Intelligent Medicine | The Best of High Tech Medicine and Alternative Modalities

Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses a Nature Communications study of 108,723 French adults in the NutriNet-Santé cohort (2009–2023) examining long-term exposure to food preservatives and type 2 diabetes. Using detailed dietary records cross-referenced with product/additive databases, researchers identified 58 preservative-related additives and analyzed 17 consumed by at least 10% of participants; 1,131 diabetes cases occurred. Higher overall preservative intake was associated with a 47% increased diabetes risk (49% for non-antioxidant preservatives; 40% for antioxidant additives), with several specific additives linked to higher risk. Leyla questions whether the findings reflect preservatives themselves or the ultra-processed, refined-carbohydrate foods that contain them, emphasizing recommendations to favor fresh, minimally processed foods and...

A case study where a second opinion is necessaryWhat are your thoughts on the recent news implicating niacin in cardiovascular disease?

What could it mean to get spasms in your sleep?  Is this a prediction of Parkinson's?What is the best general magnesium to use?What can my brother with diabetes take for recurrent urinary tract infections?Could my prescribed medications be causing tinnitus?Is the herpes virus a risk factor for dementia?        

Gary Taubes on Rethinking Diabetes: Diet, Insulin, and the History Behind Low-Carb Treatment: Journalist Gary Taubes is author of “Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments.” The book traces diabetes treatment history and argues that carbohydrate restriction was standard care from 1797 through the early 20th century until insulin therapy shifted practice toward drug-centered management and higher-carbohydrate diets. Taubes explains how insulin’s discovery changed dietary priorities, how later technology (radioimmunoassay) revealed that most diabetes is type 2 with insulin resistance and high insulin rather than deficiency, and why giving more insulin can worsen weight gain. They discus...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with journalist Gary Taubes, author of “Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments.”

Urolithin A (MitoPure)--Mitophagy, Muscle Recovery, Immunity, and Skin Health: Dr. Brad Currier, clinical trial manager at Timeline, a Swiss biotech company, details urolithin A (MitoPure), a postbiotic derived from pomegranate precursors that most people cannot produce due to microbiome differences. Currier explains MitoPure’s mechanism—stimulating mitophagy to recycle dysfunctional mitochondria—and reviews evidence from multiple clinical trials. He reveals a Sports Medicine study in elite male distance runners showing reduced creatine kinase and lower perceived exertion, suggesting improved recovery, plus trials in middle-aged and older adults showing improvements in strength, six-minute walk test, and VO2 max at 500 mg–1 g...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Brad Currier, clinical trial manager at Timeline, a Swiss biotech company.

Oprah’s new book encourages followers to “free themselves” from “shame and blame” by accessing weight loss meds; Her claim “it’s the obesity gene” is put to the test by twin studies; Study shows brain stimulation with external electronic headset produces weight loss rivaling shots, pills; Ultra-processed food ups daily calorie intake by 500; Breast-feeding moms gain less post-pregnancy weight; Solutions for  Myelodysplastic Syndrome; Scientists find hidden weight gain trigger in soybean oil.

Calculators that assess your risk for heart disease miss the boat—half of actual heart attack victims were said to be at low-risk; Why an app could erroneously tell you that you should be taking a statin; New ways to fix a calcified aortic valve; Common amino acid may bust Alzheimer’s plaque, Adequate sleep may trump healthy diet, exercise for longevity; Chinese vegetarians less likely than omnivores to surpass 100; Easily-gobbled “fast food” stokes total daily calorie intake; Common chemicals hike MS risk two-fold; Low-glutamate diet relieves migraines; Fish oil confers substantial stroke, heart attack protection to dialysis patients.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses how exposure to natural daylight may improve metabolic health beyond diet and exercise, highlighting a controlled crossover study of 13 adults aged 65+ with type 2 diabetes published in Cell Metabolism. Participants spent 4.5 days in living spaces lit by either natural light through large windows or artificial light, with identical meals, sleep, activity, and screen time; after a 4-week washout they switched conditions. Natural light was associated with more hours of blood glucose in the normal range, less glucose variability, higher evening melatonin, and improved fat oxidative metabolism, suggesting effects on circadian “body clocks” and coordination betw...

A discussion on the concepts of weight-inclusive care and healthismSome comments on medicine's biggest failures

I've read your book on Mitral Valve Prolapse, and it helped to reduce panic attacks...but I'm still depressedThe Singulair debacle What are your thoughts on the Shingrix vaccine?Is essential tremor causing unsteadiness and balance problems when I'm walking?Can kidney stones be controlled with probiotics?What are your thoughts on bone broth?

Integrative ophthalmologist Dr. Rudrani Banik previews Eye Summit 2026, a free online event May 11–15 featuring four daily expert sessions on dry eye and ocular surface disease, cataract surgery advances (including robotic and AI-assisted planning), gut health links to eye disease, and mind-body approaches for migraine, concussion, and visual snow, with VIP options for recordings and live panels. They discuss photobiomodulation (red/infrared/yellow light) as an FDA-approved treatment for age-related macular degeneration with clinical trials showing safety and potential vision improvement, plus research on low-level red light for pediatric myopia. Banik emphasizes annual dilated eye exams after 40 to detect glaucoma an...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with integrative ophthalmologist Dr. Rudrani Banik, who previews Eye Summit 2026.

Preventing Injury, Reframing Pain, and Using Physical Therapy to Avoid Unnecessary Surgery: Dr. Tom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, founder of Rehab Science, and author of “Rehab Science: How to Overcome Pain and Heal From Injury,” an illustrated, body-region guide to common orthopedic problems and self-managed therapeutic exercises. Walters emphasizes using PT-style mobility and resistance training preventively to increase tissue capacity, manage load, and avoid overuse injuries, while warning against “no pain, no gain” and excessive volume or weight. He discusses “movement literacy,” hip and glute stabilizers, and how weakness can drive knee and back problems. Dr. Hoffman shar...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. Tom Walters, board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, founder of Rehab Science, and author of “Rehab Science: How to Overcome Pain and Heal From Injury.”

New-think on diet for ApoE4, a risk factor for Alzheimer’s—eat meat! Is a non-invasive blood sugar monitor on the drawing board for the next Apple Watch? True or false—does drinking carbonated water help weight loss? Eating while distracted puts on the pounds; Treating duodenitis; How much whey protein should you consume? Why some people fail to lose weight on GLP-1 drugs.

Don’t skip homocysteine when testing for dementia risk factors; Treating osteoporosis; New hope against pancreatic cancer; Eating right for Parkinson’s Disease; Olive oil helps stave off dementia—but only the right kind; A lifestyle hack that can cut Alzheimer’s risk by 38%; How to reduce high calprotectin on a stool test.

Dietitian Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses a Stanford-led randomized controlled trial published in Nature Medicine in which a five-day, calorie-restricted fasting-mimicking diet improved symptoms and inflammatory markers in people with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease. In the three-month study of 97 patients, 65 followed monthly five-day cycles of 700–1100 calories/day with plant-based meals, while 32 continued usual diets; about two-thirds of the fasting-mimicking group reported symptom improvement, with fatigue and headaches but no serious side effects, and fecal calprotectin and other inflammatory molecules decreased. She notes bowel rest and the specific carbohydrate diet as additional approaches. The episode also explains how antibiotics can...

Is oatmeal healthy?I have a higher-than-normal carotid artery intima-media thickness and no appreciable plaque. Should I be concerned?Should my husband and I take the hepatitis B vaccine?

What is your protocol for 9-11 first responders for addressing toxic burden and immune support?Where do you stand on GLP-1 weight loss drugs? Help vs harm?I have a high ferritin, but cannot donate blood. Other options?

Indoor Epidemic: Prescribing Nature, Light, Air, and Movement with Dr. John La Puma, internist, chef, and regenerative farmer. His book, "Indoor Epidemic," argues that spending about 93% of life indoors undermines health through poor light timing, air quality, limited movement, and reduced nature exposure. La Puma cites data that outdoor morning light helps set circadian rhythms, while nighttime blue light can impair sleep quality and raise cardiovascular risks, referencing a large UK Biobank study. He discusses indoor pollutants and CO2 buildup affecting inflammation and cognition, recommends strategies like getting daylight early (even just a sky view), using circadian lighting, and...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. John La Puma, internist, chef, and regenerative farmer.

New Study Links Aged Garlic Extract to Better Cognition: Holistic practitioner Jane Jansen from the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts reveals a newly published double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA involving 72 participants with pre-hypertension or hypertension. Over 12 weeks, one group took 2,400 mg/day of Kyolic Aged Garlic Extract (Reserve formula), and cognitive function was tracked using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Jansen reports that 92% of the aged garlic extract group had no cognitive impairment after the trial, while the placebo group showed more cognitive decline, with benefits attributed to increased...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with holistic practitioner Jane Jansen from the Tree of Life Wellness Center in Massachusetts.

Pump up the volume on your exercise with HIIT to optimize disease-prevention; Natural ways to lower your LDL; Choline’s impact on the menopausal brain; How targeted supplementation can boost your nitric oxide for better health, an interview with Dr. Nathan Bryan, creator of N1O1.

When GLP-1 drugs supercharge eating disorders; Vitamin C’s brain-protective role; Can your fast-fashion clothing give you cancer? As an experiment, scientists invented a fake disease—then AI started reporting it as real; Zeaxanthin could charge cancer treatment; How long is Kyolic aged garlic extract aged?

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses joint inflammation—its symptoms (swelling, pain, redness, warmth, morning stiffness, reduced range of motion) and why it is usually a sign of an underlying condition rather than a disease itself. She reviews common causes including osteoarthritis (cartilage wear and tear), rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune synovium attack with prolonged morning stiffness and fatigue), gout (uric acid crystals, often in the big toe), psoriatic arthritis, injuries, autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, Sjogren’s), infections such as septic arthritis requiring urgent care, and surrounding-tissue problems like tendonitis and bursitis. Lifestyle factors that worsen inflammation include excess weight, poor...

I'm confused by information presented on diets containing meat as being dangerous. Could you shed some light?Assisted living models that would be of benefit to older adults

A comment on Medicare coverage of the hs-CRP blood testAre butyrate supplements beneficial to take?Is iron overload a risk factor for heart attack?Nattokinase lowered my blood pressure!Is there a danger of clot relocation when taking systemic enzymes?

Integrative rheumatologist Dr. Aly Cohen combines conventional rheumatology medications with lifestyle and environmental health approaches to manage autoimmune disease, emphasizing nutrition, sleep, exercise, the gut microbiome, and reducing exposure to synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and contaminated water. They discuss how immunosuppressive drugs can be lifesaving but carry infection risks, and how “risk mitigation” and anti-inflammatory dietary patterns can support resilience. Cohen highlights vitamin D’s importance in autoimmunity and COVID outcomes and lists four foundational supplements: a clean multivitamin (including iodine), vitamin D3 guided by blood levels, a quality probiotic, and omega-3 fish oil with adequate EPA+DHA; they also cover...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Integrative rheumatologist Dr. Aly Cohen. 

Bioethicist and psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, author of “Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine,” discusses declining public trust in healthcare. Kheriaty describes his medical training and argues medicine has become an industrial, bureaucratic “turnstile” system that dehumanizes care, turns physicians into data-entry clerks, and relies on reimbursement-driven “guidelines” and narrow evidence-based medicine that favors costly pharmaceuticals. He proposes creating “parallel” grassroots medical institutions—such as direct primary care—analogous to homeschooling and Eastern European dissidents’ “parallel polis,” since systemic reform from within is difficult. Kheriaty recounts opposing COVID vaccine mandates at UC Irvine, being fired after suing, and participating in Misso...

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with bioethicist and psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, author of “Making the Cut: How to Heal Modern Medicine.” 

Expect a renewed push to take a statin at your next doctor’s visit; PREVENT online calculator skews decisions to prescribe cholesterol reduction as early as 30; American Heart Association discourages at-risk patients from taking fish oil and garlic supplements—REALLY? Renewed interest in muscle as promoter of overall health and metabolism; The key role of urolithin A (Mitopure®️) for supporting muscle function. Is DHEA a reasonable supplement for post-menopausal women?

CEO of large hospital system makes controversial call to replace radiologists with AI; Inclusion Body Myositis—is it curable? New worries over flame retardants in recycled black plastic utensils; Scientists discover link to toxic microbiome byproducts in causation of ALS, frontotemporal dementia; When depression-sufferers lose all interest in food; Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables incurs risk of bio-accumulation of pesticide residues; Tattoos carry long-term health risks.

Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses news from Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Take Back Your Health” tour, highlighting hospital commitments to nutrition-driven care, including connecting Florida farms directly to hospital food systems. She reports that CMS issued a quality and safety special alert directing hospitals to align meals with the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, emphasizing whole nutrient-dense foods and adequate protein while reducing ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates, and added sugars, and reinforcing Medicare participation requirements such as meeting individual nutrition needs, dietitian oversight, current therapeutic diet manuals, and integrating nutrition into quality improvement. At Nicklaus Children’s Hospital...

The benefits of saunaThe Take Back Your Health TourA follow-up on milk thistle interactions with drugsWhat are your thoughts on low-dose saw palmetto for hair growth?Is monk fruit a safe sweetener to use?

Would strontium help in the healing of lumbar fractures?  How about as a preventive?How valuable is the hs-CRP test?  Are there any drawbacks to eating canned fish?What are your thoughts on Arterosil for cardiovascular health?

Dr. Jeffrey Bland, Founder and President of the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute and President of Big Bold Health, is described as the “godfather of functional medicine.” He details the origins of functional medicine as a systems-biology, root-cause approach emphasizing diet, lifestyle, and supplements alongside conventional allopathic care, especially for chronic disease. Bland contrasts medication “number needed to treat” examples (statins and TNF-alpha blockers) with personalized lifestyle interventions, noting adherence challenges. He discusses GLP-1 weight-loss drugs as a major pharmacologic advance but raises concerns about long-term effects, discontinuation rates, side effects, and inadequate nutrition if food intake drops. Bland describes research...