Dr. Charles Helm, a family doctor based in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, is no stranger to exploration and discovery. With a dual career as a physician and a PhD paleontologist, his life’s work has been dedicated to understanding both the human body and the world’s prehistoric past.
Now, Dr. Helm is bringing his passion for health and evolutionary biology to the microphone with his new IPTN-sponsored podcast, At the Helm: Exploring Food as Treatment for Chronic Disease.
The first episode of the hour-long podcast is being released November 14, in honor of World Diabetes Day. Thereafter, new episodes will be released each week.
Each episode features Dr. Helm in discussion with a fascinating guest delving into issues around food and health. The first dozen episodes focus specifically on the remission of type 2 diabetes through a food-first approach.
“For me it has been an immense privilege to host this podcast series on such an important topic that is so close to my heart,” said Dr. Helm, who this past year joined the IPTN board as a director.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed hosting these inspiring people and hearing their stories. I hope that viewers and listeners will pick up that sense of excitement, and will be encouraged. After all, trying to reverse type 2 diabetes using a food-first approach is 'happy medicine',” Dr. Helm said.
“For health care providers it takes us back to why we chose our professions in the first place, and it is hard to imagine happier patients than those who have taken control of their lives and their type 2 diabetes, are off all their medications, and are thriving.”
Food as Medicine: An Underappreciated Approach to Chronic Disease
In At the Helm, Dr. Helm explores some of the most pressing health issues of our time. As modern societies grapple with rising rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, he believes the key to combating these metabolic epidemics may lie in the foods we are consuming today in contrast to the foods we evolved to eat over the millennia.
“I am fascinated by the intersection of human health and evolutionary biology,” says Dr. Helm. “I want to explore not only how we can improve the health of people today but also how prehistoric factors—such as geography, climate, ancient food sources, and other evolutionary pressures—have shaped how humans are designed to eat and live.”
The podcast examines how what we eat can set us up for disease, and more importantly, how changing what we eat can be as powerful as any drug for treating certain chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes.
The podcast features interviews with leading research scientists who study the physiology of the human metabolic response to food, clinicians who are applying these principles in their practices, and individuals whose lives have been transformed by changing how they eat.
Episodes Available Now
The first episode of At the Helm is available now. In the podcast trailer, Dr. Helm shares his personal and professional journey, why he’s passionate about this topic, and how he hopes the podcast will help listeners take control of their health.
The first full podcast features the health transformation of Chris Xi, who was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at age 17 and put the condition into remission by changing what he eats. Trained as a pharmacist, Chris is now in his first year medical school and his perspective as a young doctor in training rounds out the engaging discussion.
Future guests include doctors, researchers and inspiring patients. These include Dr. David Unwin, a UK family doctor who has helped more than 140 patients put their type 2 diabetes into remission, Dr. Jim Johnson, PhD, whose research lab at the University of BC studies all facets of insulin resistance, and Dr. Roshani Sanghani, a Mumbai endocrinologist who is helping her primarily vegetarian patients not only put type 2 diabetes into remission but reversing conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, too.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a patient seeking answers or insights, or simply curious about the power of food, this podcast offers thought-provoking discussions and actionable insights.
Listen to At the Helm on your favorite podcast platform and or subscribe to the new IPTN podcast YouTube channel here to never miss an episode.
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