Nutrition & Weight

ENCORE: Everything You’ve Been Told About Food is Wrong, Part 1
January 5, 2023
Dr. Tim Spector explains why almost everything we’ve been told about food is wrong in his new book “Spoon-Fed.” Dr. Spector is a UK-based physician/researcher who is an expert in gut health and nutritional epidemiology. He has pioneered the ZOE app which seeks to personalize nutrition recommendations based on artificial intelligence algorithms. Dr. Spector’s new book assails popular diet myths, e.g. one-size-fits-all diet claims; that weight gain is simply a matter of calories; universal recommendations for low-salt diets; coffee is bad for you; meat is harmful; exercise is all you need to stave off weight gain, and pesticides and herbicides that have been approved for human consumption are safe. He’s particularly concerned about the pervasiveness of ultra-processed foods in the U.S. and U.K. Dr. Spector previews a soon-to-be-released paper he’s been working on that links poor dietary habits to worse COVID outcomes. He maintains his research findings could provide the impetus for a major effort to reform diet policy in Western industrialized countries. Dr. Spector is offering you, as an Intelligent Medicine Listener, a special discount at ZOE, just use coupon code: IMED35. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Everything You’ve Been Told About Food is Wrong, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Tim Spector, author of "Spoon-Fed: Why almost everything we’ve been told about food is wrong." Click HERE for part 1.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Circadian Rhythms
December 28, 2022
I often find capsules floating in the toilet after having a diarrhea episode. Why does this happen?; A Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp recommendation; The importance of regulating circadian rhythms; Could yerba mate aid in weight loss?; Happy New Year wishes to all of our listeners. Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: The Benefits of High-Fat, Low-Carb Dieting, Part 1
December 27, 2022
"The Case for Keto" by Gary Taubes, the science writer and investigative journalist who’s famous for writing a game-changing 2002 NY Times Magazine article entitled “What if it’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?” The Case for Keto traces the history of diet theories pertaining to obesity, and argues we’ve taken a major wrong turn in our approaches. Instead of following the science, we’ve demonized fat and animal protein, and urged patients to follow a carbohydrate-rich, plant-based diet while exercising to “burn off calories”; this paradigm has failed miserably, with ever-escalating percentages of Americans overweight and developing metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Drawing from research, interviews with hundreds of experts, and his own personal experience, Taubes describes the benefits of high-fat, low-carb dieting. He explains why insulin metabolism is crucial to our understanding of why people can’t mobilize fat and experience hunger on most diet plans. He emphasizes that it is important to distinguish between diabetic ketoacidosis which is a medical emergency and ketosis which is a normal physiologic state. Taubes addresses some of the common stumbling blocks encountered by people undertaking keto diets. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: The Benefits of High-Fat, Low-Carb Dieting, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with science writer and investigative journalist Gary Taubes, author of "The Case for Keto." Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Intelligent Medicine Radio for December 10, Part 2: Long Covid
December 12, 2022
Media blames death of Congressman’s wife on herbal supplement—but adverse events experts question whether mulberry leaf extract was the culprit; Long Covid—how can it be treated? Swimming benefits for blood pressure and mood; Thanks listeners—your letters and e-mails have saved NAC, and are likely to block a Congressional bill that threatens access to supplements; Drug options for osteoporosis—which are better, safer? Ultra-processed foods boost depression/anxiety risk; Fish oil may offset harmful effects of junk food consumption. Click HERE for part 1. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.

ENCORE: Sports Nutrition: Nutrients for Performance and Endurance, Part 1
December 8, 2022
Today we explore Nutrigenomics and sports nutrition with Brent Luycks (pronounced “Lucks”) a former Belgian champion cyclist who is founder of 4Gold, a company focused on enhancement of athletic performance. 4Gold works with professional athletes and ordinary optimizers to develop personalized nutrition programs geared to their genetic characteristics. Brent describes what insights can be gained from nutrigenomic profiling using saliva samples of DNA. In my case, for example, it bettered my understanding of my athletic aptitude (mixed), my injury potential, my recovery ability, and my unique requirements for nutrients associated with performance and endurance. Brent, as a survivor of Crohn’s disease, describes an innovative prebiotic, 2’-Fucosyllactose, a constituent of human milk. It has the potential to address GI disorders, and supports optimal absorption, a limiting factor in athletic performance. He also details ingredients in a sports supplement embraced by many top endurance athletes on the European circuit. Click HERE for part 2.

ENCORE: Sports Nutrition: Nutrients for Performance and Endurance, Part 2

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Brent Luycks, a former Belgian champion cyclist who is the founder of 4Gold, a company focused on the enhancement of athletic performance. Click HERE for part 1.

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Dr. Hoffman’s Definition of “Idiopathic”
December 1, 2022
What can my son do for chronic idiopathic urticaria besides taking Claritin twice a day?; What fats/oils should someone with familial hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery plaque use for cooking?; I'm 65--should I get an advanced lipid panel like an NMR to determine LDL particle size? Click HERE for part 1.

ENCORE: Intelligent Medicine Radio for November 26, Part 1: Vitamin D
November 28, 2022
Moderate exercise reduces heart risk, mortality—but is more better? When to hold, when to fold with statins; Medical establishment, media dismiss vitamin D bone benefits on scant evidence; Now they want to stop paying for vitamin D blood tests? Are we all at risk for monkeypox? Stress increases cravings for “comfort food” (DUH!); Dementia risk increases with consumption of ultra-processed food; Junk food during pregnancy threatens health of offspring; When osteoporosis medications become necessary. Click HERE for part 2. Click HERE for articles and resources relating to this podcast episode.