LEVELS – A Whole New Level

Preconception health is one of the most powerful—yet overlooked—windows for influencing a child’s lifelong wellness. While fertility is often discussed in the context of age or medical intervention, emerging research suggests that the months leading up to conception are a critical "time capsule" for epigenetic health.In this episode of A Whole New Level, Levels Founder and CEO Josh Clemente sits down with Dr. Anne Shippy, a board-certified internal medicine physician and author of The Preconception Revolution. Dr. Shippy brings a unique, systems-based approach to fertility, moving beyond basic labs to uncover the root causes of infertility and chronic disease.Dr. Shippy explains why the "check engine light" of infertility is often a signal of deeper metabolic or environmental imbalances—and why age isn't always the primary driver of reproductive success. Drawing on her engineering background and years of clinical practice, she walks through how toxins, mitochondrial function, and the microbiome interact to shape the health of both parents and their future children.Along the way, the conversation explores the practical "mini-experiments" couples can run to optimize their biology—from tightening blood sugar control with CGMs to auditing the "chemical soup" of modern life. The result is an empowering framework for generational health: shifting the focus from reactive treatments to proactive, data-driven preparation.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠In this episode, we cover• The Preconception Window: Why the 3–12 months before pregnancy are a critical window for epigenetic influence• The Engineering Approach: Applying systems-based, data-driven models to the biochemistry of the body• Environmental Toxins: How PFAS, phthalates, and microplastics in packaging disrupt hormone health• Sperm Health Trends: Understanding the 50% decline in sperm counts and the role of lifestyle in reversing damage• Mitochondrial Function: Why cellular energy production is the foundation of egg and sperm quality• IVF as a Last Resort: Why tuning up the body’s "hospitable environment" should come before invasive procedures• The Role of Glucose: How stable blood sugar improves fertility and passes on better epigenetics to the baby🎙 What Dr. Anne Shippy & Josh discuss[03:35] — Making the career shift from IBM chemical engineer to functional medicine[05:54] — Using CGMs as a series of experiments to optimize preconception health[10:04] — Success stories: Reversing "failed" IVF and infertility in the early 40s[14:48] — Why the children’s health crisis and the fertility crisis share the same root cau

High cholesterol is one of the most widely discussed—and established—risk factors in medicine. But reams of research now show that while it is key to cardiovascular risk, it is not the whole story.In this episode of A Whole New Level, editorial director Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Ronald Krauss, one of the world’s leading lipid researchers and a pioneer in understanding how different forms of LDL—and the physiological factors around them—affect cardiovascular risk.Dr. Krauss explains why the basic link between cholesterol and heart disease is well established among experts—but also why the standard cholesterol panel often misses the deeper metabolic story. Drawing on decades of research, he walks through how lipoproteins, particle size, triglycerides, and metabolic health interact to determine whether cholesterol actually becomes dangerous.Along the way, the conversation explores why cardiovascular disease remains the leading killer despite statins and decades of research—and how factors like obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation reshape the lipid landscape in ways that traditional tests may not capture.The result is a clearer framework for understanding cardiovascular risk: not just how much cholesterol is in the blood, but how it’s being transported, how long those particles circulate, and what metabolic conditions are driving them.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠In this episode, we coverWhy the cholesterol–heart disease link isn’t actually controversial among researchersCholesterol vs. lipoproteins: why the particles carrying cholesterol matter more than the number itselfSmall dense LDL: how triglyceride metabolism produces the most harmful particlesApoB and particle counts: why many researchers prefer measuring particles instead of cholesterol massLipoprotein(a): the genetically driven risk factor affecting up to a third of the populationMetabolic syndrome: the cluster of conditions that amplifies cardiovascular riskWhy carbohydrates and metabolic dysfunction can drive harmful lipid patternsThe saturated fat debate: why food context and metabolic health matter more than simple fat categories🎙 What Dr. Ronald Krauss & Mike Haney discuss:[01:09] — Why the cholesterol–heart disease link is largely settled science[02:27] — Why cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading killer[04:42] — Inflammation and meta

You can’t outrun a bad diet—but it turns out you might not even be able to outrun a good one. In this episode of A Whole New Level, evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Herman Pontzer joins Mike Haney to dismantle the "armchair view" of metabolism and explain why more exercise doesn't necessarily mean more calories burned.Drawing on his groundbreaking research with the Hadza hunter-gatherer community and global meta-analyses, Dr. Pontzer explains the Constrained Energy Model: the phenomenon where our bodies hit a metabolic ceiling and begin "trading off" energy from vital systems like immunity and reproduction to account for physical activity. This conversation reframes weight loss not as a simple math problem of "calories in vs. calories out," but as a dynamic, evolutionary balancing act.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠In this episode, we cover:The Myth of Additive Energy: Why adding a 300-calorie run to your day doesn’t actually result in 300 extra calories burned over the long term.The Hadza Paradox: How hunter-gatherers who walk miles every day burn the same amount of total energy as sedentary Westerners.Metabolic Trading: How your body "pays" for exercise by dialing down inflammation, stress responses, and reproductive hormones.The Business of the Body: Why the human body acts less like a simple machine and more like a corporation reallocating a limited budget.The "Set Point" Debate: Whether our bodies are tracking pounds on a scale or the flow of energy in the gut.Practical Weight Management: Why diet is the primary tool for weight, while exercise is the primary tool for everything else.🎙 What Dr. Herman Pontzer & Mike Haney discuss:[0:01-0:52] The Additive Model vs. The Constrained Energy Model[1:24-2:48] Dr. Pontzer's Book Burn[3:33-4:21] Defining Energy Balance[5:15-6:50] Where the "Armchair View of Metabolism" Breaks Down[7:07-8:50] Comparing the Additive Model to the Constrained Energy Model[16:14-18:12] Energy Accounting: Where Daily Calories Go[18:13-20:57] The Body as a Business Metaphor[22:13-23:47] Specific Ways the Body Compensates for Increased Exercise[24:19-25:27] Modifying the Constrained Energy Limit (Diet and Weightlifting)[47:54-51:23] Diet is Key for Weight ManagementLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing rea

Heart disease risk isn’t just about cholesterol. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Matthew Budoff explains why coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring may be the most important test most people aren’t getting—and why imaging your arteries directly can reveal risk that blood tests alone can miss.Drawing on decades of research and data from the landmark MESA study, Dr. Budoff explains how calcium scoring predicts real cardiovascular events, how plaque actually forms and progresses, and why some people with high cholesterol never develop plaque—while others with “normal” labs do.This episode focuses on how to measure your actual cardiovascular risk, not just estimate it.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnlIn this episode, we cover:Why CAC scoring is one of the strongest predictors of future heart eventsWhy cholesterol is critical—but only explains about half of heart disease riskWhy some people with very high LDL have zero plaque—and others with normal labs have dangerous plaqueWhy CAC is best understood as the “tip of the iceberg” of total plaque burdenWhen to escalate to CT angiography and advanced imagingHow plaque regression is possible—and what interventions actually drive itThe future of cardiac risk prediction: Lp(a), inflammation, and AI-driven plaque analysisThis conversation reframes heart risk around what’s actually happening inside your arteries—not just what shows up in bloodwork.🎙 What Dr. Matthew Budoff & Mike Haney discuss:[01:35] — Coronary calcium is the strongest predictor of heart events[02:38] — What a high calcium score actually means for risk[04:00] — Why rising calcium is not “healing.”[11:07] — The role of fat tissue and inflammation in plaque formation[16:37] — Why do many people with high cholesterol have no plaque[17:55] — Why imaging is the only way to truly know your risk[37:07] — Calcium as the “tip of the iceberg” of total plaque burden[~52:00] — Why CAC is the practical first step before advanced imaging[~1:02:00] — When CT angiography adds critical information[~1:14:00] — How plaque regression actually happens in the real world[~1:22:00] — The next frontier: Lp(a) and inflammation as treatment targetsLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every

In this episode of A Whole New Level, Christopher Gardner, PhD, joins Mike to discuss his decades in nutrition research, the challenges of conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on diet, and how to communicate complex science to the public. Gardner has led some of the most rigorous research ever comparing dietary approaches in real-world conditions, so his insights about what works (cutting processed food and sugar) and what doesn’t (obsessing about macronutrients) are worth a listen. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnlIn this episode, we cover:What a nutritional interventionist is – someone who studies people who are asked to change their diet, tracking them and taking samples to see what might have changed.How to square widely-accepted lessons about nutrition (i.e., junk food=bad) with the high degree of individuality in diets that work.The concept of "equipoise" in study design, which means making sure both diets being compared are well-represented versions of that diet (e.g., a "kick butt diet A and a crappy diet B" is avoided).The dilemma of communicating single-study results to the public and the role of the Netflix documentary on Gardner’s famous twin study in making science engaging.Dr. Gardner's experience on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and the methodology used to reach conclusions.The focus on ultra-processed foods and the need to message the consensus points of eating more whole foods and vegetables, and avoiding added sugar and refined grains.The learnings from the DIETFITS study, which compared low-carb and low-fat diets among 600 people for a year, and why there was more variation among people within a diet than between the two diets.🎙 What Dr. Christopher Gardner & Mike Haney discuss:[00:33] Nutritional Interventionist Role[02:17] Shortcomings of Nutrition RCTs[03:59] Garlic Study Example[16:48] Concept of Equipoise in Study Design[21:54] Value of Communicating Single Study Results[28:02] Industry Funding and Transparency[33:11] Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Methodology[38:48] Ultra-Processed Foods and the Evidence[48:27] Simplicity vs. Complexity in Nutrition[50:24] Consensus on Foundational Diet ComponentsLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Lev

In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Eric Ravussin, PhD, explains the physiology of energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, and why the body strongly defends its prior weight. Drawing on decades of research, including the Biggest Loser study, CALERIE, and work with metabolic chambers, Ravussin walks through what actually happens when we lose weight—and why willpower alone isn’t enough.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, we cover:Why BMI is an incomplete measure of obesityThe difference between preclinical and clinical obesityHow energy expenditure really works (and why larger bodies burn more calories)What metabolic adaptation is—and why it persists long after weight lossWhy exercise alone rarely leads to sustained weight lossHow GLP-1 drugs intersect with appetite, metabolism, and muscle mass🎙 What Dr. Eric Ravussin & Mike Haney discuss:[04:40] — Rethinking obesity diagnosis[07:00] — Clinical vs. preclinical obesity[11:38] — What ‘energy expenditure’ actually means[15:42] — What metabolic adaptation really is[17:56] — Why bigger bodies burn more calories[26:16] — Lessons from the Biggest Loser study[31:19] — What CALERIE taught us about calorie restriction[40:02] — Why slow, modest weight loss matters[45:10] — Weight loss vs. weight maintenance physiology[53:08] — GLP-1 drugs: promise and limitations[57:49] — Why you can’t exercise your way to weight loss[1:01:33] — The biggest myth about obesityLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/UaE0C_l7GMwFind us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠📲 More about Dr. Eric Ravussin: htt

According to investigative science journalist Gary Taubes, much of what we “know” about nutrition is built on weak evidence, bad assumptions, and decades of groupthink. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Taubes joins Mike Haney to examine how nutrition science went off the rails—and why he remains convinced the carbohydrate–insulin model still offers the most coherent explanation for obesity.Taubes explains how observational studies became policy, why randomized trials are often ignored, and why questioning the calorie-balance model remains controversial despite mounting contradictions. The conversation is less about winning an argument and more about how science should actually work—especially when public health is at stake.⁠Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠🎙 What Gary Taubes & Mike Haney discuss:[4:10] — How Gary Taubes became interested in “bad science.”[9:45] — Why nutrition science relies too heavily on epidemiology[15:30] — Correlation vs. causation in diet research[22:10] — The problem with the calorie-balance model[29:40] — Introducing the carbohydrate–insulin model[36:55] — Why insulin resistance changes everything[44:20] — Why low-fat advice dominated for decades[52:10] — What randomized trials actually show[1:00:05] — Why dissent is treated as heresy in nutrition[1:08:30] — How bad science survives criticism[1:16:45] — What good nutrition science would require[1:23:20] — Why this debate still mattersLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/74WAhHgEk_0⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠📲 Connect with Gary Taubes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-taubes-942a6459/https://garytaubes.com/

Hormones influence far more than reproduction—they shape energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, and long-term health. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Anjali D’Souza joins Mike Haney to explain how women’s hormones actually work, why so many symptoms are dismissed as “normal,” and how to interpret labs in a way that reflects real physiology.They discuss why standard hormone panels often miss functional problems, how nutrient status and lifestyle affect hormone signaling, and how symptoms like PMS, fatigue, and brain fog provide meaningful data—not noise.They discuss:Why hormones affect how you feel day to day, not just fertilityThe difference between “normal” lab ranges and optimal functionHow progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol interactWhy PMS is often a signal—not a mysteryHow nutrition, stress, and sleep influence hormone effectivenessSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠🎙 What Dr. Anjali Dsouza & Mike Haney discuss:[3:45] — Why hormones influence energy, mood, and vitality[7:30] — “Normal” labs vs. how you actually feel[11:40] — Why hormone symptoms are often dismissed[15:05] — Hormones as a lever to move from “fine” to “amazing.”[18:20] — Progesterone, estrogen, and the menstrual cycle[22:10] — Why PMS isn’t random—it’s data[27:35] — Cortisol, stress, and hormone disruption[33:10] — Nutrient status and hormone effectiveness[38:45] — Why labs don’t show tissue-level hormone function[44:30] — Lifestyle changes that support hormone balance[50:15] — Rethinking how we assess women’s hormone healthLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/MweLkjvNimoFind us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠https://dcimedicine.com/dr-anjali-dsouza/⁠<a href="https://www.levels.com/blog/dr-anjali-ds

In this episode, Dr. Jesse Mills, Director of the UCLA Men’s Clinic, joins Mike Haney to explain what’s driving that shift and what today’s data-driven approach to men’s health looks like.He breaks down the testosterone “revolution,” what’s really happening in low-T diagnoses, and how lifestyle, sleep, and stress management can influence hormones as much as prescriptions can.They discuss: - How men’s health became its own medical discipline- What testosterone really does—and how to know if it’s low- Primary vs. secondary hypogonadism and how to tell the difference- When testosterone replacement is appropriate (and when it’s not)- Why younger men are now embracing prevention and optimizationAnd listen to Dr. Mills’ new podcast, The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills, wherever you get your podcasts.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠🎙 What Dr. Jesse Mills & Mike Haney discuss:[2:10] — How men’s health became its own field[8:05] — The generational shift in openness[10:40] — The difference between real medicine and ‘men’s clinics’[12:00] — Testosterone 101[18:45] — When low testosterone is reversible[26:50] — Why we need ‘forensic endocrinology’Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/Zs2CZC2GueAFind us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠📲 Connect with Dr. Jesse Mills: https://x.com/grurology?lang=en

Your annual labs can reveal far more than most people realize—if you know how to interpret them. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Rich Joseph walks through how to read basic blood work like the CBC, electrolytes, and urinalysis, and how to use those numbers as feedback loops, not pass/fail judgments.He explains which values matter most, what trends reveal over time, and how to connect lab data to sleep, training, nutrition, and stress.What the Complete Blood Count (CBC) actually measuresHow to identify early signs of iron or B-vitamin deficiencyWhat white blood cell patterns reveal about immunity and stressHow electrolytes reflect cellular energy, hydration, and training loadWhy urinalysis is underrated (and how to read it quickly)How to use lab trends—not single snapshots—to guide health decisionsSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Dr. Rich Joesph & Mike Haney discuss:[03:12] — Why basic labs still matter[07:58] — How to read the CBC: Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets[18:45] — MCV and what it tells us about iron vs. B-vitamin deficiency[24:40] — White blood cells as a window into stress and recovery[44:10] — Electrolytes and cellular energy[1:01:22] — Urinalysis: the overlooked lab with real value[1:09:55] — Using labs as feedback over timeLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/cpwB4-_7o-wFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1📲 Connect with Dr. Rich Joseph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-joseph-md-mba-61448b33a/

Your immune system isn’t just about fighting infections—it’s a mirror of your overall metabolic health.In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Sharon Bergquist, physician and Director of Emory’s Healthy Aging and Resilient Aging Center, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of immune resilience—how chronic inflammation, white blood cell patterns, and metabolism intertwine to shape long-term health.Dr. Bergquist explains why inflammation isn’t always bad, how the immune system ages, and what you can do daily to build resilience.They discuss:The link between metabolic dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammationHow white blood cell counts reveal immune status and stress levelsWhy gut and liver health are central to immune balancePractical habits that calm inflammation and support immune recoveryWhat it really means to have a “resilient” immune systemSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Dr. Sharon Bergquist & Mike Haney discuss:[3:24] — How inflammation protects—and harms—your body[10:11] — Why immune health depends on metabolism[17:42] — White blood cells as a window into immune function[24:38] — How the gut and liver shape immunity[32:27] — Why modern lifestyles fuel inflammation[40:55] — How to measure your own inflammation[48:33] — The science of immune aging (inflammaging)[56:22] — Building immune resilience through daily habits[1:03:44] — Why immune balance is better than immune ‘boosting’[1:11:08] — The hopeful message: immunity is adaptableLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/k1XpdFGVx1oFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1📲 Connect with Dr. Sharon Bergquist on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thegoodstressdoctor/overlay/about-this-profile/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3

If you want to improve your energy and long-term health, start by understanding how your body uses glucose.In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Benjamin Bikman, scientist and author of Why We Get Sick, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance—and why blood sugar isn’t the whole story.Dr. Bikman explains how insulin regulates energy balance, why HbA1c is only part of the picture, and how chronic high insulin can silently drive weight gain, fatigue, and metabolic disease. He also shares practical ways to lower insulin naturally through diet, exercise, and daily habits.They discuss:Why insulin, not glucose, is the root of metabolic dysfunctionWhat HbA1c and fasting glucose really tell youThe early signs of insulin resistance most people missHow muscle tissue protects against high glucose and insulinWhy low-carb and intermittent fasting aren’t one-size-fits-allPractical nutrition and movement strategies for better metabolic flexibilitySign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Ben Bikman, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss:[3:42] — Why glucose isn’t the full story in metabolic health[7:58] — Insulin’s central role in energy and fat storage[13:10] — What HbA1c actually tells you—and what it misses[19:23] — The first signs of insulin resistance most people overlook[25:46] — Why muscle is a “glucose sink” that protects your metabolism[32:15] — How modern diets overload insulin, not just glucose[39:52] — The difference between being lean and being metabolically healthy[46:08] — Simple daily habits that lower insulin naturally[54:41] — Why “normal” lab ranges for insulin are misleading[1:02:17] — Practical steps to build metabolic flexibility and better energyLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/2PROANAQkwAFind us on YouTube: <a href="https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noref

Alzheimer’s and dementia aren’t just a matter of age or genetics. Increasing evidence shows that metabolic health—particularly insulin resistance—plays a key role in cognitive decline.In this episode of A Whole New Level, neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter joins Mike Haney to explore the links between brain health and metabolism. They discuss the role of insulin resistance and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, the biomarkers that can reveal risk decades before symptoms, and how lifestyle interventions can dramatically change your trajectory.Topics include:Key biomarkers for assessing brain health: fasting insulin, A1C, homocysteineWhy targeting inflammation may matter more than targeting amyloid plaquesThe promise and limitations of GLP-1 medications for dementia and Parkinson’sPractical steps you can take now to protect long-term cognitive functionSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Dr. David Perlmutter & Mike Haney discuss:4:12 — Why Alzheimer’s is now called “Type 3 diabetes”9:45 — The role of inflammation in brain health15:22 — Biomarkers that predict dementia risk decades early22:31 — Why mainstream Alzheimer’s drugs fall short29:17 — GLP-1s and brain health36:44 — Lifestyle changes vs. pharmaceuticals44:19 — Why homocysteine matters53:02 — Sleep, circadian rhythm, and brain resilience1:02:38 — Early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore1:15:07 — The hopeful messageLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/MV_9nyAN1VkFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1📲 Connect:Dr. David Perlmutter on X: @DavidPerlmutterDavid Perlmutter, MD: ⁠https://drperlmutter.com/⁠

Longevity is a hot health topic, but what factors move the needle on not only how long you live but how long you experience relatively good health? Some lab and other tests can help assess how healthy you’re aging and provide context for what lifestyle and other changes to make. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Mike Haney discuss the tests that help assess healthy aging, how mental health and physical health are intricately connected, which lifestyle factors might expand your health span, and where the research stands on various longevity topics.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss:6:57 — Lifespan vs. health span vs. sick span19:38 — Understanding sick span27:44 — Biomarkers and other tests to assess health span30:58 — The importance of emotional health for longevity35:49 — Cellular tests may not have value for the consumer yet42:24 — On mitochondrial function and telomere length50:34 — Investing in your health1:01:18 — Lifestyle changes can help make a big difference1:09:50 — High vs. low protein1:16:39 — When considering exercise, building muscle is crucial for longevity1:27:37 — The prescription drug rapamycin is not FDA-approved for longevityLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/OPH5Nb2a69oSubscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Matt Kaeberlein, PhD: https://www.optispan.life/matt-kaeberleinConnect with Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, on X: https://x.com/mkaeberlein

Your thyroid test results explained: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that affects many facets of health. When it doesn’t function optimally, symptoms can ensue. That’s where testing comes in, but the results can be tricky to interpret (and treat if necessary) without a knowledgeable clinician. Dr. Angela Mazza and Mike Haney discuss thyroid function, thyroid hormone and related tests and what they mean, treatment for thyroid conditions, the benefits of an integrative approach to thyroid care, and more.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Angela Mazza, DO, & Mike Haney discuss:2:44 — What is endocrinology?4:31 — What does the thyroid do?6:33 — Understanding hyperthyroidism10:08 — The “triangle” of autoimmune disease13:56 — Understanding hypothyroidism16:29 — Thyroid-stimulating hormone21:43 — Considering reverse T327:11 — Thyroid ultrasound37:32 – The importance of individualized thyroid replacement therapy40:53 — The thyroid gland and perimenopause42:49 — Misinformation about the thyroidLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/HRNKRniVALkFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Angela Mazza, DO: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/Metabolic Center for Wellness: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/“Thyroid Talk: An Integrative Guide to Optimal Thyroid Health”: https://www.amazon.com/Thyroid-Talk-Integrative-Optimal-Health/Thyroid Talk community and training: https://www.thrivethyroid.com/Thyroid Talk podcast: <a href="https://www.metaboli

Greater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a tool for anyone to improve overall health, reduce risk for chronic diseases, manage women’s health including menstrual cycles and the menopause transition, help with fueling strategies for workouts and performance, prevent energy crashes, and more.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Dom D’Agostino, PhD, & Ben Grynol discuss:11:49 — Using technology to reduce your risk for health issues14:13 — Metabolic health is a spectrum, and many people don’t know where they stand25:25 — The importance of focusing on trends in your metabolic health30:05 —  Glucose spikes from workouts are normal and a good sign34:13 — Glucose is one of the key biomarkers to track for longevity41:34 — Understanding what a glucose biosensor is56:17 — All calories are not created equal1:01:25 — Using a glucose biosensor for exercise fueling strategies1:04:00 — Using a glucose biosensor to monitor women’s health changes1:23:11 — The rate of glucose absorption matters for metabolic health and how you feel1:31:06 — Making healthy food the default, rather than ultra-processed foodsLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/mrlnNhxKNgYFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Dominic D’Agostino, PhD: https://drdominicdagostino.com/Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on X: https://x.com/DominicDAgosti2

Our kidneys filter out waste while retaining substances the body needs, such as electrolytes. Kidney health, which can be assessed with blood and urine biomarker tests, is paramount to overall health. Yet lifestyle, such as the Western diet and other factors, can damage the kidneys, leading to either a slow progression of issues or acute injury. Dr. Rick Johnson and Mike Haney discuss the role of the kidneys, what lifestyle factors affect kidney health, ways to support the kidneys, and what your biomarker results tell you about the function of these crucial organs.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl🎙 What Rick Johnson, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:4:26 — Your kidneys are great regulators8:43 — Heat stress affects the kidneys12:04 — The most common causes of kidney disease include diabetes and high blood pressure19:46 — The Western diet is associated with age-related kidney decline 32:25 — The concerns of a high-protein diet in the presence of chronic kidney disease41:15 — Changes in urinary habits or color could indicate chronic kidney disease46:23 — Biomarkers can help assess kidney function53:18 — Serum creatinine as a biomarker of kidney health1:08:13 — Assessing patterns over time is crucial1:10:52 — High albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney disease1:21:26 — Lifestyle changes that support kidney healthLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/8_QSuYwo5wgSubscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Richard Johnson, MD: https://drrichardjohnson.comComprehensive Clinical Nephrology: https://drrichardjohnson.com/books/Connect with Richard Johnson, MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardjjohnson/

Your gut microbiome affects everything from your mental health and cognitive function to your immune system and metabolic health. Gut health symptoms, such as bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, could be a sign that you have low species diversity. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Mike Haney discuss how the gut and brain communicate, how the gut microbiome affects the gut barrier and therefore your immune system, what to eat to improve the gut microbiome, and what microbiome testing can tell you.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Will Bulsiewicz, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:9:14 — Gut health takes time to improve14:49 — Your gut microbiome informs your gut and overall health18:42 — Lifestyle choices help shape an individual’s gut microbiome24:20 — A compromised gut barrier affects the immune system30:51 — Nutritional strategies can improve the gut microbiome and reduce disease flares 32:46 — The gut and the brain communicate52:27 — A diverse gut microbiome is a sign of good health56:45 — Your gut microbiome informs your bowel movements1:01:46 — When to see a doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms1:05:32 — Increasing fiber helps the gut microbiome1:11:41 — The beneficial byproducts of gut microbes are postbiotics1:14:59 — Eat a wide variety of plant foods to get optimal fiberLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/iAHOycufGn8Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1Will Bulsieweicz, MD, https://theplantfedgut.com/about/Fiber Fueled: https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Fueled-Plant-Based-Optimizing-Microbiome/dp/059308456XThe Plant Fed Gut: https://theplantfedgut.com/Connect with Dr. Wi

The pancreas is a complex organ, but some key biomarkers can assess its health. The pancreas is both an exocrine organ (meaning it produces enzymes) and an exocrine organ (meaning it secretes hormones). It’s a key component of your metabolic health and therefore your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss key pancreatic blood work to get checked, the differences between diabetes types and what causes them, what insulin resistance is, how to restore mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle changes, and more.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:(01:33) — The pancreas is a complex organ(13:20) — Three emergency mechanisms to prevent low blood sugar(18:28) — Why insulin is a crucial biomarker(19:57) — Understanding type 1 diabetes(27:11) — Understanding type 2 diabetes(30:03) — What mitochondrial dysfunction does to the pancreas(31:45) — The links between Alzheimer’s disease and type diabetes(33:07) — Obesity is about mitochondrial dysfunction(36:14) — Testing proinsulin and C-peptide(40:24) — Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction and type 2 diabetes(44:03) — Testing key pancreatic enzymes⁠⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/5RnEdiTRYfI?si=GXeqvaXtyDLaXjUHFind us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Lab testing for female reproductive hormones offers insight into menstrual cycle irregularities, fertility concerns, and understanding where you are on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause trajectory. Dr. Natalie Crawford and Mike Haney discuss how the brain and ovaries communicate during the different phases of the menstrual cycle, when to test female hormones, how oral contraception affects hormone levels, and how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Natalie Crawford, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:(08:03) — Women’s reproductive health concerns sometimes get dismissed(09:08) — The intersection of fertility and functional medicine(14:17) — The reason to check anti-Mullerian hormone(24:19) — The brain communicates with the ovaries(26:17) — Inflammation can disrupt the menstrual cycle(30:44) — Data from biomarker testing can be motivating(32:05) — When to do baseline testing for female hormones(37:47) — Menstrual cycle history and the big picture are important(40:12) — Menstrual cycle irregularities should be investigated(42:55) — The role of hormonal birth control and how it affects hormone levels(55:14) — The importance of fiber for hormonal support(59:44) — The importance of eating whole foods and avoiding toxins⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/Xeq4TxRJ5YkFind us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Proper nutrition supports healthy aging and longevity—that much is clear. But nutritional advice online can be confusing, so what does the science say about healthy eating? It’s less about your macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—and more about your micronutrients, which are vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Mike Haney discuss micronutrient testing, supplements, plant-based diets, and what to eat to stave of disease, reverse disease processes, and live a longer, healthier life.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnlLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Joel Fuhrman, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:(06:59) — Using food as medicine(15:00) —Gaining a better understanding of how to use nutrition for longevity(18:45) — Why we must look at nutrition science comprehensively(23:26) — The benefits of a plant-based diet(25:56) —  The importance of micronutrients(32:31) — The role of healthy fats(37:44) — Micronutrient testing can help guide decisions about diet and any needed supplements(40:33) — Vitamin D from sunshine takes time to penetrate(43:18) — Focus on the GBOMBS to up your micronutrient intake and support longevity(57:41) — Finding a doctor who is certified in lifestyle medicine(59:06) — Changing your health through diet takes time⁠⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/jWk55UxvX34⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Levels offers biomarker testing to give you more insight into your health status so you can understand the root causes of your symptoms, take a preventive approach to disease, and see if your lifestyle changes or other interventions are reducing your risk factors and improving your health. Dr. Anjali Dsouza and Mike Haney discuss why biomarker testing can be beneficial, how to understand your levels, factors that affect your levels, and which biomarkers are no-brainers to get tested.Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnlLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Anjali Dsouza, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:(02:21) — Conventional medicine does not allow for enough time with patients(09:05) — Why test biomarkers beyond the basics?(12:10) — Lifestyle factors are about consistency, not perfection(16:48) — Biomarkers should be analyzed with additional context(24:24) — A normal biomarker range isn’t always optimal(28:06) — AI tools and internet searches generally don’t provide nuanced health information(32:01) — Potential reasons people get biomarker testing beyond the basics(33:45) — When is repeat testing important?(36:52) — Biomarker testing and understanding is complex, especially in preventive health(37:53) — Some biomarkers respond swiftly to lifestyle changes(38:47) — The importance of fasted insulin as a biomarker⁠⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/lN6TNn6jpTg⁠⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Not all calories are equal. Tracking your macronutrient intake, using AI capabilities, can help you improve your body composition, facilitate weight loss, and boost exercise performance. The three macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with fiber a subset of carbs. Josh Clemente & Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discuss the new macros-tracking feature in the Levels app, the purpose and importance of each macronutrient, how to use macros-tracking in conjunction with biomarker data to improve health and fitness, and how easy the app’s AI functionality is to use.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Josh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(04:28) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake(11:59) — Why is tracking macros beneficial?(15:53) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body(33:22) — The different functions of macros(41:48) — Is excess protein a concern?(47:20) — The problem with excess carbohydrates(52:49) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility(54:50) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates(1:09:04) — Is fiber a macronutrient?(1:37:25) — Macros tracking in the Levels app(1:41:18) — Tracking macros can help improve body composition and performance⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

What diet should you follow? Metabolic health experts say it doesn’t matter whether you’re keto, vegan, or otherwise if you focus on three simple principles, which will help reduce your risk for cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin and Dr. Casey Means discuss the biomarkers to ask your doctor about, why they matter, how to improve those biomarkers with accessible tips, and why liver health is a big key to overall health.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠🎙 What Swaranjit Bhasin, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(03:45) — A radiologist raises a red flag about increased diagnoses in younger patients(11:03) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a silent but serious problem(15:01) — The importance of the liver(18:38) — What are your most important biomarkers?(32:30) — Casey Means, MD, summarizes Dr. Bhasin’s three rules for diet(34:18) — Processed vegetable and seed oils are toxic to the body(42:20) — Insulin resistance can drive cancer(52:26) — The importance of autophagy in helping to prevent cancer(55:14) — Who should not engage in intermittent fasting?⁠⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/1pkhDOPsXb4⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Stable glucose levels are a foundation of feeling and looking your best at any age. When glucose levels are more erratic—with spikes and crashes—cravings, weight gain, low energy, health issues, and more can ensue. Jessie Inchauspé and Dr. Casey Means, thought leaders on the topic of blood sugar, discuss simple hacks for keeping glucose levels more stable without resorting to restrictive diets, and they share why stable levels inform health.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Jessie Inchauspé & Casey Means, MD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(05:52) — Are type 2 diabetes and obesity genetic, dictated by lifestyle factors, or both?(10:21) — Hacks for keeping blood sugar more stable(18:42) — People want to be healthy, but the food industry complicates matters(22:46) — Nutritional choices can impact mental health(28:42) — The premise behind Inchauspé’s ‘Glucose Goddess Method’(31:21) — Tracking biomarkers provides insight to your metabolic health(33:29) — A siloed approach to healthcare misses the big picture(36:21) — Can supplements really help with metabolic health?(48:38) — We need systemic change in the food industry(56:41) — The science behind food cravings⁠⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NfmRORU1HIA?si=PecFHUL6ZTC8bu1N

Diet and exercise culture tends to prioritize calorie restriction and calorie burning via cardio workouts. While fat loss is beneficial, building and maintaining healthy muscle mass is also crucial for metabolic health and longevity. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Dr. Casey Means discuss Lyon’s book “Forever Strong,” why strength-training should be a priority for workout routines, how muscle is the body’s metabolic currency, and why boosting protein intake aids in adding and preserving muscle mass.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Gabrielle Lyon, DO, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(03:09) — Dr. Casey Means shares her enthusiasm for Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s book(08:53) — Muscle is our metabolic currency(19:56) — According to Dr. Lyon, gaining muscle is more important than losing fat(24:09) — Muscle mass is protective against sarcopenia(31:47) — Dr. Means raises the question about menopause(32:58) — The benefits of focusing on metabolic health in the menopause transition(37:49) — Dr. Lyon encourages people to reevaluate the type of exercise they are doing(40:32) — Dr. Lyon discusses the importance of getting enough protein(44:34) — Dr. Lyon discusses the timing of protein intake(52:25) — Dr. Lyon discusses supplementation with creatine⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LAF2o2zv7Q4?si=vXoV1hxQVCpfYOpQFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Levels, aiming to fix the metabolic health crisis with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) paired with an intuitive and educational app, was founded in 2019 by Josh Clemente, who eventually brought on several co-founders to help steer the startup’s ship. Josh Clemente and Ben Grynol discuss Clemente’s lightbulb moment for the concept, the networking process for gaining investor buy-in and taking the company to the next level, and the hiccups and triumphs along the way. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Josh Clemente & Ben Grynol discuss: (01:51) — The Levels origin story (30:05) — The catalyst for moving on from SpaceX (41:27) — Clemente realizes that altering nutrition can provide a “superpower” (46:46) — The mainstream medical system doesn’t treat type 2 diabetes until it’s advanced (50:30) — Even seemingly healthy foods can spike glucose and lead to an energy crash (59:40) — The next step in the Levels story was creating the product (01:25:27) — Clemente uses pressed juice to illustrate a glucose rise (01:41:30) — How the Levels name was born (02:03:35) — Levels needed representation in the medical field (02:43:33) — Levels co-founders get the opportunity to try CGM ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The obesity epidemic isn’t about calories-in-calories-out. Instead, chronic stress and high insulin levels from refined carbs and sugar are drivers of fat storage. And the type of fat stored matters, since visceral fat accumulation leads to worsening metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss the different types of fat and how they are stored and burned; what thin on the outside, fat on the inside means; whether people can be healthy at any size; environmental factors that contribute to obesity; and what people can do to manage weight. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (09:40) — Three things are required for fat storage to occur (21:54) — The key to fat loss is reducing insulin (23:39) — Refined carbohydrates lead to fat storage (32:41) — What is metabolically healthy obesity? (42:05) — Visceral fat causes “metabolic mayhem” (45:40) — What is thin on the outside fat on the inside? (50:27) — Stress causes the accumulation of visceral fat (58:06) — Exercise helps burn visceral fat (01:00:58) — The key to being healthy (1:06:12) — Endocrine-disrupting chemicals also play a role in obesity (1:26:46) — Is there such a thing as “health at any size”? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/sxJvfqTFttY

Trauma causes physiological changes to the nervous system. Over time, these impacts may place someone on a trajectory from health to a pre-disease state to a disease state, leading to autoimmunity or autoimmune disorders. Dr. Sara (Gottfried) Szal and Mike Haney discuss Szal’s new book “The Autoimmune Cure,” trauma and how it can contribute to autoimmunity, how personalized precision medicine may help individuals reverse autoimmunity and return to a state of health, and how psychedelic therapies can help with addressing trauma. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Sara (Gottfried) Szal, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (07:36) — What is precision medicine? (13:17) — How tools that give you a “window” into your physiology can help (17:24) — Why catching autoimmunity in a pre-disease state is important (34:22) — A person’s life history, especially their trauma, matters for their overall health (38:17) — The three components that lead to autoimmunity (42:42) — More people are living in fight-or-flight mode all the time (49:53) — A food-based approach is a great place to start for reversing autoimmunity (51:34) — How do you find someone who practices precision medicine? (1:02:56) — How psychedelic therapies may help with trauma (1:06:05) — The difference between recreational and therapeutic use of psychedelics ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/R0BbP4_xEfo

Inflammation is an essential process in the body to help with healing and illness recovery. However, many people have chronic inflammation, which accelerates aging and drives disease processes. We can help control inflammation through diet. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss environmental and dietary sources of chronic inflammation as well as the foods that are anti-inflammatory. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:04) — Inflammation is essential (05:04) — What causes chronic inflammation? (08:14) — Processed seed oils drive inflammation (09:40) — Sugar drives inflammation (11:00) — Fiber is an anti-inflammatory food (12:18) — Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory (13:27) — Vitamin D is anti-inflammatory (14:52) — Controlling inflammation helps combat aging processes (15:37) — The Western diet causes inflammation ⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z

Although not one single test can tell you whether you are healthy, some biomarkers and lab results can provide you a picture of your metabolic health, which can then inform you about your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss why fasting insulin is one of the best metabolic health biomarkers, how you can use continuous glucose monitoring as a proxy for insulin sensitivity, how fast your metabolic health can change, and why your uric acid level and the cholesterol marker ApoB are also important labs to receive. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (03:51) — Multiple factors help determine if you’re getting sicker or healthier (07:52) — Fasting glucose is not a good gauge of your metabolic health (10:13) — The concern with a rising insulin level (19:22) — A good goal is to keep glucose levels more stable, but you’re going to have rises (30:12) — What a glucose excursion can tell you (31:24) — Why doctors don’t check fasting insulin, even though it’s a better marker than glucose? (46:12) — How often should you get your fasting insulin checked? (50:08) — A continuous glucose monitor can show you your glucose excursions (58:42) — Why uric acid is an important biomarker (1:08:37) — Why you should get ApoB checked ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/6P8HVIbdDc0?si=DIhrV0vlkQdYLskg

Both aging and menopause affect metabolism. Unless people build and preserve muscle mass, aging drives muscle loss and fat gain. While these changes affect everyone, the menopause transition can also worsen metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss aging’s effects on body composition, how menopause exacerbates these and other effects, and what you can do to protect your health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:05) — Aging and muscle loss (04:30) — Aging and fat gain (05:06) — Why insulin resistance can increase as we age (08:13) — Loss of estrogen drives menopause symptoms (09:28) — Menopause can also impact cholesterol (10:11) — Lifestyle changes can help lessen the impact of menopause on metabolism ⁠⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z

Macronutrients include fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. All four nutrients have different effects on glucose and metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the metabolic health effects of each macronutrient, how to prevent age-related muscle loss, how to improve gut health, and more. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:36) — Protein helps prevent age-related muscle loss (04:25) — What if you just consume protein and do not exercise? (05:21) — Leucine is a stimulator of insulin release (08:55) — Which fats are good and bad for you? (13:22) — How dietary fat affects your glucose response (14:59) — The importance of fiber (15:52) —What does fiber do? ⁠⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z

Exercising and changing your diet are both beneficial for metabolic health. But you may be wondering which one has more benefits for fat loss, increasing insulin sensitivity, and more. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the answer to this burning question and more, including how exercise, saunas, stress, and sleep affect glucose levels. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (02:30) — Why do you get a glucose spike when you exercise? (04:22) — The sport drink industry puts fructose in its products (05:27) — What happens to your glucose when you enter a sauna? (06:26) — Is it better to exercise or change your diet? (08:16) — How cortisol, the stress hormone, impacts blood sugar and health (10:36) — How does sleep affect your metabolic health? (12:22) — How do you fix sleep deprivation? ⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

High uric acid can cause gout, but it’s also a marker for worsened metabolic health and gut health and a contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Consumption of purines can lead to high uric acid levels, but other ingredients in our food system are also culprits. Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Casey Means discuss the problems with high uric acid, the foods and drinks that can lead to higher levels, why uric acid can be a driver of worsened brain health, and concerns regarding leaky gut and the immune system. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What David Perlmutter, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss: (04:36) — Why your uric acid level matters for metabolic health (08:51) — Fructose is a driver of high uric acid levels (13:55) — High-fructose corn syrup contributes to the obesity epidemic (15:57) — The key difference between fruit and fruit juice (25:42) — What is an optimal uric acid level? (28:57) — Alcohol consumption contributes to higher uric acid levels (32:32) — Ultra-processed foods contribute to higher uric acid levels (41:13) — Gut permeability can challenge the immune system (52:43) — Immunometabolism is the link between our metabolism and immune system (59:26) — What causes immune cells in the brain to become dysfunctional? ⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/IZhi4JXxy6Y

High insulin levels drive the growth of fat cells. In turn, fat gain can exacerbate insulin resistance, leading to a vicious cycle. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas releases in response to glucose rising in the bloodstream. A lower insulin level is required to lose fat, and dietary habits and lifestyle changes can help. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss insulin’s dual functions in the body, why high insulin leads to fat storage, and how to lower insulin levels. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:05) — What drives fat growth? (04:17) — Why insulin is both good and bad (08:25) — Why insulin resistance creates a vicious cycle of fat gain (10:36) — Changing diet is the easiest way to lower insulin levels to drive fat loss ⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

Before someone develops type 2 diabetes, they go through a prediabetic stage. But if someone is reversing their diabetes and is trending toward better glucose levels or even optimal levels, they are postdiabetic. Eric Edmeades and Ben Grynol discuss Edmeades’s new book “Postdiabetic,” his company Wildfit, and how the program helps people reverse type 2 diabetes, change their relationship with food, and overhaul their health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Eric Edmeades & Ben Grynol discuss: (04:42) — The makings of the obesity epidemic (13:46) — Switching between fuel sources (20:09) — The high cost and consequences of type 2 diabetes (24:19) — Eric Edmeades explains the health experiment that changed his life (27:29) — Doctors aren’t taught much about nutrition in medical school (33:35) — Why doctors may be more likely to prescribe medicine than preventions (34:58) — Wildfit helps people change their relationship with food and reverse type 2 diabetes (40:49) — Why Edmeades titled his book “Postdiabetic” (59:44) — The culpability of the food industry and the government (55:38) — Diets are not the answer (58:54) — Fat as a nutrient is not the enemy ⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/QO4X6ePQZi8?si=LulpiRMkuWVV4dLj

Excess glucose from food gets stored as fat. And our insulin response drives that fat storage. The goal is for the pancreas to release less insulin but for the body to have a healthy response to it. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the interplay between glucose and insulin, healthy glucose numbers, and the problems with insulin resistance. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (03:10) — The functions of glucose (04:24) — Glucose levels change throughout the day (05:30) — The implications of reactive hypoglycemia (08:51) — Understanding glycemic index and glycemic load (11:12) — How many glucose spikes per day are okay? (14:34) — Insulin drives fat storage (17:41) — How glucose spikes do their damage (19:03) — How eating late before bed can cause insulin resistance (22:12) — A look at healthy glucose levels (27:06)  — Insulin resistance is the first sign of issues Transcript & Show notes 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

Why are we spending more on health care every year, yet people are getting sicker? “Good Energy,” a book by Casey Means, MD, details how you can take your health into your own hands with the power of food as medicine. Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Robert Lustig discuss the overarching themes of “Good Energy,” why we need changes in government and health care, and how people can overhaul their own health with actionable tips, such as eliminating ultra-processed foods from their diet. Plus, Means answers readers’ burning questions. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Casey Means, MD, & Robert Lustig, MD, discuss: (3:05) — Why Casey Means, MD, left her surgical residency program (7:47) — The book “Good Energy” in a nutshell (9:50) — The problem with our mitochondria (16:20) — We’re getting too much of our food from ultra-processed items (19:04) — How to reduce cravings (22:06) — Different types of exercise send different signals to our mitochondria (29:42) — Modern medicine is designed to address disease when it’s already present (36:03) — Nutrition guidelines are fraught with conflicts of interest (45:16) — The need for addressing school lunches and SNAP (54:48)  — Trends in glucose matter (57:49) — Dr. Lustig shares his thoughts on “Good Energy” Transcript & Show Notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/t52Fmvh-5Ww?si=dHdOWrRGMTutSfcb

About 93% of people in the United States are not metabolically healthy. But metabolic health can be improved quickly and over time with lifestyle changes. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss what metabolism is, how to determine metabolic health status, and how and why maintaining metabolic health is crucial. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (1:30) — The two parts of metabolism (2:50) — Insulin determines fat growth (3:30) — Most people in the United States are metabolically ill (4:12) — Determining what’s wrong with our mitochondria (5:51) — Using glucose as a proxy for fasting insulin (6:47) — How quickly can you fix your metabolism? (7:47) — Lifestyle habits must be consistent to maintain metabolic health 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=o8cyq46QA1j4Hhwd

A lean mass hyper-responder is someone with high LDL and HDL cholesterol and low triglycerides. They are often lean and healthy people who present with strange and alarming lipid numbers after going on the ketogenic diet. Dave Feldman, Dr. Nick Norwitz & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the LMHR phenotype, whether it’s a concern, whether it’s rare, the Oreo vs statin study, how exercise levels might play a role, and why more research is needed. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Dave Feldman, Nick Norwitz, PhD, & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss: (4:29) — What is the lean mass hyper-responder phenotype? (8:32) — Often the LMHR phenotype gets noticed when someone goes low carb (19:02) — The Oreo cookie study garnered attention for the LMHR phenotype (25:32) — Understanding the mechanisms of the LMHR (40:04) — Exercise levels likely play a role in LMHR (51:26) — The alarming LDL levels in LMHR prompted research (59:25) — The “gym hypothesis” will be important for further research (1:10:48) — An open and respectful dialogue is needed on the topic (1:33:47) — The importance of additional research ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/ItNGrGNvESY

Writing an evidence-based nonfiction book requires time, dedication, and a true passion for the content. Dr. Casey Means and her brother Calley Means joined forces to create their book “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.” Casey Means, MD, and Mike Haney discuss the book-writing process, insights into creativity and inspiration, the steps to seeking an agent and selling a book to a publisher, and the trials and tribulations along the way. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Casey Means, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (05:47) — Bringing joy and empowerment to conversations about health (10:20) — Landing an agent (13:56) — The book proposal (21:41) — The challenges of keeping content clear and accessible (29:01) — On collaboration (30:06) — The writing process has a lot of moving parts (35:59) — On determining your voice (43:21) — Carving out dedicated time to write (55:11) — A health coach can help you stay accountable (1:07:45) — The magic of putting a book into the world (1:13:03) — On facing feedback ⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/3dveHuhZld4?si=ke_MDmjTcUPB5YqQ⁠⁠

Insulin resistance is when cells stop responding to insulin’s signal to uptake glucose. It’s a hallmark of prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and other forms of metabolic dysfunction, and it manifests as several chronic disease, ranging from Alzheimer’s to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the importance of monitoring insulin levels, why a high or increasing insulin level is a problem, and how insulin resistance hinders weight management.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Rob Lustig, MD, & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(01:44) — What is insulin?(04:43) — What is insulin resistance?(15:50) — There are three types of insulin resistance(36:03) — Weight management is not about calories in and calories out(44:00) — Adding more insulin to the equation of Type 2 diabetes isn’t necessarily the answer(49:31) — Insulin is a crucial biomarker to measure for metabolic health(52:11) — Insulin resistance is a hindrance to weight management(54:42) — The intake of too much leucine can lead to insulin resistance(1:00:22) — Fiber feeds the gut microbiome and is crucial for metabolic health(1:11:27) — Is intermittent fasting necessary?⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/dFOaBrujDHo⁠

The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has proven benefits for brain health. Research shows that the keto diet helps ease symptoms of some mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder. But no diet, even keto, is one-size-fits all. Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss how diet and brain health are connected, how diet and gut health affect brain health, and how a ketogenic or other low-carbohydrate diets can be tailored to people’s specific needs.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Georgia Ede, MD & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(03:56) — Dr. Georgia Ede describes her interest in nutritional science for mental health(13:50) — Metabolic health is tied to brain health(21:57) — A ketogenic diet vs medications for mental health(25:55) — A ketogenic diet can be tailored to prevent side effects(32:13) — Gut health and mental health are connected(37:37) — Diet is highly individual(40:41) — CGM can teach people how foods and diet strategies affect their health(43:36) — Following a low-carbohydrate diet will generally reduce insulin levels and triglycerides(46:16) — Some psychiatric symptoms have links to higher C-reactive protein levels(47:21) — Dr. D’Agostino summarizes one of Dr. Ede’s studies on the ketogenic diet and mental health(55:30) — A ketogenic diet may also help ease some menopause symptomsTranscripts & Show notes⁠🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/kBjBEjV0vqU⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Not all calories are equal. Tracking your macronutrient intake, using AI capabilities, can help you improve your body composition, facilitate weight loss, and boost exercise performance. The three macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with fiber a subset of carbs. Josh Clemente & Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discuss the new macros-tracking feature in the Levels app, the purpose and importance of each macronutrient, how to use macros-tracking in conjunction with biomarker data to improve health and fitness, and how easy the app’s AI functionality is to use. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Josh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, discuss: (09:03) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake (17:03) — Why is tracking macros beneficial? (21:11) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body (39:36) — The different functions of macros (48:32) — Is excess protein a concern? (54:55) — The problem with excess carbohydrates (1:00:37) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility (1:02:41) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates (1:17:18) — Is fiber a macronutrient? (1:46:21) — Macros tracking in the Levels app (1:49:50) — Tracking macros can help improve body composition and performance Transcripts & Show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4 Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Fructose and its byproduct uric acid may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, thanks to an evolutionary adaptation hijacked by the modern diet. Fructose can be directly consumed, or the body can convert high-glycemic carbohydrates and other foods to fructose. Fructose suppresses some cognitive functions. Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Rob Lustig discuss a new study, of which Johnson was an author, on how fructose may be a potential driver in Alzheimer’s, and they hypothesize about fructose’s potential connection to the development of other conditions.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠🎙 What Richard Johnson, MD, & Rob Lustig, MD, discuss:(00:00) — Intro(10:17) — Fructose is the driver of some diseases that are on the rise in kids(12:16) — Fructose is a driver of obesity and metabolic syndrome(15:56) — Pharmaceutical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease aren’t as effective as researchers had hoped(17:40)— The research focus of Alzheimer’s is slowly shifting to understanding insulin resistance in the brain(21:45) — Is fructose a root cause of Alzheimer’s?(26:27) — New research suggests fructose induces a foraging response(28:20) — Fructose inhibits areas of the brain to encourage successful foraging(46:36) — We need more research on fructose(1:02:51) —Is fructose a factor in violence?⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.👋 WHO WE ARE:Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life.🔗 LINKS:Could Alzheimer’s disease be a maladaptation of an evolutionary survival pathway mediated by intracerebral fructose and uric acid metabolism?: ⁠https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916523000047?dgcid=author⁠Subscribe here on YouTube: <

Gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility are all linked. The gut microbiome impacts other microbiomes in the body, which can then impact the ability to conceive. Our gut microbiomes are becoming less diverse through modern farming practices and the consumption of processed foods. Dr. Robin Rose and Ben Grynol discuss how gut microbiome testing can determine underlying factors of gastrointestinal distress and the lifestyle changes that can help address symptoms and even aid fertility.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠🎙 What Robin Rose, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:(00:00) — Intro(05:30) — Gastrointestinal issues are associated with metabolic health issues(06:25) — Many people lack gut microbiome diversity(12:45) — Infertility in some people has links to the gut microbiome(27:55) — PCOS and gut dysbiosis share a connection that’s still being researched(29:25) — Restoring gut and metabolic health may help alleviate PCOS symptoms(31:37) — Metagenomic testing assesses gut health(41:33) — Gut health often requires balanced macronutrient intake(45:42) — Regenerative farming practices could help us get more quality nutrients(51:07) — Eliminating dairy and gluten may ease gastrointestinal symptoms(52:35) — Sleep quality and quantity also inform gut health⁠Transcript & Show Notes⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🔗 Helpful links:Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/SpW9znY3fkI⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠

High-carbohydrate diets and carbohydrate loading have been long-standing tenets of athletic training and competition, but newer research indicates a low-carbohydrate diet may be more beneficial for performance and overall health. Professor Tim Noakes and Josh Clemente discuss how a fat-adapted body can rely on fat as a fuel source at all exercise intensity levels, rather than burning mostly carbohydrates, and how such adaptation and dietary focus may reduce one’s risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Tim Noakes, MD, PhD, & Josh Clemente discuss:(00:00) — Intro(02:50) — Dr. Tim Noakes explains his career trajectory(17:36) — An adapted body can rely on fat for all exercise intensities(21:04) — The body will never get to a state of no glucose circulation(22:03) — A delicate balance of macronutrients is likely necessary(27:49) — Before the high-carbohydrate craze, elite athletes were fat adapted(32:32) — Fat oxidation in muscle may have a protective effect against Type 2 diabetes(35:51) — Exercise does not cancel out the risk for metabolic disease if diet isn’t accounted for(46:21) — The body can cope with fasting(53:41) — The high-carb training trend has been perpetuated by the carbohydrate industryTranscripts & Show notes⁠🔗 Helpful links:Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠

Your sleep routine is one of the most important aspects of your metabolic health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.🎙 What Ben Grynol and Mike Haney discuss:(02:36) - A study about sleep and metabolic health(03:26) - The benefits of sleep for metabolic health(05:24) - Sleeping at home(05:24) - Standardized meals(07:20) - How glucose levels affect sleep quality and duration(12:50) - What you eat matters(14:37) - Sleep quality and glucose(18:06) - Sleep is the most important thing you control(18:55) - Don’t sacrifice sleep(20:08) - The importance of consistency(25:29) - Compounding effects work both ways⁠Transcripts and Show Notes⁠🔗 Helpful links:How does sleep affect blood sugar?: ⁠https://levelshealth.com/blog/how-sleep-impacts-metabolic-health-glucose-levels-cgm⁠Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠

Stable glucose levels are a foundation of feeling and looking your best at any age. When glucose levels are more erratic—with spikes and crashes—cravings, weight gain, low energy, health issues, and more can ensue. Jessie Inchauspé and Dr. Casey Means, thought leaders on the topic of blood sugar, discuss simple hacks for keeping glucose levels more stable without resorting to restrictive diets, and they share why stable levels inform health. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠ Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health. Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health. 🎙 What Jessie Inchauspé & Casey Means, MD, discuss: (12:59) — Are type 2 diabetes and obesity genetic, dictated by lifestyle factors, or both? (15:53) — Hacks for keeping blood sugar more stable (24:22) — People want to be healthy, but the food industry complicates matters (28:29) — Nutritional choices can impact mental health (35:56) — The premise behind Inchauspé’s ‘Glucose Goddess Method’ (39:59) — Tracking biomarkers provides insight to your metabolic health (42:08) — A siloed approach to healthcare misses the big picture (45:06) — Can supplements really help with metabolic health? (57:37) — We need systemic change in the food industry (1:05:52) — The science behind food cravings ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ Jessie Inchauspé on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/ Jessie Inchauspé: https://www.antispike.com Casey Means, MD: https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health: <a href="https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy" target="_blank" r