Summary of Ep. 250 Denver’s Diet Doctor: Metabolic Health, Toxic Food Environment, & Therapeutic Fasting:
Dr. Jeffry Gerber is a board-certified family physician with a medical practice in Colorado, where he is known as “Denver’s Diet Doctor”. He is very knowledgeable about low-carb, high-fat, ancestral health, paleo, primal, intermittent fasting, and whole foods, and he focuses on prevention and treatment programs using these diets to treat and prevent chronic conditions such as overweight, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart disease. In this podcast episode, he discusses his background, interest in metabolic health, the impact of modern-day lifestyles, the toxic food environment, and common challenges in the current medical system. Gerber also covers topics such as deprivation versus mindfulness, the role of mitochondria in longevity, and the differences between insulin sensitive and insulin resistant individuals.
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The Changing Face of Nutrition
As a doctor with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Jeffry Gerber has seen the healthcare industry change in ways that no one could have imagined. While medicine has made incredible advances over the years, it has also become more complicated and expensive. And nowhere is this more evident than in the area of nutrition.
Back when Dr. Gerber first started practicing, nutrition was barely given consideration by the medical community. Doctors were never trained to discuss nutrition with their patients, and the advice given was usually quite simplistic: eat less and exercise more.
However, as time progressed and the available data grew, Dr. Gerber and a handful of other forward-thinking physicians began to take a closer look at the role that nutrition played in overall health.
Over time, they came to realize that the conventional wisdom about nutrition was flawed. Rather than being a matter of simply eating fewer calories, nutrition was actually more complex and dependent upon what we ate. Specifically, Dr. Gerber and his colleagues found that the Western diet, which is high in refined carbohydrates and low in healthy fats, was a major factor in many of the chronic diseases that plague modern society.
This revelation led Dr. Gerber to develop a new approach to medicine, one that emphasized low-carb, high-fat, ancestral health, paleo, primal, intermittent fasting, and whole foods as a way to prevent and even reverse many of these diseases.
This approach, known as the “Denver’s Diet Doctor” approach, has resonated with many patients who are frustrated with spiraling healthcare costs related to treating conditions like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others.
The Impact of Modern-Day Lifestyles
Of course, the Western diet is not the only factor in the rise of chronic diseases. Modern-day lifestyles are also a major contributor.
We live in a world that is full of stress, pollution, and environmental toxins. These factors all have an impact on our physical health and can lead to a wide range of health problems over time.
In particular, the toxic food environment that we live in is a major problem, as it has led to the proliferation of junk food that is high in calories and low in nutrients. This kind of food is not just unhealthy; it is downright toxic, and it has played a major role in the obesity epidemic that we are currently facing.
The Role of Mitochondria in Longevity
Another area of interest for Dr. Gerber is the role that mitochondria play in longevity. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of our cells, and they are crucial to maintaining overall health and vitality.
In recent years, there has been a growing body of research that suggests that certain lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and exercise, can have a significant impact on mitochondrial health. By optimizing mitochondrial function, we may be able to increase our lifespan and improve our quality of life as we age.
Perimenopause, Menopause, and Andropause
As we get older, our hormones start to change, and this can have a major impact on our health and wellbeing. Dr. Gerber is particularly interested in the hormonal changes that occur during perimenopause, menopause, and andropause.
These transitions can be difficult for many people, as they often involve significant changes in mood and energy levels. However, with the right approach, it is possible to make these transitions more manageable and even enjoyable.
Therapeutic Fasting and Deprescribing
One approach that Dr. Gerber has found to be particularly effective in promoting overall health is therapeutic fasting. This involves periods of prolonged fasting, which can help to reset the body’s metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity.
In addition to fasting, Dr. Gerber also emphasizes the importance of “deprescribing,” which involves gradually reducing the number of medications that a patient is taking. This can be a highly effective way to improve overall health and reduce the risk of side effects from multiple medications.
Assessing Cardiovascular Risk
Finally, Dr. Gerber believes that it is important to assess cardiovascular risk in all patients, regardless of age or overall health status. This involves looking at a wide range of markers, including cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and family history.
By taking a proactive approach to cardiovascular health, it is possible to reduce the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems, even in patients who are considered to be at low risk.
Overall, Dr. Gerber’s approach to medicine is highly innovative and emphasizes the importance of lifestyle factors, such as nutrition and exercise, in promoting overall health and wellbeing. While there is still much to be learned in the field of preventive medicine, Dr. Gerber’s work represents an important step forward in this area.
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