Foundation — memory, toxins, and rest (approx.) [12:00] When the Routines Stopped Working — burnout and mindset intelligence (approx.) [18:00] Where the Industry Gets It Wrong — perks vs. a holistic system (approx.) [24:00] The Deepest Practice — honest self-listening over protocols (approx.) [28:00] Integrate and Release — assessing what to keep and what to let go (approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik] 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. > Refer a Guest > Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at services@podhealth.club with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. > Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DY4HFPYGHBYQN] 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows [https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork] 🤝 Be a Guest [https://www.podhub.club/beaguest] 📩 Newsletter Substack [https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/] 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14498362/] > 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. > If you have concerns about any content, please contact us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] here > > By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. [https://www.podhub.club/terms-privacy/standard-podcast-disclaimer] #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #wellnessreimagined #wellness #mindsetintelligence #burnoutprevention #holisticwellness #selfawareness #sleephealth #leadership #emotionalwellbeing #intentionalliving #mentalwellness #wellbeing #selflistening >

Reimagining Wellness Beyond the Mask of I'm Fine with Anu Verma

So much of what we're sold as wellness is really performance in soft clothing: the optimized routine, the tracked sleep, the morning ritual. And underneath it, many people are quietly exhausted from being so well. Trauma recovery coach Anu Verma unpacks the mask of "I'm fine," why real wellness is often about putting things down rather than adding more, and the small, honest micro practices that actually sustain you. About the Guest: Anu Verma is a UK-based certified trauma recovery coach, holistic therapist, and author of Victim to Victor. She is the founder of Victim2Victor and host of its podcast, helping people heal and reclaim their power. Key Takeaways: * Mindset and body go hand in hand; wellness is holistic. * The "I'm fine" mask blocks the very energy that keeps you well. * Real wellness is often putting things down, not adding more. * Micro practices, a few mindful minutes, beat elaborate routines you can't sustain. * Healing isn't linear; slipping back signals there's still more to learn. Connect With the Guest: Website: https://victim.victor.net/ [https://victim.victor.net/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/anuvermaV2V], YouTube [https://youtube.com/@victim2victorhealingjourney?si=coqB4cSR91XLipU3], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/victim2victor_anuverma/], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuvermav2v]: Anu Verma (Victim 2 Victor) Episode Chapters: [00:00] Questioning Inherited Wellness — Shreya opens on a slower, more honest well-being [01:57] Mindset as Medicine — Anu on why a healthy mind and body go together [03:22] Conditioned to Perform — Shame, family reputation, and burying the truth [06:53] The Mask of "I'm Fine" — How high-functioning busyness hides exhaustion [11:54] Wellness in a Real Week — Micro practices for present, ordinary days [16:40] The Inner Posture — Honest coping over performing wellness [19:28] When You Slip Back — Why healing isn't linear, and how to return (timestamps approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik] 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. > Refer a Guest > Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at services@podhealth.club with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. > Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DY4HFPYGHBYQN] 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows [https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork] 🤝 Be a Guest [https://www.podhub.club/beaguest] 📩 Newsletter Substack [https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/] 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14498362/] > 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. > If you have concerns about any content, please contact us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] here > > By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. [https://www.podhub.club/terms-privacy/standard-podcast-disclaimer] #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #wellnessreimagined #wellness #traumarecovery #nervoussystemregulation #mindset #authenticity #mentalhealth #micropractices #healingjourney #selfawareness #emotionalwellbeing >

Reimagining Wellness Beyond Trend Cycles with Richard Perry

The wellness industry runs on novelty: new protocols every quarter, a new version of yourself promised every Monday. Underneath the noise, real people quietly wonder why nothing actually sticks. Richard Perry shares what wellness looks like when you take the trends out of it: choosing movement you love, practicing contentment over performance, and building a practice quiet enough to hold for decades. About the Guest: Richard Perry is a former Navy cook turned chef, entrepreneur, and founder of a red spinach supplement company focused on nitric oxide and healthy blood flow. He's also an author and lifelong guitarist. Key Takeaways: * Choose movement you genuinely enjoy; obligation rarely lasts. * Most of healthy living is common sense you already know; the hard part is acting on it. * Contentment matters more than looking a certain way for other people. * Meditation lets you watch thoughts rise and pass without getting hooked. * The practice that lasts is the boring one you'd never post online. Connect With the Guest: Website: richardjperry.com [https://www.richardjperry.com/] (book, bio, and supplement company) Author of In Search of the Perfect Guitar Founder [https://www.richardjperry.com/contact] of Red Spinach Company (Coming Fall 2026) Episode Chapters: [00:00] Off the Wellness Treadmill — Shreya opens on why nothing seems to stick [03:00] The Habit That Held — Richard on training his brain to love walking [07:00] What Optimization Misses — Wellness starts in the mind with a long view [13:00] The Story Underneath — Contentment over performing for others [18:00] Watching the Thoughts — How meditation reveals the patterns we cling to [24:00] Return to the Breath — The practice that has held for thousands of years [28:00] Triggers and Waking Up — Using birdsong, sound, and the guitar to stay present (timestamps approx.) 🎙️ Want to Be a Guest on Healthy Mind, Healthy Life? Send me a direct message on PodMatch. 👉 DM Me Here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik [https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/avik] 🌱 About Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Global Mental Wellness Podcast Network - focused, credible, no more identity clutter. 👉 Subscribe and be part of this healing journey. > Refer a Guest > Know someone who would be a great fit for one of our podcast shows? Email us at services@podhealth.club with the subject line “Refer a Guest.” Requests without this subject line cannot be catered to. > Support Our Podcast: Support this Podcast [https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DY4HFPYGHBYQN] 📬 Contact & Links Brand: Healthy Mind By Avik™️ Contact Us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] Based in: India & USA 🎧 All Podcast Shows [https://www.podhub.club/podcastnetwork] 🤝 Be a Guest [https://www.podhub.club/beaguest] 📩 Newsletter Substack [https://healthymindbyavik.substack.com/] 👉 Join the LinkedIn Community [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14498362/] > 📌 Disclaimer - This episode is produced for educational and informational purposes only. All views expressed by the guest are their personal opinions alone and do not represent the views of the host or Healthy Mind by Avik™. The Network does not verify, endorse, or assume responsibility for any guest statements. Nothing in this episode constitutes medical, legal, financial, or professional advice, please consult a qualified professional before making any decisions. Listeners are encouraged to engage critically and independently with all content do not consume blindly. Use this content as a starting point for your own reflection and research, not as a substitute for professional guidance. Third-party content is referenced under fair use for informational purposes only. Guest speakers are solely responsible for their own statements. > If you have concerns about any content, please contact us [https://www.podhub.club/contact] here > > By listening, you acknowledge and accept this disclaimer in full. Read detailed disclaimer here. [https://www.podhub.club/terms-privacy/standard-podcast-disclaimer] #podmatch #healthymindbyavik #podhub.club #wellnessimagined #wellness #mindfulness #meditation #longevity #movement #breathwork #nitricoxide #healthylifestyle #presentmoment #contentment >