Radio Show / Podcast – January 11, 2026

Hosts: Ed Jones (Owner – Nutrition World) & Clint Powell Host Contributor: Dr. Curt Dearing (Nutrition World) Guest: Dr. Hitchcock Topic: HPV & different types of treatment. A variety of other topics all related to living a healthy life.   www.vitalhealthradio.com Production of: Whitfield Media Group Title: New Food Pyramid, Critique of Consumer Reports and HPV Deep Dive with Dr. Hitchcock. [0:00:00]  New Year, Sponsors, Cava, CGM & Microplastics in Sleep Tape Ed praises Cava  No seed oils in their dressings (exception: cinnamon pitas). He’s eaten there 5 times in 8 days. Uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM): Best meal pattern for blood sugar: ½ serving brown rice Lamb (high protein) Olive oil, vegetables, lettuce, feta Full serving of rice spikes blood sugar more; half serving gives a slow rise and nice return to baseline. [0:04:50] Microplastics in Sleep Tape Ed realizes a daily habit was driving his microplastic exposure: mouth/sleep tape. Many sleep tapes tested contain microplastics, raising concerns for health. He plans to switch to and carry a microplastic‑free sleep tape product. [0:09:50] HPV Deep Dive & Alternative to LEAP with Dr. Hitchcock Guest: Dr. Hitchcock, OB‑GYN using innovative approaches to HPV‑related cervical dysplasia. HPV (Human Papillomavirus): Described as “the common cold of the cervix.” Up to 90% of the U.S. population has HPV according to some studies. Most visible issue: external genital warts, but main concern: Cervical dysplasia (precancerous cervical changes) Potential progression to cervical cancer if untreated. Early detection via Pap smears makes it highly treatable. Ed notes the body often clears HPV on its own, especially with good nutrition and supplementation. Standard treatment: LEAP (Loop Electrocautery Excisional Procedure): Electrified loop used to cut out part of the cervix. Conventional choices often limited to “watch and wait” or cut it out. Dr. Hitchcock’s long‑term concerns from practice: Chronic pelvic pain Sexual dysfunction Other complications not well addressed in standard counseling. Many women feel pressured or bullied into LEAP and lack a sense of choice. [0:13:36] A New Option: Topical Immune Modulation  Imiquimod – a topical immune modulator. Applied to the cervix to stimulate the patient’s own immune system to clear HPV‑infected and abnormal cells. Already widely used for: External genital warts VAIN (vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia) VIN (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia) In the U.S., using Imiquimod for cervical dysplasia is off‑label, but: Larger studies in Europe, Brazil, and UNC Chapel Hill show non‑inferiority vs. LEAP for many women. 2024 article in the “Green Journal” (OB‑GYN journal) notes Imiquimod as a reasonable option when women decline LEAP. [0:21:00] Direct Primary Care & Low‑Cost Imaging Dr. Hitchcock practices Direct Primary Care (DPC) in Chattanooga: No insurance billing: “fired” insurance to focus on patient care and flexible, off‑label options. Adult membership: $99/month; kids $39/month when with same provider. Includes: Direct access and doctor’s cell phone After‑hours urgent visits (l.e.g., laceration repair, respiratory issues) at no extra charge. New imaging center in‑house (open to the public, not just members): CT, X‑ray, ultrasound; flat cash prices, no prior auth. Typical pricing example: CT without contrast at $350 (vs. $800–$4000+ through hospital/insurance). Required a Certificate of Need and multi‑year licensing process; now state‑licensed. Ideal for people with no insurance or high‑deductible plans. Hitchcock.md (includes primary care, imaging center, and cervical dysplasia clinic info). [0:31:15] New Food Pyramid / Dietary Guidelines with Dr. Dearing Guest: Dr. Dearing, clinical pharmacist with 30+ years in medicine and specialty clinics. Major Shifts in the New Food Pyramid New guidelines are described as a major positive shift: More protein: Old: ~0.8 g/kg body weight (lean meats, plant‑based preferred). New: 1.0–1.6 g/kg at every meal, and emphasis on higher protein overall. Ed personally advocates ~1 g of protein per pound of body weight for optimal muscle and longevity. Healthy fats no longer demonized: Animal fats, butter, tallow from whole foods are acceptable. Marks “the end of the war on healthy fats” from whole-food sources. Sugar & ultra‑processed foods: Old: “limit added sugars to <10% of calories.” New: explicit recommendation to avoid: Ultra‑processed foods Refined carbs Added sugars and non‑nutritive sweeteners (zero recommended). Discussion of seed oils/vegetable oils: (e.g., soybean, canola, safflower) are major drivers of obesity and metabolic dysfunction because they store in tissues and disrupt metabolism. [0:40:40] What Counts as Processed, Meat Quality & Glyphosate “Ultra‑processed” food guidance: Most boxed/packaged center‑aisle items qualify. Red flags on labels: seed oils, corn syrup, sugar, etc. Ed and Dearing stress animal sourcing: Prefer 100% grass‑fed, responsibly raised meats; know your farm. Nutrition World visits farms like Rowe Farm to verify husbandry and feed. Discussion of glyphosate (Roundup): Patented as an antibiotic; strongly linked to gut/microbiome damage, leaky gut, and autoimmune issues. [0:43:50] Consumer Reports vs. Supplements & Practical Insight Critique of Consumer Reports’ Approach Consumer Reports is praised for product testing (appliances, etc.) but criticized for: Decades‑long negative bias against supplements. Failing to apply the same critical eye to pharmaceutical harms. Their model tends to assume a “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach to nutrition, which Ed and Dearing argue is outdated. Vitamin D: CR recommends tiny doses (600–800 IU/day) and warns about toxicity over 4,000 IU/day. Dearing: these doses were only meant to prevent rickets, not optimize immune or brain health. Real‑world need is highly individual; some need 10,000–14,000 IU/day to reach optimal blood levels (~50 ng/mL+). Emphasis on testing levels, pairing with vitamin K2 and magnesium to ensure safety and proper calcium handling. Calcium: Traditional advice: 1,000–1,200 mg/day. Without K2 and magnesium, calcium can deposit in arteries instead of bone. Multivitamins: CR downplays their value, often based on older studies with low‑dose, low‑quality multis. Newer data (e.g., COSMOS‑Mind) show memory and cognitive benefits in older adults. Food nutrient density is down due to soil depletion, processing, and medications that deplete nutrients; a high‑quality multi is seen as foundational. Protein powders: CR flags heavy metals in some plant‑based proteins they tested. Ed/Dearing note they did not test the higher‑quality brands or whey proteins Probiotics: CR is skeptical; Dearing acknowledges nuance but sees clear roles where probiotics help. Magnesium: Recognized as helpful but CR treatment is superficial, without guidance on form, dosing, or specific uses. [0:50:34] Overall Safety of Supplements Ed emphasizes supplements have an excellent safety record over decades compared with most ingestible pharmaceuticals. Most serious issues historically involve children accidentally ingesting iron‑containing products, not normal, adult supplement use. [0:55:12] Winter Arthritis, Budget‑Friendly Healthy Eating, Ketamine for PTSD Why Arthritis Feels Worse in Winter: Cold weather and barometric pressure drops worsen arthritis: Cold thickens joint fluid and slows blood flow. Pressure changes cause tendons and muscles to expand, increasing joint pressure. Reduced sunlight lowers vitamin D, further aggravating symptoms. Ketamine for PTSD: Ed highlights Scenic City Neurotherapy and IV ketamine for PTSD, especially in veterans. Reports strong clinical improvements; notes some treatments are VA‑funded. The post Radio Show / Podcast – January 11, 2026 first appeared on Vital Health Radio.