A strong mind and a healthy body are essential to good overall health, and this is even more essential during times of prolonged quarantine and lockdown. We may find ourselves consistently tempted to snack out of boredom or the change in routine, we may be unmotivated to exercise as we may not be able to go outside, and our mental health may be suffering due to us feeling extra anxious and super stressed. But we’ve got your back! To help you safeguard and improve your health (and sanity!) as you practice voluntary or enforced social distancing, we’ve been on the hunt for the best health and fitness podcasts to keep your mind and body strong during these uncertain times. 

Nutrition

First up, we look at the informative, nutrient-rich podcasts giving us all we need to know about how to keep our bodies strong and healthy, particularly now during periods of quarantine and lockdown. If you’re finding yourself craving all those unhealthy non-nutritious (but delicious!) snacks, then these shows will definitely help get you choosing healthy munchies instead!

1. Liz’s Healthy Table 

Liz’s Healthy Table, hosted by Registered Dietitian, Liz Weiss, is just what you need to help you simply and easily create healthy, nourishing meals. It’s full of great tips and tricks for eating healthier and gives you the scoop on inventive ideas for healthy and delicious cooking. Liz is super informative, but she’s also incredibly witty, not to mention, really smart! She is a thoughtful, grounded voice of reason in a field that can sometimes be overwhelming and confusing with so many thoughts and opinions vying for attention. A particularly great episode for where we find ourselves currently is her interview with fellow dietitian, Leslie Bonci. Together, they give us the lowdown for stocking a healthy quarantine kitchen as well as the importance of fulling our pantry with nourishing and delicious foods that will help keep both body and soul strong and healthy. If you want to be a healthier cook, and boost your happiness in the kitchen, then Liz is just the person you want by your side. Together, you’ll have a yummy, healthy table in no time! 

2. FASTer Way Podcast

The FASTer Way Podcast has one mission: to empower you to get well, prevent disease, and fulfill your purpose with energy. Doesn’t that sound like something we need right about now? A new episode releases each week, and with it, insightful interviews with leading names in the health and fitness sector. Everything from nutrition, intermittent fasting, and hormone health is covered – as well as everything in between. There are also a number of interesting episodes focused on the coronavirus and COVID-19, including natural ways to stay healthy, how important good nutrition is in the fight against disease, as well as informative updates from medical professionals. Now is a great time to focus on boosting your nutritional knowledge, and using that knowledge to boost your overall health and nutrition.

3. Insatiable

Another valuable nutrition-focused podcast is Insatiable, hosted by Ali Shapiro. Not only is Ali the Founder of Truce With Food, but she is also a dedicated academic, and well-known health and nutrition coach. From learning to curb cravings in a truthful way, understanding emotional eating, bingeing, bargaining, and all the other diet derailments, Ali offers us a real and relatable way to improve our relationship with food, and most importantly, one that is sustainable in the long run! There is a range of interviews, practical advice, and radically honest discussions about food, truth, transformation, and reform which will leave you feeling positively empowered to change your negative habits. Every episode is so crammed with mind-blowing content to inspire, encourage, and equip, delivered in an easy-to-understand and relatable manner, that you’ll keep coming back for more…proving that this show really does live up to its name! 

Fitness

So now that your body is properly fueled, it’s time to tackle the next step in getting healthy – improving your fitness! And for those couped up at home, regular exercise could be your lifesaver for keeping sane during quarantine and lockdown periods. In the famous words of Elle Woods, “Exercise gives you endorphins, and endorphins make you happy…” (I’m sure you can fill in the rest!) So to make sure you don’t go stir-crazy, check out these fitness-focused podcasts. 

1. Couch to 5K

While this is not an active podcast, the concept of getting you from the couch to running 5 k (or 3.107 miles, to be exact) is more than relevant for the present. Created by the NHS, Couch to 5K is a nine-week program designed to get anyone literally up and running. The program itself is easy to follow, with your very own “personal trainer” telling you exactly when to start and stop for each of the three runs per week, with a day of rest between each activity. A really big pro is that the plan is also achievable, and uses a combination walking and running to help you build up your stamina, easing you into your new routine. Now, if you are in lockdown without the possibility of leaving your house, this may not work for you, but if you have a treadmill, elliptical, or air walker, or have the space in your garden, you can adapt the program so that you can follow it from the comfort of your home.

2. Podrunner: Workout Music

Podrunner: Workout Music is not your typical fitness-focused podcast. And while there are no guided workouts and no personal trainers, there are some heart-racing, blood-pumping tunes. So while this podcast doesn’t give you tips or tricks for getting fit, it does give you some great tunes to work out to, which, let’s be honest, is sometimes just as important! Seriously! Music can be a great motivator and can really help get you into the right, motivated, and positive mindset you need to stick to your workout regime during your time at home. Each “episode” is specifically designed to provide you with an hour of high-energy workout music mixes, perfect for walking, running, spinning, aerobics, or any other tempo-based forms of exercise. If you’re looking for something to help you power through your quarantine and lockdown workouts, this is the podcast for you!

Mental Health

It’s so easy for us to neglect our mental health! But, thankfully, we are becoming more and more aware that our minds need just as much TLC and attention as our bodies. And with the world in a state of emergency, and with all the uncertainty and instability associated with a pandemic, you may be finding your anxiety levels are on the rise. You are not alone! But we’ve found some great shows focused on helping us ease our anxiety and equip us with some great tools to keep our minds in good health.

1.The SelfWork Podcast

First of all, it must be said that Dr. Margaret Rutherford, host of The SelfWork Podcast, has an incredibly soothing voice! Just hearing her speak is enough to calm your anxiety! But her content is amazing too! Together, it’s a winning combination for great mental health. A psychologist for over 25 years, Dr. Rutherford provides compassionate, common-sense directions, ideas, and goals to help you implement the changes you want to make in your life. There is a vast variety of topics, and so you are bound to find something to help you when you are in need. Whether you’re looking for advice, inspiration, or a helping hand, Dr. Rutherford’s years of experience and caring nature will help you achieve your mental health goals.

2. The Brain Warrior’s Way

The Brain Warrior’s Way allows New York Times bestselling authors, Dr. Daniel Amen and Tana Amen to be your personal Brain Warrior Guides in your fight for a sound mind. In each episode, they will lead you in your battle for your health and give you the weapons you need to defeat a whole host of mental health enemies, from anxiety and depression to addictions, disease, and even obesity. With their combined wisdom and knowledge, you’ll learn how to take control of your brain and body for the rest of your life. Their topics are always well-researched, timely, and full of great value. After just a few episodes, you’ll be armed and ready to take up your position as a Brain Warrior as you master the tools for overcoming some of our mind’s greatest enemies. 

3. Pandemic Check-In

Started specifically to help us navigate these turbulent waters, the folks from Brooklyn Minds, a pioneering center for psychiatry and psychology, have started Pandemic Check-In, and they are here to lend a hand if you’re feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, or all of the above! Their aim is to help us all talk, listen, and share our way through this crisis, making this a much-needed podcast for right now! If you feel like you’re on an emotional rollercoaster, you definitely are not alone, and this show might just be the emotional rescue you need. As people share their feelings, you’ll be able to process yours, and you’ll feel strong and encouraged as we band together to process and understand all that we are feeling and consequently, get through all we are facing. 

Closing Thoughts

Whether you’re in quarantine or self-isolation, total lockdown, or practicing social distancing, there is no denying the importance of keeping a healthy mind and body. Not only will you be better able to combat illness, but it will also help keep you mentally strong during this turbulent time. Have a listen to some (or all!) of these shows, start practicing good, healthy habits, and let’s emerge from this stronger and healthier on all fronts.