This episode is for you if you want to age better than your parents and live healthier at any age! Our guest is Dr. Anand Patel, a Chicago-based longevity physician, entrepreneur, and founder of Lv8 Health (pronounced Elevate Health). Lv8 is an innovative clinic that prioritizes proactive, personalized, and preventative care, helping patients extend healthspan and optimize long-term wellness.

Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Patel became frustrated with a system that focused on “sick-care” instead of true wellness. After witnessing burnout among colleagues and the limitations of traditional healthcare, he founded Lv8 Health to provide patients with a longevity-focused approach to living stronger, longer.

We learn:

• --Why today’s healthcare system prioritizes sick care over true wellness

  --How advanced testing provides deeper insights into heart health
  --The role of statins in preventing heart disease and why understanding cholesterol is key
  --Why metabolic health is especially important for women over 40
  --How personalized nutrition plans can significantly impact long-term health outcomes

  --The power of wearables and health metrics for smarter health decisions
  --Innovative new cancer detection methods on the horizon
  --Why balance exercises are crucial as we age

• Connect with Dr. Patel:

  https://elev8.health/online-programs/

  https://www.instagram.com/dranandpat84/

  
  

  https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast

  
  

  info@functionalmoms.com

  
  

  
  https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast/
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

This episode is for you if you’re a menopausal woman and want to know what is important when it comes to heart and cardiovascular health to AGE STRONG! Menopausal women are at a higher risk of developing heart disease compared to men. This is primarily due to the decline in estrogen levels that occurs during menopause.

Dr. Sanjay Bhojraj is an Interventional Cardiologist and Certified Practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine. We were lucky enough to interview him at the 2025 Annual International Conference in San Diego, California.

Dr. Bhojraj also known as “the curious cardiologist” has a passion for integrating cutting-edge research with holistic health approaches. He helps patients achieve optimal well-being by addressing the root cause of disease! He is founder of Well12, a transformative 12-week wellness program that empowers individuals to reclaim their health through lifestyle changes.

We learn:

• Why women often experience poor cardiovascular health as they age and how menopause plays a role

• Why you may need an advanced cholesterol panel to determine whether you’re at risk for heart attack and stroke

• How to know if you’re a candidate for statins

• How cardiovascular disease has evolved over the years to be more metabolically driven

• How toxic chemicals in our environment weaken cardiometabolic health

• How direct-to-consumer lab testing like Function Health can help you determine your risks

Connect with Dr. Sanjay:

https://www.youtube.com/@doctorsanjaymd

https://www.instagram.com/doctorsanjaymd/

https://www.sanjaybhojraj.us/Home

This episode is for you if you’d like to learn how trackers like Apple Watches, Oura Rings, Fitbits, Whoops, the Lumen and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) can support your behavioral choices & help you lose weight, sleep better, eat better and exercise more consistently.

Dr. Lara Zakaria is a pharmacist and nutritionist with a focus on implementing solutions for functional medicine and personalized nutrition. Dr. Zakaria works one-on-one with patients helping them with behavioral change.

We learn:

• How trackers like Oura ring, Apple Watch, Whoop, FitBit, Lumen and continuous glucose monitors help you change body composition

• How body composition scales can help track muscle and bone density

• Many people say they thrive under stress and get caught up in constant “fight or flight”

• High cortisol levels can eventually lead to burnout and a lack of cortisol

• How to check in with your body while using trackers

• Muscle building is key in midlife; lifting heavy is necessary

• The better you can maintain your muscle, the longer you can maintain your heart, your brain and your bone

• If you wake up at 3 am to pee, it could be your blood sugar crashing; using a continuous glucose monitor could track this

• If you’re not going to use the data from trackers to make changes, maybe you don’t need one

• How Lumen tells you if you’re burning fat or glucose helping you become more metabolically flexible

  *This episode was recorded at the 2025 Institute for Functional Medicine annual international conference (AIC) in San Diego, California.*

Connect with Dr. Zakaria:

https://www.instagram.com/foodiefarmacist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-zakaria/

https://www.tiktok.com/@foodiefarmacist/

https://www.facebook.com/foodiefarmacist/

https://larazakaria.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@functionalmomspodcast
https://www.instagram.com/functionalmomspodcast

info@functionalmoms.com