Mood Food

In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Breast Cancer Journey series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND travel to Mumbai, India for a powerful and deeply personal conversation recorded during Illuminate 3.0, an Oncology Town Hall held at the Jio World Convention Center. There, they sat down with Dr. Ashutosh Kothari, Breast Cancer Program Chair, along with his patients Harsha Dharamshi and Ashita Samant, for an eye-opening discussion about the realities of breast cancer care in India. Through candid stories and thoughtful reflections, this episode explores how culture, family dynamics, access to care, and patient education shape the breast cancer experience in ways that can differ significantly from the U.S. and U.K. A central theme 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 highlights the critical role of emotional and family support, while addressing a major issue in global breast cancer care: access to breast reconstruction. One of the most striking points raised in this discussion is that fewer than 1% of women in India undergoing mastectomy are offered immediate breast reconstruction — a statistic that underscores the need for greater awareness, broader access, and more holistic conversations around quality of life after treatment. This is an honest, compassionate, and thought-provoking episode about treating the whole patient — not just the disease. In this episode, we discuss: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment experiences in India Insights from Illuminate 3.0 in Mumbai 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 anotherIf this conversation resonates with you, please like, comment, and subscribe — and share it with someone who may need to hear it.

What if your body has been trying to tell you something—and you’ve simply learned to ignore it?
After seven episodes exploring the microbiome, hormones, stress, detoxification, the gut-brain connection, and gut repair, the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series comes to a close with a conversation about something surprisingly simple: paying attention to your body.
Hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND bring together the themes of the entire series and explore the space between wellness and a diagnosis of disease—the period when you may not feel right, but conventional testing doesn’t necessarily identify a problem.
The conversation asks an important question: What does a healthy gut actually feel like?
Rather than accepting bloating, cramps, reflux, fatigue, brain fog, digestive discomfort, or other recurring symptoms as simply “normal,” the hosts discuss the importance of recognizing your own baseline and noticing when something changes. 
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The episode also takes the conversation beyond digestion. They explore prevention, health anxiety, self-care, relationships, community, and the pressure so many people—especially women—feel to put themselves last. The message isn’t to become obsessed with monitoring your health, but to develop a relationship with your body based on awareness rather than fear. 
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Preeti also opens up about her own health journey and why the Gut Health Series is personal to her. She shares how, over the past two years, she made a commitment to consistently make time for herself—even on the busiest days—and how those small, sustainable choices have changed the way she feels and functions. 
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In This Episode:
What it means to live in the space between wellness and diagnosis
What a healthy gut should actually feel like
Why we can normalize dysfunction without realizing it
Recognizing your personal health baseline
When digestive symptoms may warrant medical attention
Prevention without falling into health anxiety
Why consistency matters more than intensity
Sleep, movement, nutrition, breathing, and social connection
Why we need to give ourselves permission to prioritize our health
Preeti’s personal health journey and the decision to stop abandoning herself
A simple morning routine to start the day with intention
The final Mood Food Moment: listen to your body before the pain begins  
The Final Challenge
As the series comes to an end, the hosts offer one final exercise:
Write a letter to your body.
Acknowledge everything your body has carried you through. Listen to what it’s telling you. And make one promise to take better care of it. 
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The Gut Health Series may be complete, but the journey doesn’t end here.
Pay attention before you’re in pain.
Healing is not shock therapy. It is stability.
Attentiveness is a practice of love toward the body.
Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Subscribe, leave a review, and share the series with someone who might need to hear it.

What does your gut really need to stabilize, repair, and thrive?
In this episode of the Mood Food Podcast Gut Health Series, hosts Preeti Butani and Pramila Vishvanath, LCEH, PA, ND take a step back from the latest supplements, trending protocols, and restrictive diets to focus on something more fundamental: the foundations of gut health.
After exploring the gut-brain connection, detoxification, hormones, stress, and the microbiome throughout the series, this conversation asks a simple question: What are the non-negotiables when it comes to supporting a healthy gut? 
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The discussion looks at how everyday habits—including when you eat, what you eat, how you sleep, how much you move, and how you manage stress—can influence the digestive system and the body’s ability to recover and repair.
The hosts also discuss a key distinction between treating disease and restoring health. Conventional medicine has an important role when we’re sick, but recovery doesn’t necessarily end when the immediate illness is treated. Supporting the body as it returns to healthy function can require attention to food, lifestyle, rest, medications, and the underlying factors that contributed to feeling unwell in the first place. 
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In This Episode:
Why meal timing and digestive rhythm matter
What makes a balanced, gut-friendly breakfast
The importance of protein and fiber
Different types of fiber and how they affect digestion
Why hydration is easy to overlook
The relationship between sleep, recovery, and gut health
How movement and exercise support digestion
Sugar, artificial sweeteners, and the microbiome
The potential effects of long-term medication use on gut health
Leaky gut and intestinal permeability
Why gut repair requires more than just changing your diet
Creating sustainable habits that support long-term health  
The conversation ultimately comes back to a simple idea: there is no single supplement or protocol that can replace the foundations of healthy living. Food, sleep, hydration, movement, rest, and thoughtful medical care all have a role to play.
Whether you’re dealing with a diagnosed digestive condition or simply feel like your body hasn’t been functioning the way it should, this episode offers a place to start.
Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who is trying to understand their gut health.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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