LEVELS – A Whole New Level

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

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. 🎙 What Sara (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

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. 🎙 What Robert 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

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. 🎙 What Robert 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

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. 🎙 What Robert 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

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. 🎙 What Robert 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? ⁠⁠⁠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

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. 🎙 What Robert 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? ⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

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. 🎙 What David 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? ⁠⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/IZhi4JXxy6Y

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. 🎙 What Robert 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 ⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: ⁠https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

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. 🎙 What Eric 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 ⁠Transcript & Show notes⁠ 🔗 LINKS: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/QO4X6ePQZi8?si=LulpiRMkuWVV4dLj

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. 🎙 What Robert 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 Transcript & Show notes 🔗 LINKS: Watch the full library for Rob’s Ultimate Health Guide: https://youtu.be/zG4XD116uy8?si=TesKp1WkgmgdrEay

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. 🎙 What Casey 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” Transcript & Show Notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/t52Fmvh-5Ww?si=dHdOWrRGMTutSfcb

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. 🎙 What Robert 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

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. 🎙 What Dave 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 ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/ItNGrGNvESY

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. 🎙 What Casey 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 ⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/3dveHuhZld4?si=ke_MDmjTcUPB5YqQ⁠⁠

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: (03:57) — What is insulin? (06:55) — What is insulin resistance? (18:00) — There are three types of insulin resistance (38:00) — Weight management is not about calories in and calories out (45:53) — Adding more insulin to the equation of Type 2 diabetes isn’t necessarily the answer (51:20) — Insulin is a crucial biomarker to measure for metabolic health (53:58) — Insulin resistance is a hinderance to weight management (57:07) — The intake of too much leucine can lead to insulin resistance (1:02:04) — Fiber feeds the gut microbiome and is crucial for metabolic health (1:13:11) — Is intermittent fasting necessary? ⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/dFOaBrujDHo⁠

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. 🎙 What Georgia 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 ⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/kBjBEjV0vqU⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

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. 🎙 What Josh 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 Transcripts & Show notes 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4 Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

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: (09:50) — Fructose is the driver of some diseases that are on the rise in kids (11:53) — Fructose is a driver of obesity and metabolic syndrome (15:36) — Pharmaceutical treatments for Alzheimer’s disease aren’t as effective as researchers had hoped (17:32)— The research focus of Alzheimer’s is slowly shifting to understanding insulin resistance in the brain (20:41) — Is fructose a root cause of Alzheimer’s? (26:26) — New research suggests fructose induces a foraging response (28:20) — Fructose inhibits areas of the brain to encourage successful foraging (46:48) — We need more research on fructose (1:03:10) —Is fructose a factor in violence? ⁠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. 👋 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

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 🎙 What Robin Rose, MD, & Ben Grynol discuss: (08:05) — Gastrointestinal issues are associated with metabolic health issues (08:56) — Many people lack gut microbiome diversity (15:24) — Infertility in some people has links to the gut microbiome (30:56) — PCOS and gut dysbiosis share a connection that’s still being researched (32:26) — Restoring gut and metabolic health may help alleviate PCOS symptoms (34:44) — Metagenomic testing assesses gut health (39:47) — Gut health often requires balanced macronutrient intake (49:14) — Regenerative farming practices could help us get more quality nutrients (54:57) — Eliminating dairy and gluten may ease gastrointestinal symptoms (56:29) — Sleep quality and quantity also inform gut health ⁠Transcript & 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/SpW9znY3fkI⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠