Expert Interview

ENCORE: The Pervasive Harmful Effects of Sugar, Part 1
August 30, 2022
Dr. Michael Goran, professor of pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine, has devoted his academic career to the study of childhood obesity and diabetes. In “Sugarproof: The Hidden Dangers of Sugar that are Putting Your Child's Health at Risk and What You Can Do,” he and his co-author, nutritionist Dr. Emily Ventura, explore the pervasive harmful effects of sugar, and detail a practical program for effecting change. Excess dietary sugar contributes not just to obesity, but also increased risk for a lifetime of degenerative diseases, as well as behavioral problems. And now sugar is added to 70% of processed foods, often deceptively labeled as “natural”, or concealed under a variety of innocent-sounding rubrics. High fructose corn syrup has especially harmful properties. Non-caloric sugar substitutes also come into the cross-hairs as stoking the appetite and having indeterminate metabolic effects. Is regulation of the food industry the answer? Labeling laws? Restrictions on advertising to children? Sugar and soft drink taxes? Outright bans like now underway in Mexico? Tobacco-style litigation vs. the sugar industry? Dr. Goran argues for a more consumer-oriented approach, with self-regulation the goal for kids. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Pervasive Harmful Effects of Sugar, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Michael Goran, professor of pediatrics at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Ways to Minimize Viral Transmission in Your Home, Part 1
August 23, 2022
You get regular medical checkups—shouldn’t your home deserve a thorough evaluation for disease hazards? Indoor air quality has become especially crucial in light of the pandemic. We’re spending more time in our homes, and we’re looking for ways to minimize transmission of the virus. America’s Healthy Home Expert Caroline Blazovsky describes what conditions are conducive to viral transmission, and how mitigation strategies can minimize risk. Is humidity a factor? What about UV light? What simple fixes can homeowners and businesses implement? How to determine if your environment is prone to mold or chemical toxic burden; Are air purifiers part of the solution, and what to look for in a home unit? Are we releasing too many toxic chemicals into our dwellings via over-exuberant use of disinfectants? What’s the surprising link between airborne particulates and Alzheimer’s? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Ways to Minimize Viral Transmission in Your Home, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with America’s Healthy Home Expert, Caroline Blazovsky. Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio for August 20, Part 1: Mediterranean Diet for Depression
August 22, 2022
Covid fatigue sets in: Even Pfizer’s vaccine developer comes down with it, people aren’t testing anymore, vaccine uptake for toddlers is less than 5%; Most Omicron patients don’t even know they’re sick; CDC admits “mistakes” but asks for more funding to guarantee compliance with future lockdowns and vaccine mandates; Mediterranean diet for depression; Solutions for bloating; Pre-op advice before shoulder surgery; Dietary nitrates for brain, heart, blood pressure, athletic endurance, sexual performance; Viagra may be repurposed as Alzheimer’s drug. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

ENCORE: Long-Term Relief of Gas, Bloating, Pain, Diarrhea and Constipation, Part 1
August 18, 2022
Special focus on SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) with Functional Medicine doctor Loren Marks. What is SIBO, and why is it estimated to afflict more than 10% of the world’s population? How does the breath test help diagnose SIBO? Why simply dosing patients with Xifaxin often doesn’t provide long-term relief of gas, bloating, pain, diarrhea, and constipation; What natural botanicals prove most helpful for SIBO? Are probiotics bad for SIBO sufferers? Can SIBO cause non-GI symptoms like fatigue, body aches, or brain fog? What role for the low FODMAP diet to alleviate symptoms? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Long-Term Relief of Gas, Bloating, Pain, Diarrhea and Constipation, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Functional Medicine doctor Loren Marks. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Medical Errors and How to Minimize Them, Part 1
August 16, 2022
Dr. Danielle Ofri, author of "When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error," discusses how mistakes occur—and what steps are being taken to minimize them. Medical errors were once estimated to account for nearly 100,000 deaths per year, the third leading cause of death, tantamount to the toll of a fully-loaded jumbo jet crashing every single day. But is it really that clear cut? Can checklists minimize mistakes? How might elaborate “failsafe” electronic medical records actually contribute to the stress and overwork that leads health professionals to err? Can artificial intelligence systems come to the rescue? Why our current malpractice system is an inefficient deterrent. Dr. Ofri is also author of a just-released article in the New Yorker entitled “A Bellevue Doctor’s Pandemic Diary." Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Medical Errors and How to Minimize Them, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Danielle Ofri, author of "When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error." Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: A 5-Step Process for Dealing with Mold Toxicity, Part 1
August 11, 2022
Mold-related illness with Dr. Jill Crista, author of "Break the Mold: 5 Tools To Conquer Mold and Take Back Your Health." Dr. Crista explains why mold problems can cause a wide array of symptoms that are far more pervasive than conventional medicine’s limited recognition of “mold allergy”. In addition to asthma and sinusitis, mold-related illness may cause brain fog, autoimmunity, GI problems, and chronic fatigue; mycotoxins from mold can attack any organ system, but the brain is particularly susceptible. What symptoms would make you suspect mold-related illness? Are there tests that can clinch the diagnosis? Dr. Crista describes a 5-step process for dealing with mold toxicity. Care must be taken not to induce “die-off” which can make the patient sicker. Does diet matter? What supplements facilitate recovery? How do you determine if mold is present in your home or workplace, and what steps can be taken to remediate? Click HERE for part 2.