A cardiologist’s guide to mind-body medicine

And 9 tips for a well-rounded workout schedule   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏ ‌   ­ ͏‌   ­

January 27, 2026 PRESENTED BY A supplement blend to support stress levels* Happy Tuesday! Hope you've had a great start to your week! We are covering some fascinating topics today. Keep scrolling to learn more about: What I learned from tracking my blood sugar for 2 weeks If you aren't already, it's time to start lifting heavier in 2026 Plus, the unexpected trait that predicts better health outcomes Before you dive in, what is your favorite exercise to do in the gym? You can't go wrong with a squat in my opinion! Hit reply to share. —Ava Durgin, assistant health editor I wore a CGM for 14 days—here's what worked Blood sugar advice is everywhere, and much of it feels more anxiety-inducing than helpful. Instead of restricting food or aiming for perfection, I wore a CGM for two weeks and tested five popular hacks to see what moved the needle in everyday life. Here's what stood out most: Context matters more than perfection. The same meal produced different glucose responses depending on sleep, stress, training, and even where I was in my cycle. You don't need to cut carbs to balance blood sugar. Pairing carbs with protein, fat, or fiber consistently softened spikes and prevented crashes. Cooking + cooling carbs works. Leftover rice, potatoes, or pasta led to flatter glucose curves thanks to resistant starch. Short post-meal walks were the clear winner. Just 5–10 minutes of walking after meals kept glucose peaks ~20–30 mg/dL lower, and beat every other hack I tried. What actually worked was surprisingly simple. A little protein, enough fiber, and a short walk go a long way, and they're habits you can actually stick with. + Ride the (blood sugar) wave Drink these 3 beverages to balance blood sugar A sneaky reason you can't get your blood sugar under control Walk this long after meals to stabilize blood sugar PRESENTED BY How to support balanced cortisol levels* If you feel wired at night, more sluggish in the morning, or stuck in a frenzied rut, cortisol may be part of the bigger picture. As the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol is the bridge between everyday stress and its health impact.¹ It's meant to peak in the early morning and taper off throughout the day, but life can sometimes disrupt that rhythm. When this happens, the body struggles to fully power down into relaxation and rest. Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager contains a proprietary blend of SENSORIL® ashwagandha extract and L-theanine to support balanced cortisol levels and a healthy response to everyday stress.* In addition, the supplement contains a proprietary blend of Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) and epimedium (Epimedium koreanum), as well as phosphatidylserine from soy lecithin.* Shop now A nuanced approach to building muscle Image by pixdeluxe / iStock Do you really have to lift heavy for greater gains? 4 ways to build muscle without it taking over your life Why this expert consistently combines Pilates & weightlifting 9 tips for a well-rounded workout schedule Support a healthy stress response with ashwagandha* Science-backed stress support*: Integrative Therapeutics Cortisol Manager contains SENSORIL ashwagandha extract. In a double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, taking SENSORIL ashwagandha daily contributed to balanced cortisol levels and improved stress measures in healthy adults experiencing common stress.*² Stress less A cardiologist's guide to mind-body medicine "Never give up hope. Never give up your vision. Never give up your purpose," explains Tara Narula, M.D. Narula, a board-certified cardiologist, Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, and author of "The Healing Power of Resilience, joins us today to explore how resilience, stress, and mindset profoundly shape heart health—and how we can build these skills to improve both recovery and long-term wellbeing. How to handle the stress of a diagnosis The eight tools for resilience The importance of flexibility in our life path And the importance of connection & social support Tune in and be sure to hit follow to get the latest episodes on Apple Podcasts, or watch the interview and subscribe to our channel on YouTube. That's it for the long game—thanks for playing. Have a great week ahead! Want more from mindbodygreen? Find us here: ✍️ The latest articles on mindbodygreen 📱️ Join 1M+ others on Instagram and TikTok 🎧️ Listen to The mindbodygreen Podcast for health deep dives 🛍️ Support your well-being with supplements & personal care 🌱 Enroll in our best-in-class Functional Nutrition course 📚 Become a board-certified health coach today Credential Check Ava Durgin Assistant Health Editor Emma Engler, M.S. Expert Review Forwarded this email? CLICK HERE to subscribe for free! Citations 1 StatPearls Publishing 1 Journal of the American Nutrition Association Just a heads-up: Everything in this newsletter is for general info only—not medical advice. We always recommend checking in with a healthcare professional before making any health decisions. Our product picks and reviews reflect our editors' opinions unless we say otherwise. We sometimes link to other sites, but we're not responsible for their content. *These statements haven't been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. SENSORIL® is a trademark of a Kerry Company © 2024 mindbodygreen, All rights reserved. 2980 McFarlane Road, Miami, FL 33133 UNSUBSCRIBE