Nutrition & Weight

Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Sugar Cravings
January 18, 2023
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.

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.

Leyla Weighs In: Regenerative Agriculture
December 30, 2022
Regenerative agriculture, a step beyond organic. A holistic approach that enhances soil quality.

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.

Leyla Weighs In: Intermittent Fasting
December 16, 2022
Does intermittent fasting involve skipping my morning coffee? Plus, does time-restricted eating really aid weight loss?