Mood Food

What Does “Detox” Really Mean? Separating Wellness Myths from Science

Should you do a detox? And if so, what does a healthy detox actually look like?
 
In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND tackle one of the most misunderstood topics in wellness: detoxification. From juice cleanses and fasting trends to social media “resets,” there’s no shortage of advice—but is any of it actually helping?
In this thoughtful discussion, the hosts explore what detoxification really means, why the body’s natural detox systems deserve more attention than fad cleanses, and how supporting the gut microbiome is an essential part of creating lasting health. Rather than promoting a one-size-fits-all approach, the episode emphasizes that detoxification should be individualized and guided by a person’s health, lifestyle, and goals. The conversation also explores the importance of preparing the body before beginning a detox, including supporting gut health, considering underlying conditions, and understanding how factors like nutrition, stress, medications, and environmental exposures influence the body’s ability to heal.
 
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In This Episode: What “detox” really means—and what it doesn’t Why supporting the gut microbiome comes first Who may benefit from a detox and who should proceed with caution The body’s natural detoxification pathways Common misconceptions about juice cleanses and fasting Why sustainable lifestyle changes matter more than quick fixes The connection between stress, mindset, and gut health How to approach detoxification safely and realistically
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This episode isn’t about finding a miracle cleanse—it’s about understanding your body, supporting its natural processes, and building habits that promote long-term health.
 
Join the Conversation Have you ever tried a detox or cleanse? What did you learn from the experience? Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear your perspective.

The Gut-Brain Connection: How Your Microbiome May Influence Mood, Stress & Hormones?

Could your gut be influencing your mood, anxiety levels, hormones, and even the way you think?
 
In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND bring together many of the topics explored throughout the series to examine one of the most fascinating areas of health science today: the gut-brain connection.
 
The conversation explores how the microbiome communicates with the brain and how disruptions in gut health may contribute to symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, migraines, digestive discomfort, PMS, inflammation, and mood changes. Through personal experiences and practical discussion, the hosts examine how lifestyle, diet, stress, hormones, and the microbiome may all be connected.  
 
The episode also dives into questions many people ask themselves:
 
Why do stress and digestive issues often occur together?
Can gut health affect anxiety and mood?
What role does the microbiome play in hormone balance?
Why do some foods trigger brain fog, cravings, or inflammation?
How can we create an environment where both the gut and the brain can thrive?  
 
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In This Episode:
 
Understanding the gut-brain connection
How stress impacts digestion—and vice versa
The microbiome’s role in mood and anxiety
Brain fog, migraines, and inflammation
Hormones, PMS, and gut health
Why lifestyle habits matter more than we think
Supporting long-term health through a healthier gut
Creating resilience from the inside out
 
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The gut and brain are in constant communication. Understanding that relationship may change the way you think about your health.
 
Join the Conversation
 
Have you ever noticed changes in your digestion when you’re stressed—or changes in your mood when your diet changes?
 
Share your experience in the comments below.

Stress & Gut Health Part 2: How to Build Resilience and Heal

You can’t eliminate stress—but you can change how your body responds to it.
In Part 2 of the Mood Food Podcast Stress & Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND continue their exploration of the powerful relationship between stress and the digestive system.
After examining the science behind the gut-brain connection in Part 1, this episode focuses on the practical side of stress management: what we can do each day to support both our mental and physical health.
Through an engaging discussion, the hosts explore how simple lifestyle choices—from sleep and nutrition to movement, breathing, and social connection—can help regulate the nervous system, improve gut function, and build long-term resilience.
 In This Episode:
Why managing stress is essential for gut health
The role of sleep in recovery and healing
How movement supports both the brain and digestive system
Nutrition strategies for times of high stress
Breathing, mindfulness, and nervous system regulation
The importance of relationships and social connection
Building resilience instead of chasing a stress-free life
Small daily habits that can make a big difference
Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s developing the tools to respond in healthier ways and create a stronger foundation for long-term wellness.
This episode completes our two-part series on Stress & Gut Health, offering practical insights that listeners can begin applying immediately.
 Join the Conversation
Watch Part 1 to learn how stress affects the gut and overall health
Subscribe for more conversations on gut health, nutrition, and wellness
Comment below: What’s your favorite way to manage stress?

Can stress make you sick? More than most people realize.

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND begin a special two-part conversation exploring the relationship between stress and gut health.
 
This first episode focuses on how chronic stress impacts the body — especially the digestive system — and why the gut is often one of the first places stress shows up physically.
 
Joined by a gut health expert, the discussion explores the science of the gut-brain connection, the role of the nervous system, and how stress can contribute to symptoms like bloating, reflux, digestive discomfort, inflammation, fatigue, brain fog, and mood changes.
 
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 In This Episode:
 
The connection between the brain and the gut
How chronic stress affects digestion and the microbiome
Why stress can trigger inflammation and GI symptoms
The nervous system’s role in gut health
Physical signs your body may be stuck in “fight or flight” mode
How modern lifestyles contribute to chronic stress
Foundational strategies to support stress resilience and healing
 
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Stress affects more than the mind — it affects the entire body. Understanding that connection is the first step toward better health.
 
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 Join the Conversation
 
Subscribe for Part 2 of our stress and gut health series
Share this episode with someone navigating stress or digestive issues
Comment below: Where do you notice stress affecting your body the most?

What happens to your gut health as you get older — and what’s actually normal?

In Part 2 of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND continue their exploration of gut health across the lifespan — this time focusing on adulthood through aging.Building on Part 1 (conception through the 20s), this episode dives into how the gut microbiome changes over time and why factors like stress, hormones, medications, and lifestyle begin to have a greater impact on digestion, immunity, and overall health.Joined by a gut health expert, the discussion breaks down what’s normal, what’s not, and how to better support your gut at every stage of life.✨ In This Episode:How gut health evolves in adulthood and later lifeThe impact of stress, sleep, and lifestyle on digestionHormonal changes and their effect on the gutThe role of medications and antibiotics over timeCommon digestive issues in adulthood — and what’s normalHow to support a healthy microbiome as you agePractical, sustainable habits for long-term gut healthTogether with Part 1, this episode completes a full picture of how gut health develops, changes, and can be supported across a lifetime.💬 Join the ConversationWatch Part 1 to understand gut health from conception through your 20sSubscribe for more conversations on food, health, and cultureComment below: What changes have you noticed in your gut health over time?

What is normal when it comes to gut health — from before birth through your 20s?

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND kick off a special two-part series exploring gut health across the lifespan.
 
Part 1 focuses on the earliest stages of life — from conception and infancy through childhood, adolescence, and into the 20s — and how the gut microbiome develops during these critical years.
 
Joined by a gut health expert, the conversation unpacks how early-life factors like birth method, diet, antibiotics, and environment shape digestion, immunity, and overall health for years to come.
 
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 In This Episode:
 
How gut health begins at conception and birth
What’s “normal” for digestion in infants and children
The role of breastfeeding, formula, and early nutrition
How antibiotics and environment impact the microbiome
Gut health changes during adolescence and early adulthood
Signs something may be off — and when to pay attention
How early habits influence lifelong health
 
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Understanding what’s normal is the first step toward better health — for yourself and for the next generation.
 
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 Join the Conversation
 
Subscribe for Part 2, where we explore gut health from adulthood through aging
Share this episode with parents, caregivers, or anyone interested in lifelong wellness
Comment below: What have you learned about gut health that surprised you?

Divya’s Kitchen was built on the belief that food is medicine

Some restaurants feed people. Some heal people. Divya’s Kitchen was built on the belief that food is medicine — rooted in Ayurveda, intention, and nourishment beyond the plate. After sitting down with Divya and hearing her story, it became even clearer how much heart and purpose exists behind this space. They are now at risk of closing. If you’re in NYC, please visit and support them. If not, consider sharing or contributing to their GoFundMe. https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-divyas-kitchen 🎙️ The full MoodFood Podcast episode releases Friday, May 15. Places like this are rare. Let’s not lose them quietly. 🙏 #FoodAsMedicine #Ayurveda #SupportLocal #MoodFoodPodcast #HealingThroughFood #Vegetarian #ConsciousLiving

Before the Diagnosis: Listening to Your Gut

Your gut is talking. Are you listening?After our powerful 8-episode Breast Cancer series, MoodFood is diving deep into one of the most fascinating and misunderstood systems in the human body — your gut.
Welcome to the Gut Health Series - Before the Diagnosis: Listening to Your GutWe explore the science and stories behind your second brain. In this episodes to come, we lay the groundwork for everything: how your gut health shifts through every stage of life, why stress wreaks havoc on your digestion, how hormones and gut bacteria are in constant conversation, and the mind-blowing gut-brain connection that explains so much about your mood, energy, and mental health.
Whether you're bloated, anxious, exhausted, or just curious — this series is for you.
New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe so you don't miss a thing.

Leadership Interrupted - The breast cancer journey in India

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Breast Cancer Journey series, hosts Prreeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND sit down for a moving and eye-opening conversation about the realities of breast cancer treatment in India.
 
Featuring candid reflections from two breast cancer survivors and their surgeon, this episode explores the many layers of the patient experience — from diagnosis and decision-making to family involvement, emotional resilience, and recovery. The discussion sheds light on how cultural values and strong family support systems can both strengthen and complicate the treatment journey, especially when women are navigating major medical decisions within broader social and familial structures.    
 
A major focus of this conversation is patient empowerment: the importance of asking questions, understanding treatment options, and building trust with medical professionals who truly listen. The episode also tackles an especially important issue in global breast cancer care — access to breast reconstruction — including the startling reality that less than 1% of women in India undergoing mastectomy are offered immediate breast reconstruction, despite how profoundly body image, identity, and quality of life can be affected.    
 
This is an honest, compassionate, and thought-provoking discussion about what it means to treat the whole patient — not just the disease.
 
In this episode, we discuss:
• Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experiences in India
• The role of family, community, and social support
• Cultural influences on medical decision-making
• Why patient education and self-advocacy matter
• The importance of trust between patients and physicians
• Breast reconstruction awareness and access disparities
• What healthcare systems around the world can learn from one another       
 
If this conversation resonates with you, please like, comment, and subscribe — and share it with someone who may need to hear it.

Episode 8 – 20 Years of Innovation: The KUBTEC Story and the Fight for Better Breast Cancer Surgery

This episode of the Mood Food Podcast is personal — and powerful. Host Prreeti Butani sits down with Vikram Butani, co-founder and CEO of KUBTEC, and Tom Siffringer, Vice President of Clinical Sales, to look back on 20 years of purpose-driven innovation in surgical imaging.
From a single idea printed at Kinko’s to a global company transforming breast cancer care, this is the story of how vision, science, and compassion can change lives. Together, they discuss the origins of KUBTEC, the development of the MOZART® System for intraoperative specimen imaging, and how the company’s mission — to reudce the chances of repeat surgeries and improve patient outcomes — continues to guide every breakthrough.
 
QUESTIONNAIRE : https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1IkFUlVqr5-bKyhin6c09tPVqSEd8PSU1?usp=drive_link
 
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In This Episode: • The humble beginnings of KUBTEC and its first big break • How surgical imaging technology evolved into breast cancer innovation • What “no more cancer” means to the people behind the company • Overcoming challenges — from fire to pandemic — with resilience and purpose • Why patient care and human connection remain the company’s foundation • The power of small companies to drive medical innovation • Empowering women with knowledge and choice in their treatment
 
⸻ Guests: Vikram Butani, Co-founder & CEO, KUBTEC Tom Siffringer, Vice President of Clinical Sales, KUBTEC Host:  Prreeti Butani
 
⸻ Join the Conversation • Subscribe for more stories in the Breast Cancer Journey series • Share this episode to celebrate innovation and hope in healthcare • Comment below: What does “no more cancer” mean to you?
 
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⸻ #MoodFoodPodcast #BreastCancerJourney #KUBTEC #BreastCancerAwareness #MOZARTSystem #InnovationInMedicine #SurgicalImaging #WomenInMedicine #ClearMargins #PatientCare #MedicalTechnology #HopeAndHealing #NoMoreCancer