How AI Keeps Your Body (and Doctor) Better [Smarter #6]
The Future of AI & ML in Healthcare & Life Sciences
I moderated a "The Future of AI & ML in Healthcare & Life Sciences" panel. Since I got roped into leading the conversation, I figured I'd do what I wanted with it.
The panelists were: an investor, a doctor, a data consultant, and bigwigs from Google and Microsoft. I asked what the audience probably really wanted to hear: So what's the inside scoop on AI and Healthcare that isn't already in the news?
Why You Should Care
You, dear reader, have likely been a patient and definitely have a human body. I thought you'd be curious, too.
Key Highlight: Doctors Are Already Overwhelmed
Doctors are already overwhelmed. An ideal AI takes work away, not adds to it. So that they can actually look at you instead of typing into a computer. Or spend time keeping up with the newest science instead of hospital admin. So that you, dear reader, live a better and healthier life.
Key Concern: Oversight and Guardrails
The biggest concern about AI and Healthcare is ensuring oversight and guardrails. So that AI doesn't go off said rails. That seemed obvious. My contribution to the conversation: "Humanity is afraid of self-driving cars because we think they're going to drive off a cliff. So of course we want the same precautions on something that affects our actual bodies and can literally kill us."
Most Liked Comment: AI Will Enhance Your Doctor
The investor said people are afraid AI will replace their doctors. The reality: AI will enhance your doctor.
I added, "AI is like the internet. Would you really go to a doctor who didn't keep up with medical data online? And if your doctor forgot the name of something, wouldn't you want them to look it up with a quick Google search? With so much medical data out there and your own info from wearables, AI just collapses that universe of information and makes it relevant to the conversation between you and your doctor." I got a few nods of approval for that one. Yay.
Patient Takeaway: Use AI for Your Own Health
AI can and should enhance your own role as a patient. For me personally, one of my most used AI hacks is checking what foods on a menu are Mediterranean Diet friendly. Why? Medical research says it's strongly linked to longevity. And I like to: eat, eat a lot, and eat out often. So this is a good compromise. After all, I didn't get into the industry of the human body without also trying to make my own last as long as possible.
AI Meal Analyzer Prompt
I created a Gemini Gem for myself that uploads any picture or food name and automatically runs through this prompt whenever I’m met with a looks-good-but-unsure-if-healthy food. Feel free to cut and paste for yourself:
"Analyze the food dish (image or typed name) and generate the following four bullet points. Ensure all answers are brief (one sentence maximum for explanations) and directly reference evidence from PubMed or reputable medical journals.
Mediterranean Friendly? (Yes/No) → Single-sentence, evidence-based explanation.
Contributes to Longevity/Heart Health? (Yes/No) → Single-sentence, evidence-based explanation specifically addressing alignment with the Blue Zone diet and/or research-backed benefits for longevity, heart health, reduced inflammation, or weight loss.
Key Health Component Breakdown: List the primary beneficial and/or detrimental nutritional components (e.g., high in monounsaturated fats, rich in antioxidants, high in saturated fat/sugar).
2,000 Calorie Daily Value Estimate: Provide the estimated percentage of the Daily Value for fat, protein, fiber, and total sugar content based on a standard 2,000-calorie diet."
Food Fun Buzzkill
Using this prompt is a fun game my partner and I use at restaurants. Though he loves carbs and I love sweets. So it's 99% of the time a complete buzzkill on the menu item we wanted to eat the most.
I’m Not a Real Doctor. I Just Play One on TV.
That being said, I'm not a doctor. The last time I took a pre-med class was in undergrad. I should note, most of my classroom time was spent trying not to doze off. If Neil Patrick Harris was only playing Doogie Howser on TV, I am only repeating my non-medical-school research I found on the internet. When in doubt, ask your real doctor.
How to Optimize Your Heart and Brain
The Secret Isn’t Blueberries
I spend a lot of time learning how to enhance my brain. As someone who uses her noggin as her moneymaker, it's an occupational hazard. Key insight: What's good for your heart is good for your brain. Cardio. Veggies. Good sleep. Low stress. The usual. In other words, no amount of blueberries will make up for zero exercise and bad sleep. Bummer.
Smarter Cardio
My daily goal is at least 20 minutes of cardio. It's not too much, and thus sustainable. It also (barely) meets the American Heart Association's recommendation of 150 cardio minutes per week, divided by 7 days. When I don't have time for the gym, pool, or class, I'll just dance around in my room.
American Heart Association: Recommendations for Adults
Smarter Easy Cardio
Which cardio gives me the best ROI? Zumba. If you've never done Zumba, imagine the Hokey Pokey. You just follow the leader: shake an arm, kick a leg, then move a hip. All while dancing to Latin music. It's easy enough that the vast majority of attendees are usually retirees. So you don't even feel bad if you're moving the wrong leg or circling in the opposite direction. The best part: my Fitbit always says I got a better cardio workout than any other class I take.
Until next time,
Rachel
If you found this newsletter interesting or helpful, please pass it along to a friend or colleague. They’ll thank you. And I’ll love you forever for it.
Rachel Loui is a former Google executive and life sciences Chief Strategy Officer. Today, she uses those experiences to help companies strategically deploy AI and human neuroscience to save time and make money at Strategic Growth Factor. She’s also an improv comedian, international keynote speaker, and book author. Her true passion is trying life experiments, writing about them, and (hopefully) inspiring her readers. Thus, while AI is amazing, this newsletter will always be 100% finger-typed by Rachel Loui. When it comes to human stories, your eyeballs deserve the best.
General disclaimer
The information contained in this newsletter is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. All information is provided in good faith; however, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, or completeness of any information. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
