Muscle & Bone Health

ENCORE: Solutions to Permanently Address Back Pain, Part 1
May 28, 2019
Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, an investigative journalist, is author of “Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery.” Herself a back pain sufferer, she chronicles her odyssey, touching on virtually every option, conventional and alternative, for back pain. She claims that “back pain care is a microcosm of everything that’s wrong with our health care system.” How have perverse incentives created a self-perpetuating back pain industry, and sustained unproven and dangerous modalities? What are the downsides of surgery? Why is “PT” (physical therapy) not always the answer to avoiding unnecessary surgery? What are the pitfalls of “minimally-invasive” or laser spinal surgery? What about spinal injections for pain? How has back pain spawned an epidemic of opiate addiction and disability? Are there rogue surgeons who game the insurance system and prey on vulnerable patients? Why might it be a mistake to get an MRI? What role does exercise play in forestalling back problems? How does prolonged sitting set the stage for back problems? It’s not all bad news: Ramin presents a wide array of possible natural, non-invasive solutions to permanently address back pain that she has personally field-tested. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Solutions to Permanently Address Back Pain, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Cathryn Jakobson Ramin, an investigative journalist and author of “Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery.” Click HERE for part 1.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 1: Insomnia
April 17, 2019
Eat leftovers to reduce food waste, but what about for histamine sufferers?; Anti-inflammatory medications may benefit depression; I tried CBD for insomnia but it only worked for 7-8 days - Help!; How effective is Ostinol for increasing bone density in those with borderline osteoporosis?; I have a strong family history of heart disease. Should I stop taking vitamin K2?; Do you prefer natural thyroid substances like Armour thyroid rather than Synthroid? Click HERE for part 2.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for April 6, Part 2
April 8, 2019
April is National IBS awareness month; Gut sufferers seek political clout in D.C.; Is beer the next cancer-fighting functional food? Eating more fruits and vegetables protects men from cognitive decline; Polypharmacy is rampant in seniors and hikes risk of adverse drug interactions; A flawed study argues that most women could be candidates for powerful osteoporosis meds; Tea confers far-ranging mood-enhancing and cognitive-protective benefits. Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for March 2, Part 1
March 4, 2019
Is the Keto craze crushing Weight Watchers stock value? Are statins mandatory after a stroke or TIA? Judge muzzles plaintiff’s attorney in landmark Roundup trial; Hospital patients demand quiet to facilitate recovery; Does your blood type predict how much grey matter your aging brain will retain? Mothers’ vitamin D levels predict their offsprings’ muscle strength; Solutions for winter allergies; Supplements for osteoporosis. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 1: New Risk Factors for Prolonged TV Watching
February 13, 2019
Prolonged TV watching a risk factor for colorectal cancer in younger age groups; What are your thoughts on a vitamin D lamp in conjunction with or as a replacement to oral vitamin D supplementation?; I was about to buy Spry oral rinse for its xylitol benefits but the third ingredient is alcohol. Won't that dry out my mouth and kill the beneficial bacteria?; Is dark chocolate sweetened with stevia and erythritol safe to eat in moderation? Are fat-soluble vitamins like D and E okay to take in one dose rather than throughout the day like water soluble vitamins? I was going to purchase Osteothera when I noticed a "warning" for California residents that the product may contain lead and other chemicals. What gives? Click HERE for part 2.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for February 2, Part 2
February 4, 2019
Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? Drug company hires stripper as sales rep to entice docs to write inappropriate prescriptions for addictive pain killers; Natural supplement being investigated as treatment for loneliness; How much calcium is advisable for osteoporosis? What a blood test could reveal about your need to eat frequently; Proposed cost-containment over excessive use of glucose self-monitoring could deprive patients of a useful tool to chart their responses to various foods, meals; “Bug bombs” ineffective vs. roaches, leave dangerous residues on surfaces; Common parasite acquired by cat owners ups risk for schizophrenia—also increases likelihood of entrepreneurship. Click HERE for part 1. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2 — CBD and Pain Relief
January 23, 2019
I have read some reports about strontium's side effects. I know you recommend it and I would like to know if you have any concerns about the risks; My 80-year-old wife has gastroparesis not related to diabetes. Is there something else she can take besides pharmaceuticals?; I've been taking CBD for hip bursitis and it has really helped with the pain. Will it reduce the inflammation too? I'm trying to avoid cortisone shots. Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio Show for January 19, Part 2
January 21, 2019
Eat more fiber to live longer—but does that necessarily mean gorging on whole grains? Osteoporosis medication options; Chronic fatigue syndrome may be linked to undiagnosed gluten sensitivity; TV ads induce teens to consume more junk food; Treating Hashimoto’s thyroiditis; Americans spend nearly half their waking hours peering at screens; Filtered water vs. tap water for boosting uptake of green tea polyphenols; Diet for narcolepsy; IV vitamin C boosts efficacy of radiation treatments, dramatically improves cancer survival. Click HERE for part 1. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Leyla Weighs In: Surprising Benefits of Vitamin D, Curcumin, and Isoflavones
January 18, 2019
Newborns with vitamin D deficiency have an increased risk of schizophrenia later in life; Vitamin D deficiency is associated with reduced lower limb muscle strength; Curcumin improved muscle function, exercise capacity in heart failure studies; Foods containing isoflavones may help control diabetes.