It's like I've been saying this whole time… GLP-1 drugs are NOT a weight loss panacea. I'm not saying these don't have a place in medicine at all… For some people with SEVERE metabolic dysfunction, perhaps they can be a tool (when all else has failed). But for the VAST majority of humans, GLP-1s are a huge NET NEGATIVE in my opinion. Of course, the mainstream media, longevity enthusiasts, celebrities, even some pretty smart individuals I respect have been singing praises about GLP-1s… How millions of peoples’ lives have been changed. Hundreds of pounds lost. Overeating and cravings silenced. Behaviors changed. Confidence regained. But a major new systematic review and meta-analysis published in The BMJ just gave us the answer to the question we’re all asking… What happens when you STOP? The study looked at 37 studies involving over 9,300 participants who discontinued GLP-1 medications after losing weight... And guess what happened? Weight regain was FASTER than what we see after behavioral interventions like diet and exercise changes - about 0.3 kg (0.7 pounds) per month faster. And people were estimated to regain a significant portion of their lost weight within 18 months But here's what really caught my attention... It's not just the weight that comes back – your hunger signals return with a VENGEANCE. When you stop taking GLP-1s, your appetite doesn't just "normalize"... It actually rebounds HARDER than before. The research shows that weight loss triggers compensatory responses in your body – increased ghrelin (the hunger hormone), decreased leptin, reduced metabolic rate, and ramped-up appetite signals from the hypothalamus. GLP-1 drugs artificially suppress all of this while you're taking them... But the second you stop? Your body's defense mechanisms kick in HARD. Increased hunger... reduced satiety... greater cravings... decreased ability to resist food. It's like your biology is PUNISHING you for trying to take a shortcut (sounds familiar?)

A prospective cohort study published in BMJ followed over 105,000 adults in France for an average of 7.5 years and found multiple associations between widely used food preservatives and higher cancer incidence. The study tracked detailed dietary intake through repeated 24-hour food records and used brand-specific data to quantify preservative exposure. Researchers found positive associations between several common preservatives (potassium sorbate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, acetic acid, and sodium erythorbate) and increased risk of overall cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. For example, higher sodium nitrite intake was associated with a 32% increased risk of prostate cancer. While these findings show correlation rather than causation, and the effect sizes are relatively modest, the precautionary principle applies here. These additives are ubiquitous in processed foods, appearing in everything from processed meats and packaged snacks to alcoholic beverages and refined grain products. This is another reminder that limiting ultra-processed foods isn't just about avoiding empty calories or blood sugar spikes. It's about reducing your exposure to a wide array of potentially harmful compounds that simply aren't present in fresh, whole foods prepared at home.

For more than a century, people have considered Alzheimer's disease (AD) an irreversible illness. Consequently, research has focused on preventing or slowing it, rather than recovery. Despite billions of dollars spent on decades of research, there has never been a clinical trial of any drug to reverse and recover from AD. A research team from Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals (UH) and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center has now challenged this long-held dogma in the field, testing whether brains already badly afflicted with advanced AD could recover. The team showed that the brain’s failure to maintain normal levels of a central cellular energy molecule, NAD+, is a major driver of AD, and that maintaining proper NAD+ balance can prevent and even reverse the disease. NAD+ levels decline naturally across the body, including the brain, as people age. Without proper NAD+ balance, cells eventually become unable to execute many of the critical processes required for proper functioning and survival. In this study, the team showed that the decline in NAD+ is even more severe in the brains of people with AD, and that this same phenomenon also occurs in mouse models of the disease. After finding that NAD+ levels in the brain declined precipitously in both human and mouse AD, the research team tested whether preventing loss of brain NAD+ balance before disease onset or restoring brain NAD+ balance after significant disease progression could prevent or reverse AD, respectively.

Most New Year’s resolutions are wishful thinking on a timeline. “I’m going to get healthy!” Too vague. “I’m cutting out sugar completely. Forever.” Too extreme. Without structure and strategy, you’re relying far too much on motivation — and motivation is a terrible employee. The start of a new year can be a great time to reflect, assess, and recalibrate. What do you want to achieve? How do you want to feel? What steps can you take to get there? My advice? Focus on ONE foundational practice that helps move the needle on metabolic health. No gimmicks, no 30-day transformations; just something that’s specific, measurable, and achievable. Need some ideas? Here are four foundational practices that I recommend to folks all the time. They seem simple, but you’d be surprised how often they’re overlooked — and how much impact they can have on your energy, blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity, and long-term resilience. Pick one practice, focus on it for a month, make it stick. Then add another. Progress isn’t born from resolutions. It’s born from reps. Practice #1: Prioritize Strength and Muscle Maintenance Why it matters: Muscle is metabolically active tissue. It improves how your body handles glucose, enhances insulin sensitivity, and keeps you resilient as you age. You don't need to become a bodybuilder — you just need to consistently challenge your muscles. What it looks like: Train 2–3 times each week to the point of fatigue. You’ll know you’re on track when the last few reps of each set feel hard. Where there’s challenge, there’s change. The metabolic benefits you’ll get from lifting heavy things will compound for decades. Resolution #2: Reduce Added Sugar Intake Why it matters: Excess sugar drives inflammation, destabilizes blood glucose, and fuels cravings that make everything else harder. Before you say "everything in moderation" — sure, but most people are way past moderation and don't even realize it. What it looks like: Track all added sugars for seven consecutive days and calculate your daily average. Then, try to reduce intake by 5–10g (or one major source) each week until you reach 25g per day or, ideally, well below that.

There are many factors that influence how your body ages. Physical activity, for instance, has been proven to be a major contributor to “healthy aging,” a term defined by researchers as “high physical, psychological, and social functioning in old age.” Studies involving older adults show that physically active individuals have higher odds of aging well than those with sedentary lifestyles. Sleep is another major factor influencing physical and mental health among older adults. According to a study published in the journal Clinical Gerontologist, adults who enjoy quality sleep at night are more likely to stay healthy later in life than those who suffer from poor sleep. Diet and nutrition also play a huge role in healthy aging. Poor diets rich in processed foods have been linked to faster biological aging. Meanwhile, healthy diets high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unsaturated fats, nuts, and legumes are associated with a higher likelihood of healthy aging, underscoring the importance of nutrition in maintaining optimal health in your golden years. Here are six of the most important nutrients for ensuring successful aging, according to science: Collagen Collagen is a fibrous protein your body naturally synthesizes using dietary protein. For this process to take place, protein from food is first digested into smaller molecules called amino acids, which serve as raw materials for new proteins. Various tissues, such as your skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues, rely on collagen for structural support and strength. Astaxanthin Astaxanthin is often described as the most powerful antioxidant on earth, with an unparalleled capacity to neutralize free radicals. Research reveals that astaxanthin is 800 times stronger than coenzyme Q10, a vitamin-like antioxidant molecule produced by the body, 75 times more potent than alpha-lipoic acid, a natural compound involved in your body’s antioxidant defense, and 6,000 times stronger than vitamin C. Its unrivaled antioxidant activity makes this marine-derived carotenoid deserving of the title “king of antioxidants.”