Degrees of Health

Oral Health as an Early Warning Sign of Metabolic Disease | Sarah Hancock

Is tooth decay an early warning sign of metabolic disease? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sarah Hancock to explore a connection most of us were never taught the powerful link between oral health, nutrition, and long term metabolic health. Dental caries (tooth decay) is the most common diet related disease in the world yet it’s rarely discussed as part of chronic disease prevention. Sarah explains how frequent consumption of refined carbohydrates, nutrient poor diets, and early childhood eating patterns can affect not just our teeth, but our metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and future disease risk. We cover: * Why cavities may be an early metabolic red flag * How diet impacts teeth beyond brushing and fluoride * The link between refined carbs, insulin resistance, and oral health * Why poor oral health often begins in childhood * How nutrient dense diets may protect both teeth and metabolism This conversation reframes oral health as a whole body issue, not just a dental one. 🎙️ Listen now and share with anyone interested in preventative health. Exploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link [https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn] Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpVgBgbtgoNBz3sRQauH5w] Instagram  @degreesofhealth [https://www.instagram.com/degrees_of_health/] Disclaimer [https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6uea0cwE/S6IFQR7g0IoRiQiRkAIDyA/view?utm_content=DAF6uea0cwE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Is cancer really a metabolic disease or an infection? | Mark Lintern

In this episode, Ben sits down with Mark Lintern to challenge that assumption and explore a radically different idea... What if cancer is a disease of suppression, not failure? Drawing on the metabolic theory, the Warburg effect, mitochondrial biology, and emerging research into the tumour microbiome, Mark lays out a compelling framework that reframes cancer as a chronic cell danger response potentially driven by persistent infection. They unpack.. Why the metabolic theory explains more than genetics but still leaves gaps. Why apoptosis and immune evasion don’t fully fit the “broken cell” narrative. How mitochondria may intentionally suppress oxidative phosphorylation. Why prostate cancer breaks the Warburg rule entirely. The role of fungi, bacteria, and the tumour associated microbiome. Why immunotherapy often fails and sometimes backfires. How infection biology may explain inflammation, immune suppression, and tumour growth. What this means for real world treatment strategies, from metabolic therapy to repurposed drugs. This is a deep, systems-level conversation. Not about silver bullets but about first principles. If theory informs treatment, then getting the theory right matters. We cover: 🧬 Metabolic vs somatic mutation theory 🔥 The Warburg effect as a defensive response 🦠 Infection, fungi, and the tumour microbiome 🧠 The cell danger response model 🫁 Oxygen, mitochondria, and immune signalling 🧪 Prostate cancer as a metabolic outlier 💊 Repurposed drugs, antifungals, and metabolic therapies 🌱 Why cancer may be adaptive — not defective This episode isn’t about certainty. It’s about asking better questions. Exploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link [https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn] Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpVgBgbtgoNBz3sRQauH5w] Instagram  @degreesofhealth [https://www.instagram.com/degrees_of_health/] Disclaimer [https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6uea0cwE/S6IFQR7g0IoRiQiRkAIDyA/view?utm_content=DAF6uea0cwE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

GLP-1s, Testosterone & the New Health Paradigm | James O’Hara

Health optimisation isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about understanding trade-offs, context and biology. In this episode, Ben Hopkins is joined by James O’Hara to explore what really lies beneath today’s biggest health conversations, from GLP-1 drugs and testosterone decline to peptides, diet, recovery, and ageing. Drawing on personal experience and emerging research, they unpack why population data doesn’t always translate to individual outcomes, how modern lifestyles are quietly eroding hormonal health, and where new tools may help or harm, if misunderstood. From anabolic recovery and muscle retention to carnivore diets, light therapy and mental resilience, this is a wide-ranging conversation for anyone trying to navigate health in an increasingly complex world. We cover: 💉 GLP-1 agonists, weight loss & metabolic trade-offs 🧠 Testosterone decline, ageing & lifestyle factors 💪 Anabolic recovery, peptides & injury repair 🥩 Carnivore diets, hormones & long-term health ⚡ Light therapy, inflammation & healing 🧬 Emerging research shaping modern wellness It’s nuanced, honest and grounded in real-world experience, not just theory. Exploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link [https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn] Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpVgBgbtgoNBz3sRQauH5w] Instagram  @degreesofhealth [https://www.instagram.com/degrees_of_health/] Disclaimer [https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6uea0cwE/S6IFQR7g0IoRiQiRkAIDyA/view?utm_content=DAF6uea0cwE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Fructose, Fat, and the Future of Metabolic Health | Dr Richard Johnson, MD

Obesity isn’t just about willpower. It’s biology and it’s been hacked. In this episode, Dr. Richard Johnson (Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado) joins Ben to explain why your body still thinks it's living in the wild and how the same survival switch that once kept us alive may now be quietly driving obesity, diabetes, dementia and addiction. From fructose and uric acid to GLP-1s, Alzheimer's, and mitochondrial health, this conversation unpacks the hidden biology shaping how we store fat, crave sugar and so often lose control with it. We cover: 🧠 Fructose, the brain & Alzheimer’s 🧪 The survival switch that drives obesity 🍷 Why uric acid links sugar and alcohol 💊 GLP-1s, food addiction & metabolic dysfunction ⚡ What carbs do to your mitochondria It's deep, practical and quite possibly, completely paradigm-shifting. Find Dr Richard: Website [drrichardjohnson.com] Instagram [@drrichardjjohnson] Mentioned in this episode: Book - Nature Wants Us to Be Fat [https://amzn.eu/d/0JdrKbH]by Dr. Richard Johnson Paper on alcohol, fructose, and liver disease [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12638252/pdf/42255_2025_Article_1402.pdf] Exploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link [https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn] Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpVgBgbtgoNBz3sRQauH5w] Instagram  @degreesofhealth [https://www.instagram.com/degrees_of_health/] Disclaimer [https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6uea0cwE/S6IFQR7g0IoRiQiRkAIDyA/view?utm_content=DAF6uea0cwE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ketones, Mood, and Mitochondria: The Missing Link in Mental Health | Dr Ana Andreazza

What if the root of mental illness isn’t all in your head but in your cells? Dr. Ana Andreazza is leading one of the most exciting shifts in psychiatric science: away from neurotransmitters and towards the mighty mitochondria. In this episode, she and Ben explore the metabolic foundations of mood disorders, how lactate and ketones impact the brain and why most psychiatric medications only form part of the picture. From bipolar disorder and inflammation to mitochondrial transplants and brain organoids, Ana is at the forefront of rethinking how we treat, prevent and understand mental illness. We cover: 🧬 Why mitochondria might be the missing link in mental illness 🔥 How lactate and inflammation can trigger mania and mood swings 🥦 Why nutrition is still missing from most psychiatric care ⚡ The link between energy metabolism and neurotransmitters 🥼 What mitochondrial transplants could mean for brain health 🥑 The promise of ketones in bipolar and mood regulation 💊 Why we need both meds and metabolic interventions Find Ana: More about Ana's work [https://mito2i.ca] Papers & Research [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ana-Andreazza] Exploring the benefits of red and infra light therapy? Our community receive 10% off via this link [https://rechargehealthas.sjv.io/DyJ3mn] Want to watch this on video? Subscribe on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDpVgBgbtgoNBz3sRQauH5w] Instagram  @degreesofhealth [https://www.instagram.com/degrees_of_health/] Disclaimer [https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6uea0cwE/S6IFQR7g0IoRiQiRkAIDyA/view?utm_content=DAF6uea0cwE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.