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Hey, I’m Dr. Jared Pelo, the co-founder of Bionic Health, where our goal is to help you live as healthily as possible for as long as possible. Many people face a miserable fourth quarter of life due to disease, poor heart health, or lack of mobility. Family doctors often lack the time to optimize your health fully.
At Bionic Health, we take you through the Bionic Journey, where you are assigned an experienced doctor to examine your family disease risk, heart health biomarkers, hormones, metabolic health, and perform strength and aerobic testing. We also use Dexa for body composition and wearable devices for daily activity and sleep quality tracking.
You’ll also get a Bionic Advisor, your healthy habit partner, guiding you through necessary lifestyle changes. Our app provides an easy-to-understand format for each step and allows direct communication with your doctor or advisor.
Unlocking the Secrets of Aging: A Conversation with Professor Matt Yousefzadeh, PhD
In the second episode of our groundbreaking Medicine 3.0 podcast, Dr. Jared Pelo sits down with Dr. Matt Yousefzadeh, a faculty member at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Yousefzadeh work at the intersection of aging and immunity provides fascinating insights into the complex world of biomarkers and the hallmarks of aging.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Complexity of Aging: Dr. Yousefzadeh emphasizes that aging is not a simple process but involves multiple interconnected "hallmarks" or pillars. While it's tempting to simplify, understanding this complexity is crucial for developing effective interventions.
2. Cellular Senescence: One focus of Dr. Yousefzadeh's research is cellular senescence, where cells become "stressed out" and stop proliferating. While this is an anti-cancer mechanism, the accumulation of these cells contributes to inflammation and aging.
3. Biomarkers of Aging: The podcast delves into various types of biomarkers, including molecular, physiological, and digital. Dr. Yousefzadeh discusses specific markers like GDF-15, DNA damage indicators, and mitochondrial DNA.
4. Epigenetic Clocks: These tools, which measure biological age based on DNA methylation patterns, are discussed as potential ways to track aging and the effectiveness of interventions.
5. Lifestyle Interventions: The conversation highlights the importance of diet, exercise, and social connections in healthy aging. Dr. Yousefzadeh mentions studies showing how exercise and caloric restriction can reduce markers of cellular senescence.
6. The Role of Muscle: An interesting debate emerges about the balance between calorie restriction (known to extend lifespan in animal studies) and maintaining muscle mass for healthy aging.
7. Future Directions: While exciting new interventions are being studied, Dr. Yousefzadeh emphasizes the importance of proven lifestyle factors and suggests using biomarkers to guide personalized interventions.
Dr. Yousefzadeh's insights remind us that while the field of aging research is dynamic and complex, some of the most effective interventions are also the simplest: exercise, a healthy diet, and strong social connections. As we await further developments in aging science, these foundational habits remain crucial for promoting both lifespan and healthspan.
Stay tuned for more episodes of Medicine 3.0, where we continue to explore the cutting edge of health and longevity science.
Today’s Bionic Beat newsletter is all about body composition.
Understanding your body’s composition is key to maximizing your healthspan. This is why we have an entire module dedicated to measuring then optimizing your body’s unique balance of muscle, bone and tissue. If you only monitor your weight, you are blind to so many elements that contribute to a long and healthy life.
Here are a few resources that align with how we think about optimizing your body's composition.
Muscle is your key to health and longevity
In this study of elderly individuals, researchers measured participants' muscle mass then continued to monitor their health. Muscle mass was found to be an indicator of longer life.
Not a fan of journal articles? Watch Gabrielle Lyon give an excellent TED Talk on muscle-centric medicine, and I weigh in on saving muscle for retirement.
More muscle-centric medicine:
Saving muscle for retirement:
Too much deep belly fat is dangerous
An excess of belly fat, or visceral adipose tissue, doesn’t just impact your confidence, it can negatively impact your healthspan too. And you don’t know how much you have unless you have a DEXA, CT or MRI scan.
Welcome to the first edition of Bionic Health’s biweekly email newsletter.
We hope to deliver you the latest in medical news that we believe will be interesting and help you live healthier longer. We’re glad you’re here!
We'll try to make the articles and videos fun to read but also allow you to go deep and really geek out if you want to (like I do). We also want to keep you up to date on the Bionic Journey.
Protein: Maximizing Muscle with Every Bite
I think of protein as more than just a nutrient; it's a building block for a vibrant life, especially as we age.
A riveting discovery reveals we can effectively utilize up to 100 grams of protein in one sitting to bolster muscle synthesis, challenging previous notions about protein absorption limits.
The secret lies in the protein's digestibility rate, highlighting the advantage of combining whole foods and protein shakes to ensure a steady supply of this essential nutrient to our muscles. This finding underscores the importance of selecting the right type of protein for optimal health benefits.
Sleep does more than just recharge our batteries; it's a cornerstone of health, influencing everything from mood to performance.
However, the flip side reveals that inadequate sleep can have dire consequences, leading to deteriorated health outcomes.
Recognizing the dual role of sleep not only illuminates its importance for daily functioning but also as a preventive measure against a spectrum of health issues.
While Zone 2 exercise has its merits, it's not the pinnacle of fitness goals.
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) and strength training emerge as the champions for rapid health improvements, offering a more efficient route to peak physical well-being.
These forms of exercise are designed to maximize benefits in a shorter timeframe, proving that the foundation of a robust exercise regimen goes beyond steady-state cardio to include dynamic and strength-building workouts.
“Outlive” by Peter Attia is a bestseller and a wonderful book that I highly recommend, giving it a 98%. Attia does an excellent job explaining his medical practices and offering general health advice. However, he tends to make things very complicated, aiming for the highest standards, which can be overwhelming for many readers.
Peter Attia is what we call a “gunner” in medical school—a perfectionist who goes to great lengths to excel. I, on the other hand, took a more pragmatic approach, focusing on passing key exams to get into a good residency. This difference in approach highlights why I find some of Attia’s methods overly complex.
For instance, while Attia promotes goals like doing pull-ups at 100 years old, most people might simply aim for a relatively good quality of life in their later years. Attia’s detailed plans can be daunting without clear, specific goals. Even his online course, Early Medical, though excellent, requires a significant amount of effort.
In summary, while I love “Outlive” and highly recommend it, the complexity and high standards Attia sets might deter some readers. If you find his methods overwhelming, check out our services—we’re here to help you achieve your health goals more practically.
Unveiling Medicine 3.0: A Deep Dive into Body Composition with Professor Abbie Smith-Ryan, PhD
We're thrilled to announce the launch of our new podcast – Medicine 3.0 – where we explore cutting-edge topics in health and wellness. In our inaugural episode, Dr. Jared Pelo sits down with Dr. Abbie Smith-Ryan, a professor in exercise and sports science at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, to discuss the often misunderstood topic of body composition.
Beyond the Scale: Understanding Your Body's Makeup
Dr. Ryan challenges the conventional wisdom of relying solely on weight as a health indicator. She emphasizes the importance of understanding body composition - the breakdown of fat, muscle, and bone in our bodies. This holistic approach provides a more accurate picture of overall health and can guide more effective lifestyle changes.
Key Takeaways:
1. Focus on Muscle, Not Just Fat: Dr. Ryan stresses the importance of maintaining and building muscle mass, especially as we age. Muscle is crucial for metabolism, bone health, and overall functionality.
2. The Myth of Spot Reduction: While you can't target fat loss in specific areas, certain exercises and lifestyle changes can help reduce visceral fat, which is linked to various health risks.
3. Body Composition Measurement: Various methods exist for measuring body composition, with DEXA scans providing comprehensive insights into fat distribution, muscle mass, and bone density.
4. Nutrition for Body Composition: Building meals around protein and vegetables can support muscle maintenance and overall health, without the need for extreme dieting.
5. Consistency Over Perfection: Small, consistent changes in diet and exercise can lead to significant improvements in body composition over time.
Why It Matters
Understanding your body composition can be a game-changer in your health journey. It allows for more targeted and effective strategies to improve overall health, rather than focusing solely on weight loss. As Dr. Ryan puts it, "It's not just about looking good, it's about feeling good."
Stay tuned for more episodes of Medicine 3.0, where we'll continue to explore innovative approaches to health and wellness with leading experts in the field.
At Bionic Health, our mission is to enable optimal health for all. The Baseline Health module is our foundational program, guiding you through essential health steps. You’ll learn how to use our application for health actions like blood draws, advisor meetings, and intake history. This helps us understand your unique health profile.
We collect data and labs, partnering with LabCorp, and provide a physician’s report with personalized insights. We’ll discuss supplements, medications, and their benefits and risks. Your advisor will assist you in executing these plans.
We ask members to track their blood pressure at home, as high blood pressure is a silent killer. Depending on your readings, we may recommend more frequent monitoring and treatment if necessary. Blood work may change over time, requiring rechecks or less frequent checks.
This comprehensive module is just the beginning of your journey towards a healthier life. We can’t wait to support you along the way.
We hope this post helps you understand the importance of our Baseline Health module and how it sets the foundation for your optimal health journey.
Anna Simmons is an advisor at Bionic Health. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Human Development and is a certified health coach, personal trainer, and nutrition coach. With seven years of experience in coaching and fitness, she is passionate about helping others reach their potential.
At Bionic Health, Anna appreciates the individualized approach to care, which is distinct from traditional healthcare. Members have quick access to their physician and a comprehensive view of their health in a preventative and proactive manner. Bionic Health’s use of modern technology makes this advanced healthcare accessible to everyone.
Anna’s journey into coaching began at 16 when she worked as a gymnastics coach for young kids, sparking her love for promoting wellness. Among the modules at Bionic Health, she finds the performance module the most exciting. As a personal trainer, she has seen exercise drastically improve her quality of life and is thrilled to help others experience the same benefits. Working alongside members to enhance their health, fitness, and strength is incredibly rewarding and exciting for her.
My name is Jared Pellow, and I am the Chief Medical Officer at Bionic Health. I trained in emergency medicine and have been a physician for 17 years. After practicing emergency medicine for the first decade, I shifted to precision medicine and AI in 2014, starting my first startup. Since then, I’ve been dedicated to this field.
What excites me most about Bionic Health is the impact we can have on individuals’ lives and the potential global difference we can make. Our mission is to enable optimal health for all, starting in the United States and expanding worldwide.
Interestingly, I grew up in a family that favored alternative medicine, with my mother preferring Reiki, yoga, and energy healers over traditional medicine. This background led me to value rigorous scientific research, and I spent years in molecular biology research, publishing papers on inflammation and cancer. I even considered becoming a toxicologist but ultimately found my passion in patient care and artificial intelligence.
At Bionic Health, the performance module excites me the most. It helps people understand their current health status, sets goals, and guides them toward having the healthiest, strongest bodies possible as they age. I am thrilled to welcome more members to Bionic Health and start them on this journey.
