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

Gary Taubes on Rethinking Diabetes: Diet, Insulin, and the History Behind Low-Carb Treatment: Journalist Gary Taubes is author of “Rethinking Diabetes: What Science Reveals About Diet, Insulin, and Successful Treatments.” The book traces diabetes treatment history and argues that carbohydrate restriction was standard care from 1797 through the early 20th century until insulin therapy shifted practice toward drug-centered management and higher-carbohydrate diets. Taubes explains how insulin’s discovery changed dietary priorities, how later technology (radioimmunoassay) revealed that most diabetes is type 2 with insulin resistance and high insulin rather than deficiency, and why giving more insulin can worsen weight gain. They discuss major trials (including ACCORD, ADVANCE, and Look AHEAD) that failed to show benefits from intensive drug-based glucose control, the influence of low-fat guidelines, Richard Bernstein’s role in blood-glucose self-monitoring and low-carb control, controversies about obesity models, ketosis vs ketoacidosis, GLP-1 drugs, and LDL increases on ketogenic diets.

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

Urolithin A (MitoPure)--Mitophagy, Muscle Recovery, Immunity, and Skin Health: Dr. Brad Currier, clinical trial manager at Timeline, a Swiss biotech company, details urolithin A (MitoPure), a postbiotic derived from pomegranate precursors that most people cannot produce due to microbiome differences. Currier explains MitoPure’s mechanism—stimulating mitophagy to recycle dysfunctional mitochondria—and reviews evidence from multiple clinical trials. He reveals a Sports Medicine study in elite male distance runners showing reduced creatine kinase and lower perceived exertion, suggesting improved recovery, plus trials in middle-aged and older adults showing improvements in strength, six-minute walk test, and VO2 max at 500 mg–1 g doses. They also cover a Nature Aging immune study reporting rejuvenation of stem-like CD8 T cells with improved mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, ongoing research directions, supplement quality/testing for athletes, and topical urolithin A skincare trials and partnerships, including L’Oréal Lancôme.

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

Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses how exposure to natural daylight may improve metabolic health beyond diet and exercise, highlighting a controlled crossover study of 13 adults aged 65+ with type 2 diabetes published in Cell Metabolism. Participants spent 4.5 days in living spaces lit by either natural light through large windows or artificial light, with identical meals, sleep, activity, and screen time; after a 4-week washout they switched conditions. Natural light was associated with more hours of blood glucose in the normal range, less glucose variability, higher evening melatonin, and improved fat oxidative metabolism, suggesting effects on circadian “body clocks” and coordination between central and peripheral clocks. Muedin recommends getting morning light on the face, reducing sunglasses and high SPF use, dimming lights at night, keeping consistent sleep, and spending more time outdoors; she also notes that architecture can limit sunlight exposure.

Integrative ophthalmologist Dr. Rudrani Banik previews Eye Summit 2026, a free online event May 11–15 featuring four daily expert sessions on dry eye and ocular surface disease, cataract surgery advances (including robotic and AI-assisted planning), gut health links to eye disease, and mind-body approaches for migraine, concussion, and visual snow, with VIP options for recordings and live panels. They discuss photobiomodulation (red/infrared/yellow light) as an FDA-approved treatment for age-related macular degeneration with clinical trials showing safety and potential vision improvement, plus research on low-level red light for pediatric myopia. Banik emphasizes annual dilated eye exams after 40 to detect glaucoma and systemic disease. The episode covers dry eye nutrition (dietary omega-3s; supplements including GLA and omega-7; lutein/zeaxanthin with vitamin D), preservative concerns (BAK), GLP-1 drug associations with NAION, gene therapy delivery via viral vectors, and macular degeneration prevention with lutein/zeaxanthin-rich foods like kale, colored peppers, and egg yolks.

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

Preventing Injury, Reframing Pain, and Using Physical Therapy to Avoid Unnecessary Surgery: Dr. Tom Walters is a board-certified orthopedic physical therapist, founder of Rehab Science, and author of “Rehab Science: How to Overcome Pain and Heal From Injury,” an illustrated, body-region guide to common orthopedic problems and self-managed therapeutic exercises. Walters emphasizes using PT-style mobility and resistance training preventively to increase tissue capacity, manage load, and avoid overuse injuries, while warning against “no pain, no gain” and excessive volume or weight. He discusses “movement literacy,” hip and glute stabilizers, and how weakness can drive knee and back problems. Dr. Hoffman shares his own hip injury and recovery with targeted strengthening, illustrating that imaging findings often don’t dictate function. Walters explains the biopsychosocial model of pain, graded exposure, the limits of RICE and ultrasound, and roles for manual therapy, taping, TENS, shockwave, acupuncture/dry needling, and PRP. They advocate prehab/rehab around surgery and note PT training and career prospects.

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

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

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

Dietitian Nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses a Stanford-led randomized controlled trial published in Nature Medicine in which a five-day, calorie-restricted fasting-mimicking diet improved symptoms and inflammatory markers in people with mild to moderate Crohn’s disease. In the three-month study of 97 patients, 65 followed monthly five-day cycles of 700–1100 calories/day with plant-based meals, while 32 continued usual diets; about two-thirds of the fasting-mimicking group reported symptom improvement, with fatigue and headaches but no serious side effects, and fecal calprotectin and other inflammatory molecules decreased. She notes bowel rest and the specific carbohydrate diet as additional approaches. The episode also explains how antibiotics can cause diarrhea by disrupting gut bacteria, lists higher-risk antibiotics, offers supportive steps (hydration, BRAT foods, avoiding irritants), recommends Saccharomyces boulardii taken away from antibiotics, and outlines warning signs requiring medical care, including possible C. difficile.

Indoor Epidemic: Prescribing Nature, Light, Air, and Movement with Dr. John La Puma, internist, chef, and regenerative farmer. His book, "Indoor Epidemic," argues that spending about 93% of life indoors undermines health through poor light timing, air quality, limited movement, and reduced nature exposure. La Puma cites data that outdoor morning light helps set circadian rhythms, while nighttime blue light can impair sleep quality and raise cardiovascular risks, referencing a large UK Biobank study. He discusses indoor pollutants and CO2 buildup affecting inflammation and cognition, recommends strategies like getting daylight early (even just a sky view), using circadian lighting, and taking brief outdoor breaks to reduce myopia risk. He describes measurable benefits of forest bathing and gardening (including immune and mood effects), notes hospital studies linking window views to shorter stays and less pain medication, and reviews his pioneering work in culinary medicine now taught widely in medical schools, emphasizing cooking and growing food as preventive and therapeutic tools.

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