Optimal Metabolism

What if the way you're aging has more to do with your metabolic health than your age itself?

In this episode of Optimal Metabolism, I sit down with longevity physician Dr. Jennifer Timmons to discuss the powerful connection between insulin resistance, hormone health, disease prevention, and aging well.

Dr. Timmons shares how her experience in traditional primary care led her to pursue advanced training in functional medicine, precision medicine, and longevity medicine. Together, we discuss what it really means to optimize health as we age, why insulin resistance accelerates many age-related conditions, and how women can navigate menopause with a long-term health strategy in mind.

We also explore the growing interest in peptide therapies, where they may fit into a comprehensive health plan, and the foundational lifestyle habits that matter far more than the latest longevity trends.

If you're interested in protecting your metabolic health, maintaining vitality as you age, and increasing your healthspan—not just your lifespan—this episode is for you.

• Why insulin resistance may accelerate the aging process
• The difference between lifespan and healthspan
• Menopause as a long-term metabolic and cardiovascular transition
• The role of muscle mass in healthy aging
• How longevity medicine differs from traditional healthcare
• Preventive testing and early disease detection
• Peptide therapies: benefits, limitations, and considerations
• Common mistakes people make when pursuing longevity
• Why consistency often beats biohacking
• Practical steps women can take today to age well

Website: https://timmonswellnessmd.com/

Instagram: @jennifertimmonsmd

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness

Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/

If you're struggling with stubborn weight, blood sugar issues, fatigue, cravings, or suspect insulin resistance may be contributing to your symptoms, my RESET program is the perfect place to start.

My COMPASS Reset is designed to help you identify what's driving your metabolic dysfunction and begin implementing simple, sustainable strategies that support blood sugar balance, hormone health, and lasting energy.

Learn more here: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Between constant notifications, endless scrolling, chronic stress, poor sleep, ultraprocessed food, and information overload, modern life is placing an unprecedented burden on our brains. It's no wonder so many people struggle with brain fog, forgetfulness, low energy, difficulty focusing, and concerns about long-term cognitive decline.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Marc Milstein, brain health researcher, international speaker, and author of the bestselling book The Age-Proof Brain. Dr. Milstein translates cutting-edge neuroscience into practical, evidence-based strategies that help people improve memory, focus, productivity, and long-term brain health.

We discuss how today's environment is impacting our brains, what science actually says about dementia prevention, and the simple daily habits that can help keep your brain sharp and resilient as you age. If you've ever worried about memory loss, struggled with focus, or wondered what modern stress is doing to your brain, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can start using today.

• Why modern life may be working against your brain health
• The biggest factors contributing to brain fog and difficulty concentrating
• The connection between stress, sleep, and cognitive performance
• How lifestyle habits influence dementia risk
• Common myths surrounding brain aging and memory loss
• Practical ways to improve focus, productivity, and mental clarity
• Daily habits that help protect the brain as we age
• What the latest neuroscience research reveals about maintaining cognitive health
• The surprising factors that have the greatest impact on long-term brain function
• Where to start if you're concerned about memory, focus, or brain health

Website: www.drmarcmilstein.com

Instagram: @drmarcmilstein

YouTube: Dr. Marc Milstein

Podcast: Best of Your Brain

Book: The Age-Proof Brain

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Facebook: Shana Hussin Wellness

Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/

90-Day Metabolic Reset: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Type 2 diabetes is often presented as a chronic, progressive disease that inevitably requires increasing medications over time. But what if that's not the full story?

In this week's episode of Optimal Metabolism, I sit down with Dr. Jason Shumard to discuss the root causes of type 2 diabetes, why conventional treatment approaches often fall short, and what it actually takes to reverse blood sugar dysfunction.

Dr. Shumard shares his perspective on insulin resistance, metabolic health, nutrition, and lifestyle factors that contribute to diabetes progression. We explore common misconceptions about blood sugar management and discuss practical strategies that can help people regain metabolic health and reduce their reliance on medications.

If you've been told that type 2 diabetes is something you'll simply have to manage forever, this conversation may challenge what you thought you knew.

• Why type 2 diabetes develops in the first place
• The relationship between insulin resistance and blood sugar dysfunction
• Common myths about diabetes treatment
• Why medication alone may not address the root cause
• Nutrition strategies that support healthy blood sugar levels
• The role of fasting and meal timing in metabolic health
• Lifestyle factors that influence insulin sensitivity
• What "diabetes reversal" actually means
• How long it may take to see meaningful improvements
• Practical first steps for listeners dealing with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes

Dr. Jason Shumard specializes in helping people understand the underlying causes of type 2 diabetes and implement strategies to restore metabolic health. Through education and practical lifestyle interventions, he helps individuals take control of their blood sugar and work toward lasting health improvements.

Dr. Jason Shumard: https://drshumard.com/

If you're struggling with insulin resistance, blood sugar instability, stubborn weight gain, fatigue, or metabolic dysfunction, here are the resources I recommend most:

✔ RESET – My step-by-step program designed to help you improve metabolic health, reduce inflammation, and create a foundation for lasting healing: RESET Program

✔ The Feel Great System – One of my favorite tools for supporting appetite control, blood sugar balance, energy, and weight loss: Order the Feel Great System Here

In this thought-provoking episode of Optimal Metabolism, Shana tackles four deceptively simple questions that reveal some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding metabolic health today.

Could eating too often be more problematic than eating too much? Can someone be overweight and undernourished at the same time? Is your fatigue really a food issue—or could your light environment be playing a larger role? And what if your nightly Netflix habit is affecting your blood sugar more than that dessert you enjoyed after dinner?

If you've been struggling with stubborn weight, fatigue, cravings, blood sugar issues, or simply feel like you're doing everything right without seeing results, this episode will challenge your thinking and give you a fresh perspective on what may be driving your symptoms.

WHAT WE DISCUSSED:

• What's harder on metabolism: overeating or over-frequent eating?

• How insulin and meal frequency influence fat burning and metabolic flexibility.

• Why many people today are simultaneously overweight and undernourished.

• The connection between nutrient density, cravings, and metabolic dysfunction.

• How light exposure impacts circadian rhythms, cortisol, melatonin, and energy production.

• Why fatigue isn't always about food, supplements, or hormones.

• The surprising relationship between evening screen exposure and blood sugar regulation.

• Practical strategies to improve metabolic health without adding more restriction.

SPONSOR OF THIS EPISODE

Today's episode is sponsored by GOOD IDEA.

GOOD IDEA is a science-backed beverage designed to help reduce blood sugar spikes when consumed before meals. If you're working to improve metabolic health, insulin resistance, prediabetes, or blood sugar control, it may be a helpful tool to add to your routine.

Check out GOOD IDEA and save 15% here: https://www.goodidea.us/discount/SHANAH

Join my brand new 90-Day COMPASS Metabolic Reset HERE.

Cancer care is evolving, and today's conversation with Martha Tettenborn dives into one of the most overlooked aspects of healing and prevention: metabolic health.

Martha is a cancer survivor, author of Hacking Chemo, and currently works with Dietary Therapies, where she helps support patients using evidence-based nutritional and metabolic approaches alongside conventional cancer care.

In this follow-up conversation, we move beyond Martha's personal story and explore what she's seeing firsthand in patients today. We discuss the growing connection between insulin resistance, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation, and cancer progression — and why metabolic health deserves a much bigger place in the cancer conversation.

Martha also shares practical insights into keto therapies, fasting during treatment, common mistakes patients make when trying these approaches on their own, and the importance of individualized care and professional guidance.

This episode is not only valuable for those navigating cancer, but also for anyone struggling with fatigue, inflammation, insulin resistance, stubborn weight gain, or chronic metabolic dysfunction. So many of the foundational principles that support metabolic healing apply broadly to overall health and disease prevention.

✨ How Martha's perspective has evolved from cancer survivor to working directly with patients at Dietary Therapies

✨ Common metabolic patterns she is seeing in cancer patients today

✨ The connection between insulin resistance, blood sugar dysregulation, and cancer progression

✨ What people are misunderstanding about keto and fasting for cancer care

✨ Who may not be a good candidate for fasting during treatment

✨ The biggest mistakes people make when trying dietary therapies on their own

✨ How metabolic therapies can work alongside conventional oncology care

✨ Why nutrition and metabolic health are still often overlooked in cancer treatment

✨ Lifestyle habits and strategies that may support long-term healing and recurrence prevention

✨ Why metabolic health matters even for those who have never faced a cancer diagnosis

Learn more about Martha's work through Dietary Therapies

Get Martha's book Hacking Chemo

READY TO IMPROVE YOUR METABOLIC HEALTH?

✨ My 90-Day COMPASS Reset begins Monday, June 1st!

This guided reset is designed to help you stabilize blood sugar, improve energy, reduce inflammation, and begin healing your metabolism with sustainable strategies focused on meal timing, metabolic flexibility, circadian health, and nervous system support.

The only requirement to join is being on the Feel Great System.

Get started here: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH

In today's episode, I'm answering some of the most common metabolic health questions I hear from people who feel frustrated, exhausted, and stuck — even though they're trying to "do everything right."

We're diving into the real root causes behind fatty liver, high triglycerides, stubborn weight gain, cravings, blood sugar instability, and rising blood pressure — and why insulin resistance is often at the center of it all.

Inside this Q&A Instagram Live, we discuss:

✨ What I would focus on FIRST if someone had fatty liver, high triglycerides, high blood pressure, and 50 pounds to lose

✨ Can insulin resistance exist even if your glucose levels look "normal"?

✨ The biggest breakfast mistake I see people making — especially when it comes to blood sugar and cravings

✨ Why nighttime cravings happen (and what they may be telling you about your metabolism)

✨ Whether walking after meals is REALLY as powerful as people claim for blood sugar control

✨ How meal timing, sunlight, sleep, movement, and insulin all work together to influence metabolic health

If you've been told to simply "eat less and move more," but your body still feels inflamed, exhausted, and resistant to change, this episode will help you better understand what may actually be happening beneath the surface.

RESOURCES & LINKS:

✨ 90-Day Metabolic Reset (COMPASS): https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

✨ Feel Great System: https://ufeelgreat.com/c/SHANAH

✨ Low Insulin Academy: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/low-insulin-academy-on-demand/

✨ Cortisol Calm: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/cortisol-calm-signature-course/

✨ Website: https://shanahussinwellness.com/

Connect with Me: Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

What if weight loss wasn't the ultimate goal—but instead the starting point for true health?

In this episode, I sit down with longevity-focused coach Jason Nelson to discuss the hidden side of modern fat loss culture. While many people are finally losing weight through restrictive dieting, excessive cardio, or GLP-1 medications, they're often left with low energy, muscle loss, metabolic dysfunction, and bodies that still don't feel healthy.

Jason explains why focusing only on the scale can actually move people further away from long-term vitality, and why muscle, bone density, metabolic resilience, and biological age are becoming the true markers of health and longevity.

We also have an honest conversation about GLP-1 medications and peptides—what's working, what's being overhyped, and what people absolutely need to understand before relying on these tools long-term.

If you've ever felt frustrated because you lost weight but still didn't feel well… this episode is for you.

• Why fat loss should be viewed as the entry point to longevity—not the final goal
• The hidden metabolic consequences of aggressive weight loss
• Muscle loss, fatigue, and slowed metabolism after dieting
• Why some people lose weight but never regain their energy
• What Jason is seeing with GLP-1 medications in the real world
• The truth about peptides and modern fat loss therapies
• The psychological cost of relying on external tools for control
• Why muscle health matters more than ever after 40
• Biological age vs chronological age—and why it matters
• The future of fitness, metabolism, and longevity optimization
• How to pursue sustainable fat loss without damaging your metabolism

Website: Body Image Health

Instagram: @jaynelson0580

🔥 Feel Great System: Feel Great System Information

Instagram: @shana.hussin.rdn

Facebook: Fast To Heal With Shana Hussin

Website: Shana Hussin Wellness

Podcast: Optimal Metabolism Podcast

What happens when a pharmacist of 30+ years realizes the system she was trained in isn't actually helping people heal?

In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Amanda Yue, PharmD, to discuss her journey from conventional pharmacy to root-cause healing—and the life-changing results that followed.

Amanda shares how her 80-year-old mother-in-law, who was facing foot amputation due to long-standing type 2 diabetes, was able to not only avoid surgery—but reverse her diabetes and regain her memory after early signs of cognitive decline.

We also dive into Amanda's personal health struggles, including 27 years of psoriasis, leaky gut, hormonal imbalances, and chronic symptoms despite "normal" lab work—and what finally helped her heal.

A major part of this transformation came from implementing the Feel Great System, which includes a concentrated yerba mate tea and a fiber matrix supplement. These tools helped address insulin resistance, reduce food cravings, and stabilize blood sugar—unlocking the body's ability to heal.

This conversation goes beyond one success story. Amanda explains how the same approach helped improve her entire family's health, from blood sugar and weight to focus and hormonal balance.

If you've ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like nothing is working—this episode will challenge what you've been told and show you what's actually possible when you address the root cause.

• Amanda's experience as a pharmacist and why patients keep getting worse
• Her personal struggles with leaky gut, psoriasis, and hormonal imbalance
• Why "normal labs" don't always mean you're healthy
• How her 80-year-old mother-in-law avoided amputation
• Reversing type 2 diabetes naturally
• The role of the Feel Great System (concentrated yerba mate + fiber matrix)
• The connection between insulin resistance and memory loss
• Improvements in cognitive function and early dementia symptoms
• Why medications like statins and PPIs may not address the real issue
• The role of insulin resistance in weight gain, inflammation, and chronic disease
• How this approach impacted her entire family (PCOS, Hashimoto's, ADD, and more)

👉 Learn more from Amanda:

• Website: https://restoredigestion.com/restoredigestion
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootcausepharmd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.yue.79/

Compass: 90-Day Metabolic Reset (Starting June 1)

If you're tired of guessing and ready for a step-by-step plan to finally fix your metabolism, balance your blood sugar, and lose weight in a sustainable way—this is for you.

🔗 https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

Fatty liver is one of the most common metabolic conditions today—and many people don't even know they have it.

It's often discovered incidentally on lab work or imaging, and the typical advice is vague at best: lose weight, eat better, exercise more.

What's often missing from that conversation is this: Fatty liver is not just about fat. It's a metabolic and hormonal issue—driven largely by insulin resistance.

In this episode, we break down what fatty liver really is, why it develops, and most importantly, whether it can be reversed.

The good news is that in many cases, fatty liver is reversible when the root cause is addressed.

We'll walk through how insulin, blood sugar, and metabolic dysfunction contribute to fat accumulation in the liver, and why simply cutting calories or following generic diet advice often isn't enough.

You'll also learn how meal timing, circadian rhythm, and metabolic signaling all play a role in liver health—making this more than just a "diet issue."

If you've been told you have fatty liver, elevated liver enzymes, or you're dealing with stubborn metabolic issues, this episode will help you understand what's actually happening in your body and what steps support true healing.

• What fatty liver is and how it develops
• Why fatty liver is strongly connected to insulin resistance
• The difference between dietary fat and liver fat
• Why "eat less, move more" often isn't enough
• How chronically elevated insulin drives fat storage in the liver
• The role of blood sugar, triglycerides, and metabolic dysfunction
• Why fatty liver is often an early warning sign
• How meal timing and reducing constant snacking support liver health
• The connection between circadian rhythm and metabolic function
• Key strategies that support reversing fatty liver naturally

If you're looking to improve insulin sensitivity, support liver health, and restore metabolic function, this is exactly what I teach inside my reset.

Learn more at: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/reset/

What if the constant thoughts about food… just disappeared?

In this powerful success story, I sit down with Jill Kramer to talk about her transformation using the Feel Great System—and how it completely changed not only her body, but her relationship with food.

At 56 years old, Jill is now the leanest she's ever been, with better gut health, more energy, and zero obsession around food. But what makes this story even more incredible is what happened with her mom…

After years of struggling, her mother lost 40 pounds, came off all medications, and experienced something so many people are desperate for: freedom from food noise.

This episode is a must-listen if you feel stuck, frustrated, or like nothing has worked for your metabolism.

• Jill's health struggles before starting the Feel Great System
• What finally "clicked" for her metabolism and weight loss
• How her gut health dramatically improved
• What "food noise" felt like before—and how it completely disappeared
• The biggest mindset and lifestyle shifts that made this sustainable
• Her mom's transformation: 35 pounds lost and off medications
• Why this approach worked when other methods didn't
• The connection between blood sugar, cravings, and hunger
• What surprised Jill the most during her journey
• How this can work for midlife women (and others!) struggling with weight and energy

If you've been stuck in a cycle of cravings, weight gain, or constant thoughts about food—this episode will open your eyes to what's possible.

👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that change is possible.

Try the FEEL GREAT SYSTEM: https://shanahussinwellness.com/programs-courses/feelgreat/