Intelligent Medicine Radio for October 10, Part 1: Weaponized Plague?

Death at clandestine Siberian bio lab raises specter of weaponized plague leak; Oats for constipation—friend or foe? How long can supplements keep? New weight-loss med that preserves lean body mass nears approval; Reading for pleasure—a waning pastime—enhances memory, mood, and empathy. 

The brouhaha over fortifying foods with folic acid—is it a cancer promoter?  Follow-up to botched Tennessee execution; Whole 30 or Paleo diets for autoimmunity; Mistletoe for cancer; Lifestyle changes may be as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy for depression; Sugar avoidance in first 1000 days of life slows organ aging, reduces later-life disease risk.

What to Eat After a Fasted Workout—and Why Energy Drinks May Affect Heart Rhythm: Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses what to eat after exercise, especially morning fasted workouts, advising water first and avoiding sweet or carb-rich post-workout options (smoothies, bananas, flavored yogurts, cereal, sports drinks) because they can raise blood sugar and insulin, reduce fat burning by suppressing glucagon, and blunt exercise-related benefits like human growth hormone; instead she recommends a savory protein-and-fat meal (e.g., a 3–4 egg omelet, steak, chicken salad without bread) within 45–60 minutes to support muscle repair while keeping insulin low. She then reviews a 2025 systematic review of 37 studies (1,597 participants; average age 22.5) in which 63.2% of studies reported QT prolongation after energy drink consumption, with frequent increases in blood pressure and heart rate, noting that the findings show repeated measurable cardiovascular changes but do not prove energy drinks cause heart disease.

A discussion on diet and healthFolic acid-fortified foods and cancerHow do I use your store?Why are calcium and strontium often put together in some supplements when they're supposed to be taken apart?

They're back!  Fruit and veggie pillsThe benefits of Pycnogenol in lipedemaWhat are some good supplements for my 14- and 18-year-old grandsons?What can I do about my restless legs syndrome?

Preventive Medicine and the “Preventioneers”--From Benjamin Franklin to Modern Public Health: Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews public health physician Dr. Barry Davis, MD-PhD, author of "The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World," about why preventive knowledge often fails to translate into action. Davis explains Benjamin Franklin’s “ounce of prevention” quote originated in fire prevention and led to innovations like fire companies, building codes, lightning rods, the Franklin stove, and fire insurance. They discuss hypertension as a “silent killer,” the VA clinical trials proving blood-pressure lowering prevents strokes and heart attacks, and the modern gap in awareness and control, alongside systemic barriers like access, adherence, and clinical inertia. Davis outlines a prevention framework—recognition, evidence, translation, implementation—and persistent resistance from industry, addiction, glamour, and the “invisibility problem,” noting only 2.9% of U.S. health spending goes to prevention. They cover clinical trials, peer review, bias, confounding, Mendelian randomization, statin evidence, Semmelweis and handwashing, seatbelt adoption, AI as an emerging prevention challenge, and rebuilding public trust after COVID through better communication and coordination.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with Barry R. Davis, MD, PHD, Public Health Physician | Biostatistician | Clinical Trials Expert | Professor Emeritus, University of Texas School of Public Health, author of “The Preventioneers: Diseases, Disasters, and the Discoveries That Changed Our World."

Nitric Oxide: Supporting Vascular Health, Performance, and the Oral Microbiome with Dr. Nathan Bryan: Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews nitric oxide researcher and entrepreneur Dr. Nathan Bryan about nitric oxide (NO) as a short-lived signaling gas that dilates blood vessels, reduces inflammation, mobilizes stem cells, supports mitochondria, and is linked to longevity. Bryan explains two NO production pathways: nitric oxide synthase from L-arginine and an entero-salivary nitrate pathway requiring dietary nitrate, specific oral bacteria, and stomach acid; he says sugar-heavy diets, fluoride toothpaste, antiseptic mouthwash, and proton pump inhibitors inhibit NO. Symptoms of deficiency include erectile dysfunction, rising blood pressure, metabolic disease/diabetes, exercise intolerance, and dementia/Alzheimer’s. They discuss limitations of many beet products, Bryan’s N-101 lozenges and NOBeats powder that generate NO, topical NO for wound healing and skincare, a fluoride-free prebiotic toothpaste, an upcoming mouth rinse, potential benefits for resistant hypertension, insulin resistance, cognition, and eye conditions like glaucoma, and access/discount details via hoffmannno.com.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with nitric oxide researcher and entrepreneur Dr. Nathan Bryan.

Ever more powerful weight loss drugs are on the launchpad as FDA issues warnings about bootleg versions—and potential hazards of drastic weight loss to seniors and those with eating disorders; Botched Tennessee execution—how can that happen? Immune support for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in a lung cancer survivor; Should beta-glucans be taken with—or away from—food for optimal absorption? Boosting bone density with an exercise program targeted for osteopenia/fall prevention.