Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring

Longevity medicine is having a moment—but what actually works? In this episode of "Next Level Health," Dr. Melinda Ring sits down with Dr. Myles Spar to cut through the hype around peptides, wearables, and "biohacking," and focus on what truly improves healthspan. From personalized data to foundational habits, this conversation brings clarity to a rapidly evolving space. https://youtu.be/c_q601V1whc 00:00 – The Problem with Longevity Influencers TikTok trends, unverified "experts," and the dangers of self-experimentation 00:00:57 – What Is Longevity Medicine, Really? Why the field is booming—and what's driving the hype 00:02:29 – Why This Moment Feels Different From integrative medicine to mainstream understanding 00:05:29 – Longevity vs. Anti-Aging vs. Biohacking Why language—and intention—matters 00:08:36 – Why Health Advice Feels So Confusing Zone 2 vs. HIIT, keto vs. balance—what actually works? 00:11:20 – Wearables, Data & Health Anxiety When tracking helps—and when it backfires 00:15:55 – Are Advanced Tests Worth It? Biomarkers, personalization, and the need for interpretation 00:20:13 – The "Big Five" That Actually Drive Longevity Why sleep, nutrition, movement, brain health, and purpose still win 00:23:33 – Real Patient Transformations How personalized care moves the needle—even for high performers 00:25:24 – Men, Women & Longevity Trends Who's engaging—and why the landscape is shifting 00:29:54 – Peptides, NAD, Stem Cells: What's Legit? Separating promising science from expensive hype 00:33:54 – How Peptides Actually Work Supporting the body vs. replacing its systems 00:35:12 – Can Longevity Medicine Be Accessible? The future of scalable, equitable health optimization 00:37:41 – One Simple Habit for Better Healthspan A practical takeaway anyone can start today Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

Can the food you eat be as powerful as cancer-fighting drugs? In this episode, Dr. William Li reveals to Dr. Melinda Ring which everyday foods can boost your health, energy, and even fight diseases such as cancer. He is a world-renowned physician-scientist, speaker, author and leader of the Angiogenesis Foundation. Dr. Li shares his groundbreaking research on how food can be a powerful tool for healing, energizing, and thriving. He discusses his grocery and supplement list for better health, the science behind food as medicine, and the critical role of gut health and inflammation in our overall health and well-being. https://youtu.be/sGWd8wCtRzY 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. William Li Dr. Li's background as a physician and scientist. Overview of his books Eat to Beat Disease and Eat to Beat Your Diet. The importance of food as medicine. 02:15 – Dr. Li's Go-To Grocery List Recommended foods for better health. How food impacts energy, gut health, and metabolism. 07:16 – The Power of Dietary Fiber and Polyphenols Foods rich in dietary fiber in the produce aisle such as avocado, mushrooms and raspberries. The role of fiber in gut health and inflammation reduction. 08:36 – Overcoming Food Addiction How processed foods can create addiction. Tips for incorporating healthy foods into your diet without feeling deprived. 09:03 – The Negative Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods How ultra-processed foods increase inflammation and damage gut bacteria. The long-term health risks associated with processed food consumption. 13:44 – Discovering New Foods and Sharing Recipes Dr. Li's personal journey of discovering new foods. Example of fiddleheads, forged and sold at a farmers' market and found to be rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This highlights the importance of curiosity in food exploration. 17:25 – How Food Rewires Our Biology The science behind how food activates the body's defense systems. How these systems protect us from diseases like cancer. 22:37 – The Role of Supplements: Resveratrol, EGCG, and Probiotics When and why certain supplements may be beneficial and which ones Dr. Li takes. Dr. Li's advice on balancing food and supplements for optimal health. 25:51 – Probiotics: Lactobacillus and Akkermansia The health benefits of specific gut bacteria. How Akkermansia affects immune response and cancer treatment. 30:23 – Surprising Food Combos for Maximum Health Benefits How to enhance the health benefits of coffee by skipping dairy in coffee. The power of tomatoes and how to absorb more lycopene by cooking them in olive oil. 38:15 – The Importance of Sourcing Quality Food Organic vs. conventional food choices. How to choose the best quality food within your budget. 44:01 – Practical Tips for Healthy Eating at Home Cleaning produce properly. Choosing healthier oils and cooking methods. Dr. Li's advice on making better food choices in daily life. 49:16 – The Holy Trinity of Healthy Beverages Water, tea, and coffee are essential health-promoting drinks – the holy tinity. How to maximize the benefits of each and avoid common pitfalls. Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

Whether you're navigating menopause or simply striving for more vitality, this episode of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring offers valuable insights that could help you live a more vibrant and balanced life. Dr. Deanna Minich, a renowned nutrition scientist and author of The Rainbow Diet, joins Dr. Ring to discuss how phytonutrients from colorful plants can support everything from hormone balance to brain health and beyond. [00:02:00] Dr. Minich explains the role of colorful foods in fertility, perimenopause and menopause and how different colors in food correspond to specific body functions, such as inflammation and hormone balance. She highlights the benefits of orange foods, like tangerines and mangoes, which help support ovarian health and reduce decline during perimenopause. [00:05:53] She says there are protective effects in carotenoids, found in colorful foods, on fat tissues, particularly for skin health, especially during menopause. She also emphasizes the role of purple foods like blueberries and purple sweet potatoes in protecting against oxidative stress. [00:10:27] Aging men should focus on red and green foods that support prostate and heart health, Minich says. She highlights the role of lycopene and green leafy vegetables in preventing inflammation and promoting cardiovascular health. [00:13:21 Dr. Ring asks the importance of detoxification, particularly during weight loss or with medications like GLP-1. Minic advocates for incorporating omega-3s into the diet to support detoxification and cellular health. [00:28:25] Melatonin is a favorite topic of Minich and she says it is not just important for sleep, but for immune health, brain function, and detoxification. She explains how melatonin helps with circadian rhythm synchronization and the removal of brain toxins, especially during sleep. [00:36:35] Through her research, Minich has found that eating colorful foods nourishes the body and soul. She encourages listeners to make meals enjoyable and artistic, emphasizing the importance of colorful plant-based foods in daily life. Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

In this episode of Next Level Health, Dr. Melinda Ring and Dr. Robert Rountree dive into science-backed strategies to help you optimize your health and well-being. They discuss the role of inflammation in chronic diseases, how to repair and maintain gut health the critical role of mitochondria and how artificial intelligence may lead to true personalized medicine. https://youtu.be/8cR909NXa6M [00:04:14] - Dr. Rountree's Journey into Integrative Medicine Dr. Rountree shares his personal journey from discovering herbal medicine at age 19 to becoming a leader in functional medicine. He discusses how early exposure to alternative healing methods and scientific curiosity shaped his career. [00:07:53] - Inflammation, Gut Health and Chronic Disease Next Drs. Ring and Rountree explore the role of inflammation in chronic diseases, including autoimmune disorders, heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Dr. Rountree highlights dietary interventions, elimination diets, and the importance of gut health in reducing inflammation. [00:25:35] - Mitochondrial Health and Longevity Dr. Rountree explains the critical role of mitochondria beyond energy production, emphasizing its impact on chronic diseases. He discusses mitochondrial dysfunction's link to conditions like Parkinson's and Type 2 diabetes, along with dietary and lifestyle strategies to optimize mitochondrial function. [00:38:44] - The Role of AI in Personalized Medicine The discussion shifts to how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, particularly in interpreting complex data sets like gut microbiome analyses and multi-omics. Dr. Rountree highlights the future of AI-driven personalized medicine and its potential to transform patient care. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Benjamin Kligler, a leader in integrative medicine and Executive Director of the Office of Patient Centered Care & Cultural Transformation at the Veterans Health Administration (VA) who is responsible for advancing the Whole Health Model of care at the VA. They explore how Whole Health shifts the focus of care from "What's the matter with you?" to "What matters to you?" They also dive into the importance of research in integrative medicine, such as an observational study Kligler conducted that showed veterans using Whole Health experienced significantly greater reductions in opioid use compared to those receiving conventional care. Find out how tools such as Whole Health can impact health and wellbeing for patients and empower clinicians, too. [00:01:53] Dr. Kligler explains how his interest in integrative medicine began with a college course in ethnobotany and evolved when he began combining conventional medicine with holistic approaches when treating patients as a Family Medicine physician. [00:05:17] As part of his approach to medicine, Kligler tries to help patients being in charge of their health. He cites Dr. Andrew Weil's book "Spontaneous Healing: How to Discover and Enhance: Your Body's Natural Ability to Maintain and Heal Itself" as a major influence on his approach that emphasizes intrinsic healing capacities and personalized care. [00:10:51] Research became an important part of his career once he realized that it is "language of conventional medicine" and an important avenue for generating new knowledge to further conversations and validate integrative approaches. [00:16:09] The Whole Health Model has been very successful in the past decade at the VA and some highlights include using Whole Health to help veterans reduce opioid dependency by incorporating complementary therapies like acupuncture and health coaching into their care. [00:25:35] Dr. Kligler shares an inspiring story of a veteran, who is also a pastor, who was suffering with chronic pain and was able to reduce his pain and reliance on opioids through the Whole Health Model. The patient was also able to reconnect with his purpose in life, which he says is an important end goal because people who report a low sense of purpose have 2.5 times the risk of an early death compared to people with a high sense of purpose at age 50. [00:29:23] Dr. Ring says she asks doctors and nurse practitioners training in integrative medicine to compare the whole health inventory to a standard patient intake form and reflect on the difference between the two from the perspective of a patient. Dr. Kligler adds that adopting tools such as the inventory from the Whole Health approach transforms the physician-patient dynamic by fostering a collaborative partnership. This approach helps clinicians move away from viewing patients as individuals who need to be "fixed," especially when many of the challenges patients face don't have straightforward solutions. He says this approach could curb physician burn out, too. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Helene Langevin, Director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) at the National Institutes of Health.They explore the evolution of integrative health and the progress the field has made into mainstream acceptance in recent decades. Dr. Langevin discusses the complexities of researching holistic treatments and new NIH initiatives aimed at developing methodologies to study complex integrative health interventions.They also explore Dr. Langvin's area of research expertise, which is fascia, a thin casing of connective tissue that surrounds and holds every organ, blood vessel, bone, nerve fiber and muscle in place, and its connection to musculoskeletal and overall health. [00:02:31] – Mind-Body Connection in Medicine: Dr. Langevin discusses her early interest in the mind-body connection, sharing how her research on the hypothalamus led her to explore integrative physiological processes and holistic health. [00:05:53] – NCCIH Coalition for Whole Person Health: Dr. Langevin explains the purpose of the new coalition, aiming to unify various integrative health stakeholders and promote whole-person health approaches across the healthcare system. [00:09:27] – Challenges of Studying Integrative Approaches: Dr. Langevin highlights the complexities of researching whole-person health interventions and the NIH's ongoing efforts to develop new methods for studying multifaceted health approaches. [00:18:52] – Fascia and Health: Dr. Langevin discusses her research on fascia, explaining its role in the body and its connection to movement, flexibility, and pain perception, as well as how integrative therapies like acupuncture may interact with fascia. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html

In this episode, Dr. Melinda Ring talks with Dr. Andrew Weil, who is known as the "Father of Integrative Medicine." They discuss the evolution of the field, the benefits of botanical remedies and the importance of holistic approaches to health. They also dive into the potential of cannabis and psychedelics in therapy, the need for better nutrition education in medical schools, and the benefits of a more holistic approach to health. [00:02:10] Dr. Weil talks about his early love for plants and medicinal botany: Dr. Weil shares the story of how his interest in plants, inherited from his mother and grandmother, led him to pursue a career in botany and integrative medicine. He credits his Harvard mentor, Richard Evans Schultes, for sparking his passion for medicinal plants and their superior qualities over isolated chemical compounds. [00:05:48] Integrative medicine recognizes the complexity of the human body: Weil talks about the reductionist approaches of conventional medicine. Weil says whole-person approaches, including botanical remedies, often produce better, safer outcomes compared to pharmaceutical interventions. [00:10:00] Importance of Diet, the anti-inflammatory pyramid, and avoiding processed foods: Drs Ring and Weil dive into the topic of nutrition, with Dr. Weil describing the origins of his anti-inflammatory diet. He advises avoiding refined, processed, and manufactured foods, as they contribute to inflammation and chronic disease. The importance of returning to whole, natural foods is highlighted as a foundation of health. [00:24:35] Healthy aging, cannabis, psychedelics, and the future of integrative medicine: Dr. Weil discusses his work on healthy aging and his forward-thinking research on cannabis and psychedelics. He believes these substances hold great therapeutic potential, not only for psychiatric conditions but also for treating chronic diseases. Dr. Weil sees a bright future for integrative medicine as more research and public interest develop. Catch full episodes of Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring here on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern/podcasts 📺 Listen to Next Level Health with Dr. Melinda Ring on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-health-with-dr-melinda-ring/id1769262080 or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. — Subscribe to the channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@OCIHNorthwestern?sub_confirmation=1 — Follow the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Northwestern University here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nmoshercenter/ Website: https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/index.html — Sign up for our newsletter:https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/ocih/about-us/newsletter.html