Intelligent Medicine

The seed oil controversy—toxic poison or harmless bystander? Is my medication raising my blood sugar? Mulberry extract vs. diabetes; Amarasate—a natural GLP-1 enhancer that can curb cravings, reduce appetite.

New study shows Ozempic associated with need for anti-depressants; When antibiotics aren’t enough—strategies for treating prostatitis; Do genes increase likelihood of autoimmune disorders? Can gene profiles guide medical nutrition therapy? Election year copouts—is the White House courting Black and youth voters by rescinding bans on menthol cigarettes and Juul vapes? How a former Surgeon General found himself stuck with a $10,000 bill for a short ER visit.

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin delves into the Microbiome Theory of Aging as outlined in Dr. Ross Pelton's article from the Integrative Medicine Clinician's Journal. The series explores the connection between gut health, dysbiosis, and aging, highlighting the role of dietary fibers and polyphenols in feeding probiotic bacteria to produce beneficial postbiotic metabolites. It also discusses zonulin's role in intestinal permeability, the negative impacts of the standard American diet on microbiome health, and the importance of a diverse plant-based diet for nurturing a healthy microbiome. Additionally, the episode critiques the efficacy of commercial probiotics versus the benefits of postbiotics and introduces postbiotic metabolites as an emerging, effective approach to improving gut health and overall wellness.

New guidelines for vitamin D recommendations per the Endocrine Society defy personalized medicine; Highlights from the Institute for Functional Medicine and American Nutrition Association meetings: Protein Power, and are new weight loss drugs a panacea?; Where can I find Wobenzyme? Any substitutes?; Does freezing bananas and cooling rice result in resistant starch?

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 at physician education—both in medical school and post-graduate—as indoctrinating doctors to prescribe drugs with questionable efficacy and undisclosed harms. Dr. Abramson offers an insider’s critique of the medical provisions of the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act—which in fact does little to cap Americans’ skyrocketing outlays for prescription drugs.

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?