Our kidneys filter out waste while retaining substances the body needs, such as electrolytes. Kidney health, which can be assessed with blood and urine biomarker tests, is paramount to overall health. Yet lifestyle, such as the Western diet and other factors, can damage the kidneys, leading to either a slow progression of issues or acute injury. Dr. Rick Johnson and Mike Haney discuss the role of the kidneys, what lifestyle factors affect kidney health, ways to support the kidneys, and what your biomarker results tell you about the function of these crucial organs.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl

🎙 What Rick Johnson, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

4:26 — Your kidneys are great regulators

8:43 — Heat stress affects the kidneys

12:04 — The most common causes of kidney disease include diabetes and high blood pressure

19:46 — The Western diet is associated with age-related kidney decline 

32:25 — The concerns of a high-protein diet in the presence of chronic kidney disease

41:15 — Changes in urinary habits or color could indicate chronic kidney disease

46:23 — Biomarkers can help assess kidney function

53:18 — Serum creatinine as a biomarker of kidney health

1:08:13 — Assessing patterns over time is crucial

1:10:52 — High albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney disease

1:21:26 — Lifestyle changes that support kidney health

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/8_QSuYwo5wg

Subscribe here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Richard Johnson, MD: https://drrichardjohnson.com

Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology: https://drrichardjohnson.com/books/

Connect with Richard Johnson, MD on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drrichardjjohnson/

Your gut microbiome affects everything from your mental health and cognitive function to your immune system and metabolic health. Gut health symptoms, such as bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea, could be a sign that you have low species diversity. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and Mike Haney discuss how the gut and brain communicate, how the gut microbiome affects the gut barrier and therefore your immune system, what to eat to improve the gut microbiome, and what microbiome testing can tell you.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: https://levels.link/wnl

🎙 What Will Bulsiewicz, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

9:14 — Gut health takes time to improve

14:49 — Your gut microbiome informs your gut and overall health

18:42 — Lifestyle choices help shape an individual’s gut microbiome

24:20 — A compromised gut barrier affects the immune system

30:51 — Nutritional strategies can improve the gut microbiome and reduce disease flares 

32:46 — The gut and the brain communicate

52:27 — A diverse gut microbiome is a sign of good health

56:45 — Your gut microbiome informs your bowel movements

1:01:46 — When to see a doctor for gastrointestinal symptoms

1:05:32 — Increasing fiber helps the gut microbiome

1:11:41 — The beneficial byproducts of gut microbes are postbiotics

1:14:59 — Eat a wide variety of plant foods to get optimal fiber

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🔗 Helpful links:
Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/iAHOycufGn8

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Will Bulsieweicz, MD, https://theplantfedgut.com/about/

Fiber Fueled: https://www.amazon.com/Fiber-Fueled-Plant-Based-Optimizing-Microbiome/dp/059308456X

The Plant Fed Gut: https://theplantfedgut.com/

Connect with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthmd/?hl=en

The pancreas is a complex organ, but some key biomarkers can assess its health. The pancreas is both an exocrine organ (meaning it produces enzymes) and an exocrine organ (meaning it secretes hormones). It’s a key component of your metabolic health and therefore your overall health. Dr. Robert Lustig and Mike Haney discuss key pancreatic blood work to get checked, the differences between diabetes types and what causes them, what insulin resistance is, how to restore mitochondrial function through diet and lifestyle changes, and more.

Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Robert Lustig, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

(01:33) — The pancreas is a complex organ

(13:20) — Three emergency mechanisms to prevent low blood sugar

(18:28) — Why insulin is a crucial biomarker

(19:57) — Understanding type 1 diabetes

(27:11) — Understanding type 2 diabetes

(30:03) — What mitochondrial dysfunction does to the pancreas

(31:45) — The links between Alzheimer’s disease and type diabetes

(33:07) — Obesity is about mitochondrial dysfunction

(36:14) — Testing proinsulin and C-peptide

(40:24) — Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction and type 2 diabetes

(44:03) — Testing key pancreatic enzymes

⁠⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/5RnEdiTRYfI?si=GXeqvaXtyDLaXjUH

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Lab testing for female reproductive hormones offers insight into menstrual cycle irregularities, fertility concerns, and understanding where you are on the perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause trajectory. Dr. Natalie Crawford and Mike Haney discuss how the brain and ovaries communicate during the different phases of the menstrual cycle, when to test female hormones, how oral contraception affects hormone levels, and how to advocate for yourself at the doctor’s office.

Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: ⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Natalie Crawford, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

(08:03) — Women’s reproductive health concerns sometimes get dismissed

(09:08) — The intersection of fertility and functional medicine

(14:17) — The reason to check anti-Mullerian hormone

(24:19) — The brain communicates with the ovaries

(26:17) — Inflammation can disrupt the menstrual cycle

(30:44) — Data from biomarker testing can be motivating

(32:05) — When to do baseline testing for female hormones

(37:47) — Menstrual cycle history and the big picture are important

(40:12) — Menstrual cycle irregularities should be investigated

(42:55) — The role of hormonal birth control and how it affects hormone levels

(55:14) — The importance of fiber for hormonal support

(59:44) — The importance of eating whole foods and avoiding toxins

⁠Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/Xeq4TxRJ5Yk

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Proper nutrition supports healthy aging and longevity—that much is clear. But nutritional advice online can be confusing, so what does the science say about healthy eating? It’s less about your macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—and more about your micronutrients, which are vitamins, minerals, and beneficial plant compounds. Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Mike Haney discuss micronutrient testing, supplements, plant-based diets, and what to eat to stave of disease, reverse disease processes, and live a longer, healthier life.

Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Joel Fuhrman, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

(06:59) — Using food as medicine

(15:00) —Gaining a better understanding of how to use nutrition for longevity

(18:45) — Why we must look at nutrition science comprehensively

(23:26) — The benefits of a plant-based diet

(25:56) —  The importance of micronutrients

(32:31) — The role of healthy fats

(37:44) — Micronutrient testing can help guide decisions about diet and any needed supplements

(40:33) — Vitamin D from sunshine takes time to penetrate

(43:18) — Focus on the GBOMBS to up your micronutrient intake and support longevity

(57:41) — Finding a doctor who is certified in lifestyle medicine

(59:06) — Changing your health through diet takes time

⁠⁠

Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/jWk55UxvX34⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Levels offers biomarker testing to give you more insight into your health status so you can understand the root causes of your symptoms, take a preventive approach to disease, and see if your lifestyle changes or other interventions are reducing your risk factors and improving your health. Dr. Anjali Dsouza and Mike Haney discuss why biomarker testing can be beneficial, how to understand your levels, factors that affect your levels, and which biomarkers are no-brainers to get tested.

Get a Free Guide to Understanding Your Lab Results: https://levels.link/wnl

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Anjali Dsouza, MD, & Mike Haney discuss:

(02:21) — Conventional medicine does not allow for enough time with patients

(09:05) — Why test biomarkers beyond the basics?

(12:10) — Lifestyle factors are about consistency, not perfection

(16:48) — Biomarkers should be analyzed with additional context

(24:24) — A normal biomarker range isn’t always optimal

(28:06) — AI tools and internet searches generally don’t provide nuanced health information

(32:01) — Potential reasons people get biomarker testing beyond the basics

(33:45) — When is repeat testing important?

(36:52) — Biomarker testing and understanding is complex, especially in preventive health

(37:53) — Some biomarkers respond swiftly to lifestyle changes

(38:47) — The importance of fasted insulin as a biomarker

⁠⁠

Transcripts & Show Notes⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: https://youtu.be/lN6TNn6jpTg⁠⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

Not all calories are equal. Tracking your macronutrient intake, using AI capabilities, can help you improve your body composition, facilitate weight loss, and boost exercise performance. The three macronutrients are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, with fiber a subset of carbs. Josh Clemente & Dr. Dominic D'Agostino discuss the new macros-tracking feature in the Levels app, the purpose and importance of each macronutrient, how to use macros-tracking in conjunction with biomarker data to improve health and fitness, and how easy the app’s AI functionality is to use.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Josh Clemente & Dominic D'Agostino, PhD, discuss:

(00:00) — Intro

(04:28) — The importance of prioritizing protein intake

(11:59) — Why is tracking macros beneficial?

(15:53) — Each macronutrient has a different role in the body

(33:22) — The different functions of macros

(41:48) — Is excess protein a concern?

(47:20) — The problem with excess carbohydrates

(52:49) — Tracking macros can help you improve metabolic flexibility

(54:50) — The issue with overconsumption of carbohydrates

(1:09:04) — Is fiber a macronutrient?

(1:37:25) — Macros tracking in the Levels app

(1:41:18) — Tracking macros can help improve body composition and performance

⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/wg76Q25Ngd4⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠

What diet should you follow? Metabolic health experts say it doesn’t matter whether you’re keto, vegan, or otherwise if you focus on three simple principles, which will help reduce your risk for cancer and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Dr. Swaranjit Bhasin and Dr. Casey Means discuss the biomarkers to ask your doctor about, why they matter, how to improve those biomarkers with accessible tips, and why liver health is a big key to overall health.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠

🎙 What Swaranjit Bhasin, MD, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:

(00:00) — Intro

(03:45) — A radiologist raises a red flag about increased diagnoses in younger patients

(11:03) — Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a silent but serious problem

(15:01) — The importance of the liver

(18:38) — What are your most important biomarkers?

(32:30) — Casey Means, MD, summarizes Dr. Bhasin’s three rules for diet

(34:18) — Processed vegetable and seed oils are toxic to the body

(42:20) — Insulin resistance can drive cancer

(52:26) — The importance of autophagy in helping to prevent cancer

(55:14) — Who should not engage in intermittent fasting?

⁠⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation: ⁠https://youtu.be/1pkhDOPsXb4⁠

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1

Stable glucose levels are a foundation of feeling and looking your best at any age. When glucose levels are more erratic—with spikes and crashes—cravings, weight gain, low energy, health issues, and more can ensue. Jessie Inchauspé and Dr. Casey Means, thought leaders on the topic of blood sugar, discuss simple hacks for keeping glucose levels more stable without resorting to restrictive diets, and they share why stable levels inform health.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Jessie Inchauspé & Casey Means, MD, discuss:

(00:00) — Intro

(05:52) — Are type 2 diabetes and obesity genetic, dictated by lifestyle factors, or both?

(10:21) — Hacks for keeping blood sugar more stable

(18:42) — People want to be healthy, but the food industry complicates matters

(22:46) — Nutritional choices can impact mental health

(28:42) — The premise behind Inchauspé’s ‘Glucose Goddess Method’

(31:21) — Tracking biomarkers provides insight to your metabolic health

(33:29) — A siloed approach to healthcare misses the big picture

(36:21) — Can supplements really help with metabolic health?

(48:38) — We need systemic change in the food industry

(56:41) — The science behind food cravings

⁠⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Find us on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠

Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NfmRORU1HIA?si=PecFHUL6ZTC8bu1N

Diet and exercise culture tends to prioritize calorie restriction and calorie burning via cardio workouts. While fat loss is beneficial, building and maintaining healthy muscle mass is also crucial for metabolic health and longevity. Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Dr. Casey Means discuss Lyon’s book “Forever Strong,” why strength-training should be a priority for workout routines, how muscle is the body’s metabolic currency, and why boosting protein intake aids in adding and preserving muscle mass.

Sign Up to Get Your Free Ultimate Guide to Glucose: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://levels.link/wnl⁠⁠⁠

Levels helps you see how food affects your health, empowering you with the tools needed to achieve health goals and improve healthspan. Levels Members gain access to the Levels app and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), providing real-time feedback on how diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health.

Look for new shows every month on A Whole New Level, where we have in-depth conversations with thought leaders about metabolic health.

🎙 What Gabrielle Lyon, DO, & Casey Means, MD, discuss:

(00:00) — Intro

(03:09) — Dr. Casey Means shares her enthusiasm for Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s book

(08:53) — Muscle is our metabolic currency

(19:56) — According to Dr. Lyon, gaining muscle is more important than losing fat

(24:09) — Muscle mass is protective against sarcopenia

(31:47) — Dr. Means raises the question about menopause

(32:58) — The benefits of focusing on metabolic health in the menopause transition

(37:49) — Dr. Lyon encourages people to reevaluate the type of exercise they are doing

(40:32) — Dr. Lyon discusses the importance of getting enough protein

(44:34) — Dr. Lyon discusses the timing of protein intake

(52:25) — Dr. Lyon discusses supplementation with creatine

⁠⁠Transcripts & Show notes⁠⁠

🔗 Helpful links:

Watch the conversation on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LAF2o2zv7Q4?si=vXoV1hxQVCpfYOpQ

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/levelshealth?sub_confirmation=1