Q&A with Leyla, Part 2: Is high blood pressure genetic?

Can topical B12 help relieve itching?The types of doctors to avoidGetting back to basicsA case study of lavender oil helping to relieve itchingYou say you're dairy sensitive but you use whey protein. Please explain.What are your thoughts on a lactose relief patch that is on offer?

Is high blood pressure genetic? Are we stuck having to take blood pressure meds?Could you please critique the study asserting fish oil supplements elevate the risk of atrial fibrillation?I've had strep throat three times in two months! What gives?I've had queasy reactions to protein added foods

A Brand New Tool for Gut, Inflammation, and Brain Support: Holistic Practitioner Jane Jansen details Essential Formulas’ Dr. Ohhira’s Postbiotic Fermented Food Concentrate, a non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, capsule-free fermented paste in travel-friendly, non-refrigerated sachet packets. She explains the difference between probiotics and postbiotics, emphasizing that this concentrate delivers postbiotic metabolites (including short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, plus enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, peptides, and growth/repair factors) created via a five-year fermentation of fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and seaweeds. 

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with holistic practitioner Jane Jansen.

Naturally Healthy Pets: Whole-Food Diets, Microbiome Repair, and Integrative Therapies with integrative veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT. She argues that pet ownership benefits human wellbeing and that pets concentrate household toxins, warning against routine pesticide-based flea/tick and other veterinary drugs due to environmental contamination and adverse events. She recommends species-appropriate whole-food diets (cats as obligate carnivores; dogs mostly meat) and criticizes ultra-processed pet foods, synthetic nutrient premixes, grains/legumes in kibble, and high-carb diets that fuel yeast and inflammation; she discusses safe calcium, zinc, and vitamin D sources. In part two, she describes veterinary acupuncture, chiropractic, and laser/red-light therapies with case examples, links skin/ear “allergies” to gut dysbiosis, uses microbiome testing, FMT capsules, and detox support, highlights omega-3s, PEA for pain, and CBD for seizures/anxiety, and outlines multi-layered natural flea/tick prevention. Intelligent Medicine listeners can get 50% off Dr. Judy authored books found on NaturallyHealthyPets.com. Just use the coupon code INTELLIGENT50.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with integrative veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan, DVM, CVA, CVCP, CVFT. 

A tale of 2 pneumonias—NASCAR racer Kyle Busch dead at 41 while Rudy Giuliani, age 81, survives critical care; Newly discovered evidence that Neanderthals were practicing dentistry—59,000 years ago! “Fatty 15”—does it measure up to the hype? Stem Wave—A shocking way to obtain pain relief; When to give antibiotics for a tick bite; Proposed ban on tobacco products for future generations of Brits aims to eradicate smoking.

Soon-to-arrive drugs promise to address elevated Lp(a); Best natural alternatives to repel mosquitoes and ticks; When cancer treatments cause osteoporosis; Organoids and computer simulations promise to reduce the toll of live animal experimentation; Land snails and pythons yield clues for new drug development; Shortfall in doctors accelerated by early retirement as physicians cite “hassle factor.”

Registered dietitian nutritionist Leyla Muedin discusses the growing interest in biological age versus chronological age and explains that biological aging is modifiable through consistent lifestyle choices. She outlines common measurement tools and biomarkers, including epigenetic clocks (DNA methylation), telomere length, VO2 max, inflammatory markers, grip strength, and muscle mass, noting that genetics account for only about 25–40% of biological aging variation. Key interventions include regular aerobic and resistance exercise, protein-adequate nutrition to preserve muscle and prevent sarcopenia (with whey protein and leucine-rich foods noted), improved sleep, stress management, reducing processed foods and visceral fat, and lowering chronic inflammation (CRP, IL-6). She also reviews hormetic stressors such as sauna use and mentions red/near-infrared light and sun exposure without sunglasses. Leyla shares client examples showing biological age can worsen or improve, and encourages repeat testing after lifestyle changes.

An overview of itchingWould tofu be a good addition to my diet?Is TMAO a risk factor for heart disease when eating meat?How about interviewing an expert on vegetarianism?