No Filter Doctor

From Dr. Annahieta Kalantari, an emergency and lifestyle medicine physician, comes a podcast that cuts through the noise. Each episode features straight talk on health, longevity, lifestyle, and aesthetics—pulled directly from her popular blog, From Dr. AK’s Desk. Evidence-based, approachable, and sometimes a little wry, this podcast helps you separate medical fact from health trend fiction.

Listen on:

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  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music

Episodes

4 days ago

Hantavirus has recently generated headlines and social media anxiety, with some people wondering whether this could become the next pandemic. In this episode of No Filter Doctor, I break down what hantavirus actually is, how it spreads, who is truly at risk, and why this is not COVID all over again.
We discuss common misconceptions surrounding hantavirus, including transmission myths, panic driven messaging, and what the actual data shows about risk and spread. I also review symptoms, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, mortality rates, treatment limitations, and why early symptoms are often mistaken for more common viral illnesses.
The goal of this episode is not fear mongering or false reassurance. It is to provide an evidence-based framework so people can better understand what hantavirus is, what it is not, and when concern is actually warranted.
Read the full blog:Hantavirus Symptoms, Treatment, and Outbreak Facts

Monday May 18, 2026

Dietary fiber does far more than help with constipation, yet most people still do not get enough of it.
In this episode of No Filter Doctor, I break down what dietary fiber actually is, the differences between soluble and insoluble fiber, and why fiber plays such an important role in gut health, cholesterol regulation, blood sugar control, and long-term disease prevention.
We also discuss the gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids, fiber supplements, and practical ways to increase fiber intake without making yourself miserable in the process.
The goal is not wellness hype or supplement marketing. It is to explain the actual physiology and evidence behind one of the most consistently under-consumed nutrients in modern diets.
Read the full blog:
Truth on Dietary Fiber: Benefits, Needs, and Best Sources

Monday May 11, 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday healthcare, from meal planning and fitness guidance to AI scribes and medical information platforms. But how reliable is it, and how should patients actually be using it?
In this episode of No Filter Doctor, I’m joined by Resa E. Lewiss, M.D. to discuss the growing role of AI in health and medicine. We explore how patients are already using AI for nutrition, exercise planning, and health information, while also breaking down the limitations that many people do not understand.
We discuss hallucinations, misinformation, prompt engineering, bias in healthcare datasets, environmental concerns surrounding AI, and the growing debate around de-skilling versus re-skilling in medicine and education. Most importantly, we discuss why AI should be viewed as a tool rather than an expert.
This episode is designed to help listeners think more critically about how to use AI responsibly without overestimating its accuracy or capabilities.
Read the full blog:AI to Get Healthy Guide

Monday May 04, 2026

Over-the-counter medications are easy to buy, familiar, and often assumed to be the obvious first choice. But not every product on the pharmacy shelf is equally useful, and some are supported by much stronger evidence than others.
In this episode of No Filter Doctor, I review common OTC medications that are worth rethinking. Some have limited evidence that they actually work. Some are effective but should only be used for a short period of time. Others may be reasonable medications, but not the best option available. And some are simply overpriced versions of cheaper alternatives.
This episode covers common products used for congestion, cough, constipation, allergies, red eyes, earwax, minor wounds, itching, and pediatric fever or pain. The goal is not to scare people away from FDA approved medications. The goal is to help listeners make better informed decisions before spending money in the pharmacy aisle.
Read the full blog:https://thewholehumanhealthandwellbeing.com/over-the-counter-medications-to-avoid/

Monday Apr 27, 2026

In Part 1, we examined how the research system can influence what gets published and promoted. In Part 2, the focus shifts to how individual studies are interpreted and how that interpretation is often distorted, particularly in wellness marketing.
I’m joined again by Dr. Josh Davis, a medical research educator, to break down how study design, statistical framing, and data presentation can shape conclusions that sound convincing but may not reflect the full picture.
We discuss how relative risk can exaggerate findings, why small or poorly designed studies are still frequently cited, and how selective reporting can create a narrative that supports a product rather than the underlying evidence. These are common tactics behind claims that are described as “backed by research.”
This episode is designed to help you evaluate whether a study actually supports the claim being made, rather than simply accepting that a study exists.
Read the full blog:https://thewholehumanhealthandwellbeing.com/how-to-spot-pseudoscience-part-2-the-truth-about-study-design-and-data-bias/

Monday Apr 20, 2026

Wellness influencers and companies often cite “studies” to support their claims. But not all research is created equal, and not everything labeled as a study should be trusted.
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Josh Davis, a medical research educator who teaches medical students how to critically evaluate scientific literature. This is Part 1 of our discussion, where we focus on the systems behind research and why they matter when you are trying to decide what to trust.
We break down how predatory journals, lack of true peer review, publication bias, and funding pressures can all influence what gets published and promoted. More importantly, we discuss how these issues are often leveraged in marketing to give products and treatments a sense of legitimacy they may not deserve.
This is not about dismissing research. It is about understanding how to interpret it so you can separate meaningful evidence from material that is being used to sell you something.
If you have ever seen a product backed by “studies” and wondered whether that actually means anything, this episode will give you a clearer framework for evaluating those claims.
Read the full blog that inspired this episode:https://thewholehumanhealthandwellbeing.com/how-to-spot-pseudoscience-5-hidden-reasons-research-cant-always-be-trusted/

Monday Apr 13, 2026

Is your birth certificate lying, or is it the "age test" you bought online? This week, we distinguish chronological age from physiologic reality. I debunk popular commercial epigenetic clocks and explain why these mail-in kits often miss the mark. Learn the clinical biomarkers that actually matter for your healthspan and how to measure true functional aging without the marketing hype.

Monday Apr 06, 2026

While peptides are marketed as a revolutionary medical frontier, many popular compounds remain in a regulatory gray area and are technically sold for "research use only." This episode explores the critical gap between laboratory studies and human clinical evidence, helping you navigate the hype to find what is actually proven to work.

Monday Mar 30, 2026

Not all fats are created equal. In this episode, we break down the four main types of dietary fats—Saturated, Trans, Monounsaturated, and Polyunsaturated—to reveal how they actually affect your heart and metabolic health. Learn why fat is essential for vitamin absorption and how to choose the right fats for your daily diet.

Monday Mar 23, 2026

What does an annual physical miss? A yearly physical exam diagnoses disease and checks preventive health boxes, but misses early warning signs of chronic disease. Dr. Kalantari explains which tests are missing and why they matter.

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