Nexus Metabolic Health Protocol

Prevent Disease with Lifestyle First

Diet and lifestyle modifaction is the foundation of most medical guideline’s first-line intervention and should be a foundation of disease prevention and modification.

According to the world’s greatest heart attack and stroke prevention specialists, Amy Doneen, DNP, in the book, Healthy Heart Healthy Brain, the root cause of 70% of heart attacks an most strokes is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is associated with a very commonly missed medical diagnosis called metabolic syndrome.

Our practice regularly initiates the Nexus Metabolic Health Protocol which we have seen improve levels of blood sugar, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, uric acid, and liver function tests. It has also proven instrumental in improving blood pressure, obesity, and the troublesome midline weight gain. The Metabolic Health Protocol can be used with or without medications but it is the foundation of long-lasting improvements in metabolic and overall health.

Inside the body, the goal of the Nexus Metabolic Health Protocol is to reduce the insulin levels in the blood, reduce visceral fat mass, and reduce uric acid production in the body. Insulin plays a vital role in affecting metabolic disease and weight gain. Uric acid is an important biomarker for metabolic dysregulation. Visceral fat is the hallmark for metabolic disease.

We chose to share this protocol publicly because want to help as many people as possible. Many of the interventions in the protocol can safely be done independently but we advise that you speak with your healthcare provider first before implementing this protocol in your life. This protocol is based on the science regarding metabolic disease and much of it was inspired by the original work of Richard Johnson, MD and his colleagues.

If you think the Nexus Metabolic Health Protocol could be helpful for your, consult with your healthcare provider or contact   our office to see how we can be of assistance.

The Nexus Metabolic Health Protocol  

• Focus on protein first in your diet.
• Time restricted eating -stop food consumption by 6:00 pm.
• 3 L (100 oz) water daily as a minimum.
• Be mindful of the addition of salt to your food, unless you are making your meals from scratch.
• Avoid restaurant-prepared food on a regular basis.
• No fast food.  
• Avoid snacking between meals (may use nuts or something low-carb if you need) so as to keep insulin levels low.
• No carbohydrate products derived from refined grains and sugars (e.g., white bread, packaged bread products, pastas, white rice, etc).
• Only eat carbohydrate with breakfast or lunch (e.g., for dinner have a protein and a green veggie).
• Have at least one serving of vitamin-C containing fruits/veggies daily, particularly if you need a snack (e.g., guava, bell pepper, kiwi, strawberries and other dark berries, oranges or other citrus fruits, papaya, broccoli).
• No fructose (e.g., sweetened or packaged food or beverages) you may have to check google for a more inclusive list but avoid the obvious stuff with high-fructose corn syrup. Also, the fructose in the above fruit is not a concern.
• No Sorbitol.
• No agave nectar, maple syrup, or honey.
• No dried fruit.
• No fruit juice or sugar sweetened beverages (including sports drinks and energy drinks).
• Abstain from alcohol (particularly beer or mixers).
• Resistance training for 30-45 minutes three times weekly, this can even be body-weight exercises or anything where you are moving your own weight.
• Cardiovascular exercise, low intensity, for at least 30 minutes three times weekly. You should aim to sustain a heart-rate around 110-130, depending on your age, and be able to carry on a conversation.
• High intensity cardiovascular exercise, for up to 20 minutes, once per week: 30-60 seconds on, 2 minutes off (e.g., sprints, sled pushes, all out on an assault bike). This can be performed at the end of a low intensity cardiovascular session.
• Do something active for fun, this could be paddle-boarding, hiking, tennis, or literally anything else that you enjoy for an hour at least once per week. If it's something social, that's even better.