Intelligent Medicine

The tricky business of boosting vitamin D; New doubts over prospect of extending lifespan to 150; Reduced sitting time found to curb back pain; GSK settles Zantac lawsuits for $2.2 billion; Incorrect arm position may lead to false elevation in blood pressure readings. 

The cholesterol conundrum: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses recent research suggesting that HDL, or 'good' cholesterol, may protect against brain atrophy and dementia. The study from UT Southwestern Medical Center, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, found that higher concentrations of small particle HDL are linked to better cognitive function and greater gray matter volume. Leyla emphasizes the importance of understanding cholesterol's role beyond just heart health and challenges common misconceptions. She also highlights the benefits of dietary fats and criticizes outdated medical advice that promotes low-fat diets. This episode encourages a more nuanced view of cholesterol and its significant impact on overall health.

Report: US will trail other nations in life expectancy by 2030Obesity rates a contributing factor to decreased life expectancy in the USWhat are your views about the use of AMPK? 

What dosage of Nicotinamide Riboside is optimal in increasing mitochondrial biogenesis?I've been treated for SIBO in the past but haven't yet tried rifaximin. Do you recommend it?Is the choline in eggs causing thousands of people to suddenly form blood clots?Is the EBCT still the most accurate, least-radiation-exposure test for coronary calcification?How many milligrams of SAMe do you recommend for depression? 

Menopause can pose severe challenges to women: hot flashes, cognitive impairment, sleep problems, and sexual difficulties, often compounded by weight gain. ObGyn Dr. Anna Cabeca is schooled in mainstream medicine but has added a natural medicine repertoire to her practice. She recounts how she learned to overcome her own devastating symptoms of early menopause. She believes that diets need to be individualized for menopausal women. Find her quiz to determine your menopause type at www.DrAnna.com/mpquiz. We discuss the role of supplements and bio-identical hormone replacement to augment tailored diets. Her book, "MenuPause: Five Unique Eating Plans to Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau and Improve Mood, Sleep, and Hot Flashes," highlights the role variations on the keto diet and intermittent fasting can play in alleviating menopause symptoms and reversing mid-life weight gain. 

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with ObGyn Dr. Anna Cabeca, author of "MenuPause: Five Unique Eating Plans to Break Through Your Weight Loss Plateau and Improve Mood, Sleep, and Hot Flashes." 

Guest Dr. Stephen Hussey, a chiropractor and functional medicine practitioner, discusses the importance and impact of a metabolic revolution. Dr. Hussey shares his personal journey of overcoming inflammatory conditions and managing type 1 diabetes through lifestyle changes, focusing on diet and functional medicine principles. The discussion highlights the flaws in conventional medical approaches to chronic diseases and the need for a holistic view of health. Emphasizing the benefits of a low-carb diet and the potential detrimental effects of excessive insulin, the episode explores the benefits of metabolic flexibility. The conversation also introduces the initiative MetabolicRevolution.org, which aims to demand better health guidelines from government agencies, urging a focus on research-based recommendations and reducing industry influence. Dr. Hussey's insights underscore the potential for personal health transformations and advocate for systemic changes to improve public health.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Stephen Hussey MS, DC, from MetabolicRevolution.org. 

Announcing the return of Intelligent Medicine to WOR 710 AM in New York City—its original home where the show debuted in 1988! Which is better—being thin or being fit? Why you shouldn’t succumb to pitches for “free” medical devices from Medicare; Does toasting bread make it carcinogenic? Belgium takes lead in protecting the “Anxious Generation” by banning cell phones in schools; The remarkable health benefits of urolithin A (Mitopure®️). 

“Active holistic therapy” for prostate cancer with diet and fish oil helps defer need for surgery, hormone blockade, radiation; Why 70 is the new 60; Long-term harmful effects of acid-blockers; Do memory supplements pass the blood-brain barrier? Fish oil, krill oil, olive oil for cardiovascular prevention; Paxlovid aggressively promoted but overprescribed for otherwise healthy patients. 

Nutritional Insights for a Healthy New Year: Breakfast Ideas and Metabolic Health: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses the importance of a protein and fat-rich breakfast to stabilize blood sugar levels. She emphasizes the metabolic benefits of avoiding carbohydrate-heavy meals in the morning and shares various breakfast ideas that are convenient and nutritious, such as protein shakes, cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and leftovers from previous meals. Leyla also highlights the impact of diet on menstrual health, citing studies showing how ketogenic diets can regulate menstrual cycles and treat conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Listeners are encouraged to adopt these dietary habits for better overall health and well-being in the new year.

Update on another supplement: MacaA book recommendation: "The Anxious Generation"A comment from a listener about Trump's nomination for Surgeon GeneralHasn't the vaccine/autism link been thoroughly debunked?How much Mitopure should I take to help increase muscle mass?

My husband's doctor is recommending a statin even though his lipid panel is great.  What say you?Anti-vaccine doctor wins bid to resume medical practice in Australia.Do I need to take vitamin D3 and K2 together? Can I take them at different times of day?My liver function tests are normal but my SMA test remains high.  What do I make of this?

Understanding Constipation: Carmen Fong, MD, FACS, author of “CONSTIPATION NATION: What to Know When You Can’t Go,” discusses the pressing issue of constipation. The conversation delves into the definition and causes of constipation, the importance of diet, hydration, and regular bowel habits, and misconceptions around the condition. Dr. Fong shares insights on natural remedies, modern treatments, and factors contributing to early-onset colorectal cancer. The episode also covers hemorrhoid treatments and new medical advances in constipation management. 

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Carmen Fong, MD, FACS, author of “CONSTIPATION NATION: What to Know When You Can’t Go.”

Headlines are sounding alarms over the widespread use of melatonin—especially as a sleep aid for young kids. Dr. Deanna Minich has authored a comprehensive review of melatonin, in which she likens it to vitamin D in its potential utility for a variety of ailments—not just for insomnia and jet lag, but also for metabolic syndrome and diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, brain disorders, autoimmune conditions, eye problems, tinnitus, PCOS, endometriosis, infertility, viral infections, and even ADHD and autism. Additionally, melatonin may confer anti-aging benefits. She affirms its overall safety, but cautions that some formulations are sketchy and may contain contaminants or vastly exceed or undershoot their claimed melatonin content. She discusses how modern life, with its ever-present artificial light, shift work, and travel across time zones may disrupt our circadian rhythms and put us in a state of darkness deprivation, with consequent melatonin depletion. For many conditions less is more, and use in c

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Deanna Minich who authored a comprehensive review of melatonin.

Commemorating 38th year of Intelligent Medicine; A pricey prostate drug advertised on football games may extend life for mere months without promise of cure; You dutifully threw out your “toxic” black plastic spatulas—was it faulty math? Air pollution robs marathoners of record times—and may be responsible for deaths of millions; Indian man, declared dead, taken to hospital after awakening on funeral pyre. 

Doctors fleeing Medicare—leaving patients stranded; CEO murder heightens scrutiny of United Healthcare’s Medicare Advantage coding shenanigans; Can blood pressure spikes cause strokes? Does a calcium score of 20 call for a statin Rx? Treatments for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS); New “improved” tea bags release millions of plastic microparticles; The surprising trigger of a bout of hives. 

The Importance of Regenerative Agriculture: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses the concept of regenerative agriculture in response to a listener’s question. She explains how regenerative agriculture goes beyond organic practices by enhancing soil quality and promoting a healthier ecosystem. Leyla covers various methods such as composting, crop rotation, and water management, emphasizing the importance of soil health in producing nutrient-dense food and combating global warming. She also highlights the economic advantages of regenerative practices and encourages listeners to support local farmers engaged in sustainable agriculture.