The Health Edge: translating the science of self-care

Send us Fan Mail A 35% drop in liver fat in under a week sounds impossible—until you see how a simple macro shift can redirect your metabolism. We dive into a Danish crossover study where calories stayed equal, protein held steady, and the only real change was carbohydrates versus fat. The result: rapid reductions in hepatic fat, lower triglycerides, improved insulin sensitivity, and clear signs o...

Send us Fan Mail The clock isn’t just on your wall—it’s in your cells. As autumn settles in and daylight wanes, we dig into how light acts as information for your biology, shaping sleep depth, hormone timing, and metabolic health. A standout 15-year cohort of 200,000+ children links persistent artificial light at night to higher obesity risk, and it pairs with wearable data from tens of thousands...

Send us Fan Mail Nature deficit syndrome is silently affecting millions as we spend over 95% of our lives indoors beneath artificial lighting that disrupts our biology at the most fundamental level. Dr. Mark Pettus delivers a compelling exploration of this modern disconnection, introducing the powerful concept that our current "junk light" epidemic may soon be viewed with the same concer...

Send us Fan Mail At a time when anxiety and depression rates are soaring across all age groups, Dr. Mark Pettus cuts through the noise with revelatory insights into how our daily choices shape our mental landscape. This compelling exploration connects the dots between what's on your plate, how you move through your day, and the remarkable resilience of your brain. Dr. Pettus introduces the co...

Send us Fan Mail The rhythms of nature have orchestrated human biology for millennia, but our modern lifestyle has disconnected us from these essential patterns. Dr. Mark Pettus takes us on a fascinating journey through the science of circadian rhythms, revealing how light serves as crucial information that synchronizes every cell in our bodies with the natural day-night cycle. From ancient Hippoc...

Send us Fan Mail Curious about natural alternatives to expensive GLP-1 medications like Ozempic? Dr. Mark Pettus unveils powerful nutritional strategies to boost your body's own GLP-1 production for improved metabolic health and sustainable weight management. This eye-opening presentation dives into the fascinating relationship between your diet, gut microbiome, and GLP-1 production. Dr. Pett...

Send us Fan Mail Chronic inflammation has emerged as one of the most significant drivers behind virtually all modern health challenges. In this thought-provoking exploration, Dr. Mark Pettus reveals why researchers now refer to inflammation as "the cause of everything" and introduces the concept of "inflammaging" – how chronic inflammation accelerates biological aging and compr...

Send us Fan Mail Prepare to have your understanding of genetics completely transformed. The revolutionary science of epigenetics reveals that you're not simply a prisoner of your DNA – you're actively participating in how your genes express themselves through every choice you make. Dr. Mark Pettus takes us on a fascinating journey through this emerging field that bridges the gap between...

Send us Fan Mail Creatine might be the most underappreciated nutritional powerhouse in our health toolkit. While many associate it exclusively with weightlifters and athletes, the science reveals a molecule with profound benefits reaching far beyond the gym. Mark Pettus MD and John Bagnulo PhD,MPH dive into creatine's fundamental role in human physiology as part of our body's most immedi...

Send us Fan Mail Unlock the secrets to a healthier, longer life by mastering the science behind protein intake. Discover the critical role of animal protein in maintaining lean body mass, boosting metabolic health, and combating age-related muscle loss. We challenge traditional views and outdated guidelines, bringing you insights from recent research and experts in the field to help you reassess t...

Send us Fan Mail In this first Health Edge podcast of 2025, Mark Pettus MD and John Bagnulo PhD, MPH review a 2024 study published in The Journal of Nutrition. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S002231662400289X?via%3Dihub https://www.thehealthedgepodcast.com

Send us Fan Mail In this Health Edge recording, Mark describes a model of integrative health-lifestyle medicine that is distinctly different from current allopathic disease-based models. He examines the metabolic perfect storm of insulin resistance and inflammation as passports to accelerated aging, chronic complex disease risk and poor quality of life or healthspan. His slides can be downloaded a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Health Edge I review a recent meta-analysis examining the magnitude of cardiovascular benefit from taking statins for elevated LDL in both primary and secondary prevention. JAMA Intern Med. 2022;182(5):474-481. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.0134 Published online March 14, 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35285...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like everything you've been told about healthy eating seems to be teetering on the edge of being overturned?  Welcome to a mind-bending exploration where we question the status quo, particularly the demonization of full fat dairy and saturated fats. I'm diving deep into a groundbreaking study suggesting that pentadecanoic acid, a saturated fat found in f...

Send us Fan Mail In a world where health advice is abundant, it can be challenging to sift through conflicting data and headlines. One such contentious issue is the connection between red meat and type 2 diabetes. On this episode of The Health Edge, we take a critical look at this connection and aim to provide a balanced perspective on this often polarizing topic. The episode focuses on a recent s...

Send us Fan Mail Ready to have your understanding of BMI flipped on its head? We're diving into an intriguing study that suggests a BMI lower than 25 might be linked with decreased mortality. That's right, what you've been told about the ideal BMI could be all wrong. We also tackle the waist to hip ratio, showing you how to measure it and why it might be a better health marker than...

Send us Fan Mail Are you ready to unlock the mysteries of protein and its pivotal role in our dietary intake? Strap in as we guide you through the complex world of essential amino acids, and the significant part they play in our bodies. We discuss the importance of achieving a balance in your protein consumption, focusing on the dietary reference intakes, and the potential risks of under-consuming...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast Mark reviews the current paradigm linking environmental inputs-lifestyle with epigenetics and the human microbiome. He translates these connections ibto effective lifestyle medicine interventions. The PowerPoint below goes with the audio recording. You Tube recording can be found below. PowerPoint slides can be downloaded at www.thehealthedgepodcast.com  Enjoy!

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Health Edge Mark and John discuss areas of research they are closely following. John shares some interesting fatty acid research and introduces heptadecanoic acid as an emerging 17-carbon fat, important to healthy brain aging. Mark reviews some aging and longevity research he is following. Topics include epigenetic aging, biologic age regression using Yamana...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Health Edge Mark and John review some papers that challenge the well accepted clinical meme that lowering LDL should be the focal point of reducing CV risk and all-cause mortality risk. Papers referenced: https://www.nature.com/articles/s4159... https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/6/e... https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Health Edge Mark and John review a recent paper drawing connections between excessive sodium restriction and insulin resistance. This adds to a growing body of research suggesting the restriction of sodium below 3-4 gms/day may in fact add to cardiometabolic risk. Current guidelines of 2300 mg/day or less fall well below these levels.

Send us Fan Mail This is a replay of a prior podcast examining the relationship between sodium and hypertension. A growing body of research suggests there is a point below which e.g. 3,000 mg/day where risk is increased. This recording is a prelude to our upcoming podcast on sodium restriction and insulin resistance.

Send us Fan Mail In this Health Edge podcast recording, Mark and John review a recent paper that drew a strong relationship between erythritol levels in the blood with major adverse cardiovascular (MACE) events. Mark and John anayize the study and offer perspective. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02223-9 Another recent review of risks and benefits of erythritol. https://www.ncbi.nlm.ni...

Send us Fan Mail In this Health Edge recording Mark and John review recent data on the prevalence of CKD in the US. They review common drivers of CKD and offer many lifestyle medicine recommendations for prevention and management.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Health Edge, mark and John review two important studies. The first is a systematic review/meta analysis that clearly links loss of lean body mass (sarcopenia) with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease risk. The second paper reviews the underlying mechanisms that link lower muscle mass with greater risk of cognitive decline with aging. https://bjsm....