Ep. 242 Low-Carb Diet on a Budget and Food Insecurities with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella

I am honored to connect with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella today. He is a Professor from West Virginia University School of Medicine, and a retired Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel who practices Family Medicine and advocates for evidence-based policy and education. Dr. Cucuzzella has a fascinating background! He spent forty years as a humble yet seriously dedicated athlete, competing in over a hundred marathons and ultra-marathons. In this episode, he shares his perspective on shifting the paradigm to a low-carb diet, the impact of that on metabolic health, needing guideline Centrals for low-carb diets for patients, and hindrances to changing the narrative within the traditional allopathic medical model. We also talk about low-carb on a budget and food insecurity. I hope you enjoy listening to today’s conversation with Dr. Cucuzzella and find it beneficial. I look forward to reconnecting with him next year for a second podcast! Stay tuned for more! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: How the unconventional treatments Dr. Cucuzella received from an innovative orthopaedist motivated him to become a doctor. How working with obesity in the Air Force led Dr. Cucuzella to understand that nutrition is fundamental to metabolic health. The significant shifts Dr. Cucuzzella has seen in his patients and himself over the last thirty years. Why Dr. Cucuzzella focuses on getting people with diabetes off their medications. The art of deprescribing. What is MODY? Some of the barriers to the acceptance of promoting lifestyle management for addressing and treating metabolic disorders. Why should obesity and food addictions be treated as medical conditions? Some tips for doing low-carb on a budget. How to support teenagers to make better food choices. Bio: Dr. Mark Cucuzzella is a Professor from West Virginia University School of Medicine and a retired Air Force Reserve Lieutenant Colonel. Mark practices Family Medicine at WVU’s Jefferson Medical Center and directs their Cardiovascular and Stress Testing lab. An advocate for evidence-based policy and education, Mark is a founding member of The Nutrition Coalition, the Low Carb Action Network, The Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners, and The Hypoglycemia Foundation and is a scientific advisor for Diet Doctor. As an athlete, Mark has competed for 40 years, achieving a streak of 30 consecutive years running a marathon in under 3 hours. He has finished events up to 100 miles. He lives in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, where he owns a small community running store and directs running races and camps for youth and adults. His book “Run For Your Life” summarizes the science and the soul of running, nutrition, and physical activity to help you maintain a vigorous life. Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Connect with Dr. Mark Cucuzzella On his website Run For Your Life (Dr. Cucuzzella’s book) Recommended books: Chasing Cupcakes: How One Broke, Fat Girl Transformed Her Life (and How You Can, Too) by Elizabeth Benton