Today's Nutrition

I hear a lot of talk on social about a tiny little molecule these days, so I thought I would clear up any misunderstanding and give you the facts.  This little molecule is really important and acts like a master switch for cardiovascular health, metabolic health, brain function, and even performance. That molecule is nitric oxide.

It’s the winter metabolic slowdown.You know what I mean.You feel a little more tired A little more snacky. A little less motivated to move. The scale creeps up. Your jeans feel snug. And suddenly you’re wondering, “What happened to my metabolism?” And the winter can even bring on the bluesLet me reassure you.Winter metabolic slowdown is not a character flaw. It’s physiology.But here’s the good news — we can work with it instead of against it. With a little knowledge.

Today’s topic comes from people asking me if I knew anything about the increase rate of cancers and particularly what doctors are calling “turbo cancers”- coming out of nowhere after covid, and raging through the body with terrifying speed. I was listening to another podcast that featured Dr. Patrick Soon Shiong whose approach to cancer treatment is to strengthen the patient’s immune system- particularly the IL-15 cells and Natural Killer cells, rather than solely relying on conventional treatments that deplete body, and the immune cells.

For decades, we were taught to build our diets on grains, fear protein, fear fat, and count calories—often with disappointing results- metabolic chaos.Today, I am diving deeper into the need for protein and give some suggestions on how to get enough in daily. I know I have struggled to get what is recommended and I have some tips for us more mature in the audience. So grab a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s dig into the science—made simple—so you can feel confident fueling your body in a way that supports health, vitality, and longevity.

Today’s show is especially exciting, because we’re going to take a fresh look at the new inverted food pyramid—and what it finally gets right for a population where the majority of Americans are metabolically unwell. Thank you to Secretary Kennedy and the MAHA group dedicated to making America healthy again.  To reverse this huge increase in metabolic disease and chronic disease in general.  A change that has been long time coming and I applaud it! Loudly!For decades, we were taught to build our diets on grains, fear protein, fear fat, and count calories—often with disappointing results. Today, we’ll talk about why that advice didn’t work for so many people, what’s changed, and how this new model brings common sense back to nutrition by prioritizing blood sugar balance, muscle, and metabolic health.

Hello my friends, Dr. Deb here —your favorite dietitian and doctor of clinical nutrition and today we’re diving into a supplement that has been hiding in plain sight for decades. In fact, I went to a special session on it back in 1995 at the National Institute of Health in its’ new area of interest- sports nutrition. This supplement is powerful, it’s safe, it’s backed by mountains of research… and yet so many people — especially women — have no idea how beneficial it really is. Yes, indeed.  I’m talking about creatine.Now, before you picture giant bodybuilders flexing in mirrors, let me assure you: creatine is not just a “gym bro” supplement. Creatine is for brains, bones, and bodies of every age. Creatine is for moms, dads, grandparents, and yes — even the people who say, “I’m not really a workout person.”And get this: creatine is one of the MOST researched supplements in the world. Thousands of studies. Decades of data. And the results are consistently impressive on its results and safety.So today we’re exploring how creatine supports both physical and cognitive health — for women and men — and especially why it matters even more as we age.

Today is about progress. It’s about clarity. And it’s about taking charge of your health — because no one else can do that for you.I love the New Year. I really do. A fresh calendar. A clean slate. The blessing of new possibilities. Every year, I intentionally design my year to be the best one yet. Not perfect — but better. This year is extra special because I will be 70 in a couple of weeks and I really do believe it is just a number . In fact, I am training for another half marathon and this year, I am going all out and going to Italy to do it with my oldest son. Oh my gosh, I am excited.  Setting those goals and intentions high.  If you would have said I was going to do that kind of a thing 30 years ago, I would have thought you were crazy!I love the line in the 1976 road race movie The Gumball Rally, the Italian driver Franco, says, “what’s behind me is not important” as he tosses his rearview mirror away to focus on the road ahead. The past is over. Eyes forward. Set your sight as high as you want. Learn some tricks this week.

Let’s go back to our magical little village: Acciaroli, Italy.Here, people don’t grow old — they grow bold. Active. Engaged. Laughing. Loving. Cooking. Fishing. Dancing.With no chronic diseases stealing their joy.Out of 1,000 residents:300 are over 100 years oldVirtually no dementiaZero significant cataracts — despite blazing coastal sunThey don’t take hormonesThey don’t live in doctor officesTheir cardiovascular health looks like a 20-year-old American

Millions have experienced incredible weight loss using GLP-1 medications. But many are now facing the next chapter of the story… what I’m calling Life After GLP-1s. Today, I’m going to give you the COMPLETE science-backed roadmap for keeping the weight off naturally — without injections, without breaking the bank……and without fear.So let’s get into it.Let’s start with the big fear on everyone’s mind: “What if the weight just comes right back?”

Grab your tea, your collagen coffee, or your morning walk shoes, because today I’m talking about a supplement that’s become one of the biggest game changers in my clinical practice. It’s called Perfect Amino, and if you haven’t heard of it — or if you’ve heard of it but haven’t quite understood what makes it so special — then today’s episode might just be the metabolic “aha moment” you’ve been waiting for.I always tell my Weight Loss for Life & Longevity groups: Protein first and the latest recommendations are 100 grams a day or more.  And I find that hard but it is sooo important “You are only as healthy as the proteins your body can build.”

Today… oh my goodness. I’m excited. This show is going to be a little different – it is about a specific new product that has me excited. You know when something crosses my desk and I get that little sparkle inside, that says “This could help my people” feeling? That’s what happened when I read a clinical study out of the International Journal of Orthopaedics Sciences on a botanical combination—celery seed extract and Boswellia serrata—that dramatically improved joint comfort, mobility, and quality of life in over 1,200 adults with osteoarthritis.

Good morning my friends, this is Dr. Deb Ford, Dietitian and doctor of clinical nutrition and today we’re diving into a topic that’s both shocking and vitally important for your health: plastics — and how they’re silently invading your heart- creating disease, your brain- creating discord, your immune system- creating confusion and your hormones- creating havoc. It is some pretty heavy stuff but I think you have to know and act on this information for your health and longevity.

Today, we’re shining a bright light on one of the most overlooked nutrients in modern health — magnesium — the mighty mineral that fuels every heartbeat, every muscle contraction, and even your mood.If you struggle with fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety, muscle cramps, headaches, or stubborn blood sugar… this episode is for you.The Unsung Hero of Cellular Energy is magnesium It is a behind-the-scenes hero in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body. Think of it as your cellular spark plug. Without magnesium, ATP — your body’s energy currency — simply can’t be activated.

Let’s talk about something you can’t buy in a bottle — but it’s as essential as food. That nutrient is light.We’ve spent decades counting carbs and macros, but very few people count the hours of sunlight on their skin or the quality of light around them. Yet light directs every cell clock in your body — from your brain to your liver, from your thyroid to your fat cells.When your light rhythms are off, hormones misfire, metabolism slows, and sleep suffers. But when you live in sync with natural light, energy can flow again.So let’s explore how sunshine, sleep, and even red-light therapy can reset your circadian rhythm — the 24-hour internal clock that governs everything from hunger to healing.

Let me start with a story I hear almost every week. A woman tells me, “I’m eating clean. I’m exercising. I’m doing everything right — but I’m still tired, inflamed, and stuck.” She’s counting calories, skipping desserts, yet the scale won’t move and her clothes fit the same.The truth? It’s not a lack of discipline — it’s hidden inflammation. Your body isn’t ignoring your effort; it’s trying to protect you.Today, we’re going to talk about the silent saboteurs — the inflammatory triggers that block weight loss, drain your energy, and accelerate aging — and how to calm the fire naturally through a functional nutrition lens.

This is a perfect time to reset your metabolism. Slow down and take time for yourself. Focus inward and take charge of what you might have neglected in your health before it can become a health problem.

This is National Menopause Month so this topic will be perfect for you ---If you’re a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and you’ve felt like your body has suddenly changed the rules — the weight won’t budge, sleep is off, your patience is thin, and your get-up-and-go got up and went — this show is for you.

Today, I want to walk you through what SSRI’s are, how they work, what the science says and how functional nutrition looks at it.

Now, you may not know them by that technical name, but I bet you’ve heard their brand names: Prilosec, Nexium, Protonix, Prevacid. These are the purple pills and little capsules that so many people take for acid reflux, indigestion, ulcers, or heartburn. Some of them are available by prescription, and many are available over the counter.They are powerful. They are effective. They can be life-saving in certain situations. But here’s the nasty rub: we now have decades of research that tells us that long-term use of these drugs may come with some very real risks. And yet, millions of Americans take them day in and day out, often for years, sometimes even decades, with no reevaluation.

When September hits, I always say it’s like a second “New Year.” Schedules tighten, routines reset, and — let’s be honest — the germs start flying. It is cootie season! packed classrooms, sports getting kids run down while exposure is increased. Between classrooms, sports teams, offices, and the changing seasons, our immune systems can be suddenly challenged. And this year, I want your family armed and ready — not with fear, but with resilience.I am going to talk about the basics, the foundations of immune health: the basics I wrote about in my book, get out of hormone hell.  sleep, nutrition, hydration, and those sneaky daily habits that can either help or hurt. Because before you even think about supplements or fancy immune tonics, the truth is, like with any illness or complaint: if the basics aren’t in place, your defenses are only half-built.So grab a notebook, maybe even your kids, and let’s dive in.