On episode 703 of the 40 Plus Fitness Podcast, Coach Allan welcomes Dr. Rafael Cuomo, a professor of science at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and author of The Hidden Biology of Addiction and Cancer. Together, they dive into the fascinating world of cravings—how our everyday patterns and habits, from a morning coffee to bedtime doom scrolling, silently shape our biology and impact our long-term health.

Dr. Cuomo breaks down the invisible yet powerful effects of chronic cravings on metabolism, inflammation, and even our cancer risk, revealing why small daily choices matter so much more than one-off events. You'll hear enlightening stories, practical strategies to break free from damaging routines, and surprising insights into the links between stress, sleep, processed foods, and disease.

Time Stamps:

05:36 Dense Content, Immediate Engagement

07:08 Automatic Behavioral Patterns

11:06 The Cycle of Chronic Stress

13:21 Caffeine Habits Impact Health Risks

17:04 Reflecting on Past Work Routines

22:26 Metabolism, Not Activity, Affects Cancer

23:36 Glucose, Insulin, and Cancer Growth

28:13 C Reactive Protein and Cancer Risk

31:32 Mindset-Driven Cancer Prevention

35:00 Healthy Habit Transformation Steps

36:41 Rewiring Cravings: A Seven-Day Detox

41:41 Meme-Worthy Habits Signal Caution

43:34 Promoting Healthy Work-Life Balance Get the book, Crave on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4kBlq2D.