Intelligent Medicine

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 experiencing the brunt of the syndemic.

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?