Jesse Lawler, a software developer and health nut, discusses polyphasic sleep, water fasting, marijuana's impact on the brain, and his favorite smart drugs on this podcast. He shares his experience with a week-long water fast, the benefits of a polyphasic sleep schedule, and the effects of different substances on cognition and memory. Jesse also explores the potential benefits of electrical stimulation for cognitive enhancement and shares personal insights into experimenting with various diets and substances.
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Quick takeaways
Fasting for a week could potentially starve cancer cells and prevent tumor growth.
Following a ketogenic diet can lead to increased muscle mass and improved exercise ability.
Experimenting with cognitive enhancers like ritalin, armadafinil, and nicotine can enhance alertness and motivation.
Deep dives
Water fasting for one week as a potential strategy to starve potential cancer cells
The podcast discusses how a doctor believes that a one-week water fast could potentially starve any stray cancer cells in the body, preventing them from growing into tumors. The host shares his personal experience of undertaking a one-week water fast and highlights the challenges and motivations of fasting. Although it is speculative, the idea of fasting as a preventative measure against cancer is intriguing.
Ketogenic diet and its effects on physical performance
The episode explores the benefits and challenges of following a ketogenic diet. The host shares his experience with the diet, including the foods he consumes, such as eggs, coconut oil, spinach, avocados, and blueberries. He mentions how his body adapted to ketosis over time, and he observed increased muscle mass and an improved ability to exercise.
Experimenting with smart drugs and nootropics
The host discusses his experimentation with different cognitive enhancers, including ritalin, armadafinil, and nicotine. He shares his experiences with ritalin, highlighting the intense focus it provided but noting the absence of a rewarding feeling during cognitive tasks. He then mentions using armadafinil and nicotine patches together as a stack, finding them effective for heightened alertness and motivation.
Effects of a Water Fast and Transitioning into Ketosis
The podcast episode discusses the experience of undergoing a water fast and transitioning into ketosis. The speaker shares personal insights and observations during this process. Initially, the absence of the usual eating routine was challenging, but abstaining from food itself was easier than expected. As the body adjusted to processing ketones instead of glucose, some individuals may experience flu-like symptoms, although it appears to vary depending on physical health. The transition also brings changes in energy levels and mental clarity throughout the day. During the experiment, the speaker felt a lack of mental vigor and difficulty in using willpower for tasks, while also experiencing moments of euphoria.
Experimenting with Alternative Sleep Schedule
The podcast examines the Uberman sleep schedule, which involves breaking sleep into multiple short naps throughout the day. The speaker attempted this schedule but found it challenging to adjust to. The idea is that the body jumps directly into rapid eye movement sleep during these short naps. However, the transition was rough, and the speaker faced extreme fatigue, difficulty staying awake, and a lack of mental clarity. Research on the efficacy of the Uberman sleep schedule remains inconclusive, with mixed results reported in various studies. Consequently, the speaker discontinued the experiment and went back to a regular sleep routine.
Meet Jesse Lawler (pictured above), my guest in today's podcast. Jesse is a software developer, a self-experimentalist, and a health nut; he tweaks his diet, exercise habits, and medicine cabinet on an ongoing basis, always seeking the optimal balance for performance and cognition. He has flirted with everything from paleontology and genetic engineering to screenwriting, green-tech, software engineering, photography, and neuroscience. Jesse is also the host of Smart Drug Smarts, a podcast about “practical neuroscience,” where he speaks each week with the world’s leading minds in neurology, brain-tech, and the social issues related to cognitive enhancement. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How Jesse rode his bicycle across the entire country with no training...-Why Jesse went from 100% vegan to 100% Paleo...-The details of Jesse's week long water fast, what he discovered along the way, and the crazy mistake he made after...-When a "polyphasic sleep schedule" is an appropriate strategy to manage fatigue or lack of sleep...-Why Jessa drinks zero amounts of alcohol...-The details of Jesse's recent Ritalin experiment...-Whether marijuana damages your brain and memory or makes you stupid, and the concept of micro-dosing with compounds such as THC or CBD...-Jesse's favorite smart drug and nootropic stacks...-And much more! Resources from this episode: -HammerNutrition Seat Saver (use 15% discount code 80244) -The SmartDrugSmarts podcast -Nicotine patch + Nuvigil -Aniracetam -Axon Labs - Nexus & Mitogen -Headspace app -NatureCBD Do you have questions, comments or feedback about smart drugs, nootropics, cognitive performance, water fasts, ketosis, water fasts, or anything else Jesse and I discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts below and either Jesse or I will reply.