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Q&A

Question: Is hypothyroidism connected to pre-diabetes?
Answer: Hypothyroidism and prediabetes are closely connected because low thyroid hormones slow down the body’s entire metabolism. When the thyroid is underactive, you burn fewer calories and use less glucose, so insulin levels rise to compensate. Glucose also lingers in the bloodstream longer, which raises fasting glucose and A1C. Low thyroid function can increase liver fat, triglycerides, and LDL particles, all of which worsen insulin resistance. It also slows mitochondrial energy production, increases fatigue (so you move less), and raises cortisol — a stress hormone that pushes blood sugar higher. On top of all that, chronic inflammation can amplify both issues by interfering with thyroid hormone conversion and reducing how well your cells respond to insulin, making both conditions harder to control. 

Question: Can you explain the urge to return to your thinking brain instead of your emotional brain?
Answer: In Emotional Brain Training (EBT), the urge to return to your “thinking brain” instead of staying with your “emotional brain” is really common. This happens when you instinctively jump into reasoning, analyzing, or problem-solving rather than allowing yourself to fully feel the emotion that’s arising. While it might feel productive to “figure things out” in the moment, bypassing the feelings actually prevents the emotion from being expressed, processed, and rewired. In EBT terms, the emotional circuit stays active because the feeling is left incomplete, which can prolong stress, tension, or emotional reactivity.

Question: Will eating more protein like meat, cheese and eggs raise cholesterol?
Answer: Our bodies need protein for muscle repair, hormone production, and many other essential functions, and foods like meat, eggs, and cheese are excellent sources. Although these foods contain cholesterol and saturated fat, research shows that dietary cholesterol and saturated fat aren’t strongly linked to higher blood cholesterol levels. Genetics, inflammation, sugar intake, and insulin resistance have a much bigger impact. Eating moderate amounts of these protein-rich foods is generally safe, especially when combined with a variety of other protein sources—like fish, plant proteins, and dairy—and plenty of fiber from vegetables. The key is finding a balance that works for your body and that you can maintain over the long term.

Question: What is the blood sugar impact on dopamine and Parkinson's disease?
Answer: Blood sugar plays a key role in brain health, particularly for dopamine, the neurotransmitter that controls movement, motivation, and reward. Dopamine-producing neurons, especially in the brain regions affected in Parkinson’s, are very sensitive to energy supply. When blood sugar is consistently high or fluctuates a lot, it can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, all of which can impair dopamine function and contribute to neuron damage over time. Keeping blood sugar stable provides neurons with steady energy, reduces oxidative stress, and supports healthy dopamine levels. While managing blood sugar alone won’t prevent Parkinson’s, it is an important factor for protecting brain health and supporting the dopamine system.

Question: What is the Dawn Phenomenon?
Answer: The dawn phenomenon is a normal early-morning rise in blood sugar that happens between about 2–8 AM. Your body releases hormones (like cortisol, adrenaline, and growth hormone) to help you wake up and get ready for the day. These hormones tell your liver to release stored glucose for energy. If you’re insulin resistant, your body doesn’t respond as well to this glucose dump, so blood sugar rises higher than it should. This is why you can go to bed with a great number and still wake up higher. It doesn’t mean you did anything wrong—it’s just your body trying to power up for the morning, and improving insulin sensitivity over time can help soften this spike.

Question: How much leucine should be eaten per day?
Answer: Leucine is essential for building muscle because it acts as the body’s “on switch” for muscle protein synthesis. You need about 2.5–3 grams of leucine per meal to activate this muscle-building pathway. Most people naturally get 5–9 grams per day if they eat two to three protein-rich meals. You can reach this amount by eating at least 30 grams of high-quality protein at each meal. Foods like chicken, beef, turkey, whey protein, eggs, and Greek yogurt are especially high in leucine, while plant proteins can work too but often require larger portions.

Question: Can you address high triglycerides vs high cholesterol?
Answer: Triglycerides and cholesterol are both fats in your blood, but they serve different purposes and tell you different things about your metabolic health. Triglycerides are the fats your body makes from excess calories—especially sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol. High triglycerides are often a sign of insulin resistance, fatty liver, or eating more carbs than your body can handle. Cholesterol, on the other hand, is used to build hormones and cell membranes. High triglycerides usually point to a metabolic problem, while high cholesterol can come from many different factors, including genetics, thyroid levels, diet, and inflammation. Keeping blood sugar stable, reducing refined carbs, and improving insulin sensitivity are especially effective for lowering triglycerides.

Question: What about Repatha for cholesterol control?
Answer: Repatha (evolocumab) is a medication that dramatically lowers LDL cholesterol by helping your liver clear it from the blood. It’s often used when lifestyle changes or statins aren’t enough, for people with genetic high cholesterol, or for those who can’t tolerate statins. It’s given as a self-injection every 2–4 weeks and is generally well tolerated, with most side effects being mild—like injection-site reactions, mild flu-like symptoms, or occasional back pain. A key point is that Repatha doesn’t just lower the amount of cholesterol in each LDL particle (LDL-C)—it also lowers LDL particle number (LDL-P), which is an even better predictor of heart disease risk. High LDL-P means you have more LDL particles circulating, which can more easily enter artery walls and cause plaque, regardless of LDL-C levels. Repatha is metabolically neutral, so it doesn’t worsen insulin resistance, affect blood sugar, or increase diabetes risk. However, lifestyle changes such as a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight are still necessary to optimize cardiovascular health, even when taking this medication.

Question: Thoughts on Berberine?
Answer: Berberine is a natural compound that can help lower blood sugar and improve insulin resistance. It works by making your cells more responsive to insulin, reducing glucose production in the liver, and activating a key metabolic pathway called AMPK. Studies show it can lower fasting glucose, post-meal glucose, and HbA1c by amounts similar to some medications. While it can be a helpful tool for blood sugar control, it works best alongside healthy lifestyle habits like diet, exercise, and good sleep, and it can interact with certain medications, so monitoring is important.

Question: What if your calculated protein is way less than 1gm per lb?
Answer: If your protein intake is coming in well below about 1 gram per pound of body weight, you may not be giving your body enough to maintain muscle, support metabolism, and keep blood sugar stable. Protein helps preserve muscle as we age, keeps you full, and can improve insulin sensitivity. To fix this, focus on adding high-quality protein at each meal—like eggs, dairy, meat, fish, tofu, or legumes—and spread it throughout the day, aiming for at least 30 grams per meal to maximize muscle protein synthesis and blood sugar stability. Don’t obsess over the exact number—0.8–1 g per pound is a general target, but older adults often need more since aging reduces muscle-building efficiency. Getting closer to this target can make a big difference for energy, muscle preservation, and blood sugar control.

Question: How to get enough protein when doing IF?
Answer: Getting enough protein while doing intermittent fasting can be challenging since you have fewer meals to reach your daily target. The key is to prioritize high-quality protein at each meal and aim for at least 30 grams per meal, but if you’re only eating two meals a day, each should ideally contain closer to 40–50 grams to meet your total protein needs. You can also spread out your protein intake by including a small, protein-rich snack during your eating window, which can make it easier to reach your protein goals. Spreading protein evenly helps your body build and maintain muscle more effectively, and using protein-rich foods or a shake can make it easier to hit these higher amounts within a limited eating window.

Question: Does your fat % change if you don't have a gall bladder?
Answer: After gallbladder removal, your body’s ability to digest fat changes because the gallbladder is no longer there to store and release concentrated bile when you eat. Bile helps break down dietary fat, so without it, fat digestion can be less efficient, especially with large or very fatty meals, which may lead to bloating, gas, or diarrhea. You don’t have to drastically reduce fat overall, but it helps to spread fat intake across your meals and focus on easily digestible sources like olive oil, avocado, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish. Starting with moderate portions and gradually increasing fat can improve tolerance over time. Some people may benefit from digestive enzyme or bile salt supplements if recommended by a healthcare professional. With careful meal planning, most people are eventually able to eat a normal amount of healthy fats without discomfort.