LEVELS – A Whole New Level

The elevation of uric acid in the body is a causative mechanism in the development of metabolic diseases and contributes to weight gain and fat production. Uric acid is one of the key links between obesity, diabetes, heart disease, neurologic diseases like dementia, ADHD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and more. Dr. David Perlmutter talks with Dr. Casey Means about why we have excess uric acid, what foods cause uric acid production, and what simple steps we can take to lower our uric acid levels to be optimal. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠They also cover: How uric acid causes cellular dysfunction and insulin resistance, including oxidative stress, and inflammation, and even prevents insulin from getting out of the bloodstream effectively. Why uric acid would have benefitted us evolutionarily in terms of low access to food and water by letting us more easily pack on weight and raise blood pressure—but how that fights against us today because we now live in an evolutionary-environmental mismatch where this survival mechanism hurts us in the face of caloric abundance. The different dietary and environmental factors that generate uric acid, including fructose, purine-rich foods and umami foods, dehydration, alcohol, and more. How uric acid impairs our hunger signals, drives us to eat, and even promotes risk-taking behavior. How to reverse high uric acid levels as a way to unlock optimal health.🎙 What Dr. David Perlmutter & Dr. Casey Means discuss:(00:00) - Intro(03:12) - More than just gout(05:06) - A causative role(07:44) - The number one cause of death(15:24) - Evolutionary environmental mismatch(16:58) - High fructose corn syrup(22:27) - The dangers of uric acid(23:38) - Uric acid and dementia(30:33) - Too much fructose(41:32) - Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular risk(01:03:17) - No need to eat sugarTranscripts & Show notes🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtube.com/watch?v=QZ6jPCcFNa8Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1📲 Connect:Connect with Dr. Casey Means on Instagram: https://instagram.com/DrCaseysKitchenConnect with Casey on Twitter: https://instagram.com/DrCaseysKitchenConnect with David Perlmutter, MD on Instagram: https://instagram.com/davidperlmutterConnect with David on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidPerlmutterConnect with David on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/david-perlmutter-md-6a38b930

Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic condition, such as Type 1 diabetes, can be life-changing. A diagnosis is helpful for understanding the cause of symptoms and how to treat, but managing a chronic condition can take a toll on mental health. Tools like a continuous glucose monitor can help empower people and ease the burden of constant care. Jesse Lavine and Ben Grynol discuss the challenges of managing Type 1 diabetes, how Lavine’s diagnosis with Type 1 impacted him, how CGM helped Lavine not only manage the condition but also thrive with it, and how the medical system needs to change to help patients dial in optimal instead of just adequate health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl ⁠ 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. 🎙 What Jesse Lavine & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:39) — A diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes (06:28) — Getting diagnosed with a chronic condition can life-changing (14:18) — Wearing a CGM helped Lavine reduce his insulin intake (26:04) — Having real-time insight into how foods affect your condition and your body (29:47) — Type 1 diabetes does not have to hold you back (35:18) — The current medical system isn’t necessarily set up to empower patients (37:08) — A CGM offers constant feedback that can be used to manage Type 1 diabetes (38:13) — The benefits of having stable blood sugar (41:25)— Managing a chronic condition can lead to medical system burnout (44:59) — Considering the mental health aspects of managing a condition Transcripts & Show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

A metabolic blood test and cholesterol panel can be confusing, so in this ultimate guide, our Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder Dr. Casey Means talks with Levels advisor and author of Metabolical to give you advice on how to interpret your panels to better understand the status of your metabolic health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnlThis episode does not constitute medical advice.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Dr. Rob Lustig and Levels’ Dr. Casey Means discuss:(00:00) - Intro(02:17) - Understanding cholesterol(02:44) - The correlation between LDL and heart disease(05:12) - The connection between LDL and triglycerides(07:14) - Good cholesterol(16:48) - Measuring LDL(30:04) - Portal systems in the body(44:51) - The importance of liver function tests(54:05) - How to reduce liver fatTranscripts & Show notes🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/C3rsNCFNAw8The ultimate guide to understanding your cholesterol panel and metabolic blood tests: https://levelshealth.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-understanding-your-cholesterol-panel-and-metabolic-blood-testsFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Connect with Casey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCaseysKitchenConnect with Casey on Instagram: https://instagram.com/drcaseyskitchen Connect with Rob on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertLustigMDConnect with Rob on Instagram: https://instagram.com/robertlustigmd

Dr. Azure Grant, Levels Research Design Lead and women's health researcher, joins Ben Grynol to discuss the intricate relationship between pregnancy and metabolic health. They highlight how insulin resistance naturally increases during pregnancy and the importance of monitoring glucose levels. Azure explains the role of metabolic health in family planning, especially for older parents. The conversation also covers postpartum hormonal changes and the challenges they present, emphasizing proactive strategies for reducing the risk of gestational diabetes.

Insulin resistance is when cells stop responding to insulin’s signal to uptake glucose. It’s a hallmark of prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and other forms of metabolic dysfunction, and it manifests as several chronic disease, ranging from Alzheimer’s to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the importance of monitoring insulin levels, why a high or increasing insulin level is a problem, and how insulin resistance hinders weight management. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 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. 🎙 What Rob Lustig, MD, & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss: (03:57) — What is insulin? (06:55) — What is insulin resistance? (18:00) — There are three types of insulin resistance (38:00) — Weight management is not about calories in and calories out (45:53) — Adding more insulin to the equation of Type 2 diabetes isn’t necessarily the answer (51:20) — Insulin is a crucial biomarker to measure for metabolic health (53:58) — Insulin resistance is a hinderance to weight management (57:07) — The intake of too much leucine can lead to insulin resistance (1:02:04) — Fiber feeds the gut microbiome and is crucial for metabolic health (1:13:11) — Is intermittent fasting necessary? Transcripts & Show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/dFOaBrujDHo Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Robert Lustig, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlustigmd/ Connect with Robert Lustig, MD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertLustigMD Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominic.dagostino.kt/ Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicDAgosti2

High-carbohydrate diets and carbohydrate loading have been long-standing tenets of athletic training and competition, but newer research indicates a low-carbohydrate diet may be more beneficial for performance and overall health. Professor Tim Noakes and Josh Clemente discuss how a fat-adapted body can rely on fat as a fuel source at all exercise intensity levels, rather than burning mostly carbohydrates, and how such adaptation and dietary focus may reduce one’s risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 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. 🎙 What Tim Noakes, MD, PhD, & Josh Clemente discuss: (04:28) — Dr. Tim Noakes explains his career trajectory (19:04) — An adapted body can rely on fat for all exercise intensities (22:30) — The body will never get to a state of no glucose circulation (23:28) — A delicate balance of macronutrients is likely necessary (29:11) — Before the high-carbohydrate craze, elite athletes were fat adapted (33:46) — Fat oxidation in muscle may have a protective effect against Type 2 diabetes (36:39) — Exercise does not cancel out the risk for metabolic disease if diet isn’t accounted for (47:25) — The body can cope with fasting (54:32) — The high-carb training trend has been perpetuated by the carbohydrate industry Transcripts & Show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Learn about metabolic health: https://levelshealth.com/blog Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Dr. Tim Noakes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/proftimnoakes

Society champions multitasking, but we can’t truly multitask. Multitasking in fact impedes our focus and productivity. And 12 main factors tend to steal our attention. Johann Hari and Ben Grynol discuss why flow states are important for goal achievement, the things that distract us, and how we can reclaim our focus. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 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. 🎙 What Ben Grynol & Johann Hari discuss: (04:18) — Twelve factors can steal our focus (06:02) — Multitasking is a myth (10:49) —We need to be able to focus to achieve our goals (14:07) — Prioritizing deep focus is both a personal and social responsibility (16:50) — Interruptions steal your time and impede focus (27:21) — Three factors help you get into a flow state (30:12) — Mind wandering ultimately benefits your focus (37:00) — The four-day workweek is linked to better productivity (40:08) — Free play is crucial for kids’ brains (43:43) —Childhood looks different now Transcript & show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/4CD3lmg0XmA Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Johann Hari on Twitter: https://twitter.com/johannhari101 Connect with Johann Hari on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johann.hari/

Regenerative farming harnesses a farm’s entire ecosystem to grow and raise food via natural processes. In turn, foods raised on regenerative farms benefit our bodies more so than those raised conventionally. Molly Chester of Apricot Lane Farms and Dr. Casey Means discuss the philosophies of regenerative farming, how the practice has parallels with functional medicine, and how regenerative farming is a merging of the tried-and-true methods of our ancestors with scientific knowledge. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Molly Chester & Casey Means, MD, discuss: (05:28) — Polycystic ovarian syndrome has links to metabolic health (06:58) — Diet impacts inflammatory pathways that can drive symptoms (10:27) – Farming practices exist on a spectrum (18:24) — Regenerative farming merges historical ways with progress (26:05) — What we do to the land affects our health (28:12) — Regenerative farming takes the cosmos into consideration (34:17) — A healthy ecosystem has limits on what it can produce, but that can be beneficial (37:44) — Cover crops are crucial for maintaining a healthy farming ecosystem (42:37) — A return to farming has become a trend (53:45) — A regenerative farm can be educational for children (56:38) — Regenerative farming can foster a fresh perspective 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/jd4D7Qvt5BM Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility are all linked. The gut microbiome impacts other microbiomes in the body, which can then impact the ability to conceive. Our gut microbiomes are becoming less diverse through modern farming practices and the consumption of processed foods. Dr. Robin Rose and Ben Grynol discuss how gut microbiome testing can determine underlying factors of gastrointestinal distress and the lifestyle changes that can help address symptoms and even aid fertility. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Robin Rose, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (08:05) — Gastrointestinal issues are associated with metabolic health issues (08:56) — Many people lack gut microbiome diversity (15:24) — Infertility in some people has links to the gut microbiome (30:56) — PCOS and gut dysbiosis share a connection that’s still being researched (32:26) — Restoring gut and metabolic health may help alleviate PCOS symptoms (34:44) — Metagenomic testing assesses gut health (39:47) — Gut health often requires balanced macronutrient intake (49:14) — Regenerative farming practices could help us get more quality nutrients (54:57) — Eliminating dairy and gluten may ease gastrointestinal symptoms (56:29) — Sleep quality and quantity also inform gut health Transcript & 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/SpW9znY3fkI Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Connect with us on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@levelshealth

Concierge medicine can help personalize healthcare and disrupt the traditional primary care model. Traditional primary care isn’t positioned to handle the frequent check ins and actionable steps that empower patients to optimize their health and wellness. Chloe Harrouche and Mike Haney discuss The Lanby, which Harrouche co-founded. The Lanby’s primary care membership provides patients with a three-person, non-siloed care team and weekly touchpoints regarding wellness, so patients can track their progress and make necessary tweaks. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Chloe Harrouche & Mike Haney discuss: (02:03) – Concierge medicine can ease the patient burden of healthcare (03:52) — The traditional primary care model doesn’t help patients optimize their health (13:28) — Self-care and wellness approaches to health empower patients (14:42) — The siloed model of healthcare isn’t working (15:47) — Seeing a primary care physician annually isn’t enough (19:07) — Traditional primary care approaches often operate like a revolving door (22:16)  — To optimize their health, patients need more frequent check-ins (32:07) — The traditional healthcare model works in reverse (36:38) — Technology aids the ongoing monitoring of biomarkers and other health metrics (42:49) — Wellness approaches don’t have to be all or nothing Transcript & 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 multiple new shows per week on Levels - Inside the Company, where we have in-depth conversations about how the Levels startup team builds a movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry. 🔗 Helpful links: Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1