Genetics, Obesity, Diabetes, And Risk Of COVID: A Functional Medicine Perspective with Dr. Ronesh Sinha

Oct 13, 2021

Dr. Ronesh Sinha, an internal medicine physician and author of The South Asian Health Solution, discusses the preventable nature of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, linking them to severe COVID-19 outcomes. He highlights the unique health challenges faced by South Asians, such as insulin resistance and 'skinny fat.' Ronesh emphasizes personalized dietary strategies to combat these issues and the importance of understanding lipid profiles for metabolic health, advocating for lifestyle changes over medication for overall wellness.

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INSIGHT

South Asian Body Habitus

South Asians have a high fat-to-muscle ratio, especially visceral fat, even at normal BMIs.
They also have lower muscle mass, contributing to insulin resistance and earlier heart disease.

ADVICE

Carb Intake for South Asians

Limit carbohydrates to 100 grams per day if you are South Asian.
Traditional Indian vegetarian diets are high in starch, overwhelming the body's capacity.

INSIGHT

Mitochondrial Weakness

South Asians have genetically weaker mitochondria, worsened by lifestyle.
A sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy and upbringing further impairs offspring's mitochondria.

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This episode is brought to you by Kettle & Fire, Beekeeper’s Naturals, and Thrive Market

Did you know that 63% of Covid-19 hospitalizations can be linked back to at least one of four pre-existing conditions, all of which are largely preventable through diet and lifestyle choices? Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure are strongly linked to more severe Covid outcomes. These cardiometabolic diseases represented a different type of pandemic, long before Covid-19 hit. We can make incredible reductions to our risk of these health problems, and even reverse them, using the power of food. Even people with genetic predispositions can significantly reduce the risk of any of these diagnoses and the Covid consequences that can come with them.

Today on The Doctor’s Farmacy, I talk to Dr. Ronesh Sinha, author of The South Asian Health Solution. He is an internal medicine physician who runs a lifestyle clinic in Silicon Valley focused on reversing insulin resistance in ethnically diverse patients. He is also an expert in corporate wellness and serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Silicon Valley Employer Forum, where he serves as a global adviser to shape health benefits for over 55 major Silicon Valley companies.

This episode is brought to you by Kettle & Fire, Beekeeper’s Naturals, and Thrive Market.

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Here are more of the details from our interview (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):

Why South Asians are at uniquely high risk of developing insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (7:19 / 3:46)
The dangers of a high starch and sugar vegetarian diet (11:00 / 7:24)
Designing a healthy pregnancy (13:41 / 11:00)
The importance of muscle in metabolic health and aging (16:59 / 13:38)
The dietary framework Dr. Sinha uses with his patients (23:12 / 15:45)
Dr. Sinha’s approach to understanding cholesterol, metabolic disease, statins, and lipid panels (27:43 / 23:00)
Cooking with ghee and coconut oil vs. vegetable and seed oils (36:41 / 31:35)
Thinking of Covid-19 as a lifestyle disease (45:35 / 40:25)
The link between body fat, diet, and Covid-19 outcomes (47:39 / 42:30)
Simple lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of severe outcomes from Covid-19 (49:32 / 45:15)

Learn more about Dr. Ronesh Sinha at culturalhealthsolutions.com and check out his new podcast, Meta Health Podcast. Follow Dr. Sinha on Instagram @roneshsinhamd.