In this episode, Michelle chats with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, functional medicine doctor and expert in muscle-centric medicine. They talk about the importance of consuming high-quality protein for health and longevity, and address what muscle does for our health beyond our aesthetics. Then, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon shares some personal anecdotes of her own history with veganism (!!), leaving her with serious health effects and jump starting her career in protein-forward medicine. They discuss: The importance of protein and muscle mass in aging and longevity Muscle is more than aesthetics and physical activity - it’s impact on the immune system, inflammatory responses, nutrient utilization, and hormones! Focusing on the QUALITY of muscle tissue (not just quantity) Importance of protein consumption for health and longevity. What this means for vegans, vegetarians, and plant-based diets. Why are we seeing a push for plant-based eating right now? (Hint: It goes back to World War II) Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s “origin story” - Why she has made it her mission to emphasize the importance of protein and muscle in her everyday practiceDr. Gabrielle’s personal history of drastic health effects following a vegan and macrobiotic diet, importance of including animal protein in our diets Links: Download the FREE Protein GuidTRAIN e! Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s resources and more:  Website Follow Dr. Gabrielle on IG   The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show (podcast)   Forever Strong meal plan with Daily Dose  – Work with Michelle and her free resources:  Quiet the Diet Podcast Page Episode Page (with transcript!)  Work 1-on-1 with a functional Registered Dietitian at Michelle Shapiro Nutrition LLC Learn more about the practice Follow the pod on IG Follow Michelle on IG Timestamps: (1:23) Introduction to Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and muscle-centric medicine, shifting the focus from excess fat to inadequate muscle mass (10:34) What exactly IS muscle tissue? Muscle is more than aesthetics and physical activity - it’s an endocrine organ system! (17:46) Importance of protein consumption for health and longevity, what this means for plant-based diets.    (26:08) Nutritional history - why we’re seeing a push for plant-based eating right now  (30:03) Benefits of red meat, why it’s been vilified in recent years, debunking myths about meat and cholesterol, controversy of the rise of veganism and carnivore diets  (39:16) Dr. Gabrielle Lyon’s “origin story” - Why she has made it her mission to emphasize the importance of protein and muscle in her everyday practice (51:07) Dr. Gabrielle’s history of drastic health effects following a vegan and macrobiotic diet, importance of including animal protein in our diets