Intelligent Medicine

What impact does resistant starch have on the glycemic index of foods?; What are the pros and cons of the EBT heart scan vs. the CT heart scan?; What do you suggest for dealing with severe back pain today short of surgery?; I drink a popular mushroom coffee. Is this ok to drink if you have autoimmune disease?; What do you think of testosterone supplements for weight loss, low libido and ED?

Dr. Jonathan Clinthorne, PhD and Senior Director of Nutrition at the Simply Good Foods Company details the ongoing 'diet wars' between plant-based, carnivorous, low-fat, and low-carb diets. Dr. Clinthorne shares his expertise on nutritional immunology, energy metabolism, and the benefits of low-carb dieting, particularly through his involvement with Atkins and Quest Nutrition. The conversation explores the relationship between diet and immune function, the benefits of a low-carb lifestyle for weight loss and chronic diseases like fatty liver disease, and the misconceptions around high protein intake. They also discuss the surge in popularity of GLP-1 agonist medications for weight loss and the potential benefits of low-carb diets as a supportive treatment. The episode provides comprehensive insights from personal experiences and scientific perspectives, demonstrating the significant health benefits of a well-formulated low-carb diet.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Jonathan Clinthorne, PhD, Sr. Director, Nutrition at The Simply Good Foods (parent company to Atkins and Quest Nutrition).

According to today’s guest, Dr. John Abramson, Americans are getting less bang for their buck when it comes to ever more pricey pharmaceutical drugs. Despite enormous expenditures—17.7% of our GDP—Americans are less healthy and life expectancy lags behind other developed nations. Dr. Abramson, formerly a family practice physician, turned his attention to critiquing the pharmaceutical industry when he realized over-the-top marketing of drugs was at odds with his patients’ interests. He wrote Overdosing America, and became an expert witness in a landmark class action lawsuit over the now-withdrawn drug Bextra. His new book, "Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care—And How We Can Repair It," exposes the sleight-of-hand involved in studies that gain approval for new drugs, and how the profit motive distorts optimal drug and device development. Dr. Abramson cites the example of statins as drugs that, while helpful for some, have been vastly overhyped and overprescribed on scant evidence. He takes aim

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. John Abramson, author of "Sickening: How Big Pharma Broke American Health Care—And How We Can Repair It."

Inadequate hydration found to be a risk factor for premature death; Vitamin D for Epstein Barr? Is there a “veggie pill” for diabetes? California moves to ban PFAS-laden artificial turf; Lead exposure found to be worse than thought for brain, heart; Switch to mini-blood tubes might help ICU patients avoid transfusions; What causes MS?

Why DEXA scans don’t tell the whole story about osteoporosis risk; New Apple Watch feature tells you how much healthful sunshine you’re getting; Solutions for nerve pain in neck; Finding that Ozempic helps avert kidney failure boosts weight loss drug stocks—but tanks stocks of dialysis centers; Americans on track to spend half their lives taking prescription drugs; New intranasal Covid vaccine without controversial RNA technology shows promise.

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin details the Microbiome Theory of Aging (MTA) through a comprehensive article by Ross Pelton in Integrative Medicine, a Clinician's Journal. The theory suggests that dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance in the gut, causes health problems that can accelerate biological aging by increasing inflammation, zonulin levels, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), and triggering chronic diseases. The episode covers the roles of probiotics, postbiotics, and how lifestyle factors influence the aging process. Leyla also discusses causes of dysbiosis, including diet, antibiotics, and stress, and introduces the concept of postbiotic metabolites as key regulators of health. The importance of the gut-brain axis and the effect of stress on microbiome dysfunction are also highlighted. The talk aims to provide insight into how maintaining a healthy gut microbiome can influence aging and health, setting the stage for a deeper dive in the next episode.

You might be taking too many medications; Are there any dangers of taking apple cider vinegar daily long term? How much is too much?; How can I prevent yet another bout of shingles? What do you think of the vaccine?

My friend has spondylolisthesis and would like to avoid surgery. Any suggestions?; Protecting your free speech; Can food allergy reactions impact CGMs with glucose spikes? Is there a relationship?; A comment and thoughts on the state of school lunches.

The Covid pandemic should’ve served as a wake-up call, highlighting our vulnerabilities as a nation. Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago, is spearheading a bold initiative called HL-PIVOT to underscore the role that healthy lifestyle plays in enhancing resilience. He is lead author of a new paper that demonstrates the roles that obesity, poor diet, smoking, and inadequate sleep play in setting the stage for poor Covid outcomes. Instead of a pandemic, he argues that we’re experiencing a “syndemic”—a perfect storm of chronic diseases that in themselves exact a terrible toll of chronic illness, but at the same time render Americans more susceptible to Covid. The surprising disparity between US regions with healthier, more active populations versus sedentary precincts within “food deserts” spotlights the important role lifestyle plays as a mediator of Covid severity. Arena argues that this has important social justice implications, with underserved populations ex

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Ross Arena, Ph.D., professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Dr. Ross Pelton, a renowned expert on the microbiome and Director of Science and Education for Essential Formulas, Inc. discusses the 'oral probiotic dilemma,' highlighting the challenges and misconceptions about probiotics, the importance of dietary fibers and polyphenols, and the role of postbiotic metabolites in health. He details scientific studies demonstrating the benefits of optimizing the gut microbiome and explores Dr. Ohhira's probiotics and their unique fermentation process. The episode also touches on the broader health impacts of a healthy gut microbiome, including its potential in anti-aging, cancer treatment, and overall wellness.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Ross Pelton, R.Ph., Ph.D., CCN, Science & Education Director for Essential Formulas, makers of Dr. Ohhira's Probiotics.

“Food is Medicine” campaign lobbies Congress in effort to stem tide of diet-related diseases; Yohimbe—is it safe for libido, weight loss? Hydrogen water—is that a thing? Research shows pervasiveness of sex drive declines with new GLP-1 drugs; Curcumin scores vs. fatty liver disease; Krill fails test against knee osteoarthritis pain; Anger’s harmful effects not just mental, takes physical toll, too.

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin details the importance of good nutrition, particularly in underserved communities. She highlights a study published in the journal Prevention of Chronic Disease 2024, which assessed a distribution model designed to increase access to affordable fruits and vegetables in these areas, known as food deserts. The program, 'Good for All,' showed positive outcomes, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among participants. Leyla also advocates for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), emphasizing its benefits for both consumers and local farmers. She encourages listeners to support local agriculture by purchasing CSA shares, highlighting the advantages of eating fresh, seasonal produce and contributing to local economies.

Looking to AI for medical advice? Beware of hallucinations!; A preview of The War Against Keto—why socials are shadow-banning posts; What blood tests do you recommend for a senior male to “cover all bases”?; Could the tingling in my fingers be nerve-related?

Who is that integrative rheumatologist interviewed on a recent Intelligent Medicine podcast?; Do you think peptide therapy is safe? Is BCP-157 worth trying for psoriatic arthritis?; My husband's total cholesterol is 138. Isn't that too low? Should he cut back on his Lipitor?; I'm unable to listen to the podcasts. Are transcripts available?; Is there a danger in getting too high a dose of vitamins and minerals from a quality multi?

Rob Verkerk, the founder and executive director of the Alliance for Natural Health has a deep-dive into the importance of safeguarding natural and sustainable healthcare options, highlighting current campaigns by the Alliance for Natural Health advocating for free speech in health matters. Amidst a backdrop of increasing censorship and control over health-related information, particularly on social media platforms, they touch on the implications of WHO's pandemic policies and the narrowing of discourse around medical ethics and informed consent. The conversation critically examines how misinformation policies on platforms like YouTube threaten the pluralism of health information, emphasizing the significance of informed public discourse on natural health and environmental concerns. Hoffman and Verkerk underscore the pressing need for a balanced, honest representation of health information to empower personal healthcare decisions.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Rob Verkerk, Founder, Alliance for Natural Health, Executive & Scientific Director Alliance for Natural Health International & Alliance for Natural Health USA.