88. Ben Azadi: The $4.6 Trillion Healthcare Crisis and How to Reverse Metabolic Disease in 30 Days
93% of Americans are metabolically unhealthy and don't even know it. In this episode of EXTEND, I sit down with Ben Azadi, metabolic health expert and New York Times bestselling author who transformed his life by losing 80 pounds after facing obesity, depression, and pre-diabetes at just 23 years old. We explore how one out of every four healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes and why your doctor probably isn't checking the one biomarker that could predict metabolic issues. We also dive into practical strategies for breaking free from the sugar-burning trap. Ben Azadi is a metabolic health coach, New York Times bestselling author of "Metabolic Freedom," and founder of the Keto Kamp podcast. After overcoming obesity and depression through lifestyle changes 17 years ago, he has dedicated his life to helping others achieve metabolic flexibility through ancient healing strategies like ketosis and fasting, combined with modern science. We Also Discuss: Why Fasting Insulin Is the Most Important Test Your Doctor Isn't Ordering The Whitehall 2 Study: 6-14 Years of Hidden Insulin Resistance "Mentally Obese": Understanding Depression's Connection to Food Why There Are No "Essential Carbohydrates" in Medical Textbooks Continuous Glucose Monitors: The Accountability Tool That Changes Everything The 44.4 Pound Weight Loss in 30 Days Case Study Metabolic Confusion: Why Diet Variation Beats Diet Dogma The Simple Swap from Sugar Burning to Fat Burning Single Ingredient Foods: The Beginner's Best Strategy Thank You for 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. Function Health: Learn more and join using functionhealth.com/drshah. The first 1000 get a $100 credit toward their membership. Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/drshah or use gift code DRSHAH100 at sign-up to own your health.  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 Ben Azadi: Website: https://benazadi.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebenazadi/ Â
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87. Layne Kilpatrick: The Shocking Truth About Microplastics Destroying Young Men's Hormones
What if I told you that an 18-year-old athlete had a testosterone level of 26 - when it should be near 1,000? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Layne Kilpatrick, a pharmacist with over 30 years of experience who has been sounding the alarm about environmental toxins for years. We dive into the alarming decline in testosterone levels, how microplastics are literally everywhere, and why young, healthy men are showing up with fertility issues that would have been unthinkable decades ago. We also share actionable solutions to protect ourselves and our families. Layne Kilpatrick is a pharmacist and the driving force behind Hormone Specialist. He specializes in breaking down the science of hormones and everyday toxins, empowering both men and women to understand the root causes of hormone imbalances and take actionable steps to restore their vitality in a world filled with endocrine disruptors. We Also Discuss: Why Testosterone Levels Have Dropped 50% in 50 Years The 18-Year-Old Athlete with a Testosterone Level of 26 Microplastics vs. Nanoplastics: Size Matters for Toxicity The Paint on Glass Bottle Lids That's Contaminating Your Water PFAS: The "Forever Chemicals" Found in 100% of Breast Milk Samples The $200 Desktop Solution That Filters Microplastics HEPA Filtration: Why You Need Carbon Filters Too BPA-Free Doesn't Mean Safe: The Regrettable Substitution Problem Paper Cups and Straws: The Hidden Plastic Linings The Four-Step Action Plan to Protect Your Family Today Resources: Persistent Inert Substances Comparison: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_kDzJzqFQN9m59IxfCtJKgc-n4qAlxgn/edit  Thank You for 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 Layne Kilpatrick: Website: https://www.hormonespecialist.net/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/hormonespecialist/ Â
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86. Tracey Stroup, ND: Why the Ozempic Craze Almost Ruined Peptide Therapy (And How Functional Medicine Got It Right)
Did you know that functional practitioners have been using GLP-1 peptides safely for years—long before the Ozempic phenomenon hit mainstream medicine? In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Tracey Stroup, a naturopathic doctor and peptide therapy expert, who reveals how the pharmaceutical industry's approach to semaglutide created unnecessary controversy. We dive into what peptides actually are, why your body might be deficient, and how the "dose everyone to the max and leave them there forever" approach completely missed the mark. We also discuss the functional medicine approach to peptide therapy, including proper dosing, cycling protocols, and why you need comprehensive support—not just a prescription. Tracey Stroup, ND is a naturopathic doctor with over 27 years in health and wellness. She's been using peptide therapy in her practice for 5 years and is passionate about educating both practitioners and patients on the proper use of these powerful therapeutic tools. We Also Discuss: What Peptides Really Are: Natural Biological Signals, Not Synthetic Drugs Why the Ozempic Craze Created Unnecessary Peptide Controversy The Functional Medicine Approach vs. Pharmaceutical Protocols How to Use GLP-1s Properly: Dosing, Cycling, and Off-boarding Why Most People Are Peptide Deficient (And Don't Know It) BPC-157: The "Wolverine Peptide" for Gut Health and Injury Recovery Growth Hormone Peptides: CJC, Ipamorelin, and Natural Hormone Balance Injectable vs. Oral Peptides: When and Why Each Route Matters Why DIY Peptide Therapy Can Backfire (And What to Do Instead) The Insulin Connection: Why Peptide Therapy Isn't Actually New 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 Tracey Stroup, ND: Website: https://courses.traceystroupnd.com/ftn-home Podcast: https://eatprayfaithwithtraceystroupnd.buzzsprout.com/ Instagram: traceystroup_eatprayfaith
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85. Cynthia Thurlow: What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You About Menopause and Metabolic Health
What if the symptoms you've been told to "just deal with" during perimenopause could actually be addressed? In this episode of Extend, I sit down with Cynthia Thurlow, a nurse practitioner who left traditional cardiology to focus on women's health and metabolic medicine. We explore why the medical system has failed women during menopause, the critical biomarkers your doctor probably isn't checking, and how the misinterpretation of one major study has left generations of women suffering unnecessarily. We also discuss why LDL cholesterol might not be the villain it's made out to be and how hormone replacement therapy could be one of the most important interventions for long-term health. Cynthia Thurlow is a nurse practitioner and intermittent fasting expert. She's the author of "Intermittent Fasting Transformation" and hosts the "Everyday Wellness" podcast. She specializes in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause through lifestyle medicine and bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. We Also Discuss: The Women's Health Initiative Disaster: How One Study Damaged Generations of Women Why Your "Normal" Fasting Glucose of 95 Means You're Already in Trouble ApoB and Lp(a): The Heart Disease Markers Your Doctor Isn't Checking Dutch Testing vs. Blood Work: Which Hormone Tests Actually Matter The $100 Calcium Score That Should Be Routine After 40 Why 60-Year-Olds CAN Start Hormone Replacement Therapy GLP-1 Medications: Beyond Weight Loss to Metabolic Healing The Intermittent Fasting Mistakes That Wreck Women's Hormones Pellet Therapy vs. Patches: The Hormone Delivery Debate Why Statins Are the Most Over-Prescribed Drugs in History Dysautonomia and HRV: The Nervous System Signals You're Missing The Gut-Menopause Connection No One Talks About 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 Cynthia Thurlow: Website: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/ Podcast: https://www.cynthiathurlow.com/podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthia_thurlow_/ Â
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84. Dr. Nick Norwitz: Why 'Evidence-Based' Medicine Fails Most People (And What to Do Instead)
The top 10 grossing drugs only help 1 in 4 to 1 in 25 people who take them. Yet they're still considered "evidence-based" and prescribed to millions. In this episode of Extend, I talk with Dr. Nick Norwitz, who reveals why you can't rely on population averages to fix your individual health problems. We explore why the medical system isn't designed to figure out what makes you unique, why "calories in, calories out" fails as a biological model, and how to become your own health scientist using the N=1 approach. We also discuss practical strategies for experimenting with your own biology, from testing ketogenic approaches to understanding why your results might be completely different from everyone else's. Dr. Nick Norwitz is a Harvard-trained MD/PhD who transformed his own health using metabolic interventions after conventional medicine failed him. He's known for his extreme self-experiments and scientific approach to personalized health optimization. We Also Discuss: Why Most "Evidence-Based" Treatments Don't Work for You The N=1 Approach: Becoming Your Own Health Scientist Why Population Averages Can't Predict Individual Results The Calorie Counting Myth That's Keeping You Stuck Ketogenic Diets: When They Work (And When They Don't) How to Design Your Own Health Experiments Why Bio-Individuality Trumps One-Size-Fits-All Solutions Escaping the "Normal" Trap in Modern Medicine  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. Nick Norwitz: Website:https://www.nicknorwitz.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicknorwitzMDPhD/featured Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicknorwitz/ Â
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