Intelligent Medicine

A quick, 4-minute daily exercise fix for over-65s boosts performance in just 12 weeks; can eye drops dissolve cataracts to forestall surgery? A new motion sickness drug is named after the Greek god who was sailors’ friend; Scientific American highlights mitochondria as key to healthy aging; Urolithin A notches gains for GI and heart health in new studies.

The biggest mistake GLP-1 weight loss medication users make; Scientists discover link between vitamin C and blood cancers; B12 alone, or taken with a B complex? 10 diets are put to the test, and which scored highest for staving off biological aging? When medications cause constipation; Overcoming fatigue after radiation treatment for cancer.

Carbs vs Protein During Exercise: Hormones, Cortisol, and Insulin. Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses an emailed study request about a 2013 Iranian paper comparing carbohydrate vs protein drinks consumed during resistance exercise in 20 fasted young men. The study found cortisol rose much more in the protein group while insulin rose more in the carbohydrate group, with no significant differences in growth hormone, testosterone, or IGF-1, and it concluded carbohydrates created a “better hormonal environment.” Leyla challenges this interpretation, arguing cortisol’s rise is a normal and useful exercise stress response for muscle breakdown and subsequent repair, while carbohydrate-driven insulin spikes can blunt cortisol and promote fat storage; she also notes methodological limits (drinking during exercise, unclear drink ingredients, low protein dose, and unmeasured amino acids/protein turnover). She recommends exercising fasted, avoiding sweet/starchy intake during and immediately after e

Pope Leo's cancer diagnosis and treatmentHelpful nutrition for cancerMy LDL cholesterol is higher now, but my calcium score is "0".  Should I be concerned?

My husband's homocysteine went up to 15, and he already takes Methyl Action.  What else can he take to lower it?I had candida in the past.  Is it okay for me to take a supplement that contains baker's yeast?Is there anything I can do to alleviate spinal stenosis?What kind of creatine supplement should I take, and how much to regain muscle strength?

Henry Abbott, former ESPN journalist, basketball expert, and author of the highly anticipated book "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance," details how advanced biomechanical analysis can help prevent athletic injuries. Abbott explains the significance of movement patterns, particularly how techniques used by elite athletes at the Peak Performance Project (P3) in Santa Barbara can be applied to everyday people. The conversation covers various topics, including plyometrics, the importance of hip stability and mobility, and the potential for new technologies like AI and computer vision to bring these advanced assessments and training techniques to a wider audience. The episode is rich in practical advice for maintaining physical health and mobility through a lifelong commitment to better movement practices.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Henry Abbott, former ESPN journalist, basketball expert, and author of "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance."

Jonathan Emord on ANH Legal Strategy, FDA Overreach, and the Fight for Health Freedom: Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews constitutional attorney Jonathan Emord, newly appointed general counsel for the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), about advancing health freedom and access to truthful information on natural products. Emord recounts his landmark 1999 Pearson v. Shalala victory establishing First Amendment protections for qualified supplement health claims and describes FDA resistance and broader administrative-state dynamics, including Chevron deference and its reversal in Loper Bright v. Raimondo. He argues FDA regulation is economically protectionist, suppressing nutrient-disease information while favoring patented drugs, and cites COVID-era censorship and agency capture via the revolving door. Emord outlines ANH initiatives, including petitions and potential litigation to expand lawful structure/function claims and address restrictions involving peptides, homeopathy, CBD, and natural thyroid, urging listene

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with constitutional attorney Jonathan Emord, newly appointed general counsel for the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH).

The Pope’s lung cancer diagnosis offers a window on advances in cancer detection, treatment; The supplements I recommend the Pope take to prevent recurrence; Novel injection therapy melts fat cells; Is cholesterol the be-all/end-all for heart risk assessment? Is the new mRNA flu vaccine worth taking? 

Humans are hardwired for generosity—but brain rewards are greater for voluntary philanthropy than paying our tax bills; Apple cider vinegar—are benefits real? Loneliness may steal 6 years of good health—but is it inevitable for introverts? Neanderthals may have used birch “glue” for wound healing; The many possible causes of hip pain; Popular pain remedy may yield scant benefits, hike risk of adverse side effects; Solutions for travelers’ constipation.

Post-Workout Nutrition, Antioxidants, and Insomnia’s Health Risks: Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian in New York City, answers listener questions about post-exercise nutrition, advising against sweet or high-carb foods immediately after workouts because they raise blood sugar and insulin, shift the body back to fat storage mode, and can blunt human growth hormone needed for muscle and bone repair; she suggests protein and fat after morning exercise and saving carbohydrates for later, ideally 3–4 hours post-workout or at dinner. She also addresses concerns about oxidation after exercise, recommending antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C, mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols, vitamin D) and vegetables like spinach, onions, and mushrooms, noting inflammation and microtears are part of training adaptation. Finally, she discusses research linking insomnia to higher stroke risk and hospitalization, and reviews possible causes and sleep hygiene, plus options like melatonin, L-theanine, magnesium, and herbal ingredients.

Folic acid vs. methylfolate. Which is better?What do you recommend I take to get back to sleep when I wake at 2 AM to go to the bathroom?

Is it safe for me to take DHEA given my family history of breast and uterine cancers?I still have stomach and bowel upset after completing a round of antibiotics 2 months ago.  What's the best type of exercise for a type 2 diabetic? Aerobics or resistance training?I have IBS, but my doctor confirmed no gluten sensitivity.  hen why do I have symptoms when I eat wheat?

Nutritional Support for Mood: Magnesium, 5-HTP, Adaptogens, and the Folic Acid Debate: Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews Neil Levin of NOW Foods/Protocol for Life Balance about rising depression and anxiety and the roles of lifestyle, social media, stress, diet, sleep, and exercise in mood. They discuss nutrient cofactors for neurotransmitter production, emphasizing B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, omega-3s, and gut health/fiber, plus concerns about heavy metals like lead and possible links to mood and violence. Levin contrasts tryptophan vs 5-HTP (blood-brain barrier, dosing, serotonin/melatonin) and reviews supplements for mood support including magnesium glycinate and magnesium threonate (Magtein/Cogumin), ashwagandha KSM-66 for stress and sleep, inositol (often gram-level dosing; PCOS and neurotransmitter effects), and GABA/PharmaGABA. They also address controversy over folic acid fortification, arguing folic acid is proven to reduce neural tube defects, methylfolate marketing has caused misinformation, and very

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Neil Levin, Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for NOW Foods and Protocol for Life Balance.

Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health. They discuss evidence linking tech use to sleep disruption and mixed effects on nutrition and physical activity, plus risks including body image comparisons, addictive “frictionless” design in social media and gaming, exposure to disturbing content, cyberbullying, sexting, and impacts of parent device use on connection and language development. Moreno outlines practical, non-punitive strategies: assessing readiness for a phone based on maturity, setting rules on time and location, co-viewing, using device settings with role modeling, watching for problematic use, and maintaining open, supportive conversations.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health. 

Death at clandestine Siberian bio lab raises specter of weaponized plague leak; Oats for constipation—friend or foe? How long can supplements keep? New weight-loss med that preserves lean body mass nears approval; Reading for pleasure—a waning pastime—enhances memory, mood, and empathy. 

The brouhaha over fortifying foods with folic acid—is it a cancer promoter?  Follow-up to botched Tennessee execution; Whole 30 or Paleo diets for autoimmunity; Mistletoe for cancer; Lifestyle changes may be as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy for depression; Sugar avoidance in first 1000 days of life slows organ aging, reduces later-life disease risk.