New Frontiers In Functional Medicine

Harvard's award-winning Dr. Charles Serhan isn't just an expert on specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), he is the scientist who actually discovered them. His breakthroughs opened up a brand new field of research and clinical application with immense potential. After all, chronic, unresolved inflammation is a contributor or cause of so many conditions. The growing body of research on the utility of SPMs continues to astound (although when you start to understand the mechanisms, it's perhaps easy to understand some of the "why") - pain, rheumatoid, osteo- and Lyme arthritis, macular degeneration, periodontal disease, uveitis, surgical recovery, and repetitive head injury, for instance, have all been shown to be potentially benefited by the ability of SPMs to promote inflammation resolution. Clinically, I consider SPMs in all conditions where unresolved inflammation is a contributing factor. Not only that, but SPMs appear to have some rather surprising additional effects including stem cell regulat

Vascular health is fundamentally essential to longevity and health span, and that’s why I’m thrilled to be welcoming Dr. Michael Twyman to New Frontiers. Trained as an invasive cardiologist, Dr. Twyman has made the shift to a more preventative approach, moving beyond traditional cath lab results to focus on the health of the 60,000 miles of blood vessels that carry vital blood, oxygen and nutrients to every organ in the body, with hopes of reaching patients before they reach the end stages of disease. In this episode we’ll look at endothelial glycocalyx dysfunction as the root cause of cardiovascular disease, and dive into the key roles of nitric oxide, circadian biology, and the oral microbiome on cardiovascular health. I know you’ll find this interview to be absolutely fascinating. Have a listen and leave me a comment let me know what you think. ~DrKF

I’m so happy to be here with Dr. Vincent Pedre to dig into emerging science on the microbiome. Dr. Pedre shares extensive clinical pearls from his vast experience in functional gut health in an approachable and fun way as he drills down on possible causes of the challenging gut epidemic we clinicians see in the increasing numbers of IBS patients walking through our doors. Dr. Pedre and I discuss how microbial diversity is the holy grail for reducing the risk of chronic disease, and how the gut disruptors of our time, (including food and environmental toxins, chronic stress, our over-sterilized world and lack of time in nature) are leading to many of the health challenges of the day. We get into current science on the impact of a high-fiber vs a diet high in fermented food on microbial diversity and immune activation. And there’s more: we talk about how where we live matters when it comes to our microbiome, the health- or disease-promoting post-biotics that are created, our optimal diet, overall health and o

As we gain insight into microbiome impact on our health, we need accurate tests that tell us not only what and how much is there, but also which metabolites, or post-biotics created that can have downstream effects. So today I’m thrilled to welcome the brilliant Dr. Erika Ebbel Angle, PhD, biochemist, CEO, and co-founder of Ixcela, to discuss their fingerstick gut microbiome test. We’ll discuss the 11 key markers, the value of a blood sample over urine, and the impact of endurance sports and chronic stress on health markers as revealed by the test. We also chat about my own results, how impressed I was by the insight provided – and how they clearly identified changes I could make to improve my markers. Listen and take notes -- I know I did! ~DrKF

Buckle up everybody, because this conversation is a big tour de force of where we are headed in regards to longevity and innovative technology within healthcare. I am joined by my friend, longevity investor and visionary, Sergey Young, to discuss his incredibly important mission of extending healthy lifespans of at least one billion people using technological breakthroughs AND by making longevity affordable and accessible. Sergey is a top 100 longevity leader and one of the co-creators of AGE REVERSAL XPRIZE, a global competition designed to cure aging. Today’s conversation looks at the fundamental issue of healthcare inequality, the democratization of access to healthcare, and dives into the current paradigm shift of using technology for disease prevention and reversal of biological aging. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and be wowed by the work of Sergey Young. ~DrKF

Imagine accurately determining the status of your skin’s age to tell whether it is younger or older than your chronological age, and then use this technology to determine whether expensive anti-aging serums and creams are effective, or actually causing more harm than good. Amazing, right? This is precisely the technology Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira and her fellow stem cell biologists at OneSkin created and you will find this interview fascinating on so many levels – I know I sure did! After creating their skin clock, the OneSkin team discovered peptide OS1, which targets senescent cells, one of the root mechanisms of aging, and is being shown in current studies to have a positive effect on hydration, firmness, elasticity, and the skin barrier. Listen as Dr. Reis explains the science and ongoing studies exploring the possible benefits of OS1 for the skin microbiome, hair loss, inflammation, and overall health.

The therapeutic value of curcumin makes it a fabulous recommendation as both a foundational and medicinal supplement. And since finding a preparation that is bioavailable is key to efficacy, affordability, and patient compliance, I’m excited to have Dr. Sonia Malani (from Integrative Therapeutics) here to talk about the latest advances in curcumin deliverability. Dr. Malani breaks down the progress of curcumin deliverability and the keys to bioavailability in a way that is simple to understand and easy to pass on to our patients in order to help them move away from the less effective brands that are currently lining the shelves of local markets so they get the therapeutic influence we are hoping for. Lots to learn, let me know what think in this great interview sponsored by Integrative Therapeutics! ~DrKF

If you’ve followed my show for some time, you’ve probably come across the wealth of conversations I’ve had with the team at Precision Analytical about their DUTCH hormone tests – this is an ever-evolving topic that continues to pique my interest as a clinician looking to level up my toolkit. In today’s show, I’m pleased to dive into some of my favorite topics of fertility, menopause, and HPA function with Dr. Jaclyn Smeaton, ND. She’s the chief medical officer at Precision Analytical, sponsor of this episode, and a naturopathic physician who specializes in reproductive endocrinology and hormones. Today’s conversation is all about the latest research on hormone testing, some of our favorite interventions to address hormone imbalances and much more as you consider the best testing options for your patients. This is an incredibly useful conversation so make sure to tune in!

Today we are taking on a revolutionary and provocative topic that I suspect will be quite liberating for many of us women (and practitioners who work with women) – a deep dive into how to optimize exercise training and performance during pre-, peri-, and post-menopause. This topic is of great importance to me as a cyclist and, I have to say, there’s nuance in the way we women should approach training that is hormone-dependent. My guest Dr. Stacy Sims is a huge talent and a tremendous gift to our community — listen as we discuss why women need to train differently than men, including specifics about protein intake, fasting, hormone replacement therapy, and what types of training are best depending on where you are in your cycle or menopause journey. Grab a pen, you’re going to want to take notes! ~DrKF

As we find ourselves entering this fourth year since the world was first gripped by COVID-19, on an individual and practice level many of us are still grappling with its post-viral after-effects (long COVID). Drs Patrick Hanaway and Kara Parker, as well as my long-time mentor and former IFM CEO Laurie Hofmann, join me on this podcast to share the important work they have been doing in building practitioner tools and training to address this ongoing challenge (check out the links in the show notes). I just really appreciate their doable, data-driven, and continuous-learning approach, as I’m sure you will too. And if you’re working with COVID-19/long COVID patients (as all of us do, or will, at some point), you’ll want to familiarize yourself with their patient registry so that you too can be part of that essential data collection. - DrKF

One fascinating and incredibly important molecule to pay attention to in the field of healthy longevity is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). It’s literally in every cell and contributes to over 300 different reactions in the body as a coenzyme substrate. Dr. Nichola Conlon, PhD, is an expert on NAD+ and launched Nuchido Laboratories to rigorously test and develop a NAD+ booster supplement packed with epinutrients. She joins me in this ridiculously interesting conversation where she explains role of NAD+ as a signaling molecule, its relationship with longevity proteins sirtuins, its impact on multiple hallmarks of aging, its relationship to the salvage pathway, NNMT and CD38. And that just touches the surface of all we discuss in today’s talk! I’m thrilled to have her with me and hope you enjoy listening. ~DrKF

I first met Dr. Heather Zwickey when she was my immunology professor in medical school and made sure to stay in touch with her ever since. Her command of the microbiome literature is frankly unparalleled – and I can always learn more from her and this podcast proves it. Join me in this New Frontiers conversation about the latest perspectives on the microbiome, and a great discussion of all things pre/post and parabiotics. We also get into the rise in autoimmunity conditions post-Covid and ways one can mitigate the risks of these conditions. Smart, timely, and always engaging – I know you’ll think so too. ~DrKF

I always appreciate talking to companies who heavily invest their time and dollars into preclinical and clinical science. And Timeline Nutrition is doing just that with dramatic results. They have figured out how to make a bioidentical Urolithin A, which compelling research has shown positively influences our mitochondrial health, with wide-ranging knock-on effects. In addition, since it relies on microbial formation from the right polyphenols within the gut, those of us without the right dietary precursors, or dysbiotic microbiomes, may not effectively produce it on our own. Please join me in this episode to learn more about the research and clinical applications of Urolithin A. And if you would be so kind, leave us a review and starred rating wherever you listen to New Frontiers! ~ DrKF

Dr. Wahls’ dramatic recovery from progressive, debilitating multiple sclerosis (she was wheelchair-bound at one point and unable to sit upright) using functional medicine principles continues to astound those who learn about it. She kindly returns to New Frontiers in this episode to give us her latest updates and refinements in her approach to healing. Tune in to learn how she weighs the importance of diet vs. supplements vs. e-stim, e-stim dosing strategies that worked for her, and the surprising effects of e-stim on BDNF and depressive symptoms. Dr. Wahls also shares her recommendations for omega-6:omega-3 ratios, cholesterol targets and more. And, if you suffer with multiple sclerosis there’s a chance to screen for one of Dr. Wahls’ upcoming trials. You’re in for a tremendous treat! -DrKF

If you’re a practitioner looking to level up your toolkit for regenerating the intestinal barrier and healing the gut, then this interview with Dr. Tom Fabian, PhD is exactly what you need. This fundamental piece of our functional medicine toolkit continues to progress, and today we’re zooming way out from just patching up the gut. Dr. Fabian and I dive into the dynamic nature of the barrier, including its circadian cycle, the role of prebiotics, polyphenols, probiotics, and postbiotics in epithelial regeneration and stem cell proliferation, and useful clinical pearls to assess barrier function using the GI-MAP stool test. So glad to have Tom back on New Frontiers, and Im sure you will be too! Let me know what you think! ~DrKF

How much do we really know about the microbiome? What does it take to identify new probiotic strains and their associated health benefits? When should we leverage precise single strains and when is it more effective to use synergistic blends? I am grateful to talk again with the brilliant scientist and incredibly courageous entrepreneur, Dr. Colleen Cutcliffe. Colleen has over 20 years experience managing and leading teams in biotech, pharma, and academia — I just love picking her brilliant brain! She completed her postdoc research at Northwestern’s Children’s Memorial Hospital and earned her PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins. In this episode of New Frontiers, we explore novel probiotic strains such as Clostridium buytricum, Clostridium beijerinckii & Anaerobutyricum hallii, discuss their synergy in producing short-chain fatty acids and potential to stimulate satiety-inducing GLP-1, and so much more! I commend Colleen and the team at Pendulum for their dedication to bringing new &

Dr. Michael Roizen is an extraordinarily well-read, well-researched, and experienced physician in the field of longevity medicine. He dates his first interest in the field back to 1979 as head of an intensive care unit, when he recognized that patients who were biologically younger dramatically reduced their risk for post-operative disease and death. Since then, he has worked tirelessly in many ways to help individuals get physically and mentally younger, improving the lives of patients and documenting millions of dollars of savings per year in employee healthcare costs at Cleveland Clinic. In our conversation, he shares his lifestyle-forward approach, one that sits well alongside the Younger You program. Tune in to find out the importance of “posse, purpose, play, and locus of control,” how you can be your own genetic engineer, his take on emerging anti-aging interventions, and much more. As Dr. Roizen reminds us, it’s never too late to start – “until you’re six feet under, it ain’t too late to do this.” -Dr

Why are we often resistant to tackling stress and preprogrammed thought patterns? It’s a curious phenomenon that occurs even in those of us who really know the central role these psychological factors play in health, disease, and even aging. That’s why I'm thrilled to interview resilience expert Dr. Stephen Sideroff. After all, a full 25% of the bio-age clock we used in our clinical study is driven by epigenetic patterns on stress-related genes. If you’re looking for the right motivation or framework to begin your own journey into stress resilience, or even if you need that next-level exploration of what really makes you tick psychologically and how you can truly optimize your functioning on all levels, you’ll want to hear what Dr. Sideroff has to say. For practitioners, you’ll discover an excellent intervention to add to your functional medicine and healthy aging toolkit. Listen in, and let us know what you think with ratings, reviews, and emails! Thanks so much for your time -- and enjoy! - DrKF

In this New Frontiers in Functional Medicine® podcast, Dr. Tom Fabian delivers a well-justified challenge to our current thinking and a chance to build a more nuanced approach that will improve patient results around the topic of hydrogen sulfide, a compound that we have typically thought of as the “problem child” behind certain difficult SIBO cases. However, there is a LOT more to know about it, such as its ability to convert to potent antioxidant compounds, and its therapeutic roles in cardiovascular and metabolic disorders (diabetes and NAFLD), neurodegenerative disorders, and more. But how do we start to both broaden and nuance our approach to assessing hydrogen sulfide status? And what interventions can not only supply the substrates for beneficial hydrogen sulfide production, but also help achieve that all-important balance between too little and too much. Listen in to find out, and let us know what you think! ~DrKF

Functional medicine providers are well versed in addressing the myriad manifestations of autoimmune disease, but while our success rates are remarkably high, we still aren’t always able to help everyone using current toolsets (labs, sophisticated elimination diets, gut protocols, and so on). Enter Mymee, a digital app and coaching platform that helps plug that gap – this sophisticated tool helps identify elusive trigger foods and lifestyle factors that may still be contributing to an individual’s disease process. Mymee’s work with COVID long-haul patients and the Mount Sinai post-COVID treatment center (long-COVID is highly autoimmune-related) is impressive and especially relevant for clinicians and patients alike. Some fascinating patterns are emerging from their long-COVID patient data that feed directly back into how to approach these cases differently. I am sure you will find this as interesting and useful a conversation as I did! Please review New Frontiers wherever you hear my voice and let us know what