Transforming Health Through Nutrition, Empathy, and Research

Sharing something deeply personal—my father, @d.a.wiss has published his memoir, “One Life, No Rehearsal: A Surgeon’s Memoir of Healing, Heartbreak, & Legacy.”
 
My father has always been my ultimate hero and mentor. As a retired orthopedic trauma surgeon and past president of the Orthopedic Trauma Association, he has also been a hero and mentor to many others. 
 
This book traces his remarkable journey from inner-city Detroit to surgical leadership in Los Angeles. But at its heart, it’s a love story—one that chronicles his devotion to my mother, Deborah, through her battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s that began at age 67. Watching my mother’s decline into dementia has been the most challenging experience our family has endured, and Dad’s courage as her caregiver taught me profound lessons about love and commitment.
 
For anyone interested in medicine, career development, heartbreak, or resilience, this memoir offers invaluable insights in an engaging and easy-to-read format. It’s both professionally enriching and profoundly human—a testament to finding meaning through both triumph and loss.
 
All author royalties are being donated to OPICA, a memory care center in Los Angeles that provides crucial support to families facing dementia.
 
The book is now available on Amazon, and I’d be honored if you would take a few hours to read it. Even Harrison Ford has lent his voice to support Alzheimer’s care alongside my father’s advocacy efforts.
 
I visit my mother in her memory care on most Saturdays. As expected, her brain function declines over time, but her spirit lives, and we have many heartfelt moments. My mother’s spirit continues to inspire my work at the intersection of nutrition and mental health every day.

#alzheimers #dementia

Rice is a staple for billions worldwide, but here’s something you may have heard: it naturally accumulates arsenic from soil and water at a higher rate than other grains.

But don’t panic, there’s a hack!

This simple cooking method (swipe to see all steps) can reduce arsenic by up to 73% while maintaining the deliciousness of your rice. It’s called the Parboiling with Absorption method (PBA), and it’s backed by research.

Why does this matter for mental health? Our gut and brain are deeply connected. The quality of our food, including how it is prepared, influences our microbiome, which affects neurotransmitter production, inflammation levels, and ultimately our mood and cognition.

This method is especially valuable for:

🍚 Parents preparing rice for children
🍚 Anyone eating rice regularly
🍚 Those focused on reducing environmental toxin exposure
🍚 People supporting their gut-brain axis through mindful food preparation

It only adds about 5 minutes to your cooking time: a small effort with a meaningful impact.

Remember: nutrition isn’t just about what we eat, but also how we prepare it.

What other hacks do you use in your kitchen?

#rice #healthandwellnesstips

Our new publication from Frontiers in Psychiatry bridges the divide between abstinence and moderation approaches to food and body recovery. It turns out that we’ve been asking the wrong question all along.

It’s not “which approach is right?” It’s “which approach is right for THIS person at THIS moment in their life?”

Swipe through to learn about ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA) and why your unique brain deserves unique treatment.

Remember: There’s no shame in needing different tools from someone else. Your recovery is valid, whether that means embracing all foods or setting loving boundaries with some.

Co-authors: @susanpeircethompson @drjoyjacobs

If you’re ready for the deeper dive, drop “Pub” below, and I will send you the paper!

#foodaddictionrecovery

Just dove into this new research (PMID: 40456886) and honestly, it’s validating what I’ve been seeing in practice for years 🌈

The study followed 125,000 people and found something that goes beyond the typical “eat your vegetables” advice. It’s not just about eating flavonoid-rich foods - it’s about eating a VARIETY of them. We’re talking apples AND berries AND leafy greens AND citrus... You got the gist 🍎🫐🥬🍊

What really caught my attention? People who got their flavonoids from just tea (even lots of it) had worse health outcomes than those who mixed it up. The sweet spot seems to be around 13 different types of flavonoids daily, which sounds intense until you realize that’s basically eating the rainbow throughout your day ✨

Here’s what I find fascinating from a mental health perspective: when we focus on adding colorful variety rather than restricting, something shifts psychologically. It becomes about abundance rather than deprivation. And that mindset difference? It matters more than most people realize 🧠

Participants with the highest flavonoid diversity had a 14% lower all-cause mortality rate, a 20% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and better overall outcomes. But beyond the numbers, I keep thinking about how this approach naturally crowds out less nutritious choices without the mental struggle 💪

What’s one colorful food you haven’t tried in a while that you’re curious about? Mine’s purple cauliflower... been meaning to experiment with that

The New England Journal of Medicine (PMID:40544430) has just published a major piece on regulatory approaches to UPFs—the foods that account for 67% of American calories and are linked to depression, diabetes, and heart disease.

From California’s additive bans to NYC’s school meal reforms, change is already happening. What UPF policy would you most support?

What narratives have you heard that go against this agenda?

Remember: poison is not partisan 🫶🏼

Have you ever felt like you absorb everything—other people’s emotions, stress from the environment, even the chaos in the world? That’s not just in your head.

Some have what I call a “leaky psyche”—a state of emotional and neurological permeability that shows up as mood swings, fatigue, overwhelm, and burnout.

It’s not a diagnosis. It’s a lens. And it can be traced back to very real factors like gut inflammation, trauma, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic stress.

When the body’s boundaries break down—whether it’s the gut lining or the blood-brain barrier—our mental health suffers.

In good news, there’s a path forward. Healing involves supporting your biology and restoring your boundaries. Nervous system regulation. Gut repair. Nutrient repletion. Connection. Safety.

Don’t lose your sovereignty 🫶🏼

Drop a 💬 if this resonates or if you’d like more content like this!

Can what we eat protect our brains from childhood trauma? 🧠🥗

New research reveals that nutrition might be a powerful shield against the lasting effects of early life stress. This comprehensive review of 96 studies found that specific nutrients - from omega-3s to probiotics - helped reverse stress-related brain changes in over 90% of cases studied.

Swipe through to discover:
→ How early trauma affects the developing brain
→ Which nutrients show the most promise
→ The science behind nutritional protection
→ What this means for mental health

The findings suggest that good nutrition during critical developmental periods could help build resilience against anxiety, depression, and cognitive problems that often follow childhood adversity.

This is especially important for vulnerable populations who may benefit from accessible, nutrition-based interventions. While more human studies are needed, the evidence points to diet as a crucial factor in mental health that we can actually control.

📚 Source: Geertsema et al., Molecular Psychiatry (2025) PMID: 40289212

Our sweet little angel baby Davina turned three today ❤️

I was told that parenting would change me in ways that could not be described ahead of time and boy is that true 🫶🏼

That feeling when I walk in the door and she screams “daddy” and runs to me with a smile is better than anything I could have imagined 🥰

It’s also a birthday for my lovely wife @miracleworkher who gave birth to her first child three years ago. I will never forget the magic of that day✨I love you so much MegaBoo 😘

We have a household filled with love and that is truly the only thing that matters. Beyond blessed 🥹