humanOS Radio

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#033 - Antibiotics Are Losing Efficacy, CRISPR May Save Us - Paul Garofolo, CEO Locus Bio Apr 09, 2018

Show notes

If you are alive today, you've benefited greatly from humankind's ability to deftly handle infectious agents via antibiotic medications. In fact, probably the single greatest achievement of modern medicine remains our ability to thwart (many) deadly microorganisms. But our high usage of antibiotics has put great pressure on these pathogenic bacteria to mutate for their own survival. As a result, deadly strains of bacteria have become more virulent and more resistant to our medications, creating so-called “superbugs.” For instance, an increasing percentage of tuberculosis cases worldwide are attributed to bacterial forms that are resistant to multiple drugs and require more complex treatments with an array of different medications. Eventually, former wonder drugs, like penicillin for instance, can be rendered ineffective. This is a very scary proposition and this problem is not likely to go away on its own. We need new ways to control bacterial infections and we need them fast. And that brings us to my guest today. In this episode of humanOS Radio, Dan speaks with Paul Garofolo. Paul is the CEO of Locus Biosciences, a biotech company that is developing a novel class of antimicrobials that take advantage of the CRISPR-Cas system. If this pans out, it would offer a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics, and would presumably be less subject to the known mechanisms of drug resistance. Secondly, this method could be targeted to specific pathogenic bacteria, thus leaving your friendly bugs alone. This seems like a win-win that is both lifesaving and health promoting, potentially (depending on the context).

#032 - Fat Tissue Has Receptors for Sunlight and They Affect Fat Metabolism - Professor Peter Light Apr 03, 2018

Show notes

You probably already know that ambient light regulates circadian rhythms by interacting with light-sensitive neurons in the eye. What hasn’t been clear is whether visible light has physiological effects on other tissues in the body outside of the retina...until now. In this episode of humanOS Radio, Dan talks to Peter Light. Dr. Light is a pharmacologist and a leader in the field of cellular electrical activity. He is chief investigator at the Light Lab at the University of Alberta, and director of the U of A's Alberta Diabetes Institute. He and his research team discovered - largely by accident - that chronic exposure to blue light causes human fat cells to shrink, store less lipid, and alter their function in other ways that are likely relevant to metabolic health. This suggests that subcutaneous fat might be a sort of peripheral biological clock, and raises all sorts of intriguing questions. Could repeated exposure to blue light serve as a protective mechanism against insulin resistance, chronic systemic inflammation, or even obesity? Listen to the interview below to learn more!

#031 - The Ketogenic Diet and Diabetes - a New Study by Virta Health - Dr. Stephan Guyenet Mar 22, 2018

Show notes

Does a ketogenic diet cure diabetes? A new study set out to explore the efficacy of this diet in a diabetic population and it's been getting a lot of attention. The results, in fact, are impressive but claims are being made about what the study showed that are not entirely true. In this episode, I've brought on the multi-time guest, Stephan Guyenet, PhD - author of the book the Hungry Brain, and co-author of the Ideal Weight Program on humanOS.me - to help sort out the findings from the hype.

#030 - Can Beetroot Juice Help Keep Your Brain Youthful? - Jonathan Burdette, Md Mar 07, 2018

Show notes

Aging has long been characterized as a loss of complexity. The body loses the ability to adapt to various forms of stress, which gradually results in disease and loss of function. This is most evident in the muscles and bones, but neuroimaging has revealed that this occurs in the brain as well. The aging brain becomes less specialized than that of younger counterparts. We see increased secondary activation in areas of the brain that are not typically involved, possibly as a way to compensate for poorer signal transmission. One intervention that we know helps to restore complexity and plasticity is exercise. No big surprise there. Another, oddly enough, is beetroot juice. In today’s episode of humanOS Radio, Dan talks to Dr. Jonathan Burdette. Dr. Burdette is a neuroradiologist and researcher at Wake Forest School of Medicine, who uses advanced MR imaging techniques to study the brain as a complex and interconnected network. Recently, he and his team designed a clinical trial to investigate whether beetroot juice - in combination with an exercise regimen - could enhance neuroplasticity and improve brain function in measurable ways.

#029 - A Genetic Test to Help You Decide Whether to Eat Paleo or Vegetarian? - Professor Alon Keinan Feb 24, 2018

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In this episode of humanOS, Dan interviews Dr. Alon Keinan, Professor at the Department of Biological Statistics & Computational Biology at Cornell University. His lab investigates the evolutionary origin of genetic variation in human populations, and have been looking into what factors may have shaped human genetic propensity to convert long-chain fatty acids. In his recent study in Nature, his team examined variants of the genes that code for fatty acid desaturase (FADS). This mutation consists of an insertion or a deletion of some DNA base pairs, which affects the expression of the fatty acid desaturase genes, which could then influence who well or poorly we create essential fatty acids from plant matter, which could subsequently influence what diet might be best for you. And good news, you can now get this test done to determine if you are the paleo type or farmer type in your FADS gene variant.

#028 - Can a Scale That Leverages Behavioral Psychology Help You Lose Weight? - Professor Dan Ariely Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

We are in control of our decisions, right? Well, at least we all feel that way but the social science of behavioral economics demonstrates that we are really products of our environmental triggers and cultures. Still, we can act willfully but it's typical that environment will win out, for many behaviors, over time. One interesting line of work that has come from this field looks to understand how to create better products that leverage true modifiers of behavior for better outcomes. Today, I have Duke University Professor Dan Ariely on to discuss the field and the science related to a new product he's involved in called the Shapa body weight scale and he thinks it can help you have better control over your weight than the scale in your bathroom.

#027 - We Need an Unconventional Approach to Care for Your Health Better - Chris Kresser Nov 08, 2017

Show notes

We need a better approach to healthcare and we just might have the solution in our hands now. In this episode, Dan interviews Chris Kresser about his new book, Unconventional Medicine. Who is the book for? All stakeholders in the healthcare system, which means you. In our chat, we discuss Chris's personal health journey and the experiences that lead to the development of his plan for a better healthcare system.

#026 - The Health Impact of Breakfast Skipping and Food Timing - Greg Potter & Jeff Rothschild Aug 10, 2017

Show notes

So much of the discussion on nutrition is about the food itself. What's discussed far less regularly is the impact of food timing, fasting periods, and meal skipping on the same outcomes we're interested in when we talk about saturated fat, carbs, fiber, etc. It turns out, there is a whole lot to discuss here that matters for human health. In this episode, Dan speaks with two topic experts - both with several peer-reviewed scientific publications related to the subjects discussed in the episode - and both of whom are collaborators on humanOS.me. Enjoy the conversation.

#025 - How to Clear Senescent Cells to Stay Healthier as we Age - Judith Campisi, PhD Aug 01, 2017

Show notes

Why is that we tend to see many diseases of aging occur around the same time in life? One reason is that we accumulate senescent cells with age, and these cells promote the aging process. There is, however, exciting new research that shows how these cells can be cleared as we age. Some of the compounds are drugs but others are natural compounds that could have a meaningful effect. In this episode, Dan speaks with an expert on the subject: Judith Campisi, Ph.D., from the Buck Institute of Aging in Marin County, California.

#024 - The Longevity Properties of the Ketone Beta Hydroxybutyrate - Neil Copes, PhD Jul 06, 2017

Show notes

Ketones are getting a lot of press these days. They are produced in the liver under the conditions of low carbohydrate intake and also low-calorie intake. They are of interests for many reasons, including potential anti-cancer properties, weight control properties, athletic and cognitive enhancement, and now as substances with longevity and health extention potential. In this interview with researcher Neil Copes, PhD, of the aging diagnostic company Osiris Green, Dan discusses his work in this fascinating area.

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