LEVELS – A Whole New Level

Heart disease risk isn’t just about cholesterol. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Matthew Budoff explains why coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring may be the most important test most people aren’t getting—and why imaging your arteries directly can reveal risk that blood tests alone can miss. Drawing on decades of research and data from the landmark MESA study, Dr. Budoff explains how calcium scoring predicts real cardiovascular events, how plaque actually forms and progresses, and why some people with high cholesterol never develop plaque—while others with “normal” labs do. This episode focuses on how to measure your actual cardiovascular risk, not just estimate it. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, we cover: This conversation reframes heart risk around what’s actually happening inside your arteries—not just what shows up in bloodwork. 🎙 What Dr. Matthew Budoff & Mike Haney discuss: [01:35] — Coronary calcium is the strongest predictor of heart events [02:38] — What a high calcium score actually means for risk [04:00] — Why rising calcium is not “healing.” [11:07] — The role of fat tissue and inflammation in plaque formation [16:37] — Why do many people with high cholesterol have no plaque [17:55] — Why imaging is the only way to truly know your risk [37:07] — Calcium as the “tip of the iceberg” of total plaque burden [~52:00] — Why CAC is the practical first step before advanced imaging [~1:02:00] — When CT angiography adds critical information [~1:14:00] — How plaque regression actually happens in the real world [~1:22:00] — The next frontier: Lp(a) and inflammation as treatment targets 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/os-RNhIS3jQ Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠ 📲 Connect Connect with Dr. Matthew Budoff on X: https://x.com/BudoffMd https://www.calciumscan.com/

In this episode of A Whole New Level, Christopher Gardner, PhD, joins Mike to discuss his decades in nutrition research, the challenges of conducting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on diet, and how to communicate complex science to the public. Gardner has led some of the most rigorous research ever comparing dietary approaches in real-world conditions, so his insights about what works (cutting processed food and sugar) and what doesn’t (obsessing about macronutrients) are worth a listen. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, we cover: What a nutritional interventionist isHow to square widely-accepted lessonsThe concept of "equipoise"The dilemma of communicating single-study resultsDr. Gardner's experience on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory CommitteeThe focus on ultra-processed foodsThe learnings from the DIETFITS study,within 🎙 What Dr. Christopher Gardner & Mike Haney discuss: [00:33] Nutritional Interventionist Role [02:17] Shortcomings of Nutrition RCTs [03:59] Garlic Study Example [16:48] Concept of Equipoise in Study Design [21:54] Value of Communicating Single Study Results [28:02] Industry Funding and Transparency [33:11] Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Methodology [38:48] Ultra-Processed Foods and the Evidence [48:27] Simplicity vs. Complexity in Nutrition [50:24] Consensus on Foundational Diet Components 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/ZQ0G_jfwKoM Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect Connect with Christopher Gardner, PhD, on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cgardnerphd/?hl=en

In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Eric Ravussin, PhD, explains the physiology of energy expenditure, metabolic adaptation, and why the body strongly defends its prior weight. Drawing on decades of research, including the Biggest Loser study, CALERIE, and work with metabolic chambers, Ravussin walks through what actually happens when we lose weight—and why willpower alone isn’t enough. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl In this episode, we cover: preclinicalclinical 🎙 What Dr. Eric Ravussin & Mike Haney discuss: [04:40] — Rethinking obesity diagnosis [07:00] — Clinical vs. preclinical obesity [11:38] — What ‘energy expenditure’ actually means [15:42] — What metabolic adaptation really is [17:56] — Why bigger bodies burn more calories [26:16] — Lessons from the Biggest Loser study [31:19] — What CALERIE taught us about calorie restriction [40:02] — Why slow, modest weight loss matters [45:10] — Weight loss vs. weight maintenance physiology [53:08] — GLP-1 drugs: promise and limitations [57:49] — Why you can’t exercise your way to weight loss [1:01:33] — The biggest myth about obesity 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/UaE0C_l7GMw Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📲 More about Dr. Eric Ravussin: https://www.pbrc.edu/research-and-faculty/faculty/Ravussin-Eric-PhD.aspx

According to investigative science journalist Gary Taubes, much of what we “know” about nutrition is built on weak evidence, bad assumptions, and decades of groupthink. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Taubes joins Mike Haney to examine how nutrition science went off the rails—and why he remains convinced the carbohydrate–insulin model still offers the most coherent explanation for obesity. Taubes explains how observational studies became policy, why randomized trials are often ignored, and why questioning the calorie-balance model remains controversial despite mounting contradictions. The conversation is less about winning an argument and more about how science should actually work—especially when public health is at stake. ⁠Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠ 🎙 What Gary Taubes & Mike Haney discuss: [4:10] — How Gary Taubes became interested in “bad science.” [9:45] — Why nutrition science relies too heavily on epidemiology [15:30] — Correlation vs. causation in diet research [22:10] — The problem with the calorie-balance model [29:40] — Introducing the carbohydrate–insulin model [36:55] — Why insulin resistance changes everything [44:20] — Why low-fat advice dominated for decades [52:10] — What randomized trials actually show [1:00:05] — Why dissent is treated as heresy in nutrition [1:08:30] — How bad science survives criticism [1:16:45] — What good nutrition science would require [1:23:20] — Why this debate still matters 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/74WAhHgEk_0⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠ 📲 Connect with Gary Taubes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-taubes-942a6459/ https://garytaubes.com/

Hormones influence far more than reproduction—they shape energy, mood, metabolism, sleep, and long-term health. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Anjali D’Souza joins Mike Haney to explain how women’s hormones actually work, why so many symptoms are dismissed as “normal,” and how to interpret labs in a way that reflects real physiology. They discuss why standard hormone panels often miss functional problems, how nutrient status and lifestyle affect hormone signaling, and how symptoms like PMS, fatigue, and brain fog provide meaningful data—not noise. They discuss: Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠ 🎙 What Dr. Anjali Dsouza & Mike Haney discuss: [3:45] — Why hormones influence energy, mood, and vitality [7:30] — “Normal” labs vs. how you actually feel [11:40] — Why hormone symptoms are often dismissed [15:05] — Hormones as a lever to move from “fine” to “amazing.” [18:20] — Progesterone, estrogen, and the menstrual cycle [22:10] — Why PMS isn’t random—it’s data [27:35] — Cortisol, stress, and hormone disruption [33:10] — Nutrient status and hormone effectiveness [38:45] — Why labs don’t show tissue-level hormone function [44:30] — Lifestyle changes that support hormone balance [50:15] — Rethinking how we assess women’s hormone health 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/MweLkjvNimo Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ ⁠https://dcimedicine.com/dr-anjali-dsouza/⁠ ⁠https://www.levels.com/blog/dr-anjali-dsouza-wants-to-help-women-level-up-their-health⁠ 📲 Connect with Dr. Anjali Dsouza: https://www.instagram.com/anjalidsouzamd

In this episode, Dr. Jesse Mills, Director of the UCLA Men’s Clinic, joins Mike Haney to explain what’s driving that shift and what today’s data-driven approach to men’s health looks like. He breaks down the testosterone “revolution,” what’s really happening in low-T diagnoses, and how lifestyle, sleep, and stress management can influence hormones as much as prescriptions can. They discuss: - How men’s health became its own medical discipline - What testosterone really does—and how to know if it’s low - Primary vs. secondary hypogonadism and how to tell the difference - When testosterone replacement is appropriate (and when it’s not) - Why younger men are now embracing prevention and optimization And listen to Dr. Mills’ new podcast, The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills, wherever you get your podcasts. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠ 🎙 What Dr. Jesse Mills & Mike Haney discuss: [2:10] — How men’s health became its own field [8:05] — The generational shift in openness [10:40] — The difference between real medicine and ‘men’s clinics’ [12:00] — Testosterone 101 [18:45] — When low testosterone is reversible [26:50] — Why we need ‘forensic endocrinology’ 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/Zs2CZC2GueA Find us on YouTube: ⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠ 📲 Connect with Dr. Jesse Mills: https://x.com/grurology?lang=en

Your annual labs can reveal far more than most people realize—if you know how to interpret them. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Rich Joseph walks through how to read basic blood work like the CBC, electrolytes, and urinalysis, and how to use those numbers as feedback loops, not pass/fail judgments. He explains which values matter most, what trends reveal over time, and how to connect lab data to sleep, training, nutrition, and stress. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Dr. Rich Joesph & Mike Haney discuss: [03:12] — Why basic labs still matter [07:58] — How to read the CBC: Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets [18:45] — MCV and what it tells us about iron vs. B-vitamin deficiency [24:40] — White blood cells as a window into stress and recovery [44:10] — Electrolytes and cellular energy [1:01:22] — Urinalysis: the overlooked lab with real value [1:09:55] — Using labs as feedback over time 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/cpwB4-_7o-w Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect with Dr. Rich Joseph on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-joseph-md-mba-61448b33a/

Your immune system isn’t just about fighting infections—it’s a mirror of your overall metabolic health. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Sharon Bergquist, physician and Director of Emory’s Healthy Aging and Resilient Aging Center, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of immune resilience—how chronic inflammation, white blood cell patterns, and metabolism intertwine to shape long-term health. Dr. Bergquist explains why inflammation isn’t always bad, how the immune system ages, and what you can do daily to build resilience. They discuss: Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Dr. Sharon Bergquist & Mike Haney discuss: [3:24] — How inflammation protects—and harms—your body [10:11] — Why immune health depends on metabolism [17:42] — White blood cells as a window into immune function [24:38] — How the gut and liver shape immunity [32:27] — Why modern lifestyles fuel inflammation [40:55] — How to measure your own inflammation [48:33] — The science of immune aging (inflammaging) [56:22] — Building immune resilience through daily habits [1:03:44] — Why immune balance is better than immune ‘boosting’ [1:11:08] — The hopeful message: immunity is adaptable 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/k1XpdFGVx1o Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect with Dr. Sharon Bergquist on LinkedIn: Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist Dr. Sharon Bergquist: https://drsharonbergquist.com/

If you want to improve your energy and long-term health, start by understanding how your body uses glucose. In this episode of A Whole New Level, Dr. Benjamin Bikman, scientist and author of Why We Get Sick, joins Mike Haney to unpack the science of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance—and why blood sugar isn’t the whole story. Dr. Bikman explains how insulin regulates energy balance, why HbA1c is only part of the picture, and how chronic high insulin can silently drive weight gain, fatigue, and metabolic disease. He also shares practical ways to lower insulin naturally through diet, exercise, and daily habits. They discuss: Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Ben Bikman, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss: [3:42] — Why glucose isn’t the full story in metabolic health [7:58] — Insulin’s central role in energy and fat storage [13:10] — What HbA1c actually tells you—and what it misses [19:23] — The first signs of insulin resistance most people overlook [25:46] — Why muscle is a “glucose sink” that protects your metabolism [32:15] — How modern diets overload insulin, not just glucose [39:52] — The difference between being lean and being metabolically healthy [46:08] — Simple daily habits that lower insulin naturally [54:41] — Why “normal” lab ranges for insulin are misleading [1:02:17] — Practical steps to build metabolic flexibility and better energy 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/2PROANAQkwA Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Connect with Dr. Bikman on X: @BenBikmanPhD Dr. Benjamin Bikman: https://benbikman.com/

Alzheimer’s and dementia aren’t just a matter of age or genetics. Increasing evidence shows that metabolic health—particularly insulin resistance—plays a key role in cognitive decline. In this episode of A Whole New Level, neurologist and bestselling author Dr. David Perlmutter joins Mike Haney to explore the links between brain health and metabolism. They discuss the role of insulin resistance and inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease, the biomarkers that can reveal risk decades before symptoms, and how lifestyle interventions can dramatically change your trajectory. Topics include: Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Dr. David Perlmutter & Mike Haney discuss: 4:12 — Why Alzheimer’s is now called “Type 3 diabetes” 9:45 — The role of inflammation in brain health 15:22 — Biomarkers that predict dementia risk decades early 22:31 — Why mainstream Alzheimer’s drugs fall short 29:17 — GLP-1s and brain health 36:44 — Lifestyle changes vs. pharmaceuticals 44:19 — Why homocysteine matters 53:02 — Sleep, circadian rhythm, and brain resilience 1:02:38 — Early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore 1:15:07 — The hopeful message 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/MV_9nyAN1Vk Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 📲 Connect: Dr. David Perlmutter on X: @DavidPerlmutter David Perlmutter, MD: ⁠https://drperlmutter.com/⁠

Longevity is a hot health topic, but what factors move the needle on not only how long you live but how long you experience relatively good health? Some lab and other tests can help assess how healthy you’re aging and provide context for what lifestyle and other changes to make. Dr. Matt Kaeberlein and Mike Haney discuss the tests that help assess healthy aging, how mental health and physical health are intricately connected, which lifestyle factors might expand your health span, and where the research stands on various longevity topics. Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, & Mike Haney discuss: 6:57 — Lifespan vs. health span vs. sick span 19:38 — Understanding sick span 27:44 — Biomarkers and other tests to assess health span 30:58 — The importance of emotional health for longevity 35:49 — Cellular tests may not have value for the consumer yet 42:24 — On mitochondrial function and telomere length 50:34 — Investing in your health 1:01:18 — Lifestyle changes can help make a big difference 1:09:50 — High vs. low protein 1:16:39 — When considering exercise, building muscle is crucial for longevity 1:27:37 — The prescription drug rapamycin is not FDA-approved for longevity 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/OPH5Nb2a69o Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Matt Kaeberlein, PhD: https://www.optispan.life/matt-kaeberlein Connect with Matt Kaeberlein, PhD, on X: https://x.com/mkaeberlein

Your thyroid test results explained: The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that affects many facets of health. When it doesn’t function optimally, symptoms can ensue. That’s where testing comes in, but the results can be tricky to interpret (and treat if necessary) without a knowledgeable clinician. Dr. Angela Mazza and Mike Haney discuss thyroid function, thyroid hormone and related tests and what they mean, treatment for thyroid conditions, the benefits of an integrative approach to thyroid care, and more. Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Angela Mazza, DO, & Mike Haney discuss: 2:44 — What is endocrinology? 4:31 — What does the thyroid do? 6:33 — Understanding hyperthyroidism 10:08 — The “triangle” of autoimmune disease 13:56 — Understanding hypothyroidism 16:29 — Thyroid-stimulating hormone 21:43 — Considering reverse T3 27:11 — Thyroid ultrasound 37:32 – The importance of individualized thyroid replacement therapy 40:53 — The thyroid gland and perimenopause 42:49 — Misinformation about the thyroid 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/HRNKRniVALk Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Angela Mazza, DO: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/ Metabolic Center for Wellness: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/ “Thyroid Talk: An Integrative Guide to Optimal Thyroid Health”: https://www.amazon.com/Thyroid-Talk-Integrative-Optimal-Health/ Thyroid Talk community and training: https://www.thrivethyroid.com/ Thyroid Talk podcast: https://www.metaboliccenterforwellness.com/copy-of-protocols-1 Connect with Angela Mazza, DO, on Instagram: https:// https://www.instagram.com/metaboliccenterforwellness/

Greater accessibility to glucose biosensors has led to their use to improve metabolic health, prevent disease, and feel better. Historically, these biosensors for monitoring glucose were only available with a prescription, often reserved for people with diabetes, but now with brands like Stelo, they are available over the counter. Dom D’Agostino, PhD, and Ben Grynol discuss how biosensors can be a tool for anyone to improve overall health, reduce risk for chronic diseases, manage women’s health including menstrual cycles and the menopause transition, help with fueling strategies for workouts and performance, prevent energy crashes, and more. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Dom D’Agostino, PhD, & Ben Grynol discuss: 11:49 — Using technology to reduce your risk for health issues 14:13 — Metabolic health is a spectrum, and many people don’t know where they stand 25:25 — The importance of focusing on trends in your metabolic health 30:05 — Glucose spikes from workouts are normal and a good sign 34:13 — Glucose is one of the key biomarkers to track for longevity 41:34 — Understanding what a glucose biosensor is 56:17 — All calories are not created equal 1:01:25 — Using a glucose biosensor for exercise fueling strategies 1:04:00 — Using a glucose biosensor to monitor women’s health changes 1:23:11 — The rate of glucose absorption matters for metabolic health and how you feel 1:31:06 — Making healthy food the default, rather than ultra-processed foods 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/mrlnNhxKNgY Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Dominic D’Agostino, PhD: https://drdominicdagostino.com/ Dominic D’Agostino, PhD, on X: https://x.com/DominicDAgosti2

Our kidneys filter out waste while retaining substances the body needs, such as electrolytes. Kidney health, which can be assessed with blood and urine biomarker tests, is paramount to overall health. Yet lifestyle, such as the Western diet and other factors, can damage the kidneys, leading to either a slow progression of issues or acute injury. Dr. Rick Johnson and Mike Haney discuss the role of the kidneys, what lifestyle factors affect kidney health, ways to support the kidneys, and what your biomarker results tell you about the function of these crucial organs. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Rick Johnson, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: 4:26 — Your kidneys are great regulators 8:43 — Heat stress affects the kidneys 12:04 — The most common causes of kidney disease include diabetes and high blood pressure 19:46 — The Western diet is associated with age-related kidney decline 32:25 — The concerns of a high-protein diet in the presence of chronic kidney disease 41:15 — Changes in urinary habits or color could indicate chronic kidney disease 46:23 — Biomarkers can help assess kidney function 53:18 — Serum creatinine as a biomarker of kidney health 1:08:13 — Assessing patterns over time is crucial 1:10:52 — High albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney disease 1:21:26 — Lifestyle changes that support kidney health 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/8_QSuYwo5wg Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Richard Johnson, MD: https://drrichardjohnson.com Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology: https://drrichardjohnson.com/books/ Connect with Richard Johnson, MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardjjohnson/

Your gut microbiome affects everything from your mental health and cognitive function to your immune system and metabolic health. Gut health symptoms, such as bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, could be a sign that you have low species diversity. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Mike Haney discuss how the gut and brain communicate, how the gut microbiome affects the gut barrier and therefore your immune system, what to eat to improve the gut microbiome, and what microbiome testing can tell you. Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl 🎙 What Will Bulsiewicz, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: 9:14 — Gut health takes time to improve 14:49 — Your gut microbiome informs your gut and overall health 18:42 — Lifestyle choices help shape an individual’s gut microbiome 24:20 — A compromised gut barrier affects the immune system 30:51 — Nutritional strategies can improve the gut microbiome and reduce disease flares 32:46 — The gut and the brain communicate 52:27 — A diverse gut microbiome is a sign of good health 56:45 — Your gut microbiome informs your bowel movements 1:01:46 — When to see a doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms 1:05:32 — Increasing fiber helps the gut microbiome 1:11:41 — The beneficial byproducts of gut microbes are postbiotics 1:14:59 — Eat a wide variety of plant foods to get optimal fiber 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/iAHOycufGn8 Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1 Will Bulsieweicz, MD, https://theplantfedgut.com/about/ Fiber Fueled: https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Fueled-Plant-Based-Optimizing-Microbiome/dp/059308456X The Plant Fed Gut: https://theplantfedgut.com/ Connect with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthmd/?hl=en

The pancreas is a complex organ, but some key biomarkers can assess its health. The pancreas is both an exocrine organ (meaning it produces enzymes) and an exocrine organ (meaning it secretes hormones). It’s a key component of your metabolic health and therefore your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss key pancreatic blood work to get checked, the differences between diabetes types and what causes them, what insulin resistance is, how to restore mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle changes, and more. Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠⁠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: (01:33) — The pancreas is a complex organ (13:20) — Three emergency mechanisms to prevent low blood sugar (18:28) — Why insulin is a crucial biomarker (19:57) — Understanding type 1 diabetes (27:11) — Understanding type 2 diabetes (30:03) — What mitochondrial dysfunction does to the pancreas (31:45) — The links between Alzheimer’s disease and type diabetes (33:07) — Obesity is about mitochondrial dysfunction (36:14) — Testing proinsulin and C-peptide (40:24) — Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction and type 2 diabetes (44:03) — Testing key pancreatic enzymes ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/5RnEdiTRYfI?si=GXeqvaXtyDLaXjUH Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Lab testing for female reproductive hormones offers insight into menstrual cycle irregularities, fertility concerns, and understanding where you are on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause trajectory. Dr. Natalie Crawford and Mike Haney discuss how the brain and ovaries communicate during the different phases of the menstrual cycle, when to test female hormones, how oral contraception affects hormone levels, and how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office. Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠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 Natalie Crawford, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (08:03) — Women’s reproductive health concerns sometimes get dismissed (09:08) — The intersection of fertility and functional medicine (14:17) — The reason to check anti-Mullerian hormone (24:19) — The brain communicates with the ovaries (26:17) — Inflammation can disrupt the menstrual cycle (30:44) — Data from biomarker testing can be motivating (32:05) — When to do baseline testing for female hormones (37:47) — Menstrual cycle history and the big picture are important (40:12) — Menstrual cycle irregularities should be investigated (42:55) — The role of hormonal birth control and how it affects hormone levels (55:14) — The importance of fiber for hormonal support (59:44) — The importance of eating whole foods and avoiding toxins ⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/Xeq4TxRJ5Yk Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Proper nutrition supports healthy aging and longevity—that much is clear. But nutritional advice online can be confusing, so what does the science say about healthy eating? It’s less about your macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—and more about your micronutrients, which are vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Mike Haney discuss micronutrient testing, supplements, plant-based diets, and what to eat to stave of disease, reverse disease processes, and live a longer, healthier life. 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 Joel Fuhrman, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (06:59) — Using food as medicine (15:00) —Gaining a better understanding of how to use nutrition for longevity (18:45) — Why we must look at nutrition science comprehensively (23:26) — The benefits of a plant-based diet (25:56) — The importance of micronutrients (32:31) — The role of healthy fats (37:44) — Micronutrient testing can help guide decisions about diet and any needed supplements (40:33) — Vitamin D from sunshine takes time to penetrate (43:18) — Focus on the GBOMBS to up your micronutrient intake and support longevity (57:41) — Finding a doctor who is certified in lifestyle medicine (59:06) — Changing your health through diet takes time ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/jWk55UxvX34⁠ Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Levels offers biomarker testing to give you more insight into your health status so you can understand the root causes of your symptoms, take a preventive approach to disease, and see if your lifestyle changes or other interventions are reducing your risk factors and improving your health. Dr. Anjali Dsouza and Mike Haney discuss why biomarker testing can be beneficial, how to understand your levels, factors that affect your levels, and which biomarkers are no-brainers to get tested. 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 Anjali Dsouza, MD, & Mike Haney discuss: (02:21) — Conventional medicine does not allow for enough time with patients (09:05) — Why test biomarkers beyond the basics? (12:10) — Lifestyle factors are about consistency, not perfection (16:48) — Biomarkers should be analyzed with additional context (24:24) — A normal biomarker range isn’t always optimal (28:06) — AI tools and internet searches generally don’t provide nuanced health information (32:01) — Potential reasons people get biomarker testing beyond the basics (33:45) — When is repeat testing important? (36: 52) — Biomarker testing and understanding is complex, especially in preventive health (37:53) — Some biomarkers respond swiftly to lifestyle changes (38:47) — The importance of fasted insulin as a biomarker ⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠ 🔗 Helpful links: Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/lN6TNn6jpTg⁠⁠ 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: (00:00) — Intro (04:28) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake (11:59) — Why is tracking macros beneficial? (15:53) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body (33:22) — The different functions of macros (41:48) — Is excess protein a concern? (47:20) — The problem with excess carbohydrates (52:49) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility (54:50) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates (1:09:04) — Is fiber a macronutrient? (1:37:25) — Macros tracking in the Levels app (1:41:18) — 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