Intelligent Medicine with Dr. Ronald Hoffman | The Best of High Tech Medicine and Alternative Modalities

Dr. Ronald Hoffman interviews pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health. They discuss evidence linking tech use to sleep disruption and mixed effects on nutrition and physical activity, plus risks including body image comparisons, addictive “frictionless” design in social media and gaming, exposure to disturbing content, cyberbullying, sexting, and impacts of parent device use on connection and language development. Moreno outlines practical, non-punitive strategies: assessing readiness for a phone based on maturity, setting rules on time and location, co-viewing, using device settings with role modeling, watching for problematic use, and maintaining open, supportive conversations.

Dr. Hoffman continues his conversation with pediatrician and public health expert Dr. Megan Moreno, co-author of “Connecting: Raising Kids in the Digital World” and co-medical director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, about how social media and technology affect children’s mental and physical health.

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.