Institute of Plant-Based Medicine

Institute of Plant-Based Medicine Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Institute of Plant-Based Medicine, Health & Wellness Website, 901 Dover Drive Suite 205, Newport Beach, CA.

Our therapeutic modalities for treatment and the reversal of chronic disease include adopting a whole food, plant predominant diet, partaking in regular physical activity, getting restorative sleep, managing stress, and positive social connection.

05/29/2026

Not all belly fat is the same, and one type is far more dangerous than the other. That soft, pinchable fat you can grab? That’s subcutaneous fat. It sits right under your skin. But the fat deep inside your abdomen, the kind you can’t see or touch? That’s visceral fat, also known as mesenteric fat. Subcutaneous fat is more about appearance. Visceral fat is about health risk. Because visceral fat wraps around your organs, such as your liver and intestines, and it’s metabolically active. It releases inflammatory signals and is strongly linked to heart disease, insulin resistance, and Type 2 Diabetes. And here’s what most people miss:
You don’t have to look overweight to have high visceral fat.
You can be “thin” on the outside and still carry dangerous fat internally.
A protruding or firm abdomen can be a sign, but it’s not the only one. (And not all bloating is fat, sometimes it’s gut-related.) So what actually drives visceral fat? Highly processed foods, excess added sugars, foods high in saturated fats, genetics, chronic stress, poor sleep, low physical activity, and diets lacking fiber. Now here’s where things shift:
When you move toward a whole-food, plant-forward diet, your body starts working differently. More fiber. More antioxidants. Better insulin sensitivity. And over time, your body preferentially reduces visceral fat first. So fat loss isn’t just about looking leaner. It’s about protecting your organs, improving metabolic health, and reducing inflammation from the inside out.

05/27/2026

Most people think muscle is just about protein, but your gut plays a bigger role than you think. Let’s talk about short-chain fatty acids (SCFA)
These are compounds your gut microbiome makes when you eat fiber, especially from whole plant foods. The main ones are butyrate, acetate, and propionate. Here’s where it gets interesting: SCFAs actually help fuel your muscles. They improve how your body uses glucose, so your muscles get steady, usable energy instead of spikes and crashes. They also improve insulin sensitivity, meaning nutrients get into your muscle cells more efficiently. And that means better recovery, better performance, and better muscle growth over time. Butyrate in particular has anti-inflammatory effects. So it helps reduce muscle breakdown and supports recovery after workouts.
But there’s more, SCFAs can even influence mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of your cells, helping your muscles produce energy more efficiently. So what increases SCFAs? Fiber-rich foods. Foods like beans, lentils, oats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—this is what feeds your gut bacteria so they can produce SCFAs.
No fiber = less SCFAs = less support for your metabolism and muscles.
So if you’re focused on building muscle and improving performance. It’s not just about protein. It’s about feeding your gut, so it can fuel your muscles from the inside out.

05/21/2026

Is your doctor putting you on multiple medicines, and you are upset because it makes you feel unhealthy? Being on no medications does not mean you are healthy. It’s not a race to heaven with whoever is on the lowest number of medications.
Somewhere along the way, people started treating it like a goal, as if taking less medicine somehow means that you are stronger and healthier. That’s not how health works.
If a medication helps you think clearly, get out of bed, regulate your body, or literally stay alive… that’s not something to ‘graduate’ from. That’s something to respect.

We don’t tell people with glasses to ‘try harder to see.’ We don’t tell people with asthma to ‘build up to no inhaler.’ So why do we do that with mental health? Or chronic illness? Taking medication isn’t a failure. Ignoring what your body needs isn’t strength. Your goal is not to prove how little support you need. Your goal is to live a life that feels stable, safe, and worth being in. And if medication helps you do that? Then it’s doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

We don’t have to love everything about pharmaceutical companies, but it’s worth recognizing they’ve created treatments that save lives. For example, statins have been shown to reduce mortality in people aged 65 and older. In general, cholesterol-lowering medications keep the plumbing intact. They keep your brain arteries intact. They keep your heart arteries intact. So many people hate these medications and refuse to take them. So maybe pharmaceutical companies aren’t that evil, and taking medications that are necessary should not be shamed.

References
Corliss, J. “Social media posts about statins: Sorting fact from fiction - Harvard Health.” Harvard Health, 2025, https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/social-media-posts-about-statins-sorting-fact-from-fiction
Gitsels, L. A., et al. “Do statins reduce mortality in older people? Findings from a longitudinal study using primary care records.” Family medicine and community health, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2020-000780

05/14/2026

Let’s talk about obesity and its link to cancer, which is something that doesn’t get said enough.
Obesity isn’t just about weight. It’s strongly linked to cancer.
In fact, research shows excess body fat is associated with at least 13 different cancers, including colon, endometrial, ovarian, thyroid, pancreatic, and postmenopausal breast cancer.
And this isn’t just a coincidence. Excess body fat creates a biological environment that promotes cancer growth. It increases chronic inflammation, raises insulin levels, and increases growth signals like IGF-1, all of which can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. This is why prevention matters so much.
In my practice, I don’t just wait until the disease develops. I help women prevent or treat obesity. I focus on balancing hormones, particularly in postmenopausal women, through diet, metabolic health, and gut microbiome health. I also advocate the use of weight loss medications when appropriate, when lifestyle measures fail. Dietary patterns rich in whole plant foods, beans, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds are strongly associated with healthier body weight and lower risk of many chronic diseases. Cancer prevention doesn’t start in the hospital. It starts with daily lifestyle choices when you’re young. And the earlier we address those choices. The more powerful prevention becomes.
References
National Cancer Institute. “Obesity and Cancer.” National Cancer Institute, 2022, www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet.
Shen, Sherry, et al. “Obesity and Cancer: A Translational Science Review.” JAMA, 2026, https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2026.1114.

05/13/2026

I’m a physician, and I take medications.
Yep. An estrogen patch, progesterone, Repatha for my cholesterol, and minoxidil for my hair.
And I want to talk about that, because I think a lot of people assume that if you focus on lifestyle medicine, you shouldn’t “need” medications. But that’s not how real life—or real biology—works.
I use an estrogen patch and progesterone as part of hormone therapy. This helps manage symptoms, support my long-term health, and protect my body in ways that lifestyle alone sometimes can’t fully address.
I take Repatha to manage my cholesterol. Even with a healthy lifestyle and a plant-based diet, genetics can play a major role. Medication isn’t a failure, it’s a tool to reduce risk and protect my heart.
And yes, I use minoxidil for hair loss. Because quality of life matters too, and it’s okay to care about how you feel in your own body.
Here’s the bigger point: lifestyle medicine is powerful. Nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management—these are the foundation.
But medications are not the enemy. They are tools. And sometimes, the most responsible, evidence-based, and compassionate thing we can do, for ourselves and for our patients, is to use every tool available.
Taking medication doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’re taking care of yourself. And as doctors, we should be honest about that too.

05/11/2026

Most people think you only see a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. But that shouldn’t be the only reason.
As a gastroenterologist, my job isn’t just to treat disease, it’s to prevent it.
Your digestive system isn’t just about digestion. It impacts your gut microbiome, immune system, mental health, metabolism—your entire health.
So when should you actually see a GI doctor?
If you’re dealing with:
- persistent bloating
- frequent reflux
- changes in bowel habits
- blood in the stool
- chronic constipation
- ongoing diarrhea
- difficulty swallowing
- poor digestion, and more
Those aren’t “normal,” they’re signals. Unexplained abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, or changes in your digestion? That’s your gut asking for attention.
Because you don’t want to wait until something becomes serious.
You want to understand what’s driving the problem. Whether it’s diet, microbiome imbalance, inflammation, or another condition. When we catch these issues early, we can prevent much bigger problems later.
So if your gut has been trying to tell you something, don’t ignore it. Listen to it.
And it might be time to see a gastroenterologist.

05/06/2026

As a GI doctor, I’ve had patients walk in thinking they’re completely healthy, with no symptoms at all. Sometimes they wonder why they were referred by their primary doctor and need a colonoscopy.
Then we find things like large polyps that have been silently growing for years, without causing a single symptom.
And the scary part? Some of these polyps can eventually turn into cancer. They can bleed when the surface becomes fragile and irritated or cause obstruction if they grow large enough to narrow the colon.
Yet still, people often feel nothing early on.
By the time symptoms show up, it can already be advanced.
That’s why in GI medicine, we don’t wait for symptoms, we look before it’s too late.
Because what you don’t feel can still be growing inside you.

05/01/2026

Unpopular opinion, but it needs to be said.
The Standard American Diet isn’t just unhealthy.
It’s designed in a way that makes it incredibly delicious, hard to resist, and highly profitable for the meat and dairy industries, often at the expense of your health and animal welfare.
Yeah, I said it. Look at what people eat every day:
bacon, sausage, cheese, ultra-processed food, low in fiber, high in additives, and completely disconnected from what the body actually needs.
And then we act surprised when people feel terrible:
With bloating, constipation, reflux, kidney disease, heart disease, and cancer.
That’s not bad luck. That’s a predictable outcome.
The science is clear: high intake of ultra-processed foods is linked to
- 17% higher risk of cardiovascular disease
- 23% higher risk of coronary heart disease
- 20–40% increased risk of colon cancer
Your gut is starving for fiber, for diversity, for real nourishment, while being overloaded with substances that disrupt your microbiome.
And instead of questioning the diet, we normalize the symptoms:
“I have SIBO.”
“I just get bloated after I eat.”
“I have imbalanced hormones or a slow metabolism.”
No! Your body is adapting to what it’s being given.
Meanwhile, the industry profits. And the cycle continues.
But here’s the truth:
What you eat doesn’t just fuel you, it shapes your gut, your microbiome, and your long-term health from the inside out.

References
Dicken, Samuel J, and Rachel L Batterham. Nutrients, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Dec. 2021, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8747015/ -nutrients-14-00023.

04/29/2026

Not all weight loss medications are the same and these three work very differently.
Let’s break down semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide.
First, semaglutide, which is FDA approved.
This mimics a gut hormone called GLP-1.
It helps you feel full, slows digestion, and reduces appetite.
So naturally, people eat less—and lose weight.
Next, tirzepatide, also FDA approved.
This builds on semaglutide.
It activates two gut hormones: GLP-1 and GIP.
So you get stronger appetite control and improved metabolic effects.
That’s why weight loss is often greater.
And then there’s the new one, retatrutide, not FDA approved.
This one targets three pathways: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon.
So in addition to suppressing appetite, it may also increase energy expenditure, meaning you could burn more calories at rest.
That’s why early studies are showing some of the most powerful weight loss results we’ve seen so far.
Quick breakdown:
Semaglutide = reduces hunger
Tirzepatide = reduces hunger + improves metabolism
Retatrutide = reduces hunger + may increase calorie burn
But here’s the catch—retatrutide is still investigational, and we don’t yet know its long-term safety profile.
And one important nuance: glucagon signaling is powerful metabolically, but it can also come with more side effects—so how well this translates clinically long-term still needs to be seen.

04/10/2026

If you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease and you’re still flaring… you might be making one of these five mistakes… and they directly affect your gut.
Mistake 1: Stopping Medication When You Feel Better
Symptoms improving does NOT mean inflammation is gone.
IBD can have silent inflammation — meaning damage continues even without obvious symptoms and stopping medication abruptly increases risk of flare-ups and long-term colon damage.
Remission is maintenance — not a cure.
Mistake 2: Over-Restricting Diet Long-Term
During flares, a lower fiber may be necessary.
But staying on a low-fiber diet can reduce microbial diversity.
So IBD diets should evolve with disease activity.
Mistake 3: Smoking
Especially in Crohn’s disease — smoking significantly worsens disease severity, increases flare frequency, and raises complication risk.
It directly impacts gut immune activity.
Mistake 4: Skipping Surveillance Colonoscopies
Long-standing IBD increases colon cancer risk over time.
Routine monitoring helps detect early changes before they become serious.
Inflammation duration matters and screening protects long-term gut health.
IBD management isn’t just symptom control.
It’s about reducing inflammation, protecting the colon lining, preserving microbiome balance, and preventing long-term complications.

Address

901 Dover Drive Suite 205
Newport Beach, CA
92660

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30am
Tuesday 9am - 4:30am
Wednesday 9am - 4:30am
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+19494044444

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