Low Carb MD Podcast

Sami Inkinen is the co-founder and CEO of Virta Health, a leader in reversing metabolic disease through nutrition, technology, and expert support. Inspired by his own experience with prediabetes, he has helped scale Virta to serve over 100,000 members nationwide. A former Trulia executive and endurance athlete, Sami once rowed 2,750 miles from California to Hawaii to raise awareness about sugar and metabolic health.
In this episode, Dr. Tro and Sami talk about…
(00:00) Intro

(03:13) Sami's personal health journey and career journey that led him to the founding of Virta Health

(08:32) How Sami went from being a successful entrepreneur to focusing his efforts on metabolic health

(18:29) Virta's approach to reaching people and the world with metabolic freedom

(30:07) How Virta uses AI to help people reverse disease

(36:52) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!
Links:
Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/
Sami Inkinen:
Virta Health: https://www.virtahealth.com/

X: https://x.com/samiinkinen

Website: https://www.samiinkinen.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samiinkinen/

Dr. Brian Lenzkes: 
Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian: 
Website: https://toward.health

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App
Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together. 
Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more. 
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888 
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US
Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Pastor Gary Evensen is the longtime leader of North Jersey United Pentecostal Church and an ordained minister with the United Pentecostal Church International. Since his conversion in 1980, he has spent more than four decades in ministry, serving in roles from deacon to pastor and helping lead churches across the country. Alongside his wife Milly—a gifted gospel singer and pianist—he has been deeply involved in missions and church planting, including pioneering their current congregation in Secaucus. Pastor Evensen brings a lifetime of experience in faith, leadership, and personal transformation to every conversation.
In this episode, Dr. Tro, Dr. Brian, and Pastor Gary talk about…
(00:00) Intro

(02:41) Gary's spiritual and metabolic health journey

(12:45) Fasting and the Christian life

(16:01) Fasting and physical health/wellbeing

(23:08) Dealing with guilt and shame without turning to unhealthy coping habits

(31:58) Cortisol, B1 deficiency, and obesity

(47:57) The health issues faced by pastors and people in ministry

(57:19) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!
Links:
Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/
Pastor Gary Evensen:
North Jersey United Pentecostal Church: https://njupc.org

Dr. Brian Lenzkes: 
Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian: 
Website: https://toward.health

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App
Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together. 
Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more. 
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888 
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US
Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Dr. Jason Fung is a Canadian nephrologist and leading voice in metabolic health, best known for making the science of fasting and insulin resistance simple, practical, and empowering. Through his books, lectures, and clinical work, he's helped thousands rethink weight loss, type 2 diabetes, and long-term health by focusing on hormones, not just calories. Dr. Fung is the co-founder of The Fasting Method and a sought-after educator on metabolic health.
In this episode, Drs. Tro and Jason talk about…
(00:00) Intro

(03:12) GLP-1s, hunger, and sustainable weight loss

(07:35) The three types of hunger

(12:14) The energy balance model for weight loss

(19:35) Dealing with homeostatic hunger

(30:21) How poor sleep impacts your weight

(33:32) The three 'why's you have to ask to find the real solution to a problem

(37:27) Reactive hypolgycemia

(40:17) What Dr. Fung eats

(44:44) The 'second stomach' phenomenon 

(46:24) The sugar diet

(49:24) How to prevent weight regain after losing weight on a GLP-1

(53:08) A study showing how the body becomes 

(55:13) Audience Q&A

(01:03:17) Outro

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!
Links:
Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/
 
Dr. Jason Fung:
The Fasting Method: https://www.thefastingmethod.com/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01BT8K6FK

Website/Books: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/

iG: https://www.instagram.com/drjasonfung/

X: https://x.com/drjasonfung

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoyL4iGArWn5Hu0V_sAhK2w

The Hunger Code Pre-Order/Masterclass: https://www.doctorjasonfung.com/gift-with-purchase-offer

Dr. Brian Lenzkes: 
Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian: 
Website: https://toward.health

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App
Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together. 
Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more. 
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888 
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US
Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Peter Cummings is a preventive health practitioner and endurance sports coach with more than 30 years of experience helping people improve metabolic health through exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle change. A Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP) and Nutrition Network Practitioner (NNP), he specializes in therapeutic carbohydrate reduction, cardiorespiratory fitness, and personalized exercise prescription. Cummings has authored peer-reviewed research in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine – FOCUS and has helped train health professionals to integrate fitness and lifestyle interventions into clinical care. In addition to his work in preventive medicine, he has coached athletes to multiple national and state championship titles, bringing a data-driven approach to both human performance and chronic disease prevention. 
 
In this episode, Dr. Tro, Dr. Brian and Peter talk about…
(00:00) Intro
(01:56) VOT Max
(04:19) Health Ballistics (Peter's new book!)
(10:00) Bridging the gap between medicine and exercise
(16:59) Berberine and Metformin
(19:45) Helping people turn their health around and reverse diabetes
(29:12) Cardiac rehab
(34:43) Interval training
(39:21) Carbs and exercise
(42:56) Conflicts of interest in exercise science
(45:45) The biggest barriers to systemic change in the fields of exercise science and nutrition
(48:07) Tim Noakes' Central Governor Theory
(55:09) Exercise physiology and fat burning
(01:04:51) Peter's new book, Health Ballistics
(01:09:35) Outro
 
For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!
 
Links:
 
Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/
 
Peter Cummings:
Plan 2 Peak: https://www.plan2peak.com/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachcumm/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/plan2peak?
 
Dr. Brian Lenzkes: 
Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author
 
Dr. Tro Kalayjian: 
Website: https://toward.health
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro
IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/
 
Toward Health App
Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together. 
Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more. 
 
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888 
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US
Learn more: https://toward.health/community/

Dr. Alan Schaffer is a board-certified physician specializing in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. With decades of clinical experience, he focuses on the intersection of respiratory health, sleep disorders, and metabolic health, including the role of nutrition and carbohydrate restriction in improving chronic disease. Dr. Schaffer practices with St. Peter's Health Partners in New York and is a frequent educator and media guest discussing conditions such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and the broader drivers of cardiometabolic health.  
In this episode, Drs. Tro and Alan talk about…
(00:00) Intro

(09:59) Sleep Medicine and metabolic health

(13:37) Pulmonary Medicine and environmental factors

(18:57) How Dr. Alan helps his patients improve their sleep quality and metabolic health

(26:43) Helping late bloomer patients

(32:30) How to help patients trust you as a doctor

(37:07) Sleep apnea and CPAP

(42:52) Sleep apnea tools and tips

(46:08) Sleep tape

(52:05) Didjeridoo

(55:16) Weight loss and sleep apnea

(01:01:52) The Cholesterol Code documentary (See links below)

For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening!
Links:
Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.lowcarbmd.com/
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
The Cholesterol Code Screening (Wed, Apr 22, 2026 at 6:00 PM CDT): https://gathr.com/events/0ed2437d/the-cholesterol-code-at-amc-crystal-run-16

Cholesterol Code Movie: https://cholesterolcodemovie.com

Dr. Alan Schaffer:
https://www.sphp.com/provider/alan-edward-schaffer-md-sleep-medicine-0

Dr. Brian Lenzkes: 
Website: https://arizonametabolichealth.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianLenzkes?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

Dr. Tro Kalayjian: 
Website: https://toward.health

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoctorTro

IG: https://www.instagram.com/doctortro/

Toward Health App
Join a growing community of individuals who are improving their metabolic health; together. 
Get started at your own pace with a self-guided curriculum developed by Dr. Tro and his care team, community chat, weekly meetings, courses, challenges, message boards and more. 
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doctor-tro/id1588693888 
Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.disciplemedia.doctortro&hl=en_US&gl=US
Learn more: https://toward.health/community/