Scientific knowledge of the gut microbiome has increased exponentially over the last decade. Recently, several studies have suggested that specific strains of bacteria, including Akkermansia muciniphila, are key to supporting the environmental conditions required for other related bacterial strains that facilitate healthy metabolic health. In this video, Colleen Cutcliffe, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Pendulum discusses groundbreaking research around Akkermansia mucinophila, the role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in stimulating GLP-1 pathways, implications for diabetes management, and how gut bacteria influence inflammation, gut integrity, and overall metabolic health. They also explore how diet, antibiotics, and stress impact the microbiome, potential roles of probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pediatric gut health, and exciting emerging research on the gut-brain axis and neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease. Colleen highlights Pendulum's rigorous scientific approach, including clinical trials and innovative manufacturing practices that ensure product viability and effectiveness.

Promotional code STERLING20 can be applied for 20% off of first membership purchases (https://pendulumlife.com). Please note that Dr. Sterling has no financial affiliation with Pendulum. This code is provided only as a discount to listeners and does not constitute a clinical recommendation or medical advice.

Chapters:

- 00:00 Intro: Gut Microbiome Essentials

- 02:03 Pendulum's Biotech Innovation

- 06:15 GLP-1 & Metabolic Health

- 09:59 Probiotic Industry Insights

- 17:17 Importance of Akkermansia

- 24:17 Clinical Results for Diabetes

- 29:28 Manufacturing Challenges

- 39:13 Diet's Impact on Microbiome

- 43:35 Gut-Brain Connection

- 46:50 Next Steps & Resources

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References & Show Notes:

http://www.nicksterling.com/

This content is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. This content is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit http://nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.

What are some common side effects of medications like Ozempic and Wegovy? From the front lines of healthcare, we explore adverse effects of these medications based on real-world visits to the emergency department. Learn about common side effects such as nausea, dehydration, and muscle wasting, as well as lesser-known risks like starvation ketosis and mood changes. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction to & GLP-1 RAs 0:48 - Nausea and Vomiting as Side Effects 1:52 - Dehydration Leading to Kidney Injury 3:11 - GLP-1 RAs & Starvation Ketosis 4:16 - Muscle Wasting on GLP-1 RAs 5:08 - Depression and Mood Changes 5:39 - Honorable Mention: Gastroparesis Video on Muscle Wasting & GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: https://youtu.be/Po2gC3zG0C8 Spotify Channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sterlingmdphd/ Social & Website: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sterlingmdphd Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9 References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/ This content is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. This content is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit http://nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.

In this episode, we explore how ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic with a long history in medical use, is now being investigated for its rapid and sustained effects on depression, anxiety, and PTSD. We discuss its role in promoting neuroplasticity—rewiring the brain's structure to counteract stress-induced atrophy—and review the evidence from clinical trials, including a landmark 2023 meta-analysis. While ketamine shows promise in alleviating depressive symptoms and supporting neural growth, we also address its risks and the importance of professional oversight. Learn how this cutting-edge research is reshaping mental health treatment and what it means for the future of therapy. Spotify Channel: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sterlingmdphd/#mentalhealth Social & Website: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sterlingmdphd X - https://x.com/sterlingmdphd Facebook - / sterlingmdphd Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9 References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/ This content is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. This content is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use. Timestamps 00:00:00 - Depression Treatments and Challenges 00:00:20 - Brain Rewiring and Neuroplasticity 00:00:36 - Ketamine: A Rapid Neuroplasticity Tool 00:00:52 - Ketamine's Origins as an Anesthetic 00:01:28 - How Ketamine Works in the Brain 00:01:49 - Evidence of Ketamine's Effectiveness for Depression 00:03:04 - Human Trials and Clinical Findings 00:04:14 - Short-Term and Medium-Term Efficacy 00:04:31 - Exploring Ketamine for PTSD and Anxiety 00:05:54 - Brain Changes in Depression 00:08:50 - How Ketamine Reverses Brain Damage 00:10:02 - Ketamine's Neuroplasticity Mechanisms 00:12:11 - Risks and Side Effects of Ketamine Treatment 00:14:15 - Long-Term Concerns and Cognitive Impacts 00:15:05 - A Holistic Approach to Depression Management 00:15:22 - Thanks and Channel Support

In this episode, we talk about a recent study from Nature Aging that suggests aging may not progress in a straight line. Using data from thousands of biological measurements, researchers identified key ages—44 and 60—where changes in aging appear to accelerate. We review what this means for our understanding of aging, how it affects multiple systems in the body, and the potential implications for health and disease. We also discuss what this study tells us—and doesn’t tell us—about the biology of aging and how it could guide future research.

Social & Website:

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Twitter - https://x.com/sterlingmdphd

Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9

References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/

The content of this podcast is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The content of this podcast is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.

Can we slow the speed of aging? In this episode, Dr. Varun Dwaraka, Head of Bioinformatics at TruDiagnostic, walks us through through the science of measuring "biological age" using epigenetic markers, such as DNA methylation. We discuss how epigenetics (i.e. DNA methylation), may provide biomarkers of biological age, the rate at which aging occurs, and potentially early markers of disease. Dr. Dwaraka explains the distinctions between chronological and biological age, the development and refinement of epigenetic clocks, and the potential applications of these tools in aging interventions. The conversation also addresses the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, the influence of lifestyle factors on biological age, and the future role of epigenetics in predicting and managing age-related diseases. Additionally, we examine the data science that underpins these clocks, their targeted outcomes, and a recent study published by Dr. Dwaraka and colleagues comparing aging biomarker outcomes in a vegan vs. omnivore diet intervention among twins. Chapters: 00:00 - Biological Age & Epigenetics 01:07 - What is Biological Age? 03:34 - Rate of Aging (aka. Speed of Aging) 05:28 - Epigenetics and Aging 11:14 - How the Epigenome Changes Over Time 18:26 - The Evolution of Epigenetic Clocks 24:49 - Understanding the Horvath Clock 30:03 - New Generations of Aging Clocks 34:07 - The Impact of Lifestyle on Biological Age 42:13 - The Future of Epigenetics in Predicting Disease 50:34 - Practical Applications of Epigenetic Testing 57:43 - The Role of Multi-Omics in Understanding Aging 01:07:34 - The Rejuvenation Olympics and the Future of Anti-Aging Social & Website: Instagram - / sterlingmdphd Twitter - / sterlingmdphd Facebook - / sterlingmdphd TikTok - / sterlingmdphd Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TDUK3F... Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3Olanei References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/ The content of this podcast is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The content of this podcast is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.

Why do humans get cardiovascular disease and how can we prevent it? These are critical processes to understand for anyone who is interested in living a longer and healthier life. I'm very honored to talk with Dr. Tom Dayspring, a world-renowned clinical lipidologist and physician whose topic expertise is unparalleled. We discuss the underlying process of atherosclerosis & the formation of plaques, ApoB, methods to stabilize plaque, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, markers and the risk of atherosclerosis, LP-PLA2 & atherosclerosis, homocysteine and cardiac risk, genetic therapies for lipid disorders. We also discuss lifestyle interventions, including exercise, in managing lipid disorders and reducing cardiovascular risk. Dr. Dayspring Twitter: https://x.com/Drlipid Chapters: 01:07 Introduction 07:44 ApoB & Atherosclerosis 13:25 How Plaques Form 26:32 Stabilizing Plaque & Preventing Rupture 31:46 Metabolic Syndrome & Insulin Resistance 37:57 Markers & Risk of Atherosclerosis 40:42 LP-PLA2 & Atherosclerosis 47:00 Homocysteine & Cardiac Risk 57:14 Genet Therapies for Lipid Disorders 01:09:50 The Role of Exercise Social & Website: Instagram - / sterlingmdphd Twitter - / sterlingmdphd Facebook - / sterlingmdphd TikTok - / sterlingmdphd Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TDUK3F... Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3Olanei References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/ The content of this podcast is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The content of this podcast is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nicolas Verhoeven of Physionic. We focus our attention on metabolic health and, specifically, the energy-related, cellular, and nutritional mechanisms of insulin resistance. Nicolas reviews evidence pertaining to the reversal of insulin resistance and dietary clinical trials demonstrating remission of type 2 diabetes. Nicolas also highlights the synergistic effects of physical activity and dietary habits on insulin resistance, expanding our discussion into mitochondrial health. Finally, we explore importance of a nuanced conversation around autophagy and its role in health and disease prevention. Physionic on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Physionic Chapters: 00:00:13 - Nicolas' Background & Inspiration 00:05:34 - Misconceptions about Carbs & Fat Intake 00:08:57 - Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance 00:18:34 - Reversing Insulin Resistance & Diabetes 00:23:08 - Measuring Insulin Resistance 00:24:20 - Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) 00:30:25 - Insulin Resistance & Health 00:37:33 - Mitochondrial Dysfunction 00:49:14 - Mitochondrial Biogenesis 00:56:05 - Improving Mitochondrial Health 01:02:54 - Autophagy 01:07:28 - Closing Remarks Social & Website: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sterlingmdphd Twitter - https://twitter.com/sterlingmdphd Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sterlingmdphd TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@sterlingmdphd Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/hQpdqT Subscribe to the Podcast: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3y438C9 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TDUK3F2sJXfnG63hSxJhT?si=40bb52e5b53f404c Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3Olanei References & Show Notes: http://www.nicksterling.com/ The content of this podcast is not medical advice, is for general information purposes only, and does not constitute the practice of medicine or any other healthcare professional services. No doctor-patient relationship is formed. The content of this podcast is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment and does not take precedence over information provided to you by your healthcare provider or official public health sources. Please visit nicksterling.com/terms for full Terms of Use.