Nutrition & Weight

Intelligent Medicine Radio for February 18, Part 1: Ohio Train Car Derailment—Vinyl Chloride Hazards
February 20, 2023
An in-depth analysis of the environmental consequences of the East Palestine, Ohio train car derailment—vinyl chloride hazards; Phthalate gender-benders in plastics are everywhere; High blood pressure often accompanies high blood sugar—how to get both under control; How to walk away from fatty liver; FDA approves health claim for cocoa flavanols’ heart benefits. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

ENCORE: Q&A with Leyla, Part 1: Gluten Sensitivity
February 15, 2023
Non-celiac gluten sensitivity - is that a thing? What about those pills that claim to help you digest gluten?; What do you recommend for my brother with diabetic neuropathy?; What approaches do you suggest for my friend who suffers from ankylosing spondylitis?; Is stevia a plant or an artificial sweetener? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Customizing Your Carb Intake for Optimal Health, Part 1
February 14, 2023
Dr. Eric Westman is a leading proponent of the low-carb diet paradigm, and co-author of "End Your Carb Confusion: A Simple Guide to Customize Your Carb Intake for Optimal Health." He relates how he was a young physician at Duke University Medical Center—renowned for the ultra low-fat Rice Diet Program—when he first heard about the Atkins Diet and began a fruitful decades-long collaboration with the Atkins Foundation. He’s developer of the Adapt Your Life Academy Keto Made Simple Master Class. His research has validated the safety and effectiveness of the low-carb diet. Why has prevailing nutrition science disparaged low-carb and keto diets? How strictly must you adhere to low-carb to reap its benefits? Is criticism warranted that, while it may produce weight loss in the short term, it may be harmful in the long-run? What about all those “keto” products out there? Is it necessary to use sophisticated gadgets to gauge whether you’re in ketosis? Should transient rises in LDL cholesterol dissuade people from adhering to a low-carb diet? Can you implement a low-carb diet if you don’t eat meat? Are low-calorie sweeteners allowed? Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Customizing Your Carb Intake for Optimal Health, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Eric Westman, co-author of End Your Carb Confusion: "A Simple Guide to Customize Your Carb Intake for Optimal Health." Click HERE for part 1.

Intelligent Medicine Radio for February 11, Part 1: The Debate Over Contact Sports
February 13, 2023
Long Covid risk falls only slightly after vax—but new study shows healthy lifestyle confers protection against persistent symptoms; A listener question about newly-diagnosed scleroderma; The debate over contact sports and the risk of brain damage repetitive head injury—a genetic test could reveal which athletes are most vulnerable; A champion triathlete who overcame a challenging medical condition shares her nutrition secrets. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Intelligent Medicine Radio for February 11, Part 2: The Real Nursing Home Scandal

“De-prescribing”—is it time to take a stand against unnecessary polypharmacy? Lion’s mane mushrooms support memory by enhancing nerve growth; A caller with asthma complains of susceptibility to viruses—is her immune system at fault? The real nursing home scandal—many facilities fail to prioritize vitamin D supplementation; Ultra-processed foods hike risk for cancer; Bariatric surgery may fend off obesity-related diseases—but young patients found to have increased risk of suicide; Exposure to plastic ingredient phthalate heightens diabetes risk; A novel herbal combination shows promise against ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s; Screen time increases adolescents’ body mass index—even exercise does little to counteract weight gain. Click HERE for part 1. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 1: Children with Obesity
January 18, 2023
Controversial new guidelines by the American Association of Pediatrics for children with obesity; Some truth talk about vaccines. Click HERE for part 2.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Sugar Cravings

I'm interested in getting a pneumonia vaccine. Which one do you recommend?; Besides L-glutamine, what do you think of neurotransmitter support for sugar cravings?; I have a DCIS diagnosis stage 0 and my doctors are talking about radiation and hormone therapy. Are there any holistic alternatives for prevention?; What do you think about infrared light therapy for collagen production? Click HERE for part 1.

Health Inequity, Part 1
January 17, 2023
More and more, the country is devolving into health inequity—between the haves and have-nots. There’s also a widening gap in nutrition, with obesity and attendant medical conditions disproportionally afflicting marginalized communities. Today’s guest, Tambra Rae Stevenson, is addressing these disparities. She’s a healthy food advocate and policy influencer, and a self-professed nutrition warrior. Among her initiatives is WANDA—Women and Girls Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture, an organization building a movement of women and girls of African descent to become food “sheroes” in their communities through education, advocacy, and innovation. We discuss barriers to optimal nutrition, food “deserts”, and special needs of underserved populations. There’s a paucity of trained nutrition educators of color, and Stevenson is spear-heading initiatives to incentivize development of a cadre of community-based advocates for healthy diets. We discuss the importance of involving kids early, through programs like school and community gardens. Stevenson shares her personal journey exploring her African roots, discovering the benefits of centuries-old traditions of ancestral foods; she’s leveraging these insights to promote culturally-appropriate healthier food choices. Initiatives like WANDA can make a huge difference in reversing the tide of preventable disease. Click HERE for part 2.

Health Inequity, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Tambra Rae Stevenson, Founder and CEO of WANDA—Women and Girls Advancing Nutrition Dietetics and Agriculture. Click HERE for part 1.