Advertise on podcast: Wellness Club Social

What if the body you’re chasing is the very thing keeping you unhappy? In this episode of Wellness Club Social, we sit down with Ronan Diego - holistic health coach, fitness educator, and Mindvalley author - to explore what real health actually looks like beyond aesthetics. From being bullied as a child to becoming a bodybuilder at peak physical condition (but at his lowest mentally), Ronan shares the turning point that reshaped his entire approach to fitness, nutrition, and self-worth. We go beyond surface-level wellness trends and break down what actually works when it comes to intermittent fasting, fat loss, hormones, strength training, and longevity - without extremes or burnout. This conversation connects the physical and the psychological, offering a more sustainable, intelligent approach to building a body that supports your life - not controls it. In this episode, we cover: The hidden cost of tying your self-worth to your bodyWhy achieving your “dream body” doesn’t guarantee happinessHow intermittent fasting impacts metabolism, fat loss, and inflammationKey differences in fasting for women, hormones, and menstrual cyclesEmotional eating, stress, and the psychology behind weight gainWhy extreme dieting often backfiresThe science behind the 10X super slow strength training methodWhy women won’t get bulky from lifting weightsHow to build long-term vitality, energy, and sustainable health About the Guest Ronan Diego is a holistic health coach, fitness educator, and Mindvalley speaker known for bridging science-based training with mindset, longevity, and sustainable health. He is the creator of the 10X super slow strength training method and a leading educator on intermittent fasting, helping thousands of people improve their energy, metabolism, and overall well-being. His work focuses on building a body that supports performance, longevity, and real life - without extremes. Connect with Ronan Instagram: @ronandiegoinsta Website: ronandiego.com ▶️ Watch now on YouTube

Is modern medicine missing the root cause of disease? And can treatments like peptides, stem cells, exosomes, and GLP-1 medications actually improve your health - or are they being misunderstood? In this episode of Wellness Club Social, we sit down with Dr. Nas Al Jafari, award-winning functional medicine doctor and co-founder of DNA Health Clinics, a leader in longevity, preventive health, and health optimization. Dr. Nas explains why conventional medicine often focuses on symptoms rather than root causes, and how functional medicine uses advanced diagnostics, lifestyle interventions, and personalized treatment plans to address gut health, hormones, metabolic health, and chronic conditions. We explore the science behind peptides, stem cell therapy, and exosomes, and discuss how these emerging treatments are being used in longevity medicine today. Dr. Nas also breaks down the reality of Ozempic, Mounjaro, and GLP-1 medications, including why many people regain weight and how to use these tools safely and effectively. This conversation also covers environmental health, inflammation, and why factors like toxins, stress, and hormonal imbalances are increasingly linked to fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, and long-term health issues. If you’re interested in functional medicine, longevity, biohacking, gut health, hormones, and sustainable weight loss, this episode offers a clear, evidence-informed perspective on what actually works. Why This Episode Matters Understand the difference between symptom-based care and root-cause medicineLearn how peptides, stem cells, and exosomes are used in longevity medicineDiscover the truth about Ozempic, Mounjaro, and weight loss medicationsExplore how gut health, hormones, and environment impact your overall healthGain practical insight into improving your healthspan, not just lifespanAbout the Guest Dr. Nas Al Jafari is an award-winning functional medicine doctor and co-founder of DNA Health Clinics, where he leads advanced programs in longevity, metabolic health, and personalized medicine. Connect with Dr. Nas Website: https://dnahealthcorp.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnaswellness/ DNA Health: https://www.instagram.com/dnahealthclinics/ ▶️ Watch now on YouTube

Is kombucha just another health trend? Something you drink because it’s “better than soda”? Or have we completely misunderstood it? On the latest episode of the Wellness Club Social, our guest Leela, founder of @me_kombucha , explains how her journey into fermentation started long before it became fashionable - with her mother’s cancer diagnosis and a lesson about food, immunity, and prevention that stayed with her for life. In this conversation, we talk about why most kombucha on the market isn’t what it claims to be, how fermentation really works, and why real health often comes down to patience, process, and not cutting corners. 00:00 Intro — Meet Leela, Founder of ME Kombucha 01:59 Kombucha, Cancer & Fermented Foods 02:38 Nursing, Cancer Care & Gut Health 05:08 What Is Kombucha? 05:30 Homemade vs Commercial Kombucha 06:48 Pasteurized vs Non-Pasteurized Kombucha 08:28 Why Kombucha Must Be Made Locally 09:11 “Zero Sugar Kombucha” Explained 12:16 First Emirati Kombucha Brand in the UAE 13:20 Kombucha for Kids & Immunity 15:26 Why Fermented Foods Taste Strong at First 18:07 How to Store Kombucha Correctly 19:31 Sugar, Honey & Kombucha Myths 21:32 Chromium, Insulin & Metabolism 23:31 What Makes ME Kombucha Unique 24:49 Best Time to Drink Kombucha 26:38 Bloating, SIBO & Fermented Foods 28:55 Is Fermentation Natural for Humans? 35:56 Health Benefits of Kombucha 38:24 Future of Wellness in the UAE 40:42 Education Over Profit 46:06 New Kombucha Flavors Coming 47:28 Expansion Beyond the UAE 49:14 Where to Buy ME Kombucha To learn more about ME Kombucha: Instagram: @me_kombucha Website: https://mekombucha.com/

Most of us think health is about doing more.More supplements. More routines. More rules.But what if real health is about slowing down…and going back to what our bodies have always known?Our guest, Hadil AlKatib, is the founder of The Roost, The Broth Lab and Catcha Matcha. But before building some of the region’s most trusted wellness brands, she was a corporate executive, a new mother, and quietly struggling with her own health.In this conversation, Hadil shares why modern wellness often misses the point, how ancestral foods helped her heal her gut after postpartum burnout, and why the future of health isn’t about hacks - it’s about foundations.This episode is a reminder that sometimes, the way forward…is backwards. 00:00 Meet Hadil AlKatib 01:08 Postpartum Health Crisis 03:20 Women, Wellness & Abundance 07:46 Gut Health Confusion After Motherhood 10:58 Feeling Unwell Despite “Perfect” Tests 13:34 Learning Nutrition & Microbiome Health 18:36 Food as Medicine & The Broth Lab 22:08 Why Health Is “Backwards” 27:23 Bone Broth Quality Explained 31:26 When & How to Drink Broth 36:00 Healing Kids’ Gut Health 41:47 Katcha Matcha & Ceremonial Quality 49:01 First Gut-Health Advice 51:18 Hormones, Ageing & Nutrition 54:44 Tallow, Retreats & Community 1:01:02 The Future of Wellness 1:05:27 Closing & Next Episode Please like, subscribe, and leave a review.Share it with someone who cares about wellness and their gut health.To learn more about Hadil:Instagram: @healwithhadilInstagram: @thebrothlabInstagram: @theroost_aeInstagram: @catcha_matcha🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube

What if the supplements you’re taking aren’t doing what you think they are? What if the glossy wellness branding, the celebrity endorsements, and the “all-in-one” miracle powders are actually the red flag? In this episode of The Wellness Club Social, we sit down with Borna Bandari, CEO of Cymbiotika Middle East and former California litigation attorney, to unpack the uncomfortable truth about the modern supplements industry - from inside the boardroom and the lab. Borna shares how burning out as a lawyer on an 18-hour-a-day case led him to a radical health transformation: solo hikes with a backpack and tent, losing 25–30kg, and eventually moving to Dubai to bring Cymbiotika to the region. We talk about ancestral wisdom vs. flashy marketing, why Cymbiotika refuses to pay celebrities or influencers, and what that really says about where other brands are putting their money: in ingredients… or in endorsements. We go deep on: • The real difference between a AED20 vitamin C and a AED200 vitamin C • Why ingredient integrity, sourcing, and bioavailability matter more than the label claim • The truth about “all-in-one” powders and why they’re Borna’s least favorite wellness trend • Borna’s own morning protocol: salt water, NMN, molecular hydrogen, glutathione & Turkish coffee • How influencers, fake engagement and paid posts distort trust in wellness • Why the future of wellness is a return to basics: real food, clean water, quality salt, sleep, stress management - with supplements as a powerful addition, not a shortcut This conversation will change the way you look at your supplement shelf, your food shop, and the brands you trust with your health. If you’ve ever wondered “Do I actually need supplements?”, “Which ones are truly essential?” or “How do I know which brands are legit?”, this episode is your playbook. 00:00 – Meet Borna Bandari 01:10 – The Philosophy Behind Cymbiotika 01:54 – From Lawyer to Wellness Leader 04:58 – The Origins of Cymbiotika 07:05 – Obsession With Ingredients 09:52 – Why Cheap Supplements Don’t Work 12:00 – The Rise of Wellness Apps & Consumer Awareness 13:59 – Mushroom Brands, Lion’s Mane & Regulations 17:05 – US vs UAE: How Wellness Markets Differ 20:11 – Do We Really Need Supplements? 22:49 – Why Some Supplements “Don’t Work” 27:02 – Bioavailability & Liposomal Technology 29:06 – Inside Borna’s Morning Routine 31:05 – The Myth of Supplements as a Quick Fix 35:07 – The Wellness Trend That Annoys Borna Most 38:24 – The Truth About Influencer Marketing 43:08 – How Cymbiotika Markets Without Marketing 46:07 – Are Events Worth It? 49:00 – The Future of Supplements 52:15 – Building a Brand With Integrity 53:05 – How to Buy Supplements Like a Pro Please like, subscribe, and leave a review. Share it with someone who cares about wellness - or someone who has a supplement shelf that needs rethinking. To learn more about Cymbiotika: cymbiotika.ae Instagram @cymbiotikame YouTube @cymbiotika TikTok @cymbiotika 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube

We live in a world fueled by caffeine, overstimulation and burnout — and most of us call it “normal.”But what if the fog, the fatigue, the anxiety… isn’t a personality trait, but a biological response? In this episode, we sit down with Justin Ford, founder of Life Within, to uncover how functional mushrooms, ceremonial cacao and ancestral African superfoods can help reset the body and rebuild the mind from the inside out. This is a conversation about nervous system healing, conscious nutrition, and the moment Justin realised he was living a life completely disconnected from himself.If you’ve ever felt tired, wired, anxious or overwhelmed - this episode is for you. 00:00 Intro – Meet Justin, Founder of Life Within 00:43 What Is Life Within & the Cacao Wizard’s Mix? 02:01 First Taste: Cacao Ritual & Grounding Exercise 08:43 How a Lion’s Mane Curry in Singapore Changed Everything 14:27 What Are Functional (Not “Medicinal”) Mushrooms? 16:04 African Excellence & Conscious Sourcing of Ingredients 19:04 Heavy Metals, Mold & Testing for Safe Cacao and Mushrooms 21:17 Why Justin Chose Dubai & Burning Out in Corporate Life 26:49 Where to Start With Functional Mushrooms & What Is “Mushroom Stacking”? 31:25 Sprays vs Powders – Which Form Works Best and Why 33:55 Tremella & Beauty From Within: Skin Hydration and Glow 35:17 Mushrooms and Hormones: Support Through Perimenopause & Menopause 40:12 Fertility, Pregnancy & Why Justin Won’t Overclaim Benefits 42:32 Coffee Addiction & Discovering Manibrew (Caffeine-Free “Espresso”) 45:39 Cacao vs Coffee – Energy, Mood & the Science Behind Both 49:29 How to Prepare Ceremonial-Grade Cacao at Home 51:12 Can You Take Too Much Cacao? Safe Doses & Side Effects 52:28 Closing Thoughts, Gratitude & Next Guest Teaser Learn more about our guest Justin Ford and Life Within: Instagram @justin4d @wearelifewithin YouTube @wearelifewithin‬ wearelifewithin.com If this conversation challenges the way you think about energy, focus and wellness, share it with someone who needs it. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube

In Episode 2, we sit down with Dr. Maria Alonso - the UAE’s leading voices in preventive and integrative medicine. We unpack how gut health shapes our mood, skin, immunity, and longevity - and why true wellness is never about perfection but rather about connection with yourself. 01:14 Dr. Maria’s Journey from Spain to Dubai 04:28 From Conventional to Integrative Medicine 07:10 Why We’re More Confused Than Ever About Health 09:25 What Your Gut Is Trying to Tell You 12:05 The Myth of Clean Eating 14:52 How Microbiome Diversity Shapes Your Mood 17:40 Gut–Skin Connection: Healing From the Inside Out 20:33 Intuition & the Biology of the “Gut Feeling” 23:11 The Truth About Emotional Eating 25:45 The Hidden Enemies of a Healthy Microbiome 28:12 Personalized Nutrition — Help or Hype? 31:25 Cravings, Travel & Gut Imbalance 34:49 Are We Too Clean for Our Own Good? 37:25 Dr. Maria’s Daily Wellness Rituals 40:10 The Future of Gut Health & Longevity

In Episode 1, we dive into the idea that true health isn’t something you can shortcut — it’s about consistent habits, mindset, and the small decisions you make daily. 00:00 Intro & Why “Feeling Healthy” Isn’t a Cheat Code 02:15 The Myth of Quick Fixes: Why They Fail 05:30 Short-Term Gains vs. Sustainable Health 08:05 The Role of Sleep, Stress & Recovery in Real Health 10:40 Nutrition: It’s Not Just What You Eat, But How You Eat It 13:20 Movement & Exercise: Less About Extremes, More About Consistency 15:55 Why Mindset Shifts Matter More Than Metrics 18:45 Habits Over Hacks: Building a Foundation You Can Trust 21:30 When “Doing Everything” Becomes Doing Too Much 23:50 Slumps & Plateaus: How to Navigate Them 26:15 You Can’t Cheat Feeling Healthy 28:00 Final Thoughts