Intelligent Medicine Radio for July 4: Break a Sweat to Beat the Heat

Part 1: Break a Sweat to Beat the Heat

Europeans swelter through historic heat wave—but many resist air conditioning due to ingrained cultural attitudes; Break a sweat to beat the heat; Evidence that aged garlic extract curbs atherosclerosis risk; How to stave off age-related muscle atrophy; Probiotic-infused underwear to nourish the skin microbiome? Niacin augments glioblastoma treatment; Creatine for depression.



Part 2: Causes of Excessive Sleepiness

Melatonin can reduce chronic pain; Ultra-processed foods are becoming a worldwide scourge; Do biopsies spread cancer? Sauna benefits for staving off dementia; What may cause blood sugars to deteriorate in a heretofore well-controlled diabetic? Causes of excessive sleepiness.












Heart Matters: Essential Supplements for Cardiovascular Protection

Cardiovascular Protection Beyond Statins–Nattokinase, Vitamin K2 MK-7, and Clinical Cardio Six: Neil Levin of NOW Foods/Protocol for Life Balance details cardiovascular protection beyond cholesterol-lowering drugs, emphasizing nutrient sufficiency, therapeutic “nutraceutical” dosing, and physician partnership with testing. They discuss nattokinase from fermented natto (typical 2,000 fibrinolytic units/day), describing research on reduced fibrinogen, improved blood viscosity and microcirculation, blood-pressure normalization, and higher-dose data suggesting benefits for arterial thickness and lipids without excessive blood-thinning. They review vitamin K: K1 for normal coagulation (risk with Coumadin relates to day-to-day variability) and K2 for calcium metabolism, highlighting MK-7’s longer half-life and potency versus MK-4 and recommending pairing K2 with vitamin D. Levin outlines PFLB Clinical Cardio Six (D3, L-carnitine, hawthorn leaf/flower, solubilized grape seed extract, CoQ10, MK-7), ingredient sourcing/testing, omega-3 benefits, red yeast rice context, and controversy around vitamin E meta-analyses.














Intelligent Medicine Radio for March 7: “Culinary Medicine”

Intelligent Medicine Radio for March 7, Part 1: Dismal Prediction

Dismal prediction that, by 2050, 60% of women will suffer from cardiovascular disease; Yes, it’s true that childhood and adolescent obesity, once rare, is now soaring; Treatments for osteopenia; Dentists continue to write prescriptions for potentially deadly antibiotic; A man, in love with his Chatbot, commits suicide to join her in the virtual world; Olive oil is calorie dense—but its consumption results in weight loss; Can “bio-regulator peptides” stave off kidney failure?



Intelligent Medicine Radio for March 7, Part 2: “Culinary Medicine”

Will RFK Jr.’s efforts to promote nutrition education in medical schools stall? Doctors-in-training embrace “culinary medicine”; As Administration relaxes their regulation, PFAS compounds shown to accelerate biological aging; Is there a cure for ringing in the ears? Biopsies reveal microplastics in 90% of prostate cancers; Can you trust the results of your on-line gut microbiome test? Can sunlight tame autoimmune disease? Birdwatchers have enhanced brain regions for attention and perception. Can one have dental x-rays and a brain MRI on the same day?












Nutritional Empowerment for Cognitive Health

Nutritional Support for Brain Health: Lifestyle, Curcumin, Magnesium, and Key Nootropics: Nutrition educator/formulator Neil Levin from Protocol for Life Balance details nutritional support for brain health amid skepticism about “brain-boosting” supplements, citing a preprint randomized controlled trial using a multifaceted lifestyle plan (diet, exercise, sleep) plus targeted supplementation that reportedly improved and even reversed symptoms in people with mild cognitive impairment. They contrast lifestyle strategies with costly, side-effect-prone injectable “plaque-buster” Alzheimer’s drugs and notes debate about whether amyloid is a root cause or byproduct. The conversation highlights inflammation and oxidation as major aging-related brain threats and reviews supplements including a brain-targeted curcumin (discussing bioavailability, delivery methods, blood–brain barrier crossing, and claims of lowering beta-amyloid protein), magnesium L-threonate for CNS delivery, phosphatidylserine and acetylcholine support (including huperzine), ginkgo and gotu kola, glutamine/GABA pathways, creatine, omega-3s (DHA/EPA and algae sources), B vitamins, acetyl-L-carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, and cocoa flavanols, plus concerns about supplement industry enforcement.














ENCORE: Intelligent Medicine Radio for February 14: Topical Steroid Withdrawl

Part 1: Topical Steroid Withdrawal

TSW—Topical Steroid Withdrawal—when you’re hooked on steroid creams for a skin condition and can’t get off; Can diet, supplements, or Traditional Chinese Medicine help eczema? Strange bedfellows—when your hospital assigns you a homicidal roommate; Every step you take may reduce your risk of dying; Vitamin D and Omega-3 supplements reduce risk of autoimmune conditions; How long to curtail fish oil before a medical procedure or surgery? Supplements for neuropathy.



Part 2: Daylight Saving Time Changeover Health Myths

Daylight Saving Time changeover health myths busted; A doctor breaks her ankle and is billed $64,000 in uncovered expenses; Vitamin D shields life-prolonging telomeres, may help depression; The vaunted DASH Diet for hypertension faces off against low-carb alternative; The critical first 1000 days after conception—early life sugar avoidance yields major later life health dividends; Do you really need hot water to disinfect your hands?









References & Resources

Mechanisms and clinical applications of Palmitoylethanolamide PRA in the treatment of neuropathic pain
Inflammopharmacology. 2025 Jan;33(1):121-133. doi: 10.1007/s10787-024-01623-8. Epub 2024 Dec 23. PMID: 39714723.

It’s not just about hitting daily step counts
By Joedy McCreary, Medpage Today, October 21, 2025

Daylight saving time may not trigger heart attacks after all
JAMA Netw Open Published Online: September 9, 2025;8;(9):e2530442.

Vitamin D and Marin omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and incident autoimmune disease: VITAL randomized controlled trial
BMJ 2022;376:e066452

Omega-3 benefits may vanish quickly after you stop
JCI Insight, 2025; 10 (19) DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.193637

Does early life exposure to antibiotics increase the risk of eczema?
Br J Dermatol. 2013 Nov;169(5):983-91. doi: 10.1111/bjd.12476. PMID: 23782060.

Improvement of skin lesions in corticosteroid withdrawal-associated severe eczema by multi-component traditional Chinese medicine therapy
Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 17, 68 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-021-00555-0

Bronx woman beaten to death by hospital roommate
By Mira Wassef, Anthony DiLorenza, Pix11, October 8, 2025

Cold water for cleaner hands?
By Andrew WeilMD, April 10, 2014

Exposure to sugar rationing in first 1000 days after conception and long term cardiovascular outcomes:natural experiment study
BMJ 2025;391:e083890

Comparing very low carbohydrate vs DASH diets for overweight or obese adults with hypertension and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial
The Annals of Family Medicine May 2023, 21 (3) 256-263; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.2968

Vitamin D3 and marine ω-3 fatty acids supplementation and leukocyte telomere length: 4-year findings from the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL) randomized controlled trial
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Volume 122, Issue 1, July 2025, Pages 39-47

Vitamin D protects against depression: Evidence from an umbrella meta-analysis on interventional and observational meta-analyses direct
Pharmacological Research Volume 187, January 2023, 106605

Doctor tripped up by $64K bill for ankle surgery and hospital stay
By Julie Appleby, KFF Health News  October 29, 2025




ENCORE: Intelligent Medicine Radio for December 27: French Fries’ Diabetes Risk

Part 1: French Fries’ Diabetes Risk

RFK Jr. issues sharpest ultimatum yet to medical schools: “Start teaching nutrition now or face penalties!” Fast-food outlets continue to abound in teaching hospitals; Once serious causes of flank pain are ruled out, patients are often left to fend for themselves; Potatoes don’t increase risk of diabetes—unless you eat French fries; Deep-frying in seed oils can yield harmful byproducts—but so, too, when you substitute with lard; As doctors get more aggressive treating blood pressure, how to minimize medication side effects; New study shows beetroot juice can lower BP by 7 points.



Part 2: Breakthroughs in Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

For weight loss, complete avoidance of ultra-processed foods outperforms mere “healthy diet” comprising minimally-processed items; Research fraud undermines anti-dementia drug pipeline; Comprehensive lifestyle modification program scores against cognitive decline; Women’s brains especially vulnerable to Omega-3 deficiencies; Bible says “Lame shall walk again” and 21st century science may soon bring about this miracle; Breakthroughs in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.









References & Resources

RFK Jr.: An Apple a day is a good prescription
By Robert F. Kennedy Jr., WSJ  Aug 27, 2025

Fast-food outlets in hospitals affiliated with US medical schools
Am J Lifestyle Med. 2024 Sep 4:15598276241267252. doi: 10.1177/15598276241267252

New ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines still urge early treatment but with some twists
By Yael L Maxwell, tctMD  Aug 14, 2025

What scientists discovered about French fries and diabetes
BMJ, 2025;390:e082121 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2024-082121

Deep frying cooking oils promote the high risk of metastases in the breast – A critical review
Food and Chemical Toxicology  Volume 144, October 2020, 111648

Beetroot juice’s blood pressure secret: the nitrate effect
by Maria Weib, Medscape Medical News  August 20, 2025

Autoxidation of cholesterol in tallows heated under deep frying conditions: evaluation of oxysterols by GLC and TLC-FID
Lipids. 1986 Jun;21(6):383-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02534932. PMID: 3736347

Secretaries Kennedy, McMahon demand comprehensive nutrition education reforms
Department of Health and Human Services  August 27, 2025

3-5 cups of coffee a day linked to longer life, lower diabetes risk
By Jessica Freeborn,  Medical News Today, August 26, 2025

A startling omega-3 deficiency may explain women’s Alzheimer’s risk
Alzheimer’s, 2025; 21 (8) DOI: 10.1002/alz.70512

People can lose more weight by avoiding ultra-processed food
By Allice Callahan, NYTimes Well Newsletter August 4, 2025

People can lose more weight by avoiding ultra-processed food
Nat Med (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03842-0

Structured vs self-guided multi-domain lifestyle interventions for global cognitive function
JAMA. 2025;334(8):681–691. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.12923

Questionable papers underpin other drugs
By Charles Piller, Science.org  September 26, 2024

Rats walk again after breakthrough spinal cord repair with 3D printing
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2025; DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202404817




Intelligent Medicine Radio for November 15: Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols

Part 1: Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols

“Study” that’s not even a study spreads panic about dubious melatonin-heart failure link; Should you ignore Dr’s advice to take powerful acid-blocking drugs? Novel implantable electrical pacemakers may bring relief to sufferers of severe constipation; Benefits of cocoa flavanols for heart, brain, athletic performance. 



Part 2: Coffee and Atrial Fibrillation

The FDA belatedly liberates women’s hormone replacement; Beta-blockers now deemed passé for routine heart attack aftercare; After most breast cancer surgery, adjuvant radiation brings no survival benefits; Can you drink caffeinated coffee if you have atrial fibrillation? Ignore frequent falls without attention to balance and stability training at your peril; Is it reasonable to contemplate a knee replacement surgery at 88? 









References & Resources

Melatonin as a novel drug to improve cardiac function and quality of kid in heart failure patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Clinical Cardiology. 2025 Mar;48(3):e70107. doi: 10.1002/clc.70107.

A study questions melatonin use and heart health, but lose sleep over it
By Lauren Neergaard, Associated Press  November 7,2025

Burst-patterned stimulation restores colonic motility in preclinical models
Sci Transl Med. 2025 Nov 5;17(823):eadu4615. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adu4615. Epub 2025 Nov 5. PMID: 41191773.

Speaking multiple languages may slow down biological aging
Nat Aging 5, 2340–2354 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-025-01000-2

Cup of coffee a day may not be harmful for some adults with AFib and could lower episodes
American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 Late-Breaking Science Abstract 4377429

RADIATION may be unnecessary for many breast cancer patients
N Engl J Med 2025;393:1771-1783

Beta blockers have no effect on heart attack patients
N Engl J Med 2025 Aug 30 Ibanez B et al. N Engl J Med 2025 Aug 30

Marty Makary: The FDA liberates women’s hormone replacement therapy
By Marty Makary. WSJ  November 10, 2025




Women’s Health Essentials

Neil Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and product formulator for Now Foods and Protocol for Life Balance, discusses the importance of targeted nutrients for women’s health. They delve into various supplements such as magnesium, myo-inositol, progesterone cream, D-Mannose, and biotin, explaining their benefits for conditions like PCOS, blood sugar regulation, menstrual migraines, urinary tract infections, and overall skin, hair, and nail health. The conversation also touches on the importance of tailoring nutrients to individual needs and the role of personalized nutrition in supporting women’s health amidst modern stresses.














Intelligent Medicine Radio for November 8: 4 Simple Lifestyle Measures Deliver 9 Additional Years of Disease-Free Healthspan

Part 1: 4 Simple Lifestyle Measures Deliver 9 Additional Years of Disease-Free Healthspan

Just 4 simple lifestyle measures deliver 9 additional years of disease-free healthspan; Study underscores protein’s role in staving off cancer, heart disease, and death; CoQ10 scores vs. neurodegeneration; Urolithin A (Mitopure®️) found to support athletic performance, immune function; Why you should ignore some influencers’ advice to avoid fish oil. 



Part 2: New Non-Invasive Option for Men’s Age-Related Urinary Problems

As little as 3000 steps per day can slow progression to Alzheimer’s Disease; Self-reports of memory impairment soaring among young people; New study vindicates unprocessed red meat—and even often-vilified processed red meat—for cancer and overall health. Prostate artery embolization (PAE) offers new non-invasive option for men’s age-related urinary problems; Targeting the mitochondria and the microbiome for Parkinson’s Disease; Popular prostate and hair loss prevention drugs linked to depression and suicide—while Cialis for urinary symptoms may stave off cardiovascular disease; Discovery that a safe, cheap medication may increase survival after breast cancer surgery. 









References & Resources

Coenzyme Q10 attenuates age-associated neurodegeneration via modulation of autophagy and neuroinflammation in aged rats
Metab Brain Dis. 2025 Nov 3;40(8):305. doi: 10.1007/s11011-025-01721-8.

Effect of the mitophagy inducer urolithin A on age-related immune decline: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Nat Aging. 2025 Nov;5(11):2309-2322.

Dietary intake of total, animal, and plant proteins and risk for all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
BMJ 2020;370:m2412

Association of healthy lifestyle with years lived without major chronic diseases
JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180(5):760–768. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.0618

Unprocessed red meat and processed meat consumption: dietary guidelines recommendations from the Nutritional Recommendations (NutriRECS) Consortium
Annals of Internal Medicine Volume 171, Number 10

Long-term effects of phosphodiesterae-5 inhibitors on cardiovascular outcomes and death:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Eur Heart J Cardiovasc Pharmacothe. 2024 Aug 14;10(5):403-412.

Popular hair-loss pill linked to depression and suicide
J Clin Psychiatry 2025;86(4):25nr15862

Oral bacteria may trigger Parkinson’s Disease
Neuroscience News, September 22, 2025

Scientists just shattered a major exercise myth
Advances, 2025; 4 (10): 102140 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.102140

Physical activity as a modifiable risk factor in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
Nature Medicine Published: 03 November 2025

Alarming surge in memory problems among young adults
Neurology, 2025; 105 (8) DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000214226




Intelligent Medicine Radio for October 18: The Craving for Alcohol

Part 1: The Craving for Alcohol

“Food is Medicine” initiative urged—but progress is slow; Thymic peptide for cancer; What is “orthomolecular psychiatry”? Magnesium threonate for tinnitus; How screen time and social media are dumbing down our kids; The craving for alcohol may be programmed from our primate origins. 



Part 2: Conquering Inflammation

New options for knee pain—radiation and embolization; Popeye was right to power-up with spinach; Conquering inflammation; Methane-predominant SIBO; Unnecessary back surgery on seniors is rampant; Medicare Advantage patients often relegated to inferior cancer surgery. 



References & Resources

Wild chimps consume the equivalent of two glasses of wine a day
By Margherita Bassi, Science Advances  September 29, 2025

Thymic peptides for prostate cancer
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD003993. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003993.pub3. Accessed 20 October 2025.

Experts push to expand role of nutrition in medicine
By Joyce Frieden, Medpage Today  October 2, 2025

Why medical schools need to focus more on nutrition
By Lloyd Minor, WSJ October 10, 2019

Social media use trajectories and cognitive performance in adolescents
JAMA. Published online October 13, 2025. doi:10.1001/jama.2025.16613

Screen Time and Standardized Academic Achievement Tests in Elementary School
JAMA Netw Open Published Online:2025;8;(10):e2537092. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.37092

Magnesium for tinnitus: Everything to know
By Carolyn Farnswort, Medical News Today  August 22, 2025

Improved effect of spinach extract on physical performance: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Cureus. 2025 Jan 22;17(1):e77840. doi: 10.7759/cureus.77840

Study dings Medicare advantage for cancer surgery quality
By Mike Bassett, Medpage Today  October 15, 2025

Genicular artery embolization procedure (GAE)
uchicagomedicine.org

This European treatment for joint pain just passed a major scientific test
American Society for Radiation Oncology