Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

Darshan Shah, MD
  • 4.7 (150)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Extend with Darshan Shah, MD is a podcast dedicated to cutting-edge science, research, tools, and protocols designed to help you extend your healthspan. Starting my medical journey at 16 and becoming one of the youngest doctors in the country, studying and training at the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business School, Singularity University and other prestigious institutions, becoming a board certified surgeon and accumulating over two decades of practice, I have discovered that a mere 20% of health knowledge yields 80% of the results. That's why this podcast is all about cutting through the noise on how to turn back the aging clock. I interview world-renowned medical practitioners, doctors, experts, and thought leaders, offering you a step-by-step guide and actionable advice to proactively avoid disease and optimize your health. Plus, I share weekly solo episodes giving you quick, digestible protocols for successfully extending your healthspan.

  1. 3d ago

    190. Dr. William Harris: 90% of Americans Are Low in This Critical Longevity Nutrient

    What if one of the most important markers for your heart, brain, and longevity is something most people have never measured? AND roughly 90% of Americans aren't in the optimal range for?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. William Harris, one of the world's leading experts on Omega-3 fatty acids and the co-inventor of the Omega-3 Index, a test he helped develop more than 20 years ago. Dr. Harris has spent decades researching how omega-3s influence cardiovascular health, inflammation, cognitive health, chronic disease, and longevity. And his message is surprisingly simple: you can't know whether you're getting enough omega-3 just by looking at your diet or supplement routine. You have to measure it. We break down what omega-3s actually do inside your cells, why Dr. Harris believes an Omega-3 Index of 8–12% is the target, and why measuring EPA and DHA in red blood cell membranes gives you a more stable picture of your status than plasma testing. We also tackle some of the biggest controversies in nutrition today—including seed oils, omega-6s, saturated fat, LDL cholesterol, fish versus supplements, EPA versus DHA, and whether you really need to worry about the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Dr. Harris also explains why some of the conventional wisdom circulating online simply doesn't match what decades of research actually show. In this episode, you'll learn: Why roughly 90% of Americans may be below the optimal Omega-3 Index What the Omega-3 Index measures and why the target range is 8–12% Why red blood cell testing can provide a better picture of omega-3 status than plasma testing How omega-3s help maintain healthy, flexible cell membranes What EPA and DHA actually do—and why you need both What the research really says about omega-6s and the seed oil controversy Why Dr. Harris doesn't recommend focusing on the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio How chronically elevated LDL contributes to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease Why low omega-3 levels have been associated with earlier mortality, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and other chronic diseases Why eating "fish" doesn't necessarily mean you're getting enough omega-3 The best food sources of EPA and DHA, including salmon, mackerel, sardines, anchovies, and albacore tuna What to look for when choosing an omega-3 supplement Why vegans can still get EPA and DHA through algae-based omega-3s How often Dr. Harris recommends retesting once you're optimizing your Omega-3 Index Listen to this episode if you take omega-3s, eat fish, care about your heart and brain health—or simply want to know whether you're actually getting enough of one of the most important nutrients for healthy aging. Because when it comes to omega-3s, taking a supplement isn't the goal. Getting your biology into the optimal range is.  Learn more about Dr. Darshan Shah:  Website: www.drshah.com Clinic: https://www.next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. William Harris:  Website: www.faresinst.org Omega-3 At Home Test Kit: https://omegaquant.com/ Thank You To Our Sponsors:  Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Our speakers include Dr. Shah, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Louisa Nicola, Dr. Vonda Wright and many more! This will be one day packed with activities like blood tests, recovery modalities, IV's and brands we love that will completely change the way you think about health. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order! IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/drshah

  2. 5d ago

    189. Dr. Florence Comite: The 5 Biomarkers That Predict How You'll Age

    What if aging isn't something you simply accept - but something you can measure, predict, and even reverse?  Most of us are told our lab work is "normal," yet chronic disease often develops silently for years before symptoms appear. Dr. Florence Comite, one of the world's leading pioneers in precision medicine, is explaining why conventional medicine often misses the earliest signs of diesease- and how personalized data can completely change your health trajectory.  Drawing from more than three decades of experience at Yale, the National Institutes of Health, and her own precision medicine practice, Dr. Comite shares how treating every patient as an "N-of-1" allows her to identify hidden risks years before they become heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, dementia, or hormonal decline. Together, they explore the biomarkers that matter most, the surprising role of insulin resistance in nearly every chronic illness, and why your genes are far less predictive than the choices you make every day.  If you've ever wondered whether it's possible to stay stronger, sharper, and healthier as you age, this conversation offers a practical roadmap backed by decades of research and real-world clinical results.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why precision medicine is replacing the outdated one-size-fits-all approach The seven biological patterns of aging-and how to identify your own The biomarkers that reveal disease years before symptoms appear Why fasting insulin may be one of the most important tests your doctor isn't ordering How continuous glucose monitors uncover hidden metabolic dysfunction  The truth about testosterone and estrogen optimization for both men and women How to reverse muscle loss and protect your bone density as you age Why standard thyroid testing often misses underlying dysfunction The daily habits that create exponential improvements in long-term health How to build a personalized longevity strategy based on your own biology-not population averages Your biology is unique - your approach to aging should be too.  Learn More About Dr. Shah:  Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about Dr. Florence Comite: Website: florencecomite.com Instagram: @drflorencecomite Book: theinvinciblebook.com Thank You To Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Our speakers include Dr. Shah, Dr. Jeremy London, Dr. Louisa Nicola, Dr. Vonda Wright and many more! This will be one day packed with activities like blood tests, recovery modalities, IV's and brands we love that will completely change the way you think about health.  Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order! IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/drshah

  3. Aug 6

    188. James Beshara: How to Find Productivity Without the Hustle

    We're living in a culture that celebrates being busy. More coffee. More hours. More hustle. But what if those things are actually making you less productive?  The truth is, many high performers are stuck in a cycle of chasing energy instead of creating it. We rely on caffeine to wake up, push through stress, and squeeze more into each day - only to end up burned out, distracted, and wondering why success still feels exhausting.  My guest James Beshara, is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder of multiple  Magic Mind, one of the fastest-growing mental performance brands. After experiencing burnout firsthand, he set out to rething what sustainable productivity really looks like.  Together, we explore why optimizing your energy matters more than optimizing your schedule, the hidden costs of caffeine and stimulant dependence, and how adaptogens, functional mushrooms, intentional routines, and timeless philosophy can help you perform at your highest level - without sacrficing your health.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why sustainable productivity beats hustle every time The "Pin Action" framework for creating outsized results with one simple habit How a consistent morning routine can transform your energy and focus  Why process-not goals- is the real key to long - term fulfillment  The surprising downsides of caffeine and other stimulants  How adaptogens and functional mushrooms can support cognitio, stress resilience, and performance Practical strategies to overcome procrastination and reduce chronic stress Whether you're building a business, leading a team, or simply trying to feel your best every day, this conversation will change the way you think about productivity - and what it actually takes to perform at your highest level.  Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Learn more about James Beshara Website: jjbeshara.com Instagram: @jamesjbeshara Try Magic Mind for 50% off new subscriptions to enhance your mental performance with clincally backed multivitamins for your mind at www.magicmind.com ! Thank You to Our Sponsors:  Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit, featuring keynotes by Dr. Shah, Dr. Vonda Wright, Dr. Jeremy London and Dr. Louisa Nicola! September 12th in Nashville, see you there!  Function Health: Learn more and join using my link - www.functionhealth.com/drshah using gift code DRSHAH25 for $25 credit towards your membership.

  4. Aug 4

    187. Dr. Izabella Wentz: 30+ Root Causes Behind An IBS Diagnosis

    Hashimotos isn't just a thyroid disease-it may actually begin in the gut.  If you've been told your thyroid labs are "normal" but you still struggle with fatigue, bloating, constipation, IBS, or autoimmune symptoms, this episode could change the way you think about your health.  I sit down with Dr. Izabella Wentz, PharmD-better known as the Thyroid Pharmacist and one of the world's leading experts on Hashimoto's disease - to uncover the powerful connection between gut health, autoimmune disease, and thyroid function.  Dr. Wentz explains why IBS is often not a true diagnosis, but a collection of symptoms with more than 30 possible root causes. Together, we explore why conventional medicine frequently misses these underlying issues and how identifying the real drivers - from intestinal permeability and SIBO to food sensitivities, medications, infections, and even heavy metal exposure - can help people finally find lasting relief.  Whether you're living with Hashimoto's, IBS, or another autoimmune condition, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for uncovering the root cause and supporting long-term healing.  In this episode, you'll learn:  Why gut health is critical for thyroid function and autoimmune healing The surprising connection between Hashimoto's disease and IBS Why IBS is a symptom - not a diagnosis The 30+ root causes that may be driving digestive symtpoms How intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") contributes to autoimmune disease The biggest food, medication, and lifestyle triggers for IBS Which functional medicine tests can uncover hidden gut dysfunction How targeted treatment can improve symptoms and support long-term remission If you've been searching for answers beyond symptom management, this episode provides an evidence-based look at the gut-thyroid connection and what it really takes to restore health.  Thank You to Our Sponsors  Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to www.next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12!  IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/drshah Timeline: Timeline powere by Mitopure just dropped the price. Check it out using link shop.timeline.com/DRDARSHANSHAH for up to 20% off when you subscribe and save.  Learn more about Dr. Shah:  Website: drshah.com Instagram: @extend_podcast and @darshanshahmd Clinic: next-health.com Learn more about Dr. Izabella Wentz:  Website: thyroidpharmacist.com Instagram: @izabellawentzpharmd Book: thyroidpharmacist.com/ibs-book-order/

  5. Jul 30

    186. Raj Sisodia: The Inner Work Behind Better Leadership

    A leader's unresolved pain rarely stays contained within that leader. It can show up as control, aggression, emotional distance, relentless pressure, or a workplace where people are treated as resources rather than human beings. The organization may still perform, but the cost is often carried by employees, families, customers, and the leader's own health. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Raj Sisodia to examine the relationship between personal healing and conscious leadership. We discuss why a company's culture often reflects the inner state of the people guiding it, how purpose changes the way work affects people, and why leadership built around fear, ego, or extraction eventually creates suffering. Raj Sisodia is a co-founder of the Conscious Capitalism movement, a business professor, speaker, and author of numerous books on purpose-driven organizations and leadership. His work has challenged the idea that companies must choose between financial performance and human well-being, while his personal healing journey has led him to explore what leaders must address within themselves before they can create healthier systems around them. What's Discussed: (2:57) Why self-interest and greed are not the same, and what happens when a business is built around extraction. (7:18) The four principles behind companies that create value without treating people as costs to minimize. (13:02) How healthcare loses its purpose when profit is placed above patients and practitioners. (20:18) The first question every leader should ask before trying to change company culture. (35:26) Why leaders cannot create healthy organizations without examining their own unresolved pain. (43:07) How qualities you learned to see as weaknesses may be the strengths you are meant to contribute. (51:06) Why unhealed trauma can keep driving your reactions, relationships, and leadership without your awareness. Listen to this episode of Extend to understand why leadership is not only about what you build, but also about what you bring into the room while building it. Thank You to Our Sponsors Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Pendulum: You can go to pendulumlife.com and use my code EXTEND for 20% off your first membership order.    Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: darshanshahmd    Learn More About Raj Sisodia Website: rajsisodia.com/  Facebook: rsisodia  Podcast: theconsciouscapitalists.com/podcast  Instagram: @rajsisodiacc

  6. Jul 28

    185. Dr. Neha Sangwan: The 5 Questions That Predict a Health Crisis Before It Happens

    I have operated on patients whose bodies had been sending them warning signals for years before a crisis ever put them in front of me. Stress alone causes or worsens more than 80 percent of the illness I see, and most of it traces back to one skill almost nobody was ever taught: how to actually listen to their own body. We dive deeper into this in the Extend Podcast with Dr. Neha Sangwan. We also chat about the five questions she asks every patient before sending them home, why your boss has more influence on your health than your doctor does, and the five levels of connection that determine whether a relationship heals you or drains you. Dr. Neha Sangwan is an internal medicine physician and former hospitalist who also trained as a mechanical and biomedical engineer. She is the founder and CEO of Intuitive Intelligence, where she works as an executive health and performance coach for corporate leaders and their teams. She is the author of TalkRx: Five Steps to Honest Conversations that Create Connection, Health, and Happiness, and Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life. What We Discuss: (1:09) Why training as both a mechanical engineer and a physician led straight to burnout at 34. (2:29) The Awareness Prescription: the five questions she asks every patient the night before discharge. (9:59) The Body Map: how physical signals are data your doctor never sees. (16:54) Why your leader has more influence on your health than your doctor does. (22:48) The five-step framework for walking into any hard conversation clearly and calmly. (30:34) The five-hour shift and the question from a nurse that first told her she was burning out. (34:13) Net gain versus net drain: mapping where your energy leaks and where it grows. (40:07) The five levels of exchange, from broken to sacred. Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Function Health: Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.   Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com Clinic: next-health.com Instagram: @darshanshahmd  Learn more about Dr. Neha Sangwan: Website: intuitiveintelligenceinc.com/  Instagram: @doctorneha LinkedIn: drnehasangwan   Book: intuitiveintelligenceinc.com/powered-by-me/

  7. Jul 23

    184. Dr. Sahil Chopra & Sagar Chopra: Why Your Sleep Apnea Machine Might Be Lying to You

    Millions of people wear a CPAP machine every night, the standard breathing device prescribed for sleep apnea. They trust the number on the screen to tell them their sleep apnea is under control. I've had patients tell me they stopped using theirs because it felt pointless, and it turns out that feeling was often correct. We dive deeper into this in this episode of Extend with Dr. Sahil Chopra and Sagar Chopra, co-founders of Empower Sleep. We also chat about why palate shape and mouth breathing are driving more sleep apnea in kids, how GLP-1 medications are changing the CPAP conversation, and the truth about lip taping. Dr. Sahil Chopra is a pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine physician trained at UCLA and Loma Linda, with fellowship training in sleep medicine at Harvard. He is co-founder of Empower Sleep, a longitudinal home sleep testing platform used by physicians and patients nationwide. Sagar Chopra holds an MBA from the Wharton School, previously worked on product growth at Uber, and co-founded Empower Sleep alongside his brother, Dr. Sahil Chopra. What We Discuss: (8:04) The Landmark Study: 25,000 Nights of Data and the CPAP Discordance Problem (13:43) Inside the Empower Sleep Device and How It Differs From Wearables (25:27) Palate Shape, Mouth Breathing, and the Rise of Pediatric Sleep Apnea (30:31) Menopause, Andropause, and Why Sleep Apnea Shows Up Later in Life (41:53) Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulators and Central Sleep Apnea (47:27) How GLP-1 Medications Are Changing Sleep Apnea Treatment (51:13) The Truth About Lip Taping and Nasal Breathing   Thank You to Our Sponsors: Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order.   Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: drshah.com/ Clinic: next-health.com/ Instagram: @darshanshahmd    Learn more about Dr. Sahil Chopra and Sagar Chopra: Empower Sleep: empowersleep.com/ Sagar Chopra on LinkedIn: choprasagar/ Sagar Chopra on X: schopsss   More Resources: Quality sleep is the most underestimated longevity accelerator. Download this sleep optimization workbook to transform sleep into a powerful longevity practice: drshah.com/sleep

  8. Jul 21

    183. Rachel Lambert & Angie Noack: Why 70% Of ADHD Diagnoses Are Wrong

    For most people, an ADHD diagnosis, an anxiety diagnosis, or a depression diagnosis is made entirely from a symptom checklist. No one looks at the brain producing those symptoms. In this episode, I sit down with Rachel and Angie, co-founders of BrainCode Centers, to talk about quantitative EEG brain mapping and neurofeedback, and why measuring the brain's actual electrical activity changes the picture so often. We look at why the majority of people carrying an ADHD diagnosis do not show the neurological pattern for it, what depression and anxiety actually look like on a brain scan, and how reward-based neurofeedback training retrains those patterns without medication. Rachel and Angie are licensed professional counselors and board certified in neurofeedback. Over seventeen years, they have mapped and trained roughly 25,000 brains, built in-person clinics across Denver, Boulder, Tulsa, and Dallas, and developed a remote kit that lets anyone get a brain map and begin neurofeedback training from home. What's Discussed: (0:47) What a brain map actually measures, and why it is not a CT scan or a blood flow test. (1:52) The five brain waves everyone produces, and what happens when the brain gets stuck in one of them. (4:26) How a remote EEG kit lets someone map their own brain from a swim cap at home. (9:11) How neurofeedback works as reward-based training instead of willpower or medication. (16:14) What depression actually looks like on a brain scan, and why the DSM diagnosis often misses the real driver. (25:07) Why the majority of people carrying an ADHD diagnosis do not show the neurological pattern for it. (29:51) What anxiety looks like across ten completely different brain patterns. (38:26) Angie's own bipolar diagnosis as a teenager, and how forty sessions of training changed the scan. Listen to this episode to learn why a diagnosis deserves an actual look at the brain behind it, before medication becomes the only conversation.   Thank You to Our Sponsors:  Next Health Longevity Summit: Head to next-health.com/summit to secure your spot at the first ever Next Health Longevity Summit in Nashville on 9/12. IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. Get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH . Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com/fiber and use code DRSHAH for up to 35% off your first order. Timeline: Timeline powered by Mitopure just dropped the price. Check it out at timeline.com/drshah and get an additional 20% off your first month with code DRSHAH.   Learn More About Dr. Darshan Shah: Website: drshah.com  Clinic: next-health.com  Instagram: darshanshahmd     Learn More About BrainCode Centers:  Website: braincodecenters.com   Instagram: @braincodecenters

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Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
150 Ratings

About

Extend with Darshan Shah, MD is a podcast dedicated to cutting-edge science, research, tools, and protocols designed to help you extend your healthspan. Starting my medical journey at 16 and becoming one of the youngest doctors in the country, studying and training at the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business School, Singularity University and other prestigious institutions, becoming a board certified surgeon and accumulating over two decades of practice, I have discovered that a mere 20% of health knowledge yields 80% of the results. That's why this podcast is all about cutting through the noise on how to turn back the aging clock. I interview world-renowned medical practitioners, doctors, experts, and thought leaders, offering you a step-by-step guide and actionable advice to proactively avoid disease and optimize your health. Plus, I share weekly solo episodes giving you quick, digestible protocols for successfully extending your healthspan.

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