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Advantages of time-restricted eating for body and brain; Dermatologist tells her patient to stay away from hair supplements; Do you still need colonoscopies past 75? How much NTFactor should you take? Breathing CO2 clears brain of amyloid plaque; Popular AI diet tracking apps may underestimate by as much as 345 calories; A novel treatment for knee pain—fiber! Vitamin D slows biological aging.
Life is longer for “those who think young”; Watching too much TV may shrink your brain (literally!); Diet and supplements may help lupus; When a high-fiber diet before surgery may be inadvisable; Your mouth may be the gateway to your overall health and longevity.
Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City, discusses the growing shift from symptom-only “sick care” to a clinically grounded holistic approach to health and recovery. She argues that self-guided wellness routines can leave gaps when underlying medical issues, mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or trauma remain unaddressed, and emphasizes integrating evidence-based clinical evaluation (including labs and deficiency testing) with lifestyle practices. She explains how treating symptoms in isolation misses connections (e.g., stress, sleep, grief) and defines true holistic care as addressing physical, mental, emotional, relational, environmental, and purpose-related factors without rejecting medical treatment. Key components include consistent movement, individualized nutrition built on basics, nervous system regulation (sleep, nature, breathing, meditation/prayer), meaningful social connection, and a sense of purpose as clinically relevant to resilience.
Is there evidence for statins in the treatment of aortic valve stenosis?How the bacteria behind gum disease can affect heart healthWouldn't it be better to resume taking probiotics after finishing a round of antibiotics?Would it be safe to take olive leaf extract with amoxicillin?I'm considering surgery for varicose veins. Is this just a temporary fix? Can they return?
My 25-year-old son has bipolar disorder and can't tolerate his medications. Any natural recommendations?Is chondroitin effective? It's in my collagen capsules, which I take to hopefully reduce wrinklesI believe I am still suffering from the negative effects of COVID. What would you suggest I take?
Naturopathic gastroenterologist Mark Davis, ND (FABNG), discusses his work in fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), research, and integrative approaches to GI disease. Davis explains FMT history, screening criteria, delivery methods, how it differs from probiotics, and why it is highly effective for recurrent C. difficile (about a 90% durable cure), while noting FDA-approved products (Rebyota, Vowst) and off-label applications. He describes IRB-approved studies on naturopathic care for IBS and ulcerative colitis and a blinded project comparing consistency across 15–20 stool microbiome labs. The conversation covers evidence for diet in IBS/IBD (including SCD and a semi-vegetarian diet), low-FODMAP as a temporary tool, breath testing and relapse in SIBO, helminthic therapy options and legality, targeted probiotics (Saccharomyces boulardii, Akkermansia, soil-based species), enema therapies, indigo naturalis benefits and risks, saffron evidence for mood, telemedicine practice, and a crowdfunding platform for clinical trials.
Dr. Hoffman continues is conversation with naturopathic gastroenterologist Mark Davis, ND (FABNG).
Psychedelic Therapy for Mental Health: Research, Safety, and the Path to FDA Approval: Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life,” reveal the shift from recreational psychedelics to structured, research-based psychedelic-assisted therapy for conditions like PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Van Derveer describes limitations of conventional psychiatry (citing STAR*D remission rates) and his entry into MDMA-assisted PTSD research after promising results. They contrast controlled clinical protocols—screening, preparation, safe setting, trained facilitation, medical monitoring, and post-session integration—with uncontained recreational use. The discussion covers current policy momentum under Trump and RFK Jr., VA interest for veterans, and key agents: ketamine (including abuse risks and clinic-only Spravato), MDMA (phase 3 but not approved in 2024), psilocybin (phase 3, potential FDA approval), LSD (GAD trials), ibogaine (arrhythmia risk, Mexico clinics), ayahuasca, peyote, and microdosing. They also note commercialization, including Eli Lilly's acquisition of a 5-MeO-DMT nasal spray developer, and emphasize an integrative “all-of-the-above” mental health approach.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Will Van Derveer and Keith Kurlander, co-authors of “Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life.”
Science is conquering diseases—now breakthroughs in gene editing promise to vanquish aging itself; The healing potential of hydrogen; Attending concerts, museums and movies may help keep your body younger; Dr. Jeffrey Bland dishes on the benefits of a new full-spectrum fish oil, Omega-3 Rejuvenate.
This week's supplement spotlight—spermidine; American Heart Association does a 180° on coffee; How accurate are health tracker wearables for sleep, blood pressure, heart rate? A skin disorder practically no one has heard of is often confused for skin cancer; Vitamin D—what forms and what dosages are optimal? Popular sugar substitutes may be worse for the brain than natural sugar.
"The diet you'll stay on is a diet that's enjoyable and not too hard,” says Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, MA, RDN. Bazilian is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Doctor of Public Health. She's authored multiple bestselling books, as well as contributed to a New York Times bestseller and a James Beard-nominated cookbook. She's a spokesperson for Avocados – Love One Today and she's a frequent nutrition expert cited in mindbodygreen articles. This podcast is sponsored by Avocados - Love One Today®. Visit LoveOneToday.com for free nutrition resources backed by science and tasty recipes to help you find new ways to add more avocado to your plate, whether it's breakfast, lunch, a snack or dinner. 00:00 - The value of the food we consume 03:06 - Why dietary fat was misunderstood for decades 07:47 - Nutrient density vs. calorie counting 09:56 - Why 94% of us fall short on fiber 14:26 - Heart health, satiety, & blood sugar control 16:48 - Why the best diet is one you enjoy 18:50 - Food synergy & nutrient absorption 21:51 - Unexpected ways to cook with avocados 26:58 - The glycemic load effect 31:28 - Serving size vs. portion size 35:41 - How to store avocados properly 40:06 - 3 rules for moving the needle on health Referenced in the episode: The HAT trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34496276/ Glycemic load study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299126000557 For more about Bazilian, visit her website: https://www.wendybazilian.com/ We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Triggers Age-Related Belly Fat? New Stem Cell Findings and a Nutrition Perspective: Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses research from City of Hope (published in Science) on why belly fat increases with age even without major weight gain, emphasizing the health risks of visceral fat as an endocrine organ linked to inflammation, diabetes, heart disease, and accelerated aging. The study suggests aging activates adipocyte progenitor cells (APCs) and produces an age-specific stem cell population called committed preadipocytes (CP-As) that generate new fat cells, with experiments showing older APCs create more fat cells even when transplanted into young mice. Single-cell RNA sequencing identified greater CP-A activity in middle-aged mice and similar cells in higher numbers in middle-aged human tissue. Researchers implicate the LIFR signaling pathway and propose future therapies to block these cells, while Leyla questions root causes and argues metabolic dysfunction—insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, high carbohydrate intake, and sedentary behavior—should be addressed nutritionally rather than via a pill.
Nature or nurture—which is more important when it comes to health conditions?Would I benefit from taking nattokinase along with my statin?Mechanism of action of nattokinase vs. statin medications on coronary artery health
My LDL is 421, and I have mild to moderate aortic stenosis. Must I take a statin?Lean Mass Hyper-responders on low carb diets explainedWould you consider writing a book about health in advancing age?A revisit of Dr. Hoffman's published booksWhat is the best dose of lithium orotate for therapeutic benefit?Must I exercise fasted? Why?
The Brain–Body Connection, Gut Health, Stress, and Medical Gaslighting: board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Susan Trachman, author of “It's Not Just In Your Head,” about psychosomatic medicine and the two-way brain–body connection. Trachman explains how patients with complex symptoms are often dismissed as having “medically unexplained symptoms” and discusses medical gaslighting, especially affecting women and people of color, with examples of missed diagnoses. She describes how inflammation, the gut microbiome, leaky gut, diet, probiotics, fermented foods, and even fecal transplants can influence mood and health, and reviews vagus nerve stimulation research. The conversation covers stress effects, including Takotsubo “broken heart” cardiomyopathy, CBT for anxiety, IBS, and pain, the role of sleep and the brain's glymphatic system, pandemic-related mental health and long COVID symptoms, concerns about GLP-1 drugs causing emotional flatness, and careful SSRI tapering to avoid withdrawal.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Susan Trachman, author of “It's Not Just In Your Head.”
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Nikki Schultek, founder of Intracel Research Group and co-founder of the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative.
Can Infections Drive Alzheimer's? Nikki Schultek, founder of Intracel Research Group and co-founder of the Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative, details evidence that pathogens may contribute to Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative and neuroimmune disorders beyond the amyloid hypothesis. Schultek recounts her own misdiagnosed systemic illness with neurodegenerative symptoms, later found to involve Lyme disease, Babesia, and chronic infection with the intracellular respiratory bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae, treated with combination antibiotics. The discussion covers PANS/PANDAS as an infection-associated pediatric neuropsychiatric condition, parallels with neuroinflammation and blood–brain barrier changes, and a 2023 Alzheimer's & Dementia “research roadmap” documenting 86 infection-associated dementia cases and calling for actionable testing and collaboration. They review links involving herpes viruses, COVID-related cognitive decline, gum pathogen P. gingivalis therapies, and controversies around chronic infection diagnosis and long-term antibiotics, and share resources including alzpi.org, ILADS, MAPS, and Schultek's Pathobiome Research Center at PCOM.
Pentagon plans widespread testosterone screening for troops; New study claims arthroscopic surgery for age-related degenerative changes of knees is worthless; Widely touted “precision” proton therapy doesn't outperform conventional radiation treatment for prostate cancer; Comparing the effectiveness of gummies and liquids vs. tablet or capsule forms of supplements; Supplements to lower LDL; Lithium orotate for Alzheimer's prevention; Novel ultrasound treatment may target inflammation in osteoarthritis; Researchers explore antiviral treatments for multiple sclerosis.
Diets rich in fruits and vegetables preserve brain function—but in vulnerable persons with the ApoE4 “Alzheimer's gene”, more meat staves off decline, contradicting years of recommendations to minimize animal protein; Supplements for adrenal insufficiency; “Forever chemicals” may weaken teen's bones—but menopausal hormone replacement therapy decisively fends off osteoporosis; Legionnaire's disease strikes poor and affluent alike in New York City; Doctors propose warning labels for GLP-1 drugs on account of this under-appreciated danger.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency--The “Aging” Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore: Leyla Muedin, a registered dietitian nutritionist in New York City, discusses vitamin B12 deficiency as a common problem that can mimic normal aging, noting adults need only about two micrograms daily to support red blood cells, nerves, and DNA. She reviews the history of liver treatment for pernicious anemia and explains that deficiency remains common in older adults, vegans/vegetarians, and people with impaired absorption due to low stomach acid, autoimmune gastritis, weight loss surgery, or medications such as metformin and proton pump inhibitors. Symptoms can develop slowly and include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, numbness/tingling, poor balance, memory issues, and brain fog; she advises medical evaluation and B12 testing rather than assuming aging or relying on wellness-clinic injections when levels are normal. She emphasizes B12 is primarily in animal foods, so vegans need supplements, and notes broader nutrient shortfalls she sees in vegan clients.
How do I find a preventive cardiologist in northern New Jersey?What is the best supplement for dissolving bone spurs?What is the half-life of vitamin D, either by supplement or sun exposure?What do you think about mushroom coffee? Does it have any health benefits?Please discuss how strontium affects DEXA scan results
Does coffee really dehydrate you? A deeper dive on this important topicHelp for nighttime urinationPlease discuss aortic dissection
Dr. David Chernoff, Chief Medical Officer of Setpoint Medical, discusses electrically driven vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as a “neuroimmune modulation” approach to autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Chernoff explains the vagus nerve's sensory role in monitoring organs and signaling the brainstem and spleen to regulate immune responses, and how precise stimulation can reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines without immunosuppression. Setpoint's miniaturized, wireless, MRI-compatible implant is placed in an outpatient 45-minute neck procedure and delivers one minute of daily stimulation titrated to an upper comfort level; long-term safety is supported by prior surgical experience and a 242-patient blinded RA study with two-year data, leading to FDA approval for rheumatoid arthritis. The discussion covers add-on use with medications, potential steroid tapering, reimbursement, and research in Crohn's disease, relapsing MS (vision and remyelination), and other conditions, including psoriatic arthritis, lupus, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. David Chernoff, Chief Medical Officer of Setpoint Medical.
Episode 52 - Megan Van Hoorn - Pediatric Enteral Nutrition Q&A: Community Questions, Clinician Answers In this episode of Nutrition Pearls: the Podcast, Jen Smith and guest host Lisa Cooley speak with dietitian Megan Van Hoorn MS, RD, CSP, CD, answering CPNP questions on pediatric enteral nutrition. Megan is a Senior Clinical Dietitian at Children's Wisconsin and is a Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. She has 15 years of experience working in outpatient pediatric GI. She has cared for patients requiring enteral nutrition for many conditions, including tube dependence, pediatric feeding disorder, pediatric malnutrition, intestinal failure, and inflammatory bowel disease. Along with her colleagues, she helped publish “The registered dietitian nutritionist's guide to homemade tube feeding” and has also helped develop the Enteral Nutrition training module at her institution. Nutrition Pearls is supported by an educational grant from Mead Johnson Nutrition.Resources:Escuro AA, Hummell AC. The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist's Guide to Homemade Tube Feeding. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2017;117(1):11-16. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2016.02.007Produced by: Corey IrwinNASPGHAN - Council for Pediatric Nutrition Professionalscpnp@naspghan.org
Mushrooms for Sleep and Cognitive Support: Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist, author, and board-certified clinical nutritionist, details Wakunaga/Kyolic's new Specialty Series mushroom products and related health strategies. He reveals a sleep formula with reishi, L-theanine, valerian, and Aged Garlic Extract aimed at calming stress and supporting better sleep. The formula for cognition includes lion's mane for memory support and aronia berry antioxidants. He also emphasizes Aged Garlic Extract's heart benefits.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation Jim LaValle, a clinical pharmacist, author, and board-certified clinical nutritionist.
Just because a patient is in your practice does not mean they'll listen to you or like you, and you need both if they're going to follow your treatment recommendations. You need to build rapport, and build it quickly. How do you do that? My guest today is in a specialty where good rapport is especially important. She'll share some of her secrets with us. Tina Musselman is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Professional Counselor — a rare dual credential that lets her tackle both the nutrition AND the mindset side of health in one place. She's the founder of The Pointe, a telehealth practice based in Illinois serving 1,000+ patients, where she and her team help busy adults stop spinning their wheels and start making real, lasting changes. With 20+ years of clinical experience, Tina specializes in bridging the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it. In this episode Carl White and Tina Musselman discuss: The importance of building rapport quickly in her practice What she does to build rapport quickly Why every practitioner, no matter the specialty, must build rapport quickly Want to be a guest on PracticeCare®? Have an experience with a business issue you think others will benefit from? Come on PracticeCare® and tell the world! Here's the link where you can get the process started. Connect with Tina Musselman https://www.facebook.com/profoundlyimprovinglives/ https://www.instagram.com/health.without.overwhelm /https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-musselman-ma-lpc-rd-ldn/ Connect with Carl White Website: http://www.marketvisorygroup.com Email: whitec@marketvisorygroup.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketvisorygroup YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD9BLCu_i2ezBj1ktUHVmig LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/healthcaremktg
Is it safe to stop statins “cold turkey”? Can the supplement ingredient HMB counteract age-related muscle loss? Researchers may have discovered the key to development of a true fat-burning weight loss medication; Can a mammogram yield clues about cardiovascular risk? Their bottom line threatened by GLP-1 weight loss drugs, BIg Food tweaks portion sizes, adds spices and flavorings to pique blunted appetites; Vitamins A & D may improve lung health for asthma sufferers; When it comes to thyroid medication prescribing, treat the numbers or treat the patient?
Carnitine, with acknowledged muscle and brain benefits, may find a new role in supporting cancer immunity; Calcium and vitamin D's bone-building impact may be limited; Internal visceral fat may accelerate brain aging, MRI study finds; The remarkable benefits of a newly-discovered mitochondrial booster—urolithin A (Mitopure®️).
⚠️ Are constant food and body conversations draining your energy and self-esteem? In this episode, Registered Dietitian Rachel Fine shares how dancers can build emotional resilience and set boundaries against the pressure of diet culture.Learn how to:✅ Recognize and communicate your needs with confidence✅ Set and honor boundaries in dance environments✅ Reclaim your self-worth from external expectations✅ Protect your mental health around food and body image✅ Embrace a values-driven approach to nutrition
Registered dietitian Leyla Muedin discusses a Frontiers in Microbiology paper suggesting certain probiotics may help sequester heavy metals. The study, sponsored by the Italian company Probiotical and conducted with University of Ghent and University of Piedmont Orientale, researchers used in vitro testing and the SHIME gut simulator to assess Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus crispatus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus against cadmium, lead, chromium, and mercury. L. plantarum and L. crispatus reduced metal bioavailability primarily in the simulated colonic phase, while L. acidophilus showed minimal detoxification; mercury was least reduced (~10%). An ex vivo mouse-intestine system found probiotic pre-incubation of metals preserved epithelial integrity and reduced inflammatory responses. Leyla notes limitations: corporate funding, only three strains tested, and no in vivo or human trials, though the findings support further animal and clinical research.
Dealing with the heat - Europeans' disdain for air conditioningI have scaly and bumpy areas on my scalp that itch!Did homeopathic human growth hormone increase my cholesterol?
Which is more effective, vitamin K2 or K4?How long can I take L-tryptophan as a sleep aid? What about 5-HTP?Is there any remedy for frequent nighttime urination?What are some suitable supplements I can take for exercise recovery?
Immune Regulation, Omega-3 Nuance, and Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat with Dr. Austin Perlmutter, chief science officer of Big Bold Health. He details immune regulation as a nuanced, multidimensional system shaped by diet and lifestyle rather than simple “boosting.” Perlmutter explains Big Bold Health's focus on immunometabolism, educating about immune complexity, and conducting studies on nutraceuticals, including use of CGMs and clinical trials. He discusses why eating fish often outperforms refined fish-oil supplements, noting conventional processing (heat, bleaching, deodorizing, esterification) and loss of other lipids and nutrients. Perlmutter highlights specialized pro-resolving mediators (resolvins, protectins, maresins) and vitamins A and D as potentially better preserved in minimally processed oils, and reviews typical omega-3 intake and target ranges. The conversation also covers immunosenescence/inflammaging and Big Bold Health research on sprouted Himalayan Tartary Buckwheat, its high polyphenols (rutin, quercetin), microbiome effects, and studies including epigenetic aging clocks and brain outcomes.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Austin Perlmutter, chief science officer of Big Bold Health.
AI and Generative Biology: Authoring Life, Redesigning Healthcare, and Building Guardrails: Physician and molecular biologist Dr. Adrian Woolfson, co-founder of Genyro, a biotechnology company specializing in synthetic genome design and construction, and author of “On the Future of Species: Authoring Life by Means of Artificial Biological Intelligence,” discusses the convergence of AI with synthetic/generative biology that could make biology programmable and enable genome design and construction beyond traditional gene editing. Woolfson argues that the technology is morally neutral but is arriving rapidly and requires public awareness, governance, and guardrails due to risks, including misuse by authoritarian regimes and biological warfare. He discusses evolution's trade-offs and why he favors limiting human applications to curing disease and extending healthy longevity, while opposing germline modification; he explains germline vs somatic editing and cites the flawed, unethical case of a Chinese scientist attempting inherited HIV resistance. They examine sickle cell disease cures costing $2–$3 million, scalability issues, and trade-offs like malaria protection, and highlight non-medical benefits such as engineered crops, biomaterials, desalination, and DNA-based information storage.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with physician and molecular biologist Dr. Adrian Woolfson, co-founder of Genyro, a biotechnology company specializing in synthetic genome design and construction, and author of “On the Future of Species: Authoring Life by Means of Artificial Biological Intelligence.”
Melatonin can reduce chronic pain; Ultra-processed foods are becoming a worldwide scourge; Do biopsies spread cancer? Sauna benefits for staving off dementia; What may cause blood sugars to deteriorate in a heretofore well-controlled diabetic? Causes of excessive sleepiness.
Europeans swelter through historic heat wave—but many resist air conditioning due to ingrained cultural attitudes; Break a sweat to beat the heat; Evidence that aged garlic extract curbs atherosclerosis risk; How to stave off age-related muscle atrophy; Probiotic-infused underwear to nourish the skin microbiome? Niacin augments glioblastoma treatment; Creatine for depression.
Bone Health Beyond Calcium: Vitamin D, K, Protein, Medications, and Metabolic Risks: Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses factors affecting bone health, osteopenia/osteoporosis, and limitations of bone mineral density as a measure of bone strength. She emphasizes optimizing vitamin D via 25-hydroxy D testing (aiming roughly 55–85 and avoiding over 100), ensuring vitamin K for proper calcium placement, and addressing malabsorption from GI conditions, food intolerances, or inflammation. She notes long-term proton pump inhibitor use can impair calcium and magnesium absorption and increase osteoporosis risk. Diet considerations include avoiding overly grain-heavy, acid-forming patterns and ensuring high biological value protein; she also mentions heavy metals affecting bones. Additional assessment includes magnesium and DHEA sulfate, plus resistance and balance training (ideally three times weekly). She highlights research linking hyperinsulinemia/type 2 diabetes/cardiovascular disease to fragility fractures despite normal or higher bone density, proposing carbohydrate restriction, fasting, and ketosis to improve bone remodeling via osteocalcin and mitochondrial function.
Carnivore diet controversiesWhat is a normal oxygen saturation? Mine has been 92-93 lately? Is that okay?
I've worked for many years on my feet and had surgery on both knees. How much glucosamine should I take?Can you discuss oral vs. IV chelation? How do you determine which is appropriate?How important is nitric oxide, and how can I increase mine?Are there any supplements I should stop taking before getting blood tests?
This week, Jenny Fernandez, Registered Dietitian and Community Outreach Manager at Diabetes Digital, is joined by Diabetes Digital dietetic intern and registered dietitian Lorena Lee to share Lorena's firsthand experience with gestational diabetes. Together, they discuss the emotional impact of diagnosis, why gestational diabetes happens, practical nutrition strategies that don't require giving up cultural foods, and how compassionate, individualized care can make all the difference. If you're living with diabetes or prediabetes and want personalized support from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist covered by insurance, visit diabetesdigital.co to connect with our culturally aware and weight-inclusive team. And if you love the show, don't forget to rate and review us on iTunes or Spotify—it makes a huge difference! For additional resources and show notes, head to diabetesdigital.co/podcast.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Neil Levin, the Senior Nutrition Education Manager and a product formulator for NOW(r) Foods and Protocol for Life Balance.
Cardiovascular Protection Beyond Statins--Nattokinase, Vitamin K2 MK-7, and Clinical Cardio Six: Neil Levin of NOW Foods/Protocol for Life Balance details cardiovascular protection beyond cholesterol-lowering drugs, emphasizing nutrient sufficiency, therapeutic “nutraceutical” dosing, and physician partnership with testing. They discuss nattokinase from fermented natto (typical 2,000 fibrinolytic units/day), describing research on reduced fibrinogen, improved blood viscosity and microcirculation, blood-pressure normalization, and higher-dose data suggesting benefits for arterial thickness and lipids without excessive blood-thinning. They review vitamin K: K1 for normal coagulation (risk with Coumadin relates to day-to-day variability) and K2 for calcium metabolism, highlighting MK-7's longer half-life and potency versus MK-4 and recommending pairing K2 with vitamin D. Levin outlines PFLB Clinical Cardio Six (D3, L-carnitine, hawthorn leaf/flower, solubilized grape seed extract, CoQ10, MK-7), ingredient sourcing/testing, omega-3 benefits, red yeast rice context, and controversy around vitamin E meta-analyses.
Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Jen Scheinman, MS, RDN, CDN, Director of Science Communications at Timeline.