Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition

What if the food you eat every day is quietly shaping not just your physical health, but your brain, your mood, and your long-term resilience?In this episode of Live Well Be Well, I’m joined by Dr William Li, physician scientist, bestselling author, and president of the Angiogenesis Foundation. William is one of the world’s leading voices on food as medicine, and together we explore how nutrition, immunity, and brain health are deeply connected, often in ways we underestimate.In this conversation, Dr. William Li shares how the body’s defence systems are constantly communicating with the brain, influencing inflammation, cognition, mood, and ageing. Drawing on decades of research, he explains how everyday foods can strengthen immunity, protect blood vessels, and support brain function, not through restriction or perfection, but through consistent, nourishing choices.We discuss why immune health matters far beyond avoiding illness, how inflammation silently impacts mood and cognition, and why nourishing the body is one of the most accessible tools we have for long term resilience. This episode is an invitation to move away from fear based nutrition and toward a calmer, evidence led understanding of how the body heals, adapts, and thrives when supported consistently over time.Here’s What We Dive Into:- How the immune system influences brain health, mood, and cognitive ageing.- Why chronic inflammation quietly undermines wellbeing long before symptoms appear.- What angiogenesis is and why healthy blood vessels matter for brain function.- How specific foods support the body’s natural defence and repair systems.- Why food as medicine is about consistency, not restriction or perfection.- What the science really says about nutrition and disease prevention.- How everyday dietary choices shape long term resilience and longevity.- Why empowering people with knowledge creates healthier relationships with food.Love, Sarah Ann 💛👉 Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.⁠https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/⁠***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram:  / sarahannmacklin📹 Subscribe:   / @livewellbewellsarah  🐦 Twitter:  / sarahannmacklin  📱 TikTok:  / sarahannnutrition  💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Intro (00:00)Why Social Connection Is Essential for Longevity and Brain Health (02:11)Reframing Ageing and Letting Go of the Decline Narrative (04:26)How Metabolism Shapes Ageing, Energy, and Disease Risk (11:03)Why Biohacking Misses the Bigger Picture of Longevity and Health (15:26)The Brain Microbiome and How Gut Bacteria Affect the Mind (19:12)Probiotics and Brain Health What the Science Shows (23:29)How to Choose the Right Probiotic Based on Evidence (30:40)Akkermansia and Its Role in Metabolism and Diabetes (35:46)Gut Health, Immunity, and Cancer Treatment Support (40:02)How to Increase Akkermansia Naturally Through Diet (41:37)Do Restrictive Diets Support or Harm Gut Microbiome Health? (47:56)Hydration, Polyphenols, and Healthier Beverage Choices (50:54) The Simple Hydration Habit That Prevents Mindless Eating (57:12)Balancing Longevity Goals With Joy and Simplicity (1:01:42)***Love what you’re hearing?My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.

👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://sarahannmacklin.com/5_free_recipes👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/QeNdkCVYquUDoes having APOE4 mean Alzheimer’s is inevitable? It doesn’t, and I explain how genes interact with lifestyle and environment to shape risk. This clip explores early-onset familial mutations versus common late-onset cases, APOE4 as a risk multiplier, population data from some Indigenous groups, Nigerians, and Sicilians, key lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol, poor diet, and sedentary behavior, polygenic risk scores, and why an estimated 40 to 50 percent of dementia may be preventable at a population level.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***The Great British Veg OutHow to support your gut, energy, and hormones by eating more — not less.👉 sarahannmacklin.com/vegoutReset Your HealthIf your body feels off after stress, travel, or burnout — this is where to start.👉 sarahannmacklin.com/reset-your-health***Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah 🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin 📱 TikTok: / livewellbewellpodcast 💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/ZXLWY5HcPXEIn this conversation, I sit down with Andy Galpin to talk about sleep, and why so many of us are still struggling with it despite doing “all the right things”.We unpack why sleep is getting worse globally, even as awareness and spending on sleep continue to rise. Andy explains why focusing on sleep duration alone misses the bigger picture, and why exhaustion is not the same as being physiologically ready for sleep. We also explore why waking up around 2–3am is so common, and how stress, heart rate, and nervous system regulation before bed play a bigger role than most people realise.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah 🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin 📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition 💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/

What if the qualities you’ve been taught to override are actually the ones keeping you well?To round of 2025, I’m joined by world-leading thinkers including Simon Sinek, Dr. Rick Doblin, Robin Sharma, Professor Nicolau, and Dr. Sarah McKay to explore what truly shapes our wellbeing when the noise fades and the signal becomes clearer.This episode weaves together some of the most powerful moments from conversations across the year. From introversion and energy boundaries, to trauma, inflammation, digital overload, recovery, and the stories we tell about our bodies, this is a reminder that health is not about optimisation, it’s about understanding cost, context, and care.Across neuroscience, psychology, leadership, and physiology, a shared truth emerges. Our systems are intelligent. But they are not limitless. And when we listen earlier, we protect ourselves from paying a higher price later.Here’s What We Dive Into:- How introversion can be a strength in leadership, communication, and meaningful connection.- Why wellbeing is less about right versus wrong, and more about understanding personal cost.- How MDMA-assisted therapy works in the brain to support healing from PTSD — and why context matters more than the compound.- What recovery actually looks like in a world that rewards constant output.- Why strategic rest and “going ghost” can unlock creativity, clarity, and long-term performance.- How social media content — not just screen time — may drive inflammation and immune stress.- Why chronic stress and burnout can permanently shift our inflammatory baseline.- How cultural narratives shape emotional experiences, including PMS and mood changes.Love,Sarah Ann 💛***This episode is sponsored by:NOWATCH: The compassionate health trackerConnecting body and mind with unique stress recovery insights so you can live fully today15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah 🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin 📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition 💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter:Science Simplified, Health Humanised.Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact.https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/👉 Practical beats perfect.Here’s a free 5-recipe PDF I use to support energy and stress during busy weeks.https://open.substack.com/pub/sarahmacklin/p/download-your-free-5-recipes-to-relieve👉 If this resonates, you can join the thousands who readThe Compassionate Cure each week. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***If You Enjoyed This Episode, You Might Also Like:Simon Sinek on Leadership, Energy, and Meaningful WorkSimon Sinek: The ADHD Superpower - Why It’s My Greatest AdvantageDr. Rick Doblin on Trauma, Healing, and Psychedelic ScienceHow Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits & Risks | Dr. Rick DoblinDr. Sarah McKay on Women’s Brains, Hormones, and Emotional HealthWomen's Brain Health: What Science REALLY Says About Hormones, PMS & Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay***Highlights:00:00:00 Intro00:02:00 My ADHD Superpower - Why it’s my greatest advantage | Simon Sinek00:11:23 How Psychedelics Change the Brain: MDMA, Psilocybin, Benefits and Risks | Dr Rick Doblin00:18:51 Stop Chasing Money: 8 Hidden Forms of Wealth You Need Now | Robin Sharma00:24:05 The Brain Immune Expert: Alert! Social Media is Reprogramming Your Immune System | Dr Dan Nicolau Jr00:39:24 Women’s Brain Health: What Science Really Says About Hormones, PMS, and Menopause | Dr Sarah McKay***Love what you’re hearing?My small ask is to please rate and review Live Well Be Well. This helps the show expand and allows me to keep producing these with the best quality guests. It means a huge amount to me, so thank you.

Watch the FULL podcast here: https://youtu.be/7kfykswH6IoThis clip explores how to identify zone two intensity without relying on a wearable. I discuss the link between breathing rate, conversation ability and the underlying metabolic changes that define this training zone. We take a closer look at why many people unintentionally drift into higher intensities, suppress fat oxidation and struggle to lose weight despite working hard. The conversation also touches on fat max, mitochondrial function and the practical implications for long-term weight management.***This episode is sponsored by: NOWATCH: Health tracking reimaginedKnow your body, trust yourself.15% off with code LWBW15 at nowatch.com***Sign up to Sarah’s Compassionate Cure newsletter: Science Simplified, Health Humanised. Join thousands in exploring actionable insights that prioritise compassion, clarity, and real-life impact. https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/***Let’s be friends!📷 Instagram: / sarahannmacklin📹 Subscribe: / @livewellbewellsarah 🐦 Twitter: / sarahannmacklin 📱 TikTok: / sarahannnutrition 💌 Newsletter: https://sarahmacklin.substack.com/