https://www.mdvip.com/doctors/sunnysharmamd, https://teamfeed.feedingamerica.org/participants/DrSunnySharma, http://www.

Dr. Sunny Sharma, 1555 Barrington Road/Doctor's Building 1/Suite 310, Hoffman Estates, IL (2026)

01/29/2026

Your nervous system is watching the news too.
And it did not sign up for 24/7 breaking alerts.

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize:

Your body can’t tell the difference between
🚨 a real-life emergency
and
📱 reading stressful headlines while sitting on your couch

Both can trigger a stress response. Heart rate goes up. Muscles tense. Breathing gets shallow. Sleep gets worse. Cravings get louder. Patience gets… lost in the group chat somewhere.

Not because you’re “bad at coping.”
Because you’re biologically wired to survive threats — not constant information.

The goal isn’t to ignore what’s happening in the world.
It’s to help your nervous system come back to baseline so your body doesn’t think you’re in danger all day.

Here are 3 science-backed ways to tell your body “we’re safe right now”:

🫁 Slow your breathing
Try 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out for a few minutes. Longer exhales help shift your body out of stress mode.

🚶 Take a short walk without your phone
Even 10 minutes lowers stress hormones, improves mood, and resets your mental state.

🥗 Eat a real meal instead of stress-snacking
Protein + fiber (beans, lentils, tofu, veggies, whole grains) stabilizes blood sugar — which helps stabilize mood and energy too.

You don’t have to fix the world today.
But you do have to live in your body.

Take care of the nervous system that’s taking care of you. That’s not selfish — that’s maintenance. Like charging your phone… except this battery controls your entire life.

01/28/2026

We panic at 20% phone battery…
but somehow run ourselves on 2% and vibes all week. 😅🔋

If my phone hits low power mode, I drop everything.
If I hit low power mode?
“Eh, one more email… one more patient… one more scroll…”

The charger for my phone is easy ⚡
The charger for me takes intention:
🥗 Real plant-based food
💧 Water (not just coffee #4)
🏃🏽 Movement
😴 Sleep
📵 Do Not Disturb
🏋🏽 Strength
🧘🏽 Stillness

We live in a world where burnout is normalized, exhaustion is worn like a badge of honor, and rest feels “lazy.” But biologically? Mentally? Emotionally?

You are not designed to run on empty.

As a physician, I see it every day — high performers, caregivers, parents, professionals… all trying to pour from a cup that’s been empty since Tuesday.

Here’s the truth:
Your body is not a machine.
It’s a living system that needs recovery to perform.

You wouldn’t ignore your phone dying all day.
Stop ignoring the signals from your own nervous system.

Low energy. Brain fog. Irritability. Cravings. Poor sleep.
Those aren’t personality traits — they’re low battery warnings.

Charge your body.
Charge your mind.
Charge your life.

Because you deserve more than survival mode. ❤️

01/27/2026

It’s been a heavy season for a lot of people.

And when life feels heavy, taking care of your health can either feel more important… or somehow harder to prioritize.

That’s exactly why conversations about mental and physical well-being matter so much right now. 💙

I’m grateful to be speaking at the
✨ Schaumburg Business Association Diversity Alliance Group event
Kick Off 2026 with Purpose, Energy & Wellness ✨

📅 Jan 29, 2026
⏰ 4:30–6:30 PM
📍 Courtyard Marriott – Schaumburg
🎟️ FREE event

The new year isn’t just about resolutions. It’s about resetting your energy, protecting your mental health, and building a foundation that supports you instead of draining you.

As a physician trained in Lifestyle Medicine, my focus has always been on more than just adding years to life. I help people improve their healthspan — the quality, strength, and independence they have in those years.

That includes:
🧠 Prioritizing mental health and stress recovery
🔥 Recognizing and addressing burnout before it becomes a crisis
🥗 Using nutrition and lifestyle to prevent and even reverse chronic disease
💪 Building strength, mobility, and resilience for the long run
📊 Using personalized, data-driven insights to make smarter health decisions

This panel will cover real-life strategies for weight management, movement, prevention, and sustainable habits — not extreme plans, not quick fixes, but changes that actually last.

If you’ve been feeling tired, stretched thin, or just ready to start the year with more intention and energy… this conversation is for you.

Because you deserve a life where you’re not just getting through the days — you actually feel well living them.

01/26/2026

Lately, it feels like the world has been a lot.
Heavy. Loud. Heartbreaking.

And if you’ve been feeling mentally and emotionally drained… you are not alone. I see it. I feel it too. ❤️

It’s so easy right now to pause your own life and fall into nonstop news, endless updates, and doom scrolling. You look up and an hour (or three) is gone… and somehow you feel worse, not more informed.

Caring about what’s happening in the world is important. Being aware matters.
But so does your health — physical AND mental.

Taking care of yourself is not ignorance.
It’s not selfish.
It’s not “tuning out.”

It’s making sure you’re strong enough — mentally and physically — to keep showing up.

If you’re struggling, here are small ways to take care of YOU:

✨ Put the phone down 30 minutes earlier and go to bed on time
🏋🏽‍♂️ Move your body — and skip the news or heated podcasts during your workout. Try music… or even silence
🥗 Make a real meal instead of defaulting to stress takeout
🌳 Step outside for fresh air, even for 5 minutes
🧠 Try deep breathing, prayer, meditation, or quiet reflection
📵 Take a social media break for a few hours
📚 Read something that nourishes your mind instead of stresses it
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Spend time with people you love — and yes, give them a hug

You don’t have to carry the weight of the world 24/7 to prove you care.

Stay informed.
Stay compassionate.
But also… stay healthy.

Because we can’t pour from an empty cup. 💙

And if you’re feeling stretched thin physically or mentally, this is exactly why I practice Lifestyle Medicine. Your sleep, stress, movement, and nutrition all affect how well you handle life’s hardest moments. If you need guidance or support, my door is open. 💙

01/25/2026

Today I’m pausing our usual medical discussion.

Today, I’m asking you — healthcare professionals, veterans, friends, family, and community — to put away your political hats and simply honor a life taken far too soon.

Today we remember Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse at the Veterans Affairs hospital — a caregiver to our nation’s veterans, a colleague who walked into the hardest shifts with compassion, and someone who chose a life of service every single day. Alex was devoted to those in critical condition, to holding hands as patients left this world, and to offering courage when families felt afraid.

As someone who lives this life of medicine — who knows the emotional strength it requires, the heart it takes to show up when others can’t — I ask you not to rationalize his death with political commentary. No justification is acceptable for the loss of an innocent, hardworking human being. We owe him more than debate; we owe him remembrance.

Alex Pretti was not a martyr — he was a healer. His name deserves to be spoken with respect, his life with honor, and his death with urgency to end needless violence against our people.

I stand with my healthcare family.
I stand with compassion.
I stand for a life that should never have ended this way.

Rest in power, Alex. You are not forgotten.

01/24/2026

Grateful to be featured on Bulgarian national television .bg with journalist discussing the new U.S. dietary guidelines and what they mean for our health 🇺🇸🌍

Here’s my honest take after reviewing the changes:

🥗 This isn’t a nutrition revolution.
Despite dramatic headlines, the foundation of the guidelines is very similar to before. The bigger issue? Most Americans haven’t been following them — especially when it comes to eating enough fruits, vegetables, and fiber.

💪 Protein is getting major attention.
Yes, protein matters. But the question isn’t just how much — it’s what type. The guidelines emphasize red meat and full-fat dairy, which makes it harder to stay under the long-standing recommendation of less than 10% of calories from saturated fat.

🥛 Dairy debate
As I shared in the interview, soy milk often has similar or even higher protein than cow’s milk — without the saturated fat concerns. If heart health is the goal, the details matter.

🌾 The grain trap
The problem isn’t whole grains — it’s that most grain intake today comes from refined, low-fiber products. True whole grains digest more slowly and provide important vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

🚫 One big win: Less ultra-processed food
Stronger messaging around avoiding highly processed foods is something I fully support. These foods are major drivers of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

🧠 And a reminder:
In today’s world of influencers and trending diets, it’s more important than ever to follow science, not hype.

Thank you to Galina Petrova and the Nova team for bringing this global conversation on nutrition and chronic disease prevention to a wider audience.

01/22/2026

❄️ Chicago Winter PSA: This Is Not the “Fresh Air Builds Character” Weather ❄️

I love getting people outside.
I love movement.
I love daily steps, sunlight, and nature therapy.

But when Chicagoland winter shows up like this?
Yeah… this is not the time to “tough it out.” 🥶

Extreme cold isn’t just uncomfortable—it’s risky. Frostbite, hypothermia, falls on ice, and cold-triggered heart issues are all very real. And no, shivering through it does not earn extra health points.

Winter survival tips (doctor-approved):
✔️ Layer like a pro (base layer, insulation, wind barrier)
✔️ Cover the big heat losers: head, hands, face
✔️ Limit time outdoors when temps are dangerously low
✔️ Stay active indoors (this is why gyms, stairs, and living rooms exist)
✔️ Hydrate—cold weather still dehydrates
✔️ Check on older adults, kids, and neighbors

Movement matters.
Consistency matters.
But common sense matters more.

Your health journey doesn’t require frostbite. Stay warm, stay safe, and we’ll get back outside soon enough. ❄️🔥

01/21/2026

🦴 I talk a lot about the importance of staying active.
But here’s the part we don’t say enough:

For many people, arthritis makes movement feel intimidating, frustrating, or downright painful.

And I get it — not just as a doctor, but personally.

Years of sports, training, and life have left me with my own share of joint pain. If I ignored it or tried to “power through,” I’d be sidelined fast. So instead, I rely on the same tools I recommend to my patients to keep discomfort under control so I can keep moving.

Here’s what actually helps 👇

✨ 1. Reducing joint stress
Extra weight = extra pressure on joints. Even small changes can noticeably reduce pain and flares. Your joints aren’t weak — they’re just tired of carrying extra load.

🚶‍♂️ 2. Moving smart, not extreme
Low-impact movement (walking, swimming, cycling, yoga) keeps joints lubricated, muscles strong, and pain quieter. Motion is medicine — when it’s done consistently and realistically.

🔥❄️ 3. Heat & cold therapy
Heat in the morning helps loosen stiff joints. Ice after activity helps calm inflammation. I use both — regularly — and no, that doesn’t make me “old,” it makes me functional.

🥦 4. Anti-inflammatory nutrition
Whole, anti-inflammatory foods help turn down the volume on chronic pain. This is where food truly becomes medicine — not a trend, not a cleanse.

🧘 5. Alternative therapies
Meditation, stretching, tai chi, acupuncture — these aren’t “extras.” They’re tools that help manage both pain and stress, which are deeply connected.

👉 The goal isn’t zero pain. The goal is control — so pain doesn’t control your life.

Arthritis may slow people down, but with the right approach, it doesn’t have to stop them.

01/20/2026

Today is Rid the World of Fad Diets & Gimmicks Day.
And honestly… this might be my favorite “health” holiday of the year.

Because if one more diet promises:
• lose 20 lbs in 20 days
• detox your liver with tea
• fix insulin resistance with gummies
• “reset” your metabolism by cutting out entire food groups

…I may need a real detox. 😅

Here’s the truth I see every single day as a doctor:
👉 Fad diets work… until they don’t
👉 Gimmicks sell hope, not health
👉 Short-term fixes create long-term frustration

Health doesn’t come from extremes.
It comes from sustainability.

That’s exactly why I believe in 365 Consistent — not 30 days of suffering, not “on” and “off” plans, not white-knuckling your way to burnout.

Real health looks like:
✔️ Eating in a way you can repeat
✔️ Moving your body without punishment
✔️ Progress that survives vacations, holidays, and bad weeks
✔️ Habits that still exist next January

If a plan can’t survive real life…
…it doesn’t deserve a place in your life.

Today, let’s rid the world of:
🚫 Fad diets
🚫 Gimmicks
🚫 Magic supplements
🚫 All-or-nothing thinking

And replace them with:
✅ Education
✅ Consistency
✅ Compassion
✅ Long-term thinking

No detox required.
Just show up again tomorrow.

01/19/2026

Today, timelines will be filled with MLK quotes.
Powerful words. Important words.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
It’s easy to post Dr. King’s words for 24 hours.
It’s much harder to live what he embodied the other 364 days.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King didn’t stand for convenience.
He stood for courage.
For consistency.
For aligning values with actions—even when it was uncomfortable.

So if we quote him today but live the rest of the year with division, indifference, or silence when it matters… we miss the point.

Honor MLK not just with your words today,
but with how you show up tomorrow.
And the day after that.
And the day after that.

Because values—like health, justice, and humanity—aren’t what we say.
They’re what we practice daily.

01/18/2026

I may be Blue Zones certified…
but the blue I’m wearing today?
That’s Chicago Bears blue 🐻⬇️

The Bears play the Rams today, and while I usually talk about nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress… today I want to talk about something we don’t measure well enough in medicine:

JOY.

Sports have been my escape since I was a kid.
Watching. Playing. Coaching. Writing. Debating.
I was such a sports nerd that I literally put on my residency applications that I was a walking, talking ESPN.

And guess what?
The programs that asked me about that—about me as a person, not just my board scores—were the ones that felt right.

Somewhere along the way—between health scares, kids, and a demanding career—I drifted into doing only what I had to do… and less of what I wanted to do.

That’s not healthy.

It’s one of the reasons I changed to a concierge practice.
More time to talk about life, not just lab values.
More time to help patients find health beyond prescriptions.
And honestly? More time for me to reconnect with my passions.

Half my visits now include Chicago sports talk—and I love it.
Because joy matters.
Connection matters.
Having something that lights you up matters.

Sports aren’t everyone’s thing—but passion is everyone’s medicine.

So today, take the time.
Watch the game.
Do the thing you love.
Protect your joy like your health depends on it…
because it does.

🐻⬇️

Dr. Sunny Sharma

01/29/2026

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