Find your model health!

Could astaxanthin be one of the most powerful natural compounds for fighting oxidative stress and inflammation? In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with Sam Shepard - physicist, inventor and biochemist - to explore astaxanthin, inflammation, free radicals, oxidative stress, metabolism, and the potential role of this powerful carotenoid in human health. I am SO EXCITED to bring you this conversation. Prepare to have your mind blown.

Astaxanthin has gained significant attention for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and emerging research continues to investigate its effects on oxidative stress and inflammation. But our conversation goes FAR beyond astaxanthin.
We discuss:
🔴 Astaxanthin - what makes this red carotenoid so interesting
🔴 Natural vs. synthetic astaxanthin
🔴 Inflammation and free radicals
🔴 Oxidative stress and the body’s antioxidant defenses
🔴 The four free radicals Sam discusses
🔴 Astaxanthin and eye health, including macular degeneration and vision
🔴 The connection between inflammation and eyesight
🔴 Progesterone and molecular chirality - what does it mean for a molecule to be “left-handed” or “right-handed”?
🔴 Krill oil and its relationship to astaxanthin
🔴 hs-CRP and what this marker can tell us about inflammation
🔴 Sam’s personal health journey, including his experience with rare bone cancer
🔴 Sam’s perspective on ALS and Alzheimer’s disease
🔴 His theories about the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s
🔴 Astaxanthin vs. turmeric
🔴 Metabolism and the potential impact of certain medications on metabolic health
🔴 Sam’s views on science, researchers and the medical system
🔴 And what Sam believes has been a major cover-up surrounding astaxanthin - including why he thinks important information about this compound has not received the attention it deserves.

Sam brings a unique perspective that combines physics, biology, chemistry and health, and this conversation goes into some fascinating territory. If you’ve heard me talk about pure krill oil and astaxanthin before, you know I’m fascinated by this compound... and I think you’re going to find this conversation incredibly interesting.

Sam Shepherd is a veteran chemical engineer, physicist, and inventor with over 50 years of experience and 42 patents spanning medical, biochemical, and environmental technologies. After receiving a terminal blood cancer diagnosis in 2003, he leveraged his extensive scientific background to research chronic inflammation and cellular health. His work led to the creation and patenting of ValAsta, a specialized glycosidic astaxanthin formulation designed to enhance antioxidant absorption at the cellular level.
Website; https://valasta.net
Facebook; / valastahome
YouTube; ‪@ValAsta‬

What do YOU think about astaxanthin? Let me know in the comments!

🎙️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing for more conversations on hormones, metabolism, nutrition, thyroid health, longevity, and evidence-informed approaches to wellness.

👇 Let me know in the comments: Have you ever used tissue salts or focused on improving your mineral status?

I appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity.
https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks

🛑 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

I welcome my friend and mentor, Dr. Barr, back on the podcast for a second conversation! This time, we’re diving back into a topic that has become increasingly popular in the health and wellness world: peptides.
Our conversation focuses on sourcing peptides and the risks of buying peptides off the gray market.
With peptides becoming more widely discussed for weight loss, metabolism, longevity, muscle building, healing, and overall health, more people are looking online for peptide products. But where are these peptides actually coming from? What are you really getting? And what risks can come with purchasing peptides from unregulated or questionable sources?
In this conversation, Dr. Barr and I discuss:
🔹 What the gray market for peptides actually looks like
🔹 The risks associated with buying peptides online from unregulated sources
🔹 Why “research use only” does not necessarily mean a product is appropriate for human use
🔹 The importance of peptide purity, identity, sterility, and quality control
🔹 Potential contamination concerns, including endotoxins and heavy metals
🔹 Why a certificate of analysis or a claim of “99% purity” doesn’t tell you everything you need to know
🔹 The difference between pharmaceutical-grade peptides and products obtained through questionable sources
🔹 Liquid versus powdered peptides and concerns surrounding preparation and handling
🔹 The importance of sterile preparation when peptides are intended for injection
🔹 What can happen when peptides are used at inappropriate doses or without proper medical guidance
🔹 Severe reactions, including anaphylaxis, and why peptide sourcing and administration matter
🔹 The growing popularity of peptides for weight loss and metabolic health
🔹 Why consumers need to understand what they are purchasing before putting these products into their bodies

This conversation is not about fear-mongering around peptides. It’s about understanding the difference between a legitimate therapeutic product and something purchased from an unknown or unregulated source. If you’re considering using peptides - particularly injectable peptides - I think this is an important conversation to hear before making decisions about where those products come from.

Dr. Barr brings a wealth of knowledge to this discussion, and I’m grateful to have her back on the podcast for another fascinating conversation. Dr. Iman Bar has been a practicing physician since 1990. She began her postgraduate studies in Hematology-Oncology, culminating in a fellowship specializing in stem cell therapy. In 2002, Dr. Bar pioneered the first concierge medical practice in Newport Beach, Newport Concierge Medical. Her dedication in this field earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious "Top Doctor" honor from the American Medical Association. She offers a variety of advanced modalities, including peptide therapy, hormone replacement, and stem cell therapy. In 2022, she further extended her commitment to cutting-edge medicine by launching the Stem Cell & Longevity Center in Newport Beach. Connect with Dr Br here;
‪@DrImanBarMD‬
Website; https://www.drbarx.com/
Instagram; / barxmd
Facebook; / drbarx

🎙️ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing for more conversations on hormones, metabolism, nutrition, thyroid health, longevity, and evidence-informed approaches to wellness.

👇 Let me know in the comments: Have you ever used tissue salts or focused on improving your mineral status?

I appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity.
https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks

🛑 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

Why is it that we can eat whatever we want when we’re younger, stay relatively lean, and then suddenly our bodies seem to change? For many people, this starts happening much earlier than they expect. Why does weight gain become easier? Why does belly fat appear? Why can stress make us gain weight even when we’re not eating very much? And what happens to our metabolism as we age?
In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Dr. Richard Johnson, whose research has transformed our understanding of fructose, uric acid, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and the body’s survival response.
We go right back to the beginning of Dr. Johnson’s work with kidney disease and blood pressure and follow the path that eventually led him to investigate fructose and what he calls the Fructose Survival Switch.
We discuss:
🔹 The Fructose Survival Switch and why it may be activated during stress and sympathetic nervous system activation
🔹 Why we can seemingly eat anything when we’re young and then suddenly start gaining weight
🔹 Mitochondrial health, metabolic wear and tear, deuterium, and glycation
🔹 The connection between fructose, uric acid, obesity, and metabolic syndrome
🔹 Why muscle mass, exercise, and healthy mitochondria may influence how well we tolerate carbohydrates
🔹 The difference between fructose from whole fruit and high-fructose corn syrup
🔹 Why high-glycemic fruits may be different from lower-glycemic fruits
🔹 Stress, insulin resistance, visceral fat, and the dreaded “stress belly”
🔹 Why women can gain weight despite eating relatively little
🔹 Whether carbohydrates contribute to accelerated aging through advanced glycation end products (AGEs)
🔹 And my challenge to Dr. Johnson on the Randle Cycle: if we lower dietary fat sufficiently, can we still have a problem with carbohydrate metabolism?

I also share some of what I personally practice with my clients after 20 years of real-world experience helping people lose weight and improve their metabolic health, including why I often keep carbohydrate intake below 30% of total daily calories.
And importantly, this conversation is not a prescription for a hardcore ketogenic diet. We explore the much bigger picture of metabolic health, muscle, exercise, mitochondrial function, stress, carbohydrates, fructose, and how our bodies change over time.

This was such a fascinating conversation that I invited Dr. Johnson back for a second episode so we can dive deeper into the practical side of nutrition, weight loss, and what I actually do with my clients. Thankfully, he said yes - so watch out!🙌🏻

If you’ve ever thought:
“I used to be able to eat whatever I wanted… so what happened?”…this conversation is for you.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing for more conversations on hormones, metabolism, nutrition, thyroid health, longevity, and evidence-informed approaches to wellness.

👇 Let me know in the comments: Have you ever used tissue salts or focused on improving your mineral status?

I appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity.
https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks

What if fructose isn’t only something you consume?
In this fascinating conversation with Chris Mearns, we explore the surprising connection between stress, fructose production, metabolism and weight gain including the idea that under certain conditions, the body can actually make fructose from glucose.
We dive into why this matters for metabolic health and why understanding the body’s response to stress may be an important piece of the weight-loss puzzle.

In this episode, we discuss:
• How and why the body can produce fructose internally
• The connection between stress and fructose metabolism
• How metabolic dysfunction can change the way the body handles energy
• Why our biology may respond differently depending on whether we are in a “feast” or “famine” environment
• The fascinating hummingbird vs. bear comparison and what it can teach us about energy storage
• The role of exercise and energy expenditure in metabolic health
• How polyphenols may influence these metabolic pathways
• Why weight gain and metabolic dysfunction are more complicated than simply “eat less and move more”
• And what this emerging research could mean for people struggling with weight and metabolic health

This conversation completely changed the way I think about fructose and I think you’ll find it fascinating too. So if you’ve ever wondered why your body seems to fight against weight loss, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Chris Mearns is the founder of LIV3 Health and the creator of the Fructose Model, a systems-based approach focused on how fructose metabolism may influence cellular energetics and contribute to chronic metabolic dysfunction. You can find out more about Chris' work here;
Web - https://liv3health.com/pages/modelhealth
REDDIT - https://www.reddit.com/r/sugarfree
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chris_liv3/

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing for more conversations on hormones, metabolism, nutrition, thyroid health, longevity, and evidence-informed approaches to wellness.

👇 Let me know in the comments: Have you ever used tissue salts or focused on improving your mineral status?

I appreciate your support on these videos because they actually do take time, especially where studies are involved and I don't monetize them. So if you would like to support me in making my videos or podcasts, and would like me to keep doing it, it would really mean a lot to me if you bought me a coffee - I do love coffee. Thank you so much for your generosity.
https://buymeacoffee.com/cmhthanks

🛑 DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.

#Fructose #MetabolicHealth #WeightLoss #Stress #Metabolism #InsulinResistance #Nutrition #WomensHealth #ChrisMearns

EP433 PT2; Epstein-Barr Virus, Chronic Inflammation & Autoimmunity with Dr Pamela Cipriano. by Chemaine Linnie