This week, Dr. Joel Kahn addresses a bold claim making the rounds: “Cholesterol doesn’t matter—it’s all about insulin resistance (IR).” Is that really true? Dr. Kahn breaks down the science, explaining how IR is measured, its connection to heart disease, and the best ways to improve metabolic health.

Since it’s Heart Month, Dr. Kahn also revisits the top risk factors for heart disease—still the leading cause of death for both men and women. He explores the life-extending benefits of a plant-based diet, along with surprising heart health hacks, from flossing your teeth to taking forest walks (yes, really). Plus, new research on why avoiding cigars and pipes is just as important as skipping cigarettes.

🚨 Don’t miss Reversing Heart Disease Summit 3.0 on March 18th! Sign up now at drtalks.com/summit/reversing-heart-disease/ to learn how to protect and even reverse heart disease.

In this special bonus episode, Dr. Joel Kahn sits down with world-renowned nitric oxide (NO) expert Dr. Nathan Bryan to break down why NO is crucial for artery health, circulation, and overall wellness—including sexual health.

Dr. Bryan has been at the forefront of nitric oxide research, working with leading companies to develop test kits and products that help boost NO levels naturally.

As a Texas-based rancher, his approach differs from Dr. Kahn’s plant-based perspective, but the conversation is packed with valuable insights for optimizing vascular health.

Tune in for a fascinating deep dive into the science of nitric oxide and how it impacts your body.

Join Dr. Joel Kahn as he invites you to register for the Reversing Heart Disease Naturally Summit 3.0: drtalks.com/summit/reversing-heart-disease.

This week, Dr. Kahn dives into fascinating new studies on topics such as forest bathing, glyphosate (RoundUp) and its connection to heart disease, the risks of carnivore and ketogenic diets, fat accumulation in muscles, and the health benefits of legumes like lentils in managing pre-diabetes.

The main focus of the episode is an in-depth look at the latest research on heart calcium and CT imaging. Dr. Kahn discusses the predictive power of calcium scores, particularly when results exceed the 90th percentile. He also reviews findings from the SCOT-HEART study, which compared CT angiography to standard care, demonstrating improved outcomes when clinicians have CT data. Additional topics include the role of CT imaging in detecting heart disease in athletes and the significance of breast artery calcium as a marker of cardiovascular health.