Food as Sleep Medicine

Food as Sleep Medicine

Food as Sleep Medicine

Fruits, veggies and stethescope

Need a kickstart to healthier habits?

Enroll in Kickstart to Lose Belly Fat and Live Healthy ($47)

Ready to Kickstart to lost belly fat and live healthier?

7-Day Mini-Course designed to kickstart real, lasting health. This isn’t another “perfect plan.”
It’s your real-life solution for getting healthy without overhauling your life overnight.

Hosted by:

Vickie Petz Kasper, M.D.

American Board of Lifestyle Medicine Diplomate

Learn more about Dr. Vickie

Three Simple Strategies to Sleep Better

Download your free cheat sheet to start sleeping smarter tonight.

What If the Answer Is in Your Pantry?

You’ve scanned labels and sipped sleepy teas, but what if the secret to better sleep is already on your plate?

In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, we bust myths and get real about how everyday foods affect your sleep-wake cycle. From caffeine hiding in decaf drinks to that heavy steak sabotaging your slumber, I take you from your pantry to mini medical school—sharing how nutrients like tryptophan, magnesium, B vitamins, and fiber-rich foods work with your body’s chemistry to help you fall and stay asleep.

You’ll walk away knowing:

  • The worst foods to eat before bed—and how they throw off your hormones

     

  • Surprising foods that naturally promote melatonin and serotonin

     

  • Why nuts, seeds, leafy greens, fruits (hi, kiwi! 👋), and legumes are your sleep BFFs

     

It’s time to skip the gimmicks and eat your way to better rest. Because better sleep means better health—and healthy looks great on you.

What do a fur trapper’s gunshot wound, Pavlov’s drooling dogs, and the vagus nerve have in common? They all tell the story of the gut-brain axis—a powerful connection between what happens in your belly and how you think, feel, eat, and sleep.

In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie takes you from 1800s medical oddities to modern lifestyle medicine insights. Learn how your gut influences mood, anxiety, cravings, and belly fat—and what you can do about it naturally.

✨ You’ll learn:

  • How your gut acts like a second brain

  • What the vagus nerve does (besides sounding fancy)

  • Why fiber, probiotics, and stress management are crucial for gut-brain health

  • Natural tips to feel less bloated, more focused, and truly satisfied

🧠💚 Want a better mood, healthier digestion, and long-term weight loss? It all starts in your gut.

🎧 Listen, laugh, and learn with Dr. Vickie

🎧 Listen to Episode 178 now!

And, if you need a kickstart on your strategy, join my 7-day 👉 Mini Course: Kickstart Because healthy starts from the inside—and looks great on you. ❤️For only $47, you’ll get simple, science-backed daily habits delivered directly to your Inbox. I’ll walk you through building momentum, restoring balance, and the steps to take to start loving your body again.

RESOURCES:

Three Simple Strategies for Better Sleep (FREE)

Sign up for podcasts and newsletter (recipes and more) by email

Free Pantry Guide

 

Related Episodes

Do you really need a liver detox?

Do you really need a liver detox?

Think your liver needs a detox? Think again. In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie explains why your liver doesn’t need a cleanse—and how trendy detox products can actually do more harm than good. Learn what truly supports liver health, from smart nutrition to avoiding hidden liver stressors. Discover what your liver really needs to thrive and why lifestyle medicine is the ultimate detox.

Food as Sleep Medicine

Gut vs. Sleep

Gut vs. Sleep

https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-6nyqv-18f5635

Ready to Kickstart to lost belly fat and live healthier?

7-Day Mini-Course designed to kickstart real, lasting health. This isn’t another “perfect plan.”
It’s your real-life solution for getting healthy without overhauling your life overnight.

Hosted by:

Vickie Petz Kasper, M.D.

American Board of Lifestyle Medicine Diplomate

Learn more about Dr. Vickie

Three simple strategies to sleep better tonight

Trying harder to sleep makes sleeping harder. Instead try these 3 simple steps. 

Sleep and gut health are in a constant tug-of-war, with each affecting the other.
In this episode, we unpack how poor sleep can inflame your gut (hello, GERD and IBS flare-ups), disrupt hormones like leptin and ghrelin, and fuel cravings.
At the same time, an unhealthy gut can disturb your circadian rhythm, trigger insomnia, and even contribute to sleep apnea.
We spotlight key gut bacteria tied to better ZZZ’s (like Lachnospiraceae and Odoribacter), and caution about sleep-disrupting microbes like Selenomonadales. The good news? You don’t have to pick sides—you can create harmony by supporting both sleep and gut health!
Top 3 diet tweaks for better sleep–and gut health:
1. Add tryptophan-rich foods (almonds, lentils, oats) to nourish gut bacteria that support
serotonin/melatonin production.
2. Boost fiber intake through a variety of colorful fruits, veggies, and grains—perfect for
gut—and are sleep-friendly.
3. Cut refined carbs and sugar, opting for gut-and-sleep-approved swaps like “nice
cream” from frozen bananas, cherries, almond butter & cocoa.

Bonus resources: grab my Sleep Cheat Sheet and Free Pantry Guide to put these ideas
into action—and check out the Kickstart – 7 Days to bust belly fat with healthy habits ($47) for extra support on building healthy habits that last.

👉 Kickstart Because healthy starts from the inside—and looks great on you. ❤️

RESOURCES:

Sign up for podcasts and newsletter (recipes and more) by email

 

Related Episodes

Do you really need a liver detox?

Do you really need a liver detox?

Think your liver needs a detox? Think again. In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie explains why your liver doesn’t need a cleanse—and how trendy detox products can actually do more harm than good. Learn what truly supports liver health, from smart nutrition to avoiding hidden liver stressors. Discover what your liver really needs to thrive and why lifestyle medicine is the ultimate detox.

All information associated with this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Please visit the Disclaimer; Conditions, Terms of Use to learn more. 

Privacy Policy

Food as Sleep Medicine

Gut-Brain Connection: More than a feeling

The Gut-Brain Connection: More than a feeling

Fruits, veggies and stethescope

Need a kickstart to healthier habits?

Enroll in Kickstart to Lose Belly Fat and Live Healthy ($47)

Ready to Kickstart to lost belly fat and live healthier?

7-Day Mini-Course designed to kickstart real, lasting health. This isn’t another “perfect plan.”
It’s your real-life solution for getting healthy without overhauling your life overnight.

Hosted by:

Vickie Petz Kasper, M.D.

American Board of Lifestyle Medicine Diplomate

Learn more about Dr. Vickie

Turn off your mind so you can sleep free cheat sheet

Do you have trouble sleeping because your thoughts spin? I created this cheat sheet to help you shut off your mind and turn on restorative sleep.

What do a fur trapper’s gunshot wound, Pavlov’s drooling dogs, and the vagus nerve have in common? They all tell the story of the gut-brain axis—a powerful connection between what happens in your belly and how you think, feel, eat, and sleep.

In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie takes you from 1800s medical oddities to modern lifestyle medicine insights. Learn how your gut influences mood, anxiety, cravings, and belly fat—and what you can do about it naturally.

✨ You’ll learn:

  • How your gut acts like a second brain

  • What the vagus nerve does (besides sounding fancy)

  • Why fiber, probiotics, and stress management are crucial for gut-brain health

  • Natural tips to feel less bloated, more focused, and truly satisfied

🧠💚 Want a better mood, healthier digestion, and long-term weight loss? It all starts in your gut.

🎧 Listen, laugh, and learn with Dr. Vickie

🎧 Listen to Episode 178 now!

And, if you need a kickstart on your strategy, join my 7-day Prescription for Change mini-course.

For only $47, you’ll get simple, science-backed daily habits delivered directly to your Inbox. I’ll walk you through building momentum, restoring balance, and the steps to take to start loving your body again.

👉 Kickstart Because healthy starts from the inside—and looks great on you. ❤️

RESOURCES:

Sign up for podcasts and newsletter (recipes and more) by email

Free Pantry Guide

Kickstart – 7 Days to bust belly fat ($47)

Related Episodes

Do you really need a liver detox?

Do you really need a liver detox?

Think your liver needs a detox? Think again. In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie explains why your liver doesn’t need a cleanse—and how trendy detox products can actually do more harm than good. Learn what truly supports liver health, from smart nutrition to avoiding hidden liver stressors. Discover what your liver really needs to thrive and why lifestyle medicine is the ultimate detox.

Body Image: FITT by Design

Body Image: FITT by Design

Body Image: FITT by Design with Lisa Michelle

Fruits, veggies and stethescope

Need a kickstart to healthier habits?

Enroll in Kickstart to Lose Belly Fat and Live Healthy ($47)

Ready to Kickstart to lost belly fat and live healthier?

7-Day Mini-Course designed to kickstart real, lasting health. This isn’t another “perfect plan.”
It’s your real-life solution for getting healthy without overhauling your life overnight.

Hosted by:

Vickie Petz Kasper, M.D.

American Board of Lifestyle Medicine Diplomate

Learn more about Dr. Vickie

Turn off your mind so you can sleep free cheat sheet

Do you have trouble sleeping because your thoughts spin? I created this cheat sheet to help you shut off your mind and turn on restorative sleep.

In this week’s episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, we dive into the deep connection between belly fat, body image, and mindset. Dr. Vickie discusses how visceral fat is a serious health concern—but also how obsessing over your waistline can spiral into shame.

Lisa Michelle of FITT by Design is an exercise physiologist who has struggled with an eating disorer. She knows how it feels to see a distorted image in the mirror.

She shares an empowering 5-R framework to help you:
📍 Recognize the root of distorted thinking
📍 Reclaim the lens of truth
📍 Reset your mind through repetition
📍 Rebuild your body with purpose
📍 Reframe your self-worth outside of appearance

This conversation is especially powerful for women navigating midlife, identity shifts, and a culture that constantly sells body dissatisfaction. Let’s ditch the shame and choose strategy.

🎧 Listen to Episode 178 now!

And, if you need a kickstart on your strategy, join my 7-day Prescription for Change mini-course.

For only $47, you’ll get simple, science-backed daily habits delivered directly to your Inbox. I’ll walk you through building momentum, restoring balance, and the steps to take to start loving your body again.

👉 Kickstart Because healthy starts from the inside—and looks great on you. ❤️

RESOURCES:

Lisa Michelle

Sign up for podcasts and newsletter (recipes and more) by email

Free Pantry Guide

Kickstart – 7 Days to bust belly fat ($47)

Related Episodes

Do you really need a liver detox?

Do you really need a liver detox?

Think your liver needs a detox? Think again. In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie explains why your liver doesn’t need a cleanse—and how trendy detox products can actually do more harm than good. Learn what truly supports liver health, from smart nutrition to avoiding hidden liver stressors. Discover what your liver really needs to thrive and why lifestyle medicine is the ultimate detox.

All information associated with this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Please visit the Disclaimer; Conditions, Terms of Use to learn more. 

Privacy Policy

Which Diet is Healthiest?

Which diet is healthiest?

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Do you wish you could live a healthier lifestyle, but don't know where to start?

Sign up for a free 7 day minicourse with downloadable workbook to help you get started. You’ll identify what changes you want to make and how to implement lasting changes.

About This Episode

WHICH DIET IS HEALTHIEST?

Poor diet is one of the leading causes of disease and death. But which diet is healthiest? 

In episode 128 we will look at the evidence and the confusion.

But eating a healthy diet can help you live longer and reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, and dementia. Of course. A poor diet also contributes to obesity, which increases the risk of all of these.  And decisions about diet are complicated. Some people’s taste buds are just programmed to crave sugar and fat, and other people love fruits and vegetables. And, you know, emotions play a big role as well as mental health in general. On top of that, we have cultural norms or religious guidelines and those heavily influenced diet choices sometimes in a good way. 

In this episode we examine the Mediterranean diet, DASH, MIND, Carnivore, Keto, Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian and Intermittent Fasting

 

 

Related Episodes

Do you really need a liver detox?

Do you really need a liver detox?

Think your liver needs a detox? Think again. In this episode of Healthy Looks Great on You, Dr. Vickie explains why your liver doesn’t need a cleanse—and how trendy detox products can actually do more harm than good. Learn what truly supports liver health, from smart nutrition to avoiding hidden liver stressors. Discover what your liver really needs to thrive and why lifestyle medicine is the ultimate detox.

Kickstart healthy habits

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