Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Welcome to youo optimal health. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryant and today we're talking about practical ways to improve your health and wellness. You're watching NOW Media Television.
[00:00:09] Hello everyone and welcome to youo Optimal Health. I'm your host, Dr. Nathan Bryant. I'm really excited and truly honored to be the host of youf Optimal Health, a new series On Now Media TV. You know, I spent 25 years in academia as a professor of molecular medicine. I have a Bachelor's degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin.
[00:00:29] I then went to LSU School of Medicine. I earned a PhD in molecular and cellular physiology, did additional postdoctoral training at Boston University Medical center. And then I joined the faculty of University of Texas Health Science center at Houston where I became one of the most successful inventors in the history of the University of Texas Health Science center. Published over 100 peer reviewed papers, have dozens of issued US and international patents.
[00:00:53] I don't say that to impress you, but rather to impress upon you that I come from a background of experience of how science and how medicine goes and how it's really educate future physicians and how the system works. And I think we can all agree that the current healthcare system is broken. You know, the US has some of the sickest people on the face of the earth. We make up 4% of the global population, but we're responsible for 76% of the prescription medications around the world.
[00:01:22] And so those numbers alone should alarm all of us. And so we want to change the conversation, we want to change the system and we want to talk about your optimal health. And rather than focusing on sick care, we want to talk about health care, true health care, true optimal health.
[00:01:39] And so with that, you know, this show is for two types of people. Number one, I hope that if people are sick and tired of being sick and tired and the current healthcare system has failed them, then join us each week where we're going to talk about science based strategies, lifestyle changes that can transform your entire life. And then number two, I hope people who are healthy and are health conscious and are already high performing tune in each week to learn additional modalities, additional things, strategies to optimize your health even further and to prevent getting sick. The science is very clear. We know how the human body works. We know what leads to chronic disease and many times simple lifestyle changes, eliminating things that your body doesn't need or toxic and then adding in things that are clinically and scientifically proven to enhance your health and optimize your health.
[00:02:30] So today I want to talk about something Many people already feel in their own lives.
[00:02:36] And most of us do not enter the health system when we feel strong, energized, and well.
[00:02:41] We only enter when something is already wrong again. It's reactive. Medicine is a reactive practice, and we have to be proactive, and we have to do things to prevent getting sick.
[00:02:54] And we wait until the pain gets worse. We wait until the fatigue becomes hard to ignore.
[00:03:00] We wait until our sleep, our weight, our mood, blood pressure, or our energy starts affecting our daily life.
[00:03:07] And by that time, the body may have been sending warning signs for months and even years. You know, we know in cardiology, the people who have ischemic heart disease and cardiovascular disease, that their body has been deficient, particularly in a molecule called nitric oxide. Not just recent, but for years, sometimes decades. So the heart attack you have today started 40 years ago, 30 years ago. The dementia, brain fog you have today started 10, 20, 30 years ago.
[00:03:36] And so now I want to be clear. Modern medicine is important.
[00:03:40] Hospitals, doctors, nurses, some medications, surgeries, certainly emergency care, and specialists save lives every day.
[00:03:49] And there are times when urgent medical care is necessary, and we should be grateful for that. But health is bigger than emergency care. Acute care health should not only be about what happens after something breaks.
[00:04:01] Health should also be about what we do before the crisis and how we live each day to maintain good health.
[00:04:07] It should be about prevention, education, the right information, daily habits, and helping people live better, not just treating them once they are already sick.
[00:04:18] And that's why this conversation matters.
[00:04:21] Many people are not in the hospital, but they're still sick. They do not feel well, they're going to work, they're caring for their families, they're getting through the day, but they're tired, they're stressed, they have brain fog, they're inflamed, anxious and disconnected from their bodies.
[00:04:37] And sometimes when they ask for help, they're told, well, everything looks normal, or come back if it gets worse, or I'll give you this drug, we'll see if it works. If that doesn't work, come back, we'll prescribe more drugs. But just because something is common does not mean it is normal, healthy. And that's why the proper interpretations of labs by medical professional is so important.
[00:04:59] And feeling exhausted every day is not something we should simply accept.
[00:05:03] Poor sleep, constant stress, weight changes, weight gain, low energy, brain fog, chronic pains. These are signals the body is trying to communicate to us that something is wrong.
[00:05:16] The question is, are you? Are we listening? And are we listening early enough?
[00:05:21] Because too often the healthcare system Is built around sick care.
[00:05:25] And sick care waits for a diagnosis. And once you make a diagnosis, the standard of care dictates what drugs can be prescribed. And drugs are inhibitors of symptoms. Symptoms are signals. The body's telling us that something's wrong.
[00:05:41] And so true health care looks at the full picture.
[00:05:44] It asks how someone is sleeping, eating, moving, recovering, managing stress, and functioning in real life. What are you putting in your body? What are you putting on your body? What are you exposed to? How's your oral health? How's your systemic health? Because the body is connected.
[00:06:01] Sleep affects energy.
[00:06:03] Stress affects our blood pressure. Chronically stressed people have an elevation in blood pressure, and high blood pressure is the number one driver of the number one killer of men and women worldwide, which is cardiovascular disease. Food affects inflammation. Processed foods, foods high in sugar and simple carbohydrates, drive the inflammatory response, drive inflammation, and inflammation is the silent killer.
[00:06:25] So the food that we eat is contributing to most aspects of what causes chronic disease.
[00:06:31] And movement affects move.
[00:06:34] As once said that people stop exercising because they get older. And it's just the opposite. People get old because they stop exercising.
[00:06:42] And movement is very important. We're designed to move. When we stop moving, we get sick.
[00:06:47] And we know that mental health affects physical health. We know coming out of four years of lockdown, the mental health crisis reached a peak, a pinnacle. And so mental health affects our physical health. And so if we don't get our emotional, spiritual, and physical health in balance, the body can never be optimized.
[00:07:05] So the point is, everything works together.
[00:07:08] And that is why we cannot treat the body like a machine that only needs attention when something breaks.
[00:07:15] The body is a living system, and it responds every day to the choices we make and the support we receive. And it's what we do on a daily basis that matters. And so this is not about blaming anyone, because life is complicated.
[00:07:29] Genetics matter. Access to care matters.
[00:07:32] Finances matter because in order to buy good food, buy quality supplements, you know, these cost money. Finances matter.
[00:07:41] Work schedules matter. You know, people who work shift work have worse health than people who don't, because work schedules matter. And the circadian rhythm matters. It basically detects, dictates our health.
[00:07:56] And stress matters. Family responsibilities matter.
[00:07:59] So this is not a shame conversation. This is an empowerment conversation. And the hopes of this series is that we can empower you to take control of your own health so that you don't have to see a doctor, you don't have to see a physician, because you're gathering the information you need to take control of your own health.
[00:08:17] So even when we cannot control everything, we can often become more informed, more intentional, and more proactive.
[00:08:26] Because remember, it's not what happens to us that matters, but rather how we respond to what happens to us.
[00:08:33] We can ask better questions, we can pay attention to symptoms sooner and become better listeners to our body. Because our body always talks to us. If we're not sleeping good, if our blood pressure is going up, if we develop insulin resistance, that's our body telling us that something is not right.
[00:08:48] And we must make corrective actions. We must take corrective actions immediately when our body talks to us.
[00:08:54] And so we do this by getting regular checkups, getting baseline labs, monitoring our progress. Test, treat, test is the best approach, and we can learn what those numbers mean. We can improve our sleep, we can eat better food, we can exercise, we can manage the stress in our life better.
[00:09:12] Life is stressful. And again, everyone has stress, but it's how we deal with the stress that really matters. And you do this one step at a time.
[00:09:21] And that is what your optimal health is about.
[00:09:24] It's about helping people move beyond simply getting by.
[00:09:28] Because getting by is not the same as living well.
[00:09:31] You can get by while being tired. In fact, most people do. You can get by while being stressed, you can get by while ignoring pain, and you can get by while your body is slowly moving in the wrong direction and telling you that something's wrong.
[00:09:47] And in fact, that's what most people are doing. They're simply getting by. They're not living with purpose. They're not living with the energy and the dedication that they were born to do.
[00:09:58] And so that's what we're going to do on optimal health. We're going to bring in experts all around the world that are going to address all aspects of optimal health, whether it's medical professionals, physicians, you know, anything related to physical health, mental health, emotional health, spiritual health, and even our financial health, because all of this matters. Optimal health asks a better question.
[00:10:21] What would it look like to feel better, to function better, and to live with more strength and energy, but more importantly, to live with purpose? I think we have. Every person has to wake up each day with a purpose and full of energy. You know, I'm fortunate to do that. I wake up every day with energy, with a purpose. I live a purpose driven life. And it's because I feel good and because my health is good and anybody can achieve that. But you have to have the right information, the knowledge. But more importantly, you have to act on that information and knowledge. So what we're going to do. Optimal health is not perfect and it's not extreme and it's not unrealistic.
[00:10:59] It's just better.
[00:11:00] Because when you have better energy, better sleep, better focus, better movement, better prevention, better understanding of your own body, then you too can have optimal health.
[00:11:13] And that's the goal. That's the goal. That's the goal of all of this. And it's really integrating everything we've learned in science and medicine over the past 30 years. And I've been very fortunate to contribute to many seminal discoveries that have changed the way that we look at disease prevention and what causes disease.
[00:11:30] So before we continue, I want to say this clearly. This information on this show is for education.
[00:11:35] It is not a replacement for personal medical advice. Every person's health is different. So always work with your own medical professional. But education matters. When people understand their bodies, they become better partners in their care. They stop waiting until things fall apart. They start seeing health as something they can participate in every day.
[00:11:54] Health does not always happen in the doctor's office. It happens in your home, happens in your kitchen, your sleep routine, your stress levels, your movement and your daily choices.
[00:12:03] True health care sees the whole person.
[00:12:06] It does not only ask, what disease do you have? It also asks, what kind of life are you trying to live? And how can we help your body support that life?
[00:12:15] And that is where true health begins.
[00:12:19] So health should not begin at the point of crisis. It should begin with awareness. And when we come back, we will talk about why sick care is failing everyday people and how we can start asking better questions about our health. Stay with us. More your Optimal health is coming up next.
[00:12:36] We'll be right back with more tools and insights to help you feel healthier, stronger and more energized. Stay tuned. And we're back. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryant and this is your Optimal Health on Now Media Television. Let's continue.
[00:12:49] Welcome back to youo Optimal Health.
[00:12:52] Stay connected to youo Optimal Health in every NOW Media TV favorite live or on demand, anytime you like. Download the free Now Media TV app on Roku or iOS and unlock non stop bilingual programming in English and Spanish. Are you on the move? Catch the podcast version at NowMedia TV.
[00:13:12] From business and news to lifestyle, culture and beyond, Now Media TV is streaming around the clock.
[00:13:18] Ready whenever you are.
[00:13:20] I'm Dr. Nathan Bryan. In this first segment, we talked about how our system often waits until people are sick before taking action. A reactive approach.
[00:13:30] Now I want to talk about why that approach is failing so many everyday people. And so in this segment, we're going to explain that our health system often waits until people are sick before taking action. I will introduce the idea that true health care should be focused on prevention, on daily habits and understanding the whole person.
[00:13:49] And really, questions we want to ask is, what warning signs have I been ignoring in my body?
[00:13:55] Am I waiting until something gets worse before I take action?
[00:13:58] And what is one simple health habit I can improve this week? And over the course of 52 weeks, if you employ the.
[00:14:06] Employ the strategy, we can start to see changes, 52 changes you can take on every week, one step at a time.
[00:14:13] And so again, this is not about blaming doctors or nurses. Many medical professionals work very hard. They care about their patients, and they're often working under pressure.
[00:14:24] The issue is not always the people. Many times the issue is the system.
[00:14:28] And I come from a background of being inside the system, of knowing the medical school curriculum, of knowing what we're teaching future physicians and how they're trained on the economics of medicine, of diagnosing a disease and prescribing a drug, rather than addressing root cause. And the other thing is, when care is rushed and it's reactive and focused only on symptoms, the whole person will get missed and can get missed and does get missed.
[00:14:55] So a patient may receive medication, but not a full explanation. That makes blains all their symptoms, because doctors simply don't have the time to spend the necessary time with each patient to get a full understanding of what's going on their life, full medical history, family history, what they're eating on a daily basis, what they're putting in and on their body.
[00:15:13] So they may get test results, but not understand what those numbers mean. They may be told to lose weight, reduce stress, eat better, exercise more, but no one gives them a clear plan. Again, a plan without execution means nothing. And this is what leaves people frustrated. They know they do not feel well, but they do not know what to do next. They're sick and tired of being sick and tired.
[00:15:37] And one problem is that symptoms are often treated separately. A person may talk about fatigue at one visit, blood pressure at another visit, or even another doctor, sleep at another visit, and wait at another visit. But the body does not work in isolation or in separate pieces. We know that sleep affects our hormones, hormones affect our weight.
[00:15:58] Stress affects our blood pressure. Food affects inflammation. Inflammation affects pain. Pain affects movement, movement affects mood. It's all connected. The heart is connected to the brain, to the liver. This is done through the cardiovascular system. And so if we only treat one symptom, at a time, we may miss the bigger picture.
[00:16:18] And unfortunately, cardiologists only look at the heart. Nephrologists only look at the kidney. Neurologists only look at the brain. But again, it's all connected. And many of these symptoms manifest in different organ systems in different people. But the root cause may be very simple.
[00:16:34] And many people have had this experience. They say, I'm tired all the time, I cannot focus, my body does not feel right.
[00:16:42] But the test results look normal. They're told that their blood labs are normal, and that's where the conversation may end. And that can make people feel dismissed, unimportant. It can make them question themselves.
[00:16:54] It can also delay the help they need.
[00:16:56] So true health care must listen more deeply and get to the root cause or the symptoms of the illness. And again, that's where your optimal health is going to address a lot of these questions that your doctor may not know and certainly your doctor is not going to tell you. And so that's what we hope to do, empower you to take control of your own as. But optimal health should ask, what changed? If I'm sick now and I wasn't sick last week, what changed? What happened during that? Then how long has this been happening? What is your sleep like?
[00:17:26] How's your stress? How are you managing the stress? What are you eating? What are you putting in and on your body is the most important question.
[00:17:34] And are you exercising? Are you moving your body? What's happening emotionally? What's going on in your life? What's your family history?
[00:17:41] Have you had any dental procedures lately? We know there's a clear link between our oral health and our systemic health. And many times dental procedures can trigger a systemic response.
[00:17:51] And what patterns are we seeing? Patterns always emerge in the health journey of every single person.
[00:17:58] And those questions matter, because health is not only about lab results.
[00:18:02] Health is about how a person feels and functions every day.
[00:18:06] Another reason sick care fails people is that lifestyle is often not addressed in a practical way. People are told, eat better, but what does that mean for their life? They're told, exercise more, but where should they start? And do they even have medical clearance to start exercising? And they're told, well, reduce your stress, but how do you do that when life is full of stress?
[00:18:28] And sometimes many people live a very stressful life.
[00:18:31] So people do not just need advice, they need a plan, they need a strategy. But more importantly, they need to be able to execute that plan or that strategy.
[00:18:41] But a simple plan might start with drinking more clean water. Most Americans Are dehydrated at the cellular level.
[00:18:47] Take a walk after dinner. Help with the digestion. Help with the postprandial glucose and insulin spikes. So you're going to sleep better.
[00:18:54] Go to bed early. Be intentional about your sleep patterns. Turn off all electrical devices. Turn off light before bed when the sun goes down. Reduce the amount of artificial light and you'll sleep better.
[00:19:06] Get see that first sunlight in the morning. Watch the sun come up and you'll see God's glory.
[00:19:12] Reduce processed foods and sugary foods. This is what drives inflammation.
[00:19:19] And get baseline labs. Get baseline data so you can monitor your progress. When you implement these changes, you have something. You have a baseline to start with. And then get regular checkups. Do additional testing. So when you know not just how you feel, but do the labs, do the numbers change so you can see if they're going in the wrong direction? Then the strategy may not be working. But also you have to be accountable.
[00:19:40] And these small steps may sound small, but. But small steps can create real change when they are done consistently. And again, consistency rules the day. And humans are designed to want immediate gratification. But if you're sick, you didn't get sick overnight. So don't expect your body to get better overnight. It's consistency that matters. And another issue is that many people do not know how to be active partners in their own healthcare. They trust doctors, and that's the way we're programmed. You get sick, you go to the doctor. You trust what they say you trust. They have the adequate training, the adequate medical knowledge to make best decisions and use their best medical judgment to treat you or your illness.
[00:20:19] And they may not know what questions to ask because, as we learned, the way we teach in medical school is not the proper way to address the root cause.
[00:20:29] And furthermore, they may not understand their medications. You may be prescribed a medication by a different physician that may not be on your chart. Then the medications they prescribe may have interactions that make you feel worse.
[00:20:39] They may not even know what the lab results mean, because when you get labs, it comes back either normal or abnormal. But what does normal mean? Normal means you're normal compared to your peers. But if your peers are unhealthy and sick, then you're normal. You're normally sick, and it's common, but it's not normal and we want to be optimal.
[00:20:59] And furthermore, doctors may not know when a symptom is urgent. They may not know how their family history affects their health and even the patient themselves.
[00:21:08] So they wait for the system to tell them what to do.
[00:21:11] But your health works best when there is a partnership.
[00:21:14] Your provider has medical knowledge and you have a daily experience inside your own body. Both are important.
[00:21:22] But know when your energy changes.
[00:21:25] You know when your sleep is poor and you know when you're became when your pain is becoming more frequent. You know when something feels off, that information matters. So instead of only saying I feel tired, I guess it's just getting old.
[00:21:39] It may help us to say I have felt unusually tired for six weeks. I sleep seven hours, but I wake up exhausted. I've also noticed brain fog and weight gain. What should we check? Be an active participant in your health care. You should direct the care from your physician. You provide the background, they have the medical knowledge to make educated and informed decisions of hopefully what's best for your health. And not using a one size fits all approach.
[00:22:06] But this gives your provider more useful information.
[00:22:09] Another part of this conversation is compassion. When people do not feel well, it affects their whole life. It affects their work, their family, their mood, their confidence, relationships.
[00:22:19] And it affects their hope.
[00:22:21] Hope is a very powerful force. A person dealing with chronic symptoms may start to wonder, is this just how my life is going to feel? Is this how I'm going to live the rest of my life?
[00:22:32] And that's a very heavy place to be. People need care that sees them as human beings, not just charts, symptoms or numbers. True healthcare should use medical knowledge, but it should also listen. It should treat disease, but also support prevention.
[00:22:46] It should use medication when appropriate, only when needed.
[00:22:50] But also talk about sleep, food, movement, stress and daily life.
[00:22:55] Both things can be true. Medicine matters and lifestyle matters. Testing matters, Listening matters, treatment matters. Prevention matters even more. Doctors matter. Patient participation matters. Again, I think even more so. What can everyday people do?
[00:23:13] Start by becoming more involved in your own care. Be proactive. Become empowered to change things.
[00:23:20] Ask questions, track the symptoms. Keep a diary of everything you put in and on. Your body patterns will reveal themselves. They always do. Know your family history and schedule preventative visits.
[00:23:33] You know, I think that people should go to a doctor when they're healthy and to maintain good health. But unfortunately, people only go to the doctors when they're sick. We have to completely change that paradigm and that approach. And then you should follow up on the test results.
[00:23:47] Ask what your numbers mean. Ask what lifestyle changes would make the biggest differences for you. And if you feel stuck, do not give up.
[00:23:56] Sometimes the next step is finding the right provider. If you've been seeing the same provider for years and you are not getting better, then fire that provider and find a new medical professional who understands functional integrative medicine. Sometimes it is asking better questions. Sometimes it is making one small change and staying consistent. Sometimes it's getting updated labs. Sometimes it is asking for a second opinion. But the most important thing is to keep moving. Sick care may wait until disease appears, but you do not have to wait. You can begin moving toward better health. Now.
[00:24:27] You know, sick care often waits too long. True healthcare listens earlier and looks deeper. When we return, we will talk about the healthcare system and why it may be failing. Many people.
[00:24:37] Stay with us. More of your optimal health after the break.
[00:24:43] We'll be right back with more tools and insights to help you feel healthier, stronger and more energized. Stay tuned. And we're back. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryant and this is yous Optimal Health on NOW Media Television. Let's continue.
[00:24:56] Welcome back to youo optimal health. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryant. In this segment, I want to talk about healthcare systems and provide some insights into why it may be failing so many people.
[00:25:07] I spent more than 20 years in academia learning, researching and teaching in medical school as a professor of molecular medicine. So I'm familiar with the system.
[00:25:16] Health care is one of the largest markets in the world.
[00:25:19] Global health care is about 12 trillion dollar market every year.
[00:25:23] That means each year it costs 12 million dollars to treat sick people.
[00:25:28] And that number is expected to double in the next 10 years. More than $24 trillion used in the treatment of sick people. And this trend should alarm all of us if we focus on the US alone. The US make up only about 4% of the global population.
[00:25:45] But the US population is responsible for more than 74% of the prescription drugs and the profits from big drug companies.
[00:25:54] And yet Americans are some of the sickest people on earth. And to me, that's unacceptable because we're the most advanced industrialized nation in the world with the leading innovations in medical care and science.
[00:26:05] And so that number alone reveals that prescribing more medications is not the answer. And in fact, it may be part of the problem.
[00:26:14] And look, I think we do a great job of teaching the basic sciences and the clinical translations of the sciences of anatomy, of physiology and biochemistry and how the human body works.
[00:26:25] But somehow this gets lost in translation in the practice of medicine. Unfortunately, drugs are designed to suppress symptoms. Symptoms are our body telling us something is wrong.
[00:26:37] If we suppress the symptoms with drug therapy, our body can no longer communicate to us that something is wrong. The labs may look better or may be considered normal, but most of the time the patient does not get better or improve.
[00:26:51] And there's a great financial model for this for drug companies, but it is not a great model for human health.
[00:26:59] We need to start to have the conversation on how can we restore health and begin to get people off prescription drugs. Thomas Edison said centuries ago, the doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and the prevention of disease.
[00:27:20] However, over the past hundred years, we've gone in the wrong direction.
[00:27:25] The physician today prescribes more medications than any time in the history of humanity, in the history of medicine. And the science is very clear on how to maintain good health and live a long life free of disease.
[00:27:39] This is the field of longevity. You know, there's a growing industry where people are starting to take control of their own health.
[00:27:45] Longevity today is about a 30 billion dollar market expected to double in the next 10 years.
[00:27:51] And humans are now expected to live longer. You know, it's said in the next 10 years people will be able to live to 120, 150 years old.
[00:28:00] And so we're expected to live longer, but we cannot live longer if we have disease.
[00:28:05] Furthermore, no one wants to live longer. A long life to 120 or 150 if they don't feel well, or they're living with a chronic disease, or they cannot enjoy the life that they live every day. So to me, that's not living, but with optimal health and the practice of your optimal health, then they can live a longer, better life free of disease, become more productive, enjoy more time with their family, new family members.
[00:28:31] The other is this emerging field of biohacking. And these new modalities are emerging, such as intermittent fasting, caloric restriction. You know, Americans are overfed. We were taught to eat three square meals a day and snack in between. And we know that doesn't work. The data on intermittent fasting and caloric restriction are some of the most decisive and really indisputable modalities.
[00:28:54] We do intermittent fast or restrict our calories. It turns on longevity genes, it changes our metabolism. And then there's a new concept of energy healing. You know, frequency, the body is electric, Humans are electrical beings. And we need to focus on energy and energy production.
[00:29:10] Light therapy, you know, there's indisputable data on the benefits of sunlight exposure, 20 to 30 minutes a day. There's red light therapy called biophotonics and bioenergetics, prayer and meditation, extremely powerful in healing and optimal health. They've shown impressive results in transforming our health.
[00:29:29] And I have found through my 30 years of academia and scientific training that people get sick for two reasons and two reasons only.
[00:29:37] Number one, their body is missing something that it needs, like a basic nutrient. Number two, it's exposed to a toxin or something that it doesn't need.
[00:29:46] And so if we address those two fundamentals and understanding this new paradigm, we can begin to ask the right questions and order the right labs.
[00:29:56] And so if we understand the body's missing certain nutrients and we supplement that, or we understand what toxins the body's exposed to and address that, then the body heals itself.
[00:30:07] And the truth is, the food we grow and eat in America is deficient in most nutrients.
[00:30:12] Data published several years ago show that the food grown in American soil 10 today versus that same food grown in the 1940s has about 74% less micronutrients.
[00:30:24] Furthermore, with genetically modified food, the food is sprayed with toxic chemicals. Therefore, what we eat may be contributing to both aspects of the reason people may be sick or not feeling their best.
[00:30:37] So if we can test for basic micronutrients and then replete these through changes in diet or through directed supplementation, then we address part of the root cause.
[00:30:48] And there are also many toxins, perhaps from bacterial infections, from viral infections, toxins from mold in our homes, in our workplace, toxins from food, toxins from the environment, toxicity caused by drug therapy, drug interactions.
[00:31:04] And once we recognize the source of the toxins and remove them from the body and remove ourselves, more importantly, remove ourselves from the source of exposure, our body can begin to heal.
[00:31:16] The human body is regenerative by nature.
[00:31:19] If we give the body what it needs and remove from the body what it doesn't need, or maybe interrupting normal metabolism, the body heals itself.
[00:31:28] And that's why your optimal health is so important. And that's why the content that we're going to present so important.
[00:31:35] And so we will begin to reveal new ways to think new questions, to ask more empowerment of our own health.
[00:31:44] And in my experience, it's what we do on a daily basis that can determine health or disease.
[00:31:50] And every day, I try to practice what I preach.
[00:31:53] I wake up each day with gratitude, with prayer. I read scripture. I wake up with a servant's heart and figure out how can I better serve, have a loving servant's heart. And I exercise every day, no matter where I am in the world. Every day I start my day with 2030 minutes of exercise and deep breathing and stretching. So no matter where I am in the world. This is a non negotiable for me. I have a clear mind, a clear plan for my day. I try to watch the sun come up. There's data showing that it completely resets your circadian rhythm. So waking up with the sun will help you sleep better, get more restful sleep every night.
[00:32:28] And I practice an 18 hour daily fast.
[00:32:31] I only eat between 12 and 6 each day.
[00:32:34] So that 18 hour fast, again, the data on caloric restriction, intermittent fasting is undeniable. Completely resets your metabolism, can reverse insulin resistance, can reverse diabetes. And this is actually cost savings if you're not eating, if you're not eating for 18 hours a day, this is cost savings. You're not spending money on food, but when you do eat, and when I eat, I only eat whole foods with lots of protein. The older we get, the more protein we need. I eat good fats, but I limit the amount of sugar and carbohydrates I consume. And I certainly avoid processed foods.
[00:33:09] And I'm deliberate about my sleep and I try to get seven hours of good sleep each day.
[00:33:14] This seems to work for me. It's very deliberate, it's hard work and I keep track of my own health.
[00:33:21] You know, at 52 years old, I feel better today than I did 30 years ago. I have no symptoms whatsoever. I have not had any signs of any disease. In fact, in a recent heart scan a couple of months ago, I had zero plaque in any of my coronary arteries. So I test, I get baseline data, I employ these simple strategies. And to have no plaque in a 52 year old is never heard of before. Even the radiologists and the cardiologists, they've never seen this. No plaque. They even see plaque in kids. Fatty streaks. So for someone in their 50s to have zero plaque burden in their coronary arteries is unheard of. But this simple strategy can be implemented by anyone. You know, I'm very deliberate and intentional about what I do. So it not only works for me, but has worked for many others who have tried this simple strategy.
[00:34:05] So we must maintain good blood flow and circulation. And for me, that's what it's all about. How can we maintain adequate cardiovascular health? Because if we get oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body, those cells work. If we have poor cardiovascular health, those cells don't get oxygen, don't get nutrients, they become dysfunctional and we lose energy production and we develop disease.
[00:34:25] So good blood flow, good tissue oxygenation, good circulation, and that's controlled by movement, by nutrients in the food we eat, but we also must reduce inflammation. Again, inflammatory foods. If we don't remove the foods that are causing inflammation, we can't reduce inflammation and then oxidative stress, which is really rusting inside the body.
[00:34:44] And we have to maintain good immune function because we're exposed to bacteria, viruses every day and some people get sick and some people seem to be resistant to illness.
[00:34:54] But all of this is determined by what we eat, what we do, what we expose our bodies to. And the purpose of your optimal health is to bring you the latest science, science backed strategies to maintain good health and to avoid getting sick. Our health is our greatest asset.
[00:35:10] Without our health, nothing else matters. If we cannot enjoy each day with our loved ones and live life to the fullest, what purpose do we have? And so we're going to have guests that will address different aspects of health, whether it's our mental health, physical health, emotional health, or even our financial health. So I'm excited to host this show and share with you what I've learned over the past 30 years and what others can bring to your attention.
[00:35:35] So you may be able to make small or even drastic changes that can transform your own health and for you to have optimal health full of energy and full of purpose.
[00:35:46] So if you're sick and tired of being sick and tired and feel like you're not living your best life, then this program is for you. If you're healthy and vibrant and are doing your best to maintain good health, then this program is for you.
[00:35:57] Everyone around the world can benefit from knowledge and information backed by real science and innovations.
[00:36:03] However, knowledge and information is only useful if it's put into practice. Accountability and responsibility for our own health is the only way to ensure we live life to its fullest potential to serve others, have gratitude and energy to get through each day with productivity. Your optimal health is just that. And that's why I'm excited to host this show.
[00:36:24] So the healthcare system is broken, but we can take steps to improve our own health and create a new system. When we return, we will talk about the way forward, true health care, health optimization and simple steps each of us can take to live better. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
[00:36:42] We'll be right back with more tools and insights to help you feel healthier, stronger and more energized. Stay tuned. And we're back. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryan and this is your Optimal Health on Now Media Television. Continue.
[00:36:55] Welcome back to youo Optimal Health. Stay connected to youo Optimal Health in every NOW Media TV favorite Live or on demand anytime you like. Download the free Now Media TV app on Roku or iOS and unlock nonstop bilingual programming in English and Spanish on the move. Catch the podcast version at NowMedia TV. From business and news to lifestyle culture and beyond, Now Media TV is streaming around the clock. Ready whenever you are.
[00:37:23] I'm Dr. Nathan Bryan. As we close today's episode, I want to bring everything together.
[00:37:29] You know, we've talked a lot. We've talked about how the health system often waits until people are sick. It's a reactive practice. We've talked about why sick care can really miss the entire whole person and miss the root cause. We've also talked about how and why the system is broken.
[00:37:47] But now let's talk about the way forward. Because what's happened in the past is the past. We have to look forward.
[00:37:52] True health care begins before the crisis begins. It begins when we stop treating the body like a problem to fix only when something goes wrong.
[00:38:02] Instead, we begin treating the body like something we're responsible to care for every day.
[00:38:09] It's hard work staying healthy, but the work, the hard work will pay off. And it pays dividends. And health is not only the absence of disease. Health is energy. It's good sleep, it's strength, it's focus, recovery, movement, emotional balance, spiritual balance, prevention and purpose.
[00:38:29] Most importantly, it's purpose.
[00:38:31] Health optimization is not about being perfect.
[00:38:35] And it's not about extreme routines or unrealistic goals.
[00:38:39] You know, everybody has individual goals. My health goals may be different than you or many other people, but we have to create a strategy and a plan to maximize our own health and to achieve our own goals. But it's about building a life that supports your body instead of constantly draining it. If you want more energy, your sleep matters. We have to be deliberate about our sleep. There is no substitute for good sleep.
[00:39:04] And so you have to be deliberate and intentional and consistent in repetition for sleep. Turn off all lights at night, remove yourself from electrical devices and turn your phone off, or put it in a separate room.
[00:39:17] But prepare yourself for sleep. Don't eat at least four hours before bed. It interrupts your sleep. And don't watch TV at night while lying in bed. It interrupts your circadian rhythm and disrupts your sleep pattern. And if you want better focus, nutrition matters, blood flow matters. What we put in and on our body is what directs our health or our disease.
[00:39:38] And we have to have adequate blood flow to the brain. If we don't have good circulation, good blood flow to the brain, and good metabolism, then our brain can't perform, our brain can't focus and we lose memory. We start to develop brain fog. And it's all about blood flow and getting good energy into the cells and decreasing the inflammation and the oxidative stress.
[00:39:59] And if you want to age with strength, movement matters. You know, I've said it before, people don't get, people don't stop exercising because they get old. People get old because they stop exercising.
[00:40:10] And so the older we get, the more we need to exercise to maintain strength, to maintain muscle mass, to maintain bone mass. And this is very simple. It can be 20, 30 minutes of brisk walk a day. It's stretching, some resistance exercise, exercise to maintain bone strength and muscle strength. And if you want to lower risk, prevention matters because it's much easier to prevent disease than it is to treat it or cure it. And that's why this conversation matters, because as I mentioned, medicine is a reactive practice. And we take this approach to be proactive and listen to our body and make changes before we develop disease or worse, before we die from sudden cardiac death. Sometimes the first sign and symptom of cardiovascular disease is death, and then it's too late.
[00:40:57] So we have to take this approach of listening to our body, being proactive, doing all these things that we've learned in science and medicine over the past 50, 60 years.
[00:41:06] And if you want more peace and stress management matters again, it's not what happens to us that matters, it's how we respond to what happens to us. We cannot eliminate stress. We live in a stressful world.
[00:41:19] People live with stress every day, but it's how we manage our stress. Stress can kill you. And if you deal with stress, it will not affect your health. And for me, I think you take this perspective as I don't stress or worry about things I can't control.
[00:41:32] And when you put that in perspective, how little control you have over things. I don't stress, I don't worry because stressing over to worrying about it is not going to change it because we have no control over it. And I think that's been a life changing transformation for me because I used to be a worry ward. I used to stress over a lot of things and it didn't matter.
[00:41:51] It mattered only because it was affecting my health negatively when I got rid of stress, got rid of worry and managed stress better. Sure, I still have stress. I've just learned to deal with it. And today at 52, I'm in the best health of my life.
[00:42:04] And so the challenge is that many people feel overwhelmed. They Know they need to change, but they do not know where to start.
[00:42:12] So I'm going to keep this very simple, because a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
[00:42:17] First, know your baseline. We have to have some baseline data. And that baseline data doesn't always have to be empirical. It could be how you feel. If you feel lousy all the time and you do something, change your diet, lifestyle, and you feel better, that's meaningful data.
[00:42:31] But also we have empirical data. Labs, real numbers on your insulin levels, your fasting glucose, other biomarkers. And so when was your last physical? To get a full assessment of how you're doing.
[00:42:43] Blood labs, genetic testing, family history, a diary of what you eat, your diet, your exercise, your movements, your activity. How well do you breathe? Are you breathing through your nose or your mouth? Do you snore at night?
[00:42:56] Do you get a good night's sleep? Do you wake up feeling tired? Do you know your blood pressure? You know, high blood pressure is the number one driver of the number one killer of men and women around the world.
[00:43:07] And for every 1 millimeter increase in blood pressure, it increases your risk of heart attack or stroke by 1%.
[00:43:13] Anything above 120 over 80, and a lot of people are walking around with blood pressure of, you know, 150, 160. That's a 30 to 40% increase in risk of heart attack.
[00:43:23] So you have to know your blood pressure. And if your blood pressure is not managed, then you have to start doing things that can effectively manage your blood pressure and get it into safe levels. And many times, prescription medication isn't the answer, because we know that 50% of the people that are prescribed prescription medication for their high blood pressure don't respond with better blood pressure because they have to change their diet, they have to change their habits, they have to recognize what's leading to an increase in their blood pressures. And do you know your lab numbers? Fasting glucose, fasting insulin levels, your ferritin levels, C reactive protein. These are all markers of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. And we know today that 93% of Americans are metabolically unfit.
[00:44:02] And two out of three Americans are having unsafe or overweight or obese.
[00:44:07] Do you understand your family history? Do you have a father or grandfather who died from heart attack at 40 or 50 years old? That's a family trait.
[00:44:15] Do you know what symptoms keep showing up day after day? And that's why I encourage people keep a food diary. Everything you put in and on your body, write it down. And if you have upset stomach or you develop brain fog or a headache or your blood pressure shoots up, patterns always develop and reveal themselves. But you have to be accountable and responsible for what you put in your mouth. And you don't realize if you keep a diary of everything you're eating, you're going to look back and realize, well, maybe like me, you look, I have a pretty good diet, or a lot of most people are going to say, wow, I actually eat this on a daily basis and never even realize it. And so you do not need to obsess or over every number, but you do need enough information to make good decisions. And so we like this protocol of test, treat and then test to see if what you're doing is actually making the difference and moving the needle in the right direction.
[00:45:06] Second, protect your sleep. Sleep is not wasted time. It's the time of the day that our body recovers. We mobilize stem cells, we repair and replace dysfunctional cells, and it allows the body to rest and digest. And it's how the body repairs, resets and recovers. So poor sleep can affect your mood, your hunger can lead to pain, loss of focus, energy and stress. And so there's no replacement for a good night's sleep.
[00:45:33] And a simple step may be going to bed earlier, turning off the screens, maybe even putting in some red lights and blue blocker glasses at night because we need to block this artificial light that's disrupting our circadian rhythm, reducing the screens at night. Even if you want to look at your phone, I don't encourage looking phone in bed or watching TV in bed. Limit caffeine later in the day and don't eat at least four hours before you lie down to bed.
[00:45:58] And then talking to a provider if you snore or wake up exhausted. I think it's important to do a sleep test. Do you have obstructive sleep apnea where you're hypoxic at night, you're not fully oxygenating, when you don't fully oxygenate, you don't release nitric oxide, you don't mobilize stem cells and your body doesn't have the ability to repair and so you wake up feeling exhausted.
[00:46:19] So snoring and sleep apnea are really life threatening conditions that have to be monitored and have to be corrected.
[00:46:28] And then third, improve your nutrition.
[00:46:31] And this doesn't have to be complicated. Start with whole foods, more protein, more fiber, more water, good fats and fewer processed foods and less sugar intake.
[00:46:42] And for me, I think the most important thing we can do in terms of diet is caloric restriction and intermittent fasting. Because Americans are overfed, we consume more calories than we burn. And the practice of an 18 hour daily fast has completely changed my metabolism and my body composition. So if you take this approach of only eating between 12 and six and every day, though from six at night until noon the next day, you fast. And if you go to bed early at 9, 30 or 10, you wake up at 6 or 7. You only have four to five more hours of fasting. And at first it may seem difficult, but as you do this over two to three days, the hunger pangs go away and you don't feel the need to eat first thing in the morning. And this will completely reset your metabolism. So an 18 hour fast, intermittent fasting, caloric restriction. And when you do eat, make conscious decisions to eat whole foods, good protein, good fats, limited sugar and limited carbs. And then aim for better patterns.
[00:47:39] Move your body. Movement is not punishment. Movement helps your heart, your muscles, your mood.
[00:47:46] It regulates your blood sugar, your balance, long term health benefits.
[00:47:50] But yet most Americans aren't moving. We wake up in the morning, we drive to the office, we sit for eight hours a day, we drive back and we eat and we go to bed. There's no exercise, there's no movement.
[00:48:01] And humans are designed to move.
[00:48:04] And we need that for energy production. And if you're not exercising, you have to start.
[00:48:09] So start where you are. Walk more, 20 to 30 minutes, especially after a meal, your evening meal. Go for a 20 to 30 minute walk. Help with the digestion, help improve the postprandial glucose and insulin. Spot insulin spikes, then stretch and build strength. Do some type of resistance training, whether it's push ups, pull ups, squats. Move after your meals.
[00:48:32] Get up from your desk during the day. If you have a desk job, get up, walk outside, take in some sunlight and small steps. Count.
[00:48:40] And fifth, manage stress. Stress is part of all of our lives, but unmanaged, it can affect the whole body. It can hurt our sleep, our digestion, affect our blood pressure, our mood and daily choices. So I've taken the position, as I mentioned, that I do not stress or worry about things that I have no control over. And once you realize very little control that you have over, there's little stress or little worry.
[00:49:03] So stress management may include prayer, breathing, counseling, exercise, journaling, better boundaries or quiet time. Your nervous system needs recovery. And six, build support.
[00:49:15] We're not meant to heal alone. The people around us can help us stay encouraged, honest and consistent. And most importantly, hold us accountable.
[00:49:23] So ask yourself who supports the healthier version of me.
[00:49:27] Seventh, become a partner in your medical care. Ask questions, follow up, understand your medications or even if you need medications, know your numbers, Tell the truth about your symptoms to your provider, and bring notes if you need to. You're not being difficult when you participate in your care. You're being responsible.
[00:49:46] Now, if all this feels like too much, begin with one step. Just one. Maybe your first step is taking a walk after dinner. Maybe it's drinking more water in the morning. Maybe it's scheduling the appointment you've been avoiding. And maybe it's going to bed earlier. Maybe it's checking your blood pressure.
[00:50:02] Maybe it's asking for help with anxiety or depression. And maybe it's not eating for 18 hours and fasting for 18 hours every day. And maybe it's getting 20 to 30 minutes of sunlight each day. But one step can begin to rebuild trust with yourself. Many people do not fail because they do not care. They fail because they try to change everything at once. Then they feel overwhelmed, stop, and feel ashamed. But your health journey does not need shame. It needs honesty, support and consistency. Optimal health is not one final destination. It's a direction. You keep choosing something. Some seasons will be easier than others. Some setbacks will happen. Some health issues may require a new plan. But wherever you are starting, there's usually one wise next step. So do not wait for the breakdown to value your body. Do not wait for the diagnosis to care about prevention. And do not wait for exhaustion to prove you need rest. Do not wait for pain to become unbearable before you seek help.
[00:50:56] Your health supports everything else in your life. Your work, your family, your purpose, your service, your relationships and your joy. When your health suffers, everything feels harder. But when your health improves, everything has a chance to improve with it. And that is why true health care matters. Care should see the whole person. Care should value prevention. Care should listen, educate and empower people to move from surviving to living well. And that's the vision of your optimal health.
[00:51:23] So as we close today, I want to remember that this your body is not something to ignore until it breaks. Your body is how you live your life. So if you've been getting by but not really living well, this is your invitation to begin again. Not with shame, not with fear, not with perfection. Just with one wise step. Schedule the appointment, ask the question, take the walk, protect your sleep, drink the water, tell the truth about how you feel and get support. Your optimal health is not about becoming someone else. It's about. It is about becoming more fully active in the life you have been given. Thank you for joining me on youn optimal health. I'm Dr. Nathan Bryant. Stay connected with us on NOW Media Live or On Demand and join us again for more conversations that help you understand your body, strengthen your health, and move you toward your highest level of well being. Until next time, stop settling for simply getting by and take the next step toward your optimal health.
