Degrees of Health

'High-protein diets hurt your kidneys!'. 'Once kidney disease starts, it only gets worse'. Heard something similar? It's just not the whole picture and also showing to be quite far from the truth.Dr Thomas Weimbs, PhD is a Professor of Bioengineering at UCSB where his lab has spent over 20 years studying chronic kidney disease. What they found, mostly by accident like all great science, changed the course of their research entirely. From mouse models to human trials, they discovered that a state of nutritional ketosis could not only slow but potentially reverse the progression of kidney disease and all without drugs.We cover:🧠 Why the real cause of most kidney disease is metabolic🥩 High-protein diets, carbs and the Barry Brenner myth🧪 The surprising effects of ketosis on kidney function🧂 Uric acid crystals and pH - the overlooked trigger🔬 BHB (ketones) as hormones - and what they actually do⚡ Why no one makes money from metabolic health (and why that matters)This episode is about kidneys, their function and dysfunction. But it's also about what happens when we follow the science, even when it contradicts the textbooks.Mentioned in this episode:-Barry Brenner's 1982 paper-Effects of a continuous remote care intervention including nutritional ketosis on kidney function and inflammation in adults with type 2 diabetes- “Weimbs Lab” on Facebook - patient-led communityFind Thomas Weimbs:ResearchSanta Barbara Nutrients - KetoCitraWeimbs Lab - UCSCExploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this linkWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

Cancer treatment isn’t one disease = one drug. It’s thousands of different stories playing out at a molecular level and yet when it comes to care, we’re still treating most of them the same way.Padman Vamadevan and Ben Whately, co-founders of Astron Health, are rethinking oncology from the ground up. Here we explore why recurrence is such an under-addressed problem, how AI can help oncologists cut through a tidal wave of research and what it looks like to track cancer like a chronic disease instead of a binary cure-or-palliative model.We cover:🧬 Why two 'identical' cancers can be worlds apart biologically🤖 How AI condenses 170,000+ research papers into actionable options🩺 The blank space after an 'all clear' and how to fill it📊 Longitudinal data: tracking disease drivers over time🛠️ Safe iteration with proven drugs, supplements & lifestyle changesFind Astron Health:Astron Health WebsiteMentioned in this episode:Book - Tripping Over the Truth by Travis ChristoffersonExploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this linkWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

What if everything we learned about water was missing its most important piece?In this episode, we speak with Professor Gerald Pollack - biomedical scientist, professor, and author of The Fourth Phase of Water - whose research reveals a side of water that’s been hiding in plain sight. From how cells create energy to what actually drives chronic disease, this conversation turns biology inside out - but stays rooted in how this changes our view of the practical day to day.Pollack’s ideas challenge convention. But they also unlock new ways to understand hydration, mitochondria, cancer, grounding, and even the link between consciousness and health.💧 Why 'hydration' is so much more than drinking water⚡ EZ (Exclusion Zone) water - the battery inside your cells🔬 Mitochondria, light, energy and the missing link in cellular health🎯 Cancer, chronic disease & the role of intracellular dehydration🧠 How grounding + infrared work - electrically🧪 Rejected science and the cost of going against the grain📚 Transmutation: can living beings create elements?This episode is big. And yes, we go there. Let us know your thoughts - we love hearing from you!Find Gerald:WebsiteBookExploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link: ⬇️ https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mnWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

Most of us were never taught what hormones actually do. We just noticed things getting weird - heavier periods, brain fog, random mood swings that made us question our entire personality.And when we asked for help, we got vague answers. A prescription. Maybe a “come back in 6 months.”That’s why we sat down with Pauline Cox, a functional nutritionist who’s actually good at explaining this stuff. She's worked with hundreds of women dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low thyroid, fatigue, and all the “you’re fine” symptoms that so many of us learn to live with.This episode is about finally understanding what’s going on and how much control we do actually have here. Through food, light, movement, supplements… but also, through knowing what to look for, and what to question.🧠 The gut-hormone connection (it’s not all in your head)🥗 Food choices that support your cycle🩸 Endometriosis and why it’s often misunderstood💡 Oestrogen, thyroid, and the subtle signs we miss📉 What chronic inflammation does to your mood⚠️ When tracking your health makes you feel worse🧪 The supplements Pauline comes back to again and againThis is one for every woman - and for anyone who loves one.Let us know what hits home. We’re always listening!Find Pauline:InstagramSow and Arrow - Health Store and Education PlatformMentioned in this episode:Books - Hungry Woman: Eating for good health, happiness and hormones + Primal Living in a Modern WorldWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

PART 2! If you missed it, we highly recommend checking out Part 1 before listening to this episode. We all age. But what if we could slow it down, reshape it, or even pause it altogether?After connecting over one of our most viewed episodes with Dr. Glen Jefferys, we got to hear from scientist and relentlessly curious longevity researcher Dr. Michael Lustgarten. He’s been tracking over 50 biomarkers for nearly a decade and has reduced his biological age by more than 20 years.In this episode, we explore what that process looks like for Michael with data. Lots of data.We cover:🧪 How to interpret and act on blood markers🔁 Supplement cycles, blood work feedback & knowing when to stop🧬 Hormones, hypothyroidism, and adjusting thyroid meds over time🧠 SHBG, testosterone & why 'high' isn’t always better☀️ The underestimated power of light, sleep, and rhythm🧊 Would he freeze himself? Yes - and here’s why🔮 What consciousness might teach us about agingThis episode is a goldmine for listeners who are already tracking labs, looking for more advanced interpretation strategies, trying to refine their own protocols and avoid over-supplementation or 'stack overload'.Find Michael:YouTubeWebsiteBookAcademic PublicationsMentioned in this episode:The 120-Year Diet by Dr Roy WalfordThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoDr. Morgan Levine’s PhenoAge Biological Age TestKurt JaiMungal’s Theories of EverythingWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

We all age. But what if we could slow it down, reshape it, or even pause it altogether?After connecting over one of our most viewed episodes with Dr. Glen Jefferys, we got to hear from scientist and relentlessly curious longevity researcher Dr. Michael Lustgarten. He’s been tracking over 50 biomarkers for nearly a decade and has reduced his biological age by more than 20 years.In this episode, we explore what that process looks like for Michael with data. Lots of data.We cover:🧪 How to interpret and act on blood markers🔁 Supplement cycles, blood work feedback & knowing when to stop🧬 Hormones, hypothyroidism, and adjusting thyroid meds over time🧠 SHBG, testosterone & why 'high' isn’t always better☀️ The underestimated power of light, sleep, and rhythm🧊 Would he freeze himself? Yes - and here’s why🔮 What consciousness might teach us about agingThis episode is a goldmine for listeners who are already tracking labs, looking for more advanced interpretation strategies, trying to refine their own protocols and avoid over-supplementation or 'stack overload'.Find Michael:YouTubeWebsiteBookAcademic PublicationsMentioned in this episode:The 120-Year Diet by Dr Roy WalfordThe Alchemist by Paulo CoelhoDr. Morgan Levine’s PhenoAge Biological Age TestKurt JaiMungal’s Theories of EverythingWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

We talk a lot about nutrition, movement, and sleep when it comes to health. But there's a missing piece in most conversations: light.In this episode, we sit down with Bjørn Ekeberg - philosopher of science turned founder of Recharge Health - to explore how red and near-infrared light can support recovery, improve energy, and help us reconnect with our biology.We unpack what red light therapy is, how mitochondria drive everything from mood to metabolism, and why so many of us are unknowingly light-deficient. Athletes, health nerds, or if you're just tired of being tired - listen up. The conversation about energy, tech, and how we support the body’s natural intelligence.We cover:🔴 What red & near-infrared light do⚡️ Mitochondria, energy and light deficiency🧠 Cognitive function & mental clarity🏃‍♂️ Muscle recovery, inflammation, and pain🧬 Why movement isn't enough without light🚦 Safe, at-home red light therapyIf we promote something, we want to ensure it is genuinely something we a) trust in and b) use. This is no exception. The FlexBeam from Recharge Health is what Ben and I (producer Eloise) genuinely use for our own fix of red and infrared light. It is health-tech designed for real life. If you're exploring red light therapy, the team has offered our community 10% off via this link: ⬇️ https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn(this helps support the podcast and the conversations we’re building.) Let us know if you end up going for one - we're not sure there's a part of our body that hasn't reaped benefits from it.Find Bjørn/Red Light Devices:WebsiteRecharge Health or on instagramYouTubeMentioned in this episode:Study - Infrared Low-Level Laser Therapy (Photobiomodulation Therapy) before Intense Progressive Running Test of High-Level Soccer PlayersNIR effects on mitochondria and VO2 MaxSubstance: The Material World and the Making of the Modern Mind by Nick HawkesBjørn’s academic work in cosmology and the philosophy of science. His book - Metaphysical Experiments: Physics and the Invention of the UniverseWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

We know health isn't just about the food you eat or the supplements you take. But do we really understand the other elements that are so crucial - the light we see, the water we drink, and even the way we think?Sara Pugh, PhD, Quantum Biologist and Ketogenic Coach shares how she has brought together physics and wellness. She explains why light and water are key players in how our bodies works and how simple daily choices can make a huge difference to our overall health and wellbeing.We cover:💧 How water in your body acts like a battery🧬 Mitochondria, movement and real energy🌞 Daily light routines to set your body clock🧠 Hypnosis, consciousness, and the power of belief📵 The hidden impact of EMFs and blue light🌍 Small changes that can make a big differenceThis episode is for anyone curious about how to align modern life with the natural rhythms we evolved for - and why it matters so much now.Find Sara:WebsiteYouTubeInstagramSubstackMentioned in this episode:Gerald Pollock’s 4th Phase of WaterThe Invisible Rainbow by Arthur FirstenbergDan Winter’s Golden Ratio & CoherenceRupert Sheldrake’s Morphic FieldsReality Is Plastic by Anthony JacquinWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer

This one’s for anyone who’s ever wondered: Are we really safe in a wireless world?What if the invisible forces all around us - your phone, your Wi-Fi, even your toothbrush - were quietly shaping your health and the planet’s health too?In this conversation, EMF researcher Olle Johansson shares his decades of experience researching the health impacts of electromagnetic fields - the kind you can’t see but you might well be feeling. From rising chronic diseases to the decline of natural pollinators, Olle connects the dots between our modern tech-filled lives and the health of every living thing. He also shares why insurance companies won’t touch EMF risks, why screen dermatitis is on the rise, and - crucially - what we can do right now to protect ourselves.We cover:📡 The hidden health impacts of EMFs🧬 Why Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & cell phones matter🧒 Why kids might be at higher risk🐝 What happens to bees & bugs (and why it matters)🌿 How to live with tech - without losing your mind (or your health)🤝 Why human connection matters more than everFind Olle:Email - olle.johansson500@gmail.comWebsiteMentioned in this episode:Material submitted to UK parliament on EMF and 5GPolarization and Biological Activity: Study analyzing the role of polarization in EMFs and their biological effectsImmune System Disturbance: Research on how EMFs can disturb immune function, leading to potential health risksElectrohypersensitivity Recognition: Discussion on Sweden's recognition of electrohypersensitivity as a functional impairmentMyelin Damage from RF-EMFs: Review of evidence linking radiofrequency EMF exposure to myelin damage and electrohypersensitivityWHO Classification: The World Health Organization's classification of certain EMFs as possible carcinogensWant to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTubeInstagram  @degreesofhealthDisclaimer