The Lifestyle MD

Send us Fan Mail From Avoiding Doctors to Reversing Insulin Resistance: David’s Lifestyle Medicine Wake-Up Call Dr. Angela interviews her patient David, a 63-year-old Michigan business owner and single dad of five, about overcoming decades of distrust in healthcare shaped by unresolved family illness and his mother’s heavy medication burden. After years of self-directed health efforts (fasting, wo...

Send us Fan Mail How to Stop Overpaying for Prescriptions: Cash Pricing, Coupons, and Smarter Pharmacy Shopping Dr. Angela explains why prescription costs can spike even with insurance, emphasizing that coverage depends on insurer formularies shaped by contracts among insurers, pharmacy benefit managers, and manufacturers, which can change midyear and trigger denials, step therapy, and prior autho...

Send us Fan Mail Why does staying consistent suddenly feel so much harder in midlife and menopause — especially when life already feels overwhelming? f you’ve ever thought, “I know what I should be doing… I just can’t seem to stay consistent,” — this episode is for you. In this episode of The Lifestyle MD , Dr. Angela Andrews sits down with returning guest and midlife consistency consultant Cara M...

Send us Fan Mail Perimenopause and menopause are about more than hot flashes and mood changes—they’re also a critical time to assess long-term health risks. In this episode, Dr. Angela explains why cardiovascular disease risk rises during the menopause transition, often silently, and why women should know their blood pressure, cholesterol, ApoB, Lipoprotein(a), and overall metabolic health. She al...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Angela breaks down the 2026 updated cholesterol guidelines in this essential episode for anyone concerned about heart health. Discover why these new guidelines represent a major shift toward precision prevention—moving beyond simple LDL numbers to give you a complete picture of your cardiovascular risk. What You'll Learn: Why everyone should get their Lipoprotein A (LP(a)...

Send us Fan Mail Think colonoscopy is your only option for colon cancer screening? Think again. Dr. Angela breaks down all the screening methods available today—from at-home stool tests to simple blood draws—so you can finally stop putting off this life-saving preventive measure. Learn about FIT tests, Cologuard, Shield blood tests, and colonoscopy, including the pros, cons, sensitivity, and speci...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Angela opens the Lifestyle MD Podcast with an episode on “Faith and Business,” joined by operations manager Diamond to discuss delegation, trust, and knowing when to let go in entrepreneurship. They reflect on a sermon about Jesus delegating to disciples, applying it to hiring help with intimate business tasks like finances, and using a simple filter—whether you’re good at som...

Send us Fan Mail Direct Primary Care: Reclaiming Agency, Transparency, and Relationship in Healthcare Dr. Angela explains direct primary care (DPC) as a membership-based primary care model that is not insurance and does not replace insurance, but helps people step outside the mindset that care is only accessible if covered. She argues insurance has shaped how patients and clinicians think, often p...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Angela explores the nuanced question: "Are GLP-1 medications right for weight loss?" In this brief coffee break episode, she breaks down who should—and shouldn't—consider these medications. Learn why GLP-1s require lifelong commitment, who benefits most (hint: those with chronic inflammatory conditions, addiction issues, or complex health challenges), and why li...

Send us Fan Mail Stress, Burnout & Health Transformation with Maria Zimmer Join Dr. Angela from Lifestyle MD for an inspiring conversation with Maria Zimmer, who shares her powerful journey from corporate burnout to complete health transformation. In this episode, Maria opens up about her experience in high-stress corporate consulting, where despite doing "all the right things"—exerc...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Lifestyle MD , Dr. Angela interviews Dr. Jim Walter, PhD—founder of the Institute for Preservation of Health and an expert in cardiovascular exercise physiology. Dr. Walter shares insights from more than a decade of research on how meaningful health benefits can come from integrating small, intentional movements into daily life—without relying on traditional...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Lifestyle MD , Dr. Angela explores one of the silent saboteurs of our well-being: decision fatigue . She breaks down how the constant stream of choices we make each day — from what to wear to how to respond to emails — slowly drains our mental energy and leads to poor decisions, overwhelm, and burnout. Drawing from both personal and clinical insights, Dr. An...

Send us Fan Mail Understanding and Combating Insulin Resistance: Practical Tips and Lifestyle Interventions In this episode of The Lifestyle MD podcast, Dr. Angela delves into the often misunderstood topic of insulin resistance, explaining what it is, how it develops, and its potential consequences, including type 2 diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. She discusses t...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Angela speaks with Marcie Hurlbutt — coach, mom, church elder, and Faster Way advocate — about her journey from chronic gut pain and menopausal weight gain to renewed energy, mental clarity, and sustainable habits. They discuss how a faith-centered approach, simple systems, and accountability can create generational change in health for busy women and families. Look Marcie up...

Send us Fan Mail Is more HIIT always better? Dr. Angela breaks down what the science really shows—and what it doesn’t—about high-intensity interval training after 40. Most trials that find big benefits use three sessions per week or fewer and consistently show improved fitness, cardiometabolic markers, and reductions in overall fat mass. But there’s no direct evidence that cranking HIIT beyond tha...

Send us Fan Mail Bonus Episode: Why Direct Primary Care Works — A Patient’s Perspective In this special bonus episode, Dr. Angela shares an unexpected yet powerful outtake from a recent patient interview. Her guest, Tom, opens up about why he left traditional insurance-based care behind and chose the direct primary care (DPC) model. He discusses how his frustrations with rising costs and decreasin...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description: In this kickoff to our perimenopause and menopause series, Dr. Angela and Dr. Carrie Denny dive into what these transitions mean. From hormone chaos to misunderstood symptoms, we break down the stages—reproductive years, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause—and why so many women feel lost or unheard during this time. You’ll learn what’s normal, what’s n...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Lifestyle MD , Dr. Angela welcomes a special guest — one of her patients   — who shares his powerful journey of transformation after receiving a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Faced with an A1C of 9.2, Tom took ownership of his health through intentional lifestyle changes, demonstrating that true wellness is achievable with clarity, commitment, and a strategi...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Derek Alessi shares his journey from obese teenager to fitness expert, revealing sustainable strategies for long-term health transformation through consistent habits and practical nutrition. • Extreme diet approaches like keto fail because they're too advanced for most people's skill level – the average person only lasts 11 days • Small, consistent wins build momentu...

Send us Fan Mail Are you struggling with weight management despite your best efforts? You may want to consider the role of sleep in your wellness journey. In this episode, Dr. Angela dives deep into how adequate sleep supports healthy metabolism and regulates essential hormones responsible for hunger and satiety. She discusses the significant impact of sleep deprivation on your food choices, revea...

Send us Fan Mail Extend your understanding of postpartum care for yourself, friends, family, and/or your patients.  Discover the reality of postpartum challenges faced by high-achieving women in the medical field with Dr. Michelle Haggerty from the Fourth Trimester Doc. We unravel the staggering statistics on mental health struggles like postpartum depression and elevated suicide rates among femal...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Angela and Dr. Carrie explore the concept of wellness—going beyond the absence of disease or simply achieving balance. They discuss the need for prevention, a proactive approach to health, and the key pillars of lifestyle that form the foundation for lasting well-being. Dr. Carrie highlights the role of social determinants, while Dr. Angela shares her perspect...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Angela teams up with a licensed naturopathic doctor to dive into the power of collaboration between conventional and naturopathic medicine. Together, they discuss:   - The influence of stress, sleep, and nutrition on overall health.   - How both MDs and NDs approach these foundational aspects of well-being.   - Ways their practices complement each other to sup...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re diving into Part 2 of our cholesterol topic, exploring the powerful lifestyle strategies to improve your lipoprotein profile. From adopting a whole-food, plant-forward eating pattern to getting your body moving with regular exercise, I'll discuss how these choices can help you lower bad cholesterol and raise the good. Plus, you will learn the surprising...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we’re diving into the world of cholesterol — the misunderstood fat we love to hate! We'll break down the latest evidence on what cholesterol does in your body, discuss the best cholesterol tests (hint: it's more than just LDL and HDL), and review the newest guidelines from health experts. Plus, we'll highlight what you really need to focus on for a...