Learning Materials

Resources

Curated books, podcasts, and topic guides that form the foundation of this hub's framework. These are the sources worth spending time with.

Expert Attribution

Meet the Experts

This hub draws on the work of 36 physicians, researchers, educators, and authors specializing in metabolic health, cardiovascular risk, longevity, nutrition, and root-cause wellness. Every resource on this page traces back to their work.

Reading List

Books

These titles form the intellectual backbone of this hub. Not every book agrees with every other — that's intentional. Understanding the debate is part of the framework.

Start Here

New to health optimization? Read these three first.

Best overall starting point

Why We Get Sick

Benjamin Bikman, PhD

The clearest explanation of insulin resistance available — what causes it, how it drives nearly every chronic disease, and what to do about it. Essential reading before anything else on metabolic health.

Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Health
Best for quick wins

Glucose Revolution

Jessie Inchauspé

Practical, science-backed strategies for flattening glucose spikes — immediately actionable regardless of your dietary approach. The fastest way to understand how food affects your metabolism.

Metabolic Health / Blood Sugar
Best for getting started with keto

Anyway You Can

Annette Bosworth, MD (Dr. Boz)

A physician's personal and clinical journey into therapeutic ketosis — written for patients and families navigating metabolic disease. The most accessible entry point into ketogenic medicine.

Therapeutic Ketosis / Metabolic Health

Full Reading List

Why We Get Sick

Benjamin Bikman, PhD

Insulin Resistance / Metabolic Health

One of the clearest explanations of insulin resistance available — what causes it, how it drives disease, and what to do about it.

Wheat Belly

William Davis, MD

Nutrition / Cardiovascular

The case against modern wheat and its effects on metabolic health, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk.

The Obesity Code

Jason Fung, MD

Metabolic Health / Fasting

A hormonal framework for understanding obesity and weight regulation — focused on insulin as the primary driver.

The Longevity Paradox

Steven Gundry, MD

Nutrition / Gut Health / Longevity

Focuses on the role of lectins, gut health, and dietary choices in aging and longevity.

Eat to Beat Disease

William Li, MD

Nutrition / Cancer Prevention

How food activates the body's five defense systems — angiogenesis, regeneration, microbiome, DNA protection, and immunity.

The Salt Fix

James DiNicolantonio, PharmD

Hydration / Cardiovascular / Nutrition

A reassessment of sodium's role in health — challenging the conventional low-salt narrative with evidence from cardiovascular and metabolic research.

The Carnivore Code

Paul Saladino, MD

Nutrition / Metabolic Health

An exploration of animal-based nutrition and its potential role in reducing inflammation and supporting metabolic health.

Undoctored

William Davis, MD

Metabolic Health / Self-Directed Health

A framework for taking control of your own health using data, nutrition, and targeted supplementation — without relying solely on the conventional medical system.

Glucose Revolution

Jessie Inchauspé

Metabolic Health / Nutrition

Practical, science-backed strategies for flattening glucose spikes — with actionable hacks that work regardless of dietary approach.

Stay Off My Operating Table

Philip Ovadia, MD

Cardiovascular / Metabolic Health

A cardiac surgeon's case for metabolic health as the primary driver of cardiovascular disease — and how to prevent ever needing surgery.

Practical Guide to Intermittent Fasting

Cynthia Thurlow, NP

Fasting / Metabolic Health / Women's Health

A practical, women-focused guide to intermittent fasting — covering hormonal considerations, metabolic benefits, and implementation strategies.

Muscle as Medicine

Gabrielle Lyon, DO

Muscle Health / Longevity / Metabolic Health

The case for skeletal muscle as the organ of longevity — and how protein intake and resistance training are the highest-leverage health interventions.

Food: What the Heck Should I Eat?

Mark Hyman, MD

Nutrition / Functional Medicine

A functional medicine physician's guide to navigating the confusion around food — covering fats, carbohydrates, protein, and the politics of nutrition science.

Toxic

Sara Szal (Gottfried), MD

Hormones / Detoxification / Women's Health

How environmental toxins disrupt hormonal balance and metabolic function — and evidence-based strategies for reducing toxic load.

The Human Upgrade

Gary Brecka

Biohacking / Metabolic Health / Performance

Practical biohacking strategies for optimizing energy, performance, and longevity — with a focus on genetics, methylation, and lifestyle interventions.

Anyway You Can

Annette Bosworth, MD (Dr. Boz)

Therapeutic Ketosis / Metabolic Health / Fasting

A physician's personal and clinical journey into therapeutic ketosis — written for patients and families navigating metabolic disease. Covers ketone monitoring, fasting, and the practical application of a ketogenic lifestyle. Accessible, story-driven, and clinically grounded.

Eat to Beat Your Diet

William Li, MD

Nutrition / Metabolic Health / Longevity

A follow-up to Eat to Beat Disease, focused on how specific foods activate the body's fat-fighting and metabolic health systems. Covers brown fat activation, angiogenesis, and food-based strategies for metabolic optimization and healthy aging.

Forever Strong

Gabrielle Lyon, DO

Muscle Health / Protein / Longevity

The definitive guide to muscle-centric medicine — making the case that skeletal muscle is the organ of longevity and that protein intake and resistance training are the highest-leverage interventions for healthy aging.

The Complete Guide to Fasting

Jason Fung, MD & Jimmy Moore

Fasting / Metabolic Health / Insulin Resistance

A comprehensive, practical guide to therapeutic fasting — covering the physiology of fasting, different fasting protocols, and clinical applications for metabolic disease, weight loss, and insulin resistance.

The Longevity Solution

James DiNicolantonio, PharmD & Jason Fung, MD

Longevity / Nutrition / Cardiovascular

A research-backed framework for extending healthspan through diet, fasting, and targeted supplementation — with a focus on omega-3s, protein, and the dietary patterns associated with the longest-lived populations.

The Hormone Cure

Sara Szal (Gottfried), MD

Hormones / Women's Health / Functional Medicine

A functional medicine approach to hormonal imbalance — covering cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, and testosterone. Provides a root-cause framework for identifying and addressing hormonal dysfunction.

The Cancer Code

Jason Fung, MD

Cancer / Metabolic Health / Insulin

A paradigm-shifting look at cancer through a metabolic lens — arguing that insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction are central drivers of cancer development, and that dietary and fasting interventions have a meaningful role in prevention.

The Toxin Solution

Joseph Pizzorno, ND

Environmental Health / Detoxification

How environmental toxins drive chronic disease — and evidence-based protocols for reducing toxic load and supporting detoxification pathways.

Break the Mold

Jill Crista, ND

Mold / Mycotoxins / Environmental Health

The leading clinical guide to mold illness and mycotoxin exposure — covering identification, testing, and step-by-step recovery protocols.

Sicker, Fatter, Poorer

Leo Trasande, MD

Environmental Toxins / Endocrine Disruptors / PFAS

How endocrine-disrupting chemicals, PFAS, and microplastics affect metabolic health, development, and chronic disease — with practical strategies for reducing exposure.

Audio

Podcasts

Long-form conversations with physicians, researchers, and practitioners. These shows go deeper than most written content.

Metabolic Classroom

Benjamin Bikman, PhD

Insulin resistance, metabolic health, nutrition science

Short, educational episodes focused on the science of insulin, metabolic dysfunction, and how to address root causes.

Found My Fitness

Rhonda Patrick, PhD

Micronutrients, longevity, heat/cold stress, omega-3s, genetics

Research-heavy content on micronutrient science, sauna, cold exposure, omega-3 index, and longevity mechanisms.

PrevMed Health

Ford Brewer, MD

Cardiovascular risk, ApoB, CAC, insulin resistance

Practical, physician-led content focused on cardiovascular risk assessment and prevention — including advanced testing and imaging.

Everyday Wellness

Cynthia Thurlow, NP

Intermittent fasting, metabolic health, women's hormones, nutrition

Practical guidance on fasting, metabolic health, and hormonal optimization — with a particular focus on women's health considerations.

Muscle Intelligence

Gabrielle Lyon, DO

Muscle health, protein, resistance training, longevity, metabolic health

The science of skeletal muscle as the organ of longevity — covering protein intake, resistance training, and muscle-centric medicine.

The Glucose Goddess Show

Jessie Inchauspé

Glucose management, metabolic health, nutrition

Practical, accessible content on glucose spikes, CGM use, and dietary strategies for metabolic health.

The Doctor's Farmacy

Mark Hyman, MD

Functional medicine, nutrition, metabolic health, gut health

Functional medicine perspectives on food, nutrition, and chronic disease — with interviews from leading researchers and clinicians.

Intermittent Fasting Podcast

Gin Stephens & Melanie Avalon

Fasting, metabolic health, nutrition

Accessible, practical content on intermittent fasting approaches and their metabolic effects.

The Genius Life

Max Lugavere

Brain health, nutrition, metabolic health, environmental inputs

Covers the intersection of nutrition, lifestyle, and cognitive health — with a focus on practical, evidence-informed strategies.

Huberman Lab

Andrew Huberman, PhD

Neuroscience, sleep, stress, hormones, performance

Deep dives into the science of sleep, light exposure, stress regulation, hormones, and performance optimization.

The Obesity Code Podcast

Jason Fung, MD

Fasting, insulin resistance, metabolic health

Companion content to the book — covering fasting protocols, insulin resistance, and the hormonal drivers of metabolic disease.

BozMD

Annette Bosworth, MD (Dr. Boz)

Therapeutic ketosis, ketone monitoring, fasting, metabolic health, neurological health

Clinician-led education on therapeutic ketosis and the ketogenic lifestyle — covering ketone monitoring, the Dr. Boz Ratio, fasting physiology, and real-world patient cases. Accessible and deeply practical.

I Fix Hearts

Philip Ovadia, MD

Cardiovascular health, metabolic disease, low-carb nutrition, surgical prevention

A cardiac surgeon's perspective on preventing the conditions that lead to the operating table — covering metabolic health, low-carbohydrate nutrition, and the root causes of cardiovascular disease.

Note: Books, podcasts, and other resources listed here are for educational purposes only. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of every claim or recommendation made by the author or host. Always evaluate information critically and consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.

Start Here