LEVELS – A Whole New Level

Shawn Stevenson, author of the Eat Smarter Family Cookbook, discusses his journey from limited access to whole foods to transforming his eating habits. Dr. Casey Means explores the impact of environment and culture on food choices. They discuss the effects of ultra-processed foods, controlling controllables, and the power of dominant questions. They also emphasize the importance of family meals and shifting focus towards personal and community change.

Experts Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Molly Maloof discuss the importance of adaptation in relation to metabolic health, stress, and trauma. They delve into topics such as the root causes of disease, global human disconnection, love and oxytocin, addiction, and increasing physical and emotional adaptation.

Beth Zupec-Kania, Denise Potter & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the benefits of the ketogenic diet as a medical therapy for various conditions, customizing keto for dietary preferences, easing into the change with a pre-keto diet, and reducing or eliminating medications under supervision. They explore nutrient intake improvement, customization of the diet, the impact on brain functioning, and the uniqueness of the ketogenic diet. They also share experiences with fermented dairy, personal diets, ketone supplements, and discuss integrating the diet with medications for conditions such as bipolar disorder and epilepsy.

Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Richard Johnson discuss the survival switch that drives our body to store fat, the impact of sugar on metabolic syndrome, fructose's depletion of energy, the protective role of vitamin C against obesity, and how salt can trigger fructose production.

Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the connection between diet and brain health, specifically the benefits of a ketogenic diet. They delve into topics such as how the ketogenic diet can ease symptoms of mental health conditions, the connection between gut health and brain health, and the individualized nature of dietary needs. They also touch on the use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) to track diet and health.

Dr. Ben Bikman & Dr. Casey Means discuss the connections between chronic conditions and high blood sugar, including links to ear-nose-and-throat conditions, gallbladder stones, and fatty liver disease. They also discuss ways to mitigate these conditions and the power of continuous glucose monitors for improved health.

Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Casey Means discuss weight-loss medications like Ozempic and how they affect metabolic health. They delve into the mechanisms of action for these drugs, their potential benefits and limitations, and the high cost associated with them. The podcast also addresses the need to address the food industry's role in the obesity crisis, concerns about using these medications in children, and the importance of individualized treatment. Additionally, they discuss the impact of tracking glucose levels, optimizing metabolic health, and the importance of education and support for long-term success in weight loss.

We know sugar is bad for kids, so why do parents continue giving it to them? Sugar damage kids’ health and drives behavioral issues. Infants get introduced to sugar early through commercial baby food, and the problem continues with school and birthday treats, soda, and the ultra-processed foods that have taken over the family pantry. Austin McGuffie & Dr. Robert Lustig discuss the rising rates of Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children, sugar addiction in kids, the problems with the food industry, and what parents can do to revamp their kids’ diets and promote a lifelong healthy relationship with nutritious food.Sign Up to Get Your Ultimate Guide to Glucose – https://levels.link/wnl(00:00) – Intro(07:18) - Sugar is damaging kids’ mitochondria(16:48) - The more dangerous fat(21:50) - Kids need better nutrition education(25:36) - Infants get introduced to sugar early(27:48) - Fat was removed, but sugar was added(32:51) - Sugar causes behavioral issues(36:08) - Kids can have sugar addiction(38:34) - Diet soda is bad too(44:48) - Educate the child and the parents(48:47) - Get rid of sugary drinksTranscripts & Show NotesWatch the Video – https://youtu.be/I3d7zCHFW2c

The ketogenic diet may help reduce depression and other symptoms in bipolar disorder. The ketogenic diet also helps metabolic health and reduces the risk for cardiometabolic diseases. The risk for cardiometabolic diseases is elevated in people with bipolar disorder when compared to the general population. Dr. Iain Campbell, Dr. Bret Scher, and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss how the state of ketosis has beneficial effects on brain neurotransmitters and how those benefits have been life-changing physically and mentally for Dr. Campbell, who has bipolar disorder. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Iain Campbell, MD, PhD, Bret Scher, MD & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD discuss: (05:40) — Dr. Iain Campbell explains how a ketogenic diet improved his mental health (09:02) — Dr. Campbell explains his pilot trial on the ketogenic diet and bipolar disorder (16:20) — The ketogenic diet is often misunderstood (18:10) — Elevated lactate is a biomarker in bipolar disorder (24: 37) — Circadian rhythm disruption affects bipolar disorder (30:33) — Morning exercise can help blunt the dawn glucose rise (38:48) — The ketogenic diet has effects on brain neurotransmitters (43:34) — Dr. Campbell explains ketosis helps him combat depression (46:42) — Dr. Campbell describes why he went on the ketogenic diet Transcripts & Show notes 👋 WHO WE ARE: Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life. 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/SAI6qeBMJFo Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Iain Campbell, MD, PhD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IainCampbellPhD Connect with Bret Scher, MD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bschermd/ Connect with Bret Scher, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbretscher/ Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicDAgosti2 Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominic.dagostino.kt/

The United States government subsidizes ultra-processed foods and sugar, and the healthcare system focuses on treating diseases rather than preventing them. These issues are harming kids’ health and leading to crisis-level rates of prediabetes and diabetes in both adults and children. Siblings Calley Means and Casey Means discuss problems with the food industry, government funding, and healthcare, and they propose possible solutions, while also offering suggestions for parents wanting to set their kids up for better metabolic health right now. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Calley Means & Casey Means, MD, discuss: (4:01) — Kids are developing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes at alarming rates (5:33) — The government subsidizes ultra-processed foods (13:05) — Ultra-processed food companies incentivize trusted institutions (21:48) — We only get one life to live (25:42) — The metabolic health crisis is problematic for the economy (27:09) — Giving kids ultra-processed foods sets them up for metabolic health issues (36:48) — Three ingredients make up the problematic foundation of ultra-processed foods (42:49) — Parents have a lot of control over what their kids eat—especially when they’re young (46:49) —You can’t control other adults in your family (1:02:59) — The healthcare industry isn’t incentivized in the correct ways (1:07:54) — Calley Means describes, TruMed, his tech startup Transcripts & Show notes Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/pIUwZb2jfco Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Calley Means on Instagram: https://instagram.com/calleymeans Connect with Calley Means on Twitter: https://twitter.com/calleymeans Connect with Calley Means on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calley-means-a29b5512/