The Blue Zones are a myth! Your optimal microbiome and much more with Tommy Wood MD, PhD

Glucose Monitoring

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is a powerful tool for managing blood sugar levels. Paul Saladino and Dr. Tommy Wood discuss the importance of tracking postprandial glucose excursions, which are more closely linked to cardiovascular disease than fasting blood sugar. They highlight the potential of CGMs to democratize health information and improve arterial health by identifying harmful blood sugar spikes 1.

The Japanese have shown how tightly related postprandial glucose is to arterial health, leading to heart disease.

--- Dr. Tommy Wood

   

TMAO & Heart Disease

The role of TMAO in cardiovascular health is often misunderstood. Paul Saladino and Dr. Tommy Wood clarify that TMAO is likely a marker of insulin resistance rather than a direct cause of heart disease. They explain that elevated TMAO levels are associated with type 2 diabetes, not dietary intake of choline and carnitine 2.

TMAO itself had no direct causative role, but higher levels were found in people with type 2 diabetes.

--- Dr. Tommy Wood

They also note that seafood, which raises TMAO levels, is linked to reduced cardiovascular risk, further debunking the myth 3.

   

Health Biomarkers

Understanding health biomarkers is crucial for predicting health outcomes. Dr. Tommy Wood emphasizes the value of basic blood tests like a comprehensive metabolic panel and CBC with differential. These tests can reveal important information about blood glucose, liver function, and inflammation 4.

RDW is one of the best predictors of long-term health.

--- Dr. Tommy Wood

Paul Saladino adds that RDW, a measure of red blood cell variability, is tightly linked to all-cause mortality, highlighting the importance of these simple yet informative tests 5.