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In this Decoding Health hot-seat episode, Dr. Urban A. Kiernan breaks down the real “upstream” story behind type 2 diabetes—and why the most dangerous phase often happens long before your labs ever flag you as “diabetic.” He explains the progression from insulin resistance → so-called “pre-diabetes” → type 2 diabetes, why he considers the “pre-diabetes” label a false comfort zone, and how modern life factors like endocrine disruptors, chronic stress, diet, and low movement quietly stack the deck against metabolic health. The big takeaway: you can look fit and “pristine” on the outside and still be a metabolic nightmare internally—yes, even athletes can develop insulin resistance.

You’ll learn what insulin is actually doing at the cellular level, why your body compensates by pumping out more insulin over time, and how that compensation can mask problems until the “threshold” is crossed and things spiral into medication and downstream complications. Dr. Kiernan shares practical, proactive insight on what to look for before A1C and fasting glucose shift, including symptoms many people ignore—fatigue, intense cravings, “hangry” swings, creeping blood pressure, and telltale skin signs like dark patches and skin tags—and he suggests a simple conversation to have with your provider about adding a fasting insulin test to your routine labs. It’s a blunt, high-clarity reminder that real prevention starts with awareness—because you can’t fix what you refuse to measure.

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

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Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

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In this Decoding Health episode, Dr. Urban A. Kiernan sits down with returning guest Dr. Micah Olson (pediatric endocrinologist turned longevity physician and founder of Valley HealthSpan in Phoenix) to unpack what DEXA scans can actually reveal about true health—not just aesthetics. They break down how DEXA goes beyond bone density to deliver actionable body-composition metrics like lean mass, body fat percentage, and—most importantly—visceral adipose tissue, the internal fat linked to insulin resistance, inflammation, and long-term metabolic risk. The conversation also tackles why many clinicians are leaving traditional healthcare: restrictive payer models, short visit times, and a lack of autonomy—contrasted with the patient-centered approach of longevity medicine, hormone optimization, and evidence-informed protocols.

The core of the episode is a real-world before-and-after DEXA comparison: over ~15 months, Dr. Urban’s results show meaningful fat loss with minimal lean-mass loss—an outcome they contrast against published DEXA findings from GLP-1 weight-loss trials where lean tissue loss can be substantial. They also discuss how waist circumference acts as a practical surrogate marker for visceral fat, why BMI can mislead, and how genetics can produce “lean but metabolically unhealthy” profiles. Finally, the episode explores the role of data-driven behavior change using wearables like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), plus a candid discussion on post-meal glucose spikes, glycation, inflammation, and why tracking your metrics (without obsessing) can help you protect both lifespan and healthspan.

Dr. Micah Olson joins Dr. Urban to break down a real DEXA body composition scan and explain what the numbers actually mean for performance, health, and long-term outcomes. They walk through fat distribution (including “love handles” and subcutaneous fat) versus the higher-risk category—visceral fat—and why BMI can be wildly misleading, especially for people who look “fine” but are metabolically under-muscled (“skinny fat”). You’ll also hear practical context on aging and muscle loss, why muscle decline is not just an age story, and how training history (including a jujitsu background) can change the interpretation of scan results. This is a straight, useful guide to reading a DEXA report so you can make smart

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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In this episode of Decoding Health, Dr. Urban breaks down one of the most misunderstood—and most dangerous—topics in modern health: visceral fat. While most people focus on the fat they can see or pinch, Dr. Urban explains why peripheral fat is largely aesthetic, while visceral (also called ectopic) fat is metabolically toxic. This internal fat infiltrates organs like the liver, pancreas, and muscle tissue, impairing function at both the organ and cellular level. The discussion clarifies how visceral fat drives insulin resistance, metabolic dysfunction, and chronic disease long before outward symptoms appear—often without people realizing anything is wrong.

The episode explores how visceral fat is measured, why bathroom scales and visual assessments are misleading, and why DEXA scans remain the clinical gold standard for assessing internal fat burden. Dr. Urban explains the role genetics, ethnicity, and insulin resistance play in visceral fat storage, and why focusing solely on aesthetics can create a false sense of health. With over 90% of Americans now metabolically dysfunctional, this conversation reframes fat loss around organ protection, metabolic health, and longevity—not appearance. If you want real data, real science, and a clearer picture of what’s happening inside your body, this episode delivers essential insight.

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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In this episode of Decoding Health, Dr. Urban A. Kiernan sits down with Tony Drake—lifestyle transformation coach, former WWF wrestler, and the man who lost 130 pounds and dropped from ~40% body fat to ~6%—to unpack what actually drives sustainable fat loss and lasting metabolic health. Tony shares the pivotal mindset shift that forced “Big T” to die, how consistent training and nutrition rewired his identity, and how that transformation opened doors to wrestling with WWE/WWF and touring Japan—proving that real change starts when your daily habits match your purpose.

Together, they expose the modern “quick-fix” trap—fat burners, extreme calorie cuts, pill stacks, and influencer-driven shortcuts—and why reactive health (waiting for a scare like high blood pressure or a heart event) keeps people stuck in the cycle. Tony breaks down his coaching framework for busy professionals: purpose-first behavior change, weekly accountability, simple nutrition and movement fundamentals, and honest communication to defeat self-sabotage. If you’re tired of yo-yo dieting and want a practical roadmap to look great, feel great, live great, and give great, this conversation delivers the real playbook.

Coach Tony Drake is a certified fat loss and wellness expert who helps busy professionals over 30 drop weight, lose body fat, and take control of their health without extreme diets or hours in the gym. After losing over 130 pounds and reversing multiple health issues, Tony turned his transformation into a mission: helping others build sustainable habits, master their mindset, and finally stop starting over.

Through his coaching program “Look Great Feel Great,” he provides customized nutrition plans, simple fitness routines (home or gym), and accountability systems designed to fit into the busiest lives. 

Tony has been featured on stages, podcasts, and wellness events for his real-talk coaching style and life-changing results.

https://www.youtube.com/@coachingbydrake

https://youtu.be/d8TdATG49kQ

https://coachingbydrake.io/

https://www.skool.com/feel-great-with-drake-5184/about

https://www.facebook.com/coachingbyd

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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In this episode of the Decoding Health, Dr. Urban Kiernan breaks down the science behind Urolithin A, a gut-derived compound gaining attention for its role in mitochondrial health, muscle performance, and metabolic function.

The conversation explains what Urolithin A actually is (and what it isn’t), how it’s produced through the gut microbiome, and why it’s fundamentally different from peptides. Dr. Urban walks through the concept of mitophagy—the cellular process that clears damaged mitochondria and replaces them with healthier ones—and why this matters for energy production, aging, athletic performance, and overall metabolic resilience.

The episode explores how Urolithin A relates to autophagy and intermittent fasting, why muscle tissue is especially dependent on mitochondrial health, and what current research suggests about strength, endurance, and recovery. Dr. Urban emphasizes supplement quality, regulatory gaps in nutraceuticals, and what to look for when evaluating products, including GMP standards and third-party testing.

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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Dr. Kaitlin Castillo pulls back the curtain on why so many people can look healthy on the outside while quietly living in a metabolic “danger zone” underneath the surface. Using real-world clinical context, she breaks down what processed, packaged eating does to blood sugar regulation, why insulin resistance can progress for years before patients are clearly warned, and what “good doctor” communication should look like when labs start trending in the wrong direction.

The conversation also examines the incentive structures inside modern healthcare—how payor systems can shape clinical behavior, and why some physicians feel pressured to follow narrow protocols rather than address root causes. From the statin conversation to “they didn’t do anything wrong—they did what they were told,” Dr. Castillo explains how well-intentioned care can still miss the mark when the system rewards maintenance over prevention.

On the action side, she challenges common assumptions: why 10,000 steps isn’t a workout—it’s the baseline; why being “cured” isn’t real if you can’t return to the same habits that got you sick; and how specific dietary strategies (including carnivore and keto approaches for certain people) may help correct metabolic dysfunction. The episode closes with a broader critique of the U.S. food system, why constant eating works against human biology, and how an overly metric-driven culture can distract from what actually changes health outcomes.

Dr. Kaity Castillo is a board-certified nurse practitioner specializing in primary care and metabolic health. Through her clinical practice and coaching programs, she helps patients address the root causes of fatigue, weight gain, hormonal imbalances, and chronic metabolic dysfunction. Dr. Castillo combines evidence-based medicine with personalized lifestyle strategies to deliver sustainable, whole-person results. Her mission is to empower individuals to understand their bodies, optimize their health, and build long-term vitality.

https://www.instagram.com/drkaitycastillo/

http://kaitycastillo.com

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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GHK-Cu (copper peptide) has surged in popularity across regenerative medicine, aesthetics, and biohacking—but what does the science actually say? In this episode of Decoding Health, Dr. Urban breaks down the real physiology behind GHK-Cu, a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide composed of glycine, histidine, and lysine. You’ll learn how this peptide supports wound healing, collagen remodeling, tissue regeneration, and why it’s increasingly used for skin rejuvenation and hair regrowth.

The conversation explores how GHK-Cu stabilizes and transports bioavailable copper, its role in activating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and what preclinical research shows about systemic healing effects. Dr. Urban also addresses critical safety considerations, FDA status, compounding pharmacy regulations, injectable vs topical use, and why oral versions are largely ineffective. This episode offers a grounded, science-first look at one of today’s most talked-about peptides—without hype, shortcuts, or misinformation.

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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Ronald M. Krauss joins the show for a practical, myth-busting deep dive into cardiometabolic risk, lipidology, and why the LDL conversation is often framed in the wrong direction. Building on his long-standing advisory-level relationship with Dr. Urban and his “disruptor” approach to improving outcomes, Dr. Krauss clarifies the critical difference between LDL and LDL cholesterol, uses a memorable “bus cholesterol” analogy to explain particle number vs. cholesterol content, and ties the real risk story back to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and atherogenic dyslipidemia. We tackle why simplistic nutrition rules break down in real physiology, including why “eat the whole egg” can be appropriate in context, where resistance to updated science comes from, and what makes Lp(a) uniquely damaging. Dr. Krauss shares how studying his own family sharpened his perspective on genetic risk, prevention, and what actually moves the needle for heart health.

Ronald M. Krauss, M.D., is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at UCSF, Dolores Jordan Endowed Chair at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, and Adjunct Professor of Nutritional Sciences at UC Berkeley. He earned his undergraduate and medical degrees with honors from Harvard, trained in internal medicine at Boston City Hospital (Harvard Medical Service), and served as a Clinical Associate and Senior Investigator at the NHLBI Molecular Disease Branch in Bethesda.

Dr. Krauss is board-certified in internal medicine, endocrinology & metabolism, and lipidology, and is a recognized leader in cardiometabolic health and atherosclerosis research. He has held major national leadership roles, including serving on the American Heart Association National Board of Directors, the U.S. National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel, and as founding Chair of the AHA Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health. He has also served on National Academy of Medicine committees focused on dietary macronutrients and chronic disease biomarkers.

He has authored 500+ peer-reviewed publications with 195,000+ citations (h-index 161), and is widely known for identifying the “atherogenic dyslipidemia” triad—high triglycerides, low HDL, and increased small, dense LDL—linked to insulin resistance, abdominal adiposity, and elevated risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, as well as advancing widely used methods for lipoprotein particle analysis. 

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co

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GLP-1 is a gut-derived hormone designed to signal the pancreas to produce insulin—but in its natural form, it’s notoriously short-lived. In this Decoding Health segment, we break down why endogenous GLP-1 has an ultra-short half-life (about three minutes), and how the enzyme DPP-4 rapidly “clips” incretin hormones by targeting specific amino acids near the N-terminus—effectively destroying the signal before it can last.

You’ll learn how GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs were engineered to resist DPP-4 degradation, why DPP-4 inhibitor medications (the “gliptins”) extend incretin activity from a different angle, and why measuring GLP-1 in blood samples is scientifically challenging due to ongoing enzyme activity even after blood is drawn. This episode clarifies the biology behind incretins, insulin signaling, and why drug design focuses on stability—while separating the molecule’s function from the controversy around how these therapies are used today.

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

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Dr. Robert H. Lustig joins the show to break down why today’s metabolic health crisis is not a personal failure problem, but an environment problem, and how the power structure shaping food, policy, and public health has shifted in ways most people have not tracked. From “poisonous calories” and ultra-processed food to microplastics, reactive species, and artificial sweeteners, Dr. Lustig connects the biochemical dots to the brain, explaining how the amygdala functions like an air-traffic controller for stress and decision-making, what happens when its “brakes” fail, and why our nervous system is increasingly under attack. The conversation moves from diagnosis to solutions, including what it would actually take to fix the food supply, why converting ultra-processed food into real food matters, and how initiatives like getting real food into schools can become a practical lever for change when leadership and institutions stall.

Robert H. Lustig, M.D., M.S.L. is Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology, and Member of the Institute for Health Policy Studies at UCSF. Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist, with expertise in obesity, diabetes, metabolism, and nutrition. He is one of the leaders of the “anti-sugar” movement that is changing the food industry. He has dedicated his retirement from clinical medicine to help to fix the food supply any way he can, to reduce human suffering and to salvage the environment, by bringing all stakeholders together around a common vision of metabolic health: protect the liver, feed the gut, support the brain. Dr. Lustig graduated from MIT in 1976, and received his M.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1980. He also received his Masters of Studies in Law (MSL) degree at University of California College of the Law, San Francisco in 2013. He is the author of the popular books Fat Chance (2012), The Hacking of the American Mind (2017), and Metabolical (2021). He is the Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of the non-profit Eat REAL, and a member of the Nutrition Task Force of the American Dental Association. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of Biolumen, SnapRecall, and Perfact.

http://robertlustig.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-lustig-8904245/

https://www.instagram.com/robertlustigm

Are you eager to explore more about health and wellness? Discover an all natural solution to combating the GLP-1 Receptor Agonist craze. Click on the link below and explore the Feel Great System - a clinically proven approach to boosting natural GLP-1 production, suppressing appetite and improving both your metabolism and weight.

https://ufeelgreat.com/usa/en/c/LiveFree

As a Decoding Health viewer, you get wholesale pricing and a money back guarantee. Give it a try and let us know your results.

https://imbiopharma.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/urban-a-kiernan-ph-d-8568b621/
https://www.youtube.com/@DecodingHealthPodcast

Thank you to our sponsor - iMetabolic Biopharma Corporation: Together, we can be the next stage in developing a revolutionary approach to drug discovery. We give communities the opportunity to invest in their own health as we improve how drugs are discovered to make them more effective and affordable. Visit https://imbiopharma.com/ to learn more.

This show is proudly produced at PS Studios — learn more https://www.psstudios.co