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LEVELS – A Whole New Level
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health. Connect with us: Become a Member: https://levels.link/wnl YouTube: https://youtube.com/@levels Instagram: https://instagram.com/levels Twitter: https://twitter.com/levels LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/levels TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@levels
- 318 - #317 - What It Takes to Build Medical AI Doctors Will Trust | Dr. Suchi Saria & Mike Haney
Medical AI is full of impressive models that work on retrospective datasets. The much harder problem is turning one into a tool that can operate continuously inside a hospital, earn clinicians’ trust, fit into an overloaded workflow, stay reliable across different health systems, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
Mike Haney talks with Johns Hopkins researcher and Bayesian Health founder Dr. Suchi Saria about the decade-long journey from an academic sepsis-prediction algorithm to AI that clinicians are using in hospitals today. Her experience is a reality check on what it actually takes to make medical AI useful, and an argument for aiming higher than documentation and billing: toward systems that continuously watch patients, catch deterioration earlier, and help prevent avoidable harm.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why sepsis fits continuous AI monitoringHow causal reasoning separates signal from a noisy alertWhy real-time access to the full record mattersWhen a working algorithm still failed to get attentionHow adoption and human-machine teaming became engineering problemsWhat happened when the system went liveHow the same infrastructure extends beyond sepsisWhy healthcare is too conservative about medical AI🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Suchi Saria is the John C. Malone Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University, where she directs the Machine Learning and Healthcare Lab, and is the founder and CEO of Bayesian Health. Her work focuses on building and deploying machine-learning systems that use real-world clinical data to improve diagnosis, treatment, and patient safety.
📍What Dr. Suchi Saria & Mike Haney discussed:
04:30 - Why the real AI risk is what it is allowed to do08:32 - Why sepsis is a race against organ failure11:57 - From checklists to reading the full medical record16:30 - How causal reasoning finds a patient’s baseline18:50 - Using uncertainty to avoid another noisy alert22:11 - Why an hour-late warning is already too late25:06 - Reading Epic in real time without slowing it down32:35 - A working algorithm still couldn’t get clinicians’ attention35:53 - What happened when the system went live45:32 - Human-machine teaming, and who still makes the call54:17 - The same infrastructure, beyond sepsis58:35 - Why billing and coding is too small a target🔗 Helpful Links:
Suchi Saria — Johns HopkinsResearch, publications, and academic background.Bayesian Health:Saria’s company commercializing real-time clinical AI.TREWScore —Science Translational Medicine(2015):The original real-time early warning model for septic shock.TREWS patient outcomes —Nature Medicine(2022):Prospective multisite evaluation after deploying the sepsis warning system in clinical care. TREWS clinician adoption —Nature Medicine(2022):Study of provider adoption and effects on sepsis treatment timing.Human-machine teaming —npj Digital Medicine(2022):Clinician interviews on what made the deployed AI system trustworthy and usable.Bayesian Health Sepsis Flagging Device — FDA (2026):FDA 510(k) clearance for the sepsis prediction software discussed in the episode.Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/uVEKgSvei4s
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 29 Oct 2026 - 1h 01min - 317 - #316 - What Should You Actually Do About High Cholesterol? | Dr. Seth Martin & Mike Haney
Heart disease is the leading cause of death, but it’s also one of the most preventable. Decades of research have established a strong causal role for LDL and other ApoB-containing particles in atherosclerosis, and we now have multiple proven ways to lower them. The harder question is how to turn that evidence into a decision for an individual person.
Mike Haney talks with Johns Hopkins cardiologist Dr. Seth Martin, a co-author of the new 2026 dyslipidemia guidelines, about what the latest evidence says we should actually measure and act on. The throughline is pragmatic: lower exposure to atherogenic particles earlier and for longer, use additional tests when they can change a decision, and distinguish interesting new measurements from ones that have actually been shown to improve outcomes.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why the evidence that LDL and ApoB-containing particles cause atherosclerosis is so strongWhat “lower for longer” means and how the new LDL and ApoB goals change with cardiovascular riskWhen ApoB adds useful information beyond a standard lipid panelWhy the guidelines recommend against routine LDL particle-size testingHow PREVENT risk scores and coronary calcium scans can help decide when treatment makes senseWhat decades of statin research tell us about benefits, muscle symptoms, and diabetes riskHow much lifestyle changes typically move cholesterol, and when non-statin drugs enter the pictureWhy common heart-health supplements don’t have the evidence behind proven lipid-lowering therapies🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Seth Martin is a professor of medicine and preventive cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, where he directs the Advanced Lipid Disorders Program and Digital Health and AI Lab at the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease. He is a co-developer of the widely used Martin-Hopkins LDL cholesterol equation and served on the writing committee for the 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline.
📍What Dr. Seth Martin & Mike Haney discussed:
00:04 - LDL and ApoB are causal. Lower for longer07:10 - Guidelines set the standard. Not your doctor11:40 - 2026 shift: earlier treatment, PREVENT, lower goals17:01 - LDL near zero does not eliminate cholesterol19:59 - Hard numbers are back, and lower23:05 - ApoB if a high result changes treatment27:42 - No trial says treat particle size instead of LDL34:51 - PREVENT is for people not already high risk38:52 - Calcium 300 can push the goals. Zero can mean lifestyle first44:29 - The 3% statin line, and the choice just under it51:22 - Muscle symptoms uncommon. Statin can move prediabetes diagnosis earlier56:21 - Lifestyle often lowers LDL about 10%, not the whole benefit59:05 - Other proven drugs when a statin is not enough1:05:31 - Statin beat the supplements. Fish oil can raise AFib risk🔗 Helpful Links:
2026 Guideline on the Management of Dyslipidemia:Read the guideline and supporting materialsThe New Cholesterol Guideline: What to Know — Johns Hopkins:Read the Johns Hopkins summaryPREVENT-ASCVD Calculator.: Use the PREVENT calculatorMartin-Hopkins LDL Equation: Learn about the Martin-Hopkins methodSPORT Trial —JACC(2022): Read the SPORT trialWatch the conversation: https://youtu.be/vRfhof5dOZw
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 22 Oct 2026 - 1h 08min - 316 - #315 - Can We Treat Disease Through the Nervous System? | Dr. Kevin Tracey & Mike Haney
Most of NextLevel starts with a measurement problem: we can see more biology than ever, but we still have to figure out what to do with it. Bioelectronic medicine flips that sequence. We already know how to send electrical signals into the nervous system to change biology, including an FDA-approved vagus nerve treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, even though we still can’t map or read most of the individual nerve fibers carrying those signals.
Mike Haney talks with Dr. Kevin Tracey, a pioneer of neuroimmunology and bioelectronic medicine, about what becomes possible when nerves become a therapeutic target. The opportunity is not simply vagus nerve stimulation, but learning which signals control specific organs, then building systems that can read and write them. That is still some distance away, and Tracey separates it from looser claims about vagal tone and vagus nerve hacks.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why the vagus nerve is not one wireHow one minute a day became an FDA-approved rheumatoid arthritis treatmentWhy a nerve target can be more precise than a drugWhy mapping the vagus fiber by fiber is only beginningWhy CRP and cytokines are not a true inflammation readoutWhat HRV, breathing, humming, and cold plunges can and cannot show🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Kevin Tracey is a neurosurgeon, scientist, and President and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. His work helped establish how the vagus nerve regulates inflammation and helped launch bioelectronic medicine. He is also co-founder of SetPoint Medical and author of The Great Nerve.
📍What Dr. Kevin Tracey & Mike Haney discussed:
00:00 - A nerve can treat one organ. A pill cannot04:43 - The vagus nerve is 160,000 fibers, not one wire07:53 - Why the first fiber-by-fiber map of the human vagus is only months old10:29 - FDA-approved vagus nerve stimulation for rheumatoid arthritis14:33 - Why one minute a day can quiet inflammation for 12 to 24 hours17:39 - Why it took 30 years to get from the mouse finding to patients31:53 - How one minute of current reaches millions of immune cells41:19 - Why arthritis has a known mechanism and epilepsy and depression do not49:16 - What single fibers could change in diabetes, the liver, the gut, and stroke recovery52:59 - Why CRP and cytokine levels still fall short of a true readout1:04:18 - Resting heart rate, not HRV, is the cleaner vagus signal1:09:55 - Why deep breathing and humming are not vagus nerve stimulation1:16:35 - A cold plunge is fight-or-flight first, vagus second1:20:23 - The spleen signal he would measure if he could🔗 Helpful Links:
The Great Nerve - Kevin J. Tracey (2025)RESET-RA - Nature MedicineSetPoint System - FDAThe inflammatory reflex - Nature (2002)Vagus nerve stimulation in rheumatoid arthritis - PNAS (2016), early human studyVagus nerve stimulation after stroke, paired with rehab - The Lancet (2021)Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/x_h6Dd_Ap_o
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Kevin Tracey at Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 15 Oct 2026 - 1h 21min - 315 - #314 - How to Make Health Decisions When the Science Is Unclear | Dr. Anupam Jena & Mike Haney
Most health decisions happen before the science is settled. A study points one way, another points somewhere else, experts disagree about what matters, and even strong population-level evidence may not tell you what will happen to you.
In this episode, Mike Haney talks with physician and economist Dr. Anupam Jena about how to make decisions under that kind of uncertainty. The goal isn’t to find a single hierarchy of evidence or a perfect source to trust. It’s to understand how much weight to put on any one piece of information, when personal experimentation can actually teach you something, and how the potential downside of an intervention should change the amount of evidence you demand before trying it.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why even a high-quality study should rarely change your mind by itselfWhy a meta-analysis is only as useful as the studies that go into itWhat randomized trials can establish, and where they can still fail to apply to real lifeHow to judge whether a study’s outcome is actually meaningful, not merely statistically significantWhen N-of-1 experiments can help, and how they can fool youA practical framework for deciding whether an intervention is worth trying: potential harm, quality of evidence, biological plausibility, and cost🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Anupam Jena is the Joseph P. Newhouse Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, and an economist whose research uses natural experiments to uncover unexpected influences on health and medical care. He is also the host of Freakonomics, M.D. and co-author of Random Acts of Medicine.
📍What Dr. Anupam Jena & Mike Haney discussed:
04:04 - Why taxi and ambulance drivers die least often of Alzheimer's09:20 - Why half of people still skip a free heart medication13:02 - Why the headlines on coffee keep reversing14:55 - Judge the study on its merits, not on who funded it17:43 - Why even a high-quality study should rarely change your mind23:04 - Why a cold plunge trial cannot separate the bath from the belief26:19 - Why a meta-analysis is only as useful as the studies inside it27:15 - What a randomized trial can establish, and where it still fails in real life33:53 - The coin-flip test for whether a study shows cause and effect36:25 - Absolute risk, relative risk, and what "significant" leaves out43:06 - When an N-of-1 experiment can teach you what a trial cannot46:02 - Getting better does not mean the experiment worked53:55 - Harm, evidence, plausibility, cost: is it worth trying?🔗 Helpful Links:
Dr. Anupam Jena — Harvard Medical School profileRandom Acts of Medicine — Anupam B. Jena & Christopher WorshamFreakonomics, M.D. https://freakonomics.com/series/bapuAlzheimer’s mortality among taxi and ambulance drivers (BMJ, 2024). Hypothesis-generating, not evidence that driving prevents Alzheimer’s: Read the BMJ studyMarathon road closures and cardiac mortality (NEJM, 2017): New England Journal of MedicineWatch the conversation:https://youtu.be/k9XI7ym7iP8
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Anupam Jena on https://x.com/AnupamBJena
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 08 Oct 2026 - 57min - 314 - #313 - What Happens When We Start Imaging Healthy People? | Dr. Daniel Durand & Mike Haney
Most medical imaging happens after a symptom, injury, or abnormal test gives a clinician a reason to look. But what changes if imaging becomes a more routine measurement, creating a record of the body before something goes wrong?
In this episode of Next Level, Mike Haney talks with Dr. Daniel Durand, chief medical officer at Prenuvo, about whole-body MRI as a test case for a broader shift from episodic medicine toward longitudinal health data. Whole-body MRI is controversial, and Durand is clearly an advocate. The conversation takes the skepticism seriously, then asks a larger question: as measurement gets cheaper, more frequent, and increasingly visible to patients themselves, how should medicine decide what is worth knowing?
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
How X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, and MRI differ, and why radiation matters when you start thinking about repeated imagingWhat whole-body MRI sees well, and where CT, colonoscopy, or blood-based approaches may still be betterThe concerns around incidental findings, overdiagnosis, anxiety, and unnecessary follow-up, and Durand’s response to themWhat the current cancer-detection evidence for whole-body MRI does, and does not, establishWhy having prior scans could help distinguish a stable abnormality from something genuinely newHow faster scans and AI interpretation could eventually connect imaging with genomic, proteomic, and other health data🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Daniel Durand is chief medical officer at Prenuvo and president of the Prenuvo Medical Group. He trained at Johns Hopkins, is board-certified in adult and pediatric radiology, and previously served as chief clinical officer and chief innovation officer at LifeBridge Health.
📍What Dr. Daniel Durand & Mike Haney discussed:
03:32 - Why imaging belongs in a series about continuous measurement15:32 - Imaging 101: X-rays, CT, ultrasound, and MRI28:57 - How AI is shortening MRI scan times38:52 - Screening versus surveillance40:26 - Which cancers whole-body MRI can miss46:39 - The case against scanning healthy people52:40 - What the cancer-detection data actually shows54:39 - "We're all going to get a body scan"1:03:31 - What would make routine imaging more useful?1:11:49 - Building a baseline of the healthy body1:17:43 - When AI can see more than a radiologist1:21:28 - Is it better to know, even when you can't treat it?🔗 Helpful Links:
Dr. Daniel Durand, Prenuvo: Prenuvo medical leadershipMeta-analysis behind the ~9,000 participants and ~1.6% detection figures. It notes limits, including incidental findings (European Radiology, 2026): PubMedPrenuvo-associated study of 1,011 people, 2.2% confirmed cancer detection (Cancer Research/AACR, 2025): AACR abstractIncidental findings in whole-body MRI and their psychosocial effects (European Journal of Radiology, 2021): PubMedPrenuvo's research overview, including Polaris data (company-reported): Prenuvo clinical researchWatch the conversation:https://youtu.be/rFZVbzUPSaA
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Daniel Durand at LinkedIn
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 01 Oct 2026 - 1h 25min - 313 - #312 - Is Moderate Drinking Actually Healthy? | Dr. Tim Naimi & Mike Haney
Alcohol has spent the last 40 years bouncing between two health narratives: a little is good for your heart, or any amount is dangerous. The science doesn’t really support either slogan.
Dr. Tim Naimi has spent decades studying the health effects of alcohol and, just as importantly, why the research is so difficult to interpret. His read of the evidence is less dramatic but more useful: there’s no good reason to start drinking for your health, very low intake may carry little measurable added risk, and risk rises as consumption does. Understanding why earlier studies made moderate drinking look protective helps explain a lot of the whiplashing headlines.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen causally linked to at least seven cancersWhether small amounts of alcohol really protect your heartWhy researchers still don’t have a definitive randomized trial of drinking and long-term healthHow the “sick quitter” problem, selection bias, and confounding made moderate drinkers look healthierWhy two major recent reviews of alcohol and health produced such different headlinesHow the risk changes with dose, including Naimi’s estimate of a 1 in 25 lifetime risk of an alcohol-caused death at 14 drinks per weekWhy alcohol consumption is falling, and whether GLP-1 drugs could be contributing🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Tim Naimi is a physician and alcohol epidemiologist who directs the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria, where he is a professor in the Division of Medical Sciences.
📍What Dr. Tim Naimi & Mike Haney discussed:
00:45 — Why the science on alcohol is so confusing05:48 — How alcohol damages DNA and raises cancer risk09:43 — Is alcohol actually good for your heart?14:22 — Why we still don't have a definitive randomized trial20:30 — The "sick quitter" problem24:56 — Selection bias and the problem with "healthy" moderate drinkers29:35 — Why two major reports produced different headlines31:37 — How alcohol risk changes as drinks per week increase38:21 — Industry funding and conflicts of interest46:15 — How much alcohol is too much?49:48 — Why younger generations are drinking less51:53 — Health consciousness, GLP-1s, and the decline in drinking🔗 Helpful Links:
Alcohol Intake and Health Study: No Protective Effect at Low Levels, With Mortality Increasing to 1 in 25 at 14 Drinks Per Week (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2026)PaperReview of Evidence on Alcohol and Health (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2025) ReportAssociation Between Daily Alcohol Intake and Risk of All-Cause Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (JAMA Network Open, 2023)PaperDo “Moderate” Drinkers Have Reduced Mortality Risk? (Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2016) PaperAlcohol Abstinence in Drinkers with Atrial Fibrillation (New England Journal of Medicine, 2020)PaperCanada’s Guidance on Alcohol and Health (2023)Guidance and supporting researchAlcohol and Cancer (World Health Organization / IARC)WHO overviewWatch the conversation:https://youtu.be/8GNmcjPfg7U
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Tim Naimi at University of Victoria
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 24 Sep 2026 - 53min - 312 - #311 - Can Your Blood Predict Your Future Health? | Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray & Mike Haney
From a single blood sample, new proteomic tools can now measure thousands of proteins at once. Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray’s lab is using that flood of data, together with machine learning, to build a much higher-resolution picture of what’s happening throughout the body and where someone’s health may be headed.
The early signals are striking. In one analysis of people who appeared healthy by conventional measures, every additional 4.1 years of estimated heart age was associated with nearly 2.5 times the risk of heart failure over the following 15 years. Wyss-Coray sees this kind of measurement eventually becoming a “health compass”: something that could show which parts of the body are changing fastest, then help track whether an intervention is actually moving them in the right direction.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
How a drop of blood can now reveal information from thousands of proteinsWhy aging appears to happen in waves rather than at a steady rateWhy one part of the body may age faster than the restWhat young-blood experiments in mice taught Wyss-Coray about proteins and brain agingHow the work is moving from whole organs down to individual cell typesWhy the field’s biggest constraint may now be data collection rather than better AI🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray is the D.H. Chen Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University and director of the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience.
📍What Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray & Mike Haney discussed:
04:03 Proteins 101: the building blocks hiding information about your health05:09 How one blood sample can measure thousands of proteins09:07 Using machine learning to find patterns in the proteome12:17 Can blood reveal what’s happening inside the brain?13:11 What happened when young blood was given to old mice19:45 Why aging may happen in waves rather than at a steady rate29:24 How stable are protein measurements over time?32:37 Can proteins predict disease years before it appears?40:35 Why one part of your body may age faster than the rest46:31 The missing test: does an intervention actually change the measurement?51:04 Going from whole organs to individual cell types54:10 Why more data, not better AI, is the current bottleneck57:18 A future “health compass” for the body🔗 Helpful Links:
Organ aging signatures in the plasma proteome track health and disease (Nature, 2023)Paper
The foundational organ-aging work discussed in the episode, using plasma proteins to estimate aging across 11 organs.Plasma proteomic signatures of cellular aging predict human disease (Nature Medicine, 2026)Paper
The newer study extending the approach to more than 40 cell types using over 7,000 plasma proteins.Undulating changes in human plasma proteome profiles across the lifespan (Nature Medicine, 2019)Paper
Young blood reverses age-related impairments in cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in mice (Nature Medicine, 2014)Paper
UK BiobankResearch resource
The large longitudinal cohort used for much of the disease-prediction work discussed in the episode.Watch the conversation:https://youtu.be/1dfMBAZiP8o
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray at Stanford
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 - 1h 00min - 311 - #310 - Can We Measure Aging Well Enough to Treat It? | Dr. Nir Barzilai & Mike Haney
Aging science has gotten much better at describing who appears to be aging faster or slower. What medicine still lacks is a reliable feedback loop: a way to tell whether something we do is actually changing the biology that drives age-related disease.
Dr. Nir Barzilai argues that solving that measurement problem could turn geroscience from an interesting field of research into something doctors can actually use: measure where you are, intervene, measure again, and learn what works.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
What centenarians reveal about living longer and spending less time sickWhy changing one hallmark of aging can affect several othersHow TAME was designed to test metformin as an anti-aging drug and to convince the FDA to treat aging itself as an endpoint—and why it failed to get off the groundWhy metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 agonists, and some osteoporosis drugs are being studied as potential gerotherapeutics, or anti-aging drugsHow FAST is searching existing clinical trials for biomarkers that change when an intervention affects aging biologyWhether aging needs continuous monitoring or can be meaningfully tracked a few times a year🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Nir Barzilai is the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair in Aging Research and a professor of medicine and genetics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he directs the Institute for Geroscience.
📍What Dr. Nil Barzilai & Mike Haney discussed:
05:10 - Aging is a condition, not just a label05:59 - Why aging is what drives disease08:19 - Should we call aging a disease?10:20 - Why the species may have a ceiling around 11514:34 - Why changing one hallmark of aging changes the others23:08 - Metformin was anti-aging before it was a diabetes drug31:55 - Centenarians live longer and spend less time sick40:12 - How TAME tried to make aging an FDA endpoint48:17 - Metformin, SGLT2s, GLP-1s, and osteoporosis drugs as gerotherapeutics52:26 - FAST: finding biomarkers that actually change with treatment56:49 - Whether aging needs continuous monitoring, or a few checks a year1:01:16 - Where behavior still fits once we have anti-aging drugs🔗 Helpful Links:
Hallmarks of Aging: An Expanding Universe (Cell, 2023) PaperCompression of Morbidity Is Observed Across Cohorts with Exceptional Longevity (JAGS, 2016) PaperMetformin as a Tool to Target Aging (Cell Metabolism, 2016) PaperGeroscience-Guided Repurposing of FDA-Approved Drugs to Target Aging (Aging Cell, 2022) PaperBiomarkers of Aging for the Identification and Evaluation of Longevity Interventions (Cell, 2023) PaperFAST: Finding Aging Biomarkers by Searching Existing Trials FAST InitiativeARPA-H PROSPR / FAST award ARPA-H FAST projectWatch the conversation:https://youtu.be/HbeGjwCw6vk
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Nil Barzilai on X: https://x.com/NirBarzilaiMD
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 10 Sep 2026 - 1h 03min - 310 - #309 - What AI Sees That Doctors Can’t | Dr. Ziad Obermeyer & Mike Haney
Medical AI is already getting good at doing things doctors do. Dr. Ziad Obermeyer thinks the bigger opportunity is using AI to discover things medicine doesn’t yet know.
His work shows both sides of that future: algorithms can amplify bad assumptions when trained on the wrong targets, but they can also uncover signals in medical data that humans miss. Obermeyer argues that as more health data is collected outside the hospital, AI could turn it into a continuous picture of health rather than a series of isolated snapshots.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover:
Why AI should learn from patients and outcomes, not just doctorsHow an ECG model found hidden risk of sudden cardiac deathWhy medical data access is still a major bottleneckHow more measurement could actually mean fewer unnecessary testsWhy healthcare may be entering a “mainframe to PC” transition🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Ziad Obermeyer is an emergency medicine physician and an Associate Professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health. He also co-founded Dandelion Health and the non-profit Nightingale Open Science.
📍What Dr. Ziad Obermeyer & Mike Haney discussed:
02:43 Why better data is fundamental to medical AI05:54 The problem: There’s no variable called “get sick”09:27 Algorithms optimize exactly what you tell them to23:03 Why teaching AI to copy doctors limits what it can discover26:28 How AI could create a new science of medicine28:40 Could AI predict sudden cardiac death before it happens?34:14 Can an algorithm teach us what it sees?36:50 Medicine’s biggest AI bottleneck: access to data49:00 Healthcare’s “mainframe to PC” transition55:08 Why more measurement could actually mean fewer tests58:46 Why medical AI is aiming too low1:02:13 What the next generation of wearables needs to measure🔗 Helpful Links:
Dissecting Racial Bias in an Algorithm Used to Manage the Health of Populations (Science, 2019)https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax2342An Algorithmic Approach to Reducing Unexplained Pain Disparities in Underserved Populations (Nature Medicine, 2021)https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-01192-7An ECG Biomarker for Sudden Cardiac Death Discovered with Deep Learning (Nature, 2026)https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10674-6Predicting the Future — Big Data, Machine Learning, and Clinical Medicine (NEJM, 2016)https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1606181Nightingale Open Sciencehttps://www.nightingalescience.org/Dandelion Healthhttps://dandelionhealth.ai/Watch the conversation:https://youtu.be/WDo-iL6O5nU
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Ziad Obermeyer on https://ziadobermeyer.com/
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 03 Sep 2026 - 1h 05min - 309 - #308 - Why Some Foods Are So Hard to Stop Eating | Dr. Dana Small & Mike Haney
Why do we crave some foods the more often we eat them? Are we addicted?
Dr. Dana Small’s research suggests that food craving reaches far beyond taste or willpower, and that “addiction” isn’t a helpful descriptor. Every time we eat, unconscious signals from the body teach the brain which foods deliver useful nutrients, and train us to want more of those. In other words, we don’t eat crave foods because they taste good; foods taste good because our body craves them.
Understanding that means we can rethink overeating. It’s not a matter of addiction or self-control; it’s our body behaving the way nature intended it to, but in the setting of foods not found in the wild, like those high in both fat and carbohydrates. But we may also be able to train our brain away from these cravings.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
What We Cover
Taste vs. flavor, pleasure, motivation, and food rewardHow gut nutrient signals teach the brain which foods to seekWhy fat + carbs produce an unusually strong reward responseWhat eight weeks of high-fat, high-sugar snacks did to the brainHow GLP-1s may cut food wanting while preserving pleasure🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Dana Small is the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Metabolism and the Brain and a professor at McGill University, with appointments in Neurology and Neurosurgery and Medicine. She directs the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center, and her research examines how sensory, metabolic, and neural signals interact to shape food reward, eating behavior, and metabolic health.
📍What Dr. Dana Small & Mike Haney discussed:
02:44 - Is food actually addictive?05:02 - Taste and flavor are different senses08:21 - Why “hedonic” vs. “homeostatic” eating is misleading10:42 - The reward from sugar begins after you swallow it22:32 - The “high road” and “low road” of food reward27:41 - How scientists teach the brain to associate a flavor with calories38:30 - Why combining fat and carbohydrates produces more reward47:34 - How beliefs about food can change physiological responses50:02 - Eight weeks of snacks changes how the brain responds to food57:51 - What this science means for people trying to eat differently1:03:50 - How GLP-1 drugs may change food wanting1:07:30 - Can GLP-1s help retrain eating behavior for the long term?🔗 Helpful Links:
Habitual Daily Intake of a Sweet and Fatty Snack Modulates Reward Processing in Humans (Cell Metabolism, 2023)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36958330/Supra-Additive Effects of Combining Fat and Carbohydrate on Food Reward (Cell Metabolism, 2018)https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(18)30325-5Integration of Sweet Taste and Metabolism Determines Carbohydrate Reward (Current Biology, 2017)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28803868/Rethinking Food Reward (Annual Review of Psychology, 2020)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31561741/In Defense of Pleasure: We Need to Rethink Food Reward and Obesity (PLOS Biology, 2025)https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3003497Mind Over Milkshakes: Mindsets, Not Just Nutrients, Determine Ghrelin Response (Health Psychology, 2011)https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21574706/Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/lXlCqNqjgHY
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 27 Aug 2026 - 1h 11min - 308 - #307 - It Took Months to Interpret His Genome. Claude Did It in 30 Minutes. | Dr. Euan Ashley + Mike Haney
Twenty-five years ago, sequencing the human genome seemed poised to usher in an era of personalized medicine. Dr. Euan Ashley helped turn that promise into an actual clinical experiment, leading one of the first efforts to interpret an entire human genome in the context of a real patient’s health. The challenge quickly became apparent: medicine could suddenly generate billions of data points about one person, but making sense of them was painfully slow.
That history feels newly relevant. Ashley recently gave an AI system his own 15-year-old genome data and watched it reproduce most of an analysis that had originally required months of work by a team, in about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, genomics is being joined by wearables, multi-omics, and other technologies capable of tracking far more of our biology over time.
In this episode of NextLevel, we use the genome revolution as a case study for what happens when our ability to measure the body advances faster than our ability to interpret and use the information. The next leap in personalized medicine may depend less on collecting another mountain of data than on building the tools, reference datasets, and healthcare systems capable of turning that information into decisions.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Euan Ashley is Chair of the Department of Medicine at Stanford University and the Roger and Joelle Burnell Professor of Genomics and Precision Health, with appointments in medicine, genetics, and biomedical data science. He’s also the author of The Genome Odyssey: Medical Mysteries and the Incredible Quest to Solve Them.
📍What Dr. Euan Ashley & Mike Haney discussed:
03:33 What happened to the promise of personalized medicine?06:33 The first clinical interpretation of a human genome11:26 AI interprets in 30 minutes what once took months21:25 Why genomics still needs better, more diverse reference data27:41 Building a molecular map of exercise with MoTrPAC32:01 Exercise changed nearly every organ researchers measured39:05 Why your personal baseline can matter more than a "normal" range42:46 How wearables opened a new era of longitudinal health data47:48 The biggest barrier to continuous, personalized healthcare51:39 What medical AI needs to become genuinely useful57:05 How AI can ace medical benchmarks for the wrong reasons58:20 The heart measurement Ashley considers a medical "holy grail"🔗 Helpful Links:
Clinical Assessment Incorporating a Personal Genome, The Lancet, 2010. Landmark integrated clinical analysis of a complete human genome.Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC), NIH Common Fund. Large-scale project mapping how exercise changes tissues and organs. MoTrPAC: Human Studies Design and Protocol, Journal of Applied Physiology, 2024. Human study of molecular responses to endurance and resistance training.The Mitochondrial Multi-Omic Response to Exercise Training Across Rat Tissues, Cell Metabolism, 2024. MoTrPAC study on molecular changes across organs after exercise.Harmonizing Standards and Resources for the Medical Genome, Nature, 2026. Ashley et al. on genomic reference standards and clinical-grade sequencing.Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/bD2YVGdwviE
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 20 Aug 2026 - 1h 00min - 307 - #306 - Does Intermittent Fasting Actually Work? | Dr. Courtney Peterson & Mike Haney
Is intermittent fasting biohacker wellness hype or legit health intervention? Some studies show real benefits, others find nothing, and the occasional headline calls it bad for your heart.
Dr. Courtney Peterson has spent nearly two decades running some of the field's most tightly controlled feeding trials, and her data points to a clear pattern: there is a real effect to a restricted eating window, but when you eat may matter as much as how long you fast. Her studies found that eating in a short window early in the day lowers blood pressure and improves insulin sensitivity, even without weight loss. A physicist by training, she brings that same rigor to a field built mostly on people's own food diaries.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Courtney Peterson is an Associate Professor of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She holds a PhD in physics from Harvard and leads clinical trials on intermittent fasting, meal timing, and circadian rhythms.
📍What Dr. Courtney Peterson & Mike Haney discussed:
0:00 Introduction02:39 The three types of intermittent fasting05:29 The 2012 mouse study that started the field11:24 Why fasting works through appetite, not extra calories13:48 Her six-hour study: lower blood pressure, no weight loss25:34 Why results depend on who's being studied28:45 The shift worker whose health got worse36:45 Her theory: timing over fasting length43:08 Heart attacks, blood pressure, and the body's clock45:55 The camping trip that reset people's body clocks58:11 Early findings from her unpublished aging study1:08:16 Should you eat ice cream for breakfast?🔗 Helpful Links:
Time-Restricted Feeding without Reducing Caloric Intake Prevents Metabolic Diseases in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet (Hatori et al., 2012) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2012.04.019Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves Insulin Sensitivity, Blood Pressure, and Oxidative Stress Even without Weight Loss in Men with Prediabetes (Sutton et al., 2018) — https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.04.010Early Time-Restricted Feeding Improves 24-Hour Glucose Levels and Affects Markers of the Circadian Clock, Aging, and Autophagy in Humans (Jamshed et al., 2019) — https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11061234Calorie Restriction with or without Time-Restricted Eating in Weight Loss (Liu et al., 2022) — https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2114833Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/dKauIgX3IH4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 - 1h 14min - 306 - #305 - What You Can Learn from Measuring Everything | Dr. Michael Snyder & Mike Haney
What if we could measure the human body the way engineers monitor a jet engine?
For nearly two decades, Stanford geneticist Dr. Michael Snyder has been trying exactly that. By continuously tracking everything he could possibly track in his body—genome sequencing, metabolites, wearable data, whole-body imaging—he has turned himself (and ~100 study subjects) into one of the world's largest experiments in continuous health measurement.
The point wasn’t mindless biohacking. It was to answer a question: Are there clinically useful signals in all that data?
This conversation suggests the answer is yes. Snyder’s experience and that of dozens of his study subjects offer some of the first real evidence that continuous measurement intelligently analyzed can reveal that you’re getting sick before you have symptoms, help find solutions to medical conditions that work for your unique biology, and help you refocus on prevention of disease rather than management.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Michael Snyder is the Stanford W. Ascherman Professor of Genetics and director of the Stanford Center for Genomics and Personalized Medicine, where he previously chaired the Department of Genetics for 15 years.
📍What Dr. Michael Snyder & Mike Haney discussed:
03:10 Why Dr. Snyder started measuring healthy people instead of waiting for disease09:18 Living in the future: tracking his own biology for nearly two decades15:02 Why "normal" isn't enough: the importance of personal baselines22:48 Discovering his own genetically unique form of type 2 diabetes32:06 How wearables detected illness before symptoms appeared39:18 Whole-body MRIs, incidental findings, and why change over time matters46:55 Why everyone has abnormalities, but not everyone has disease55:41 The promise of metabolomics, proteomics, and continuous biological sensing1:06:52 Why AI is essential for interpreting thousands of health signals1:15:34 What continuous measurement could mean for preventive medicine
1:23:10 The next decade of personalized health and what's still missing
🔗 Helpful Links:
Personal Omics Profiling Reveals Dynamic Molecular and Medical Phenotypes (Chen et al., Cell, 2012)
https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(12)00965-3Longitudinal Multi-omics Profiling Reveals Dynamic Personal Health Status (Price et al., Nature Biotechnology, 2017)
https://www.nature.com/articles/nbt.3695The Integrative Personal Omics Profile (iPOP): A Decade of Progress in Precision Health (Snyder lab review)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41576-021-00409-3Wearable Sensor Data and Self-reported Symptoms for COVID-19 Detection (Mishra et al., Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2020)
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-020-00640-6All of Us Research Program
https://allofus.nih.gov/Connect with Dr Michael Snyder: https://med.stanford.edu/snyderlab.htmlWatch the conversation: https://youtu.be/eUEYmLC1CcE
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 - 1h 10min - 305 - #304 - Did Low-Fat Diets Drive the Obesity Epidemic? | Dr. Arne Astrup & Mike Haney
For decades, we've been told that eating less fat is one of the healthiest things we can do. That advice reshaped the foods we buy, the way we think about weight loss, and even how parents feed their children.
But what if we misunderstood fat in the first place?
In this episode, nutrition researcher Dr. Arne Astrup traces how the war on fat began, why many of its core assumptions haven't held up under decades of research, and what we've learned instead. Rather than asking whether fat is "good" or "bad," he argues that the more useful questions are: What foods actually keep us healthy? Why do some people gain weight more easily than others? And what happens when we reduce nutrition to single nutrients instead of whole foods?
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Arne Astrup is a physician, nutrition researcher, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Copenhagen whose research focuses on obesity, appetite regulation, dietary fats, and cardiometabolic health. He previously chaired the Danish Nutrition Council and helped lead Denmark's landmark ban on industrial trans fats.
📍What Dr. Arne Astrup & Mike Haney discussed:
00:00 Introduction01:03 How fear of fat became public health policy07:40 Did low-fat advice help create today's processed foods?10:20 Denmark's trans fat ban and one lesson nutrition got right14:00 "I was wrong." Why dietary fat isn't the main driver of obesity18:45 Why your body fat isn't simply the fat you eat27:00 Why fat can help you eat fewer calories32:00 Are nuts actually easy to overeat?36:00 Cheese, yogurt, and why whole foods don't behave like nutrients41:00 Why insulin resistance changes carbohydrate tolerance55:00 The LDL debate: what saturated fat actually changes1:01:00 Why it's time to stop talking about "saturated fat" as a single thing🔗 Helpful Links:
Diets with High or Low Protein Content and Glycemic Index for Weight-Loss Maintenance (DIOGENES Trial):Landmark randomized trial led by Dr. Astrup examining protein, glycemic index, and long-term weight maintenance. New England Journal of MedicineWeight Loss Maintenance in Overweight Subjects on Ad Libitum Diets with High or Low Protein Content and Glycemic Index: The DIOGENES Trial (12-Month Results).One-year follow-up of the DIOGENES study. International Journal of ObesityDietary Saturated Fats and Health: Are the U.S. Guidelines Evidence-Based? (Astrup et al., 2021): Consensus review arguing that current saturated fat recommendations should place greater emphasis on whole foods and dietary patterns than saturated fat alone. Nutrients (2021)Walter Willett's research on industrial trans fats and cardiovascular disease:Early epidemiologic work that helped establish the harms of industrial trans fats and ultimately informed policy changes worldwide. PubMed search for Walter Willett trans fat publicationsWorld Health Organization: REPLACE Trans Fat Initiative:Background on the global effort to eliminate industrially produced trans fats from the food supply. World Health Organization REPLACE InitiativeWatch the conversation: https://youtu.be/ajqg7LdM0PM
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 - 1h 17min - 304 - #303 - Why Healthcare Needs an Intelligence Layer | Dr. Robert Wachter & Mike Haney
Almost everything your doctor knows about you comes from a snapshot: a blood pressure reading, an annual lab, a handful of numbers meant to represent a constantly changing human body.
That's beginning to change. New sensors promise far more continuous health data, and AI may finally give us the ability to interpret it. But medicine has been through a data revolution before, and almost none of what people initially promised actually happened.
In the first episode of NextLevel, Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Robert Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF and one of medicine's leading thinkers on technological change, to ask what healthcare's messy transition from paper to electronic records can teach us about the AI era.
Wachter explains why digitizing medicine didn't transform care on its own, why your doctor is already overwhelmed by data, and why simply sending them continuous feeds from your watch, ring, or future sensors would make the problem worse.
The missing piece is an intelligence layer: a system capable of deciding what matters, helping patients act when they can, and pulling clinicians in when they're actually needed.
They also explore how AI is changing the balance of knowledge between doctors and patients, the danger of trusting systems that are usually right, what healthcare can learn from airplane cockpits, and why collecting more health data may be much easier than figuring out what any of it means.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Robert M. Wachter is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He’s also the author of six books, including the 2015 bestseller The Digital Doctor, which examined medicine's transition from paper to electronic health records, and 2026’s A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future, his examination of generative AI's arrival in medicine.
📍What Dr.Robert Watcher & Mike Haney discussed:
0:00 — Dr. Wachter and medicine's technological revolutions7:00 — How healthcare finally went digital12:40 — Why digitizing healthcare didn't fix it19:00 — AI is fixing problems computers created29:40 — Does AI know more medicine than your doctor?33:00 — The hidden danger of trusting computers42:30 — What healthcare can learn from airplane cockpits56:15 — Why medicine has to move beyond the office visit58:20 — Healthcare's missing intelligence layer1:04:20 — Why more health data isn't enough🔗 Helpful Links:
Dr. Robert Wachter, UCSF Department of Medicine: https://medicine.ucsf.edu/people/robert-wachterA Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future: https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-giant-leap-how-ai-is-transforming-healthcare-and-what-that-means-for-our-future-robert-wachter/e6a7ecb6556f9f02The Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine's Computer Age: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-digital-doctor-hope-hype-and-harm-at-the-dawn-of-medicine-s-computer-age-robert-wachter/9187727Pattern Recognition, Dr. Wachter's newsletter on AI and healthcare: https://robertwachter.substack.com/Dr. Robert Wachter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wachter-3102b963/Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/762DTOa7uTY
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Wed, 15 Jul 2026 - 1h 17min - 303 - Coming Soon: NextLevel
Healthcare is entering a new era.
AI is improving faster than our ability to measure the human body, while a new generation of sensors promises to change that. Together, they’ll reshape how we understand health, disease, and medicine itself.
NextLevel is our new series inside the podcast where we try to make sense of that future through conversations with the people building it.
Our first episode, featuring Dr. Bob Wachter, arrives this week.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Sun, 12 Jul 2026 - 03min - 302 - #302 - Social Connection, Longevity, and the Hidden Health Risks of Isolation | Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Mike Haney
You probably spend more time thinking about protein than friendships.
According to today's guest, you’ve got it backward.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, one of the world's leading researchers on social connection and health. She explains how data now unequivocally show that social isolation drives early mortality. And why simply not feeling lonely doesn't necessarily mean you're getting enough social connection, as well as why even weak connections matter a lot to a healthy social life.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University and one of the world's leading researchers on social connection and health. Her landmark meta-analyses involving millions of participants established social isolation and loneliness as independent risk factors for chronic disease and early mortality.
📍What Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Mike Haney discussed:
0:00 — Introduction1:18 — How Dr. Holt-Lunstad began studying social connection and health3:00 — Why relationships belong alongside diet, exercise, and sleep4:10 — Social isolation vs. loneliness vs. living alone11:45 — How researchers measure social connection and health outcomes16:20 — The biological pathways linking isolation to disease27:30 — How scientists study social connection without randomized trials33:00 — Family, friends, weak ties, and what kinds of relationships matter|37:00 — AI companions, loneliness, and whether technology can replace human connection46:15 — Is there a minimum effective dose of friendship?58:10 — Why Americans are participating in fewer clubs and community groups1:03:20 — Why objective isolation predicts health better than loneliness1:10:40 — Making friends as adults and overcoming the friction of connection🔗 Helpful Links:
Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad
BYU Faculty Profile: https://psychology.byu.edu/directory/julianne-holt-lunstadSocial Connection in America Survey: https://www.socialconnectionguidelines.org/U.S. Surgeon General Advisory on Social Connection: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdfKey Research
Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010): https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Mortality (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015): https://perspectives.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ps.201500160Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation (U.S. Surgeon General, 2023):https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdfBowling Alone (Robert Putnam): https://bowlingalone.com/Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/g6D2CIpB2n4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 - 1h 17min - 301 - #301 - What Actually Moves the Needle on Cardiovascular Risk | Dr. Kevin Maki & Mike Haney
High cholesterol. Elevated ApoB. A positive CAC score. Now what?
Most people quickly find themselves trapped between two extremes: simplistic advice to “cut saturated fat” and online influencers insisting cholesterol doesn’t matter at all.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Mike Haney sits down with clinical research scientist Dr. Kevin Maki to cut through the confusion.Drawing on more than 35 years of cardiovascular research, Maki explains why heart disease risk is about much more than LDL cholesterol alone. He breaks down the roles of inflammation, blood sugar, family history, kidney function, and lipoproteins, while also making a clear case for something many people resist: LDL and ApoB still matter. A lot.
The evidence increasingly suggests that when it comes to atherosclerosis, lower for longer is better. That has important implications for diet, statins, and how early we should intervene.
Mike and Dr. Maki also tackle saturated fat, seed oils, red meat, industry-funded research, and how to separate evidence from online nutrition debates.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Kevin Maki is founder and Chief Science Officer of Midwest Biomedical Research and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Public Health at Indiana University. A former president of the National Lipid Association, he has spent more than three decades designing and leading clinical trials focused on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, nutrition, and lipid management.
His research has included studies on cholesterol-lowering therapies, dietary patterns, red meat, seed oils, inflammation, and cardiometabolic risk reduction.
📍What Dr. Kevin Maki & Mike Haney discussed:
0:00 — Dr. Maki’s background in clinical research4:30 — How industry-funded nutrition research actually works15:00 — The Framingham Heart Study and the “Big Four” risk factors20:00 — FLASH-GLICK: the ten factors that drive cardiovascular risk26:00 — Why inflammation may be the next frontier in prevention33:00 — LDL, ApoB, and the “lower for longer” principle42:00 — Particle size, ApoB, and what advanced lipid testing adds47:00 — Why everyone should know their Lp(a)51:00 — Saturated fat, seed oils, and the “compared to what?” problem62:00 — What the red meat evidence actually shows72:00 — Statins, lifestyle, and LDL treatment goals82:00 — Why earlier LDL lowering may provide the biggest benefit🔗 Helpful Links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/l8QzuuTYxLIBeef Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11621491/Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Lowering and Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Primary Prevention Trials: A Meta-Analysis: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1933287426000395PREDIMED Trial (Mediterranean Diet & Primary Prevention): https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMoa1200303CORDIOPREV Trial: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35525255/The Framingham Heart Study: A Historical Perspective: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)61752-3/abstractMidwest Biomedical Research: https://midwestbiomedicalresearch.com/National Lipid Association: https://www.lipid.org/✅ Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 - 1h 18min - 300 - #300 - Who Should Take GLP-1s? The Science of Obesity, Appetite & Weight Loss | Dr. Robert Kushner & Mike Haney
What are GLP-1 drugs actually doing in the body, who are they for, and why might some people want to think twice before treating them like a six-month shortcut?
For years, obesity treatment focused largely on behavior: eat less, move more, stay motivated. Yet many people lost weight only to regain it. According to obesity medicine pioneer Dr. Robert Kushner, that wasn’t a failure of willpower. It was a failure to fully understand the biology driving weight regulation.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Mike Haney sits down with Kushner, one of the leading figures in obesity medicine and a lead investigator on the landmark STEP trials, to discuss how GLP-1 medications are changing the field. He explains why these drugs may be the first treatments capable of helping patients “fight biology with biology,” why appetite regulation appears to work differently in different people, and why many patients describe a dramatic reduction in food noise after starting treatment.
But this conversation goes beyond how the drugs work. Kushner also addresses one of the biggest questions facing obesity medicine today: who should actually take these medications? He explains why obesity specialists evaluate far more than a number on the scale, why someone hoping to lose a modest amount of weight may want to think carefully before pursuing treatment, and why successful long-term health still requires changes that no medication can provide.
They also discuss obesity as a disease, the promise and limitations of telehealth prescribing, and why maintaining weight loss often requires something deeper than motivation: a shift in identity.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Robert Kushner is Professor Emeritus of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and one of the pioneers of modern obesity medicine. He is a past president of The Obesity Society, founder and former chair of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, and a lead investigator on the landmark STEP clinical trials that helped establish semaglutide as a treatment for obesity.
📍What Dr. Robert Kushner & Mike Haney discussed:
2:06 — Why obesity is more than willpower
4:34 — The benefits and drawbacks of calling obesity a disease6:27 — Clinical vs. preclinical obesity
17:36 — What obesity medicine misunderstood about weight regain
18:44 — “Fight biology with biology”
25:07 — Why weight maintenance is a different challenge than weight loss
26:49 — The identity shift that helps people keep weight off
27:52 — How GLP-1 drugs actually work
31:09 — Why some people experience constant food noise
34:09 — Why GLP-1s treat obesity but don’t cure it
42:17 — The STEP and SELECT trials
44:15 — Who should consider GLP-1 medications?
45:44 — Why obesity treatment is more than an online prescription
50:44 — What happens after you stop taking GLP-1s?
🔗 Helpful Links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/qdssFUAWVck
Dr. Robert Kushner: https://drrobertkushner.com/about/
Northwestern Faculty Profile: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/faculty-profiles/az/profile.html?xid=11686
STEP Trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
SELECT Trial: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2307563
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 - 1h 14min - 299 - #299 - Do Athletes Really Need More Carbs? | Dr. Andrew Koutnik & Mike Haney
Most athletes are told the same basic rule: the harder you train, the more carbs you need. But Dr. Andrew Koutnik argues the science is more complicated.
In this episode, Mike Haney talks with Dr. Koutnik about how the body fuels exercise, why muscle glycogen may not explain “hitting the wall” as neatly as many people think, and why blood glucose, brain energy, insulin, and metabolic flexibility may matter more than conventional sports nutrition advice suggests.
They discuss whether athletes really need 60, 90, or even 120 grams of carbs per hour, why some athletes may perform well on far less, and how to think about fueling as an individual experiment rather than a universal rule. Because apparently even “eat sugar while running” was too simple for human physiology to leave alone.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙️ About the Guest:
Dr. Andrew Koutnik is a Visiting Research Scientist at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, studying nutrition, metabolism, Type 1 diabetes, and human performance. He earned his PhD in medical sciences from the University of South Florida and has worked with groups including NASA and the Department of Defense.
📍What Dr. Andrew Koutnik & Mike Haney discussed:
00:42 Why carbs became central to sports nutrition05:30 How the body uses carbs, fat, ketones, and lactate for fuel13:45 Exercise, insulin sensitivity, and blood glucose21:20 Why muscle glycogen may not explain performance limits31:00 What “hitting the wall” may really mean39:15 The case for lower-carb fueling strategies48:30 Why more carbs don’t always mean better performance58:00 The problem with 90–120 grams of carbs per hour1:08:30 How athletes can test fueling for themselves1:17:00 What this means for everyday exercisers and marathoners🔗 Helpful Links:Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/FfomxfyCchw
Study discussed: Carbohydrate Ingestion on Exercise Metabolism and Physical Performancehttps://academic.oup.com/edrv/article/47/2/191/8432248Related paper: Substrate Oxidation Does Not Influence Middle Distance Running Performancehttps://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/17/17/2771
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:Connect with Dr. Andrew Koutnik: https://andrewkoutnik.com/X: https://x.com/AKoutnikInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewkoutnikphd/Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=2BzUjqkAAAAJ
👋 Who we are:
Levels helps you understand your metabolic health with personalized data, expert guidance, and tools that connect your daily choices to measurable changes in your body. Our goal is to help you make better decisions about food, exercise, sleep, and long-term health.
Thu, 21 May 2026 - 1h 31min - 298 - #298 - Why AI Won’t Replace Doctors—But Will Change Everything Else | Dr. Ami Bhatt + Mike Haney
We can measure more about our health than ever before. Wearables track everything from heart rhythms to glucose trends, and AI can now identify patterns clinicians might miss. But more data does not automatically mean better health outcomes.
In this episode, cardiologist and digital health expert Dr. Ami Bhatt joins Mike Haney to explore why medicine still struggles with prevention, how continuous health data can help patients take more agency, and where AI may actually improve care—not by replacing doctors, but by helping clinicians navigate the right information at the right time.
They discuss the promise and pitfalls of wearables, the challenge of turning constant streams of health information into useful action, and why the future of medicine may depend on what Dr. Bhatt calls “collaborative intelligence”: humans and AI working together to make better decisions earlier.
Free course: Improve your metabolic health
Get our free email course on how glucose, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and measurement can help you build habits that support better energy and long-term health: https://levels.link/wnl
About the guest: Dr. Ami Bhatt is the chief innovation officer (CIO) at the American College of Cardiology and the Chair of the FDA Digital Health Advisory Committee. She received her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and her Doctor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine, and was the Director of Outpatient Cardiology, TeleCardiology, and Adult Congenital Heart Disease at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Ami Bhatt & Mike Haney discuss:
1:19 Why heart disease remains the leading killer despite medical advances10:17 The opportunity and risk of detecting disease earlier17:38 What wearables are actually useful for today30:16 When health tracking creates more anxiety than insight37:12 Why AI should guide doctors, not replace them44:27 Dr. Bhatt on “collaborative intelligence” in medicine1:18:30 Why the future is human judgment plus AI, not AI aloneLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/d0LJvL1uB4k
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Ami Bhatt on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramibhatt/
Thu, 07 May 2026 - 1h 09min - 297 - #297 - Does Most Chronic Disease Come Down to “Energy Flow?” | Greg Mushen and Josh Clemente
Metabolic health is often simplified to a matter of blood sugar, but at its root, it is a complex system of energy substrate signaling. While many view chronic disease as an inevitable part of aging, a systems-thinking approach reveals that maintaining high "flux"—the capacity to efficiently move and clear energy through the body—is the primary lever for longevity. Without the stimulus of regular movement, even the most optimized diet can fail to prevent the accumulation of metabolic waste that leads to insulin resistance and heart disease.
In this episode, we sit down with Greg Mushen, a technologist who turned his engineering mind toward his own biology after conventional medicine failed to address his chronic health issues. Mushen breaks down his "Theory of Flux" and why he believes the key to disease resistance lies in meeting our body's "clearance burden". From studying the activity levels of hunter-gatherer populations to debunking myths about walking and V2 max, Mushen provides a data-driven framework for optimizing health through the lens of evolutionary biology and systems engineering.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover:
The Theory of Flux: Understanding health as the dynamic capacity to move nutrients and fuel through the system rather than a static set of markers.Insulin Resistance Reimagined: Why blood sugar is a symptom, not the root cause, and how fat accumulation in the liver and muscle disrupts signaling.The Power of PAL: Why a Physical Activity Level (PAL) of 2.0 is the "golden ratio" observed in disease-free subsistence populations.Walking vs. HIT: De-bunking the idea that you need high intensity to improve V2 max and why the "area under the curve" for oxygen consumption is what matters.The Saturated Fat Paradox: Comparing the Messiah and Chimané populations to understand how high activity levels can mitigate the risks of high-fat diets.Fiber as a Sensor: Why fiber is more than just "throughput" and acts as a critical environmental sensor for metabolic signaling.The "Walking Grifter" Philosophy: Why walking is the most under-leveraged tool for increasing metabolic flux with the lowest recovery cost.🎙 What Greg Mushen & Josh Clemente discuss:
[00:53] — Greg’s transition from tech engineering to "debugging" his own biology.[06:55] — The mold exposure and chronic fatigue that sparked a deep dive into primary literature.[11:36] — How correcting a copper deficiency became a "point of light" for understanding micronutrients.[20:53] — Lessons from the Messiah: High saturated fat intake paired with extreme physical activity.[25:26] — Defining Flux: The capacity to clear substrate and prevent metabolic accumulation.[30:26] — The PAL 2.0 threshold: Why doubling your basal metabolic rate is the key to warding off chronic disease.[51:10] — Lipid Kinetics: Using the "sink and drain" analogy to understand LDL residence time.[01:00:19] — The Integral of Oxygen: Why walking 15,000 steps can be as effective for V2 max as short bursts of HIT.[01:17:16] — Why Greg changed his mind on plant-based vs. animal protein.[01:28:24] — Greg's personal stack: From 15k steps and resistance training to PD5 inhibitors and custom fiber blends.Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/A1KSG2qyVww
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Greg Mushen on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmushen
Thu, 23 Apr 2026 - 1h 35min - 296 - #296 - The Truth About Protein: Why Exercise is the Secret to Muscle Growth and Longevity | Dr. Stuart Phillips & Mike Haney
Protein is often hailed as the ultimate nutrient for health and longevity, but the science suggests it is only half of the equation. While social media influencers debate the minutiae of protein grams, researchers have found that the vast majority of protein's benefits are "baked in" only when combined with physical activity. Without the stimulus of exercise, even the most optimized protein intake fails to move the needle on muscle growth or chronic disease prevention.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Stuart Phillips, a researcher who has spent over 25 years at McMaster University studying the intersection of protein, exercise, and human health. Dr. Phillips breaks down why the current RDA for protein is likely too low for optimal health and why the methodology used to set those standards is decades out of date.
Dr. Phillips explains the "brick wall" analogy of muscle turnover—where synthesis and breakdown are in a constant tug-of-war—and how lifting weights acts as the primary driver for "the bricklayers". From the impact of anabolic resistance in aging to the truth about protein timing and kidney health, he provides a grounded, data-driven perspective on how to maintain a functional reserve of muscle as we age.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover
The RDA Debate: Why the standard 0.8 g/kg recommendation is a "preventing deficiency" baseline rather than an "optimized health" target.The Power of Exercise: Why 80% to 90% of protein's benefits are dependent on physical activity.Muscle as a Storage Depot: Understanding muscle as a functional reserve that dictates disease resistance and survival.Anabolic Resistance: How inactivity and aging make our cells less efficient at using amino acids.The Myth of Timing: Why the "anabolic window" is more like a "garage door" that stays open much longer than once thought.Protein Quality & Source: Comparing animal vs. plant proteins and why the "food matrix" matters more than isolated powders.Kidney Health: De-bunking the 60-year-old hypothesis that high protein intake causes kidney damage in healthy individuals.🎙 What Dr. Stuart Phillips & Mike Haney discuss:
[00:00] — Why exercise is the "big driver" of protein's health benefits.
[09:00] — Transitioning from the RDA (0.8 g/kg) to an optimized range of 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg.
[30:31] — The limitations of "nitrogen balance" as a methodology for protein needs.
[44:45] — Muscle as a structural substrate vs. carbs and fats as fuel.
[01:10:05] — Anabolic resistance: Why we lose building efficiency as we age.
[01:18:15] — The "Compound Interest" of muscle: Why starting early prevents a late-life mobility spiral.
[01:28:10] — Hormones and muscle: The differing impacts of testosterone and estrogen during aging.
[01:39:15] — Addressing the concerns regarding high protein intake and kidney function.
[01:52:10] — Whole foods vs. supplements: Why the "bricklayers" care about amino acids, but the body cares about nutrients.
[01:60:12] — Debunking the immediate post-workout protein shake myth.
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/twVUPk-B-vg
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Stuart Phillips on LinkedIn & X:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartmphillips/
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 - 1h 10min - 295 - #295 - The Science of Preconception: Measuring Fertility, Toxins, and Generational Health | Dr. Ann Shippy & Josh Clemente
Preconception health is one of the most powerful—yet overlooked—windows for influencing a child’s lifelong wellness. While fertility is often discussed in the context of age or medical intervention, emerging research suggests that the months leading up to conception are a critical "time capsule" for epigenetic health.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Levels Founder and CEO Josh Clemente sits down with Dr. Anne Shippy, a board-certified internal medicine physician and author of The Preconception Revolution. Dr. Shippy brings a unique, systems-based approach to fertility, moving beyond basic labs to uncover the root causes of infertility and chronic disease.
Dr. Shippy explains why the "check engine light" of infertility is often a signal of deeper metabolic or environmental imbalances—and why age isn't always the primary driver of reproductive success. Drawing on her engineering background and years of clinical practice, she walks through how toxins, mitochondrial function, and the microbiome interact to shape the health of both parents and their future children.
Along the way, the conversation explores the practical "mini-experiments" couples can run to optimize their biology—from tightening blood sugar control with CGMs to auditing the "chemical soup" of modern life. The result is an empowering framework for generational health: shifting the focus from reactive treatments to proactive, data-driven preparation.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover
• The Preconception Window: Why the 3–12 months before pregnancy are a critical window for epigenetic influence
• The Engineering Approach: Applying systems-based, data-driven models to the biochemistry of the body
• Environmental Toxins: How PFAS, phthalates, and microplastics in packaging disrupt hormone health
• Sperm Health Trends: Understanding the 50% decline in sperm counts and the role of lifestyle in reversing damage
• Mitochondrial Function: Why cellular energy production is the foundation of egg and sperm quality
• IVF as a Last Resort: Why tuning up the body’s "hospitable environment" should come before invasive procedures
• The Role of Glucose: How stable blood sugar improves fertility and passes on better epigenetics to the baby
🎙 What Dr. Anne Shippy & Josh discuss
[03:35] — Making the career shift from IBM chemical engineer to functional medicine
[05:54] — Using CGMs as a series of experiments to optimize preconception health
[10:04] — Success stories: Reversing "failed" IVF and infertility in the early 40s
[14:48] — Why the children’s health crisis and the fertility crisis share the same root causes
[17:22] — The "Time Capsule": How the egg and sperm pass on epigenetic snapshots
[20:02] — The minimum timeline: Why three months is the baseline for biological change
[22:22] — The impact of processed food packaging on hormone and sperm health in just 21 days
[24:50] — Advanced testing: Moving beyond Quest labs to microbiome and toxin panels
[29:57] — The "Big Three" environmental shifts: Clean air, clean water, and clean food
[42:22] — The "Lightning Round": Prioritizing changes from synthetic fragrances to alcohol and exercise
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/QG4Jxxu_gyE
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Ann Shippy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annshippymd/
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 - 1h 07min - 294 - #294 - Cholesterol Science Explained: Why Your LDL Score Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story | Dr. Ronald Krauss + Mike Haney
High cholesterol is one of the most widely discussed—and established—risk factors in medicine. But reams of research now show that while it is key to cardiovascular risk, it is not the whole story.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, editorial director Mike Haney sits down with Dr. Ronald Krauss, one of the world’s leading lipid researchers and a pioneer in understanding how different forms of LDL—and the physiological factors around them—affect cardiovascular risk.
Dr. Krauss explains why the basic link between cholesterol and heart disease is well established among experts—but also why the standard cholesterol panel often misses the deeper metabolic story. Drawing on decades of research, he walks through how lipoproteins, particle size, triglycerides, and metabolic health interact to determine whether cholesterol actually becomes dangerous.
Along the way, the conversation explores why cardiovascular disease remains the leading killer despite statins and decades of research—and how factors like obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation reshape the lipid landscape in ways that traditional tests may not capture.
The result is a clearer framework for understanding cardiovascular risk: not just how much cholesterol is in the blood, but how it’s being transported, how long those particles circulate, and what metabolic conditions are driving them.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover
Why the cholesterol–heart disease link isn’t actually controversial among researchersCholesterol vs. lipoproteins: why the particles carrying cholesterol matter more than the number itselfSmall dense LDL: how triglyceride metabolism produces the most harmful particlesApoB and particle counts: why many researchers prefer measuring particles instead of cholesterol massLipoprotein(a): the genetically driven risk factor affecting up to a third of the populationMetabolic syndrome: the cluster of conditions that amplifies cardiovascular riskWhy carbohydrates and metabolic dysfunction can drive harmful lipid patternsThe saturated fat debate: why food context and metabolic health matter more than simple fat categories🎙 What Dr. Ronald Krauss & Mike Haney discuss:
[01:09] — Why the cholesterol–heart disease link is largely settled science
[02:27] — Why cardiovascular disease remains the world’s leading killer
[04:42] — Inflammation and metabolic dysfunction in vascular disease
[06:12] — The discovery of small dense LDL and why particle size matters
[07:14] — Lipoprotein(a) as a major inherited cardiovascular risk factor
[09:18] — “Residence time”: why particles that circulate longer cause more damage
[11:24] — ApoB vs LDL-C: measuring particles instead of cholesterol mass
[13:31] — The HDL paradox: why raising HDL hasn’t improved outcomes
[15:28] — Metabolic syndrome and the five markers that amplify risk
[17:16] — Why the saturated fat debate misses the bigger metabolic picture
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/sS0orvd2TFs
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Ronald Krauss on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronald-krauss-81a38021/
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 - 59min - 293 - #293 - Why You Can’t Exercise Your Way to Weight Loss: The Constrained Energy Model | Dr. Herman Pontzer + Mike Haney
You can’t outrun a bad diet—but it turns out you might not even be able to outrun a good one. In this episode of A Whole New Level, evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Herman Pontzer joins Mike Haney to dismantle the "armchair view" of metabolism and explain why more exercise doesn't necessarily mean more calories burned.
Drawing on his groundbreaking research with the Hadza hunter-gatherer community and global meta-analyses, Dr. Pontzer explains the Constrained Energy Model: the phenomenon where our bodies hit a metabolic ceiling and begin "trading off" energy from vital systems like immunity and reproduction to account for physical activity. This conversation reframes weight loss not as a simple math problem of "calories in vs. calories out," but as a dynamic, evolutionary balancing act.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover:
The Myth of Additive Energy: Why adding a 300-calorie run to your day doesn’t actually result in 300 extra calories burned over the long term.The Hadza Paradox: How hunter-gatherers who walk miles every day burn the same amount of total energy as sedentary Westerners.Metabolic Trading: How your body "pays" for exercise by dialing down inflammation, stress responses, and reproductive hormones.The Business of the Body: Why the human body acts less like a simple machine and more like a corporation reallocating a limited budget.The "Set Point" Debate: Whether our bodies are tracking pounds on a scale or the flow of energy in the gut.Practical Weight Management: Why diet is the primary tool for weight, while exercise is the primary tool for everything else.🎙 What Dr. Herman Pontzer & Mike Haney discuss:
[0:01-0:52] The Additive Model vs. The Constrained Energy Model
[1:24-2:48] Dr. Pontzer's Book Burn
[3:33-4:21] Defining Energy Balance
[5:15-6:50] Where the "Armchair View of Metabolism" Breaks Down
[7:07-8:50] Comparing the Additive Model to the Constrained Energy Model
[16:14-18:12] Energy Accounting: Where Daily Calories Go
[18:13-20:57] The Body as a Business Metaphor
[22:13-23:47] Specific Ways the Body Compensates for Increased Exercise
[24:19-25:27] Modifying the Constrained Energy Limit (Diet and Weightlifting)
[47:54-51:23] Diet is Key for Weight Management
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/6GUWQuT-vRc
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Herman Pontzer on X: https://x.com/HermanPontzer
Thu, 26 Feb 2026 - 55min - 292 - #292 - Cardiac Imaging Explained: Why You Need a Calcium Score to Know Your Real Heart Risk | Dr. Matthew Budoff & Mike Haney
Heart disease risk isn’t just about cholesterol. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Matthew Budoffexplains why coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring may be the most important test most people aren’t getting—and why imaging your arteries directly can reveal risk that blood tests alone can miss.
Drawing on decades of research and data from the landmark MESA study, Dr. Budoff explains how calcium scoring predicts real cardiovascular events, how plaque actually forms and progresses, and why some people with high cholesterol never develop plaque—while others with “normal” labs do.
This episode focuses on how to measure your actual cardiovascular risk, not just estimate it.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover:
Why CAC scoring is one of the strongest predictors of future heart eventsWhy cholesterol is critical—but only explains about half of heart disease riskWhy some people with very high LDL have zero plaque—and others with normal labs have dangerous plaqueWhy CAC is best understood as the “tip of the iceberg” of total plaque burdenWhen to escalate to CT angiography and advanced imagingHow plaque regression is possible—and what interventions actually drive itThe future of cardiac risk prediction: Lp(a), inflammation, and AI-driven plaque analysisThis conversation reframes heart risk around what’s actually happening inside your arteries—not just what shows up in bloodwork.
🎙 What Dr. Matthew Budoff & Mike Haney discuss:
[01:35] — Coronary calcium is the strongest predictor of heart events
[02:38] — What a high calcium score actually means for risk
[04:00] — Why rising calcium is not “healing.”
[11:07] — The role of fat tissue and inflammation in plaque formation
[16:37] — Why do many people with high cholesterol have no plaque
[17:55] — Why imaging is the only way to truly know your risk
[37:07] — Calcium as the “tip of the iceberg” of total plaque burden
[~52:00] — Why CAC is the practical first step before advanced imaging
[~1:02:00] — When CT angiography adds critical information
[~1:14:00] — How plaque regression actually happens in the real world
[~1:22:00] — The next frontier: Lp(a) and inflammation as treatment targets
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/os-RNhIS3jQ
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Dr. Matthew Budoff on X: https://x.com/BudoffMd
Sun, 15 Feb 2026 - 53min - 291 - #291 - Why No Diet Wins (and What 40 Years of Nutrition Research Actually Shows) | Christopher Gardner, PhD, & Mike Haney
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Christopher Gardner, PhD, joins Mike to discuss his decades in nutrition research, the challenges of conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on diet, and how to communicate complex science to the public. Gardner has led some of the most rigorous research ever comparing dietary approaches in real-world conditions, so his insights about what works (cutting processed food and sugar) and what doesn’t (obsessing about macronutrients) are worth a listen.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover:
What a nutritional interventionist is – someone who studies people who are asked to change their diet, tracking them and taking samples to see what might have changed.How to square widely-accepted lessons about nutrition (i.e., junk food=bad) with the high degree of individuality in diets that work.The concept of "equipoise" in study design, which means making sure both diets being compared are well-represented versions of that diet (e.g., a "kick butt diet A and a crappy diet B" is avoided).The dilemma of communicating single-study results to the public and the role of the Netflix documentary on Gardner’s famous twin study in making science engaging.Dr. Gardner's experience on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee and the methodology used to reach conclusions.The focus on ultra-processed foods and the need to message the consensus points of eating more whole foods and vegetables, and avoiding added sugar and refined grains.The learnings from the DIETFITS study, which compared low-carb and low-fat diets among 600 people for a year, and why there was more variation among people within a diet than between the two diets.🎙 What Dr. Christopher Gardner & Mike Haney discuss:
[00:33] Nutritional Interventionist Role
[02:17] Shortcomings of Nutrition RCTs
[03:59] Garlic Study Example
[16:48] Concept of Equipoise in Study Design
[21:54] Value of Communicating Single Study Results
[28:02] Industry Funding and Transparency
[33:11] Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Methodology
[38:48] Ultra-Processed Foods and the Evidence
[48:27] Simplicity vs. Complexity in Nutrition
[50:24] Consensus on Foundational Diet Components
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/ZQ0G_jfwKoM
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect
Connect with Christopher Gardner,PhD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgardnerphd/?hl=en
Fri, 30 Jan 2026 - 1h 23min - 290 - #290 - Why Weight Loss Is So Hard to Maintain—Metabolic Adaptation Explained | Dr. Eric Ravussin + Mike Haney
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Eric Ravussin, PhD, explains the physiology of energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, and why the body strongly defends its prior weight. Drawing on decades of research, including the Biggest Loser study, CALERIE, and work with metabolic chambers, Ravussin walks through what actually happens when we lose weight—and why willpower alone isn’t enough.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this episode, we cover:
Why BMI is an incomplete measure of obesityThe difference between preclinical and clinical obesityHow energy expenditure really works (and why larger bodies burn more calories)What metabolic adaptation is—and why it persists long after weight lossWhy exercise alone rarely leads to sustained weight lossHow GLP-1 drugs intersect with appetite, metabolism, and muscle mass🎙 What Dr. Eric Ravussin & Mike Haney discuss:
[04:40] — Rethinking obesity diagnosis
[07:00] — Clinical vs. preclinical obesity
[11:38] — What ‘energy expenditure’ actually means
[15:42] — What metabolic adaptation really is
[17:56] — Why bigger bodies burn more calories
[26:16] — Lessons from the Biggest Loser study
[31:19] — What CALERIE taught us about calorie restriction
[40:02] — Why slow, modest weight loss matters
[45:10] — Weight loss vs. weight maintenance physiology
[53:08] — GLP-1 drugs: promise and limitations
[57:49] — Why you can’t exercise your way to weight loss
[1:01:33] — The biggest myth about obesity
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/UaE0C_l7GMw
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 More about Dr. Eric Ravussin: https://www.pbrc.edu/research-and-faculty/faculty/Ravussin-Eric-PhD.aspx
Thu, 15 Jan 2026 - 1h 06min - 289 - #289 - Why Nutrition Science Got It WRONG (and the Case for the Carb-Insulin Model) | Gary Taubes & Mike Haney
According to investigative science journalist Gary Taubes, much of what we “know” about nutrition is built on weak evidence, bad assumptions, and decades of groupthink. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Taubes joins Mike Haney to examine how nutrition science went off the rails—and why he remains convinced the carbohydrate–insulin model still offers the most coherent explanation for obesity.
Taubes explains how observational studies became policy, why randomized trials are often ignored, and why questioning the calorie-balance model remains controversial despite mounting contradictions. The conversation is less about winning an argument and more about how science should actually work—especially when public health is at stake.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Gary Taubes & Mike Haney discuss:
[4:10] — How Gary Taubes became interested in “bad science.”
[9:45] — Why nutrition science relies too heavily on epidemiology
[15:30] — Correlation vs. causation in diet research
[22:10] — The problem with the calorie-balance model
[29:40] — Introducing the carbohydrate–insulin model
[36:55] — Why insulin resistance changes everything
[44:20] — Why low-fat advice dominated for decades
[52:10] — What randomized trials actually show
[1:00:05] — Why dissent is treated as heresy in nutrition
[1:08:30] — How bad science survives criticism
[1:16:45] — What good nutrition science would require
[1:23:20] — Why this debate still matters
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/74WAhHgEk_0
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect with Gary Taubes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-taubes-942a6459/
Thu, 01 Jan 2026 - 1h 33min - 288 - #288 - Women’s Hormones Explained: Energy, Mood, PMS, and Why “Normal” Labs Miss the Problem | Dr. Anjali D’Souza & Mike Haney
Hormones influence far more than reproduction—they shape energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, and long-term health. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Anjali D’Souza joins Mike Haney to explain how women’s hormones actually work, why so many symptoms are dismissed as “normal,” and how to interpret labs in a way that reflects real physiology.
They discuss why standard hormone panels often miss functional problems, how nutrient status and lifestyle affect hormone signaling, and how symptoms like PMS, fatigue, and brain fog provide meaningful data—not noise.
They discuss:
Why hormones affect how you feel day to day, not just fertilityThe difference between “normal” lab ranges and optimal functionHow progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol interactWhy PMS is often a signal—not a mysteryHow nutrition, stress, and sleep influence hormone effectivenessSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Anjali Dsouza & Mike Haney discuss:
[3:45] — Why hormones influence energy, mood, and vitality
[7:30] — “Normal” labs vs. how you actually feel
[11:40] — Why hormone symptoms are often dismissed
[15:05] — Hormones as a lever to move from “fine” to “amazing.”
[18:20] — Progesterone, estrogen, and the menstrual cycle
[22:10] — Why PMS isn’t random—it’s data
[27:35] — Cortisol, stress, and hormone disruption
[33:10] — Nutrient status and hormone effectiveness
[38:45] — Why labs don’t show tissue-level hormone function
[44:30] — Lifestyle changes that support hormone balance
[50:15] — Rethinking how we assess women’s hormone health
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/MweLkjvNimo
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
https://dcimedicine.com/dr-anjali-dsouza/
https://www.levels.com/blog/dr-anjali-dsouza-wants-to-help-women-level-up-their-health
📲 Connect with Dr. Anjali Dsouza: https://www.instagram.com/anjalidsouzamd
Thu, 18 Dec 2025 - 58min - 287 - #287 - Male Hormones and Men’s Health | Dr. Jesse Mills + Mike Haney
In this episode, Dr. Jesse Mills, Director of the UCLA Men’s Clinic, joins Mike Haney to explain what’s driving that shift and what today’s data-driven approach to men’s health looks like.
He breaks down the testosterone “revolution,” what’s really happening in low-T diagnoses, and how lifestyle, sleep, and stress management can influence hormones as much as prescriptions can.
They discuss:
- How men’s health became its own medical discipline
- What testosterone really does—and how to know if it’s low
- Primary vs. secondary hypogonadism and how to tell the difference
- When testosterone replacement is appropriate (and when it’s not)
- Why younger men are now embracing prevention and optimization
And listen to Dr. Mills’ new podcast, The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills, wherever you get your podcasts.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Jesse Mills & Mike Haney discuss:
[2:10] — How men’s health became its own field
[8:05] — The generational shift in openness
[10:40] — The difference between real medicine and ‘men’s clinics’
[12:00] — Testosterone 101
[18:45] — When low testosterone is reversible
[26:50] — Why we need ‘forensic endocrinology’
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation:https://youtu.be/Zs2CZC2GueA
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect with Dr. Jesse Mills: https://x.com/grurology?lang=en
Thu, 04 Dec 2025 - 1h 45min - 286 - #286 - Understanding electrolytes: Decoding blood & urine tests and focusing on the right things | Dr. Rich Joseph + Mike Haney
Your annual labs can reveal far more than most people realize—if you know how to interpret them. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Rich Joseph walks through how to read basic blood work like the CBC, electrolytes, and urinalysis, and how to use those numbers as feedback loops, not pass/fail judgments.
He explains which values matter most, what trends reveal over time, and how to connect lab data to sleep, training, nutrition, and stress.
What the Complete Blood Count (CBC) actually measuresHow to identify early signs of iron or B-vitamin deficiencyWhat white blood cell patterns reveal about immunity and stressHow electrolytes reflect cellular energy, hydration, and training loadWhy urinalysis is underrated (and how to read it quickly)How to use lab trends—not single snapshots—to guide health decisionsSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Rich Joesph & Mike Haney discuss:
[03:12] — Why basic labs still matter
[07:58] — How to read the CBC: Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
[18:45] — MCV and what it tells us about iron vs. B-vitamin deficiency
[24:40] — White blood cells as a window into stress and recovery
[44:10] — Electrolytes and cellular energy
[1:01:22] — Urinalysis: the overlooked lab with real value
[1:09:55] — Using labs as feedback over time
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/cpwB4-_7o-wFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect with Dr. Rich Joseph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-joseph-md-mba-61448b33a/
Thu, 20 Nov 2025 - 1h 04min - 285 - #285 - Immune health explained: Inflammation, white blood cells, and resilience | Dr. Sharon Bergquist & Mike Haney
Your immune system isn’t just about fighting infections—it’s a mirror of your overall metabolic health.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Sharon Bergquist, physician and Director of Emory’s Healthy Aging and Resilient Aging Center, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of immune resilience—how chronic inflammation, white blood cell patterns, and metabolism intertwine to shape long-term health.
Dr. Bergquist explains why inflammation isn’t always bad, how the immune system ages, and what you can do daily to build resilience.
They discuss:
The link between metabolic dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammationHow white blood cell counts reveal immune status and stress levelsWhy gut and liver health are central to immune balancePractical habits that calm inflammation and support immune recoveryWhat it really means to have a “resilient” immune systemSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Sharon Bergquist & Mike Haney discuss:
[3:24] — How inflammation protects—and harms—your body
[10:11] — Why immune health depends on metabolism
[17:42] — White blood cells as a window into immune function
[24:38] — How the gut and liver shape immunity
[32:27] — Why modern lifestyles fuel inflammation
[40:55] — How to measure your own inflammation
[48:33] — The science of immune aging (inflammaging)
[56:22] — Building immune resilience through daily habits
[1:03:44] — Why immune balance is better than immune ‘boosting’
[1:11:08] — The hopeful message: immunity is adaptable
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/k1XpdFGVx1oFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect with Dr. Sharon Bergquist on LinkedIn: Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist
Dr. Sharon Bergquist: https://drsharonbergquist.com/
Thu, 06 Nov 2025 - 1h 28min - 284 - #284 - Glucose metabolism explained: HbA1c, insulin resistance, and strategies for better energy | Dr. Ben Bikman & Mike Haney
If you want to improve your energy and long-term health, start by understanding how your body uses glucose.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Benjamin Bikman, scientist and author of Why We Get Sick, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance—and why blood sugar isn’t the whole story.
Dr. Bikman explains how insulin regulates energy balance, why HbA1c is only part of the picture, and how chronic high insulin can silently drive weight gain, fatigue, and metabolic disease. He also shares practical ways to lower insulin naturally through diet, exercise, and daily habits.
They discuss:
Why insulin, not glucose, is the root of metabolic dysfunctionWhat HbA1c and fasting glucose really tell youThe early signs of insulin resistance most people missHow muscle tissue protects against high glucose and insulinWhy low-carb and intermittent fasting aren’t one-size-fits-allPractical nutrition and movement strategies for better metabolic flexibilitySign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Ben Bikman, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss:
[3:42] — Why glucose isn’t the full story in metabolic health
[7:58] — Insulin’s central role in energy and fat storage
[13:10] — What HbA1c actually tells you—and what it misses
[19:23] — The first signs of insulin resistance most people overlook
[25:46] — Why muscle is a “glucose sink” that protects your metabolism
[32:15] — How modern diets overload insulin, not just glucose
[39:52] — The difference between being lean and being metabolically healthy
[46:08] — Simple daily habits that lower insulin naturally
[54:41] — Why “normal” lab ranges for insulin are misleading
[1:02:17] — Practical steps to build metabolic flexibility and better energy
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/2PROANAQkwA
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Bikman on X: @BenBikmanPhD
Dr. Benjamin Bikman: https://benbikman.com/
Thu, 23 Oct 2025 - 1h 45min - 283 - #283 - Brain health explained: Insulin resistance, biomarkers, and Alzheimer’s risk | Dr. David Perlmutter & Mike Haney
Alzheimer’s and dementia aren’t just a matter of age or genetics. Increasing evidence shows that metabolic health—particularly insulin resistance—plays a key role in cognitive decline.
In this episode of A Whole New Level, neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter joins Mike Haney to explore the links between brain health and metabolism. They discuss the role of insulin resistance and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, the biomarkers that can reveal risk decades before symptoms, and how lifestyle interventions can dramatically change your trajectory.
Topics include:
Key biomarkers for assessing brain health: fasting insulin, A1C, homocysteineWhy targeting inflammation may matter more than targeting amyloid plaquesThe promise and limitations of GLP-1 medications for dementia and Parkinson’sPractical steps you can take now to protect long-term cognitive functionSign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatDr. David Perlmutter & Mike Haney discuss:
4:12 — Why Alzheimer’s is now called “Type 3 diabetes”
9:45 — The role of inflammation in brain health
15:22 — Biomarkers that predict dementia risk decades early
22:31 — Why mainstream Alzheimer’s drugs fall short
29:17 — GLP-1s and brain health
36:44 — Lifestyle changes vs. pharmaceuticals
44:19 — Why homocysteine matters
53:02 — Sleep, circadian rhythm, and brain resilience
1:02:38 — Early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore
1:15:07 — The hopeful message
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/MV_9nyAN1VkFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Dr. David Perlmutter on X: @DavidPerlmutter
David Perlmutter, MD: https://drperlmutter.com/
Thu, 09 Oct 2025 - 1h 09min - 282 - #282 - Longevity biomarkers for healthy aging and well-being | Dr. Matt Kaeberlein & Mike Haney
Longevity is a hot health topic, but what factors move the needle on not only how long you live but how long you experience relatively good health? Some lab and other tests can help assess how healthy you’re aging and provide context for what lifestyle and other changes to make. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Mike Haney discuss the tests that help assess healthy aging, how mental health and physical health are intricately connected, which lifestyle factors might expand your health span, and where the research stands on various longevity topics.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss:
6:57 — Lifespan vs. health span vs. sick span
19:38 — Understanding sick span
27:44 — Biomarkers and other tests to assess health span
30:58 — The importance of emotional health for longevity
35:49 — Cellular tests may not have value for the consumer yet
42:24 — On mitochondrial function and telomere length
50:34 — Investing in your health
1:01:18 — Lifestyle changes can help make a big difference
1:09:50 — High vs. low protein
1:16:39 — When considering exercise, building muscle is crucial for longevity
1:27:37 — The prescription drug rapamycin is not FDA-approved for longevity
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/OPH5Nb2a69o
Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Matt Kaeberlein, PhD: https://www.optispan.life/matt-kaeberlein
Connect with Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, on X: https://x.com/mkaeberlein
Thu, 25 Sep 2025 - 1h 50min - 281 - #281 - Thyroid test results explained and how the gland shapes health | Dr. Angela Mazza & Mike Haney
Your thyroid test results explained: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that affects many facets of health. When it doesn’t function optimally, symptoms can ensue. That’s where testing comes in, but the results can be tricky to interpret (and treat if necessary) without a knowledgeable clinician. Dr. Angela Mazza and Mike Haney discuss thyroid function, thyroid hormone and related tests and what they mean, treatment for thyroid conditions, the benefits of an integrative approach to thyroid care, and more.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Angela Mazza, DO, & Mike Haney discuss:
2:44 — What is endocrinology?
4:31 — What does the thyroid do?
6:33 — Understanding hyperthyroidism
10:08 — The “triangle” of autoimmune disease
13:56 — Understanding hypothyroidism
16:29 — Thyroid-stimulating hormone
21:43 — Considering reverse T3
27:11 — Thyroid ultrasound
37:32 – The importance of individualized thyroid replacement therapy
40:53 — The thyroid gland and perimenopause
42:49 — Misinformation about the thyroid
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/HRNKRniVALk
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Angela Mazza, DO: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/
Metabolic Center for Wellness: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/
“Thyroid Talk: An Integrative Guide to Optimal Thyroid Health”: https://www.amazon.com/Thyroid-Talk-Integrative-Optimal-Health/
Thyroid Talk community and training: https://www.thrivethyroid.com/
Thyroid Talk podcast: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/copy-of-protocols-1
Connect with Angela Mazza, DO, on Instagram: https:// https://www.instagram.com/metaboliccenterforwellness/
Fri, 12 Sep 2025 - 50min - 280 - #280 - How biosensors offer greater accessibility for our mission to reverse the metabolic health crisis | Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol
Greater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a tool for anyone to improve overall health, reduce risk for chronic diseases, manage women’s health including menstrual cycles and the menopause transition, help with fueling strategies for workouts and performance, prevent energy crashes, and more.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatDom D’Agostino, PhD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
11:49 — Using technology to reduce your risk for health issues
14:13 — Metabolic health is a spectrum, and many people don’t know where they stand
25:25 — The importance of focusing on trends in your metabolic health
30:05 — Glucose spikes from workouts are normal and a good sign
34:13 — Glucose is one of the key biomarkers to track for longevity
41:34 — Understanding what a glucose biosensor is
56:17 — All calories are not created equal
1:01:25 — Using a glucose biosensor for exercise fueling strategies
1:04:00 — Using a glucose biosensor to monitor women’s health changes
1:23:11 — The rate of glucose absorption matters for metabolic health and how you feel
1:31:06 — Making healthy food the default, rather than ultra-processed foods
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/mrlnNhxKNgYFind us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Dominic D’Agostino, PhD: https://drdominicdagostino.com/
Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on X: https://x.com/DominicDAgosti2
Thu, 28 Aug 2025 - 1h 44min - 279 - #279 - Kidney function explained: Tests, risks, and habits that protect your health | Dr. Richard Johnson and Mike Haney
Our kidneys filter out waste while retaining substances the body needs, such as electrolytes. Kidney health, which can be assessed with blood and urine biomarker tests, is paramount to overall health. Yet lifestyle, such as the Western diet and other factors, can damage the kidneys, leading to either a slow progression of issues or acute injury. Dr. Rick Johnson and Mike Haney discuss the role of the kidneys, what lifestyle factors affect kidney health, ways to support the kidneys, and what your biomarker results tell you about the function of these crucial organs.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Rick Johnson, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
4:26 — Your kidneys are great regulators
8:43 — Heat stress affects the kidneys
12:04 — The most common causes of kidney disease include diabetes and high blood pressure
19:46 — The Western diet is associated with age-related kidney decline
32:25 — The concerns of a high-protein diet in the presence of chronic kidney disease
41:15 — Changes in urinary habits or color could indicate chronic kidney disease
46:23 — Biomarkers can help assess kidney function
53:18 — Serum creatinine as a biomarker of kidney health
1:08:13 — Assessing patterns over time is crucial
1:10:52 — High albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney disease
1:21:26 — Lifestyle changes that support kidney health
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/8_QSuYwo5wgSubscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Richard Johnson, MD: https://drrichardjohnson.com
Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology: https://drrichardjohnson.com/books/
Connect with Richard Johnson, MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardjjohnson/
Thu, 07 Aug 2025 - 1h 27min - 278 - #278 - How your gut microbiome affects gut and overall health | Dr. Will Bulsiewicz & Mike Haney
Your gut microbiome affects everything from your mental health and cognitive function to your immune system and metabolic health. Gut health symptoms, such as bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, could be a sign that you have low species diversity. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Mike Haney discuss how the gut and brain communicate, how the gut microbiome affects the gut barrier and therefore your immune system, what to eat to improve the gut microbiome, and what microbiome testing can tell you.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Will Bulsiewicz, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
9:14 — Gut health takes time to improve
14:49 — Your gut microbiome informs your gut and overall health
18:42 — Lifestyle choices help shape an individual’s gut microbiome
24:20 — A compromised gut barrier affects the immune system
30:51 — Nutritional strategies can improve the gut microbiome and reduce disease flares
32:46 — The gut and the brain communicate
52:27 — A diverse gut microbiome is a sign of good health
56:45 — Your gut microbiome informs your bowel movements
1:01:46 — When to see a doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms
1:05:32 — Increasing fiber helps the gut microbiome
1:11:41 — The beneficial byproducts of gut microbes are postbiotics
1:14:59 — Eat a wide variety of plant foods to get optimal fiber
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/iAHOycufGn8Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Will Bulsieweicz, MD, https://theplantfedgut.com/about/
Fiber Fueled: https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Fueled-Plant-Based-Optimizing-Microbiome/dp/059308456X
The Plant Fed Gut: https://theplantfedgut.com/
Connect with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthmd/?hl=en
Thu, 24 Jul 2025 - 1h 35min - 277 - #277 - Key blood tests that tell you about your pancreas health | Dr. Robert Lustig & Mike Haney
The pancreas is a complex organ, but some key biomarkers can assess its health. The pancreas is both an exocrine organ (meaning it produces enzymes) and an exocrine organ (meaning it secretes hormones). It’s a key component of your metabolic health and therefore your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss key pancreatic blood work to get checked, the differences between diabetes types and what causes them, what insulin resistance is, how to restore mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle changes, and more.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(01:33) — The pancreas is a complex organ
(13:20) — Three emergency mechanisms to prevent low blood sugar
(18:28) — Why insulin is a crucial biomarker
(19:57) — Understanding type 1 diabetes
(27:11) — Understanding type 2 diabetes
(30:03) — What mitochondrial dysfunction does to the pancreas
(31:45) — The links between Alzheimer’s disease and type diabetes
(33:07) — Obesity is about mitochondrial dysfunction
(36:14) — Testing proinsulin and C-peptide
(40:24) — Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction and type 2 diabetes
(44:03) — Testing key pancreatic enzymes
Transcripts & Show Notes
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/5RnEdiTRYfI?si=GXeqvaXtyDLaXjUH
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 10 Jul 2025 - 1h 05min - 276 - #276 - Lab tests for female hormones: menopause and fertility | Dr. Natalie Crawford & Mike Haney
Lab testing for female reproductive hormones offers insight into menstrual cycle irregularities, fertility concerns, and understanding where you are on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause trajectory. Dr. Natalie Crawford and Mike Haney discuss how the brain and ovaries communicate during the different phases of the menstrual cycle, when to test female hormones, how oral contraception affects hormone levels, and how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatNatalie Crawford, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(08:03) — Women’s reproductive health concerns sometimes get dismissed
(09:08) — The intersection of fertility and functional medicine
(14:17) — The reason to check anti-Mullerian hormone
(24:19) — The brain communicates with the ovaries
(26:17) — Inflammation can disrupt the menstrual cycle
(30:44) — Data from biomarker testing can be motivating
(32:05) — When to do baseline testing for female hormones
(37:47) — Menstrual cycle history and the big picture are important
(40:12) — Menstrual cycle irregularities should be investigated
(42:55) — The role of hormonal birth control and how it affects hormone levels
(55:14) — The importance of fiber for hormonal support
(59:44) — The importance of eating whole foods and avoiding toxins
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/Xeq4TxRJ5Yk
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 26 Jun 2025 - 1h 05min - 275 - #275 - What labs for micronutrient levels tell you about your health | Dr. Joel Fuhrman & Mike Haney
Proper nutrition supports healthy aging and longevity—that much is clear. But nutritional advice online can be confusing, so what does the science say about healthy eating? It’s less about your macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—and more about your micronutrients, which are vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Mike Haney discuss micronutrient testing, supplements, plant-based diets, and what to eat to stave of disease, reverse disease processes, and live a longer, healthier life.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatJoel Fuhrman, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(06:59) — Using food as medicine
(15:00) —Gaining a better understanding of how to use nutrition for longevity
(18:45) — Why we must look at nutrition science comprehensively
(23:26) — The benefits of a plant-based diet
(25:56) — The importance of micronutrients
(32:31) — The role of healthy fats
(37:44) — Micronutrient testing can help guide decisions about diet and any needed supplements
(40:33) — Vitamin D from sunshine takes time to penetrate
(43:18) — Focus on the GBOMBS to up your micronutrient intake and support longevity
(57:41) — Finding a doctor who is certified in lifestyle medicine
(59:06) — Changing your health through diet takes time
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/jWk55UxvX34
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 12 Jun 2025 - 1h 11min - 274 - #274 - Blood testing 101 and taking action on your lab results | Dr. Anjali Dsouza & Mike Haney
Levels offers biomarker testing to give you more insight into your health status so you can understand the root causes of your symptoms, take a preventive approach to disease, and see if your lifestyle changes or other interventions are reducing your risk factors and improving your health. Dr. Anjali Dsouza and Mike Haney discuss why biomarker testing can be beneficial, how to understand your levels, factors that affect your levels, and which biomarkers are no-brainers to get tested.
Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatAnjali Dsouza, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(02:21) — Conventional medicine does not allow for enough time with patients
(09:05) — Why test biomarkers beyond the basics?
(12:10) — Lifestyle factors are about consistency, not perfection
(16:48) — Biomarkers should be analyzed with additional context
(24:24) — A normal biomarker range isn’t always optimal
(28:06) — AI tools and internet searches generally don’t provide nuanced health information
(32:01) — Potential reasons people get biomarker testing beyond the basics
(33:45) — When is repeat testing important?
(36:52) — Biomarker testing and understanding is complex, especially in preventive health
(37:53) — Some biomarkers respond swiftly to lifestyle changes
(38:47) — The importance of fasted insulin as a biomarker
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/lN6TNn6jpTg
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Fri, 30 May 2025 - 46min - 273 - #273 - How to track carbs, fat, and protein with AI and why | Josh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino - (Replay)
Not all calories are equal. Tracking your macronutrient intake, using AI capabilities, can help you improve your body composition, facilitate weight loss, and boost exercise performance. The three macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with fiber a subset of carbs. Josh Clemente & Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discuss the new macros-tracking feature in the Levels app, the purpose and importance of each macronutrient, how to use macros-tracking in conjunction with biomarker data to improve health and fitness, and how easy the app’s AI functionality is to use.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatJosh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(04:28) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake
(11:59) — Why is tracking macros beneficial?
(15:53) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body
(33:22) — The different functions of macros
(41:48) — Is excess protein a concern?
(47:20) — The problem with excess carbohydrates
(52:49) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility
(54:50) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates
(1:09:04) — Is fiber a macronutrient?
(1:37:25) — Macros tracking in the Levels app
(1:41:18) — Tracking macros can help improve body composition and performance
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 24 Apr 2025 - 1h 43min - 272 - #272 - Three diet rules for better liver health and fat loss | Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
What diet should you follow? Metabolic health experts say it doesn’t matter whether you’re keto, vegan, or otherwise if you focus on three simple principles, which will help reduce your risk for cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin and Dr. Casey Means discuss the biomarkers to ask your doctor about, why they matter, how to improve those biomarkers with accessible tips, and why liver health is a big key to overall health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatSwaranjit Bhasin, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(03:45) — A radiologist raises a red flag about increased diagnoses in younger patients
(11:03) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a silent but serious problem
(15:01) — The importance of the liver
(18:38) — What are your most important biomarkers?
(32:30) — Casey Means, MD, summarizes Dr. Bhasin’s three rules for diet
(34:18) — Processed vegetable and seed oils are toxic to the body
(42:20) — Insulin resistance can drive cancer
(52:26) — The importance of autophagy in helping to prevent cancer
(55:14) — Who should not engage in intermittent fasting?
Transcripts & Show notes
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/1pkhDOPsXb4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 20 Mar 2025 - 1h 01min - 271 - #271 - How to keep your blood sugar more stable and why it matters for weight loss and overall health – Tips from Glucose Goddess | Jessie Inchauspé & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Stable glucose levels are a foundation of feeling and looking your best at any age. When glucose levels are more erratic—with spikes and crashes—cravings, weight gain, low energy, health issues, and more can ensue. Jessie Inchauspé and Dr. Casey Means, thought leaders on the topic of blood sugar, discuss simple hacks for keeping glucose levels more stable without resorting to restrictive diets, and they share why stable levels inform health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Jessie Inchauspé & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(05:52) — Are type 2 diabetes and obesity genetic, dictated by lifestyle factors, or both?
(10:21) — Hacks for keeping blood sugar more stable
(18:42) — People want to be healthy, but the food industry complicates matters
(22:46) — Nutritional choices can impact mental health
(28:42) — The premise behind Inchauspé’s ‘Glucose Goddess Method’
(31:21) — Tracking biomarkers provides insight to your metabolic health
(33:29) — A siloed approach to healthcare misses the big picture
(36:21) — Can supplements really help with metabolic health?
(48:38) — We need systemic change in the food industry
(56:41) — The science behind food cravings
Transcripts & Show notes
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NfmRORU1HIA?si=PecFHUL6ZTC8bu1N
Thu, 20 Feb 2025 - 1h 12min - 270 - #270 - Why you need to build and maintain muscle to lose weight and live longer | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Diet and exercise culture tends to prioritize calorie restriction and calorie burning via cardio workouts. While fat loss is beneficial, building and maintaining healthy muscle mass is also crucial for metabolic health and longevity. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Dr. Casey Means discuss Lyon’s book “Forever Strong,” why strength-training should be a priority for workout routines, how muscle is the body’s metabolic currency, and why boosting protein intake aids in adding and preserving muscle mass.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Gabrielle Lyon, DO, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(03:09) — Dr. Casey Means shares her enthusiasm for Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s book
(08:53) — Muscle is our metabolic currency
(19:56) — According to Dr. Lyon, gaining muscle is more important than losing fat
(24:09) — Muscle mass is protective against sarcopenia
(31:47) — Dr. Means raises the question about menopause
(32:58) — The benefits of focusing on metabolic health in the menopause transition
(37:49) — Dr. Lyon encourages people to reevaluate the type of exercise they are doing
(40:32) — Dr. Lyon discusses the importance of getting enough protein
(44:34) — Dr. Lyon discusses the timing of protein intake
(52:25) — Dr. Lyon discusses supplementation with creatine
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LAF2o2zv7Q4?si=vXoV1hxQVCpfYOpQ
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 30 Jan 2025 - 1h 03min - 269 - #269 - How Levels got its start as a company setting out to solve the metabolic health crisis via CGM access | Josh Clemente & Ben Grynol
Levels, aiming to fix the metabolic health crisis with the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) paired with an intuitive and educational app, was founded in 2019 by Josh Clemente, who eventually brought on several co-founders to help steer the startup’s ship. Josh Clemente and Ben Grynol discuss Clemente’s lightbulb moment for the concept, the networking process for gaining investor buy-in and taking the company to the next level, and the hiccups and triumphs along the way.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Josh Clemente & Ben Grynol discuss:
(01:51) — The Levels origin story
(30:05) — The catalyst for moving on from SpaceX
(41:27) — Clemente realizes that altering nutrition can provide a “superpower”
(46:46) — The mainstream medical system doesn’t treat type 2 diabetes until it’s advanced
(50:30) — Even seemingly healthy foods can spike glucose and lead to an energy crash
(59:40) — The next step in the Levels story was creating the product
(01:25:27) — Clemente uses pressed juice to illustrate a glucose rise
(01:41:30) — How the Levels name was born
(02:03:35) — Levels needed representation in the medical field
(02:43:33) — Levels co-founders get the opportunity to try CGM
Transcript & Show notes
Thu, 19 Dec 2024 - 3h 45min - 268 - #268 - The truths about obesity, skinny fat, TOFI & why thin people can be unhealthy | Dr. Robert Lustig & Mike Haney
The obesity epidemic isn’t about calories-in-calories-out. Instead, chronic stress and high insulin levels from refined carbs and sugar are drivers of fat storage. And the type of fat stored matters, since visceral fat accumulation leads to worsening metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss the different types of fat and how they are stored and burned; what thin on the outside, fat on the inside means; whether people can be healthy at any size; environmental factors that contribute to obesity; and what people can do to manage weight.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(09:40) — Three things are required for fat storage to occur
(21:54) — The key to fat loss is reducing insulin
(23:39) — Refined carbohydrates lead to fat storage
(32:41) — What is metabolically healthy obesity?
(42:05) — Visceral fat causes “metabolic mayhem”
(45:40) — What is thin on the outside fat on the inside?
(50:27) — Stress causes the accumulation of visceral fat
(58:06) — Exercise helps burn visceral fat
(01:00:58) — The key to being healthy
(1:06:12) — Endocrine-disrupting chemicals also play a role in obesity
(1:26:46) — Is there such a thing as “health at any size”?
Transcript & Show notes
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/sxJvfqTFttY
Thu, 21 Nov 2024 - 1h 34min - 267 - #267 - How trauma can contribute to autoimmune disorders, and what you can do | Dr. Sara (Gottfried) Szal and Mike Haney
Trauma causes physiological changes to the nervous system. Over time, these impacts may place someone on a trajectory from health to a pre-disease state to a disease state, leading to autoimmunity or autoimmune disorders. Dr. Sara (Gottfried) Szal and Mike Haney discuss Szal’s new book “The Autoimmune Cure,” trauma and how it can contribute to autoimmunity, how personalized precision medicine may help individuals reverse autoimmunity and return to a state of health, and how psychedelic therapies can help with addressing trauma.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatSara (Gottfried) Szal, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(07:36) — What is precision medicine?
(13:17) — How tools that give you a “window” into your physiology can help
(17:24) — Why catching autoimmunity in a pre-disease state is important
(34:22) — A person’s life history, especially their trauma, matters for their overall health
(38:17) — The three components that lead to autoimmunity
(42:42) — More people are living in fight-or-flight mode all the time
(49:53) — A food-based approach is a great place to start for reversing autoimmunity
(51:34) — How do you find someone who practices precision medicine?
(1:02:56) — How psychedelic therapies may help with trauma
(1:06:05) — The difference between recreational and therapeutic use of psychedelics
Transcript & Show notes
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/R0BbP4_xEfo
Thu, 24 Oct 2024 - 1h 13min - 266 - #266 - How and why to eat an anti-inflammatory diet | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
Inflammation is an essential process in the body to help with healing and illness recovery. However, many people have chronic inflammation, which accelerates aging and drives disease processes. We can help control inflammation through diet. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss environmental and dietary sources of chronic inflammation as well as the foods that are anti-inflammatory.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(03:04) — Inflammation is essential
(05:04) — What causes chronic inflammation?
(08:14) — Processed seed oils drive inflammation
(09:40) — Sugar drives inflammation
(11:00) — Fiber is an anti-inflammatory food
(12:18) — Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory
(13:27) — Vitamin D is anti-inflammatory
(14:52) — Controlling inflammation helps combat aging processes
(15:37) — The Western diet causes inflammation
Transcript & Show notes
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z
Thu, 10 Oct 2024 - 18min - 265 - #265 - How do you know if you are healthy and what your labs tell you? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Mike Haney
Although not one single test can tell you whether you are healthy, some biomarkers and lab results can provide you a picture of your metabolic health, which can then inform you about your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss why fasting insulin is one of the best metabolic health biomarkers, how you can use continuous glucose monitoring as a proxy for insulin sensitivity, how fast your metabolic health can change, and why your uric acid level and the cholesterol marker ApoB are also important labs to receive.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD,& Mike Haney discuss:
(03:51) — Multiple factors help determine if you’re getting sicker or healthier
(07:52) — Fasting glucose is not a good gauge of your metabolic health
(10:13) — The concern with a rising insulin level
(19:22) — A good goal is to keep glucose levels more stable, but you’re going to have rises
(30:12) — What a glucose excursion can tell you
(31:24) — Why doctors don’t check fasting insulin, even though it’s a better marker than glucose?
(46:12) — How often should you get your fasting insulin checked?
(50:08) — A continuous glucose monitor can show you your glucose excursions
(58:42) — Why uric acid is an important biomarker
(1:08:37) — Why you should get ApoB checked
Transcript & Show notes
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/6P8HVIbdDc0?si=DIhrV0vlkQdYLskg
Thu, 26 Sep 2024 - 1h 19min - 264 - #264 - How aging and menopause drive muscle loss and fat gain | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
Both aging and menopause affect metabolism. Unless people build and preserve muscle mass, aging drives muscle loss and fat gain. While these changes affect everyone, the menopause transition can also worsen metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss aging’s effects on body composition, how menopause exacerbates these and other effects, and what you can do to protect your health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(03:05) — Aging and muscle loss
(04:30) — Aging and fat gain
(05:06) — Why insulin resistance can increase as we age
(08:13) — Loss of estrogen drives menopause symptoms
(09:28) — Menopause can also impact cholesterol
(10:11) — Lifestyle changes can help lessen the impact of menopause on metabolism
Transcript & Show notes
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 - 11min - 263 - #263 - How do macronutrients affect your blood sugar and metabolic health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
Macronutrients include fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. All four nutrients have different effects on glucose and metabolic health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the metabolic health effects of each macronutrient, how to prevent age-related muscle loss, how to improve gut health, and more.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(03:36) — Protein helps prevent age-related muscle loss
(04:25) — What if you just consume protein and do not exercise?
(05:21) — Leucine is a stimulator of insulin release
(08:55) — Which fats are good and bad for you?
(13:22) — How dietary fat affects your glucose response
(14:59) — The importance of fiber
(15:52) —What does fiber do?
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt_J9-Sfer-lwssEdcuNTm3mmKhKqgd-z
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 - 36min - 262 - #262 - How do lifestyle changes affect your metabolic health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
Exercising and changing your diet are both beneficial for metabolic health. But you may be wondering which one has more benefits for fat loss, increasing insulin sensitivity, and more. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the answer to this burning question and more, including how exercise, saunas, stress, and sleep affect glucose levels.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(02:30) — Why do you get a glucose spike when you exercise?
(04:22) — The sport drink industry puts fructose in its products
(05:27) — What happens to your glucose when you enter a sauna?
(06:26) — Is it better to exercise or change your diet?
(08:16) — How cortisol, the stress hormone, impacts blood sugar and health
(10:36) — How does sleep affect your metabolic health?
(12:22) — How do you fix sleep deprivation?
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay
Thu, 15 Aug 2024 - 16min - 261 - #261 - Uric acid-raising foods to avoid for metabolic, gut, and overall health | Dr. David Perlmutter & Dr. Casey Means
High uric acid can cause gout, but it’s also a marker for worsened metabolic health and gut health and a contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s. Consumption of purines can lead to high uric acid levels, but other ingredients in our food system are also culprits. Dr. David Perlmutter and Dr. Casey Means discuss the problems with high uric acid, the foods and drinks that can lead to higher levels, why uric acid can be a driver of worsened brain health, and concerns regarding leaky gut and the immune system.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatDavid Perlmutter, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(04:36) — Why your uric acid level matters for metabolic health
(08:51) — Fructose is a driver of high uric acid levels
(13:55) — High-fructose corn syrup contributes to the obesity epidemic
(15:57) — The key difference between fruit and fruit juice
(25:42) — What is an optimal uric acid level?
(28:57) — Alcohol consumption contributes to higher uric acid levels
(32:32) — Ultra-processed foods contribute to higher uric acid levels
(41:13) — Gut permeability can challenge the immune system
(52:43) — Immunometabolism is the link between our metabolism and immune system
(59:26) — What causes immune cells in the brain to become dysfunctional?
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/IZhi4JXxy6Y
Thu, 01 Aug 2024 - 1h 09min - 260 - #260 - Why high insulin levels drive fat storage and weight gain and what you can do | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
High insulin levels drive the growth of fat cells. In turn, fat gain can exacerbate insulin resistance, leading to a vicious cycle. Insulin is a hormone the pancreas releases in response to glucose rising in the bloodstream. A lower insulin level is required to lose fat, and dietary habits and lifestyle changes can help. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss insulin’s dual functions in the body, why high insulin leads to fat storage, and how to lower insulin levels.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(03:05) — What drives fat growth?
(04:17) — Why insulin is both good and bad
(08:25) — Why insulin resistance creates a vicious cycle of fat gain
(10:36) — Changing diet is the easiest way to lower insulin levels to drive fat loss
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay
Thu, 11 Jul 2024 - 12min - 259 - #259 - What being ‘postdiabetic,’ rather than prediabetic, means and how to get there | Eric Edmeades & Ben Grynol
Before someone develops type 2 diabetes, they go through a prediabetic stage. But if someone is reversing their diabetes and is trending toward better glucose levels or even optimal levels, they are postdiabetic. Eric Edmeades and Ben Grynol discuss Edmeades’s new book “Postdiabetic,” his company Wildfit, and how the program helps people reverse type 2 diabetes, change their relationship with food, and overhaul their health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatEric Edmeades & Ben Grynol discuss:
(04:42) — The makings of the obesity epidemic
(13:46) — Switching between fuel sources
(20:09) — The high cost and consequences of type 2 diabetes
(24:19) — Eric Edmeades explains the health experiment that changed his life
(27:29) — Doctors aren’t taught much about nutrition in medical school
(33:35) — Why doctors may be more likely to prescribe medicine than preventions
(34:58) — Wildfit helps people change their relationship with food and reverse type 2 diabetes
(40:49) — Why Edmeades titled his book “Postdiabetic”
(59:44) — The culpability of the food industry and the government
(55:38) — Diets are not the answer
(58:54) — Fat as a nutrient is not the enemy
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/QO4X6ePQZi8?si=LulpiRMkuWVV4dLj
Thu, 04 Jul 2024 - 1h 01min - 258 - #258 - What are glucose and insulin and why do they matter for health? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
Excess glucose from food gets stored as fat. And our insulin response drives that fat storage. The goal is for the pancreas to release less insulin but for the body to have a healthy response to it. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss the interplay between glucose and insulin, healthy glucose numbers, and the problems with insulin resistance.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(03:10) — The functions of glucose
(04:24) — Glucose levels change throughout the day
(05:30) — The implications of reactive hypoglycemia
(08:51) — Understanding glycemic index and glycemic load
(11:12) — How many glucose spikes per day are okay?
(14:34) — Insulin drives fat storage
(17:41) — How glucose spikes do their damage
(19:03) — How eating late before bed can cause insulin resistance
(22:12) — A look at healthy glucose levels
(27:06) — Insulin resistance is the first sign of issues
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay
Thu, 20 Jun 2024 - 32min - 257 - #257 - Join the “Good Energy” Levels book club and take charge of your health | Dr. Casey Means & Dr. Robert Lustig
Why are we spending more on health care every year, yet people are getting sicker? “Good Energy,” a book by Casey Means, MD, details how you can take your health into your own hands with the power of food as medicine. Dr. Casey Means and Dr. Robert Lustig discuss the overarching themes of “Good Energy,” why we need changes in government and health care, and how people can overhaul their own health with actionable tips, such as eliminating ultra-processed foods from their diet. Plus, Means answers readers’ burning questions.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatCasey Means, MD, & Robert Lustig, MD, discuss:
(3:05) — Why Casey Means, MD, left her surgical residency program
(7:47) — The book “Good Energy” in a nutshell
(9:50) — The problem with our mitochondria
(16:20) — We’re getting too much of our food from ultra-processed items
(19:04) — How to reduce cravings
(22:06) — Different types of exercise send different signals to our mitochondria
(29:42) — Modern medicine is designed to address disease when it’s already present
(36:03) — Nutrition guidelines are fraught with conflicts of interest
(45:16) — The need for addressing school lunches and SNAP
(54:48) — Trends in glucose matter
(57:49) — Dr. Lustig shares his thoughts on “Good Energy”
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/t52Fmvh-5Ww?si=dHdOWrRGMTutSfcb
Fri, 14 Jun 2024 - 1h 04min - 256 - #256 - How quickly can you change your metabolic health and how long does it last? | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol
About 93% of people in the United States are not metabolically healthy. But metabolic health can be improved quickly and over time with lifestyle changes. Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol discuss what metabolism is, how to determine metabolic health status, and how and why maintaining metabolic health is crucial.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRobert Lustig, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(1:30) — The two parts of metabolism
(2:50) — Insulin determines fat growth
(3:30) — Most people in the United States are metabolically ill
(4:12) — Determining what’s wrong with our mitochondria
(5:51) — Using glucose as a proxy for fasting insulin
(6:47) — How quickly can you fix your metabolism?
(7:47) — Lifestyle habits must be consistent to maintain metabolic health
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=o8cyq46QA1j4Hhwd
Thu, 06 Jun 2024 - 10min - 255 - #255 - Why you might be a lean mass hyper-responder if you go keto but have high cholesterol | Dave Feldman, Dr. Nick Norwitz & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino
A lean mass hyper-responder is someone with high LDL and HDL cholesterol and low triglycerides. They are often lean and healthy people who present with strange and alarming lipid numbers after going on the ketogenic diet. Dave Feldman, Dr. Nick Norwitz & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the LMHR phenotype, whether it’s a concern, whether it’s rare, the Oreo vs statin study, how exercise levels might play a role, and why more research is needed.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatDave Feldman, Nick Norwitz, PhD, & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(4:29) — What is the lean mass hyper-responder phenotype?
(8:32) — Often the LMHR phenotype gets noticed when someone goes low carb
(19:02) — The Oreo cookie study garnered attention for the LMHR phenotype
(25:32) — Understanding the mechanisms of the LMHR
(40:04) — Exercise levels likely play a role in LMHR
(51:26) — The alarming LDL levels in LMHR prompted research
(59:25) — The “gym hypothesis” will be important for further research
(1:10:48) — An open and respectful dialogue is needed on the topic
(1:33:47) — The importance of additional research
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/ItNGrGNvESY
Fri, 31 May 2024 - 1h 40min - 254 - #254 - The writing of ‘Good Energy,’ your guide to taking charge of your metabolic health | Dr. Casey Means & Mike Haney
Writing an evidence-based nonfiction book requires time, dedication, and a true passion for the content. Dr. Casey Means and her brother Calley Means joined forces to create their book “Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health.” Casey Means, MD, and Mike Haney discuss the book-writing process, insights into creativity and inspiration, the steps to seeking an agent and selling a book to a publisher, and the trials and tribulations along the way.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatCasey Means, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:
(05:47) — Bringing joy and empowerment to conversations about health
(10:20) — Landing an agent
(13:56) — The book proposal
(21:41) — The challenges of keeping content clear and accessible
(29:01) — On collaboration
(30:06) — The writing process has a lot of moving parts
(35:59) — On determining your voice
(43:21) — Carving out dedicated time to write
(55:11) — A health coach can help you stay accountable
(1:07:45) — The magic of putting a book into the world
(1:13:03) — On facing feedback
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/3dveHuhZld4?si=ke_MDmjTcUPB5YqQ
Tue, 14 May 2024 - 1h 24min - 253 - #253 - What is insulin resistance and why does it matter? | Dr. Rob Lustig & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino - (Replay)
Insulin resistance is when cells stop responding to insulin’s signal to uptake glucose. It’s a hallmark of prediabetes, Type 2 diabetes, and other forms of metabolic dysfunction, and it manifests as several chronic disease, ranging from Alzheimer’s to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the importance of monitoring insulin levels, why a high or increasing insulin level is a problem, and how insulin resistance hinders weight management.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Rob Lustig, MD, & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(01:44) — What is insulin?
(04:43) — What is insulin resistance?
(15:50) — There are three types of insulin resistance
(36:03) — Weight management is not about calories in and calories out
(44:00) — Adding more insulin to the equation of Type 2 diabetes isn’t necessarily the answer
(49:31) — Insulin is a crucial biomarker to measure for metabolic health
(52:11) — Insulin resistance is a hindrance to weight management
(54:42) — The intake of too much leucine can lead to insulin resistance
(1:00:22) — Fiber feeds the gut microbiome and is crucial for metabolic health
(1:11:27) — Is intermittent fasting necessary?
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/dFOaBrujDHo
Thu, 09 May 2024 - 1h 17min - 252 - #252 - Why nutrition matters for brain health and how to modify your diet | Dr. Georgia Ede & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino - (Replay)
The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has proven benefits for brain health. Research shows that the keto diet helps ease symptoms of some mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder. But no diet, even keto, is one-size-fits all. Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss how diet and brain health are connected, how diet and gut health affect brain health, and how a ketogenic or other low-carbohydrate diets can be tailored to people’s specific needs.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatGeorgia Ede, MD& Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(03:56) — Dr. Georgia Ede describes her interest in nutritional science for mental health
(13:50) — Metabolic health is tied to brain health
(21:57) — A ketogenic diet vs medications for mental health
(25:55) — A ketogenic diet can be tailored to prevent side effects
(32:13) — Gut health and mental health are connected
(37:37) — Diet is highly individual
(40:41) — CGM can teach people how foods and diet strategies affect their health
(43:36) — Following a low-carbohydrate diet will generally reduce insulin levels and triglycerides
(46:16) — Some psychiatric symptoms have links to higher C-reactive protein levels
(47:21) — Dr. D’Agostino summarizes one of Dr. Ede’s studies on the ketogenic diet and mental health
(55:30) — A ketogenic diet may also help ease some menopause symptoms
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/kBjBEjV0vqU
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 - 1h 14min - 251 - #251 - How to track your macros for fat loss and muscle gain | Josh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino
Not all calories are equal. Tracking your macronutrient intake, using AI capabilities, can help you improve your body composition, facilitate weight loss, and boost exercise performance. The three macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with fiber a subset of carbs. Josh Clemente & Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discuss the new macros-tracking feature in the Levels app, the purpose and importance of each macronutrient, how to use macros-tracking in conjunction with biomarker data to improve health and fitness, and how easy the app’s AI functionality is to use.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatJosh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(09:03) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake
(17:03) — Why is tracking macros beneficial?
(21:11) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body
(39:36) — The different functions of macros
(48:32) — Is excess protein a concern?
(54:55) — The problem with excess carbohydrates
(1:00:37) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility
(1:02:41) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates
(1:17:18) — Is fiber a macronutrient?
(1:46:21) — Macros tracking in the Levels app
(1:49:50) — Tracking macros can help improve body composition and performance
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 18 Apr 2024 - 1h 47min - 250 - #250 - Is fructose a driver of Alzheimer’s disease? | Dr. Richard Johnson & Dr. Rob Lustig - (Replay)
Fructose and its byproduct uric acid may play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s, thanks to an evolutionary adaptation hijacked by the modern diet. Fructose can be directly consumed, or the body can convert high-glycemic carbohydrates and other foods to fructose. Fructose suppresses some cognitive functions. Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Rob Lustig discuss a new study, of which Johnson was an author, on how fructose may be a potential driver in Alzheimer’s, and they hypothesize about fructose’s potential connection to the development of other conditions.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Richard Johnson, MD, & Rob Lustig, MD, discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(10:17) — Fructose is the driver of some diseases that are on the rise in kids
(12:16) — Fructose is a driver of obesity and metabolic syndrome
(15:56) — Pharmaceutical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease aren’t as effective as researchers had hoped
(17:40)— The research focus of Alzheimer’s is slowly shifting to understanding insulin resistance in the brain
(21:45) — Is fructose a root cause of Alzheimer’s?
(26:27) — New research suggests fructose induces a foraging response
(28:20) — Fructose inhibits areas of the brain to encourage successful foraging
(46:36) — We need more research on fructose
(1:02:51) —Is fructose a factor in violence?
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
👋 WHO WE ARE:
Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life.
🔗 LINKS:
Could Alzheimer’s disease be a maladaptation of an evolutionary survival pathway mediated by intracerebral fructose and uric acid metabolism?: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916523000047?dgcid=author
Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 11 Apr 2024 - 1h 04min - 249 - #249 - The links between gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility | Dr. Robin Rose & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
Gastrointestinal health, metabolic health, and fertility are all linked. The gut microbiome impacts other microbiomes in the body, which can then impact the ability to conceive. Our gut microbiomes are becoming less diverse through modern farming practices and the consumption of processed foods. Dr. Robin Rose and Ben Grynol discuss how gut microbiome testing can determine underlying factors of gastrointestinal distress and the lifestyle changes that can help address symptoms and even aid fertility.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatRobin Rose, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(05:30) — Gastrointestinal issues are associated with metabolic health issues
(06:25) — Many people lack gut microbiome diversity
(12:45) — Infertility in some people has links to the gut microbiome
(27:55) — PCOS and gut dysbiosis share a connection that’s still being researched
(29:25) — Restoring gut and metabolic health may help alleviate PCOS symptoms
(31:37) — Metagenomic testing assesses gut health
(41:33) — Gut health often requires balanced macronutrient intake
(45:42) — Regenerative farming practices could help us get more quality nutrients
(51:07) — Eliminating dairy and gluten may ease gastrointestinal symptoms
(52:35) — Sleep quality and quantity also inform gut health
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/SpW9znY3fkI
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 28 Mar 2024 - 57min - 248 - #248 - A low-carb diet may boost exercise performance and health | Professor Tim Noakes & Josh Clemente - (Replay)
High-carbohydrate diets and carbohydrate loading have been long-standing tenets of athletic training and competition, but newer research indicates a low-carbohydrate diet may be more beneficial for performance and overall health. Professor Tim Noakes and Josh Clemente discuss how a fat-adapted body can rely on fat as a fuel source at all exercise intensity levels, rather than burning mostly carbohydrates, and how such adaptation and dietary focus may reduce one’s risk of prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Tim Noakes, MD, PhD, & Josh Clemente discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(02:50) — Dr. Tim Noakes explains his career trajectory
(17:36) — An adapted body can rely on fat for all exercise intensities
(21:04) — The body will never get to a state of no glucose circulation
(22:03) — A delicate balance of macronutrients is likely necessary
(27:49) — Before the high-carbohydrate craze, elite athletes were fat adapted
(32:32) — Fat oxidation in muscle may have a protective effect against Type 2 diabetes
(35:51) — Exercise does not cancel out the risk for metabolic disease if diet isn’t accounted for
(46:21) — The body can cope with fasting
(53:41) — The high-carb training trend has been perpetuated by the carbohydrate industry
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 - 1h 03min - 247 - #247 - Why sleep is one of the key aspects of your metabolic health | Mike Haney & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
Your sleep routine is one of the most important aspects of your metabolic health. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Ben Grynol and Mike Haney discuss:
(02:36) - A study about sleep and metabolic health
(03:26) - The benefits of sleep for metabolic health
(05:24) - Sleeping at home
(05:24) - Standardized meals
(07:20) - How glucose levels affect sleep quality and duration
(12:50) - What you eat matters
(14:37) - Sleep quality and glucose
(18:06) - Sleep is the most important thing you control
(18:55) - Don’t sacrifice sleep
(20:08) - The importance of consistency
(25:29) - Compounding effects work both ways
🔗 Helpful links:
How does sleep affect blood sugar?: https://levelshealth.com/blog/how-sleep-impacts-metabolic-health-glucose-levels-cgm
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 29 Feb 2024 - 24min - 246 - #246 - How to keep your blood sugar more stable and why it matters for weight loss and overall health – Tips from Glucose Goddess | Jessie Inchauspé & Dr. Casey Means
Stable glucose levels are a foundation of feeling and looking your best at any age. When glucose levels are more erratic—with spikes and crashes—cravings, weight gain, low energy, health issues, and more can ensue. Jessie Inchauspé and Dr. Casey Means, thought leaders on the topic of blood sugar, discuss simple hacks for keeping glucose levels more stable without resorting to restrictive diets, and they share why stable levels inform health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Jessie Inchauspé & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(12:59) — Are type 2 diabetes and obesity genetic, dictated by lifestyle factors, or both?
(15:53) — Hacks for keeping blood sugar more stable
(24:22) — People want to be healthy, but the food industry complicates matters
(28:29) — Nutritional choices can impact mental health
(35:56) — The premise behind Inchauspé’s ‘Glucose Goddess Method’
(39:59) — Tracking biomarkers provides insight to your metabolic health
(42:08) — A siloed approach to healthcare misses the big picture
(45:06) — Can supplements really help with metabolic health?
(57:37) — We need systemic change in the food industry
(1:05:52) — The science behind food cravings
Transcripts & Show notes
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Jessie Inchauspé on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glucosegoddess/
Jessie Inchauspé: https://www.antispike.com
Casey Means, MD: https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy
Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health: https://www.caseymeans.com/goodenergy
Fri, 23 Feb 2024 - 1h 20min - 245 - #245 - Autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, holistic protocols, & metabolic health | Dr. Terry Wahls & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Can a holistic protocol address the root cause of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS)? We explore how metabolic health is tightly linked to autoimmune diseases and how understanding blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity is key. Dr. Terry Wahls developed The Wahls Protocol, which helped Dr. Wahls reverse her disease process and helped her get back on her feet. The Wahls Protocol is one of the most influential lifestyle programs that helps people address their autoimmune diseases.Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Dr. Terry Wahls and Dr. Casey Means discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(03:16) - A new framework for thinking about autoimmune disease
(07:14) - A supplement cocktail
(15:17) - The creation of health
(18:26) - Humans are metabolically complex
(27:52) - What is mitochondrial dysfunction?
(41:19) - The connection between type-1 diabetes and mitochondrial dysfunction
(53:03) - Addressing the root cause of autoimmune issues
(01:01:31) - How to support mitochondrial health
(01:03:21) - Improving metabolic health can improve autoimmune disease
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 08 Feb 2024 - 1h 04min - 244 - #244 - Where metabolic health and culture converge | Dhru Purohit & Austin McGuffie - (Replay)
What are the unique metabolic health experiences of South Asian and Black communities? In this candid conversation between serial entrepreneur and health and wellness investor Dhru Purohit and content creator and metabolism mentor Austin McGuffie, they discuss how metabolic health affects their respective communities.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatDhru Purohit & Austin McGuffie discuss:
(00:00) – Intro
(17:24) – Live by example
(21:56) – Focus on education first
(23:29) – The benefits of targeted fasting
(24:47) – Dying from excess
(28:43) – It all comes back to lifestyle
(33:34) – Talk to people who are on the fence
(34:50) – The societal split
(35:44) – Why we need targeted solutions
(37:40) – The add-in method
(51:27) – Health happens in community
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 25 Jan 2024 - 56min - 243 - #243 - Why sugary drinks can cause weight gain and low energy | Dr. Richard Johnson & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino
Traditional soft drinks, juice boxes, and energy and sports drinks are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, an ingredient also found in many processed foods. The body processes fructose differently than other sugars, and fructose can lead to weight gain by encouraging the body to store energy. Dr. Richard Johnson and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the issues with fructose, sucralose (found in PRIME energy drinks), and other artificial sweeteners. They explore how fructose can drive food cravings and overeating, its potential role as an Alzheimer’s contributor, and the benefits of a different sugar that might promote the release of GLP-1, the hormone that Ozempic and Wegovy help increase.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatRichard Johnson, MD, & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(1:59) — Richard Johnson, MD, is a prolific researcher regarding sugar’s effects
(6:38) — Soft drinks are a major source of added sugar, which has negative effects on metabolic health
(8:31) — Fructose lowers energy in the body, driving hunger
(14:16) — Fructose can drive insulin resistance and increase fat
(21:44) — A small amount of fructose can be beneficial to the body
(29:11) — Fructose consumption may be a culprit of Alzheimer’s disease
(48:21) — Low-calorie sugars can still make you crave more sugar
(53:59) — A low-calorie sugar called allulose has potential health benefits
(55:59) — Allulose may stimulate GLP-1
(59:39) — A low-carb diet helps reduce sugar cravings
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/AMgBxyJvtx0
Fri, 02 Feb 2024 - 1h 05min - 242 - #242 - Healthy eating for kids | Austin McGuffie & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
Highly processed food is hard to avoid. It’s especially harder when you’re a parent. For Austin McGuffie and Ben Grynol, they both have 4 kids, and they talk about the challenges of parenting, feeding kids nutritious food, and educating them along the way.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatAustin McGuffie & Ben Grynol discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(01:11) - Help kids make better food choices and lead by example
(06:07) - Know when to give in to a kid’s wants and when to firmly say no
(12:02) - Allow your kids to experience the consequences of their food choices
(18:53) - Make exercise enjoyable by leaning into your kid’s interests
(25:26) - Understand that your kid is an individual with their own tastes and preferences
(27:09) - Strike a balance between a nutritious diet and a healthy relationship with food
(30:13) - Encourage kids to take ownership of their food
(35:45) - Make food taste palatable and enjoyable
(39:20) - Keep trying every day
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Watch the full conversation: https://youtu.be/Ukk07x2oVDQ?si=MUheltnf451VjP47
Thu, 04 Jan 2024 - 46min - 241 - #241 - How environmental chemicals are making us sick and fat | Dr. Rob Lustig & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Landmark new research published by Dr. Rob Lustig and dozens of other scientists shows us for the first time the intricate mechanisms of how environmental chemicals directly cause obesity, uncovering the latest research on this class of chemicals called obesogens. In this conversation between Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Casey Means, they discuss what products and environmental toxins we need to be aware of, how they are impacting our cells and causing metabolic dysfunction, and what we can do to protect ourselves. Dr. Lustig speaks to how these environmental toxins affect our sex cells (sperm and eggs) and can impact our offspring and many generations to come. He also discusses how 15% of obesity may be directly caused by these chemicals.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health
🎙 WhatDr. Casey Means & Dr. Robert Lustig discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(06:31) - It’s not just correlative, it’s causative
(09:22) - Obesogens bind to our cell proteins
(10:08) - Everyday products contain obesogens
(13:11) - Babies and children are the most vulnerable
(23:11) - Obesogens stick around even after being banned
(30:51) - Food is more than calories
(41:45) - Obesogens are unregulated
(49:46) - Cell alterations last for generations
(59:26) - We need to get the EPA on board
(01:00:45) - Buy organic
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Watch the Video – https://youtu.be/GQrnEx8MNKk
Fri, 29 Dec 2023 - 1h 11min - 240 - #240 - Follow three diet rules to improve health, lose weight, and prevent diseases | Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin & Dr. Casey Means
What diet should you follow? Metabolic health experts say it doesn’t matter whether you’re keto, vegan, or otherwise if you focus on three simple principles, which will help reduce your risk for cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin and Dr. Casey Means discuss the biomarkers to ask your doctor about, why they matter, how to improve those biomarkers with accessible tips, and why liver health is a big key to overall health.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatSwaranjit Bhasin, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(2:45) — A radiologist raises a red flag about increased diagnoses in younger patients
(8:47) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a silent but serious problem
(12:59) — The importance of the liver
(16:59) — What are your most important biomarkers?
(31:50) — Casey Means, MD, summarizes Dr. Bhasin’s three rules for diet
(33:48) — Processed vegetable and seed oils are toxic to the body
(41:21) — Insulin resistance can drive cancer
(51:56) — The importance of autophagy in helping to prevent cancer
(54:40) — Who should not engage in intermittent fasting?
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/1pkhDOPsXb4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 - 1h 03min - 239 - #239 – Big Ag feeds into Big Pharma: Metabolic health benefits from regenerative farming | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
Since metabolic health is downstream of food production, we need regenerative farming, balanced ecosystems, and to lift the veil of Big Food’s marketing schemes in order to optimize the entire system. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Levels’ Advisor Dr. Rob Lustig and Head of Growth Ben Grynol discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(02:12) - The growers and the helpers
(05:34) - How DDT changed America
(11:01) - The next big thing
(15:02) - Soil vs. dirt
(27:51) - Farming in the 1960s
(30:44) - Turning America’s Heartland into big ag
(33:32) - Agriculture and healthcare are inseparable
(37:50) - An immoral hazard
(42:54) - The consumer is in the dark
(50:36) - Shop around the edge of the supermarket
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/HiBOobZ_8ss
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 07 Dec 2023 - 55min - 238 - #238 - How regenerative farming boosts soil health and the nutrient content of the plants and animals we eat | Will Harris & Dr. Casey Means
Regenerative farming replenishes soil nutrients, which in turn, boosts the nutrient content of produce and animal products. It also focuses on animal and land stewardship. However, most farming today employs industrialized practices that deplete the soil, discount animal welfare, and harm humans. Will Harris and Dr. Casey Means discuss regenerative farming practices, the symbiotic relationships in the farming ecosystem, and the need for change at the consumer level.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatWill Harris & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(1:21) — Soil depletion in the United States affects overall health
(15:27) — The birth of industrialized farming
(30:04) — Regenerative farming can raise quality of life for communities
(33:23) —Modern farming practices and antibiotic resistance
(35:11) — Change must come at the consumer level
(40:38) — The consequences of modern farming practices were not immediate
(50:10) — Organic farming is not the same thing as regenerative farming
(53:29) — The importance of animals being allowed to express instinctive behavior
(56:14) — Regenerative practices in your backyard
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/pkwZ3_MPxO4
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 23 Nov 2023 - 1h 08min - 237 - #237 - Erectile dysfunction may mean chronic disease & early death | Dr. Merrill Matschke & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Erectile dysfunction can be an early indicator of future cardiovascular disease, endothelial dysfunction, and early death. Learn more in this conversation betweenurologist and male reproductive specialist and surgeonDr. Merrill Matschke and Levels Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Casey Means. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Dr. Merrill Matschke & Dr. Casey Means discuss:
(00:00) – Intro
(13:24) – The connection between metabolic dysfunction and erectile dysfunction
(21:44) – How ED develops
(33:42) – Let’s talk about oxidative stress
(39:40) – The importance of testosterone levels in insulin sensitivity
(46:21) – The importance of diet, exercise, and sleep
(48:16) – Why is testosterone dropping?
(59:28) – Our healthcare system needs to do better
(01:07:06) – Don’t put treatment off
(01:11:07) – Sleep is crucial
(01:18:59) – Nobody’s perfect
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/mum4AfB0K_Y
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 16 Nov 2023 - 1h 31min - 236 - #236 - How keto improves brain health and weight loss and combats chronic disease and disorders such as ADHD | Dr. Annette Bosworth & Dr. Casey Means
The ketogenic diet fuels the brain and makes the body more metabolically flexible. The keto diet drives ketone production, which serves as fuel for energy as well as an antioxidant to combat oxidative stress. Switching from burning glucose to burning ketones has numerous benefits, including for cognitive decline and ADHD. Dr. Annette Bosworth and Dr. Casey Means discuss the intricacies of the keto diet, why it boosts brain health, how to make behavioral changes, and how to encourage kids to eat keto for improved health and well-being.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatAnnette Bosworth, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(14:31) — What we put into our body matters
(16:37) — The value of ketones as fuel
(28:32) — Dr. Annette Bosworth explains her ‘Dr. Boz’ ratio
(34:47) — Your body will adapt to ketosis
(44:49) — Dr. Bosworth shares info from a study on cognitive impairment
(50:41) — Dr. Bosworth shares her experience with getting patients on a ketogenic diet
(53:07) — Dr. Bosworth shares her wisdom about behavior change
(1:13:31) — Dr. Casey Means describes her experience with metabolic dysfunction
(1:18:05) — Dr. Bosworth shares her techniques for getting her kids to eat healthfully
(1:21:00) — In general, the food industry’s aim is for profit
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/sY1ZeCDp-xw?si=rD4ZyBF2GsK--xlW
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 02 Nov 2023 - 1h 32min - 235 - #235 – Understanding predictive markers of metabolic dysfunction | Dr. Sara Gottfried & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Dr. Sara Gottfried – a pioneer in health, research, and education – has seen more than 25,000 patients over the past two decades. She's a physician scientist, who graduated from Harvard Medical School and MIT, and completed her Residency at the University of California, San Francisco.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Dr. Gottfried is the Director of Precision Medicine at The Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, at Thomas Jefferson University, where she specializes in identifying the underlying causes of her patient's conditions to achieve lasting health transformation, not just symptom management.
Dr. Gottfried has published five books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers, such as The Hormone Cure, The Hormone Reset Diet, and Younger. Her latest book has just been published, Women Food and Hormones.
In this episode, Dr. Casey Means, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Levels, and Dr. Gottfried covered a number of topics from her new book.
LINKS
New insights from continuous glucose monitoring into the route to diabetes Proposed guidelines to evaluate scientific validity and evidence for genotype-based dietary advice Michael Snyder Marcus Institute of Integrative Health Sara GottfriedLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Dr. Sara Gottfried & Casey Means discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(00:40) - The vital role of metabolism
(04:42) - Metabolic data should be democratized
(07:58) - Women and the keto diet
(09:37) - Women are considered "too complicated"
(15:44) - Every person needs a unique diet
(20:00) - Diet shouldn't be like politics
(24:20) - The ideal fasting length
(31:10) - The role of testosterone
(37:58) - Physicians should not be gatekeepers to health
(01:01:37) - The relationship between genes and our environment
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QZUpJCNOpfY
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 19 Oct 2023 - 1h 22min - 234 - #234 - Why your workout isn’t working for you and what to do instead for improved metabolic health and body composition | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon & Dr. Casey Means
Diet and exercise culture tends to prioritize calorie restriction and calorie burning via cardio workouts. While fat loss is beneficial, building and maintaining healthy muscle mass is also crucial for metabolic health and longevity. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Dr. Casey Means discuss Lyon’s book “Forever Strong,” why strength-training should be a priority for workout routines, how muscle is the body’s metabolic currency, and why boosting protein intake aids in adding and preserving muscle mass.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatGabrielle Lyon, DO,& Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(03:43) — Dr. Casey Means shares her enthusiasm for Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s book
(09:03) — Muscle is our metabolic currency
(19:38) — According to Dr. Lyon, gaining muscle is more important than losing fat
(23:56) — Muscle mass is protective against sarcopenia
(31:08) — Dr. Means raises the question about menopause
(31:59) — The benefits of focusing on metabolic health in the menopause transition
(36:39) — Dr. Lyon encourages people to reevaluate the type of exercise they are doing
(39:14) — Dr. Lyon discusses the importance of getting enough protein
(43:15) — Dr. Lyon discusses the timing of protein intake
(51:13) — Dr. Lyon discusses supplementation with creatine
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LAF2o2zv7Q4?si=vXoV1hxQVCpfYOpQ
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 12 Oct 2023 - 1h 01min - 233 - #233 - Big Food, Big Sugar & how they affect our metabolic health today | Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
The history of the Big Food and Big Sugar industries still affect our metabolic health today. Learn more in this conversation between Dr. Robert Lustig and Ben Grynol. Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Dr. Robert Lustig & Ben Grynol discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(08:49) - Create the consensus
(17:45) - Exonerate sugar as the cause of heart disease
(23:37) - Use shoddy science
(24:47) - Buy off scientists and critics
(26:17) - Weakening government oversight
(28:38) - Fight back against regulated advertising
(38:35) - Go all in on corn
(44:47) - Sugar should be a condiment
(47:33) - Increase food industry profits
(53:59) - The public needs to demand better
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/2-qq2Tzl5nM?si=MXk0xX-70n4d_OJ7
📲 CONNECT:
Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 05 Oct 2023 - 56min - 232 - #232 - How do you afford nutritious food when you live in a food desert and why investing in nutrition is an investment in yourself | Shawn Stevenson & Dr. Casey Means
Our environment and culture directly affect the food choices we make. Ultra-processed foods are convenient and cheap, and they’re the main source of foods in food deserts, typically located in underserved communities. Yet ultra-processed foods lead to worsening metabolic health. How do you afford and access nutritious food? Shawn Stevenson and Dr. Casey means discuss how Stevenson, author of “Eat Smarter Family Cookbook” grew up without easy access to whole foods, how he transformed how he eats despite his environment, and how those changes led to a reversal of poor health and chronic pain to an improved quality of life and even earning potential.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Shawn Stevenson & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(10:00) — Ultra-processed foods are convenient and cheap
(20:03) — Stevenson describes the moment when he changed his mindset
(27:20) — The foods we put into our bodies affect us at the cellular level
(32:17) — Focus on controlling the “controllables.”
(35:30) — The family that eats together boosts their health together
(41:23) — Schedule social meals
(44:19) — The most common factor across Blue Zones is strong social bonds
(49:19) — Cooking is an essential skill for health
(1:03:16) — Investing in better health generates improved energy capacity
(1:08:58) — Stevenson shares his tips for affording nutritious foods
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rKptwQrvzuk?si=P9gfeK952dWjMrYA
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 28 Sep 2023 - 1h 27min - 231 - #231 – Adaptation and why it’s important to our metabolic health, stress, and trauma | Dr. Casey Means & Dr. Molly Maloof - (Replay)
Obesity and chronic disease are fallouts from the lack of real human connection. Underneath biomarkers like glucose and physical aspects like mitochondrial dysfunctions are the root causes of disease: hijacked reward pathways, chronic stress due to constant threat mode, and the global human disconnect.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
In this discussion between Levels’ advisor Dr. Molly Maloof and our co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Casey Means, they talk about:
The most important measurable biomarker How we’re designed to live in groups The cycle of constant stress through threat signaling vs. high-reward pathways The big problem of global human disconnection How love and oxytocin helps to make us stronger, share resources, and create bonds Addiction and the power of the pause How to increase physical and emotional adaptationLevels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatLevels’ advisor Dr. Molly Maloof and our co-founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Casey Means, discuss:
00:00 - Intro
(11:16) - Adapting and self-managing in the face of adversity
(15:08) - The most important biomarker
(22:14) - Moving your body to create energy
(23:19) - Adapting beyond genetics
(25:31) - Hijacking reward pathways
(35:42) - Building metabolic flexibility
(42:32) - Taking care of your mitochondria
(45:00) - The holy grail of chronic disease
(50:37) - Felt connection
(57:26) - How deprivation is a pathway to happiness
(1:04:28) - The power of the pause
(1:21:10) - Letting go of control
(01:40:40) - “Cook” your body less for better skin
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=XVSYGx9Fkns
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 21 Sep 2023 - 1h 54min - 230 - #230 - How the ketogenic diet may work as a medical therapy for various conditions such as migraine, epilepsy, mental health issues, and more | Beth Zupec-Kania, Denise Potter & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino
The ketogenic diet is often used as a tool for weight loss and to improve metabolic health. However, it is increasingly being considered, studied, and used as a medical therapy for chronic physical and mental health conditions, and it can be tailored to patients’ specific needs. Beth Zupec-Kania, Denise Potter, and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss the benefits of the ketogenic diet, how they customize keto for patients with dietary preferences like veganism, how to ease into the change with a pre-keto diet, and how the keto diet may be able to help people reduce or eliminate medications under the supervision of medical professionals.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatBeth Zupec-Kania, RDN, CD; Denise Potter, RDN, CDCES; and Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(14:50) — Using the ketogenic diet as therapy for various conditions
(27:49) — Eating a ketogenic diet often helps people improve their nutrient intake
(29:39) — The ketogenic diet can be customized to fit a person’s needs
(33:42) — Medium-chain triglycerides can help increase fat intake
(35:32) — Gluten is inflammatory
(38:18) — Beth encourages patients to do a pre-keto program
(46:12) — Looking at macros on keto
(48:24) — A ketogenic diet can drive metabolic health changes
(57:49) — The benefits of the ketogenic diet that go beyond weight loss
(1:22:00) — Can keto help people reduce their medications?
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 14 Sep 2023 - 1h 28min - 229 - #229 - Nature Wants Us to Be Fat | Dr. Casey Means & Dr. Richard Johnson - (Replay)
Dr. Casey Means, Chief Medical Officer of Levels speaks with Dr. Richard Johnson about his book, "Nature Wants Us to Be Fat," as well as his insights on the "survival switch" that drives our body to store fat in response to certain conditions like high fructose, dehydration, umami flavors, and more, and how this all relates to our current metabolic disease epidemic.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatDr. Casey Means & Dr. Richard Johnson discuss:
(04:25) - The fat switch
(11:39) - Metabolic syndrome is linked to survival
(13:36) - The switch is good for short term survival, bad for long term
(17:40) - Sugar triggers the switch
(19:39) - Sugar leads to metabolic syndrome, not extra calories
(23:40) - Fructose depletes energy
(31:28) - Vitamin C is protective against obesity
(35:12) - High glycemic foods help our bodies make fructose
(44:29) - Whole fruit is healthy because of the fiber
(53:48) - Salt can trigger fructose production
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 07 Sep 2023 - 1h 12min - 228 - #228 - Why nutrition matters for brain health and how to modify your diet | Dr. Georgia Ede & Dr. Dominic D’Agostino
The ketogenic diet is a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet that has proven benefits for brain health. Research shows that the keto diet helps ease symptoms of some mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder. But no diet, even keto, is one-size-fits all. Dr. Georgia Ede and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss how diet and brain health are connected, how diet and gut health affect brain health, and how a ketogenic or other low-carbohydrate diets can be tailored to people’s specific needs.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 WhatGeorgia Ede, MD& Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, discuss:
(06:51) — Dr. Georgia Ede describes her interest in nutritional science for mental health
(16:45) — Metabolic health is tied to brain health
(23:16) — A ketogenic diet vs medications for mental health
(27:19) — A ketogenic diet can be tailored to prevent side effects
(32:51) — Gut health and mental health are connected
(39:00) — Diet is highly individual
(42:02) —CGM can teach people how foods and diet strategies affect their health
(44:57) — Following a low-carbohydrate diet will generally reduce insulin levels and triglycerides
(47:40) — Some psychiatric symptoms have links to higher C-reactive protein levels
(48:42) — Dr. D’Agostino summarizes one of Dr. Ede’s studies on the ketogenic diet and mental health
(56:59) — A ketogenic diet may also help ease some menopause symptoms
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/kBjBEjV0vqU
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 31 Aug 2023 - 1h 18min - 227 - #227 – How 3 chronic conditions are connected to high blood sugar and what you can do | Dr. Ben Bikman & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
From gallbladder issues to tinnitus to fatty liver disease and more, many chronic conditions have links to high blood sugar and insulin resistance. Dr. Ben Bikman and Dr. Casey Means discuss the connections between insulin resistance and ear-nose-and-throat conditions, how insulin resistance increases the risk for gallbladder stones, what non-alcoholic fatty liver disease does to the body, and how you can mitigate these chronic health conditions for improved quality of life.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🎙 What Dr. Ben Bikman & Dr. Casey Means discuss:
(00:00) – Intro
(07:16) – A ray of hope in declining health
(09:25) – Metabolic connections for tinnitus, vertigo, and hearing loss
(11:57) – Undiagnosed metabolic disorders later surface in disease
(13:13) – Insulin resistance and GERD
(20:37) – How insulin resistance contributes to gallblader stones
(27:39) – NAFLD and clearing the liver of fat buildup
(33:47) – Two types of fat cell disorders: hypertropy and hyperplasia
(40:42) – Two foods to avoid for optimized health
(46:16) – When a low carb diet spikes blood glucose
(48:12) – The data power that a CGM gives you
(50:32) – A unique perspective on healthy glucose levels
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/szGl8F1zl6I
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
How hearing loss relates to metabolic health | Blog post: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/how-hearing-loss-relates-to-metabolic-health
Why too many focus on glucose, but not insulin | Blog post: https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/why-too-many-focus-on-glucose-but-not-insulin
Thu, 24 Aug 2023 - 1h 00min - 226 - #226 - How do weight-loss medications affect metabolic health? And will Ozempic and other GLP-1s actually solve the obesity crisis? | Dr. Rob Lustig & Dr. Casey Means
Medications, such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and more, have become increasingly popular for weight loss. These drugs are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and they mimic a hormone that, among other things, tells the brain a person is full so they eat less. But are they safe, and do they help improve metabolic health? Dr. Rob Lustig and Dr. Casey Means discuss these weight-loss drugs and their effects on the body, and why such medications likely won’t solve the obesity crisis, for which the food industry is culpable.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatRob Lustig, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(06:10) — The mechanisms of action for weight-loss medications
(09:01) — Dr. Casey Means shares her perception of the popularity of GLP-1 medications
(13:12) — GLP-1 RAs lead to fat loss but also muscle loss
(18:05) — Do GLP-1 RAs improve metabolic health?
(20:43) — Dr. Lustig discusses the high cost of GLP-1 RAs
(27:47) — Dr. Lustig makes the case for fixing the food problem
(35:46) — How can patients use GLP-1 RAs as a jumpstart?
(44:20) — Dr. Lustig shares his concerns about the use of GLP-1 RAs in children
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/AKNnxKAaONc
📲 Connect:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Thu, 17 Aug 2023 - 51min - 225 - #225 - How sugar harms kids’ bodies and brains and what parents can do to foster healthier eating habits | Austin McGuffie & Dr. Robert Lustig (Replay)
We know sugar is bad for kids, so why do parents continue giving it to them? Sugar damage kids’ health and drives behavioral issues. Infants get introduced to sugar early through commercial baby food, and the problem continues with school and birthday treats, soda, and the ultra-processed foods that have taken over the family pantry. Austin McGuffie & Dr. Robert Lustig discuss the rising rates of Type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children, sugar addiction in kids, the problems with the food industry, and what parents can do to revamp their kids’ diets and promote a lifelong healthy relationship with nutritious food.
Sign Up to Get Your Ultimate Guide to Glucose – https://levels.link/wnl
(00:00) – Intro
(07:18) - Sugar is damaging kids’ mitochondria
(16:48) - The more dangerous fat
(21:50) - Kids need better nutrition education
(25:36) - Infants get introduced to sugar early
(27:48) - Fat was removed, but sugar was added
(32:51) - Sugar causes behavioral issues
(36:08) - Kids can have sugar addiction
(38:34) - Diet soda is bad too
(44:48) - Educate the child and the parents
(48:47) - Get rid of sugary drinks
Watch the Video – https://youtu.be/I3d7zCHFW2c
Thu, 10 Aug 2023 - 56min - 224 - #224 - How the keto diet may ease depression in bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions | Iain Campbell, Bret Scher & Dominic D’Agostino
The ketogenic diet may help reduce depression and other symptoms in bipolar disorder. The ketogenic diet also helps metabolic health and reduces the risk for cardiometabolic diseases. The risk for cardiometabolic diseases is elevated in people with bipolar disorder when compared to the general population. Dr. Iain Campbell, Dr. Bret Scher, and Dr. Dominic D’Agostino discuss how the state of ketosis has beneficial effects on brain neurotransmitters and how those benefits have been life-changing physically and mentally for Dr. Campbell, who has bipolar disorder.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 WhatIain Campbell, MD, PhD, Bret Scher, MD & Dominic D’Agostino, PhD discuss:
(05:40) — Dr. Iain Campbell explains how a ketogenic diet improved his mental health
(09:02) — Dr. Campbell explains his pilot trial on the ketogenic diet and bipolar disorder
(16:20) — The ketogenic diet is often misunderstood
(18:10) — Elevated lactate is a biomarker in bipolar disorder
(24: 37) — Circadian rhythm disruption affects bipolar disorder
(30:33) — Morning exercise can help blunt the dawn glucose rise
(38:48) — The ketogenic diet has effects on brain neurotransmitters
(43:34) — Dr. Campbell explains ketosis helps him combat depression
(46:42) — Dr. Campbell describes why he went on the ketogenic diet
👋 WHO WE ARE:
Levels helps you see how food affects your health. With real-time, personalized data gathered through biosensors like continuous glucose monitors (CGM), you learn which diet and lifestyle choices improve your metabolic health so you can live a longer, fuller, healthier life.
🔗 LINKS:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/SAI6qeBMJFo
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Iain Campbell, MD, PhD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IainCampbellPhD
Connect with Bret Scher, MD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bschermd/
Connect with Bret Scher, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbretscher/
Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DominicDAgosti2
Connect with Dominic D’Agostino, PhD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominic.dagostino.kt/
Thu, 03 Aug 2023 - 57min - 222 - #222 - Sugar, Soda, and Society: Insider Insights into Coca-Cola, the Metabolic Health Crisis, and Systemic Missteps | Calley Means & Dr. Casey Means
The United States government subsidizes ultra-processed foods and sugar, and the healthcare system focuses on treating diseases rather than preventing them. These issues are harming kids’ health and leading to crisis-level rates of prediabetes and diabetes in both adults and children. Siblings Calley Means and Casey Means discuss problems with the food industry, government funding, and healthcare, and they propose possible solutions, while also offering suggestions for parents wanting to set their kids up for better metabolic health right now.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Calley Means & Casey Means, MD, discuss:
(4:01) — Kids are developing prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes at alarming rates
(5:33) — The government subsidizes ultra-processed foods
(13:05) — Ultra-processed food companies incentivize trusted institutions
(21:48) — We only get one life to live
(25:42) — The metabolic health crisis is problematic for the economy
(27:09) — Giving kids ultra-processed foods sets them up for metabolic health issues
(36:48) — Three ingredients make up the problematic foundation of ultra-processed foods
(42:49) — Parents have a lot of control over what their kids eat—especially when they’re young
(46:49) —You can’t control other adults in your family
(1:02:59) — The healthcare industry isn’t incentivized in the correct ways
(1:07:54) — Calley Means describes, TruMed, his tech startup
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/pIUwZb2jfco
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Calley Means on Instagram: https://instagram.com/calleymeans
Connect with Calley Means on Twitter: https://twitter.com/calleymeans
Connect with Calley Means on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calley-means-a29b5512/
Thu, 20 Jul 2023 - 1h 29min - 221 - #221 - Brain Energy: Does food affect mental health? | Dr. Chris Palmer & Ben Grynol - (Replay)
How might a keto diet transform not only your metabolic health but may also manage symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, and more? Dr. Chris Palmer outlines the principles from his book “Brain Energy” with Ben Grynol in this episode and discusses his journey toward the revolutionary idea that might change how we view mental health care moving forward.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Chris Palmer & Ben Grynol discuss:
(00:00) — Intro
(07:57) — How Chris Palmer started his research for Brain Energy
(10:49) — Painting a picture of the mental health crisis through numbers
(20:17) — Discussing the biopsychosocial model and existing research on the roots of mental disorders
(30:38) — The bidirectional relationship between metabolic and mental health
(34:37) — The real power of the mitochondria and the role it plays in fostering mental and metabolic health
(46:08) — Medication for mental disorders and their long-term effect on patients’ metabolic health
(01:07:10) — Insulin resistance and its impact on mental disorders
(1:11:39) — Food addiction, stress-eating, and why Chris doesn’t sugarcoat the realities of the ketogenic diet
(1:28:38) — It’s not too late to start taking charge of your metabolic health now
(1:38:45) — Chris touches on the factors that hinder better mental healthcare today and what we can do to advocate for the mentally ill
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for multiple new shows per week on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations about metabolic health and how the Levels startup team builds a wellness movement from the ground up in the health and wellness tech industry.
🔗 Helpful links:
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
Order Brain Energy: https://amazon.com/Brain-Energy-Revolutionary-Understanding-Health/dp/1637741588/
📲 Connect:
Connect with Chris on Instagram: https://instagram.com/chrispalmermd
Connect with Chris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisPalmerMD
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/christopher-palmer-01713032
Thu, 13 Jul 2023 - 1h 41min - 220 - #220 - Astronaut Scott Kelly on CGMs, the NASA Twins Study & the Impact on Metabolic Health in Earth & Space | Josh Clemente & Scott Kelly
Continuous glucose monitoring can be a powerful tool for gaining real-time insights into how diet, lifestyle habits, and the many decisions we make daily affect our health. Retired astronaut Scott Kelly tried a CGM for a month and shares his personal insights. Scott Kelly and Josh Clemente discuss how CGM can be used to effect habit change, what Kelly’s participation in the unique NASA Twins study was like and what was learned, and insights Kelly gleaned about society and the environment while viewing Earth from space.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Scott Kelly & Josh Clemente discuss:
(03:55) — CGM provides insight into eating and lifestyle habits
(06:06) — Our hundreds of daily actions have an impact on our health
(13:28) — The “normal” range for various biomarkers isn’t necessarily the optimal range
(17:07) — How CGM can help change eating habits
(18:12) — Menu items labeled “healthy” aren’t always healthy
(23:56) — The epidemic of Type 2 diabetes and obesity
(30:49) — NASA’s Twins Study
(34:30) — Being in space can lead to muscle and bone atrophy
(40:17) — Gravity plays a role in our physiology
(48:20) — Looking at Earth from space can provide an interesting perspective
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/5i2T-s61yLw
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Scott Kelly on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stationcdrkelly/
Connect with Scott Kelly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/StationCDRKelly
Thu, 06 Jul 2023 - 1h 04min - 219 - #219 - What half of women will die of, and how to fix it | Dr. Sara Gottfried & Dr. Casey Means - (Replay)
Why do women have a higher risk of metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease than men, and how do women move forward as empowered patients with their clinicians? Listen to this episode between Levels Advisor, physician, and author 4 New York Times bestsellers Dr. Sara Gottfried and Levels Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Casey Means.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Dr. Sara Gottfried & Dr. Casey Means discuss:
(00:00) - Intro
(03:35) - Why women should care about metabolic health?
(10:29) - Metabolism
(11:28) - A holistic take on metabolism
(22:14) - Blood pressure control
(25:50) - Effects of trauma
(36:24) - Becoming more metabolically unhealthy
(45:30) - Seven clinical imbalances
(53:08) - What you measure improves
(01:02:40) - Dealing with trauma
(01:12:08) - Food until the end
👋 WHO WE ARE:
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/MhqWvvFO1q8
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Dr. Casey Means on Instagram: https://instagram.com/DrCaseysKitchen
Connect with Casey on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrCaseysKitchen
Connect with Dr. Sara Gottfried on Instagram: https://instagram.com/SaraGottfriedMD
Connect with Sara on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrGottfried
Thu, 29 Jun 2023 - 1h 15min - 218 - #218 - Fixing the problems with ultra-processed foods | Dr. Tim Harlan & Dr. Rob Lustig
Ultra-processed foods harm people’s health and have ramifications for the overall health of the planet. While some food processing is necessary for recipes and feeding the globe, the food industry needs to make changes to ensure that processing doesn’t turn foods into harmful substances. Dr. Tim Harlan and Dr. Rob Lustig discuss the harmful ingredients in ultra-processed foods and how they impact metabolic health—as well as why the food industry has a moral obligation to make drastic changes.
Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl
🎙 What Tim Harlan, MD, & Rob Lustig, MD, discuss:
(06:17) — Nutrition science over the last decade has made strides, but the food industry lags behind
(08:57) — Food can be medicine, but it can also be poison
(14:03) — The NOVA system classifies foods by their level of processing
(23:16) — DATEM is an example of processing
(24:03) — Emulsifiers potentially harm the gastrointestinal tract
(28:17) — Sugar harms the liver, which can lead to metabolic disease
(37:01) — In the United States, people tend to consume too much omega-6 fatty acids
(43:48) — The food industry can find ways to make ultra-processed foods safer
(46:26) — Supply-chain changes are another piece of the equation
(47:43) — Multinational companies have a moral obligation
👋 WHO WE ARE:
Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.
Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.
🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/I259F6VsHqU
Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1
📲 Connect:
Connect with Robert Lustig, MD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertlustigmd/
Connect with Robert Lustig, MD, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobertLustigMD
Thu, 22 Jun 2023 - 1h 02min
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