Extend Podcast with Darshan Shah, MD

• 119. Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen: How To Lose Weight On GLP-1s Without Losing Muscle

  Most people still think GLP-1s are "weight loss shots," but what we are really doing is changing biology at the level of appetite and inflammation, with ripple effects across future generations. In this conversation, I sit down with endocrinologist and obesity specialist Dr. Rocio Salas Whalen to unpack what these medications do inside the body and how to use them responsibly as part of a long-term health strategy. We get into why "eat less, exercise more" failed so many patients, how family history, hormones, and aging drive obesity, and why GLP-1s must be paired with protein and strength training. We also explore GLP-1's impact on visceral fat, diabetes, brain health, what healthy weight loss looks like on a body composition scan, and how to avoid sarcopenia and the so-called "Ozempic face." Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen is a board-certified endocrinologist and obesity-medicine specialist, author of Weightless, and an early adopter of GLP-1 therapies. Her so-called "GPS framework", GLP-1, protein, and strength training, reflects her approach to evidence-based obesity care. What's Discussed: (00:00) GLP-1s and Weight Loss (12:45) The Impact of GLP-1 Hormone (25:29) Muscle Mass and GLP-1 Importance (31:46) Optimizing Protein Intake on GLP-1 (43:24) GLP-1 Dosing and Gut Health (48:20) Mental Health Implications of Weight Loss (57:16) Weightless Book Pre-Order Announcement   Thank You for Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Function Health: Own your health for $365 a year. That's a dollar a day. Learn more and join using my link. Visit www.functionhealth.com/drshah  and use gift code DRSHAH25 for a $25 credit toward your membership.   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. Rocio Salas Whalen: Website: https://www.nyendocrinology.com/dr-salas-whalen IG: https://www.instagram.com/drsalaswhalen/ Threads: https://www.threads.com/@drsalaswhalen Book: Pre-order Here!       

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• 118. Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum: A New Roadmap to Female Heart Health

  Most people think heart disease is obvious and predictable, yet women often present with completely different warning signs that traditional testing fails to catch. We now have the tools to identify risk decades earlier and reverse disease before it becomes dangerous. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, cardiologist and leading voice in women's cardiovascular prevention, to uncover why standard testing misses female heart disease, how microvascular dysfunction develops long before blockages appear, and why expanded markers like ApoB and HSCRP should replace outdated cholesterol panels. We break down the role of CLEERLY scans, the power of CPET for detecting endothelial dysfunction, and the exact metabolic shifts that happen during perimenopause and menopause. We also explore how zone two training restores endothelial health, why soft plaque is more dangerous than calcified plaque, and how personalized exercise prescriptions can reverse early disease at any age. Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum is a pioneering preventive cardiologist, founder of the ADESSO model for women's heart health, and a national leader in microvascular research whose work is redefining how we diagnose, prevent, and reverse cardiovascular disease in women.   What's Discussed: (04:15) Why women experience heart disease through microvascular dysfunction rather than classic blockages (07:50) How outdated cholesterol panels miss early cardiovascular risk in women (12:40) Why ApoB, HSCRP, and metabolic markers reveal the real drivers of plaque (17:05) How CLEERLY scans detect dangerous soft plaque that calcium scores miss (22:30) Why standard angiograms often look normal in women despite real disease (27:55) How CPET testing uncovers endothelial dysfunction and identifies true zone two (33:20) How zone two exercise restores arterial flexibility and reverses early disease (39:45) Why perimenopause, stress, sleep, and pregnancy history raise cardiovascular risk and demand personalized prevention Thank You for Our Sponsors: Timeline: 20% off your order. Go to timeline.com/drshah. That's timeline.com/drshah.    Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram:@darshanshahmd   Learn more about Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum: Website : drsuzannesteinbaum.com  Instagram: @drsteinbaum  X: @Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum  Linkedin: Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum  

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• 117. Dr. Steven Gundry: The Microbiome War Shaping Your Mind

  Most people think about the gut as a digestive system, yet emerging research shows it functions more like a command center shaping immunity, metabolism, mood, and even coronary artery calcification. The surprising twist is that your gut may be influencing your brain more than your brain influences your gut. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Steven Gundry, cardiac surgeon and world leading expert on the microbiome, to uncover how gut bacteria communicate with your mitochondria and brain, why leaky gut silently drives inflammation throughout the entire body, and how keystone species like Akkermansia help rebuild the gut barrier. We break down the role of vitamin D in activating gut stem cells, the impact of glyphosate on serotonin producing bacteria, and why pasteurized or even dead bacteria can modulate the ecosystem just as powerfully as live strains. We also explore how gut derived signals from short chain fatty acids, gasotransmitters, and microbial messenger RNA shape mood, cognition, vascular health, and long term aging trajectories. Dr. Steven Gundry is a renowned heart surgeon, bestselling author, and pioneering researcher in microbiome science whose work has transformed our understanding of gut driven inflammation, autoimmune disease, and the gut brain axis. What's Discussed: (04:10) Why the gut acts as the body's first brain (07:45) How good and bad microbes compete for control of your cravings and mood (12:30) Why Akkermansia and other keystone species determine gut wall integrity (16:55) How dead and pasteurized bacteria still shape the microbiome (21:20) The link between leaky gut, coronary calcification, and systemic inflammation (27:40) How vitamin D activates gut stem cells to repair the intestinal barrier (32:15) How microbial gasotransmitters, short chain fatty acids, and mRNA communicate with the brain (38:50) Why glyphosate disrupts serotonin producing bacteria and impacts mental health Thank You for Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/   Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram:@darshanshahmd   Learn more about Dr.Steven Gundry: Website : gundrymd.com  Instagram: drstevengundry  Threads: Dr. Steven Gundry  X: Steven Gundry MD  Linkedin: Steven Gundry   

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• 116. Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson: The New Essential Fatty Acid

  Most people hear "saturated fat" and think of something harmful, yet emerging research reveals that one specific fatty acid supports stronger cell membranes, healthier metabolic function, and better long-term resilience. C15 plays a unique role in the biology of aging and may help explain why certain populations experience longer, healthier lives. In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson, veterinary epidemiologist and co-founder of Fatty15, to uncover how Navy dolphin research led to the discovery of C15 as the first essential fatty acid identified in nearly a century. We unpack why odd chain fats behave differently than traditional dietary fats, how C15 stabilizes cellular aging pathways, and why declining levels in the modern diet may be contributing to metabolic and cognitive decline. We also explore how C15's effects on ferroptosis, inflammation, liver markers, and mitochondrial efficiency offer a new way to support healthspan at the cellular level. Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson is a leading veterinary epidemiologist whose groundbreaking research on marine mammals revealed the essential role of C15 in aging, metabolism, and cellular integrity, ultimately leading to the development of the concentrated and clinically studied Fatty15 formulation. What's Discussed: (07:20) How Navy dolphin research led to the discovery of C15 (11:45) Why C15 functions differently from traditional saturated fats (15:10) The link between C15, cell membrane stability, and aging (19:40) How declining C15 levels influence metabolic and inflammatory markers (24:00) The science of ferroptosis and why it accelerates aging (28:30) How C15 interacts with AMPK, PPAR, mTOR, and mitochondrial pathways (33:10) The challenge of getting enough C15 through modern diets (38:25) How Fatty15 provides a bioavailable source of this essential fatty acid Thank You for Our Sponsors: Nexthealth: NextHealth: Your destination for cutting-edge health optimization—from IV therapy to hormone balancing. Explore at https://www.next-health.com/  Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram:@darshanshahmd   Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Venn-Watson: Website : https://fatty15.com/   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatty15/  X: https://x.com/meetfatty15  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meetfatty15/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanievennwatson  

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• 115. Dr. Shivani Gupta: Heal Inflammation Through Ayurvedic Science

  Most of us think inflammation is something we can fix with supplements, lab tests, or the latest diet trend. But what if the real solution comes from ancient wisdom that modern science is finally catching up to? In this episode of Extend, we sit down with Dr. Shivani Gupta, Ayurvedic practitioner, author, and founder of Fusionary Formulas, to explore how Ayurveda bridges timeless principles with modern longevity science. We break down how your dosha or "elemental design" shapes digestion, energy, and stress, and why aligning your daily rhythm with your biology can lower inflammation and optimize performance. We also explore the science behind Ayurvedic rituals that calm inflammation from the inside out, from cooking with healing spices like turmeric and ginger to grounding, tongue scraping, and creating simple routines that support recovery and resilience. Dr. Shivani Gupta is an Ayurvedic expert and founder of Fusionary Formulas, a modern supplement line combining ancient herbal medicine with clinical research. Her upcoming book, The Inflammation Code, reveals how to decode inflammation through food, lifestyle, and ritual to live longer and stronger. What's Discussed: (06:15) The hidden link between chronic inflammation and modern lifestyle (10:40) How Ayurveda defines balance through the three doshas (14:20) Understanding your "elemental design" and what it means for digestion, stress, and sleep (18:45) Why syncing your habits with circadian rhythm lowers inflammation (23:10) The science behind turmeric, ginger, and other Ayurvedic anti-inflammatories (28:00) Rituals that regulate your nervous system and calm "mental inflammation" (33:25) How to integrate grounding, tongue scraping, and oil pulling into your daily routine (38:00) Ayurvedic detox principles for modern longevity (43:10) Common myths about Ayurveda and how to apply it practically (47:30) Dr. Gupta's top daily habits for inflammation-free living Thank You for Our Sponsors: IM8: Try IM8 today with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can get 10% off your first order with code DRSHAH at https://im8health.com/discount/DRSHAH. Vitaboom: For supplements you can trust and wellness solutions tailored to your health, visit https://vitaboom.com/ Learn more about Dr. Shah: Website: https://www.drshah.com/ Clinic: https://www.next-health.com/ Instagram:@darshanshahmd   Learn more about Dr. Shivani Gupta : Website : https://shivanigupta.com/ Instagram: dr.shivanigupta   Linkedin: Dr. Shivani Gupta

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