Rare Wellness Podcast (by Center for Regenerative and Performance Medicine)

Dr Lewis and Becca explore what you need to look for when choosing a GLP-1 Clinic.

REFERENCES

Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:989-1002. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

Ashraf AR, Mackey TK, Schmidt J, et al. Safety and risk assessment of no-prescription online semaglutide purchases. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2428280. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.28280

Brown A, et al. Bridging the nutrition guidance gap for GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy assisted weight loss: lessons from bariatric surgery. International Journal of Obesity (Nature). 2025. doi:10.1038/s41366-025-01952-w

Wilding JPH, et al. Impact of semaglutide on body composition in adults with overweight or obesity: exploratory analysis of the STEP 1 study. J Endocr Soc. 2021;5(Suppl 1):A16-A17. doi:10.1210/jendso/bvab048.030

Eshima H, et al. Unexpected effects of semaglutide on skeletal muscle mass and force-generating capacity in mice. Cell Metabolism. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.07.006 [Note: cited for STEP 1 lean mass data contextualization]

Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Davies M, et al. Weight regain and cardiometabolic effects after withdrawal of semaglutide: the STEP 1 trial extension. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2022;24(8):1553-1564. doi:10.1111/dom.14725

Metabolic rebound after GLP-1 receptor agonist discontinuation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine (The Lancet). 2025. doi:10.1016/S2589-5370(25)00614-5

GLP-1 agonists and exercise: the future of lifestyle prioritization. Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare. 2025. doi:10.3389/fcdhc.2025.1720794

Tinsley GM, et al. Preservation of lean soft tissue during weight loss induced by GLP-1 and GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists: a case series. PMC. 2025. (Texas Tech University IRB2025-79)

Peralta-Reich D, et al. Resistance training and protein intake may lower GLP-1 RA muscle loss. Presented at conference, 2025. Reported in Medscape Medical News, April 15, 2025.

Muñoz-Garach A, et al. Role of Vitamin D in Insulin Resistance. PMC/Nutrients. 2019. doi:10.3390/nu11061550

Lei X, Zhou Q, Wang Y, et al. Serum and supplemental vitamin D levels and insulin resistance in T2DM populations: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Scientific Reports. 2023;13(1):12343. doi:10.1038/s41598-023-39469-9

Szymczak-Pajor I, Śliwińska A. Analysis of association between vitamin D deficiency and insulin resistance. Nutrients (PMC). 2019. doi:10.3390/nu11040794

Mulligan T, et al. Prevalence of hypogonadism in males aged at least 45 years: the HIM study. Int J Clin Pract. 2006;60(7):762-769. [Referenced in: Testosterone and weight loss: the evidence. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2014;21(5):313-322. PMC4154787]

Grossmann M. Lowered testosterone in male obesity: mechanisms, morbidity and management. Asian J Androl. 2014;16(2):223-231. PMC3955331

Corona G, et al. Body weight loss reverts obesity-associated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Endocrinol. 2013;168(6):829-843. doi:10.1530/EJE-12-0955

How to Choose a Regenerative Medicine Clinic

If you’re struggling with chronic pain, limited mobility, or declining function—and you want to avoid surgery, long recoveries, and unnecessary risk—you’ve likely heard about regenerative medicine.

But with so many clinics, ads, and bold promises flooding the market, how do you know who to trust?

In this episode, Dr. Jamie Lewis breaks down a clear, practical framework to help you separate science-based regenerative medicine from marketing hype.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The Reality of the Market

• Why approximately 60% of regenerative medicine is snake oil
• Why another 30% produces inconsistent or suboptimal results
• How to identify the top 10% of providers practicing high-level, science-based care

The 3-Step Elimination Process

Dr. Lewis walks you through a simple framework to think like the CEO of your own body and hire the right medical leader.

1) Integrity

• The difference between the FDA 351 drug approval pathway and the 361 tissue registration pathway
• Why no regenerative medicine product is currently FDA-approved under the 351 pathway
• What companies must legally attest when registering birth-tissue products under 361
• Why many “fetal stem cell” and birth-tissue products do not contain viable living stem cells
• Research showing patients in their 60s and 70s still have robust, viable stem cells
• Why the myth that “your stem cells are too old” is scientifically inaccurate

Key takeaway:

If a clinic is injecting birth-tissue or fetal-derived products and marketing them as live stem cells, integrity should be questioned.

2) Training

Not all training paths are equal.

Key takeaway:

Look for a board-certified physician with formal specialty training in interventional and regenerative medicine.

3) The Lab: “Check the Kitchen”

In regenerative medicine, dose matters.

Dr. Lewis explains the difference between:

A Full Regenerative Medicine Laboratory

• Sterile processing hood
• Hematology analyzer
• Cell-counting and viability testing
• Trained laboratory staff
• Ability to tailor treatment based on measured cell dose

Versus:

“Lab-in-a-Box” Systems

• Push-button processing
• No measured cell counts
• Unknown viability
• One-size-fits-all product

Without measuring cell count and viability, outcomes become unpredictable.

Key takeaway:

If a clinic cannot measure and verify your cell dose, you’re essentially guessing.

Bottom Line

To dramatically increase your odds of success:

Choose autologous treatments (your own cells)

Avoid birth-tissue and fetal-derived products

Seek board-certified physicians with specialty training

Look for clinics with a full regenerative medicine laboratory

Learn More

Visit us at:

www.nwc4rm.com

In this episode of The Rare Wellness Podcast, Dr. Jamie Lewis is joined by Performance Medicine Nurse Jeralee Kidd to explore one of the most overlooked—but foundational—hormones in the body: DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone).

Often referred to as a “precursor hormone,” DHEA plays a critical role in supporting testosterone and estrogen production in both men and women. Yet as we age, DHEA levels steadily decline—often beginning as early as our 30s—contributing to fatigue, low mood, reduced resilience to stress, loss of lean muscle mass, brain fog, inflammation, and decreased libido.

Dr. Lewis and Jeralee break down:

• What DHEA is and how it functions in the body
• Why both men and women should have their levels evaluated
• The connection between DHEA, adrenal health, and chronic stress
• How low DHEA can impact metabolism, muscle mass, immune function, and longevity
• When replacement may be appropriate—and why proper testing and medical supervision matter

They also explain how DHEA differs from testosterone therapy, why it’s commonly missed in routine labs, and how optimizing foundational hormones can dramatically improve quality of life and long-term health outcomes.

If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or beyond—and feeling more tired, inflamed, or less resilient than you used to—this episode may connect some important dots.

To learn more or schedule a comprehensive hormone evaluation, visit www.spokanehrt.com.

Progesterone: Why Optimization and Replacement Matters During Your 30s, 40s and Beyond

With Becca Pabona & Jeralee Kidd, Performance Medicine Nurses

In this episode of The Rare Wellness Podcast, Performance Medicine Nurses Becca Pabona and Jeralee Kidd explore an often-overlooked but critically important hormone in women’s health: progesterone.

While estrogen typically gets the spotlight in midlife conversations—especially around hot flashes and night sweats—this discussion highlights how progesterone is often the first hormone to decline during perimenopause, sometimes years before menopause begins.

Becca and Jeralee break down:

• Why progesterone plays a key role in sleep quality, anxiety regulation, mood stability, and brain health
• How declining progesterone can lead to symptoms like insomnia (especially waking at 2–3 AM), “wired but tired” anxiety, mood swings, heavier periods, migraines, and worsening PMS
• The science behind progesterone’s calming effect on the brain through the GABA-A receptor pathway
• Why micronized (bioidentical) progesterone differs significantly from synthetic progestins used in earlier hormone studies
• The importance of symptom-guided optimization, not just lab-based decision-making
• Why progesterone therapy, when used appropriately, can be one of the safest and most impactful interventionsfor perimenopausal women

Jeralee also shares her personal experience with progesterone and how addressing this hormone transformed her sleep and anxiety—insights she now sees reflected in many patients at the Center for Regenerative and Performance Medicine.

If you’re in your late 30s, 40s, or early 50s and feel like “something is off,” this episode may help you understand why it may not be stress or aging alone—it could be progesterone.

For more information, visit www.spokaneht.com.

1. Bhasin S, et al.

Prostate Safety Events During Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: A Randomized Clinical Trial (TRAVERSE).

JAMA Network Open. 2023;6(12):e2342583.

1. Araujo AB, et al.

Clinical review: Endogenous testosterone and mortality in men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2011;96(10):3007–3019.

1. Corona G, et al.

Testosterone and metabolic syndrome: a meta-analysis study.

Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2011;8(1):272–283.

1. Davis SR, et al.

Global Consensus Position Statement on the Use of Testosterone Therapy for Women.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2019;104(10):4660–4666.

1. Finkelstein JS, et al.

Gonadal steroids and body composition, strength, and sexual function in men.

New England Journal of Medicine. 2013;369:1011–1022.

1. Rosner W, et al.

Utility, limitations, and pitfalls in measuring testosterone: an Endocrine Society position statement.

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2007;92(2):405–413.

Evidence Cited In This Episode

1. Prostate Safety and the TRAVERSE Trial (Randomized Clinical Trial)

• Bhasin et al. Prostate Safety Events During Testosterone Replacement Therapy in Men With Hypogonadism: A Randomized Clinical Trial — JAMA Network Open (TRAVERSE).

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2813293

2. Prostate Tissue Effects of TRT

• Marks et al., Effect of Testosterone Replacement Therapy on Prostate Tissue in Aging Men — JAMA 2006 (Demonstrates minimal change in prostate tissue androgen concentrations with TRT).

https://www.hormonebalance.org/images/documents/Marks%2006%20Testosterone%20and%20Prostate%20cancer%20JAMA.pdf

3. Prostate Risk and Monitoring During TRT (Review)

• Academic review of TRAVERSE and other randomized trials summarizing prostate safety outcomes and the importance of monitoring during TRT.

https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/8/1975/7675461

4. Harvard Health Commentary on TRT & Prostate Cancer Risk

• Harvard Health Publishing: Appropriate use of testosterone therapy does not appear to raise prostate cancer risk (comments on randomized evidence showing no increased risk over ~3 years).

https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/appropriate-use-of-testosterone-therapy-does-not-appear-to-raise-prostate-cancer-risk

How much protein do you actually need for muscle, metabolic health, and longevity—and do branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) really matter?

In this episode of the Rare Wellness Podcast, Dr. Jamie Lewis breaks down the science behind protein intake, modern research on optimal dosing, and when BCAAs are helpful—or unnecessary. While traditional protein recommendations focus on preventing deficiency, emerging research shows that optimal protein intake is significantly higher, especially for preserving muscle, metabolic health, and resilience as we age.

You’ll learn:

🍽️Why muscle acts as your body’s amino acid reservoir

🍽️The difference between minimum vs optimal protein intake

🍽️Evidence-based protein targets for strength and longevity

🍽️Why spreading protein across meals matters

🍽️The role of leucine and the muscle protein synthesis “on switch”

🍽️When BCAAs make sense (and when they don’t)

🍽️Special considerations for vegetarians, older adults, fasted training, and GLP-1 medications

Dr. Lewis explains why many experts now recommend 1.6–2.0 g/kg/day of protein for optimal function—and why fears around higher protein intake are largely unsupported in healthy adults. This episode provides practical, science-backed guidance to help you protect muscle, improve metabolic health, and support healthy aging without hype or extremes.

🏥 Sponsor: Center for Regenerative and Performance Medicine

🌐 Learn more at c4rpm.com

👍 If you found this episode helpful, please like, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who wants to age stronger and healthier.

Creatine is often labeled as a “gym supplement,” but it is so much more.

In this episode of the Rare Wellness Podcast, Dr. Jamie Lewis breaks down what creatine really is, how it works inside the body, and why it’s one of the most researched and effective supplements for muscle strength, brain health, and healthy aging.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How creatine supports muscle strength and helps combat age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia)

• Why creatine may improve cognitive performance and mental resilience under stress

• The truth about creatine safety, kidney health, and common myths

• Evidence-based dosing strategies for performance, longevity, and recovery

• How creatine fits into regenerative and performance medicine programs

Creatine isn’t a replacement for good sleep, nutrition, and training—but when those foundations are in place, it can be a powerful force multiplier for long-term health and function.

🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Jamie Lewis

🏥 Sponsored by Center for Regenerative and Performance Medicine

🌐 Learn more at c4rpm.com

If you found value in this episode, please like, subscribe, comment, and share to help us continue delivering evidence-based wellness insights.

🔥 Visceral fat is one of the most dangerous—and most misunderstood—forms of fat.

In this episode of the Rare Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Jamie Lewis breaks down what visceral fat is, why it’s far more harmful than subcutaneous fat (what most people think of when they hear "fat"), and—most importantly—what you can do to reduce it using evidence-based strategies.

You’ll learn why where fat is stored matters more than how much you weigh, and why two people with the same body weight can have completely different health risks.

Key Topics Covered:

• Why visceral fat drives chronic inflammation

• Its link to insulin resistance and fatty liver disease

• How visceral fat disrupts testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol

• Why BMI alone is a poor marker of metabolic health

• How to assess visceral fat (DEXA, waist circumference, labs)

• Proven strategies to reduce visceral fat through sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress management, and targeted therapies

The good news? Visceral fat is highly responsive to lifestyle change—and often the first fat your body burns when metabolic health improves.

🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Jamie Lewis

🌲 Sponsored by Center for Regenerative and Performance Medicine

👉 Learn more at c4rpm.com

👍 If you found this episode helpful, like, comment, and subscribe for more bite-sized insights on longevity, hormones, and regenerative medicine.

In this episode of the Rare Wellness Podcast, host Dr. Jamie Lewis breaks down the science behind exosomes, cutting through the hype to explain what they actually do — and what they don’t do — in regenerative medicine.

Exosomes have rapidly gained attention in the wellness and orthopedic space, often advertised as injectable solutions for pain, injury, and anti-aging. But the real story is far more nuanced 🔬. Dr. Lewis explains that exosomes are biological messengers, not living cells — and that true healing requires activating your body’s own regenerative systems 🧬.

🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ What exosomes are and how they function as cellular “text messages”

✅ Why platelets act as your body’s first responders 🚒

✅ The critical role of stem cells as the “general contractors” of healing 🏗️

✅ Why exogenous (donor-derived) exosomes don’t align with how biology actually works

✅ The FDA’s position on off-the-shelf exosome products ⚠️

✅ Why autologous regenerative therapies are biologically sound approaches

Dr. Lewis uses clear analogies and real-world examples to explain why real regeneration comes from living cells responding to your specific injury, not disconnected signals from a petri dish. This episode empowers you to make informed decisions and avoid misleading regenerative medicine claims.

🌲 This episode is sponsored by the Center for Regenerative & Performance Medicine.

Learn more at 👉 www. c4rpm.com

👍 If you found this episode helpful, like, comment, and subscribe to the Rare Wellness Podcast for more bite-sized insights on longevity, hormone health, and regenerative medicine.