I'll bet you've never heard the word sarcopenia — but I promise you, it's happening to you right now. Starting around age 30, you begin quietly losing muscle mass, and here's the scary part: most of my patients never feel it happening until it's robbed them of the last 20 good years of their life. So today, I want to let you in on something I've learned after seeing patients six days a week for over 25 years: this kind of muscle loss is NOT a normal part of aging. I can prevent it, and so can you — at any age.

In this episode, I break down what I call the gut-muscle axis — how a leaky gut, beaten up by lectins, NSAIDs, and antibiotics, shrinks your protein-absorbing surface area from the size of a tennis court down to a ping-pong table. That's why I tell my patients the problem isn't that you need more protein as you get older. It's that you can't absorb the protein you're already eating. I'll also explain why I think of your muscles as the "customers" that insulin has to sell to, why 88% of overweight folks (and 50% of normal-weight folks) are insulin resistant, and why I'm so concerned about GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic — because up to 40% of the weight you lose on them is muscle, the one tissue you cannot afford to give up.

Plus, I'll show you how sealing your leaky gut blocks myostatins (the little compounds that keep your muscles from growing), why the real money is in your butt and thighs — not your "guns" — and the two free, do-it-at-home strength moves my old friend Jack LaLanne swore by, which you can knock out while you're brushing your teeth. Here's my take-home message, and I mean it: it is never too late to seal your gut and rebuild the muscle that matters most.

What I cover: sarcopenia, muscle loss and aging, leaky gut, gut health, insulin resistance, GLP-1 and Ozempic side effects, protein absorption, the gut-muscle axis, myostatin, strength training after 60, metabolic flexibility, frailty, healthspan, and longevity.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this podcast episode possible:

• Upgrade your gym shoes at peluva.com and use code GUNDRY for 10% off.
• Transform your sleep experience with Cozy Earth bedding. Go to cozyearth.com/gundry for 20% off.
• Strengthen your teeth today by visiting buylarine.com/gundry for up to 50% off of remineralizing gum and mints.
• Get a quote today at Progressive.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are we focusing on the wrong thing when it comes to protein and healthy aging?

In this episode, I break down fascinating new research from my friend Dr. Valter Longo that could change the way you think about protein, muscle, and longevity. The key may not be how many grams of protein you eat, but how much of one specific amino acid, methionine, you're getting.

I explain what the study found, why too much or too little methionine may matter, and how mTOR, IGF-1, GLP-1, and gut health fit into the picture. I’ll also share why I don't believe getting older automatically means you need to pile more animal protein onto your plate, and the protein sources I prefer for supporting strength while keeping longevity in mind.

If you're over 50 or 60, eating a high-protein diet, or simply want to stay strong as you age, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've all been taught that if it's a vegetable, it belongs on your plate.

In this episode, I walk you through five of the biggest offenders and what's actually happening in your gut when these foods show up on your plate.

Plus, learn the simple prep tricks that can make several of these foods safe again.

On this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Europeans called the tomato the "poison apple" — and the simple prep trick to make them safe again (01:19)
• The science behind lectins and how they damage your gut (2:00)
• The traditional charring-and-peeling method used to make peppers safe to eat (05:29)
• Which vegetable tops the list as the nightshade you truly can't detoxify (08:17)
• The simple trick to lower the blood sugar spike of white potatoes (09:37)
• The real reason green beans and peas were never meant to be eaten in the quantities we consume them (10:46)
• Why THIS bread might be one of the worst lectin bombs in your entire pantry (11:56)
• The one word to look for on a pickle jar label that tells you whether it's actually helping or hurting your gut (12:20)

For full show notes and transcript: https://drgundry.com/are-nightshade veggies-bad-for-me

Thank you to our sponsors! Check them out:

• Upgrade your gym shoes at peluva.com and use code GUNDRY for 10% off.
• Transform your sleep experience with Cozy Earth bedding. Go to cozyearth.com/gundry for 20% off.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.