Metabolic health

One way to think about metabolic disease is as a disorder in fuel processing. Whether we’re talking about hyperinsulinemia or type 2 diabetes, the fundamental problem is that the body is not doing a good job storing and accessing fuel.

I think of the three most deadly chronic diseases — heart disease, cancer, and dementia — as pillars all resting on the foundation of metabolic disease. While complications from metabolic disease often do not directly lead to death, the indirect cost is staggering. Each of the other major pillars of chronic disease is exacerbated and amplified by metabolic dysregulation.

Metabolic disease typically exists on a continuum — progressing from hyperinsulinemia, to insulin resistance, to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, all the way to type 2 diabetes — and tends to cluster with five signs which make up the diagnostic criteria for Metabolic Syndrome, including: high blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, elevated blood glucose, truncal obesity, and low HDL-cholesterol.

The following is a collection of content that dives deeper into the topic of metabolic health, discussing specific strategies for prevention and treatment.

Longevity

AMA

Peter evaluates longevity drugs, aspirin for CVD, and strategies to improve muscle mass — promising, proven, fuzzy, noise, or nonsense?

Ep. #370 (AMA #76)

Nutrition

Guest Episode

Rethinking protein needs for performance, muscle preservation, and longevity, and the mental and physical benefits of creatine supplementation and sauna use

Ep. #369 with Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.

Nutrition

Guest Episode

The protein debate: optimal intake, limitations of the RDA, whether high-protein intake is harmful, and how to think about processed foods

Ep. #368 with David Allison, Ph.D.

Nutrition

AMA

Sugar and sugar substitutes: weight control, metabolic effects, and health trade-offs

Ep. #361 (AMA #74)

Longevity

Guest Episode

How metabolic and immune system dysfunction drive the aging process, the role of NAD, promising interventions, aging clocks, and more

Ep. #359 with Eric Verdin, M.D.

Risks

Free Article

IL-10 may underlie the link between diabetes and dementia — and presents a possible target for intervention

Exercise

AMA

Building strength and muscle mass: how to optimize training, nutrition, and more for longevity

Ep. #349 (AMA #71)

Longevity

Podcast Episode

Aging well: Peter shares strategies for improving longevity with residents at a senior living center

Ep. #342

Longevity

QPS

Peter’s takeaways on aerobic exercise and VO2 max, insulin resistance, rising healthcare costs, treating children with autism and ADHD, and strength training | Quarterly Podcast Summary #4

Ep. #338

Risks

Podcast Episode

Insulin resistance masterclass: The full body impact of metabolic dysfunction and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment

Ep. #337 with Ralph DeFronzo, M.D.

Longevity

AMA

Fasting, well-balanced diets, alcohol, exercise for busy people, wearables, emotional health, assessing cardiovascular health, and more

Ep. #336 (AMA #68)

Longevity

AMA

Special AMA: Peter on exercise, important labs, building good habits, promising longevity research, and more

Ep. #329

Nutrition

Guest Episode

Metabolism, energy balance, and aging: How diet, calorie restriction, and macronutrients influence longevity and metabolic health

Ep. #324 with Eric Ravussin, Ph.D.

Medications & supplements

AMA

New insights on GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro)

Ep. #320 (AMA #64)

Nutrition

Free Article

Back on the merry-go-round of bad science regarding meat consumption

Nutrition

Guest Episode

Rethinking nutrition science: the evolving landscape of obesity treatment, GLP-1 agonists, protein, and the need for higher research standards

Ep. #314 with David Allison, Ph.D.

Longevity

Podcast Episode

Longevity 101

Ep. #311

Nutrition

AMA

Preventing cognitive decline, nutrition myths, lowering blood glucose, apoB, and blood pressure, and more

Ep. #306 (AMA #60)

Nutrition

Premium Article

Do high protein diets increase cancer risk?

Risks

Guest Episode

Confronting a metabolic epidemic: understanding liver health and how to prevent, diagnose, and manage MAFLD and liver disease

Ep. #302 with Julia Wattacheril, M.D., M.P.H.

Medications & supplements

Podcast Episode

Special episode: Peter on exercise, fasting, nutrition, stem cells, geroprotective drugs, and more — promising interventions or just noise?

Ep. #300

Sleep

Free Article

Does the timing of sleep loss during the night impact subsequent negative metabolic effects?

Nutrition

Free Article

Does low iron intake change exercise capacity?

Nutrition

Guest Episode

Gut health & the microbiome: improving and maintaining the microbiome, probiotics, prebiotics, innovative treatments, and more

Ep. #283 with Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph.D.