In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with legendary nutrition expert, author, and public health advocate Professor Marion Nestle to explore the truth behind nutrition politics, food policy, ultra-processed foods, and what people should actually eat today.

Professor Nestle—author of Food Politics, Unsavory Truth, What to Eat, and her newest book What to Eat Now—breaks down the hidden forces shaping the American food system, including corporate influence, agricultural subsidies, dietary guidelines, food marketing, and why it's so hard for individuals to make healthy choices in a system designed to push the opposite.

This episode dives deep into the intersection of science, policy, culture, and personal health, offering grounded insights, practical advice, and a rare behind-the-scenes look at how nutrition research and public health decisions get made.

• The real story behind food politics and how it shapes what we eat

• Why ultra-processed foods dominate over 60% of the American diet

• How agricultural subsidies, corporate lobbying, and policy decisions impact public health

• The challenges of nutrition research and why the public is often confused

• The truth about access, affordability, and equity in healthy eating

• What Marion Nestle believes people should eat today for better health

• The rise of GLP-1 drugs and how they're reshaping the food industry

• The future of American farming, food production, and sustainability

• How clinicians, journalists, and policymakers can rebuild trust in nutrition science

This episode is essential for anyone interested in:
nutrition science, food policy, public health, healthy eating, sustainable agriculture, ultra-processed foods, organic farming, obesity, the food industry, GLP-1s, food systems, and evidence-based wellness.

Hosted by Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman, The Well-Being Manifesto unpacks the systems, science, and stories shaping human well-being. With leading thinkers in health, policy, medicine, and culture, the show explores what it truly means to live well in today's world.

Learn more at: https://www.thewellbeingmanifesto.com/

In this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman welcome world-renowned physician, researcher, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Dean Ornish — founder and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute and pioneer of lifestyle medicine.

For over four decades, Dr. Ornish's groundbreaking research has proven that comprehensive lifestyle changes — including nutrition, movement, stress management, love, and connection — can not only prevent but even reverse chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, prostate cancer, and now early Alzheimer's disease.

Together, they explore:

• 💪 The science behind reversing heart disease and Alzheimer's naturally

• 🧠 Why small, consistent steps can drive big, lasting health transformations

• ❤️ How love, compassion, and social connection are medicine for the heart and mind

• 🥗 The impact of a whole-food, plant-based diet on longevity and emotional well-being

• 🧘 The role of stress management and mindfulness in true healing

• 🌍 How lifestyle medicine empowers people and systems to move from "sick care" to real health

Dr. Ornish's message is clear: change doesn't have to be radical to be powerful. Every small, mighty step — in how we eat, move, breathe, and connect — brings us closer to healing, purpose, and joy.

If you're ready to reimagine what's possible for your health and well-being, this conversation is a must-listen.

Nutrition is the focus of this episode of The Well-Being Manifesto, as hosts Dr. Moain Abu Dabrh and Dr. David Freeman sit down with Jerold Mande, CEO of Nourish Science, former senior advisor at the USDA, FDA, and White House, and adjunct professor at Harvard University's T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Together, they dive deep into how food as medicine can transform public health, healthcare costs, and equity across America.

From designing the Nutrition Facts Label to shaping landmark food and tobacco policies, Jerold Mande has spent decades on the front lines of nutrition science, food labeling reform, and evidence-based public health.

This conversation uncovers:

🍎 Why food is the most powerful — yet underutilized — lever for better health outcomes

🏥 How the U.S. "sick care" system can shift toward true healthcare through nutrition policy

💰 The role of the food industry, government, and NIH in advancing (or blocking) nutrition research

🌍 How inequities in food access, food deserts, and food swamps perpetuate chronic disease

⚖️ Why we need systemic reform — including a National Institute of Nutrition and accountability for ultra-processed foods

Mande also shares a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the FDA, the origins of modern food safety laws, and how America can reclaim public health leadership by treating food as the foundation of wellness, not disease. If you care about nutrition policy, preventive healthcare, food systems, and health equity, this is a must-listen episode that challenges the status quo — and offers a roadmap for change.

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Together, let's redefine what it means to live well — through science, compassion, and community. 💙