Dr. Barry Sears (of Zone Diet Fame) on Lifetime Metabolic Health and Sourcing Omega-3s

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to speak with Dr. Barry Sears, the creator of the Zone Diet, an approach that has not only topped bestseller lists multiple times but has also profoundly impacted nutritional practices really across the world. We dive into his transition from cancer research to nutritional science, focusing on how diet regulates the key areas of inflammation and hormonal balance. Dr. Sears shares insights from his groundbreaking work, exploring the balance of macronutrients and the pivotal role of omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols. His contributions have revolutionized how we understand diet’s impact on health, offering valuable strategies for managing chronic diseases and optimizing wellness globally. You’ll find many clinical pearls in this conversation. Join us as I uncover the science and stories behind this influential dietary philosophy with this legend of nutrition and wellness. ~DrKF

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Ultra-Processed Foods Spell Disaster for Longevity

Of course we always say “shop the perimeter” of your grocery store, and skip buying anything with industrial ingredients you wouldn’t normally find in your kitchen. Avoid added sugars, colors, preservatives, synthetic vitamins like folic acid… and avoid additives like MSG and carrageenan. Even if these are labeled organic and especially if they are not. Here’s why:

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Spermidine & other polyamines: Important players in longevity? Yes… with a few caveats

As the name implies, spermidine was first characterized in sperm, and while there is a high concentration present in semen (and it appears important for fertility), it’s everywhere- in all eukaryotic cells. In fact, wind the evolutionary clock back to the earliest endosymbiotic happenings, you’ll find spermidine and the broader family of polyamines on center stage, playing a central role in the development of… life. Indeed, bacteria, archaea and plants (and even viruses) all rely on polyamines. These facts alone illustrate the obvious: polyamines are important. Attribution for the discovery of spermine (the polyamine metabolite of spermidine) is given to Anton Leeuwenhoek, the father of microscopy, in 1678.

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Unraveling PCOS and Fertility: Debunking Common Misconceptions with Dr. Tara Harding

Fellow clinicians, gear up for an enlightening dive with Dr. Tara Harding, a vanguard in the realm of women’s health and fertility. Renowned for her exceptional work as a family nurse practitioner and fertility coach, Dr. Harding brings a wealth of knowledge from her battle against infertility and medical gaslighting, all while breaking barriers and fostering a supportive community for those navigating the complex journey of infertility. This conversation not only highlights innovative diagnostic tools like Mira but also delves into the nuances of managing conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. Dr. Harding’s personal and professional journey is a beacon of hope and empowerment, underscoring the significance of comprehensive care in women’s health. Prepare to be inspired by her dedication to revolutionizing fertility care and advocating for patient empowerment.

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AI, Digital Twins, and the Future of Personalized Medicine Interventions with Dr. Nathan Price

I’m beyond thrilled to share this mind-blowing conversation with Dr. Nathan Price, Chief Scientific Officer of Thorne HealthTech and author of The Age of Scientific Wellness. Imagine harnessing AI to predict outcomes of our functional interventions (diet, supplements, lifestyle) by implementing a “digital twin” model that is populated with all of your patient’s bio data. Being able to test the response of our treatments (and importantly, the synergistic response of multimodal interventions! It’s heady stuff, but amazingly, it is where we are headed today. Dr. Price illuminates the incredible potential this technology brings for personalized evidence-based medicine in nutrition, tailoring interventions based on microbial markers, and addressing lifestyle changes for Alzheimer’s prevention. The podcast is a captivating exploration of cutting-edge concepts and provides a glimpse into the exciting future of healthcare. I was wowed by my convo with Nathan and can’t wait to start kicking the tires on this baby. I know you’ll feel the same.

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Beyond Beauty: Targeting Skin Longevity with Urolithin A

In the pursuit of wellness and longevity, skin health often mirrors the body’s internal state, serving as a visible testament to our overall well-being. Yet, traditional approaches to skincare have predominantly focused on treating the surface, neglecting the deeper cellular processes that fundamentally influence the skin’s aging and vitality. As we delve deeper into the science of longevity, a groundbreaking perspective emerges, spotlighting the crucial role of cellular and mitochondrial health not only in preserving the skin’s youthful appearance but also in maintaining the integrity of this critical organ. By shifting our focus beyond that of how we look, we can unlock new strategies for maintaining health and find a promising future where skincare transcends cosmetic concerns to embrace a holistic view of health and aging.

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Gluten-Free Yeast-Free Quick Bread

This quick gluten-free, yeast-free bread recipe requires very little effort and is a pleasantly tasty surprise. Plus it’s main ingredient – sunflower seeds – are a Younger You longevity superfood. Seeds (and nuts) are powerhouses of DNA methylation (and therefore optimal gene expression and longevity), since they are rich in zinc, methionine, cysteine, magnesium, potassium,…

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Decoding Aging: The Science Of Cellular Rejuvenation With Dr. Vittorio Sebastiano

It was a career-defining (and perhaps life changing) moment when Dr. Vittorio Sebastiano, a reproductive biologist by training, realized that because we are able to create life, that same body of information could be harnessed to create youth – that is, radically reverse our biological aging process to a younger time point without losing cellular identity. In 2014, he and his lab began unpacking this epiphany. They made the radical decision to conduct their investigations in human cells and tissue rather than in rodents, with the expectation that such a start would be a better bridge to human clinical trials. Flash forward a decade and Dr. Sebastiano and his team stand poised to begin trials in humans. Dr. Sebastiano is, in my opinion, one of the most extraordinary scientists in the longevity space today who flies under the radar of most of us in functional medicine.

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Advanced Metabolomics: Identifying the Metabolic Signature for Aging with Betsy Redmond, Ph.D., MMSc, RDN

As functional practitioners, we’re compelled to understand the intricate changes in the aging journey that fuel the diseases we strive to prevent. The emergence of omics data, particularly metabolomics, marks a pivotal moment, and I’m thrilled to welcome back Dr. Betsy Redmond, a senior education specialist at Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory and a cherished friend, to New Frontiers. In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of metabolomics, emphasizing pathways over isolated metabolites for profound insights and more effective interventions. Welcome to Medicine 3.0, where we correct imbalances, identify metabolites linked to healthy aging, mood, gut health, and more, providing actionable steps to enhance both healthspan and lifespan. Plus, we’ll unravel some surprising insights from my own results! Join us for a wealth of valuable pearls to use in your practice. ~DrKF

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Holiday Stress – What’s in Your FxMed Toolbox?

We’ve made it successfully through the Thanksgiving rush. But do you or your patients need a set-and-refresh to make it through the rest of the holidays? The holidays are supposed to be full of cheer, family, friends, good food and good feelings, but that’s often not the case. Beyond the specter of seasonal colds and flu, patients may seek our help for another reason in December: stress. Stress can affect a multitude of biological systems, from cardiovascular to the respiratory system—but for the acute seasonal stressors like travel, family, and dietary changes, we most often see its effects on the central nervous system and the digestive system. Tension headaches, occasional trouble sleeping, indigestion and irregularity are common culprits that we can easily address with small lifestyle changes and supplementation.

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Best of 2023 in Functional Medicine and Longevity

As 2023 draws to a close, here’s the content you liked most this year, and as usual it aligns with what we loved as well. Going beyond longevity and epigenetics, this year we covered a wide range of cutting-edge topics – from SPMs, urolithin A and OS-01 peptides, to nuanced thinking and recontextualizing established themes such…

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Burnout in Healthcare: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions with Dr. Jonathan Prousky

In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, healthcare practitioners have been working tirelessly to care for their patients. But what about their own health and well-being? Today, I am delighted to welcome back Dr. Jonathan Prousky, Chief Naturopathic Medical Officer at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to the New Frontiers Podcast. As a repeat guest and leading expert in personalized mental health strategies, Dr. Prousky offers valuable insights into the challenges facing healthcare practitioners today, especially in terms of the hidden epidemic of physician burnout. In this episode, we explore practical solutions to help healthcare practitioners maintain their own health and well-being while providing care to others. We also touch on the three hallmark signs of burnout and discuss the latest advances in targeted supplementation to manage underlying chronic stress in the workplace. Dr. Prousky’s expertise and practical tips make this an episode you won’t want to miss. As always, please feel free to share, comment, and rate – and let us know your thoughts on this important topic. ~DrKF

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Beyond Mitochondrial Health: Can Urolithin A Slow Down Aging?

In the realm of bioenergetics, few nutrients have burst onto the stage with the impressive force wielded by the postbiotic rock star—Urolithin A. In today’s episode I’m honored to be joined by the brilliant Dr. Chris Rinsch, co-founder of Amazentis / Timeline, as we delve into the profound impact of this remarkable substance and unravel the scientific intricacies behind the microbiome’s transformation of polyphenols from our diet into Urolithin A. You’ll quickly understand why it’s emerging as a potent force in cellular health and longevity.

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Case Studies: Targeting Gut Health in Two Very Different Patient Scenarios

Dr. KF SPONSORED CONTENT I am eternally grateful to our sponsors who, by blogging, podcasting, and advertising with us, enable me and my team to devote energy and time to writing, research, and education. All the companies who sponsor us are those I trust for myself, my patients, and my fellow practitioners. Please check out…

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New and Notable Studies Using Epigenetic Biological Age Clocks

This blog was written by Romilly Hodges MS CNS CDN IFMCP   Last month I was honored to be invited to speak at the American Nutrition Association annual summit on the topic Targeting Biological Age with Diet and Lifestyle. Not only was it a much-appreciated opportunity to connect face-to-face with colleagues, but it was also…

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Resolving Osteoporosis and Optimizing Bone Health – A Tour de Force Update

Did you know that “bone-eating” osteoclast cells are derived from immune cell precursors and are stimulated by inflammation, just like other immune cells? Or that bone has its own glycocalyx whose health is essential to realize the benefits of exercise for bone? Folks, Dr. Keith McCormick is back on New Frontiers with ever-more juicy pearls like these, and with important updates on bone care for functional medicine practitioners and patients alike. Dr. McCormick is living proof that osteoporosis and a history of multiple bone fractures – he had 12 between the ages of 45-50 – are not an irrecoverable life (or death) sentence. In fact, even as he nears 70, Dr. McCormick is out there competing in Ironman and pentathlon events, living his life to the fullest. Dr. McCormick is arguably the top thinker and practitioner on bone health from a systems and functional point of view. His nuanced navigation of diagnostic tools as well as both pharmaceutical and nonpharmaceutical interventions is fully comprehensive and deep. You’ll want to tune in to find out how he navigates his patient cases, casting a wide net for underlying contributing factors, his go-to interventions for specific situations, how he doses supplements, and more. Please do let us know what you think, and leave us a review wherever you listen to New Frontiers – DrKF

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Fiber – Are You Getting Enough to Reap its Amazing Benefits?

Only 5% men and 9% of women are getting the recommended daily amount of fiber in the United States.[1] That’s almost 90% of the population not consuming enough fiber! To put this into perspective, in 2017–18 most Americans averaged 8.1 grams of fiber for each 1,000 calories, or just 58 percent of the recommended 14 grams per 1,000 calories. Insufficient fiber intake is associated with a myriad of chronic diseases. Let’s dive into what fiber is, why it is so important, and how you can get more of it in your diet!

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Breast Health and Beyond: A Practitioner’s Guide to Functional Testing

Over 270,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the US. And while BRCA mutations often get the most press, there are other, potentially more critical factors we can address. Today, Dr. Ruth Hobson joins us to delve into the realm of breast health, shedding light on both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, and sharing real-life strategies for supporting our patients. We dive into a range of essential topics, from dietary and lifestyle influences to the ongoing debate around Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and venture into the world of functional tests to evaluate hormones and metabolites crucial for comprehensive breast health. We’ll uncover the intricate connection between gut health and breast health – Did you know that breast tissue has its own microbiome?!? – and examine how inflammation, peripheral fat, and methylation impact cancer risk. Bring a pen and paper, this is a deep dive into the hormones and breast health that you won’t want to miss. ~DrKF

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Have You Met Your Imprintome Yet? Here’s Why You Should

I’m thrilled and honored to have Dr. Randy Jirtle join us again today on New Frontiers. Dr. Jirtle’s groundbreaking Agouti Mouse Study has shaped what we know about the influence of early life exposure on methylation and epigenetics. His (current work?/more recent work?), which involves mapping out the imprintome could be the key to understanding how our imprinted genes will influence aging and every known disease and disorder, providing hope that a clear pathway on how to optimize our health for better outcomes is in our future.

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