Everyday Wellness Everyday Wellness: Cynthia Thurlow, NP

I am delighted to reconnect with Dr. Casey Means today.
Dr. Means is the Co-founder of Levels, a health technology company dedicated to reversing the global metabolic health crisis. She is also the co-author of the book Good Energy, along with her brother Callie Means. 
In our discussion today, we dive into mitochondria and metabolism, looking at the impact of cognitive dissonance and the reductionistic philosophies of medical specialization. We explore the effects of siloing, the challenges posed by our broken medical system, the Flexner Report, the role of RVUs, the effects of insulin resistance on metabolic health and mitochondrial dysfunction, and the symptoms commonly seen in women. Dr. Means also offers her insights on advocacy, continuous glucose monitors, and the labs she finds impactful, and she shares the incredible story of her mother's health journey. 
Good Energy is an outstanding book that will benefit every listener and clinician, and I will often recommend it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How energy gets created in the body

The link between insulin resistance and acne

How insulin resistance impacts fertility

How underpowered parts of the brain and neurological system can show up as depression or anxiety, potentially leading to dementia

The problem of our siloed, reactive, and specialist-obsessed culture

The importance of getting your biomarkers tested and learning simple strategies to improve your metabolism, based on the results 

What are the conditions encompassed by the metabolic spectrum disease? 

The labs that Dr. Means finds most impactful

Dr. Means shares her thoughts on continuous glucose monitors.

The benefits of looking at your basic eating patterns in a non-judgmental and curious way before implementing any changes

Dr. Means shares the powerful story of her mother’s health journey.

 
Bio: Dr. Casey Means
Casey Means, MD, is a Stanford-trained physician and co-founder of Levels, a health technology company with the mission of reversing the world’s metabolic health crisis. Her book on metabolic health, Good Energy, comes out in May 2024 with Penguin Random House. She received her BA with honors and MD from Stanford, was President of her Stanford class, and has served on Stanford faculty. She trained in Head & Neck Surgery before leaving traditional medicine to devote her life to tackling the root cause of why Americans are sick. She has been featured in The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Women’s Health, and more. 

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Good Energy, by Casey and Calley Means, is available from Amazon and most anyplace good books are sold.

I am delighted to have the privilege of reconnecting with Dr. Deb Matthew today. She joined me once before on Episode 259. She is a distinguished best-selling author, international speaker, and dedicated educator known as the Happy Hormone Doctor. 
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, causing one of every 3.2 deaths among women annually. In our conversation today, Dr. Matthew and I delve into the realm of cardiovascular disease, exploring the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, essential laboratory testing, medications, and the neurocognitive changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause. We also focus on lifestyle, gut testing, and the all-time favorite topic of weight loss resistance. 
Stay tuned for today’s engaging, enriching, and enlightening discussion with Dr. Deb Matthew.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How HRT reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease 

How long-term use of estrogen can reduce the risk of heart disease over time

Why should you do a hormone panel before starting HRT?

How cortisol levels impact cardiovascular health

How the coronary calcium score helps to predict heart attack risk

Cholesterol markers and their significance in cardiovascular risk assessment

Managing cholesterol levels in perimenopausal women

The importance of addressing underlying hormonal imbalances in women to mitigate cognitive decline and lipid disorders

The connection between gut health and brain fog

How women’s testosterone levels impact their cognition and motivation

Hormone imbalance and weight loss resistance in women


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Purchase Dr. Deb Mathew’s book This is Not Normal on Amazon or download the ebook 
Ep. 295: HRT’s Impact on Women’s Health Through Time with Dr. Deb Matthew

I am thrilled to have Dr. Elisa Song joining me today. 
Dr. Song is an integrative pediatrician and author of Healthy Kids Happy Kids. She trained at Stanford University, New York University (NYU), and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). 
In our conversation today, we dive into kids in crisis, exploring the butterfly effect of crisis impacting teens and young adults. We discuss the significance of the gut microbiome, dispelling myths surrounding antibiotics and addressing the resulting global health crisis. We touch on PANS, PANDAS, rheumatic fever, and strategies for restoring the gut microbiome of children, post-antibiotics. We also look at the significance of food labeling and constipation in children, explore the importance of the vagus nerve and heart rate variability, and examine the impact of sugar, glyphosate, and other forever chemicals. 
Stay tuned for today's insightful and enlightening conversation with Dr. Elisa Song as we dive deeply into crucial aspects affecting pediatric health and wellness.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Dr Song discusses the crisis surrounding the health of children and the shifts and trends she has seen in pediatric medicine over the last two decades

Why do we need to address the root cause of illness instead of just treating the symptoms?

How autoimmune disease rates in children are rising

The importance of empowering teens through education and support to make healthy choices 

How do antibiotics impact children’s health?

Strategies for restoring the gut microbiome of children after antibiotics

How the vagus nerve impacts the gut microbiome and brain

How sugar affects children’s health

The importance of gut health for brain function and detoxification

How to improve children’s health through diet, exercise, and integrative treatments


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I am excited to share AMA number eight with all our listeners today, where we dive deep into listener questions concerning sleep and HRV. 
In today's AMA episode, we investigate the physiology of sleep, also looking at changes that occur with perimenopause and menopause. We discuss supplements for better sleep, explore sleep hygiene and metrics for REM and deep sleep, examine melatonin and glycine, touch on heart rate variability, and review various gadgets beyond the Aura that can enhance sleep quality.
Join me for a comprehensive exploration of HRV and the benefits of better sleep.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

Why middle-aged women experience poor sleep during perimenopause

Why sleep hygiene is essential, particularly during perimenopause and menopause

Which supplements help with better sleep?

The benefits of a low-carb or ketogenic diet for improving sleep quality

How HRT helps to induce better sleep 

The benefits of melatonin for improving sleep quality

Why deep sleep is essential for memory consolidation, improving the immune system, and overall health

Factors that could impact heart rate variability (HRV)

How to improve your heart rate variability (HRV)

Gadgets I have found helpful for sleep

Tips for improving sleep quality


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Resources:
Ep. 301 Creatine: The Best Supplement for Better Bones & Brain Health with Darren Candow, PhD, CSEP-CEP
Purchase myo-inositol
Purchase creatine

Research: 
Nocturia through the menopausal transition and beyond: a narrative review
The influence of high and low levels of estrogen on diurnal urine regulation in young women
Technically sleeping? A clinical single-case study of a commercial sleep robot 

I am excited to share our fourth class in our informative Lipid Masterclass series today, with the esteemed Dr. Thomas Dayspring. Dr. Dayspring is certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology and is a distinguished fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association. He brings a wealth of expertise to our discussion today.
In this class, we dive into lipid and lipoprotein dynamics during the menopausal transition, exploring the impact of estrogen on gut health and its effects on laboratory findings. We look at the differences between hyper absorbers and hyper synthesizers, sharing clinical insights on routine lipid panels that can let you know if you are one of those individuals. We talk about Boston Heart Testing, highlighting the impact of specific biomarkers on brain health lipids and lipoproteins, and we get into the staggering differences between the half-lives of peripheral cholesterol and brain cholesterol. We discuss lipid permeability across the blood-brain barrier, highlighting those at risk for brain health concerns as they age, and we reveal strategies for managing lipid abnormalities. We also focus on LP(a), an ApoB lipoprotein with potent atherogenic and thrombotic properties, and its implications regarding calcific aortic stenosis. 
I am sure you will find this enlightening conversation with Dr. Dayspring invaluable. There is one more class yet to come in this masterclass series. Be sure to listen in!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How cholesterol absorption in the gut increases in perimenopausal women

How hyper cholesterol absorbers tend to have elevated HDL cholesterol

The impact of phytosterols on cholesterol absorption

When should hyperabsorbers consider treatment?

What research has shown regarding the differing effects of estrogen on brain health for older versus younger menopausal women

What happens if a statin crosses the blood-brain barrier?

How cholesterol synthesis relates to cognitive impairment 

The importance of understanding LP-PLA2 test results

How Lp(a) levels in women tend to fluctuate, particularly during menopause

Should women with heart disease consider hormone replacement therapy?

 
Bio:
Thomas Dayspring MD is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the National Lipid Association certified in internal medicine and clinical lipidology. After practicing in New Jersey for 37 years, in 2012, he moved to Virginia to serve as an educational director for a nonprofit cardiovascular foundation until mid-2019 as a Chief Academic Advisor for two major CV laboratories. Since then, he has served as a virtual cardiovascular / lipidology educator. Career-wise, he has given over 4000 domestic (in all 50 states) and several international lectures, including over 600 CME programs on atherothrombosis, lipids/lipoproteins (and their treatment), vascular biology, biomarker testing, and women’s cardiovascular issues. He has authored several manuscripts and lipid textbook chapters and performed several podcasts. For several years, he was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Clinical Lipidology. He received the 2011 National Lipid Association’s Presidents Award for services to clinical lipidology and the 2023 Foundation of NLA Clinician/Educator Award. He has over 34K followers on his educational Twitter (X) feed (@Drlipid). He has Gold Heart Member status as a professional member of the American Heart Association, and he serves as a Social Media Ambassador for the European Atherosclerosis Society and the National Lipid Association.

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Today, I am thrilled to connect with Dr. Nick Bitz, a renowned naturopathic physician specializing in Ayurvedic medicine. 
Dr. Bitz is an influential figure in the natural products industry, specializing in nootropics, anti-aging, medicine, biohacking, herbology, nutrition, and dietary supplements. He is currently the Senior Vice President of Product Development at Neurohacker Collective.
In our discussion, we cover cellular senescence, zombie cells, and distinctions with autophagy, highlighting some hallmarks of the aging process. We discuss the gut microbiome and the significance of akkermansia, also exploring the impact of senomorphics and senolytics, brain aging, lifestyle factors, the challenges of sarcopenia, and anabolic resistance.
Join us for today’s enlightening conversation with Dr. Nick Bitz as we journey into various aspects of holistic health and wellness.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN:

How modern lifestyle factors exacerbate age-related cellular dysfunction

Why it is critically important to consume enough fiber each day 

Senescent cells and their impact on aging, health, and disease

What is the difference between senolytics and senomorphics?

How senolytics get used in a clinical setting to target different body parts

Diet, lifestyle, and supplements for brain health

How adaptogens are used in Ayurvedic medicine

The role of senescent cells in muscle aging

Dr. Bitz discusses the popular senolytic product he created with Neurohacker Collective


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Neurohacker Collective

Collective Insights Podcast


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