Expert Interview

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for April 18, Part 1
April 20, 2020
A call to action: COVID-19 is truly a lifestyle disease. Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress—what are some natural options for mood support? What happens when your elective surgery is delayed because of the lockdown? Optimizing metabolic fitness—are the stay-at-home orders interfering with the exercise we need to bolster our immune systems? Patients with no symptoms caused 44% of coronavirus cases; The nitric oxide connection to immunity. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

The Applicability of Nutrients to Coronavirus, Part 1
April 16, 2020
Dr. Thomas Guilliams, author of "Supplementing Dietary Nutrients: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals" (www.pointinstitute.org) has been devoting considerable thought lately to the applicability of nutrients to the coronavirus pandemic; he shares advice about general nutritional support for immune defense, and then offers suggestions specific to COVID-19. Is there a danger of over-stimulating the immune system and risking ”cytokine storm”? What roles for A, C, D, zinc? What about melatonin, curcumin, NAC, alpha-lipoic acid, astragalus, Andrographis, mushroom extracts and beta-glucans products? As Vice President for Scientific Affairs for Ortho Molecular Products, he’s witnessing first hand some of the production bottlenecks and shortages the supplement industry is experiencing—there’s been a surge in demand for nutritional supplements, especially ones with immune-supportive caché. Click HERE for part 2.

The Applicability of Nutrients to Coronavirus, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Thomas Guilliams, author of "Supplementing Dietary Nutrients: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals" (www.pointinstitute.org). Click HERE for part 1.

The Impact of Natural Interventions for COVID-19, Part 1
April 14, 2020
Dr. Lise Alschuler, a faculty member of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, is lead author of a new paper exploring the impact of natural interventions for COVID-19. She explains why it’s not sufficient merely to borrow from our knowledge of what works for ordinary colds and flus—the Coronavirus has distinct characteristics. Do healthy lifestyle practices—diet, exercise, sleep, stress mitigation—confer some degree of protection from the worst outcomes? When it comes to supplements, do we need to know “when to hold and when to fold” with regard to immune boosters? What about the alleged potential of some of these—like elderberry—to generate “cytokine storm”? Dr. Alschuler provides a detailed rundown on plausible vitamins, minerals and nutraceuticals for COVID-19. Click HERE for part 2.

The Impact of Natural Interventions for COVID-19, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Lise Alschuler, a faculty member of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. Click HERE for part 1.

The Relevance of Diet to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Part 1
April 8, 2020
Nina Teicholz, author of "The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet," is a tireless advocate for reform of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Nina argues for the relevance of diet to the current COVID-19 pandemic: Patients with diet-related degenerative diseases are more susceptible to adverse outcomes when infected with the Coronavirus. By some estimates, a mere 12% of adult Americans are “metabolically fit”—free, not just of overt diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and heart disease, but also without vestiges of insulin resistance, often manifesting as overweight, inflammation and suboptimal cardiopulmonary efficiency. Hence, it behooves us more than ever to get national dietary recommendations right. But the current process is fraught with bias, conflict of interest, and shoddy science. Nina shares her initiative to bring scientific rigor to the DGA via www.nutritioncoalition.us. More on her and her book can be found at www.NinaTeicholz.com. Click HERE for part 2.

The Relevance of Diet to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nina Teicholz, author of "The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet." Click HERE for part 1.

Supplements to Support Mood and Relaxation During This Crisis, Part 1
April 7, 2020
With all the stress associated with our current health crisis, and the dislocation and financial impact of enforced social distancing, many of us may wish to minimize occasional negative feelings when they occur. Neil Edward Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for NOW(r) Foods, details some supplements that help support a healthy reaction to temporary environmental psychological stress: melatonin, SAMe, and magnesium, each with a different mode of action that could help you cope with temporary stressful situations. Click HERE for part 2.

Supplements to Support Mood and Relaxation During This Crisis, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Neil Edward Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for NOW(r) Foods. Click HERE for part 1.

COVID-19 Special: The Unprecedented Challenges our Front Line Healthcare Professionals are Experiencing, Part 1
April 5, 2020
A Stanford University MD who helps doctors deal with stress weighs in on the Coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Greg Hammer is author of "GAIN without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals." What unprecedented challenges are frontline health professionals experiencing amid the current crisis? But weren’t they already poised for burnout even before COVID-19 arrived? How does stress undermine our health during the current lockdown? What lessons can we apply from "GAIN Without Pain" to cultivate resilience during the enforced lockdown? As a pediatric intensive care physician, Dr. Hammer offers advice on how to keep kids calm during the quarantine. Click HERE for part 2.