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Dr. Sunny Sharma, 1555 Barrington Road/Doctor's Building 1/Suite 310, Hoffman Estates, IL (2026)

03/16/2026

Ever heard about a marathon runner or triathlete who suddenly had a heart attack?

Sometimes the explanation isn’t lifestyle.

Sometimes it’s genetics.

About 1 in 5 people have a hidden cardiovascular risk factor called Lipoprotein(a) — or Lp(a) — and most people have never been tested for it.

The reason is simple.

Most standard cholesterol panels don’t measure Lp(a).

Unlike many cardiovascular risk factors, Lp(a) is almost entirely genetic.

That means:

• Diet doesn’t significantly lower it
• Exercise doesn’t significantly lower it
• Even excellent metabolic health usually doesn’t change it

This is important to understand because I strongly emphasize lifestyle medicine with my patients.

Nutrition, exercise, sleep, and metabolic health are incredibly powerful tools for preventing disease.

But Lp(a) is one of the few cardiovascular risk factors where lifestyle has very little impact on the number itself.

So what exactly is it?

I often explain Lp(a) as a large, sticky cholesterol particle.

Think of it like an LDL particle with extra Velcro attached.

Because of its structure, it can more easily stick to blood vessel walls and contribute to plaque buildup.

And here’s what makes it particularly stealthy.

Someone can have:

• normal LDL cholesterol
• normal triglycerides
• a healthy lifestyle

…and still have significant cardiovascular risk because of elevated Lp(a).

Currently, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically designed to lower Lp(a), although several promising therapies are being studied.

For now, knowing someone’s Lp(a) helps us shift the goalposts for prevention.

If it’s elevated, we often become more aggressive with other markers like LDL cholesterol and ApoB to better protect the arteries.

Because of its importance, every patient in my clinic has their Lp(a) measured at least once.

The goal isn’t fear.

It’s identifying hidden risk early enough to prevent disease later.

If this helped you understand cholesterol better, save this post so you can refer back to it.

03/15/2026

Your cholesterol test might be missing the number that matters most.

Two people can have the exact same cholesterol…

…and completely different heart attack risk.

Here’s why.

For decades we’ve focused on LDL cholesterol when evaluating cardiovascular risk.

But LDL cholesterol only measures how much cholesterol is inside lipoprotein particles.

It does not measure how many particles are circulating in the bloodstream.

And when it comes to atherosclerosis, the number of particles matters.

This is where Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) becomes important.

ApoB reflects the total number of atherogenic lipoprotein particles circulating in the blood, including:

• LDL
• VLDL
• IDL
• remnant particles

Each of these particles carries one ApoB molecule, which means ApoB is essentially a direct count of plaque-forming particles.

Here’s how I explain it to patients.

Think of your arteries like a highway.

Cholesterol and triglycerides are the cargo moving through the body.

The trucks carrying that cargo are the ApoB particles.

If there are too many trucks on the highway, traffic jams become more likely.

In the body, those “traffic jams” can mean:

• Heart attack in the coronary arteries
• Stroke in the brain
• Peripheral artery disease in the legs

Two people can have the same LDL cholesterol, but if one has many more ApoB particles, their arteries are exposed to far more opportunities for plaque formation.

That’s why many lipid researchers consider ApoB one of the most accurate markers of cardiovascular risk.

In my clinic, every patient gets ApoB testing as part of their cardiovascular risk assessment.

Because prevention works best when we measure the actual drivers of disease.

Heart disease remains the #1 cause of death worldwide, and understanding particle biology helps us move from simply treating cholesterol numbers to actually protecting the arteries before disease develops.

If this helped you understand cholesterol better, save this post so you can refer back to it.

03/14/2026

For years we’ve been told:

“Just watch your cholesterol.”

But here’s the problem…

Cholesterol isn’t just a number.

The ACC and AHA just released updated cholesterol guidelines, and while the headlines say they are “tighter,” the bigger story is this:

Medicine is finally catching up to what the research has been showing for years.

Heart disease doesn’t develop simply because a cholesterol number crosses a threshold.

It develops from atherogenic lipoprotein particles circulating in the bloodstream and interacting with artery walls over time.

In other words:

Exposure matters.

The longer those particles circulate, the more plaque can build up.

That’s why the new guidance emphasizes:

• earlier risk assessment
• more aggressive prevention in higher-risk patients
• advanced biomarkers like ApoB and Lipoprotein(a)
• looking beyond LDL alone

And honestly…

None of this surprised me.

Because these tests are already part of how I evaluate cardiovascular risk in my clinic.

When patients establish care, we don’t just look at a basic cholesterol panel.

We often look deeper with markers like:

• ApoB — which reflects the number of plaque-forming particles in circulation
• Lipoprotein(a) — a genetically determined risk factor affecting about 1 in 5 people

Why does that matter?

Because two people can have the same LDL level, but if one has more particles or elevated Lp(a), their cardiovascular risk may be much higher.

This is why prevention is evolving from simply treating cholesterol numbers to understanding a person’s true cardiovascular biology.

And that matters.

Because heart disease remains the #1 cause of death worldwide.

The good news?

When we identify risk early, we can intervene with:

• lifestyle medicine
• nutrition
• exercise
• targeted medications when appropriate

The goal isn’t just better lab results.

It’s preventing the heart attack that would have happened 20 years from now.

Over the next few posts I’ll break down:

• Lipoprotein(a)
• ApoB
• why standard cholesterol tests often miss risk

Because the most powerful medicine we have…

is prevention before disease begins.

03/13/2026

😴 Hot take from a doctor:
Most people trying to improve their health are focusing on the wrong thing.

They obsess over supplements.
They debate carbs vs fats.
They buy expensive fitness gadgets.

But they ignore the thing that controls all of it.

Sleep.

And the irony?

Many doctors—including me—were trained in environments that completely ignore sleep health.

Medical school: studying until 2 AM.
Residency: 24–36 hour shifts.
Early practice: running on caffeine and adrenaline.

For years, I wore my lack of sleep like a badge of honor.

“Look how hard I’m working.”

In reality?

I was short-changing my health and my brain.

Because sleep is not passive.

While you’re asleep your body is doing some of the most important work it does all day:

🧠 Clearing toxins from the brain
⚖️ Regulating hormones that control hunger and metabolism
🦠 Strengthening immune function
🧬 Repairing cells
📚 Consolidating memory and learning

This is why sleep is one of the 6 pillars of Lifestyle Medicine.

And yet most people are not getting enough.

The average adult sleeps ~6.8 hours on weeknights, even though the recommended amount is 7–9 hours.

Even losing just 1 hour of sleep per night for a week can significantly impair cognitive performance.

Translation:

You’re walking around with a low-battery brain.

Ironically, one of the biggest mindset shifts in my career was realizing:

👉 Sleep isn’t laziness
👉 Sleep isn’t wasted time
👉 Sleep is biological recovery

And if you’re serious about improving your health, metabolism, longevity, and mental clarity…

Start protecting your sleep like you protect your workouts.

Because the body doesn’t rebuild during hustle.

It rebuilds during rest.

Happy World Sleep Day.

— Dr. Sunny Sharma

Internal Medicine | Lifestyle Medicine

Helping patients build health with science, prevention, and lifestyle.

03/12/2026

Doctor confession:

One of the most common nutrition phrases doctors tell patients is…

“Just eat everything in moderation.”

It sounds smart.

Balanced.

Reasonable.

There’s just one problem.

No one agrees what moderation actually means.

Ask 10 people and you’ll get 10 different answers.

In fact, a study published in Appetite found that when people are asked to define moderation, they tend to define it in ways that justify their current eating habits.

Even more interesting?

Most people believed they already eat moderately.

So the phrase doesn’t guide behavior.

It protects it.

And I see this pattern constantly:

🥗 Healthy Monday
🥗 Healthy Tuesday
🥗 Healthy Wednesday
🥗 Healthy Thursday

Then…

🍕 Friday night “reward”
🍔 Saturday chaos
🍩 Sunday night “I’ll restart Monday”

I call this the 4/7 Rule.

Eating healthy 4 days out of 7.

That’s 57% consistency.

If this were school…

57% is a failing grade.

Yet millions of people think this counts as “eating in moderation.”

Now to be fair to physicians…

Our healthcare system plays a role.

Most doctor visits last 10–15 minutes.

During that time we have to:

• review labs
• refill medications
• address symptoms
• order screenings
• document everything

So nutrition advice often becomes a quick slogan.

“Eat mostly healthy and everything in moderation.”

But real lifestyle medicine requires more than slogans.

It requires clarity:

• What foods make up most of your diet?
• How often do pleasure foods fit?
• What portions make sense?
• How do you avoid the weekend nutrition collapse?

Because health isn’t built Monday through Thursday.

It’s built on consistent habits.

That’s also why I designed my practice differently.

More time.

More education.

More personalization.

Because moderation shouldn’t be a guessing game.

And the right nutrition strategy is different for every person.

So now I’m curious…

👇

What does “moderation” mean to you?

03/11/2026

After yesterday’s post about peptides and animal studies, my inbox exploded.

The message I kept hearing:

“I had no idea animal studies fail this often.”

And that’s a problem with how health information spreads online.

Headlines love to say:

“STUDIES SHOW…”

But they rarely mention:

• the study was done in mice
• the sample size was tiny
• the study lasted a few weeks
• the methodology was weak

Research analyzing translation from animal studies to humans shows something striking:

More than 90% of promising treatments in animals fail when tested in people.

Animal research can be useful for generating hypotheses.

But using it to recommend treatments or sell supplements is a completely different story.

Unfortunately, the wellness industry often turns early lab findings into:

Mouse study → Podcast talking point → Influencer protocol → Health trend.

And suddenly people are experimenting on themselves with peptides, supplements, and “longevity hacks.”

There’s also an ethical side.

Millions of animals are used in research each year. If the studies are poorly designed or their findings exaggerated in headlines, the scientific value becomes questionable.

Science deserves better.

Animals deserve better.

And patients deserve better.

So the next time you see a headline starting with “studies show…”

Ask one simple question:

Was this actually studied in humans?

– Dr. Sunny Sharma

03/10/2026

Peptides are everywhere right now.

On podcasts.
On TikTok.
In biohacker forums.
In your gym locker room.

They’re being marketed as the next breakthrough for muscle growth, recovery, longevity, fat loss, and anti-aging.

But here’s the part most influencers skip.

Most of these compounds have barely been studied in humans.

Many of the claims you’re hearing come from animal studies — usually mice or rats.

And historically?

Only about 5% of therapies that look promising in animal studies ever become approved treatments for humans.

That means 95% fail somewhere along the way.

So when someone online says
“this peptide healed injuries in rats”

my first thought isn’t excitement.

It’s caution.

Take BPC-157, one of the peptides currently going viral.

Animal studies suggest it may stimulate angiogenesis — the growth of new blood vessels which could help tissue repair.

Sounds amazing, right?

But biology isn’t that simple.

Increasing blood vessel growth could theoretically also fuel tumor growth or precancerous cells.

And right now we simply don’t have the human data to know.

That’s why many physicians and scientists are not rushing to recommend these compounds.

Meanwhile the internet is full of people injecting substances they bought online and calling it “optimization.”

In reality they’re turning themselves into a medical experiment.

Here’s the irony.

The things that actually improve health and longevity are far less exciting:

• Sleeping 7-9 hours
• Eating fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole foods
• Strength training and moving daily
• Managing stress
• Building community and purpose

These aren’t sexy.

But they’re proven in humans.

So before starting a peptide protocol because a shirtless influencer in a grocery store swears by it…

Talk to your doctor.

Make sure someone can help you separate science from marketing.

Because the goal isn’t chasing the newest hack.

The goal is protecting your health for the long run.

– Dr. Sunny Sharma

03/09/2026

Confession from your doctor:

I’m struggling with the Daylight Saving Time shift too. ⏰

Losing an hour of sleep basically gives the entire country mild jet lag for a few days.

So today I decided to follow my own advice.

Since the weather cooperated, I squeezed in a morning weighted vest walk to get sunlight and reset my circadian rhythm.

Morning light is one of the most powerful ways to help your body adjust after the clock change.

But there’s also a silver lining to this time shift:

Longer evenings.

Which makes this the perfect time of year to add one of my favorite longevity habits:

🚶 Post-dinner outdoor walks

They help with:
• digestion
• blood sugar control
• stress reduction
• sleep quality

I also use this week as a chance to reset my sleep routine using my favorite sleep strategy:

The 10-3-2-1 rule

10 hours before bed → no caffeine
3 hours before bed → no heavy meals or alcohol
2 hours before bed → stop working
1 hour before bed → no screens

Your brain needs a runway before sleep.

If you’re feeling sluggish today, don’t worry.

Most people adjust within 3–5 days.

Until then:

Get sunlight.
Move your body.
Go to bed earlier.

And maybe go for a walk after dinner tonight.

Your future self will thank you.

As a Lifestyle Medicine physician, improving sleep is one of the most powerful tools we have for improving metabolic health, heart health, and longevity.

And sometimes it starts with something as simple as a walk outside. MDVIP

03/08/2026

If you want to age well, the work doesn’t start in your 60s.

It starts in your 20s.

One of the biggest myths I hear in medicine is that aging problems “just happen.”

They usually don’t.

Only 20–25% of lifespan is determined by genetics.
The majority is shaped by daily habits practiced for decades.

In other words:

Your future health is quietly being built right now.

When I talk with patients about longevity, I often break it down by decades.

Because the focus shifts as we age.

⸻

In your 20s: Build the foundation

Your body is resilient — but habits formed here often last a lifetime.

Focus on:
• Consistent sleep
• Regular movement
• Learning to cook real food
• Managing stress early

Your metabolism will thank you later.

⸻

In your 30s: Prevent silent risk

Life gets busy. Careers grow. Families grow.

Health habits often shrink.

This is when I encourage people to start paying attention to:

• Cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Blood sugar
• Exercise consistency

Heart disease often begins 20–30 years before symptoms appear.

⸻

In your 40s: Prevention becomes critical

This is when I see many patients start asking bigger health questions.

Focus on:

• Strength training
• Sleep protection
• Stress management
• Nutrition quality

Think healthspan, not just lifespan.

⸻

In your 50s: Protect muscle and metabolism

Muscle mass declines 3–8% per decade after age 30.

That makes strength training one of the most important longevity habits you can build.

Movement is medicine.

⸻

In your 60s+: Protect the brain

Healthy aging becomes about more than physical health.

Longevity now depends heavily on:

• Social connection
• Mental stimulation
• Purpose
• Continued movement

The brain remains capable of forming new connections throughout life.

⸻

The good news?

Longevity isn’t about chasing supplements or the latest “biohack.”

It’s about consistent habits practiced over time.

As a physician practicing preventive and lifestyle medicine, helping patients build those habits early is one of the most powerful forms of medicine we have.

Because the goal isn’t just living longer.

It’s living well for as long as possible.

03/07/2026

Hot take: 40 hours of nutrition education won’t fix healthcare.

More than 50 medical schools are adding about 40 hours of nutrition education after encouragement from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr..

As a physician who is board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine with additional training in nutrition, I absolutely support doctors understanding the power of food.

But the conversation is missing a few realities.

1️⃣ We already have nutrition experts

Registered dietitians spend years specializing in nutrition science and counseling. Yet there is no universal coverage or consistent reimbursement for dietitian services, which limits patient access.

2️⃣ The average doctor visit is 10–15 minutes

During that time we manage chronic disease, review medications, address acute concerns, recommend cancer screening, update vaccines, and discuss prevention.

Meaningful nutrition counseling takes time, coaching, and follow-up.

Behavior change doesn’t happen in a few minutes.

3️⃣ Chronic disease isn’t just a knowledge problem

Most people already know they should eat more fruits and vegetables.

The bigger barriers are things like:

• Food deserts
• Food insecurity
• Ultra-processed food environments
• Shift work and childcare constraints

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Doctors don’t lack nutrition knowledge nearly as much as the healthcare system lacks time for prevention.

This is one reason I transitioned to a concierge medical practice — to actually have the time to coach patients on nutrition and lifestyle.

👇 Curious what people think:

Do doctors need more nutrition education
or
a healthcare system that allows prevention?

03/06/2026

A few months ago I met Ben Zobrist.

Our conversation started with me telling him I was lucky enough to watch him win the 2016 World Series in person.

It ended with him encouraging me to apply for Champion Forward.

This week, I completed the Ambassador cohort.

Champion Forward is a nonprofit focused on whole-person formation — helping athletes and leaders align mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. It’s about identity beyond performance.

What impacted me most wasn’t the framework.

It was the vulnerability.

Strangers at first. Honest conversations quickly after. Tools to process pressure, expectations, transition, and identity shifts.

As a board-certified Internal Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine physician — and as a former athlete who hopes to coach one day — this matters deeply to me.

Because the athletes I care for…
The parents I care for…
The high performers I care for…

They aren’t just labs and vitals.

They’re navigating pressure.
Identity.
Expectations.
Injury.
Transition.

You cannot separate mental and physical health.

Champion Forward gave me language and tools to go deeper with my patients — and the teams and leaders I hope to continue serving.

Grateful for the experience.
Honored to now serve as a Champion Forward Ambassador.

If you work with athletes, lead teams, or care about whole-person development, I’d encourage you to explore it:
https://www.championforward.org/

03/05/2026

Most people take probiotics…

…but forget the one thing their gut bacteria actually need.

Prebiotics.

Your gut microbiome contains trillions of microbes that influence digestion, immune health, inflammation, metabolism, and even aspects of mental health.

But here’s the key point:

Probiotics are the bacteria.
Prebiotics are the food that feeds them.

If you only focus on probiotics, you’re missing half the gut health equation.

Probiotics are found in fermented foods like:

• yogurt
• kefir
• kimchi
• sauerkraut
• tempeh
• miso

Prebiotics are specific fibers your body doesn’t digest — but your gut microbes love them.

Some of the best prebiotic foods include:

• beans and lentils
• oats
• bananas
• garlic
• onions
• asparagus
• whole grains

When gut bacteria ferment these fibers, they produce compounds that support:

✔ gut health
✔ immune function
✔ metabolic health
✔ inflammation regulation

Here’s the surprising part:

Most Americans eat about 15 grams of fiber per day, while recommendations are 25–38 grams daily.

That gap has real consequences for the microbiome.

In clinic, one of the simplest strategies I recommend to patients is:

• increase plant diversity
• prioritize whole foods
• include fiber-rich foods daily
• add fermented foods if tolerated

Gut health doesn’t have to be complicated.

Often it starts with something simple:

More plants. More fiber. More diversity.

Your microbiome will thank you.

👇 Curious about your gut health habits:

What’s your favorite gut-healthy food?

Dr. Sunny Sharma

03/16/2026

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