Faith, Food & Lifestyle Medicine: Building Health That Lasts with Dr. Amanda Adkins

Faith, Food & Lifestyle Medicine: Building Health That Lasts with Dr. Amanda Adkins

Can faith influence your health? What role do nutrition, movement, sleep, and community play in preventing chronic disease? In this episode of Empowered Wellness with Dr. Anita Lwanga sits down with Dr. Amanda Adkins, a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, to discuss how lifestyle medicine empowers people to prevent—and in many cases improve—chronic conditions through sustainable daily habits. Dr. Amanda shares her inspiring personal journey from childhood obesity to becoming a physician dedicated to helping others live healthier lives through evidence-based lifestyle changes. She also explains how faith, purpose, and practical habits can work together to support lasting health and well-being. Whether you're living with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or simply looking to improve your health, this conversation offers practical, compassionate guidance rooted in both science and personal experience. What You'll Learn * What lifestyle medicine is and why it matters * The six pillars of lifestyle medicine * Why nutrition is often the foundation for better health *  Practical first steps for improving diabetes alongside medical care * The importance of social connection for longevity * How spirituality and faith can support healthy lifestyle habits * Dr. Amanda's inspiring personal transformation through plant-based living * Why small, consistent lifestyle changes lead to lasting health About Our Guest Dr. Amanda Adkins, MD is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, health coach, and founder of Adkins Enlightenment Lifestyle Medicine. Her mission is to help people take the best care of themselves for long-term health and happiness through practical, evidence-based lifestyle changes. Dr. Amanda combines medical expertise with health coaching to empower individuals to prevent and manage chronic diseases using nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, stress management, healthy relationships, and other pillars of lifestyle medicine. Inspired by her own remarkable health transformation, she advocates for a whole-food, plant-predominant lifestyle that is sustainable, realistic, and low maintenance. Having personally overcome childhood obesity and maintained a plant-based lifestyle for more than three decades, she brings both professional expertise and lived experience to every patient and coaching relationship. Dr. Amanda is passionate about helping people improve their health so they can live with greater energy, purpose, and joy while fulfilling what matters most in their lives. Connect with Dr. Amanda Adkins 🌐 Website: ⁠https://www.dramandamd.com/⁠ [https://www.dramandamd.com/] 💼 LinkedIn:  ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amanda-adkins-28071a39/⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-amanda-adkins-28071a39/] ▶️ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7HwQ88Xn1FhK5eKtoOIkw⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7HwQ88Xn1FhK5eKtoOIkw] About Dr. Anita Lwanga & South End Medical Dr. Anita Lwanga is an Internal Medicine specialist at South End Medical in Regina, Saskatchewan. She provides specialist care for adults with complex medical conditions, including diabetes with complications, hypertension with related complications, heart failure, COPD, chronic kidney disease, and follow-up care after hospital admissions. Her practice is referral-only. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner believes you would benefit from specialist care, they can send a referral by fax to 306-565-3929. Healthcare providers can find referral information at: 🌐 ⁠https://www.drlwanga.com⁠ [https://www.drlwanga.com/] Through “Empowered Wellness with Dr. Lwanga” shares conversations with physicians, researchers, and health experts to help people better understand their health, make informed medical decisions, and build healthier lives through evidence-based education. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may benefit from this conversation.

Hormones, Strength Training & Healthy Aging with Dr. Esra Shermadou

How do hormones, strength training, and healthy habits affect the way we age? In this episode of Empowered Wellness, I sit down with Dr. Esra Shermadou, a board-certified family medicine physician and diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, to discuss women's health, hormone changes, muscle health, and healthy aging. She shares her personal journey through cancer treatment and premature ovarian insufficiency, experiences that inspired her passion for women's health, hormone therapy, obesity medicine, and lifestyle change. We discuss the important role hormones play throughout life and why understanding them can help women make informed decisions about their health. We also explore why strength training is one of the most powerful tools for healthy aging. She explains how maintaining muscle can support metabolism, improve insulin sensitivity, protect bone health, and help women remain active and independent as they get older. Our conversation also covers nutrition, including the importance of protein and fiber, along with sleep, movement, and other lifestyle habits that support long-term wellness. This episode offers practical insights for women who want to build strength, improve their health, and age with confidence. Key Takeaways In this episode, we discuss why hormones are important for women's health and healthy aging, and how premature ovarian insufficiency can affect long-term health. We explore the connection between menopause, bone density, and osteoporosis risk, as well as why strength training is one of the most effective ways to support muscle health, metabolism, and independence as we age. She also explains the truth behind common weightlifting myths and why women should not fear becoming bulky from strength training. We discuss how muscle health affects blood sugar control and insulin sensitivity, along with the important role of protein, fiber, sleep, and movement in supporting healthy aging. Most importantly, we share practical lifestyle habits that can help women build strength, improve their health, and support longevity. About the Guest Dr. Esra Shermadou is a board-certified family medicine physician and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. She is the founder of Sakinah Health, where she focuses on women's health, hormone therapy, obesity medicine, strength training, and healthy aging. Connect with Dr. Esra Shermadou Website: sakinahhealth.com Fitness Instagram: @dresrasgottheiron Instagram, Facebook, TikTok & YouTube: Dr. Esra Shermadou About Dr. Anita Lwanga & South End Medical I am Dr. Anita Lwanga, an Internal Medicine specialist at South End Medical in Regina, Saskatchewan. I provide specialist care for adults with complex medical conditions, including diabetes with complications, hypertension with related complications, heart failure, COPD, and chronic kidney disease. I also see patients for follow-up after a hospital admission. My practice is referral-only. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner believes you would benefit from specialist care, they can send a referral on your behalf by fax to 306-565-3929. Healthcare providers can find referral information at [www.drlwanga.com](http://www.drlwanga.com). Through Empowered Wellness, I share conversations with experts to help people better understand their health and make informed decisions for a healthier future. Disclaimer This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare professional regarding your personal health concerns and treatment decisions. #EmpoweredWellness #HealthyAging #WomensHealth #HormoneHealth #StrengthTraining #BoneHealth #MenopauseHealth #Longevity

Obesity Medicine: New Weight Loss Drugs, GLP-1 Breakthroughs & What's Coming Next | Dr. Alicia Shelly

In this episode of Empowered Wellness with Dr. Lwanga, obesity medicine specialist Dr. Alicia Shelly shares the latest breakthroughs transforming weight management and metabolic health. 💡 Key Topics Covered * Understanding Obesity Beyond Willpower * Breakthrough Medications in Obesity Treatment * Cardiometabolic & Liver Health Benefits * Next-Generation Weight Loss Therapies * Full Obesity Medicine Toolkit Discover how obesity is far more complex than willpower alone, and learn about emerging treatments including GLP-1 medications, tirzepatide, oral weight loss therapies, and promising next-generation drugs currently in development. Dr. Shelly also discusses the growing evidence behind these medications for heart health, fatty liver disease, inflammation, and overall quality of life. Whether you're struggling with weight loss, managing diabetes, or interested in the future of obesity medicine, this conversation offers valuable insights into the science, treatments, and innovations shaping patient care today. 🌟 Connect with Dr. Alicia Shelly: Podcast: drshellymd.com/podcast Website: drshellymd.com Instagram: @drshellymd YouTube: @drshellymd About Dr. Lwanga & South End Medical Dr. Anita Lwanga is an Internal Medicine specialist at South End Medical in Regina, Saskatchewan. She provides specialist internal medicine care for adults with conditions such as diabetes with complications, hypertension with associated complications, heart failure, COPD, and chronic kidney disease — and she sees patients for follow-up after a hospital admission. Her practice is referral-only. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner feels you would benefit from specialist care, they can send a referral on your behalf by fax to 306-565-3929. Referral information for healthcare providers is also available at ⁠⁠www.drlwanga.com [http://www.drlwanga.com/]

Empower Your Health: Dr. Dolapo Babalola on Breaking Through Obesity and Embracing Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Anita Lwanga sits down with Dr. Dolapo Babalola, a Family Medicine physician from Atlanta and the founder of Living at Your Finest Wellness. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola shares her journey from academic medicine to building a holistic, integrative, and patient-centered Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice. She opens up about her advanced training in lifestyle medicine, obesity medicine, and menopause care — and how these tools help her support patients beyond the traditional medical model. Together, they unpack: ✨ Why personalized and holistic care matters ✨ The gaps in our current healthcare system ✨ Common myths about weight loss & obesity treatments ✨ How lifestyle medicine truly transforms health ✨ Practical tips for family nutrition and weight-related challenges If you’re curious about a more compassionate, evidence-based approach to wellness — this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss. Tune in now and follow the podcast for more empowering conversations.  🌟 Connect with Dr. Dolapo Babalola: Website: layfwellness.com Facebook: Living At Your Finest Wellness Instagram: @livingatyourfinestwellness YouTube: @LivingAtYourFinestWellness About Dr. Lwanga & South End Medical Dr. Anita Lwanga is an Internal Medicine specialist at South End Medical in Regina, Saskatchewan. She provides specialist internal medicine care for adults with conditions such as diabetes with complications, hypertension with associated complications, heart failure, COPD, and chronic kidney disease — and she sees patients for follow-up after a hospital admission. Her practice is referral-only. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner feels you would benefit from specialist care, they can send a referral on your behalf by fax to 306-565-3929. Referral information for healthcare providers is also available at ⁠⁠www.drlwanga.com [http://www.drlwanga.com/]

The Power of the Thyroid: Dr. Dana Gibbs on Metabolism, Stress, and Adrenal Health

Today, Dr. Anita Lwanga sits down with Dr. Dana Gibbs to break down one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: thyroid function, metabolism, and adrenal health. From the role of cortisol in slowing your metabolism… to how stress can trigger insulin resistance, Hashimoto’s, or even Graves’ Disease — this episode helps you finally understand what your body is trying to tell you. You’ll learn: ✨ Why advocating for your own health matters ✨ How stress affects your thyroid ✨ Daily habits that improve energy + hormone balance ✨ What to eat (and avoid!) to support adrenal health ✨ Sleep, exercise, and lifestyle tips you can start tonight Dr. Gibbs also shares the tools she’s created to help you dive deeper — including her podcast, website, and her upcoming thyroid health course. If you’ve been feeling tired, wired, or out of balance… this episode is a must-listen. Listen now and don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode.  🌟 Connect with Dr. Dana Gibbs: Website: https://www.danagibbsmd.com/ Instagram: @danagibbsmd TikTok @dana.gibbs.md Podcast: Beyond the Thyroid About Dr. Lwanga & South End Medical Dr. Anita Lwanga is an Internal Medicine specialist at South End Medical in Regina, Saskatchewan. She provides specialist internal medicine care for adults with conditions such as diabetes with complications, hypertension with associated complications, heart failure, COPD, and chronic kidney disease — and she sees patients for follow-up after a hospital admission. Her practice is referral-only. If your family doctor or nurse practitioner feels you would benefit from specialist care, they can send a referral on your behalf by fax to 306-565-3929. Referral information for healthcare providers is also available at ⁠⁠www.drlwanga.com [http://www.drlwanga.com/]