Latest news with #LisaShah
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First protein, then fiber. The science behind meal sequencing and how to do it.
Dietitians and doctors have been touting for years the importance of eating a balanced diet to fuel your body properly and lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and obesity. That means eating a variety of foods to get in key nutrients like vitamins and minerals, and typically consists of lean protein, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and whole grains. But did you know that the order in which you eat your food also matters? Meal sequencing, or eating your food in a specific order, can have a significant impact on blood sugar control, cravings and more. Some researchers say meal sequencing is an effective dietary strategy, especially for the prevention and management of diabetes and obesity. 'This approach isn't just trendy — it's grounded in real science,' naturopathic doctor Michelle Sands, the founder and chief executive officer of Glow Natural Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. Meal sequencing is a relatively simple strategy. The idea behind it is that you should eat foods in a specific order — namely, having protein, healthy fats and fiber-rich, nonstarchy vegetables before consuming refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice, or foods that are made with white flour or added sugar. For breakfast or brunch, try this: Start with protein-rich eggs prepared to your liking Next, eat some fresh or frozen fruit for fiber Lastly, end with a slice of whole wheat toast, pancake or biscuit At lunch, you may want to eat: A small green salad or some roasted veggies Following that, eat a tuna or turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread Dr. Lisa Shah, chief medical officer for Twin Health, tells Yahoo Life that she's a fan of meal sequencing. For dinner, she recommends something like this: Start with a salad or other fiber-rich, nonstarchy vegetable Next, eat a bunless burger or another source of protein Follow that with a small portion of french fries or other carbohydrate-rich food End with dessert, if desired By 'preloading' with protein, healthy fat and fiber, your body can delay gastric emptying, enhance insulin secretion and reduce blood sugar spikes. Here's a look at the benefits of meal sequencing: It improves blood sugar control Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is a risk factor for the development of diabetes. Improving major shifts in glucose (blood sugar) levels after a meal reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Meal sequencing can also improve blood sugar control in people with existing diabetes. Sands adds: 'This matters for metabolic health, hormone balance, weight management and even mental clarity.' Meal sequencing can help prevent overeating By filling up on protein and fiber first, you may have improved satiety or fullness from your meals, making it less likely you'll overeat. Ingesting protein first also increases GLP-1 secretion (the same GLP-1 stimulated by popular weight loss medications like Ozempic), which plays a role in appetite regulation. 'This is a powerful strategy for weight management, especially in midlife, when appetite signals can become dysregulated due to hormonal shifts,' says Sands. It helps decrease food cravings With better blood sugar control, you may experience fewer cravings. Rapid increases in blood sugar can trigger dopamine release, which makes you feel good. This can cause cravings for highly palatable foods that are high in fat and sugar and in some cases, can lead to food addiction. 'Stable blood sugars reduce hunger fluctuations and cravings for sweets or snacks,' Shah says. Meal sequencing aids weight loss efforts The eating strategy may improve obesity thanks to enhanced GLP-1 secretion, which suppresses appetite and may reduce energy intake. So meal sequencing can be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. A small study out of Japan found that meal sequencing was more effective at weight reduction than interventions aimed at balancing meals in people with prediabetes. It can help lower chronic inflammation Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to chronic inflammation, which is linked to conditions such as heart disease and may compromise the immune system. Eating healthy foods in a certain order, however, can help keep blood sugar levels steady, potentially reducing inflammation. Meal sequencing is a simple tool anyone can utilize that may improve health if practiced regularly. 'Changing the order in which foods are eaten — without eliminating carbohydrates — can lead to measurable improvements in glycemic control,' says Shah. 'Meal sequencing is a simple, low-effort and cost-effective strategy that may be especially valuable in real-world diabetes management.' Katie Drakeford is a registered dietitian and freelance nutrition writer based in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First protein, then fiber. The science behind meal sequencing and how to do it.
Dietitians and doctors have been touting for years the importance of eating a balanced diet to fuel your body properly and lower the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and obesity. That means eating a variety of foods to get in key nutrients like vitamins and minerals, and typically consists of lean protein, fruits and vegetables, healthy fats and whole grains. But did you know that the order in which you eat your food also matters? Meal sequencing, or eating your food in a specific order, can have a significant impact on blood sugar control, cravings and more. Some researchers say meal sequencing is an effective dietary strategy, especially for the prevention and management of diabetes and obesity. 'This approach isn't just trendy — it's grounded in real science,' naturopathic doctor Michelle Sands, the founder and chief executive officer of Glow Natural Wellness, tells Yahoo Life. Meal sequencing is a relatively simple strategy. The idea behind it is that you should eat foods in a specific order — namely, having protein, healthy fats and fiber-rich, nonstarchy vegetables before consuming refined carbohydrates like white bread and white rice, or foods that are made with white flour or added sugar. For breakfast or brunch, try this: Start with protein-rich eggs prepared to your liking Next, eat some fresh or frozen fruit for fiber Lastly, end with a slice of whole wheat toast, pancake or biscuit At lunch, you may want to eat: A small green salad or some roasted veggies Following that, eat a tuna or turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread Dr. Lisa Shah, chief medical officer for Twin Health, tells Yahoo Life that she's a fan of meal sequencing. For dinner, she recommends something like this: Start with a salad or other fiber-rich, nonstarchy vegetable Next, eat a bunless burger or another source of protein Follow that with a small portion of french fries or other carbohydrate-rich food End with dessert, if desired By 'preloading' with protein, healthy fat and fiber, your body can delay gastric emptying, enhance insulin secretion and reduce blood sugar spikes. Here's a look at the benefits of meal sequencing: It improves blood sugar control Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is a risk factor for the development of diabetes. Improving major shifts in glucose (blood sugar) levels after a meal reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Meal sequencing can also improve blood sugar control in people with existing diabetes. Sands adds: 'This matters for metabolic health, hormone balance, weight management and even mental clarity.' Meal sequencing can help prevent overeating By filling up on protein and fiber first, you may have improved satiety or fullness from your meals, making it less likely you'll overeat. Ingesting protein first also increases GLP-1 secretion (the same GLP-1 stimulated by popular weight loss medications like Ozempic), which plays a role in appetite regulation. 'This is a powerful strategy for weight management, especially in midlife, when appetite signals can become dysregulated due to hormonal shifts,' says Sands. It helps decrease food cravings With better blood sugar control, you may experience fewer cravings. Rapid increases in blood sugar can trigger dopamine release, which makes you feel good. This can cause cravings for highly palatable foods that are high in fat and sugar and in some cases, can lead to food addiction. 'Stable blood sugars reduce hunger fluctuations and cravings for sweets or snacks,' Shah says. Meal sequencing aids weight loss efforts The eating strategy may improve obesity thanks to enhanced GLP-1 secretion, which suppresses appetite and may reduce energy intake. So meal sequencing can be beneficial for those looking to lose weight. A small study out of Japan found that meal sequencing was more effective at weight reduction than interventions aimed at balancing meals in people with prediabetes. It can help lower chronic inflammation Persistently high blood sugar levels can lead to chronic inflammation, which is linked to conditions such as heart disease and may compromise the immune system. Eating healthy foods in a certain order, however, can help keep blood sugar levels steady, potentially reducing inflammation. Meal sequencing is a simple tool anyone can utilize that may improve health if practiced regularly. 'Changing the order in which foods are eaten — without eliminating carbohydrates — can lead to measurable improvements in glycemic control,' says Shah. 'Meal sequencing is a simple, low-effort and cost-effective strategy that may be especially valuable in real-world diabetes management.' Katie Drakeford is a registered dietitian and freelance nutrition writer based in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
From $275,000 Salaries To Work-Life Balance: Why Burned-Out Doctors Are Trading The ER For The C-Suite
Doctors are ditching the hospital grind for corporate boardrooms. And with $275,000 salaries, better hours, and less stress, it's easy to see why. The rise of chief medical officers in tech, startups, and even companies like Google and Salesforce (NASDAQ:CRM) is pulling more doctors away from clinical roles. They're trading 12-hour shifts for leadership positions that still impact healthcare—just on a bigger scale. Why Doctors Are Making the Switch For Dr. Lisa Shah, the shift was about scale. She loved treating patients but left exhausted every day. Losing them took a toll. Don't Miss:Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? . Now, as CMO at Twin Health, a health tech startup using AI to monitor metabolism, she's helping treat populations instead of just one patient at a time. 'We're seeing a lot of chief medical officers coming on board to grant that clinical, medical legitimacy to whatever products people are developing,' Chris Myers, a Johns Hopkins professor, told Business Insider. The COVID-19 pandemic only accelerated the trend. Burnout soared. A Bain & Company survey found that one in four clinicians were considering leaving medicine. And the pay? Still solid. ZipRecruiter (NYSE:ZIP) says CMOs earn around $275,000 per year—comparable with a doctor's salary but without the brutal hours. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — A Growing Trend in Health Tech Health tech is booming. It's expected to hit $1.5 trillion by 2032, growing at nearly 19% per year, according to researchers at Rock Health. That means more companies need medical expertise—and they're hiring doctors to provide it. Dr. Guy Maytal spent nearly two decades in psychiatry before joining Forge Health, a startup focused on mental health and substance use treatment. "I could grumble on the sidelines, or roll up my sleeves and do something about it," he told Business Insider. Trending: 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. The Role of CMOs in Business Tech giants are getting in on the action. Salesforce hired a CMO in 2019 to focus on employee health. Google added its first chief health officer the same year. At Uber Health, Dr. Joshua Sclar now works on getting patients to medical appointments and delivering medications. 'Being a physician, I know what happens when that care is missed,' he told Business Insider. But adjusting to corporate life isn't always easy. Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, CMO at TalkSpace (NASDAQ:TALK), says her biggest challenge was learning to communicate with business leaders who don't speak 'doctor.' 'There can be really different end goals when you're talking about business objectives versus healthcare objectives,' she said.A Lifeline for Overworked Doctors? For doctors used to on-call shifts, patient loss, and insurance battles, moving to a CMO role reduces emotional toll. "These jobs seem stressful, but they're not life and death," said Dr. Jonathan Jaffery of the Association of American Medical Colleges. And while America faces a shortage of 86,000 physicians by 2036, many believe CMOs aren't the problem—they're part of the solution. Dr. Nate Favini, CMO of Pair Team, a startup connecting Medicaid patients to care, thinks technology will help fix the system. "There's a massive opportunity to harness tech to deliver better care at a fraction of the cost," he told Business Insider. Doctors aren't just leaving medicine. They're changing it. Read Next: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement —? Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – UNLOCKED: 5 NEW TRADES EVERY WEEK. Click now to get top trade ideas daily, plus unlimited access to cutting-edge tools and strategies to gain an edge in the markets. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article From $275,000 Salaries To Work-Life Balance: Why Burned-Out Doctors Are Trading The ER For The C-Suite originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surgeons in the C-suite: the rise of chief medical officers
Lisa Shah started telling people she wanted to be a doctor at age 6. She went straight from premed to medical school to her residency at the University of Chicago. But as much as she loved caring for patients, after connecting with dozens each day she "would come home feeling really emotionally drained," she says. Losing patients also deeply affected her. Now, Shah works as the first chief medical officer at Twin Health, a startup that uses wearables and AI to monitor people's metabolism and prevent and treat conditions like diabetes and obesity. Far from the hospital, in her new role overseeing the company's clinical operations and innovation, she's working to treat "not just one person at a time, but populations at a time," she says. Healthcare companies have long employed chief medical officers or chief health officers to oversee clinical settings. But in the wake of the pandemic and amid a booming health tech market, health tech companies — and even tech giants like Google and Salesforce — have been adding the CMO role to their ranks, and poaching physicians from hospitals in the process. "We're seeing a lot of chief medical officers coming on board to grant that clinical, medical legitimacy to whatever products people are developing," says Chris Myers, an associate professor of management and medicine at Johns Hopkins University. The rise of CMOs, he adds, is "capitalizing on — if not feeding on — the trend that we're seeing more and more MDs looking for nonclinical jobs." The COVID-19 pandemic left doctors overworked, underappreciated, and constantly exposed to new workplace hazards. The World Health Organization estimated that tens of thousands of health workers died globally in 2020 and 2021. A study published in the JAMA Health Forum found the proportion of clinicians looking to leave their roles jumped from 30% in 2019 to more than 40% in 2021. A 2022 survey from the consulting firm Bain & Company found that one in four clinicians were considering a career switch, many due to burnout. Today's physicians have been "pushed," says Myers, "to think about different options." And one of the most compelling options is the booming digital health industry, which is expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2032, growing by nearly 19% each year. For many doctors, the sense they have a calling to medicine makes the near-decade of school, often hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and grueling on-call hours worth it. "No one gets into medicine to be an administrator," says Dr. Guy Maytal. But the starkly inequitable healthcare system at times left him feeling helpless. He says patients have told him they could afford medication or food — but not both. Eventually, he decided, "I could grumble on the sidelines or roll up my sleeves and do something about it." In 2023, after nearly two decades of practicing psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and then Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, Maytal joined Forge Health, a startup that offers mental health and substance use treatments in-person and via telehealth. He says he now feels he has a much broader impact and ability to influence change at a quicker pace than he could when he was seeing patients. The CMO role has expanded and evolved as the health tech industry has come under more scrutiny. Theranos, the cautionary tale of the biotech world, had a board that lacked medical expertise. A dermatologist who had treated Theranos' president, Ramesh "Sunny" Balwani, was hired as the company's lab director in 2014. He had no board certification related to pathology or laboratory science. Only after The Wall Street Journal exposed flaws in the validity of the company's blood-testing method in 2015 did the company create a medical and scientific advisory board. A company that wants to build trust, and avoid becoming another Theranos, "might certainly consider hiring a CMO to give a trusted voice to their product," Myers tells me. "People trust their doctors to have their best interest in mind" over a CEO. It's hard to quantify the rise of the CMO. Major medical associations in the US told me they don't have data on the number of people working in these positions. But Data from ZipRecruiter found the number of job postings seeking chief medical officers jumped from 767 in 2019 to more than 5,000 in 2021. In 2024, there were 2,154 such job posts. In 2022, Emory University began offering a first-of-its-kind executive program to train chief medical officers for leadership positions in healthcare. The average salary for a CMO is about $275,000 — comparable with the average doctor's salary, but with more humane hours. Dr. Jonathan Jaffery, the chief of health care affairs at the Association of American Medical Colleges, says that people rarely leave medical school to directly take on administrative work but slowly add those tasks throughout their career before making the switch. For the most part, doctors aren't jumping from the ER to startups; the decision to use their medical expertise for work other than seeing patients happens gradually. Because it's still relatively new, the CMO remains an amorphous role, bending to meet the needs of an app and its users or a company's workforce. They might work on product development, research consumer safety, or analyze employee benefits and policies. In some cases, they're often balancing the business objectives of a startup with the Hippocratic oath they've taken to support patients. Salesforce added a CMO in 2019, whose role focused on employee well-being. Google hired its first chief health officer in 2019. These are jobs that don't always focus on patients or a product; they might involve deciding which benefits companies offer to their employees or implementing ways to protect employees' health. "Companies are trying to take ownership more and more of employee health and well-being," says Anna Tavis, a clinical professor of human capital management at New York University. With ever-growing healthcare costs, there could be more demand for health tech and healthcare coaching as part of employee benefits packages or for medical experts who can advise companies on the best tech tools to use for preventive care and mental health treatment. Dr. Joshua Sclar serves as the chief clinical and public health advisor at Uber Health, a division of the ride-hailing giant that transports people to doctor's appointments and delivers medicine or groceries. "Being a physician, I know what happens when that care is missed," not just to a patient, but to the healthcare system as whole, Sclar says of his role in translating healthcare needs to the transportation company. Sclar previously worked in three other CMO roles and was the first hired at each. At Uber Health, Sclar says he was surprised to learn how complex the technology behind the app was, given how seamlessly ride-hailing apps appear to consumers. Other CMOs agree that there's a learning curve when moving from the medical world to the business world. Maytal says his new role has him translating medical jargon and learning business jargon. "It's my first time in my professional life where my boss wasn't a doctor," he says. Dr. Nikole Benders-Hadi, the chief medical officer at the online therapy company TalkSpace — and formerly the chief of psychiatry at a psychiatric center — has had similar experiences. As her role as CMO has shifted, "oftentimes, it was me sitting in the room as the only mental health clinician thinking really critically about how I communicate my unique perspective in this room with all these business folks," she says. "There can be really different end goals when you're talking about business objectives versus healthcare objectives." Sclar believes many healthcare companies could benefit from bringing physicians into leadership roles. Those on the business side might know how to scale a company, but physicians give insight into whether the product will "translate to the impact on health that we want." Despite these challenges, for physicians accustomed to sleeping next to phones while on call and spending hours fighting insurance companies after seeing sick patients, moving from the ER to the C-suite can take less of an emotional toll. "They're busy, they're hectic, they seem very stressful, but they're not life and death," Jaffery says of the issues that often arise in administrative positions. The average salary for a CMO across the US is about $275,000, according to ZipRecruiter data — comparable with the average doctor's salary, but with more humane hours. The rise in CMOs comes as America faces a dire shortage of physicians. The Association of American Medical Colleges said the US is on track to be short 86,000 physicians by 2036, as a large number of doctors near retirement age and the demand for care grows. But the lure of the CMO role doesn't necessarily mean exacerbating the shortage — at least that's the hope among the CMOs I spoke to. "I don't think it's a zero-sum game," says Maytal. Many health tech startups are aimed at shortening wait times in hospitals and clinics or bringing primary care to underserved regions and underserved groups who are more prone to end up in emergency rooms with illnesses that could have been treated. Like Shah, Dr. Nate Favini, who started as his company's first CMO last year, sees his role as "doctoring at a larger scale." The company, Pair Team, is a San Francisco-based digital health startup that uses AI to connect Medicaid patients to care. After watching his dad work in emergency medicine in rural Pennsylvania, he entered the field "knowing the healthcare system was broken," he says. "I knew I wanted to have a higher-level impact on the system." When he made the transition to health tech from caring for primarily Medicare patients, some colleagues thought he was crazy or selling out, he says. Now, more are coming around. "There's a massive opportunity to harness technology to deliver better care at a fraction of the cost and get really good care to everyone," Favini tells me. In the new age of medicine, the call to be a doctor may increasingly come from the tech world. Amanda Hoover is a senior correspondent at Business Insider covering the tech industry. She writes about the biggest tech companies and trends. Read the original article on Business Insider
