The Aware Families Podcast takes a practical, science-based look at how to keep your family healthy using a Functional Medicine perspective. Episodes are hosted by a pediatric physician (Tom Flass MD) and a family nurse practitioner (Brittany Coburn NP-C) who are trained in both conventional and functional medicine. They are navigating the challenges of the modern world with their own families and patients and share what they have learned along the way. A range of topics that impact your family’s health are covered, including nutrition, sleep, stress and mental health, exercise and physical activity, connection and community and toxic exposures in our air, food and water. This podcast strives to deliver real-world actionable health information to other parents looking to improve their lives and the lives of their children.
In this episode Brittany and Tom talk about the importance of exercise and activity for physical and mental health. They discuss what the current exercise recommendations are for kids and adults and how far off the mark we are in America, leading to physical and mental decline.ย
They differentiate between the benefits of cardiovascular exercise, zone 2 versus HIIT training, as well as the dangers of neglecting strength training especially for women. There is a brief discussion of HRV- Heart Rate Variability and the impact of exercise on vagal tone.ย
This is an overview of the topic rather than a deep dive into any of the specifics that we will cover in later episodes.ย
