Chris Kresser on Unconventional Medicine | Mastering Nutrition #51

Chris Kresser on Unconventional Medicine | Mastering Nutrition #51

Author: Chris Masterjohn, PhD May 23, 2018 Duration: 1:26:40

In this episode, I interview Chris Kresser!

We discuss his new book, Unconventional Medicine, and everything he is doing over at the Kresser Institute, including his new health coach training program. Chris is changing the face of medicine with his new paradigm. Listen in to find out why I told him that in the 2020 presidential debates, I expect the candidates to be debating how many jobs Kresser created over the last four years.

You can buy his new book, Unconventional Medicine, on Amazon.

If you're interested in becoming a health coach, or if you already are one and wish to undergo his new training to get his functional medicine perspective, you have up until June 3 to enroll. You can sign up here.

This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Yours for only $30.

This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats. I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a milder braunschweiger and an even milder head cheese that gives you similar benefits, as well as a wide array of other meat products, all from animals raised on pasture. Head to grasslandbeef.com and enter promo code "Chris" at checkout to get a 15% discount on any order that is at least 7 pounds and is at least $75 after applying the discount but under 40 pounds (it can be 39.99 lbs, but not 40). You can use this discount code not once, but twice!

To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10

In this episode, you will find all of the following and more:

00:37 Cliff Notes

11:46 Introduction

12:29 Alternative medicine's critique of conventional medicine and what Chris Kresser has to add to that critique

15:41 Why hasn't alternative medicine outcompeted conventional medicine?

18:42 The differences between alternative medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine

25:14 The functional medicine approach to headaches

27:03 The California Center for Functional Medicine's intake process for new patients

34:32 Why taking medications to reduce fever might be a bad idea in most cases but can be helpful in some rare cases

37:27 How we can justify the costs of testing in functional medicine. Using type 2 diabetes as an example, investing $5,000 up front for one patient can save half a million dollars in the long run.

42:01 Who will end up paying for functional medicine?

47:38 What Chris Kresser is doing to spread the functional medicine approach to healthcare: his book Unconventional Medicine; the California Center for Functional Medicine; his program with the Berkeley Fire Department; and the Kresser Institute's physician and health coach training programs.

52:53 Why doctors still need people skills

56:21 The importance of allied health providers, such as health coaches, nutritionists, and nurse practitioners, and how they can make longer appointments with physicians economically feasible

1:10:07 Advice for starting a career in functional medicine and deciding what degree to pursue

1:16:05 Advice for physicians who want to start practicing functional medicine

1:17:55 Who should read Unconventional Medicine and where to get it

Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here:

https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/051-chris-kresser-on-unconventional

Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


Chris Masterjohn, PhD hosts Mastering Nutrition, a podcast that digs into the science of how our bodies work at a fundamental level. The focus here is on mitochondrial health-the energy powerhouses within our cells-and how optimizing them forms the cornerstone of lasting vitality. Chris brings his background as a nutrition scientist and his experience founding BioOptHealth to these conversations, which move beyond generic diet advice. Instead, the podcast explores how individual differences, informed by tools like whole genome sequencing and detailed biochemical data, can reveal personalized paths to better metabolic function. Listeners will hear deep dives into cutting-edge research, practical interpretations of complex studies, and discussions on how to apply these insights in a real-world context. This isn't about quick fixes or trending superfoods; it's about building a coherent, scientifically-grounded understanding of nutrition from the cellular level up. Each episode aims to provide the kind of nuanced, evidence-based perspective that can help you make sense of conflicting health information. Whether the topic is a specific nutrient, a metabolic pathway, or a broader principle of wellness, Chris works to translate dense science into actionable knowledge. Tune in for a thoughtful, detailed exploration of what it truly means to master your own nutritional landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 712

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