Life's Best Medicine Podcast

Total health encompasses more than just physical wellbeing; it includes factors like family life, the health of our relationships, spirituality, and the way we see our relationship to the rest of the world and to others. In this show, Dr. Lenzkes and his guests discuss these factors and share stories of heroism, compassion, and healing along the way. Being a medical doctor, Dr. Lenzkes has made a commitment to helping people, and he firmly believes that this commitment extends into every aspect of life.

Episode 263: Stephanie MoDavis 08/20/2025

Episode 262: Jen Beyst | The Cognitive Function Development Institute 08/13/2025

Episode 262: Jen Beyst | The Cognitive Function Development Institute Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Jen Beyst is co-founder of the Cognitive Function Development Institute, an operative division of Transformational Opportunities, Inc. which is a 501(c)3 charity she and her husband, Brian, started. She’s a Master Cognitive Function Development Therapist, educational therapist, licensed educator, innovator, author, and certified parenting coach. Her past positions include director of Cognitive Function Development at Polara Health, president of SJ Brain Training and master teacher for a dyslexia institute. She’s an ardent speaker who has taught and developed therapists, educators, employees, and students of all ages. In this episode, Dr. Brian and Jen talk about… (00:00) Intro (05:20) Jen’s career background and why she started the Cognitive Function Development Institute with her husband (7:29) Neurodivergence (8:18) How the CFDI works with individuals with impulse control and memory issues (15:48) Holistic health and brain function (19:19) People who get overwhelmed easily and dissociation (23:35) Stress, early childhood trauma, and brain health (31:20) Neuroplasticity, neurogenesis, and how to keep your brain moving (35:04) Changing dysfunctional coping mechanisms (44:15) Negativity bias and why your body isn’t trying to kill you! (48:11) How Jen tests for cognitive function issues (52:44) Stories of cognitive development success (58:40) Prescription drugs and the CGFI approach (01:02:15) Hydration, sleep deprivation, and brain function (01:04:40) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Nature Wants us to be Fat (book): Jen Beyst: Cognitive Function Development Institute: Linkedin: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: Brain Bootcamp: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/37793070

Episode 261: Peter Ballerstedt, PhD (aka “The Sodfather” of the Ruminati) 08/06/2025

Episode 261: Peter Ballerstedt, PhD (aka “The Sodfather” of the Ruminati) Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Peter Ballerstedt, PhD (aka “The Sodfather” of the Ruminati) is a renowned forage agronomist and passionate advocate for the vital role of ruminant agriculture in both human health and sustainable ecosystems. With a B.S. (1981) and M.S. (1983) from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. (1986) in forage management with a minor in ruminant nutrition from the University of Kentucky, Peter served as the forage extension specialist at Oregon State University from 1986 to 1992. He later joined Barenbrug USA, leading forage product initiatives from 2011 through 2023, and has received major recognition such as the Allen Award of Illumination from the American Forage and Grasslands Council for elevating the value of grasslands worldwide . Peter’s work bridges two worlds: agronomy and metabolic health. He challenges conventional food narratives by emphasizing how ruminant animal-source foods play an essential role in addressing metabolic dysfunction and broader ecological sustainability . In this episode, Dr. Brian and Peter talk about… (00:00) Intro (08:30) The harmonizing of proper human nutrition, metabolic health, and environmental sustainability (11:48) Why focusing on eating nourishing foods makes more sense than focusing on calories (15:48) Why animal based food is brain food and fosters increased prosperity for a developing world (22:40) How the population can best be educated about the principles of nutrition (29:48) Why beef is so expensive and how it can be raised at lower cost, more humanely, and more sustainably (38:05) The global emissions of the pharmaceutical industry (39:57) Bad nutritional and medical info that just won’t die (48:28) Operation Grassroots (53:45) The gut microbiome and how color speaks to the nutritional value of food (57:26) Cow die-offs and how they happen (58:44) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Peter Ballerstedt, PhD: IG: X: Substack: “Foods of Animal Origin: A Prescription for Global Health,” Animal Frontiers, Oct 2019. Vol 9, No. 4 “The Societal Role of Meat,” Apr 2023, Animal Frontiers, Vol 13, Issue 2 “Animal source foods in ethical, sustainable & healthy diets” (a dynamic white paper) AgNext CSU (Sustainable Solutions for Animal Agriculture) CLEAR (Clarity and Leadership for Environmental Awareness and Research) Center at UC Davis - The Dublin Declaration of Scientists on the Societal Role of Livestock The Denver Call for Action “Regenerating Public Health.” 9 th National Grazing Lands Conference, 2024 “Ruminating on Protein: Plants & Animals.” Low Carb Sydney, 2023. Promoting Grasslands’ Role in the World of 2050. Opening Address, XXV International Grasslands Congress, 2023. “There IS an Existential Crisis.” Keto Salt Lake, 2022. “Why We Need a Ruminant Revolution.” Joint International Grassland Congress & International Rangeland Congress, Kenya, 2021 “Ruminant Reality: Diet, Human Health and the Environment.” Low Carb Breckenridge, 2017. Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: Brain Bootcamp: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/37698275

Episode 260: From the Inner City to Inner Peace | Josh Pepin 07/30/2025

Episode 259: Doug Reynolds | The Symposium for Metabolic Health – San Diego 2025 07/23/2025

Episode 259: Doug Reynolds | The Symposium for Metabolic Health – San Diego 2025 Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Doug Reynolds is the founder of LowCarbUSA®, a leading organization dedicated to promoting low-carb, ketogenic, and metabolic health through science-based education. A former endurance athlete and self-proclaimed “carb skeptic,” Doug turned his personal health journey into a mission to help others reclaim their lives through nutrition. One of his most impactful contributions to the fight for metabolic health is The LowCarbUSA® conference. Officially known as the Symposium for Metabolic Health, it is a premier scientific and clinical event hosted by LowCarbUSA® in collaboration with the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP). Founded by Doug in 2016, it brings together world‑renowned researchers, healthcare professionals, and passionate individuals to explore the therapeutic benefits of carbohydrate restriction—and its role in combating insulin resistance, inflammation, hyperinsulinemia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurological disorders. The Symposium for Metabolic Health – San Diego 2025, hosted by LowCarbUSA® and the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP), takes place August 14–17 at the Loews Coronado Bay Resort. This premier event brings together healthcare professionals, researchers, and health enthusiasts to explore cutting-edge science and clinical strategies focused on therapeutic carbohydrate reduction and metabolic health. Highlights include a full day dedicated to brain and neurological health, 28 CME credits, practical tools for improving patient outcomes, and unique networking opportunities—all set against the scenic backdrop of Coronado Bay, with both in-person and livestream options available. For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Doug Reynolds: 2025 Symposium for Metabolic Health: LowCarbUSA: X: PROMO CODE FOR EVENT (20% off): Low Carb MD Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/37515510

Episode 258: Dr. Rubén Ancona Bolaños 07/16/2025

Episode 257: Dr. Carl Rothschild 07/02/2025

Episode 256: Kurtis Lee Thomas 06/25/2025

Episode 255: Valencia Dantzler 06/18/2025

Episode 254: Mark King 06/11/2025

Episode 253: Jon Engelson and Yuda Holtzberg 06/04/2025

Episode 252: Tamar Blue 05/28/2025

Episode 251: Zachary Tyler 05/21/2025

Episode 250: Dr. Emily Roth 05/14/2025

Episode 249: Anu Simh 05/07/2025

Episode 248: Dr. Erin Bellamy 04/30/2025

Episode 247: Cheryl Erpelding from Bethany’s Gait Ranch 04/23/2025

Episode 246: Who Do You Say That I AM? 04/16/2025

Episode 245: Dr. Laura Buchanan 04/09/2025

Episode 245: Dr. Laura Buchanan Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Dr. Laura Buchanan is a double board-certified physician in family and obesity medicine with a passion for using lifestyle modification as the first-line standard of care. She is a certified metabolic health practitioner (MHP), and a Board and founding member of the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. She is also a certified Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). Given the improvement she has seen in patient’s mental health with low-carb diets, she also completed Dr. Georgia Ede’s “Ketogenic Diets for Mental Health Clinician Training”. She completed her family medicine residency at Wake Forest in 2022 and was a valedictorian of her class at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In this episode, Drs. Brian and Laura talk about… (00:00) Intro (03:34) How Dr. Laura first became interested in metabolic health and her research work at Toward Health (06:11) Data and research on quality of life and mental health improvement for people on a keto diet (08:04) How Alzheimer’s can improve on low-carb and ketogenic diets (09:19) The prevalence of food addiction among obese and diabetic people (10:43) Harm reduction versus abstinence strategies for dealing with food addiction (14:15) Some harmful ingredients found in many keto and low-carb replacement foods (17:10) Toward Health’s upcoming study on the improvement of binge eating and food addiction symptoms on a low carb diet (20:55) Some strategies that can help people recover from binge eating and food addiction (23:30) Night-Eating Syndrome (26:37) The importance of community and engagement with people who can support you through your recovery and health journey (29:16) The incredible findings of Toward Health’s employee wellness program study (33:38) The economic/medical pros and cons of GLP-1 medications (39:55) Sneaky sugars that most people are not aware of (46:42) The key take-aways from Toward Health’s recent Employee Wellness study (57:24) Outro and plugs For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Resources Mentioned in this Episode: DR DAVID UNWIN’S SUGAR INFOGRAPHICS: The Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners: Dr. Laura Buchanan:: Toward Health App: Toward Health Employee Wellness Study: Twitter: Website: Instagram: The Food Relationship Fix: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/36062615

Episode 244: P.D. Mangan 03/26/2025

Episode 243: Ben Azadi 03/19/2025

Episode 242: Dr. Chelsea Turgeon 03/12/2025

Episode 241: The Arizona Low Carb Collaborative 03/07/2025

Episode 241: The Arizona Low Carb Collaborative Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. The Arizona Low Carb Collaborative is coming soon (March 22-23)! Join us for a day filled with delicious low-carb food, informative talks, and a chance to connect with like-minded individuals. Whether you're a seasoned low-carb pro or just starting your journey, this event is perfect for anyone looking to learn more about the low-carb lifestyle. Coach Bronson Dant is an exercise scientist, sports performance coach, and ketogenic athlete dedicated to helping athletes optimize their performance without sacrificing health. Since 2006, he has coached athletes at all levels—from weekend warriors to competitive professionals—focusing on strength, conditioning, and metabolic efficiency. Coach Natalie Grasso is a Certified Health & Life Coach, Personal Trainer, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner specializing in low-carb & ketogenic nutrition for body transformation — with a focus on emotional eating & behavior change. She is also a WBFF Diva Bikini PRO! In this episode, Dr. Brian, Bronson, and Natalie talk about… (00:00) Intro (01:31) The upcoming Arizona Low Carb Collaborative (see links below) (02:07) Natalie and Bronson’s backgrounds and expertise (06:09) The topics that Bronson and Natalie will be speaking on at the Arizona Low Carb Collaborative (09:19) Dr. Brian’s speaking topic at the Arizona Low Carb Collaborative (10:15) The prevalence of stressors in life and how to deal with a life that is characterized by stress (12:39) The great food and great speakers that will be at the Arizona Low Carb Collaborative (17:33) Why you should come to the Arizona Low Carb Collaborative For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening! Links: Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Arizona Low Carb Collaborative: Arizona Low Carb Collaborative PROMO CODE: METHEALTH Coach Bronson on the Life’s Best Medicine Podcast: Coach Bronson on the Low Carb MD Podcast: Coach Bronson Dant: Website: Instagram: YouTube: Coach Natalie Grasso: Website: Instagram: YouTube: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/35578535

Episode 240: Ezra Lavinsky, LPC 03/05/2025

Episode 239: Hannah Warren 02/25/2025

Episode 239: Hannah Warren Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Hannah Warren is the Mental Health Communications and Advocacy Manager at Metabolic Mind. Hannah writes and advocates for increased awareness of the emerging field of metabolic psychiatry. In July 2021, she implemented ketogenic therapy and ultimately put her bipolar 1 disorder into complete remission. She now devotes her career to disseminating the science of metabolic therapies and working to make them a first-line treatment option. In this conversation, Dr. Brian and Hannah talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:19) Hannah’s career and personal health journey recovering from Bipolar I Disorder using metabolic therapies (13:56) Hannah’s non-profit, Jhoole--a social enterprise, nonprofit, fair trade cooperative that employs women in Maheshwar, India in the eco fashion industry so that they can gain economic independence, invest in education, and ultimately break the cycle of poverty in their community (14:58) Whether creative, entrepreneurial people tend to be more likely to suffer from Bipolar I (17:38) The euphoric nature of mania and the numbness of depression that people with Bipolar I experience (20:18) How Hannah was first introduced to metabolic psychiatry and the positive changes she began implementing that led her to mental stability (27:51) Vegetarian and vegan keto (36:58) The spiritual/emotional aspect of metabolic health (39:06) Hannah’s experience coming out of mania and sinking into depression (41:28) How metabolic therapies improve\ mental illness, depression, and anxiety (51:09) Making helping others and love the guiding principle for your life (53:07) Systemic changes that need to take place in the health care system (01:02:40) Outro/Plugs For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and stay healthy! Links: Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Jules Anacker on the Life’s Best Medicine Podcast: Good Energy (book by Casey Means): Hannah Warren: Jhoole: Metabolic Mind: YouTube: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/35433675

Episode 238: Harry Fisher 02/19/2025

Episode 238: Harry Fisher Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Harry Fisher is a seasoned paramedic and military veteran with a service record spanning the Army and Air Force since 1997. His extensive frontline experience includes witnessing the profound impacts of unconstitutional COVID-19 protocols and the dangers associated with the COVID-19 vaccines. Harry's critical view of mRNA injuries gained widespread attention when he posted a viral video recounting a chilling experience: “I’m a paramedic who performed CPR in a Pfizer line. During CPR, a nurse remarked, ‘This is the second one in two weeks.’” The video attracted millions of views and a flood of comments from individuals sharing their own losses and injuries following mRNA vaccinations. Despite its popularity, the video and the testimonies it inspired were swiftly removed by TikTok under the claim of "terroristic activity." In this conversation, Dr. Brian and Harry talk about… (00:00) Intro (04:36) The story of why Harry ended up becoming a paramedic (05:35) Harry’s experience of the advent of Covid as a paramedic (07:17) The unusual increase in children Harry had to treat as a paramedic following the approval of Covid shots for kids (08:18) The severe staffing shortages at hospitals during the Covid years (10:04) Pressure from hospitals and the government for frontline health workers to get the Covid shot and how it effected Harry’s career (14:40) The public health crisis that was created by false promotion of the Covid vaccines as ‘safe and effective’ (20:54) The nonsensical Covid policies enforced by companies and governments (24:49) Dr. Brian and Harry’s experiences getting Covid for the first time and the importance of thinking rationally about new data as it comes in (30:31) How his colleagues’ reception of Harry’s message has changed over the years and how Harry’s faith has kept him going despite meeting so much opposition and personal hardship (38:15) Letting the evidence speak for itself rather than pushing agendas and how the NIH was explicitly and unapologetically manipulating people en masse to believe that the vaccines were safe/effective despite insufficient evidence for this claim (42:30) The massive increase in addictive substance usage and rates of depression/anxiety during Covid lockdowns (47:31) What we must do in the wake of Covid to ensure that the abuses perpetrated by governments and institutions never happen again (56:51) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and stay healthy! Links: Harry Fisher: Safe and Effective (book): X: Website: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/35345360

Episode 237: Dr. Andrea Salcedo 02/12/2025

Episode 236: Mark Sisson 02/05/2025

Episode 235: Christine Trimpe 01/28/2025

Episode 234: Aging on Your Terms Conference w/Dr. Ben Bocchicchio 01/28/2025

Episode 234: Aging on Your Terms Conference w/Dr. Ben Bocchicchio Thank you for tuning in for another episode of Life’s Best Medicine. Dr. Ben Bocchicchio is the author of 15 Minutes to FITNESS: Dr. Ben's SMaRT Plan for Diet and Total Health and has been an innovator and leader in the fields of fitness, exercise, and health since the 1970s. He was awarded degrees in the fields of Health and Exercise at the undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and postdoctoral levels. He was called upon as an expert by professional and college teams, TV, radio, screen, and stage personalities, medical institutions, and corporate entities. Dr. Ben owned and supervised a number of private fitness and health centers from the early 1970s until the present time. He also developed and owned spine and cardio vascular rehabilitation centers, where he used his S.Ma.R.T.-EX ™ program. Dr. Ben has continued his work in the fields of fitness, wellness, and health to this day. He currently maintains a private fitness and health practice in Arizona. This successful business includes medically managed weight loss programs that combine prescription medication therapy, nutritional counseling, and supervised exercise. In this conversation, Drs. Brian and Ben talk about… (00:00) Intro (00:56) The upcoming AZ Low Carb presentation in Sun City, AZ featuring both Dr. Ben and Dr. Brian as speakers (among many other amazing speakers!) (05:34) The topics that will be covered by the speakers at the AZ Low Carb event (08:03) What metabolic health is and how to effectively move toward it as we age (15:11) Details about attending the event virtually or in person (See links below) (18:41) Outro For more information, please see the links below. Thank you for listening. Have a blessed day and stay healthy! Links: Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Attend the AZ Low Carb event in Sun City on 2/1/2025 either virtually or in person: Hal Cranmer’s ‘A Paradise for Parents’: Dr. Ben Bocchicchio: Website: Book: Facebook: YouTube: Dr. Brian Lenzkes: Arizona Metabolic Health: Low Carb MD Podcast: HLTH Code: HLTH Code Promo Code: METHEALTH • HLTH Code Website: /episode/index/show/lifesbestmedicine/id/35042135

Life's Best Medicine Podcast

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