All Episodes
EP 77. New Weight Loss Drugs: What You Should Know.
Hello! In today's episode I'm talking about the "new" weight loss drugs: semaglutide (Ozemp*c/Wegob*) and tirzepatide (Mounjar*) So, in this episode I'll tell you about the fundamental mechanisms by which they achieve losses of 15-18% of body weight What are the main disadvantages? How much of the weight lost is muscle and how to mitigate muscle loss. What happens if you stop using the drug: Do you regain all the lost weight? I'll tell you about this and much more in the episode :) I hope you learn a lot so you know more, fear less, and choose better :) For more information, you know you can find me on Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content. On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQ And the supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.com For more information, you know you can find me on Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content. My TikTok @isabelvinabas On my YouTube channel And the supplements I've formulated are on my website . My website
EP 76. Decoding Proteins with an Expert.
Hola, in today's podcast, I bring you none other than Doctor Juan Viña Ribes, a physician and professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Valencia, as well as a researcher with numerous publications and active research lines. And, last but not least, he also happens to be my father and my mentor in medicine. In this episode, we will soak up his knowledge about proteins. Among the topics we will cover are
What are proteins and why are they important for our body
What are essential amino acids and why is it important to get them from your diet?
What is protein turnover and why is it important for our body?
What happens to the amino acids we don't use immediately after eating protein? Do they turn into fat?
What role does creatine play in muscle metabolism and how is it related to energy production?
What is homocysteine and why can high blood levels be dangerous for cardiovascular health?
How effective is the combination of plant-based proteins for people following a diet without animal products
For more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQ And the supplements formulated by me at https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My Website
EP 74. Fluid Retention: How to Improve It.
¡Hola! En el podcast de hoy os explico:Qué es la retención de liquidos a la que nos referimos cuando decimos que estamos " hinchados"Por qué el agua intar celular no tiene nada que ver con la extracelular y por tanto no influye en la retención de liquidos visibleCuáles son las causas mas frecuentes de retención de liquidos: dieteticas y hormonales.Qué alimentos son los mas beneficiosos en cuánto a ayudarnos a eliminar el exceso de liquidosCompuestos herbáceos que nos pueden ayudar con la retención de liquidosOjala os guste :) Para mas información ya sabéis que me tenéis en mi instagram @isabelvina dónde te comparto contenido diario En mi canal de YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQY los suplementos formulados por mi https://ivbwellness.comPara mas información ya sabéis que me tenéis en mi instagram @isabelvina dónde te comparto contenido diario Mi TikTok @isabelvinabasEn mi canal de YouTube Canal YoutubeY los suplementos formulados por mi en mi web Mi web
EP 71. Prolactin: The Multifaceted Hormone.
High Prolactin: The Hormone That Can Curb Your Ovulation, Libido, and Hormonal Balance
Hello, I am Dr. Isabel Viña Bas, a physician and Scientific Director of IVB Wellness Lab. In my practice, there is one hormone that almost everyone reduces to a single function: producing milk during breastfeeding.That hormone is prolactin.
Prolactin is much more than just the milk hormone. Much more. If it remains elevated outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding, it can curb ovulation. Furthermore, it can reduce libido, alter testosterone, weaken bones, and worsen metabolic control.High prolactin affects many systems at once.
And there is more. A second, equally important idea: having high prolactin in a blood test does not always mean there is a disease. It can be a real elevation, a passing effect of stress, or even the consequence of a medication; or perhaps a laboratory mirage called macroprolactinemia.Before treating a number, you have to understand where it comes from.
What is prolactin and why does dopamine keep it in check?
Prolactin is a huge peptide hormone, formed by between 190 and 199 amino acids. It was discovered in 1970, quite a while ago; but for years it was confused with growth hormone. Why, you might ask? Both share a very similar structure and come from the same embryonic cells.In the blood, its levels should almost always remain below 20 micrograms per liter.
Unlike many other hormones, prolactin does not need the brain to stimulate it constantly. In fact, the exact opposite happens: the body must keep it inhibited most of the time.The one in charge of doing this is dopamine.
I like to imagine dopamine as the handbrake of a car. Prolactin is ready to start, but dopamine keeps the brake on. If that signal drops due to stress, certain drugs, or an illness, said brake loosens andprolactin rises.Furthermore, it is not released continuously: it has about nine pulses throughout the day, which are more intense during the night hours.
There are only two situations in which we need an elevation that is both sustained and physiological: during pregnancy and breastfeeding. With pregnancy, your body's estrogens and progesterone develop the breasts, but they temporarily block the action of prolactin. Then, after childbirth, both plummet andleave the way clear for prolactin so it can activate milk production.
High prolactin and fertility: why the body slows down reproduction
When prolactin rises outside of that context, the body interprets that it is not a good time to reproduce. It is a survival mechanism: if there is stress, illness, or high energy demand, the organism prioritizes staying safe and parks functions it considers secondary.This is where high prolactin begins to interfere withfertility.
Elevated prolactin also inhibits GnRH, the master hormone produced in the hypothalamus. By lowering GnRH, the pituitary gland releases less FSH and, above all, less LH. In us women, without the LH surge, ovulation does not occur properly.This can shorten the luteal phase, space out periods, make them disappear for months, or make trying to conceive difficult.
In men, on the other hand, that drop in LH causes the testicles to generate less testosterone. The result can be an intense drop in libido, erectile dysfunction, and less facial hair growth.I have patients who go from shaving daily to doing it twice a week: a detail that may seem small, but is sometimes the first hormonal clue.
Symptoms of high prolactin beyond the period
Menstrualdisturbancesand difficulty ovulating are the best-known signs, buthyperprolactinemia does not stop at the reproductive system.One of its most striking manifestations is galactorrhea: the leakage of milk from the nipple outside of pregnancy and breastfeeding. It can appear in women and men, because both have breast tissue.
It also affects the bone. By lowering estrogens and testosterone,high prolactin weakens cortical boneand, if it persists, it favors the loss of bone mass and osteoporosis. And yes: men also need a small amount of estrogen to have strong bones.
Metabolically, prolactin favors a certain insulin resistance. During breastfeeding, it makes sense because it helps reserve glucose to produce milk. Outside of that context, it can worsen blood sugar control.In some women, acne and hair loss also appear, because as ovarian hormones drop, adrenal androgens gain relative weight.
Prolactin also stimulates the immune system. When it remains elevated, it can worsen autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, or autoimmune hypothyroidism.That is why you should never read this hormone in isolation: it is part of a network.
Why does prolactin rise? Stress, drugs, thyroid, and PCOS
Stress is one of the causes that generates the most confusion. A specific upset, intense training, or even sexual intercourse can raise prolactin for a few hours, and that is not pathological.The problem arrives with chronic stress: dopamine remains low and high prolactin can become installed.
Many medications act through the same pathway. Antipsychotics, some antidepressants, metoclopramide for nausea, verapamil, opioids, alprazolam, or certain contraceptives with estrogens can raise it because they reduce or block the dopamine signal.Alcohol and marijuana also have an influence.
This does not mean you should stop a treatment on your own. If prolactin has risen after starting a medication, you must review it with the person who prescribed it and assess whether there is an alternative, a dose adjustment, or if the benefit of the drug compensates for that effect.Never stop anything without talking to your doctor first.
There are also diseases that should be ruled out. Inpolycystic ovary syndrome, excess testosterone can be converted into estradiol and curb dopamine. In untreated hypothyroidism, the brain releases more TRH to try to wake up the thyroid, and that same TRH stimulates prolactin. Chronic kidney disease can prevent it from being eliminated properly and, in other cases, the origin is in a pituitary adenoma, such as a prolactinoma, or in a lesion that compresses the pituitary stalk.Each cause completely changes the approach.
Macroprolactin: when the blood test scares you but the hormone does not act
Here is one of the keys to the episode. More than 25% of the prolactin elevations we see in a blood test can correspond tomacroprolactinemia.It is not really active prolactin, but several prolactin molecules stuck to an IgG antibody, forming a huge complex.
The laboratory machine sees that complex and counts it as if there were a lot of prolactin circulating. But because it is so large, it can barely act on the tissues.That is why there are people with very high values on paper who do not have menstrual disturbances, galactorrhea, or loss of libido.
Treating that number without first checking for macroprolactinwould be like setting off the fire alarm because the detector confused water vapor with smoke. The number is scary, but it is the context that says if there is a real fire.
How to measure prolactin well so as not to treat a false positive
Prolactin is very, very sensitive to the time and the way the blood is drawn. The simple fear of the needle could trigger this hormone. In the podcast episode, I tell the case of a patient of mine who went from 20 to 147 micrograms per liter just from the stress of an operation.That is why, for me, these measurement rules must be non-negotiable:
Choose the day of the cycle well.In women, the extraction is done in the first five days of the cycle, ideally on day 2 or 3, to reduce the influence of estrogens.
Respect the schedule and rest.The blood test must be done while fasting, between 8:00 and 10:00, after at least ten minutes of sitting quietly.
Avoid what raises it.During the 48 hours prior, no intense exercise or sexual intercourse, because they falsify the result.
Ask for the two-sample method.An IV is placed, a first sample is taken, and you wait twenty minutes without being pricked again. The second measurement is much more reliable because the initial shock of the needle has already passed.
Request macroprolactin.The laboratory can precipitate with PEG. If more than 40% of the initial prolactin is recovered, the elevation is real. However, if less is recovered, it is most likely that almost everything was macroprolactin.
How to lower prolactin: first the cause, then the treatment
There is no single treatment forhigh prolactin, because there is no single cause. An elevation due to stress is not approached the same way as hypothyroidism, a medication, or a prolactinoma. The first step is not to chase the number: it is to confirm that it is real and locate the origin.
When there is a prolactinoma or another medical indication, the drugs used are cabergoline and bromocriptine. They act on the dopamine pathway andmust always be prescribed and monitored by a doctor, especially if there is a lesion in the pituitary gland.
In elevations linked to stress, PCOS, or certain medications, and not to treat tumors, the natural active ingredient with the most interest is Vitex agnus-castus or chasteberry. In the episode, I recommend looking for extracts between 150 and 250 mg, standardized to provide about 1 mg of agnusides, which are the compounds that act on dopamine regulation.It is the same active ingredient we work with for femalehormonal balance.
At IVB, we incorporate it intoFemmeBalance, ourfood supplementfor supporting female hormonal balance. It can fit when the cause of the elevation is compatible with that mechanism, but it does not replace a well-done blood test, endocrinological assessment, or the treatment of a prolactinoma. In hormones, more than in almost anything else, order matters.
What to do if your blood test shows high prolactin?
The first thing is not to panic over an isolated figure. Repeat the blood test with the correct protocol and ask for macroprolactin. Then, review the medication you take with your doctor and assess frequent causes such as hypothyroidism, PCOS, or a kidney problem.If the elevation is confirmed, is persistent, or is accompanied by symptoms, the pituitary gland will have to be studied and the treatment decided.
And remember the exception: in pregnancy and breastfeeding, high prolactin fulfills a physiological and necessary function. Outside of those stages, ask yourself two questions before "how do I lower it": why has it risen and how do you know the measurement is real.That difference avoids both ignoring an important signal and treating something that was never altered.
Transforming your health is a matter of applying science with order and consistency, day by day.You have in your hands the knowledge to better interpret your hormones, ask the right questions, and choose the next step with less fear.
Author:Dr. Isabel Viña Bas
I hope you like it :)For more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channelYouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my websiteMy website
EP 70. Metabolic Syndrome: How to Identify and Combat It.
Hello!!In today's podcast, I'll explain everything related to metabolic syndromeHere's a brief summary:To diagnose it, you must meet 3 or more of the following criteria: - Excess abdominal fat: waist circumference > 80 cm in women and 94 cm in men - Fasting glucose greater than or equal to 100 mg/dL (or under specific treatment for it)
Triglycerides greater than 150mg/dL (or under specific treatment)
HDL cholesterol
Regarding one of the components of metabolic syndrome: insulin resistance, it is calculated with the following formula:
INSULIN RESISTANCE HOMA INDEX = [Fasting glucose (mg/dL) x fasting insulin] / 405
If this HOMA value is > 2-2.5, it indicates that your cells are resistant to insulin
Tips to improve and prevent metabolic syndrome:
Build muscle mass through exercise
Increase fiber intake
Supplements that improve all components of metabolic syndrome. My supplement MetabolicMax, which is on my website https://ivbwellness.com, contains the key compounds to optimize the components of metabolic syndrome. But if for any reason you don't want it, I'll tell you what to look for in the podcast ☝🏽
For more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQAnd the supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My Website
EP 64. Why Do We Lose Hair?
On today's podcast, I'll tell you why we can lose hair and what strategies, depending on each cause, we can implement to improve hair loss.Obviously, the best thing to do is to go to a hair professional, such as dermatologists specializing in trichology, for a diagnosis and your ideal treatment, and a pharmacist who can offer extra advice.However, as I'm aware of the limited time available for appointments/waiting lists, I understand that this podcast can help shed some light and allow you to get started on what's within your power to try and optimize this, if you wish : )I'm happy to answer any extra questions you may have : )See you next SaturdayFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily contentMy TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My website
EP 61. Intermittent Fasting: What It Does and Doesn't Do.
Hello, in today's podcast I'm talking about intermittent fasting. So, some of the questions I answer in this episode are:What is intermittent fasting?Does intermittent fasting have proven health benefits? What are those benefits and who would benefit most from starting, if they wish, a feeding strategy based on intermittent fasting/time-restricted eating)?Does intermittent fasting guarantee weight loss?Is intermittent fasting better than other diets?Is intermittent fasting suitable for everyone? I hope it helps you understand what this type of eating pattern can and cannot do, and whether, with all the information I've given you and under your current circumstances, it's worth it for you to start this type of diet for your health and life goals.For more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQ And the supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My website
EP 59. Collagen Supplementation: Does It Work?
!Hello! In today's episode, I break down everything you need to know about collagen protein.What exactly is this common protein?Where it's found in our body and how many different types of collagen there are.What functions each type of collagen performs in the body.Is supplementation with collagen peptides effective?What types of collagen peptides are useful?What's the difference between collagen, gelatin, and collagen peptides?What to look for when choosing collagen peptides?I hope you enjoy this episode, and for more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQAnd the supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My website
EP 58. Hormone Disruptors: What You Need to Know.
Hello!!In this podcast I tell you:
What hormone disruptors are.
The hormone disruptors we are most commonly exposed to: Bisphenols A, F, and S, phthalates, PBDEs, PFAS, and triclosan.
How these hormone disruptors can affect male and female fertility, testosterone and estrogen levels, thyroid hormones, and ultimately obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic low-grade inflammation, and insulin resistance.
To finish, I give you a couple of specific tips on how to reduce your consumption of hormone disruptors in your daily life without losing your mental health along the way.
For more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQ My brand of supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My website
EP 56. Protect Your Memory: Practical Tips.
Hola a todos! En este episodio del podcast, vamos a centrarnos en la salud cerebral y memoria. Así, os explicaré las 10 medidas preventivas que pueden reducir hasta un 40% el riesgo de desarrollar demencia. Estas medidas están respaldadas por la ciencia y son prácticas que todos podemos incorporar en nuestra vida diaria. Hablaremos de la mejor dieta para prevenir la demencia: la MIND Diet.Analizaremos en detalle qué alimentos componen esta dieta y cómo pueden beneficiar nuestra salud cerebral a largo plazo. También exploraremos varios suplementos clave que pueden acompañar a estas medidas de estilo de vida. Hay muchos productos en el mercado que prometen mejorar la memoria, pero ¿cuáles realmente funcionan? Analizaremos la evidencia detrás de algunos de los suplementos más populares, como la citicolina, la SAMe, la Bacopa Monnieri, el omega-3, y otros micronutrientes esenciales para la salud cerebral.Este episodio está diseñado para brindarte herramientas prácticas y basadas en evidencia para que puedas tomar el control de tu salud mental. Mi objetivo es ayudarte a entender mejor cómo cuidar tu mente y a adoptar hábitos que te mantendrán cognitivamente saludable a lo largo de los años. Para mas información ya sabéis que me tenéis en mi instagram @isabelvina dónde te comparto contenido diario En mi canal de YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQY los suplementos formulados por mi incluyendo el MEMORY-ON, la Metil-B12 y la vitamina C que hablo en el podcast están en mi web https://ivbwellness.com Nos vemos el sábado que viene :) Para mas información ya sabéis que me tenéis en mi instagram @isabelvina dónde te comparto contenido diario Mi TikTok @isabelvinabasEn mi canal de YouTube Canal YoutubeY los suplementos formulados por mi en mi web Mi web
EP 53. Boost Your Libido: Complete Guide.
Hello!In today's episode, I'll explain the science behind sexual health, focusing on the processes of libido, arousal, and orgasm, and the factors that can influence them.I'll tell you how libido and arousal are regulated by a delicate interplay of hormones and neurotransmitters, including testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estrogen, serotonin, and dopamine. I'll also explain how stress, lifestyle, and certain medications, such as antidepressants and beta-blockers, can negatively affect sexual function.Next, I'll list supplements that can help improve sexual health at each of its "stages": libido, arousal, and orgasm. Among them, I'll mention how citrulline, Pycnogenol, and cocoa polyphenols can improve blood flow by enhancing nitric oxide, leading to better lubrication and erections. I'll also discuss how Kaempferia and Horny Goat Weed can act as a natural "Viagra," and how adequate levels of micronutrients like zinc, magnesium, vitamin D, selenium, and vitamin E are key for libido and sexual function.I hope this episode is helpful, and as always, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.On my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-dfdxLBcvfztBvRAKZSXGQAnd the supplements formulated by me https://ivbwellness.comFor more information, you know you can find me on my Instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My Website
EP 42. Fertility: Discover Its Pillars.
Hello!In today's podcast, I'll tell you everything related to fertility. From conditions that can decrease fertility to lifestyle measures you can implement right now to optimize your health, if you wish, to improve the conditions that allow for pregnancy.We will cover:
Definition of infertility and prevalence in men and women.
Brief mention of known contributing factors, including male and female factors.
Impact of Lifestyle on Fertility
Prenatal Supplements and their importance for women and men
I hope that after listening to this podcast, you will have the knowledge that will allow you, if you wish and are ready, to take action so that you apply everything within your power to improve fertility and benefit greatly.I'll see you in 15 days for another episode, and in the meantime, I encourage you to follow me on my instagram @isabelvina where I post daily content about everything related to hormonal and metabolic health.For more information, you already know you can find me on my instagram @isabelvina where I share daily content.My TikTok @isabelvinabasOn my YouTube channel YouTube ChannelAnd the supplements formulated by me on my website My website