The Ironman Executive

Our guest for the week is Hyla Cass, an integrative psychiatrist practiced in the field even before the term was coined. Her 25-year long practice is marked by the non-drug, natural system boosting approach, which landed her the nation-wide acclaim along with numerous awards. She is here to talk to us about the subversive effects of medications, the systems approach to medicine, as well as about enhancing our cognitive performance. Side-effect Are Still Effects Stuffing oneself with medication rarely comes without the so-called side-effects. What is important to realize, however, is that the ‘side-effects’ are actually the ‘effects’ of a medication; they are a part of the whole bodily response to, or indeed against, that medication. The purple pill for instance, one of the proton-pump inhibitors, is a fairly available drug that may, in a long run, because the system adjusts and later craves for its usage, cause many hitherto unforeseen and avoidable microbiome problems. Therefore, Instead of forcing the system and suppressing it into an unnatural submission, much more profound effects can be achieved by letting the brain and body work out the problem by themselves. “the medications upset homeostasis of the brain and can cause more problems than they solve” Take a Pill VS. The Systems Approach Medications are not necessarily bad, but overprescribing them certainly is. Write off a patient with a simple prescription has become the expected doctoral practice nowadays. Much better than the simple pill approach is to, when treating a person, take the whole system into account and boost is. Taking both internal and external factors into consideration, the systems approach goal is to give the body the best possible chance to overcome an issue by itself, mobilizing its own natural resources. Take trauma for instance; any trauma related disorder can be likened to a program that runs in the back of one’s mind, essentially affecting everything. Taking a pill would solve nothing; we need to clear up the underlying program first before treating an issue. “We need to respect what the individual biochemistry is doing @hylacassmd” Endless Charts and Diagrams Today’s medicine falls into a trap of overcharting the treatment process, neglecting the individuality of each case. Everything is subdued to sort of a medicinal syllogism; a symptom is always followed by a prescribed treatment route which in effect negates the fact that every case is, just as people are, different. The situation is not all that new, it became effective with the branching specialization of medicine, and can be solved by, while of course keeping the specialist medicine, returning to a more holistic approach to treatment. Empowering Your Brain Another field of practice for Dr. Cass that perfectly fits into the systems approach is the cognitive function enhancement. Being the best possible version of ourselves is best achieved through slight, or not so slight lifestyle modifications. Sleep is one factor, diet or exercise another. The exposure to toxins, and the genetic predisposition thereof, may also play a crucial role concerning the quality of life. Resource Links Dr. Hyla Cass’ Website Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know About Nutrition Reclaim Your Brain Free Ebook Dr. Cass’s Articles

Our guest for the week is Dr. Lucia Aronica, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford Cancer Center and an expert on epigenetic medicine. Her main focus revolves around genomics of nutrition, that is, the correlation between diet and the changes in epigenetic landscape. Holding a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Dr. Aronica has spent the last decade researching the influence lifestyle has on our genomes. Her endeavors landed her not just a few recognitions, Marie Curie Global Fellowship Award being one of them. In this interview, she shares her thoughts on food, diet, as well as sheds some light on the role epigenetics plays in weight loss. Not All Food Should be Counted as Such Coming from Italy, pasta and bread were an inseparable part of Dr. Aronica’s early life. But Mediterranean diet, hailed as it is, accounts for much more that the iconic, yet not so healthy duo. This diet holds precedence over typical ‘western’ diets mainly because of the olive oil, which pitted against omega 3 seed oils, strikes a dashing victory in terms of weight and triglycerides loss. The concept of food is also differently conceived in the Mediterranean diet. The quick fixes are not counted as food in Italy, nor should anywhere else: one has to find the time for some cooking. Nature and Nurture Working Together The single best way to attain nutritional health is to strike a steady and sustainable balance. Genetics does play a role and, to an extent, predestine the type of diet a person needs. But, it would be false to assume that our lifestyles do not play their role, for it is they that influence the epigenetic image in our cells. The combination of genetics and lifestyle make each of us different and nutritionally unique. Still, there are a few universals, one of which marks a respective correlation between the decrease in carbohydrates and the decrease of triglycerides. The latter in turn has an effect on cardiovascular risks and the amount of bad cholesterol that strikes the arteries. Lowering the carbs, therefore, plays the role in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. The Stanford Studies Dr. Aronica is currently playing a role in one of the largest studies concerning weight loss. It is a follow-up to an earlier, Stanford A to Z study, where more than 300 women were subjected to four popular diets, (Atkins, Zone, LEARN, and Ornish) measuring their results after one year. At the surprise of many, the very low-carb Atkins diet came out on top in terms of weight loss, cholesterol, and blood pressure. The new study will be bigger, include both men and women, and explore more thorough results like micro-biome and body composition change, as well as the changes in epigenetic landscape. Epigenetics as a Growing Discipline Gastric bypass patients yielded significant knowledge regarding the epigenetic research. The different epigenetic image and the weight-loss they experienced after the operation proved that the epigenetic markers are potentially reversible, in this case from ones found in obese to those seen in lean people. These markers may also be transmissible to future generations, but further study is needed to see whether sperm incorporates these epigenetic changes. Epigenetics is a growing branch of medicinal science, today even able to predict the risk of type-2 diabetes. But what of tomorrow? The future discoveries are imminent, due to the change in approach. Namely, instead of looking at a few genes or a few hundreds of them, epigenetic researchers, Dr. Aronica among them, are bent towards looking at the entire genome. Also, epigenetic research is determined to explore the DNA in its entirety, including the non-coding regions. It is quite a feat, but the outcomes potentially exceed the effort by a margin. Resource Links Dr. Aronica’s Stanford Research profile The Stanford A to Z study The Follow-up Study

Aaron Traywick is the founder at Ascendance Biomedical where they focus on helping people get the treatments and care they need to save their lives. They also specialize in helping fund and facilitate research by taking initial studies off shore before bringing the data back to the FDA. Learn more about this process as well as two studies they're currently working on. He shares some of the results they're seeing and potential for the industry with this particular treatment for longevity and life extension overall. Enrollment is currently open for trials to test “Bucky-balls” (also known as Fullerene-C60 and “Bucky-balls”) for their capacity to increase lifespan and maximize human performance. Learn more about the Senolytic Treatments we talk about in the interview and sign up to join the study here Apeiron Academy educates and trains Epigenetic Human Potential Coaches in genomic precision wellness and human potential optimization. Get all the details here. Ascendance Biomed Global Healthspan Policy Institute

Daniel Schmachtenberger enlightens us on how to use a science systems approach to our health, wellness and business. Listen in on how human behavior affects the systems we function in every day - economic, social, political and how we can make these systems stronger and more resilient by changing the human body's systems.

With today's guest Nicola Pirastu we learn the difference between several common genetic terms, how your diet choices may or may not be good for your personal health and how your diet can impact your genes and their expressions. Genetics Vs Genomics The terms genetics and genomics sound alike, and they are often used interchangeably. But there are some important distinctions and similarities between genetics and genomics and how they affect our dietary patterns. But firstly, what do they mean? Genetics is the study of heredity, or how the characteristics of living organisms are transmitted from one generation to the next via DNA, and it comprises genes, the basic unit of heredity. Genetics dates back to Darwin and scientist Lamarck, whose studies of pea plants in the mid-1800s established many of the rules of heredity. Genetics involves the study of specific and limited numbers of genes, or parts of genes, that have a known function. In biomedical research, scientists try to understand how genes guide the body’s development, cause disease or affect our eating or dietary patterns. Genomics, in contrast, is the study of the entirety of an organism’s genes – called the genome. Genomics is the branch of molecular biology concerned with the structure, function, evolution, and mapping of genomes. Genomics is a much newer field than genetics and became possible only in the last couple of decades due to technical advances in DNA sequencing and computational biology. (It is notable that the term genomics was first coined in 1986 by a Jackson Laboratory scientist, Tom Roderick, Ph.D.) Genomics play huge roles in our dietary patterns as they help us know why our body relates to different foods and why our food preferences may or may not affect our overall health. For example two men of the same age were placed on a diet and eat fruits and vegetables high in sodium and saturated fat. One develops hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and eventually atherosclerosis, while the other lives a long life without such chronic disease. In another case, two postmenopausal women consume similar diets low in choline. One develops liver dysfunction due to the choline deficiency, but the other does not. Why individuals experience different health outcomes even though they eat similar diets and practice comparable lifestyles is an important question that’s been on the minds of nutrition and other healthcare experts in the medical community for decades. While it’s long been suspected that genetics plays a critical role in determining how a person responds to dietary intake, only recently has research in the field of nutrigenetics demonstrated this. Learn the difference between nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics? Nutrigenetics:Nutrigenomics: Nutrition scientists have looked at whether genetic testing ends up improving eating behaviors. The evidence is mixed. A recent large randomized controlled study found there was little apparent benefit. The two weeks study comprised of 200 people. Three groups of participants were given personalized dietary advice, with variations based on their regular diet, including blood biomarkers such as cholesterol; and genetic variants. A control group was given conventional dietary advice. At the end of the study, the three groups that received personalized nutrition advice had all improved their eating habits, compared with the control group. But the improvements in each of the three groups were about the same. “It didn’t seem to matter whether they were personalized based on current diet. Nutrigenetics and Personalized Nutrition The field of nutrigenetics is relatively new. In 2003, the Human Genome Project, which identified all the genes in human DNA and determined the sequence of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA, was completed. Knowing the sequences of the human genome opened the doors to examine the relationship among an individual’s genetic makeup, dietary intake, and health...

Pioneer in the world of Gene therapy, Dr. Theodore Friedman shares with us today the exciting future of what gene therapy holds. Listen in as we hear how manipulating certain lacking or misbehaving genes from causing disease has been proven in several types of diseases through clinical experimentation and how it will benefit future generations. We discuss whether or not it will be a solution to all disease. What the census is on how fast it will take or the prediction of genomic therapy within the scientific world. Gain greater awareness of gene modification within the world sport arena (Olympics), what kind of testing has been approved, used and how the tests are able to find modified genes or the presence of agents used to deliver those editing genes. What is the ethical answer of testing in sports when certain individuals naturally have genes that give increased ability to perform at a higher level than others? Applying Gene Therapy Attack of genetic disease - using your genes as your tools for treatment rather than pharmaceutical drugs. The Molecular Biology field starting asking this question in the 1970s of how to manipulate genes in cells and living organisms to prevent the expression of disease causing genes. Introducing new genes or modifying genes with experimental testing certain diseases are being able to be manipulated or managed. How will the genes be edited with those that have existing diseases present not just a gene known to cause disease? Not all genes can be manipulated – there will still need to be preventative action, people will still have illnesses as not everyone has access to genomic testing and information on how to prevent disease through gene therapy. How will all of this sophisticated knowledge be delivered to all types of people? For gene manipulation to work the editing gene has to be delivered at the right time, to the right cell in the correct controlled situation for it to work properly. Using Gene Therapy to Enhance Sport Performance Which if you didn’t hear in the 2016 Olympic Games there was testing for a gene known as EPO (Erythropoietin) within athletes. As this awareness has been around for a decade and through research and scientific understanding testing was made available for detection of EPO distributed through the AAV virus into the person’s genomes. With new technology emerging testing will and will not be possible depending on how the gene is manipulated or delivered into the athlete’s correct cells. Most are being edited through various agents/viruses that more often than not do leave a fingerprint or sequence that may be found in current approved tests. Other attributes of enhancing an athletes’ performance is to use gene therapy to knock out or minimize a gene such as Myostatin which may inhibit muscle cell growth and differentiation. This also can be tested by looking for a mutant myostatin gene – which may be detected by a mixture of several different genomes. Don't miss the Gene Based Dieting Live Webinar happening in Early December! Learn how your genes can predict your best dietary outcomes. With amazing outcomes of over 1500 clients within our medical practice.

Welcome back to the Ironman Executive Podcast where today we talk with Josh Mitteldorf, he is both a researcher and science writer. He recently released a book called Cracking the Aging Code which not only transformed my perspectives on aging but will bring awareness and knowledge into your own understanding of aging. Learn the importance of epigenetics in aging as we discuss current research, research that may happen over the short term and long term in the science world in regards to how reversing aging may be possible. Caloric Restriction There is good evidence that suggests caloric restriction does make you healthier and may add 5 to 10 years on your life. Why We Age Most professionals either believe it is the process of metabolism building up, there is the mathematical program or idea that it is within our cells and make up to age and the last is one of the evolutionary biology community where if it happens it must be good for us and our bodies just evolve alongside of everything else. ”Aging is not inevitable” Josh Mitteldorf We discuss examples of animals and creatures that use high energy and show no signs of ‘wearing out’ or aging compared to others that may die within only a few years of being born. Importance of Epigenetics in Aging We have the same genes all through out our life with epigenetics its all about what genes get turned on and when. That same program continues into our old age, aging is a continuation of the epigenetic program into a self destructive age. As research continues let’s look at the genes that are self destructive: inflammation, autoimmunity, the thymus gland that produces/trains T cells for our immune system shrinks with our age and the telomeres also get shorter with our age. To prevent these modes of self destruction there needs to be a solution to block these pathways from doing what they would naturally do – poison the body as the individual ages. Is there a way to get rid of the cells that are senescence (dying off slowly) and overtaking room for healthy and viable cells to prosper. Be informed on what chances for anti-aging you are taking. Listen to research and the experts who have spent many years in this field before self-experimenting. Josh’s recommendation for maintaining a longevity lifestyle are: Vitamin D (without it you are susceptible to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. Get a blood test for your Vitamin D levels and get them as close to 100 as you can. Most Americans are around the 10 or 20 mark and the recommended level is 30 and above. Magnesium has many benefits for your brain aging. Interval training: jump ropes, sprints, push ups a couple of times a day especially before you eat. Has powerful short term effects and.

Today we’re talking to Dr. Kelly Olson, an expert in the area of neuroscience, stress and sleep. We discuss chronic stress and adrenal fatigue, as well as some promising supplements and treatments to support healthy stress response and better sleep habits. Chronic Stress and Adrenal Fatigue We’re all aware of the negative impacts of stress, how it has a huge impact on aging and can create a low-grade inflammatory response that contributes to a high percentage of illnesses. Of course, there are also positive aspects to some types of stress. Acute stress can provide a benefit, but you need to be able to control both the physiological and psychological response, particularly as it relates to coming back down afterward. Our bodies are meant to be able to manage this response by bringing down the heart rate and elevated chemical levels associated with stress, but it doesn’t always work that way, which leads to chronic stress. Chronic or prolonged stress is associated with adrenal fatigue. But the problem with treating adrenal fatigue is that most practitioners go after the messenger instead of the source, which is akin to going after the symptom vs. the disease. Cortisol released from adrenal glands creates a negative feedback loop. But if the receptors aren’t there, as happens in adrenal fatigue progression, the system doesn’t work the way it should. Unfortunately, controlling adrenal function is often overlooked by doctors. Biofeedback for stress response has the ability to control the neural circuits, and cognitive behavioral therapy also helps people train themselves to be able to come back down from stress. Getting a Handle on Sleep The excess of chemicals in the brain like norepinephrine, epinephrine and cortisol can contribute to people’s inability to calm brain activity for a good night’s sleep. And sufficient and restful sleep is crucial for health and longevity – it’s our built-in process to combat stress, formulate memories and get the immune system on track. In order to get a good night’s sleep, all of the brain chemicals need to be properly balanced and work in concert together. Dr. Olson herself has suffered from cortisol inversion and low serotonin, which prevented her from getting the sleep she needed. Over time, she was able to correct this imbalance through a combination of methods targeting neurotransmitters, including adaptogens, 5-HTP and folate support. Eventually, she was able to get everything into a more normal range. Dr. Olson recommends these supplements for stress modulation: Ashwagandha, CortiCept, Phenibut and melatonin.

Today we’re talking to Dave Siever, an expert on the topics of neuro feedback and biofeedback. Dave discusses the audio visual entrainment (AVE) device – called the DAVID -- offered through his company Mind Alive, and how it can be used to optimize the brain in many different ways. Audio-Visual Entrainment vs. Audio-Visual Stimulation Dave explains how audio-visual entrainment is different from the audio-visual stimulation you’d get from, for example, watching TV, which doesn’t do much to benefit the brain. AVE, in contrast, provides a continuous stream of stimuli at a fairly steady frequency into the eyes and ears -- the device works simply by using headphones to pulse tones for auditory stimulation and glasses with lights that flash at different speeds for visual stimulation. And while people generally associate entrainment with brain wave driving, that is only a small portion of what it does. AVE also has dissociative benefits similar to meditation, increases endorphins, serotonin and blood flow to the brain, and has an autonomic calming effect. Flexibility Between Beta and Alpha Activity The beauty of the Mind Alive DAVID device is that it allows users to pick the frequency they want to entrain in the brain, practically making it a true panacea for an array of issues. Dave explains that beta activity in the brain is associated with actively doing something, whereas alpha frequency is associated with calm, meditative activities. He’s seen that staying in the low beta region is beneficial for learning and activities -- this type of “relaxed tension” is a band that peak performers like athletes and academics do well in. Meanwhile, increasing alpha activity in the brain can be helpful for people who have trouble getting into meditative states, or falling asleep. Dave points out that alpha intrusion gets in the way of focus, whereas people who are hyper-focused don’t have enough alpha activity and tend to be more rigid and don’t sleep as well. People have a tendency to be one way or another, and entrainment helps them to flex between the two states as needed. And it can be done anytime from home for as little as 30 minutes with the DAVID device. Treating a Variety of Issues The flexibility of audio-visual entrainment allows it to treat a broad variety of issues, purposes and disorders. Dave and his team have done two dozen studies on the DAVID devices to show their effectiveness for academics, seniors, and those suffering from depression, PTSD, sleep disorders and more, proving it to be the only technology that is so multifaceted. It can even be used to help children with ADHD to fall asleep at night, or to take the edge off on a daily basis for those suffering from addiction or anxiety. And for entrepreneurs, AVE can boost performance, attention and cognition. Make sure to check out… MindAlive.com

Today our guest is Dr. David Sinclair, who has seen the potential for aging reversal research to revolutionize medicine for the last 25 to 30 years. David explains that, like many children, he was morbidly fascinated with mortality at a young age, but he never really outgrew it. Now he’s determined to make life as long, happy, healthy and productive as possible for everyone on the planet, and also for humankind to be the best possible species it can while having the least possible impact on the planet. Aging Reversal Research Faces Challenges With all of the advances in genetic research, it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that we will be able to genetically change our fate if we want to in the coming decade or so, although there will be a lot of debate about whether or not we should. Currently, at least 10 groups, including both companies and academics, are pushing to show that we can slow down or reverse the aging process in people. The challenge is not necessarily proving scientifically that it can work, as some molecules in human clinical trials have already shown positive results. However, the research still needs a big win in order to really drive attention. Also, funding this type of research can be quite a challenge, which has led some researchers, including Dr. Sinclair, to turn to crowd funding. Supplements That Have Shown Promise Resveratrol: One of the first molecules shown to delay aging, particularly when it comes to metabolism and inflammation. The most exciting development was a study last year finding that resveratrol not only altered progression of molecular changes, but also improved daily function and seemed to prevent cancer. Pterostilbene: Could be even better than resveratrol in some ways, but not enough research has been done to demonstrate this definitively. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide: This shows a lot of promise when it comes to aging reversal. It works because it is one of few molecules that the body can turn into NAD, which is a cofactor for metabolic reactions that declines as the body ages. The hope is that this will initiate a reversal of the aging process, and studies in mice have shown as much. However, nicotinamide mononucleotide has not been used in human trials yet because researchers are currently gathering more data on safety. N icotinamide Riboside: This is currently available as a supplement, including Basis by Elysium. It also has been shown to raise NAD levels in mice, although more human studies need to be done. TA-65: This supplement has been shown to boost telomeres, but Dr. Sinclair explains that it is not a silver bullet that will reverse all aspects of aging. Resources Basis by Elysium

How To Combat Diseases of Aging Caused By Oxidative Stress With Dr. Mark Gordon Today we’re talking to Dr. Mark Gordon, a physician with over 20 years of experience in clinical cardiology. Dr. Gordon has participated in numerous pharmaceutical and medical device trials, and his passion for prevention has led him to focus his practice on preventative and integrative cardiology. Dr. Gordon is currently focused on the hot topic of NRF2 and how it helps the body deal with oxidative stress, which is the root cause of hundreds of diseases. He explains that oxidative stress is like a rusting of the body from the inside out. It is created from free radicals, which are the highly unstable and destructive byproducts of metabolism created by our bodies every day. The Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Free Radicals Dr. Gordon explains that oxidative stress and free radicals go hand in hand. And while some free radicals are actually beneficial – they can help heal infections by targeting bad bacteria — those produced above and beyond what’s necessary are responsible for diseases of aging like cancer and cardiovascular diseases, among countless others. Oxidative stress is essentially the free radical process run wild, which in turn causes damage to the cells. For many years, the popular wisdom was that people could simply take loads of antioxidants to combat this process. But over the last 10 to 15 years, studies have shown detrimental effects of taking too many direct antioxidants. Not only is it an ineffective way of dealing with oxidative stress that doesn’t reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, it can also actually increase the risk in some individuals in whom the antioxidant is converted to a pro-oxidant. Researchers are still learning more about this process, but the answer in the meantime is to boost the body’s built-in antioxidant defense system to buffer these effects, as opposed to relying on external sources. Our body produces its own enzymes to combat the adverse effects of oxidative stress. But as we age, we produce fewer of this enzymes, giving free radicals more free reign to do damage. How To Boost the Body’s Own Defense System Around 2002, scientists dived into a hot new area of research revolving around NRF2. NRF2 is a messenger protein in all of the cells in the body that goes into a cell’s nucleus and turns on genes that code antioxidant proteins to fight off free radicals, thereby reducing oxidative stress. We are born with the ability to make NRF2, and this system is critical for healthy aging. As we age, there are several things that we can do to boost the body’s innate NRF2 system. Appropriate exercise:Cleaner Diet:Meditation:Protandim by LifeVantage: Make sure to check out… Protandim by LifeVantage

How To Differentiate Between Fear and Anxiety Today we’re discussing fear and anxiety with neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux, Professor of Science at the NYU Center For Neuroscience. Joseph’s work focuses on the brain functions of memory and emotion, and he is the author of The Emotional Brain, Synaptic Self and Anxious. In our society, three quarters of all medical visits and 60 percent of medical conditions are directly associated with stress. This begs the question: How can we take control of how stress affects our physiology? How the Brain Responds To Danger When we are in danger, we both feel afraid and act afraid, which confuses the two things in our mind. Joseph explains that the conscious experience of fear is actually generated separately from the brain’s response to danger. The feeling of fear doesn’t come from the amygdala like the response to danger. Rather, it is put together in the neocortex like any other conscious experience. In order to feel afraid, you have to be aware that you’re having that experience, so Joseph doesn’t believe in unconscious fear. To break it down even further, Joseph points out that the conscious experience of fear includes several elements: 1) perceptual stimulus, e.g. a snake, 2) long-term memories associated with that perception, e.g. “snakes are scary” and 3) the physiological responses of the amygdala, e.g. tensing of body. These three things combine to create what he calls a “fear schema,” which compels a feeling of fear. Joseph underscores our need to break out of antiquated ideas about fear and anxiety – we must completely separate our use of the terms “fear” and “anxiety” to describe responses that happen unconsciously. The amygdala doesn’t feel fear; fear is actually a highly cognitive process that involves an integration of information from the defense response of amygdala with perceptional information and long-term memories about the stimulus and the fear schema. Top Three Ways to Achieve a More Bulletproof Life Make sure to check out… Joseph’s book, Anxious Joseph’s band, The Amygdaloids

Today we’re talking with Wellshift CEO Melanie Weinberger, who is currently transforming corporate wellness to show people how to create and maintain epic health transformations in the workplace. Unhealthy Effects of the Workplace Melanie spent six years in the world of corporate advertising, and realized that she was depressed for four of those years due to an unhealthy work environment. She realized that the workplace is one of the most detrimental environments to our well being, largely because people make choices in order to get external validation as opposed to improve their well being. Melanie decided to flip that environment around and created Wellshift, a corporate wellness model that takes a completely new approach. Melanie discovered early on that there were some problems with the traditional corporate wellness model. For example, on-site exercise classes tend to attract only the people who are already exercising. Another issue with many corporate wellness providers is that they take a “what’s wrong with you?” approach, as opposed to asking people “how can you be amazing?” Wellshift’s Unique Approach to Corporate Wellness Wellshift has about twice the participation of most corporate wellness programs, and the following practices have been key to the company’s success: 1. Treat the whole organization as a community, as if the company is one human being. Think of each department as one of the body’s organs so that everyone is working together in synergy to create an optimal output. 2. Remember that healthy habits are very contagious, so start by working with a small seed group, and then more and more people will join in. 3. Present a specific challenge, such as improving posture, each month, and then deliver micro tasks every morning to help people practice their new habit until it becomes learned. 4. Keep the size of the challenges small – for example, 10 minutes of walking at a time -- so that they don’t interrupt the work day, but actually blend in with the day’s flow. Wellshift to present at SXSW Melanie is very excited about Wellshift’s upcoming appearance at SXSW, where the company will not only co-present Google for Entreprenuer’s Wellness Lounge, but will also give the talk “Cracking the Code To Your Unlimited Epic Potential,” which will discuss what it really means to dive deep into your subconscious mind and intentionally create your reality. “You can be absolutely epic and we’re here to help you get there.” – Melanie Weinberger of Wellshift” Make sure to check out.. Wellshift.com Cracking the Code To Your Unlimited Epic Potential

Today’s guest is Dr. Ruthie Harper of SKINSHIFT, a revolutionary skin care product line customized to each individual’s genetic profile. Dr. Harper shares her inspiration for developing a skin care system based on her powerful belief in the impact of personalized medicine. “A one size fits all approach doesn’t apply to skin care any more than it applies to medicine.” Personalized Medicine Meets SkinCare Dr. Harper became determined to find a more functional approach to medicine when she noticed early in her career in conventional medicine that she never saw anyone get well — people would enter medical system and never leave as they were prescribed more medications, developed more side effects, and had to see more doctors. That’s when she decided to look at what would get people healthy again, specifically by focusing on nutrition, lifestyle changes, natural hormone balancing and exercise. Dr. Harper also began to study the basic biochemistry of body and observed amazing transformations when she started to focus on how vitamins and minerals optimize overall health, as well as outward appearance. 5 categories of skin health The unique focus of SKINSHIFT is to look deeper and help people pick more effective skin care products for their genomics, so Dr. Harper looks closely at each individual’s single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) — which are the differences in a person’s genetic code — and how that can influence skin function. This determined the following five categories of skin health addressed by the SKINSHIFT product line: Overcoming genetics with product matching There is a popular misconception that if something is in your genetics, it’s a done deal, but nothing is further from the truth. The body is remarkably resilient, and the skin is a vital, vibrant organ — if you’re aware of what you’re working with, you can go in and support the genetics in a meaningful way to get a different outcome. Dr. Harper points out that there are lots of good skin care products out there, but two different people, even sisters, could have vastly different experiences with same product — the ingredients need to be matched to the right individual. Individuals interested in taking advantage of this approach begin by swabbing their cheek and sending that in for analysis. From there, Dr. Harper ranks each of the five skin care categories from highest to lowest priority based on that analysis, and recommends her SKINSHIFT serums and supplements accordingly. “Food is your tidal wave and supplements are your current. You can’t change your skin health if you have bad eating habits – Dr. Harper.” Additional tips for optimal health and a youthful appearance While the SKINSHIFT line focuses on creating a youthful appearance, Dr. Harper has some additional tips for achieving overall health and well being. Also choose non-organic formulations, such as titanium oxide, to create a barrier block from the sun’s rays, as opposed to chemical formulations. Make sure to check out… Skin Shift

Our guest today is Liz Parrish, founder and CEO of BioViva Science USA, a company committed to extending healthy life spans using gene therapy. Liz shares the advances BioViva has made in gene therapy research, as well as her own experience undergoing one of their pioneering therapies, which may make her the first human GMO. Liz Parrish of BioViva wants to genetically engineer you. Telomere Attrition and the Disease of Biological Aging Liz is a humanitarian who was initially drawn to reversal of aging research through her interest in curing childhood disease. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes, and the shortening of those telomeres begins from the moment we are born. This telomere attrition is responsible for biological aging, which underlies almost every disease. Liz and her team at BioViva want to not only extend people’s life expectancy, but to allow people to live to be 120 or older in a youthful and capable way by tackling biological aging as a disease in and of itself. Part of what makes this research so exciting is the fact that extending healthy life spans has broad-reaching humanitarian implications. If we become a healthier and longer-lived population, that increases our humanitarian outreach, how we cultivate land and how we see the future. In short, we make better choices. Overcoming the Negative Reputation of GMOs GMO has developed a bad reputation due to its use in food products. But treating humans as GMOs is a different story. For example, no one would malign children who undergo gene therapy for muscular dystrophy. When looking at a new medical science, it’s important to keep in mind that all modern medicine was considered heresy at some point. Liz wants to stress that gene therapy isn’t scary, but rather an eloquent and beautiful science — disease mitigation at its best. The injection of genes directly into your cells is a cleaner, better process for your body without the negative side effects that come with taking pharmaceuticals. We see the most benefit when we tackle biological aging as opposed to spending billions of dollars on trying to cure individual diseases. The key is for the NIH to recognize biological aging as a disease in and of itself, which will open up funding and resources for researchers. When you get older, you don’t look in the mirror for as long.” – Liz Parrish of BioViva. What Comes Next…And What Do We Do While We Wait? The next step is for BioViva is to run a clinical trial against a disease – Alzheimer’s is the best candidate — in order to ensure the therapy is safe and eventually make it available to the public. In the meantime, Liz reaffirms that the best way for individuals to increase life span is through moderate exercise every day, a healthy diet and avoiding the consumption of excessive sugar.

Our guest Michelle Ricker is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Health & Fitness Instructor. She is one of the founders of FitNow Health, which specializes in providing DNA-based Nutrition and Fitness programs. She chats with us today about how genetics affects our overall well-being and the benefits of a genomic-based dietary approach. The Genomic-Based Dietary Approach A 2014 study conducted by the European Society of Human Genetics showed that people who followed a diet based on their genetic profile lost 33% more weight and built more lean body mass. It is clear that genetics plays a significant role in how our dietary and fitness habits affect our health. Genomic tests can reveal a number of things, including how your genes relate to sodium and sugar sensitivities, the production of appetite controlling hormones, and insulin resistance. All these genetic factors explain why the same diet works well for some people and doesn’t work well for others. The benefit of having a clinician examine your genetic profile is that you won’t have to waste time testing different diet plans until you find the right one. With genomics you can narrow things down right from the start. FitNow Health FitNow Health is a consulting practice founded by Michelle that specializes in DNA-based nutrition and health. Based on your genetic profile, Michelle and her team create a detailed, user-friendly program designed specifically for you. The Role of the Clinician Genetics is probability based and it is the role of the clinician to interpret a client’s genetic profile. Genetic information is valuable, but you need to understand what to do with it. Using their extensive experience and training, a clinician can create a lifestyle plan that alters a client’s genetic expression to optimize health and well-being. Oftentimes, clients are unaware of the true impact of genetics and may engage in dietary habits that they perceive as healthy, but are in fact in opposition of their genetic profile. This is where a clinician can step in and steer the client down a different path that makes it easier to instill the lifestyle changes that will have a positive impact on their well-being. The Future of Genomics and Health Genomics has promising applications for professional and Olympic athletes. Information gathered from genetic profiles can improve training programs, enhance nutrition to maintain endurance, and help athletes recover properly. From a nutritional perspective, Michelle hopes that DNA-based approaches will soon make a difference in mainstream weight loss and have a positive impact on the current obesity epidemic. Resource Links Fit Now Health 23andMe Apeiron Center for Human Potential

Our guest Michelle Gielan is a former national news anchor at CBS. After getting tired of telling negative news stories, she began studying how to deliver negative news in a way that empowers people and helps them see a path forward. What she discovered is that the messages we choose to talk about can transform how people view their world. Dealing with Negative News Maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset in the face of negative news or people is important. If someone is being negative around you, engage in a strategic retreat. For example, if you are in an office environment and the person sitting next to you is engaging in a negative phone conversation, you could put on noise canceling headphones or reorient your desk. Small changes like these can really transform your day at the office. The less negative and useless information you’re exposed to, the less you’re going to retransmit negativity to other people. Transforming Negative Interactions with Other People While as a society we tend to believe that we can’t change people, this isn’t quite true. You can transform your interactions with negative people by creating a string of positive experiences with them. As a result, you are effectively rewriting the narrative between yourself and them. For example, if someone is constantly complaining about the boss, you are blessing the situation by engaging with them. If you steer them in the positive direction instead, this will foster less negative water cooler talk and more solutions-focused discussions. Changing Your Mindset with Positive Habits When we engage in positive habits, we can change our levels of happiness, optimism, and wellbeing. Simple gratitude exercises can change how you view the world. The key is to establish these habits and maintain them in the long term. To do this, keep exercises new and different to help establish a routine. Eventually these positive habits will transform your mindset and help you build new neural pathways. Where our Happiness Comes From More and more, studies are showing that how you think can influence how you experience the world. Influencing Your Environment People often wonder whether a negative or positive person has more influence in an environment. Studies show that it is neither – the most expressive person is the one who wins the battle for culture. In a business environment, you can increase your chances of success by encouraging expressions of positivity in the office or in meetings. The key is to maintain a healthy ratio between positivity and negativity. Start Your Day on a Positive Note A recent study showed that watching just 3 minutes of negative news each day increases the likelihood of a person reporting their day as “bad” 6 to 8 hours later by 27%. Don’t start your day with negative news Instead, seek out for transformative news stories. These are solutions-focused stories that will help you start your day off on a positive note. If you have a commute, craft this time into something that is fueling – listen to podcasts or audiobooks that help your brain get in the right state of mind for the day. Fact Checking Michelle has a technique called Fact Checking that she uses to deal with stressful situations. 1. Write the stress down 2. Write down the reasons why you feel this way 3. Write down some positive aspects of the situation This short process calms the brain down and helps it transition from a default of stress to a default of thriving. Top Lifestyle Tips to Create More Positivity

Our guest this week is Dr. Jeffrey Fannin, an expert in mapping and analyzing the brain. Dr. Fannin holds a PhD in psychology and has over 15 years of experience in the neuroscience field. His research in neurofeedback technology has led to teaching opportunities at Arizona State University and collaborations with West Point Academy and Dr. Joe Dispenza. He is the founder of the Center for Cognitive Enhancement, which has partnered with Thought Genius and is primarily focused on enhancing and optimizing normal brains through 3D brain mapping and neurofeedback. In our interview Dr. Fannin shares with us the science and some of his thoughts behind: Enhancing the Brain with Neurofeedback The neurofeedback process trains the brain into a peak performance state. Through the use of EEGs, low resolution electromagnetic tomography (LORETA), and standardized low resolution electromagnetic tomography (s-LORETA), you can build a 3D depiction of the brain and look at what the brain is doing. Through this type of brain mapping, it is then possible to build a protocol that tells the brain what you want it to do using neurofeedback. How Neurofeedback Works Neurofeedback analyzes 20 different spots on the brain and rewards it for following the protocol with 16 different auditory variables. The process utilizes as many as 5700 variables and does not require conscious decision-making on the part of the participant. This is because while the cortex processes information at 40 bits/second, the lower part of the brain processes at 40 million bits/second. Following multiple neurofeedback sessions, new dendrites form and new neural pathways develop based on the provided protocol, and the brain is effectively rewired. Brain Brightening Brain brightening is recommended for individuals who consider themselves healthy, but feel they have lost a bit of their edge or are experiencing reduced clarity. A lot of this can be due to age, as the brain begins to slow down a half cycle per decade starting from agee 37. Brain brightening measures the energy centers of your body with your eyes opened, eye closed, and while performing task (e.g. reading). Based on these three states, modifications to your emotional or physical energy can be made to act like a tune up for your brain and reinvigorate it. The Neuroscience of Leadership In a collaboration with West Point Academy, Dr. Fannin spent four years examining the numerous factors important in neuroscience and leadership. Together with a business professor, he later taught the Neuroscience of Leadership at Arizona State University. As a part of the curriculum students took part in brain mapping and neurofeedback training. By the end of the course every single student had improved his or her processing speed. As a result of his extensive research, Dr. Fannin has developed device protocols designed to help executives in their thinking, allowing individuals with normative brain patterns to train as peak performers. Subconscious Beliefs and the Whole Brain State Your core belief system is made up of thoughts you’ve had over and over again, and this includes subconscious thoughts you may not even be aware of. Thoughts vibrate at a particular frequency, and holding a thought for 68 seconds builds enough energy to affect particle matter. Subconscious programming teaches you to manage the energy information in your body, which in turn enables you to manage your thoughts. [Tweet: “All thought is nothing more than energy and information @DrFannin”] After receiving a protocol, a significant shift in the brain occurs. The whole brain state is a method for changing subconscious belief patterns rapidly and allows an individual to have access to all of his or her mental faculties. The result is an improved transfer rate between left and right hemispheres, as well as good harmony between the front and back of the brain. Muse Headband Muse Brain Sensing Headband is a commercially available device that is ideal...

Dr. Dan welcomes Andrew Hill, PhD to discuss the chemistry and electrophysiology of optimal brain performance. Dr. Hill is involved in the company, TruBrain, a nootropic brain enhancing supplement and a researcher and clinician in the field of cognitive neuroscience. So if you are interested in ways to tap into the true potential of your brain, listen in.

In this episode Dr. Dan welcomes another young Russian researcher that is focused on aging. Specifically she is focused on skin aging. Her name is Polina Mamoshina and she works for a bioinformatics company by the name of Insilico Medicine, Inc. Her research fosus is on skin aging biomarkers and photoaging of the skin. We discuss why sunscreen might be a very bad idea, what can we do now to slow or correct skin aging, and what does the future hold for reversing skin aging.