Dr. Rick's Insights

High cholesterol is usually talked about as a fat problem. Too much saturated fat.Too much dietary cholesterol.Too much processed food.Too little exercise.Too much LDL.Not enough HDL.High triglycerides. Those factors can matter. But cholesterol is not only a fat story. Cholesterol travels through the body in lipoproteins — particles made from both fat and protein. LDL, HDL, VLDL, and chylomicrons all depend on apolipoproteins, which are protein structures built from amino acids. That does not mean low amino acid intake causes high cholesterol. It does not mean amino acids lower cholesterol. It does not mean an amino acid supplement treats lipid...

How to Stay Mentally Healthy in a Toxic World When was the last time you woke up feeling truly refreshed? Not just “I got through the night.” Not just “coffee will fix it.” Truly clear. Calm. Energized. Ready. For many people, that feeling has become rare. We live in a world that is constantly pulling on the brain, body, and nervous system. Screens stay on late into the night. News feeds never stop. Social media rewards outrage, comparison, and distraction. Processed food is everywhere. Indoor air, artificial light, chemical exposure, poor sleep, and constant stimulation have become normal. And then...

Hi all, know what's interesting about the mystery of music? Ask any exercise scientist why music improves athletic performance, and you'll get a familiar list: Motivation and arousal – Music energizes you Dissociation – It distracts from fatigue Synchronization – Tempo matches movement rhythm Mood enhancement – It triggers dopamine and endorphins Flow states – Music helps you get "in the zone" These explanations appear in textbooks, meta-analyses, and coaching manuals. They're backed by data. Music does correlate with improved performance, reduced perceived exertion, and better efficiency. But here's the uncomfortable truth: these aren't explanations. They're descriptions. Science really has...

Pre-COVERY: Protein Readiness Before Injury, Surgery, Rehab, or Tissue Rebuilding Demand Most people wait too long to think about protein. They wait until after the injury.After the procedure.After the fracture.After the muscle loss.After the rehab plan begins.After appetite drops.After the body is already under rebuilding demand. That is backwards. The body does not begin rebuilding when you finally decide to think about nutrition. It begins responding as soon as demand rises. That demand may come from surgery, dental work, a fracture, a knee replacement, physical therapy, reduced movement, tendon or ligament stress, muscle tissue loss, or a period of low...