Dr. Anthony Youn23 August 2024

Episode 374: Dr. Anthony Youn: How Fasting Makes You Look Younger + Recommended Anti-Aging Supplements

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The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Explainer· 1

Explainer04:30

The Evidence Youn Cites for Collagen Supplements

Youn argues that hydrolyzed collagen peptides can improve skin and nails. He cites a 2021 meta-analysis of more than 1,100 people reporting improvements in hydration, wrinkles, and elasticity after 90 days, plus controlled trials that found more collagen in later skin biopsies.

Hydrolyzed collagen peptides are the studied form
A cited meta-analysis covered more than 1,100 people
Reported skin outcomes include hydration, wrinkles, and elasticity
Youn knows of no studies showing a hair benefit

“there was a metaanalysis in 2021 over 1100 people they took hydrolized collagen peptides for 90 days and found a statistically significant Improvement in the…”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 05:00

“no studies I know of they'll say it improves your your hair”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 05:00

#collagen#skin#research#supplements

Story· 2

Story02:00

The Knowledge Gap That Changed Youn's View of Supplements

Youn says conventional medical and surgical training taught him almost nothing about supplements, so he once copied his mentors and told patients to stop everything before surgery. Recognising how much he did not know prompted him to study surgical literature alongside nutrition and gut-health perspectives.

Medical training may leave blind spots around supplementation
Expert consensus can be inherited without direct investigation
Recognising unknowns can trigger deeper evidence review

“I was not taught anything about supplementation in my residency”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 02:00

“I was say oh just go off all of them because I didn't know anything about them and I had never taken the time to…”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 03:00

#supplements#medical training#evidence

Story03:00

What Happened When Youn Built a Surgical Supplement Protocol

After comparing wound-healing research with teachings from alternative-health, gut-health, and nutrition experts, Youn created a pre- and post-surgical supplement protocol. He reports fewer complications and unsolicited patient observations about thicker hair, improved joints, and more regular bowel movements, though these are his practice observations rather than a controlled trial.

The protocol drew from both surgical literature and nutrition expertise
It was used before and after surgery
Youn reports improved clinical and patient-reported outcomes
Liability concerns kept him from marketing the system

“I created at that time a surgical supplement protocol that I put my patients on both before and after surgery”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 03:30

“not only did I find that my complication rate reduced but I also found patients coming back and saying what did you put me on…”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 03:30

#surgery#supplements#wound healing#patient outcomes

Q&A· 2

Q&A01:30

The Treatment Combination Youn Picks for Faster Visible Results

For someone seeking a visibly younger appearance in a short period, Youn suggests combining IPL with Morpheus8 for many patients. He adds retinol or bakuchiol as a longer-term measure to help maintain the results.

Consider IPL and Morpheus8 as a combined treatment approach
Use retinol or bakuchiol for longer-term maintenance
Distinguish foundational health habits from faster cosmetic changes

“I would combine IPL treatments for a lot of people probably with Morpheus 8”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 01:30

“I would say add a retinol or a bikol to that just to kind of keep those results”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 01:30

#ipl#morpheus8#retinol#skincare

Q&A07:30

Youn's Short List of Basic Daily Supplements

Youn's basic list includes a multivitamin, probiotic, fish oil, collagen, and an antioxidant mix. His rationale is that modern diets may leave nutritional and antioxidant gaps and often lack the fermented foods found in other food cultures.

Use a multivitamin as broad nutritional coverage
Consider a daily probiotic when fermented foods are scarce
Fish oil and collagen are also on Youn's list
An antioxidant mix may address low dietary antioxidant intake

“I think it's good to take a multivitamin every day just because there's so much nutritional deficiencies”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 08:00

“usually I do recommend some type of like antioxidant mix uh just because we don't in general get enough antioxidants in our food”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 08:30

#multivitamin#probiotic#fish oil#antioxidants#supplements

Tool· 1

Tool05:30

How to Choose and Mix a Collagen Supplement

Youn recommends looking specifically for hydrolyzed collagen peptides because the large collagen protein has been broken into smaller amino acids or peptides for absorption. He favours powder over capsules and says it mixes more easily into hot drinks than cold water.

Look for the words hydrolyzed collagen peptides
Powder is more practical than many capsules
Mix it into a hot drink or smoothie
Expect poorer mixing in cold water

“you want to get hydrolized collagen peptides”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 05:30

“it's much easier to just take the scoop put it a hot drink and typically it should be in general flavorless or you can mix…”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 06:30

#collagen#supplements#absorption#preparation

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway01:00

Why Cutting Sugar Is the Foundation of Better Skin

Youn puts food beneath cosmetic procedures in the anti-aging hierarchy, comparing diet to the foundation of a house. He says excess sugar is inflammatory and continually attacks skin collagen, while clarifying that reducing sugar will not erase existing wrinkles.

Treat diet as the foundation of skin health
Reduce sugar to lower a persistent source of inflammation
Do not expect dietary change alone to remove wrinkles

“the foundation of the house is the food that you eat”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 01:00

“reduce the amount of sugar you eat because that really is inflammatory to your body it's inflammatory to your skin and it will show in…”
Dr. Anthony Youn · 01:00

#sugar#inflammation#collagen#skin