Is joint pain autoimmune, crystal-driven, or inflammatory?

Modern joint pain isn’t just wear and tear—it’s a systemic, metabolic disease that starts years before symptoms show. In this episode, you’ll learn how inflammation, mitochondria dysfunction, and immune imbalance trigger cartilage loss… and how to reverse it using targeted cytokine modulation, cellular regeneration, and smarter supplements for longevity and human performance. 

Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: 

https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR 

Host Dave Asprey sits down with Kiran Krishnan, a research microbiologist and Chief Scientific Officer at Calroy Health Sciences. He’s the founder of Microbiome Labs—one of the most trusted microbiome-focused brands in functional medicine—and a formulator behind cutting-edge supplements like Arterosil and Vascanox. With over two decades of experience, Kiran has launched multiple health ventures, authored scientific textbook chapters, published clinical trials, and holds global patents in human health. He’s a leading authority on systemic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut-driven disease—and one of the few voices making complex biology accessible for real-world results.  

He breaks down their new supplement Cartigenix HP, and how cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha flip your cartilage cells from anabolic repair to catabolic destruction, how mitochondrial decline speeds up joint damage, and why most modern painkillers make your joints worse. You’ll learn how a specialized blend of boswellia and celery seed reprograms inflammation, why walking beats medication in clinical trials, and how fasting, nitric oxide, and gut health work together to optimize joint regeneration. 

You’ll learn: 

• How cartilage cells (chondrocytes) rely on mitochondria for tissue repair 

• Why global cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha drive joint degradation and brain fog 

• How cartilage begins to break down in your teens—and what to do about it now 

• The surprising clinical data on walking distance, inflammation markers, and recovery 

• Why most supplements and NSAIDs fail—and what actually rebuilds joints 

• How diet and leaky gut create 5-day inflammation spikes from a single fast-food meal 

• The mitochondrial link between joint pain, cardiovascular risk, and depression 

• Why perimenopausal women are at 10x higher risk for arthritis—and how to prevent it 

• How to track your biological joint age using imaging and systemic inflammation labs 

This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, functional medicine, pain-free aging, and human performance. Whether you’re lifting heavy, walking daily, or just trying to stay mobile into old age, this episode gives you the science and tools to reverse joint degeneration and extend your healthspan. 

Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. 

New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. 

Keywords: Joint cartilage regeneration, IL-6 inflammation suppression, TNF-alpha cytokine modulation, Chondrocyte mitochondrial repair, Catabolic to anabolic tissue shift, Osteoarthritis reversal, Rheumatoid arthritis inflammation, Mitochondria and collagen synthesis, Boswellia seratol extract, Celery seed COX inhibition, Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibition, Synovial fluid inflammation, Leaky gut and joint pain, Six-minute walk test improvement, Global cytokine markers, High sensitivity CRP reduction, ESR sedimentation rate, Uric acid crystal formation, Post-prandial glucose walking, Cartilage MRI biomarkers, Functional medicine joint support, Fasted repair stacking, Vasodilation and nitric oxide, Anti-inflammatory supplement stacking, NF-kB pathway reduction, Joint space biological age, Microvascular circulation and cartilage, Caloric load and cytokine spike, Perimenopause and arthritis risk, Joint tissue anabolic activation 

**Get an exclusive discount for podcast listeners at calroy.com/dave : https://calroy.com/product/cartigenix-hp/?lp=dave ** 

Thank you to our sponsors! 

-BodyGuardz | Visit https://www.bodyguardz.com/ and use code DAVE for 25% off. 

-BiOptimizers | Go to http://bioptimizers.com/dave and use code DAVE15 to get 15% off your order. 

-Quantum Upgrade | Go to https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave for a free trial. 

-Caldera + Lab | Go to https://calderalab.com/DAVE and use code DAVE at checkout for 20% off your first order. 

Resources:  

• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 

• Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com 

• Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated 

• Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com 

• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com 

• 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com 

Timestamps: 

0:00 — Trailer 

1:25 — Introduction 

2:01 — Why Modern Medicine Fails at Joint Pain 

3:07 — Painkillers That Accelerate Joint Damage 

7:35 — Rheumatoid vs. Osteoarthritis Explained 

8:54 — Cytokines That Destroy Cartilage 

12:10 — Arthritis Begins in Your Teens 

15:35 — 75% Pain Reduction in 7 Days 

18:35 — The Science Behind Boswellia & Celery Seed 

24:10 — Six-Minute Walk Test Results 

25:45 — The $200/Month Painkiller Trap 

28:53 — Proof Cartilage Can Regrow 

31:01 — Mitochondria and Joint Repair 

32:29 — Inflammation Links to Heart Disease 

35:52 — Why Glucosamine Doesn’t Work 

37:07 — Silent Arthritis in 90% of Adults 

40:44 — Why Women Face Higher Joint Risk After 40 

45:52 — Food as the #1 Inflammation Trigger 

47:23 — Fasting & Cartogenics Stack for Repair 

50:27 — Movement Snacks and Efficient Training 

55:54 — Why Joints Heal Slower Than Muscles 

57:48 — Dave’s Stack and Final Takeaways 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.