Intelligent Medicine

Low prenatal red meat intake tied to kids' substance misuse; Gum disease tied to yet another deadly illness.

Dr. William Davis, author of the #1 Best-Seller "Wheat Belly," describes the rationale for his grain-free program. It’s not just about weight-loss--adherents report increased energy, focus and mood, relief of migraines, reversal of diabetes, cessation of GI symptoms like GERD and IBS, improvements in autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and MS, and dramatic turn-arounds of adverse lipid profiles. What’s so bad about wheat? What’s the rationale for going altogether grain-free? What’s the problem with gluten-free foods? Can you have an occasional bagel or muffin? How to cope with the withdrawal symptoms some people experience with the Wheat Belly regimen? Are sweeteners allowed? Can you have some beans and fruit? How does the Wheat Belly diet compare to comparable programs like the Wahl’s Diet, the Paleo Diet, or the Perfect 30? Dr. Davis shares the many resources available for those who want to try Wheat Belly.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Dr. William Davis, author of the #1 Best-Seller "Wheat Belly."

Which should I take for blood pressure, SuperBeets or Neo40? I’m getting diarrhea from my magnesium supplement, what can I do about it? What do you think of taking Fosteum for osteopenia? Are there supplements to avoid while taking Coumadin? What can my son do about his low platelet count and low testosterone? How can I make sure I’m not overdoing it on my supplement intake?

My wife has prediabetes, what can she take to help normalize her blood sugar? What can I take for borderline glaucoma?

The holidays will soon be in the rear-view window, winter is in full-swing, and now is when we seem most vulnerable to colds, flus, bronchitis and sinusitis. Thomas Guilliams, Ph.D., author of "Supporting Immune Function: A Lifestyle and Nutrition Approach," weighs in on lifestyle factors that influence immunity: sleep, stress, diet, and exercise. He also enumerates herbs, probiotics, vitamins and minerals that target the immune system--from Astragalus to zinc. What to take for a cold? Can too many "immune boosters" be harmful? Can nutrients boost the efficacy of vaccines?

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Thomas Guilliams, Ph.D., author of "Supporting Immune Function: A Lifestyle and Nutrition Approach."

Sugary sodas and junk food top the shopping list of food stamp recipients; Gary Taubes new book, "The Case Against Sugar," argues that sugar is the world’s most popular addictive drug; Seniors who spend more time sitting shrink their telomeres, shorten their lives; Do “weekend warriors” garner the same exercise benefits as consistent exercisers? How alcohol ramps up appetite signals; What are the benefits of essential oils? A caller asks: “Why do I break out in an itchy rash when I eat too many sweets?

Eating hot peppers associated with 13 percent reduction in death; Up to 3 eggs per day not only not harmful for heart health, may help reduce heart risk; Type I (insulin-dependent) diabetes may start in the gut; Which is worse, glucose or fructose? What to do for a 4 year old with chronic ear infections? Can prolonged workplace stress trigger cancer? Obamacare: Why "repeal and replace” alone won’t get to the heart of what’s wrong with our healthcare system; Depression is as dangerous as being fat, causing almost one in five heart deaths.

Leyla tackles this listener question: "I typically follow a Paleo/Whole 30 diet, and I recently became pregnant. Is this type of diet safe for my pregnancy?" Plus, vegetarianism linked to depression.

"The Craving Cure: Identify your Craving Type to Activate Your Natural Appetite Control," by Julia Ross. Why is it so hard for us to stick to healthy diets? The author of "The Mood Cure" has an action plan for implementing your 2018 weight loss resolution. Using a detailed questionnaire, you can determine which of 5 Craving Types is undermining your dietary adherence. Are you a depressed craver? Or do you use food to alleviate your anxiety? Are dips in blood sugar responsible? Or perhaps you use food to energize and stimulate yourself? Or maybe food is a source of emotional solace? What amino acid regimens correspond to each type? Why have dietary changes since 1970 turned us into a nation of cravers? How can meat and saturated fat alleviate cravings?

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Julia Ross, author of "The Craving Cure: Identify Your Craving Type to Activate Your Natural Appetite Control."

Nicotinamide Riboside shown to improve mitochondrial energy production and memory in Alzheimer's disease research. Great analysis of the canola oil/Alzheimer's study! Are there similar studies with other types of oil? A better version of vitamin B1 to help prevent Alzheimer's: Allithiamine.

Sometimes I find myself in a fit of sneezing after a meal, why does this happen? Is the sweetener Stevia a potential endocrine disruptor? A patient taking 1 tsp of D-mannose twice daily for UTI has had success avoiding infections but her HgbA1c went from 5.8 to 6.1. Is D-mannose caloric?

There’s an epidemic of chronic childhood diseases, ranging from asthma and allergies, obesity and diabetes, pediatric cancers, GI conditions, autoimmunity, and ADHD, autism, depression and bipolar disorder. Why the sudden uptick? Veteran integrative pediatrician Dr. Michelle Perro, co-author of "What's Making Our Children Sick?: How Industrial Food Is Causing an Epidemic of Chronic Illness, and What Parents (and Doctors) Can Do About It," says it’s largely due to industrialized food, which is highly refined, bereft of nutrients, chemicalized, and genetically modified. She explains how GMO foods undermine kids’ health. Many problems can be traced to alterations of the microbiome and leaky gut syndrome. She argues for “food-focused medicine.” Dr. Perro cites examples of how diet change can reverse devastating illnesses. She outlines which supplements she prefers for kids. Prevention starts with pre-natal nutrition and detoxification.