Go Un-Pro

Brent W. Laartz
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Go Un-Pro with Dr. Brent W. Laartz, MD FIDSA: Living an Unprocessed Life for Longevity and Healthspan Have you ever known that something is SO good for you that you just can't wait, but life gets in front of you and prevents you from doing it? The inaction and procrastination could occur for a variety of reasons, and we will delve into my motivations and affirmations of a healthy life from this day forward. I am starting this series of videos and articles so that I can be accountable to myself regarding the changes in my diet that I REALLY NEED to survive into my 90s without heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. And hopefully, as you follow along, you can make your own improvements that will extend your life and prevent the horrible illnesses that are heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. Can I introduce myself? I'm Dr Brent W. Laartz, and I am an Infectious Diseases physician with a Master's in Neuroscience, author, creator, and entrepreneur. I've been involved with medical education for almost all my life and have been sharing my knowledge, teaching students, patients, and other doctors as faculty of a medical school, in hospitals, and clinics around the world. I'm ashamed to admit that I have lived a life of processed foods despite knowing the facts that are stacked against me if I continue living this way. My most recent research into longevity and its connection to our diet, exercise, sleep, and mental health, all with help from our microbiome, the bacteria living in our body, has me wanting to shout this information to the masses from the rooftops! This is so important that I am going to communicate what I have learned in every forum possible. Simply put, I am not going to do it anymore, and I am going to stay accountable to myself so that I follow through with it this time. Hence, the launch of this podcast, which I have been wanting to do for quite some time now. In addition, I am also launching publicly available Master courses that will delve incredibly deeply into the science behind diet and other interventions that will help me live well into my '90s and 100s, but not just live, but REALLY live! This is the concept of Healthspan. I know there are a lot of billionaires who are prominent in the media, trying to live forever, spending millions of dollars, but I am here to prove you can do it without spending a lot of money. The interventions I am doing will cost a little more money, but my budget is to only increase expenditures by a few $100 a month. The thing is, we are so accustomed to our artificial products that we deep down believe they are good for us. Don't accept this BS from your food, expect better. Most physicians I know are not living a healthy life, and until the past 6 months, that generalization included me. If you think otherwise, let me paint the picture of a typical doctor's lounge in the hospital or the home kitchen of your local physician. Hospital kitchens use the cheapest oils, fried foods, and beef, butters with mashed potatoes, pre-manufactured eggs, mass-produced bacon, candy, and ice cream sandwiches. This is what I was eating day in and day out, working 26 days per month. My cholesterol was skyrocketing, and my weight had peaked at 165 pounds on a 5-foot-7-inch frame. Then I took stock of my life. And it was just in time, too, for my kids were graduating from high school. At least I didn't have the excuse of cleaning my kids' plates anymore. I suspect that if you are listening to this podcast, reading this article, or taking this course, you are interested in living a more unprocessed life. If you are like me, you have reached a point in your life where you realize your health could be at a tipping point. I was lulled into thinking I was living a healthy life because I exercised and ate right some of the time. But that delusion could not have been further from the truth. I was drinking alcohol at least a few days per week, drank sodas at least a few days a wee

Episodes

  1. 5D AGO

    Sunday Science 2026_02_08

    Summary of Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps by Speaker Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions: Discussed several recent studies on the association between playing professional sports, particularly American football, and longevity. Highlighted the Copenhagen City Heart Study, which showed that different sports, such as tennis and badminton, can add years to one's life. Reviewed studies on elite athletes, noting that endurance sports and team sports tend to have better longevity outcomes compared to power sports. Discussed a recent study in the British Medical Journal that explored the relationship between the variety of physical activities and mortality, suggesting that a diverse range of sports may be beneficial for longevity. Next Steps: Encourage a variety of physical activities, including both cardiovascular and strength-based exercises, as well as sports that involve balance, cognitive demands, and social engagement. Emphasize the importance of finding the right balance, as too much exercise may not necessarily be better than a moderate amount. Promote the benefits of recreational sports, such as tennis and badminton, in addition to more traditional endurance activities. Explore the potential role of hormesis, where moderate levels of stress (e.g., exercise) can be beneficial, but too much may be detrimental. Encourage further research to better understand the complex relationship between physical activity, sport participation, and longevity.

    43 min

  2. FEB 6

    Week 7: A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Speaker-Organized Summary Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions Reported on last week's package-free challenge, which was not fully successful but led to a full package-free day Acknowledged setbacks around social gatherings and the difficulty of maintaining a package-free week Emphasized the importance of making whole, healthy foods at home to avoid processed items Discussed the debate around protein intake and longevity, noting that animal studies suggest lower protein may be better Introduced the 5Fs of a good diet: fiber, polyphenols, healthy fats, fermented foods, and whole foods Excited to ferment a curried red cabbage and experiment with fermenting onions   Mentioned the benefits of adding clove to fermented foods due to its high polyphenol content Next Steps Continue incorporating more fermented foods, such as chickpea and habanero fermentation Experiment with fermenting other foods like hot sauces, green beans, and curried cabbage Introduce more intermittent fasting and time-restricted feeding to achieve weight loss and improve gut health Try an oil-free day and cook mainly with water Continue exploring different fermentation projects, including the curried cabbage and fermented onions Overall Summary This week's podcast focused on the doctor's journey towards an unprocessed life, with a particular emphasis on incorporating more fermented foods, experimenting with intermittent fasting, and reducing the use of plastics and processed foods. The speaker and his guest discussed various fermentation projects they plan to try, including chickpea and habanero fermentation, fermented hot sauces, green beans, and curried cabbage. They also highlighted the importance of balance in diet and lifestyle, noting that while protein is important, excessive intake may not be beneficial for longevity. The next steps involve continuing to explore fermentation, implementing more intermittent fasting, and reducing the use of plastics and processed foods in the home.

    1h 11m

  3. FEB 3

    Sunday Science 2026_02_01

    Summary of Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions: Entrainment involves the use of auditory or visual stimulation to influence brain wave patterns associated with different states of wakefulness, concentration, relaxation, and sleep. Gamma waves (40 Hz) are associated with concentration and wakefulness, while theta and delta waves are associated with relaxation and sleep. Multiple studies have shown that 40 Hz gamma wave entrainment, using either light sources or binaural beats, can have positive effects on Alzheimer's disease and cognition. Theta wave entrainment, using either isochronic tones or binaural beats, can improve sleep quality and post-sleep state, as demonstrated in a study on young elite soccer players. Next Steps: Continue exploring the research on the effects of different brain wave entrainment techniques on sleep, cognition, and overall well-being. Potentially incorporate these entrainment methods into personal practice or recommend them to patients, while emphasizing the importance of consulting with healthcare professionals before making any significant changes. Expand the discussion on Sunday Science to cover a wider range of evidence-based approaches to improving health, diet, exercise, and longevity.

    14 min

  4. JAN 26

    Week 6 A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Summary of Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps from Speaker Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions: Increased focus on a vegan diet, aiming for 3 days per week of whole food, low-sugar vegan eating Added new exercises like mountain biking and tennis to mix up his workout routine Exploring delta and theta wave entrainment techniques to improve sleep quality Decided to try painting as a creative outlet, potentially hosting a "paint party" with friends Challenging himself to go an entire week without any packaged/processed foods, only single-ingredient whole foods Next Steps: Continue monitoring sleep, diet, and exercise metrics using tracking devices and apps Implement vegan diet plan, aiming for 3 days per week of whole food, low-sugar vegan eating Incorporate new exercises like mountain biking and tennis into weekly routine Try delta and theta wave entrainment techniques before bed to improve sleep quality Start a painting project capturing scenes from his recent vacation in the British Virgin Islands Attempt to go an entire week without any packaged/processed foods, sticking to single-ingredient whole foods Overall, Dr. Laartz is focused on continuing to improve his health and wellness through a multifaceted approach of diet, exercise, sleep, creativity, and minimizing exposure to plastics and processed foods. He is setting ambitious goals for himself while also acknowledging the need for flexibility and self-compassion along the way.

    53 min

  5. JAN 3

    Week 5: A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Speaker-Organized Summary: Go Unpro Podcast, Week 5 Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions: Experienced a setback over the holidays with increased alcohol and food intake due to family events and his father's passing Committed to a "Dry January" to limit alcohol intake and get back on track with his health goals Discussed the importance of mitochondria and how they impact energy, immune function, and response to diet Emphasized the need for a gradual, sustainable approach to lifestyle changes rather than drastic "cold turkey" changes Next Steps: Continuing to focus on a whole-food, plant-based diet with limited processed foods and alcohol Incorporating more fermented foods to support gut health and microbiome Maintaining a consistent exercise routine with a focus on strength training and cardiovascular fitness Practicing creativity through daily poem writing and sharing on "Friday Frhyme Day" Increasing social connections and reducing stress through meditation and sleep optimization Summary In this episode, Dr. Brent Laartz discussed his journey towards an unprocessed life, including the challenges he faced over the holiday season and his renewed commitment to his health goals. He emphasized the importance of mitochondrial health and how it impacts energy, immune function, and response to diet.  Dr. Laartz emphasized the need for a gradual, sustainable approach to lifestyle changes rather than drastic "cold turkey" changes. He outlined his next steps, which include continuing to focus on a whole-food, plant-based diet, incorporating more fermented foods, maintaining a consistent exercise routine, practicing creativity through daily poem writing, and increasing social connections and reducing stress through meditation and sleep optimization. Throughout the episode, Dr. Laartz shared his personal vision for longevity and health, and how he is working towards achieving his "Blue Zone" lifestyle goals.

    1h 37m

  6. 12/15/2025

    Sunday Science 2025_12_14

    Speaker-Organized Summary: Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps Announcer Lucas Welcome to Sunday Science, where recent scientific articles and their translation into modern lives are discussed. The host for today's episode is Dr. Brent W. Lartz, M.D. Dr. Brent Laartz Summary of Key Points and Decisions The discussion focuses on a gene and gene product called Clotho, which was discovered in 1997 and is named after the Greek god of fate and destiny. Knockout mice with Clotho upregulation showed a 15-30% longer lifespan and improved cardiovascular, renal, and brain health, as well as lower rates of cognitive decline. However, a recent study published in the Journals of Gerontology in 2025 found a U-shaped relationship between Clotho levels and all-cause mortality. The study showed that both high and low levels of Clotho were associated with increased mortality, and this was linked to increased liver fibrosis. Next Steps Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between Clotho levels and health outcomes. Multiple studies on Clotho have been published in the past year, and more are expected in the next one to two years. The speaker encourages the audience to follow the podcast on various platforms to stay updated on the latest developments in longevity and science.

    10 min

  7. 12/14/2025

    Week 4: The Go UnPro Podcast: A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Summary of Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps by Speaker Dr. Brent Laartz Key Points and Decisions: Focusing on longevity and healthspan, not just cosmetic appearance Importance of polyphenols, calorie restriction, and certain medications (acarbose, canaglifosin) for longevity Emphasis on strength, grip strength, and quick movements to maintain activity into older age Strategies for navigating the holidays, including bringing own food, doing active activities with family, and tracking progress Next Steps: Continuing low-carb, no-sugar diet with focus on whole foods, vegetables, and limited pasta/bread Increasing cardiovascular exercise to 3 times per week and resistance training 2-3 times per week Improving sleep habits, including using Oura ring, avoiding screens before bed, and exploring 40Hz light/sound therapy Engaging in more mindfulness, creativity, and connection activities like writing, music, and spending time with loved ones Further reducing plastic use by switching to cotton clothing, glass/stainless steel cookware and utensils, and natural oral hygiene products

    29 min

  8. 12/01/2025

    Week 3 A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Speaker-Organized Summary: Key Points, Decisions, and Next Steps Dr. Brent Lartz Key Points and Decisions: Acknowledged the difficulty of staying motivated during the holidays, but emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Discussed the concept of "holiday heart" and the negative impacts of overconsumption of unhealthy foods and alcohol during the holidays. Decided to implement pre-holiday and post-holiday work to minimize the damage to his metabolic health, such as having a vegan diet a few days before and after the holiday. Outlined his diet plan for the week, including reducing packaged and fast foods, increasing water intake, incorporating daily berries and greens, and implementing time-restricted feeding. Committed to increasing his exercise and cardiovascular activity to at least 3 times per week, as well as his resistance training. Emphasized the importance of tracking his sleep and making adjustments to improve sleep quality, such as limiting light exposure and alcohol intake. Discussed the importance of social connection, mindfulness, and self-awareness, and plans to engage in art therapy, writing, and reconnecting with friends and family. Shared his plan to journal and identify his limiting beliefs, create daily affirmations, and use vision boards and manifestation techniques to overcome them. Continued his efforts to reduce plastic usage in his life, including using glass containers, stainless steel water bottles, and avoiding plastic utensils and storage containers. Next Steps: Implement the pre-holiday and post-holiday work to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the holidays. Continue tracking his diet, exercise, sleep, and other health metrics using the habit tracker. Engage in art therapy, writing, and regular social connections to improve his overall well-being. Identify and work to overcome limiting beliefs through journaling, affirmations, and manifestation techniques. Further reduce plastic usage in his life by utilizing glass, stainless steel, and other eco-friendly alternatives. Share his progress and challenges with the audience and seek their input and support.

    32 min

  9. 11/13/2025

    Week 2 A Doctor's 52 Week Journey to an Unprocessed Life

    Key Points & Decisions: Continuing the "Go Unpro" journey to an unprocessed life, building on progress from Week 1 Focusing on the 4 pillars of longevity: diet, exercise, sleep, and social connection Instituting a low-sugar, high-fiber, mostly plant-based diet Avoiding processed foods, plastic containers, and seed oils Implementing time-restricted feeding/intermittent fasting Tracking habits and progress using apps for accountability Next Steps: Eliminate fast foods, limit packaged foods, and avoid soda this week Drink 32oz of water twice daily Eat berries daily, trying a new fruit/veggie each week Aim for 40 different fruits, nuts, and veggies per week for microbiome health Incorporate 3 days per week, each of cardio and resistance training Improve sleep hygiene by reducing light exposure at night Reconnect with someone you haven't spoken to in a while, 2-3 times per week Practice mindfulness and creativity to support overall wellbeing   The key is a gradual, sustainable approach with celebration of small successes along the way. Dr. Laartz emphasizes the importance of self-love, therapy, and surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals to stay motivated and overcome obstacles on the journey to an unprocessed life.

    1h 9m

  10. 11/04/2025

    Sunday Science by Go_UnPro Episode 1: 2025_11_02

    In this first episode of Sunday Science, we explore a few articles showing the carcinogenic potential of a strain of E coli (pks+ or colibactin-producing) that produces a DNA mutational toxin.  Evidence from the discussed articles shows that this bacteria could be responsible for a high percentage of early onset (under age 50) colorectal cancer (CRC).  CRC at this age is increasing and now encompasses 10% of all CRC, which percentage is growing by 2% per year.  Up to 68% of these cancers have evidence of the hallmark mutations and presence of the pks+ E coli above.  Diets high in fiber decrease and diets low in fiber increase the presence of this bacteria.  As we elucidate the particular mutations associated with this and other carcinogens, we can detect these mutations within the DNA of each cancer patient.  The data shows evidence of this bacteria being present in those with CRC under age 50, and it is more prevalent in countries that have a higher incidence of CRC under age 50, and likely has been present since an early age, such as the first 10 years of life. A simple arithmetic problem of subracting 40 years from 2015 when these early-onset CRC began their increase, yields the year 1975 which is when we began to incorporate processed foods and refined sugar and high-fructose corn syrup into our diet.  This and the data of onset at age 10 and before, begs us to consider what we are doing to our children and the possibility that there are a whole 40 years of children that are increasing their processed food intake.  How many early-onset CRC patients will there be 40 years from now?  MIcrobiome and genetic mutational research into other cancers such as oropharyngeal, bladder, and anal carcinoma could soon provide these answers.     References Insights into the role of the intestinal microbiota in colon cancer. Sofia Oke and Alberto Martin.  Ther Adv Gastroenterol 2017, Vol. 10(5) 417 –428 Microbiome and colorectal cancer: Unraveling host-microbiota interactions in colitis-associated colorectal cancer development.  lMingsong Kang, Alberto Martin. Seminars in Immunology.  Volume 32, August 2017, Pages 3-13 Gut Microbial Metabolism Drives Transformation of Msh2-Deficient Colon Epithelial Cells. Antoaneta Belcheva1 . Cell.   Volume 158, Issue 2p288-299July 17, 2014 Oliero M, Hajjar R, Cuisiniere T, Fragoso G, Calvé A and Santos MM (2023) Inulin impacts tumorigenesis promotion by colibactinproducing Escherichia coli in ApcMin/+ mice. Front. Microbiol. 14:1067505. Dietary fibre counters the oncogenic potential of colibactin-producing Escherichia coli in colorectal cancer. Alberto Martin.  Nature Microbiology  10: 855-870.

    25 min

  11. 07/13/2025

    Introduction to Go Un-Pro

    Follow along with me as I transform my life, improve my health, defeat my weight challenges, and live a longer, healthier life.  All while still having a blast traveling through this crazy world!  This podcast is the introduction to a 52-week gradual step-by-step transformation of my diet, exercise, sleep, and life-purpose to a more mindful, whole-food, mostly vegan, movement-oriented lifestyle which will enable me to live well into my tenth decade in a healthy way.  I am buying in wholeheartedly to the idea of having a centenarian olympics.  I don't want to live forever, but I do want to be able to do everything I do now for the longest time possible.  I'm selfish that way.  Selfish in a self-love way is the only way to go.  So check it out, and share it with everyone you know.

    12 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Go Un-Pro with Dr. Brent W. Laartz, MD FIDSA: Living an Unprocessed Life for Longevity and Healthspan Have you ever known that something is SO good for you that you just can't wait, but life gets in front of you and prevents you from doing it? The inaction and procrastination could occur for a variety of reasons, and we will delve into my motivations and affirmations of a healthy life from this day forward. I am starting this series of videos and articles so that I can be accountable to myself regarding the changes in my diet that I REALLY NEED to survive into my 90s without heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. And hopefully, as you follow along, you can make your own improvements that will extend your life and prevent the horrible illnesses that are heart disease, dementia, and arthritis. Can I introduce myself? I'm Dr Brent W. Laartz, and I am an Infectious Diseases physician with a Master's in Neuroscience, author, creator, and entrepreneur. I've been involved with medical education for almost all my life and have been sharing my knowledge, teaching students, patients, and other doctors as faculty of a medical school, in hospitals, and clinics around the world. I'm ashamed to admit that I have lived a life of processed foods despite knowing the facts that are stacked against me if I continue living this way. My most recent research into longevity and its connection to our diet, exercise, sleep, and mental health, all with help from our microbiome, the bacteria living in our body, has me wanting to shout this information to the masses from the rooftops! This is so important that I am going to communicate what I have learned in every forum possible. Simply put, I am not going to do it anymore, and I am going to stay accountable to myself so that I follow through with it this time. Hence, the launch of this podcast, which I have been wanting to do for quite some time now. In addition, I am also launching publicly available Master courses that will delve incredibly deeply into the science behind diet and other interventions that will help me live well into my '90s and 100s, but not just live, but REALLY live! This is the concept of Healthspan. I know there are a lot of billionaires who are prominent in the media, trying to live forever, spending millions of dollars, but I am here to prove you can do it without spending a lot of money. The interventions I am doing will cost a little more money, but my budget is to only increase expenditures by a few $100 a month. The thing is, we are so accustomed to our artificial products that we deep down believe they are good for us. Don't accept this BS from your food, expect better. Most physicians I know are not living a healthy life, and until the past 6 months, that generalization included me. If you think otherwise, let me paint the picture of a typical doctor's lounge in the hospital or the home kitchen of your local physician. Hospital kitchens use the cheapest oils, fried foods, and beef, butters with mashed potatoes, pre-manufactured eggs, mass-produced bacon, candy, and ice cream sandwiches. This is what I was eating day in and day out, working 26 days per month. My cholesterol was skyrocketing, and my weight had peaked at 165 pounds on a 5-foot-7-inch frame. Then I took stock of my life. And it was just in time, too, for my kids were graduating from high school. At least I didn't have the excuse of cleaning my kids' plates anymore. I suspect that if you are listening to this podcast, reading this article, or taking this course, you are interested in living a more unprocessed life. If you are like me, you have reached a point in your life where you realize your health could be at a tipping point. I was lulled into thinking I was living a healthy life because I exercised and ate right some of the time. But that delusion could not have been further from the truth. I was drinking alcohol at least a few days per week, drank sodas at least a few days a wee

Information

  • Creator
    Brent W. Laartz
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Go Un-Pro