Exploring Metabolic Flexibility and Critiquing Medical Education

What if the very system designed to keep us healthy is actually keeping us sick? In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Robert Lufkin—former medical professor and author—pulls back the curtain on the modern healthcare system. He shares how chronic diseases like PCOS, Alzheimer's, and Type 2 diabetes don’t start with diagnosis—they begin silently, decades earlier, influenced by daily choices rather than medical interventions. With raw honesty, Dr. Lufkin reveals how he had to unlearn many of the "truths" he was taught in medical school and what he believes patients urgently need to understand to reclaim their health.

In this episode, Angela and Dr. Lufkin dive deep into the corruption embedded in health institutions, why metabolic dysfunction is at the root of almost every major illness, and the surprising power of lifestyle over medication. They also unpack how flawed dietary guidelines, seed oils, and the pharmaceutical-driven model are harming women in particular—especially those navigating hormonal shifts, fertility challenges, and cognitive decline. You’ll walk away from this episode empowered, informed, and with actionable steps to take your health into your own hands.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The Hidden Start of Disease: Chronic illnesses often begin years before diagnosis—catching them early is key.

• Doctors Don't Make You Healthy: Medicine treats symptoms; only lifestyle changes address root causes.

• Medical Education Is Broken: Many “truths” taught in med school are influenced by outdated science and industry bias.

• The Food Industry’s Influence: Junk food companies shape dietary guidelines—often at the expense of public health.

• Seed Oils and Processed Foods: Seed oils, often seen as “heart healthy,” may be contributing to chronic inflammation and disease.

• Type 2 Diabetes Is Reversible: With the right nutrition, insulin resistance and diabetes don’t have to be lifelong conditions.

• Ketosis and Brain Health: A ketogenic diet may significantly improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s and mental illness.

TIMESTAMPS AND KEY TOPICS:

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 1:34 — The biggest lies taught in medical school
• 7:14 — Why healthcare isn’t set up for prevention
• 10:42 — The food pyramid and junk food lobbying
• 18:45 — The seed oil debate and saturated fat in the modern diet
• 23:02 — Cholesterol, statins, and misunderstood heart risk
• 29:28 — Why calcium scores are a more accurate marker
• 34:00 — Angela’s personal story: PCOS, endometriosis, and being dismissed
• 38:18 — Type 2 diabetes: root causes vs. symptom management
• 46:39 — Preventing Alzheimer’s with lifestyle change
• 50:07 — Ketosis and metabolic flexibility
• 52:38 — Mental health, food, and epigenetics

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible:

LVLUP HEALTH: Slow aging, repair gut health boost collagen and recovery and more with LVLUP Health’s amazing products. Save 15% with code ANGELA at https://lvluphealth.com/angela

LUMEN: Develop metabolic flexibility and remove the guesswork with Lumen - use code ANGELA for your exclusive discount at http://angelafoster.me/lumen

ABOUT THE GUEST

Physician/medical school professor (UCLA and USC) and New York Times bestselling author empowering people to take back their metabolic health with lifestyle and other tools.
A veteran of the Today Show, USA Today, and a regular contributor to FOX and other network news stations, his weekly video podcast reaches over 500,000 people.
After reversing chronic disease and transforming his own life he is making it his mission to help others do the same.

His latest book, ‘Lies I Taught In Medical School’ is an instant New York Times bestseller and has re-framed how we think about metabolic health and longevity. In addition to being a practicing physician, he is author of over 200 peer reviewed scientific papers and 14 books that are available in fourteen languages.

ABOUT THE HOST

Angela Foster is an award winning Nutritionist, Health & Performance Coach, Speaker and Host of the High Performance Health podcast. A former Corporate lawyer turned industry leader in biohacking and health optimisation for women, Angela has been featured in various media including Huff Post, Runners world, The Health Optimisation Summit, BrainTap, The Women’s Biohacking Conference, Livestrong & Natural Health Magazine.

Angela is the creator of BioSyncing®️ a blueprint for ambitious entrepreneurial women to biohack their health so they can 10X how they show up in their business and their family without burning out.

The High Performance Health Podcast is a top rated global podcast. Each week, Angela brings you a new insight, biohack or high performance habit to help you unlock optimal health, longevity and higher performance. Hit the follow button to make sure you get notified each time Angela releases a new episode.

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Disclaimer: The High Performance Health Podcast is for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of professional or coaching advice and no client relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for medical or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should seek the assistance of their medical doctor or other health care professional for before taking any steps to implement any of the items discussed in this podcast.