82. Dr. Amy Shah: The Real Reason Women Lose Strength in Perimenopause (And How to Get It Back)
Why can't you open that jar anymore? Why does getting up from a chair feel harder than it used to? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Amy Shah to explore the strength crisis happening to women in perimenopause. We dive into the simple tests that reveal where you're losing ground—and why most women are shocked by their results. We also share the exercise formula that actually works for perimenopausal women, honing in on the key fact that it has to be movement you enjoy, because sustainability beats intensity every time. Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified physician specializing in allergy/immunology and internal medicine, and author of I'm So Effing Tired. She's a leading voice in women's health, focusing on the intersection of hormones, gut health, and metabolism. We Also Discuss: The Grip Strength Test That Predicts Your Longevity (Most Women Fail) The Sit-to-Stand Test: Your Lower Body Strength Report Card Exercise Snacks: Why 10 Squats Every Hour Beats a 30-Minute Walk The Weighted Vest Mistake That's Wasting Your Time Why Jumping on a Trampoline Builds Stronger Bones Than Running Intermittent Fasting for Women: Why Daily Fasting Backfires Thank You To Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ Learn more about Dr. Amy Shah: Website:https://amymdwellness.com/ Book: I’m So Effing TiredX: https://x.com/amyshahmd
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81. Dr. Zain Kassam: How Your Gut Bacteria Control Your Brain, Weight, and Longevity
What if I told you there's an organ in your body with more cells than the Milky Way has stars—and most doctors barely think about it? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Zain Kassam, a gastroenterologist turned microbiome researcher who's pioneering how we understand the trillions of organisms living in and on us. We dive into why your gut bacteria aren't just bystanders—they're actively producing molecules that affect your mood, metabolism, immune system, and even longevity. We also explore the gut-brain connection, why not all probiotics are created equal, and how the microbiome influences everything from depression to skin health. Dr. Zain Kassam is a gastroenterologist, microbiome researcher, and Chief Medical Officer at Seed Health. He trained at McMaster University, Harvard, and MIT, where he pioneered clinical applications of microbiome science. He's led groundbreaking research on fecal transplants and develops evidence-based probiotic therapies. We Also Discuss: The Microbiome Revolution: From Forgotten to Life-Saving Why Your Gut Has More Cells Than the Milky Way Has Stars How Gut Bacteria Control Your Brain and Mood The Butyrate Connection: Your Microbiome's Master Molecule Why Most Probiotics Are Marketing Hype (And How to Choose Better) The 4D Framework: Diversity, Delivery, Do-Gooders, and Data Microbiome Testing: Crystal Ball or Expensive Guesswork? From C. Diff to Cancer: When Gut Health Becomes Life or Death The GLP-1 Secret: How Your Gut Makes Its Own Ozempic Post-Antibiotic Recovery: Rebuilding After the Nuclear Bomb Thank You for Our Sponsors: Pendulum: Use code DARSHAN or use the link https://pendulumlife.com/discount/DARSHAN to get 20% off IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ Learn more about Dr. Zain Kassam: X: https://x.com/DrZainSays/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seed/ Get 25% off DS-01 with code EXTEND25 at Seed.com
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80. Dr. Nayan Patel: Your Cells Are Drowning (And One Molecule Can Save Them)
Oxidative stress. Toxin overload. Immune dysfunction. These aren't separate problems—they're all symptoms of your body working overtime on one exhausting job. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Nayan Patel, a pharmacist who's dedicated his career to understanding glutathione—the molecule your body produces more than any other. We break down the three proven ways glutathione protects you, why IV and oral supplements have been failing for decades, and the gene mutations that leave 20% of people unable to benefit from traditional glutathione therapy. Most importantly, we discuss the stable glutathione breakthrough that's helping doctors reverse decades of brain fog in minutes. Nayan Patel, Pharm.D, is a pioneering pharmacist and researcher who discovered the first stable form of glutathione in 2007. His 25-year journey to unlock this master antioxidant has led to revolutionary insights about aging, detoxification, and immune function. We Also Discuss: Why Your Body's #1 Job Is Slowly Killing You (And How to Take It Over) The 100+ Daily Toxins Your Liver Must Process (You Can't Avoid Them) Glutathione's Triple Threat: Antioxidant, Detox, and Immune Power Why IV Glutathione Fails: The Shocking Truth About What Really Happens The Gene Factor: 20% of People Can't Use Traditional Glutathione (Are You One?) From Brain Fog to Clarity: Why Some See Results in 5 Minutes Thank You To Our Sponsors: Timeline: Upgrade your energy from within! MitoPure by Timeline helps power up your cells, supporting muscle strength, mental clarity, and overall vitality. Stay active, sharp, and strong at any age! Claim 10% off your first order now at timeline.com/DrShah IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ Learn more about Nayan Patel, Pharm.D: Website:https://aurowellness.com/ Instagram: @aurowellness Book: https://aurowellness.com/glutathione-revolution/
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79. Dr. Scott Sherr: Hyperbaric Therapy: This is How Pressure + Oxygen Unlock Healing
Low energy, brain fog, and poor recovery aren’t just part of getting older—they’re often signs that your cells are underperforming. And one major reason? They’re starved for oxygen. In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Scott Sherr, a hyperbaric medicine specialist who helps patients and doctors worldwide use oxygen therapy to restore cellular health. We get into what hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) actually does—not just more oxygen, but how it shifts gene expression, activates stem cells, and supports mitochondrial repair. We also discuss who shouldn’t jump into HBOT too soon, and why testing antioxidant capacity and metabolic function is essential before starting. This isn’t a quick fix—it’s a targeted tool that works when your system is ready. If you’re dealing with lingering symptoms or want to stay sharp and resilient long-term, this episode gives you a clear understanding of how HBOT fits into a true healthspan strategy. Dr. Scott Sherr is a board-certified internist and global expert in hyperbaric oxygen therapy, with over 20 years of clinical experience. He helps patients and physicians use HBOT to improve recovery, brain health, and long-term cellular function. We Also Discuss: The Real Goal: Longevity and Feeling Amazing Why Most Longevity Advice Misses the Mark Oxygen as Medicine? Inside Hyperbaric Therapy What Actually Happens in a Hyperbaric Chamber Can Oxygen Reverse Inflammation and Fatigue? Using Hyperbaric for Energy, Focus, and Recovery Thank You to Our Sponsor: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 20% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ Learn more about Dr. Scott Sherr: Website: https://www.hyperbaricmedicalsolutions.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drscottsherr/
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78. Dr. Bill Rawls: Chronic Infections Don’t Go Away—They Go Quiet (Here's How to Reverse Them)
Fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, blood pressure that won’t budge, these aren’t isolated symptoms. They’re your cells signaling that something’s off. In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Dr. Bill Rawls, a board-certified OB/GYN who now focuses entirely on cellular health. We explore why most chronic illness isn’t about your diagnosis, it’s about what’s happening inside your cells. We share the five things every cell needs to function, and what happens when they don’t get them. We also dig into stealth infections like Lyme and Epstein-Barr, and how they stay dormant for years until your body breaks down. Most importantly, we talk solutions: why herbs work when antibiotics don’t, how to support your immune system without overstimulating it, and what real healing looks like. Dr. Bill Rawls is a board-certified physician and author of The Cellular Wellness Solution. His personal health crisis with chronic Lyme led him to develop Restore180, a protocol that’s helped thousands recover from chronic illness by restoring cellular function. We Also Discuss: Why Chronic Illness Keeps Coming Back (And What We’re Getting Wrong) The 5 Things Every Cell Needs to Heal (You’re Missing at Least One) Lyme, EBV, Mold: How Hidden Infections Hijack Your Cells Sick Cells, Silent Symptoms: The Real Root of Chronic Disease Herbs vs. Antibiotics: Why One Heals and the Other Harms Thank You To Our Sponsors: Timeline: Upgrade your energy from within! MitoPure by Timeline helps power up your cells, supporting muscle strength, mental clarity, and overall vitality. Stay active, sharp, and strong at any age! Claim 10% off your first order now at timeline.com/DrShah Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darshanshahmd/ Learn more about Dr. Bill Rawls: Website: https://rawlsmd.com/ Program: restore180.comInstagram: @rawlsmd
Extend with Darshan Shah, MD is a podcast dedicated to cutting-edge science, research, tools, and protocols designed to help you extend your healthspan.
Starting my medical journey at 16 and becoming one of the youngest doctors in the country, studying and training at the Mayo Clinic, Harvard Business School, Singularity University and other prestigious institutions, becoming a board certified surgeon and accumulating over two decades of practice, I have discovered that a mere 20% of health knowledge yields 80% of the results.
That's why this podcast is all about cutting through the noise on how to turn back the aging clock.
I interview world-renowned medical practitioners, doctors, experts, and thought leaders, offering you a step-by-step guide and actionable advice to proactively avoid disease and optimize your health.
Plus, I share weekly solo episodes giving you quick, digestible protocols for successfully extending your healthspan.
New Zealand