http://bengreenfieldfitness.com/340 December 23, 2015 Podcast: How To Test Your Fat Burning Efficiency, The Ultimate Guide To Preventing Alzheimers, Cold Thermogenesis, Fasting & More! Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right (or go to SpeakPipe), use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, or use the “Ask Ben” form at the bottom of this page. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Instagram.com/BenGreenfieldFitness, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. Probably ill-timing for the Holidays, but here’s what fasting does to your brain. Really cool (pun intended) and amazing how cold actually changes your gut bacteria. This “personalized nutrition” study is absolutely fascinating and I plan on trying it. (also see: http://newsite.personalnutrition.org/WebSite/Home.aspx) Ashwaganda more powerful than creatine? Looks like it. Goodbye stationary bike, hello kettlebell (kettlebell just as good!). ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: This podcast is brought to you by: Kimera Koffee, nootropic infused coffee that makes your brain work faster (use 20% discount code BEN), and by Onnit, the world's best website for outside-the-box performance enhancement. May 27-29, 2016: Ben is speaking at PaleoFX 2016 in Austin, Texas. This is the The Who's Who gathering of the Paleo movement, with world-class speakers including New York Times bestselling authors, leading physicians, scientists, health entrepreneurs, professional athletes, fitness professionals, activists, bloggers, biohackers, and more. And you DON'T need to be Paleo to be able to get a ton of benefit and fun out of this one! Nov 17-18, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Biohacker's Summit in Helsinki, Finland. Discover the latest in wearables, internet of things, digital health, and mobile apps to increase performance, be healthier, stay fit, and get more done. Learn about taking food, preparation, cooking, and eating to the next level with the latest science and kitchen chemistry. Even delve into implanted chips, gene therapy, bionic arms, biometric shirts, robotic assistants, and virtual reality. Two days with an amazing crowd and a closing party with upgraded DJs to talk about. Click here to get in now at a 40% discount. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - click here to leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Rachel Browne, the NEW Podcast Sidekick. How To Test Your Fat Burning Efficiency Steve says: He's an apprentice body improvement trainee and he wants know what lab tests are required to start with, to get his body into an optimal state to lose fat and build muscle. In my response, I recommend: -Indirect calorimetry testing -Breath ketone testing with Ketonix -Blood glucose/HbA1C testing -Sex / thyroid hormones testing -Organic amino acids testing (Ion Profile with Metametrix from Direct Labs) The Ultimate Guide To Preventing Alzheimers Bryan says: When it comes to Alzheimer/Dementia, what would be your optimal protocol, including diet, lifestyle, supplementation and bio-hacking devices for reversing it? If you or a loved one were to be diagnosed, what would you do? In my response, I recommend: -Study: Reversal of cognitive decline: A novel therapeutic program Diet: -Plant based ketosis diet -Exogenous ketones -Brain OctaneBiohacks/Lifestyle: -Cognitive training (e.g. n-back, lumosity, Brainscape, etc.) -Intranasal Light Therapy via Vielight -Quantlet wearable wrist device -Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy -Visit HealthHacksReviewed.com for discount on the Hyperbaric and PEMF devices (where you can use code bengreen15 for a 15% savings) -Rule out sleep apnea -PEMF via an ICES device -Other EMF studies/devices: Transcranial electromagnetic treatment against Alzheimer’s disease: why it has the potential to trump Alzheimer’s disease drug development. Arendash GW. J Alzheimers Dis. 2012;32(2):243-66. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2012-120943.Electromagnetic treatment to old Alzheimer’s mice reverses amyloid deposition, modifies cerebral blood flow, and provides selected cognitive benefit. Arendash GW, Mori T, Dorsey M, Gonzalez R, Tajiri N, Borlongan C. PLoS One. 2012;7(4).Long-term electromagnetic field treatment enhances brain mitochondrial function of both Alzheimer’s transgenic mice and normal mice: a mechanism for electromagnetic field-induced cognitive benefit? Neuroscience. 2011 Jun 30;185:135-49. Dragicevic N, Bradshaw PC, Mamcarz M, Lin X, Wang L, Cao C, Arendash GW. Transcranial magnetic stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease: a neurophysiological marker of cortical hyperexcitability. J Neural Transm. 2011 Apr;118(4):587-98. Pennisi G, Ferri R, Lanza G, Cantone M, Pennisi M, Puglisi V, Malaguarnera G, Bella R. A phase I trial of deep brain stimulation of memory circuits in Alzheimer’s disease. Ann Neurol. 2010 Oct;68(4):521-34. Laxton AW, Tang-Wai DF, McAndrews MP, Zumsteg D, Wennberg R, Keren R, Wherrett J, Naglie G, Hamani C, Smith GS, Lozano AM. Electromagnetic field treatment protects against and reverses cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease mice. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;19(1):191-210. Arendash GW, Sanchez-Ramos J, Mori T, Mamcarz M, Lin X, Runfeldt M, Wang L, Zhang G, Sava V, Tan J, Cao C. Cognitive functioning after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with cerebrovascular disease without dementia: a pilot study of seven patients. J Neurol Sci. 2005 Mar 15;229-230:157-61. Epub 2004 Dec 16. Rektorova I, Megova S, Bares M, Rektor I. Mapping distributed sources of cortical rhythms in mild Alzheimer’s disease. A multicentric EEG study. Neuroimage. 2004 May;22(1):57-67. Babiloni C, Binetti G, Cassetta E, Cerboneschi D, Dal Forno G, Del Percio C, Ferreri F, Ferri R, Lanuzza B, Miniussi C, Moretti DV, Nobili F, Pascual-Marqui RD, Rodriguez G, Romani GL, Salinari S, Tecchio F, Vitali P, Zanetti O, Zappasodi F, Rossini PM. Weak, but complex pulsed magnetic fields may reduce depression following traumatic brain injury. Percept Mot Skills. 1996 Oct;83(2):491-8. Baker-Price LA, Persinger MA. Alzheimer’s disease: improvement of visual memory and visuoconstructive performance by treatment with picotesla range magnetic fields. Int J Neurosci. 1994 Jun;76(3-4):185-225. Sandyk R. Supplements: -Axon Labs Mitogen -Vitamin D/Vitamin K2 -Curcumin Phytosome -American Nutraceuticals Vitamin C -TianChi (for ashwagandha, resveratrol-like compounds, citicholine) -NatureCBD (for cannabidiol + ashwaganda) -EPA/DHA source with Vitamin E/antioxidants/tocopherols (e.g. SuperEssentials) -Prebiotic/Probiotic blend (e.g. Caprobiotic Advanced) -Creatine (EXOS Creapure) -Magnesium -Thorne Zinc Picolinate -Organic Bacopa extract -Lion's Mane mushroom Testing Progress: Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices: http://www.iqtest.dk Cogtest website: Cogtest.com N-back testing/training software: http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net Face recognition: http://www.bbc.co.uk...body/sleep/tmt/ Various tests: http://cognitivefun.net/ IQ test: http://www.iq-test.com/ Corsi-block tapping test: http://memory.uva.nl...si_geheugentest 5 Pieces Of Gear For Becoming A Stronger Swimmer (And How To Keep Chlorine Exposure From Damaging Your Body) Jason says: His 15 y/o son is a competitive swimmer and he's worried about chlorine exposure. Are there any dangers when it comes to chlorine exposure, and are there any tests to see if he's toxic? If so,  is there anything he can do to detox or counteract it? Also, he swims with folks who are older and stronger than he is, are there any workouts for exercises he can do to make him stronger and faster in the pool? In my response, I recommend: -Podcast: How To Reduce The Risk From Swimming in Chlorinated Pools and Drinking Chlorinated Water. -Podcast: Chlorine Water Filter Tips -Article: How To Keep Swimming Pool Chlorine From Destroying Your Body -High Intensity/Low Volume Training -Vasatrainer -Agility paddle and Freestyler paddle -Drag Suit and/or Parachute -Swim Snorkel + Cardio Cap -The SwimSmooth book Does Oil of Oregano Kill Probiotics? David says: He knows oil of oregano is very potent, and wants to know does it kill probiotics? If he wants to take probiotics, how far apart should he take it from oil of oregano? In my response, I recommend: -This Wild Mediterranean Oil of Oregano  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Reimann discusses personalized health through epigenetics, covering custom dietary recommendations, exercise effects on organ function, and climate's influence on well-being. Topics include gene expression impact on vacation time, the significance of tailored fitness routines, and the role of social environments in shaping health.

BenGreenfieldFitness.com/brokengut You've probably seen it before. The classic photo of a marathoner bent over the road, puking their guts out. Or a triathlete hunched over with abdominal pain on the bike. Or the bodybuilder wandering around the gym with persistent annoying gas, the weekend warrior unable to get through a single run without bloating or diarrhea, or the health nut who seems to be constantly constipated no matter what they do. Today, we're going to delve into why apparently healthy people, especially athletes and exercise enthusiasts, get broken guts, and what they can do about it.   Dr. Michael Ruscio is considered a leader in the functional medicine movement, as both a clinician and lecturer. He frequently speaks nationally to health care professionals as well as to the public. Dr. Ruscio has lectured at UC Berkeley, at the Ancestral Health Society and performed numerous interviews. Dr. Ruscio is a post graduate continuing education provider at Life Chiropractic College West. He has a clinical practice in Northern California where he specializes in functional medicine and sees patients both domestically and internationally. He is currently writing a book on digestive conditions and thyroid disease. He is also currently working toward launching a clinical trial in his office in 2015. Dr. Ruscio obtained his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Life Chiropractic College West and has completed post-doctoral specialty training in Functional Medicine. Prior to his specialty training, Dr. Ruscio obtained his B.S. in Exercise Science from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. -Dr. Ruscio's personal diet, and what his typical day looks like (including his meal of choice at Whole Foods)... -The surprising things that happen to your gut when you combine calories and high levels of physical activity... -Whether athletes should fast, and what happens when an exercise enthusiast "stops the flow of calories" and fasts... -How an "elemental diet" works to reduce stress on the gut... -When you actually should consider starving the bacteria in your gut... -Whether you can combat "overstressing" the gut with food by simply using things like digestive enzymes... -The biggest mistake most people make with cleanses, enemas and detoxing... -How you can heal damage to the valves passing through your gut... -If you could test anything and everything going in your gut, what you should test... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Dr. Ruscio's website and special gut testing discounts for BenGreenfieldFitness listeners -Study: Exercise and associated dietary extremes impact on gut microbial diversity -Toll-like receptors and their downregulation in exercise enthusiasts -Elemental diet instructions -Digestive enzymes -SIBOInfo.com -Iberogast for gut motility -Motilpro for gut motility -Wurn protocol -Interstitial cells of cajal -Three day gut panel (stool test) -The bonus materials Dr. Ruscio and I discuss More notes: This study was in the journal Gut in 2014:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25021423  This study compared activity level and diet of professional Rugby players to that of non-athletes of similar size, sex and age. ·        Your gut contains many sensors called toll-like receptors or TLRs.  These TLRs are responsible for monitoring “stuff” in the gut; specifically they help us identify good stuff from bad stuff. ·        Exercise may modulate these sensors http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25825908  and even prevent them from telling your immune system to attack.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17201071  Remember too much “attack” signaling can occur in autoimmune conditions.        It has been shown that hormones releases during exercise, like noradrenaline, stimulate the growth of non-pathogenic, commensal (aka ‘good’) E.Coli, as well as other gram-negative bacteria. o    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12412628 o    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1731173 o   E. Coli is often stereotyped as being a bad guy, however there are many types of E. Coli, several are good guys. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9199437  In fact some E. Coli probiotics have shown impressive results for treating inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease) o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15479682 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10466665 o   and IBS o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22130826 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18331331   However, just because some exercise is good does not mean more is better.  It has been shown that those who perform extreme levels of exercise are at increased risk for infection.   o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11050532 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16558471 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10910297 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11050537 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10893023   Too much exercise may also cause leaky gut http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23134759 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23075554 This is likely because too much exercise can cause immune suppression.  This hints at the importance of balance.  For example other studies have shown moderate exercise may also reduce levels of colon cancer, while excessive amounts may be damaging to your gut. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11171839       Mice who get physical activity show increased fermentation of prebiotics and well as a decreased inflammatory response. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25695388 o    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18256465     Other animal studies also show exercise reduces intestinal inflammation o    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22647663 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20510350 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18317386        Exercising without a break may be the most stressful on your body.  For example short circuits with not rest or prolonged cardiovascular exercise with no rest may be the more problematic for those trying to recover from burnout or illness.  o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22561973 o   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23667795   The most important factor is ensuring you are exercising enough, but not too much.     If you are ill or trying to recover from burnout, I recommend:           Getting light activity, outside (ideally in a forest-like environment) and preferably with a friend.    Start with 1-2 days a week, around 20-30 minutes and push yourself hard enough to break a light sweat.  Pay attention to the signs of overtraining.  If you do not experience any of these you can slowly ramp up your amount of exercise.           HRV (heart rate variability) is a simple and very inexpensive way to monitor yourself.    See here for more, http://drruscio.com/hrv-novel-tool-assessing-stress-levels-podcast-28/ ·        Exercise is an example of how we can modulate our internal environment making our bodies a hospitable place for good bacteria to grow.  By obtaining the appropriate amount of exercise you will modulate your immune system to allow more good bacteria to growth, thus optimizing your microbiota and overall health.  --------------- Do you have questions, comments or feedback and why athletes get broken guts? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Dr. Ruscio or I will reply, and click here if you want access to a consult with Dr. Ruscio!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In my video "How Should You Stand At A Standing Desk", one of the items I highlight is a springy, soft and supple standing mattress made from a special reactive material that allows my foot to sink in deep and then spring right back to the original position - creating a unique float-like sensation, kind of like a memory foam for the feet. This mat, called a "kyBounder" encourages my body to constantly make small movements in order to maintain balance and posture. This rebounding effect causes muscles to tense and relax reciprocally, exercising the muscles in my feet, legs and core while I'm standing, and it's good for balance and coordination too. The KyBounder mat and the entire kybun brand (which also makes special "walking-on-air shoes" that allow you to simulate running barefoot while still wearing shoes) was founded in 2007 by Karl Müller. According to the Swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung, Karl Müller is one of the most innovative entrepreneurs in Switzerland, and has "re-written design history". Since I'm standing every day on the mat that Karl designed, and since he sounds like a pretty fascinating guy, I decided to invite him onto this premium podcast for an interview to learn how he created this mat and shoes after being inspired by walking in rice patty fields in South Korea. In this show, you'll discover: On a personal level, I'm very curious to learn about the path and major turning points for Karl: -How Karl left Switzerland to South Korea, became a self-sufficient farmer, then lost all his money creating drug rehabilitation facilities... -Why a mat or a shoe with the correct softness and elasticity doesn't make your foot weaker but actually makes your foot stronger... -How you can use Kybun shoes and mats to spend several hours a day of improving posture, core and recovery without any additional time investment... Resources from this episode: -The Kybun website (use code BEN10 to get 10% discount on anything) Do you have questions, comments or feedback about Kybun, the Kybounder, memory foam, the walking-on-air shoes or anything else we discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. David Minkoff and I go way back. I first met this MD and 41 time Ironman triathlon finisher at the Half-Ironman World Championships in Florida six years ago, and interviewed him a few weeks later in the podcast episode "A Peek Into The Life of An Ironman, Natural Medicine Physician." Then, he helped me with metal detoxification using a metal chelating spray he designed, and I interviewed him about this in the podcast "How Hidden Sources Of Heavy Metals Are Destroying Your Health, And What You Can Do About It." He also helped me with my son's exercise induced asthma, which is now completely eliminated using the techniques Dr. Minkoff introduced me to in the podcast "Why More Kids Are Getting Exercise Induced Asthma, and What You Can Do About It." Now Dr. Minkoff is back. And he's back to fill us in on amino acids, branched chain amino acids, ketosis, bonking and more! During our discussion, you'll discover: -The shocking story of how Dr. Minkoff reversed his wife's MS by detoxifying the mercury build-up in her body... -The exact dosage of amino acids Dr. Minkoff used to completely heal a hamstring injury... -The important difference between amino acids, protein powder and food-based protein from sources like steak and eggs... -Why BCAA's and EAA's are much different, and why EAA's are not turned into sugar in the body... -How to use EAA's during periods of ketosis or carbohydrate restriction... -How long before a workout to use EAA's and how many to use during a workout... -How many amino acids you can safely take on a daily basis... -How to use EAA's for intermittent fasting, controlling carbohydrate cravings and fat loss...  -And much more! ------------------------------ More About Dr. Minkoff: Dr. Minkoff graduated from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in 1974 and was elected to the “Phi Beta Kappa” of medical schools, the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Fraternity for very high academic achievement. He then worked as an attending physician in infectious disease, co-directed a neo-natal intensive care unit and worked in emergency medicine until 1995. In 1997, his interest in alternative and complementary medicine led him to open LifeWorks Wellness Center, which has become one of the foremost alternative medicine clinics in the U.S. His search to find a source of the highest quality nutritional supplements led him to establish BodyHealth in 2000, a resource that could provide doctors with the best possible supplementation and education for their patients. Today, his BodyHealth products are used by hundreds of practitioners and individual consumers who seek all-natural wellness and detoxification supplements with a demonstrated high level of quality and effectiveness. In addition to their use by patients looking to heal disease, the BodyHealth products are also used by sports enthusiasts interested in achieving and maintaining optimal performance. As a 40-time Ironman triathlon finisher, (including 8 appearances at the Ironman World Championships) Dr. Minkoff has first-hand experience to help athletes achieve optimum conditioning. His expertise in protein synthesis, detoxification, and nutrition allow them to run, swim, and bike faster and longer. ------------------------------ Resources we discuss in this episode: -NatureAminos Essential Amino Acids -Pancreatic enzymes -ION Panel from DirectLabs -MetalFree detox spray Interview with Dr. Minkoff: How Hidden Sources Of Heavy Metals Are Destroying Your Health, And What You Can Do About It. Interview with Dr. Minkoff: A Peek Into The Life of An Ironman, Natural Medicine Physician. Interview with Dr. Minkoff: Why More Kids Are Getting Exercise Induced Asthma, and What You Can Do About It. Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Dr. Minkoff? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either he or I will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare to have your mind blown... Green tea is bad for you. You shouldn't brush your teeth very much. Vitamin Water has more carbs than beer. And you should start using nicotine, five or more than drinks per day, marijuana and copious amounts of coffee. These are all shocking claims made by the book "The Good News About What's Bad for You...The Bad News About What's Good for You." and written by today's podcast guest, Jeff Wilser. Jeff is a writer whose work has appeared in print or online at places like New York magazine, GQ, Esquire, Mental_Floss, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, and The Huffington Post. In addition to the book that we talk about in this podcast - The Good News About What's Bad for You...The Bad News About What's Good for You - Jeff has also written The ManCave book, The Maxims of Manhood, It's OK To Sleep With Him On The First Date, and more. During our discussion, you'll discover: -When green tea can be bad for you (and shocking news about Snapple)... -Which version of water has more calories than Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream... -The absolute worst time of day to brush your teeth (and what kale smoothies have to do with that)...   -Why being happy all the time and meditating may not be all it's cracked up to be... -The surprising benefits of nicotine... -The part of the population that should absolutely drink alcohol... -Why limiting yourself to one cup of coffee a day may not be the best thing... -The beneficial ways that marijuana changes your brain... -What happened when Jeff went on a 30 day junk food diet... -And much more!   Do you have questions, comments or feedback about good things that are bad for you, or anything else Jeff and I discuss in this podcast? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply (and grab Jeff's book here).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, you get to learn about a new wearable device that gives you all the benefits of cold thermogenesis...   ...via a tiny device that you wear your wrist like a wristwatch.   But this device goes way beyond that, including generating infrared light that induces a release of nitric oxide and ATP, reducing travel and jet lag symptoms, inducing sleep, shutting down inflammation...   ...and much more.   You must listen to this episode. My mind was blown.   My guest is Ruben Salinas. Ruben is a Harvard MBA graduate, an inventor, medical devices entrepreneur and angel investor and EMT with a track record of product development in the areas of spectroscopy, medical devices and diagnostics. He is also an avid biohacker and is featured in the upcoming documentary film “Supercharged”, along with Dave Asprey, Wim Hof, Abel James and Dr. Jack Kruse. He is also currently the President & CEO of a company focused on the development of diagnostics in the women’s health arena. Before that, he was Chairman of PowerMedic Systems, a medical laser company and CEO of MPI, Inc., a company he acquired via a leveraged buyout. And before that, he held Product Management and Engineering positions at GE Healthcare and GE Lighting. Since graduating as a Harvard MBA, he has bought, sold and started several companies mainly in the medical space. His proudest moments, however, happen in his prototyping lab where he gets to apply his biomedical engineering skills and delve into his latest venture, a venture we are going to talk about today... ...because Ruben is, in addition to the impressive list above, the Chairman of Quantum Dynamics, a company currently developing a wearable device called the Quantlet. What is the Quantlet? Basically, it is a wearable that produces two things: cold and light. Why cold? Physical performance is deeply tied to your body’s temperature. When you get hot, your performance suffers. This is because key respiratory proteins and cellular enzymes change shape and may even malfunction if they overheat, which impacts certain metabolic processes. Keeping the body cool during exercise or exertion can therefore help you better perform. Cold Thermogenesis (CT), as it is known scientifically, is an exciting new area of research which has recently shown positive effects on thyroid function, fat loss, exercise efficiency and inflammation reduction. This is because recent studies have found that adults have more brown adipose tissue (BAT) than was previously believed, which can significantly increase energy expenditure in response to cold exposure. Why light? The use of visible and near-infrared (NIR) light for reducing pain, inflammation and edema, has been known for almost forty years. The effects of photobiomodulation, as it is known scientifically, are photochemical – just like photosynthesis in plants. When the correct power, frequency and application time are used, light reduces oxidative stress and increases ATP. This in turn improves cell metabolism and reduces inflammation. In recent studies, photobiomodulation has demonstrated increased exercise capacity and longer exercise times, as well as improved biomarkers (including reduced lactate, creatine kinase, and CRP) after exercise in people treated with red and infrared light. Photobiomodulation has also been reported to release certain brain compounds that positively affect mood and sleep. During today's podcast, you'll discover: -Why irradiating your blood with light is one of the most powerful vasodilation techniques known to man... -Why it's crucial that you figure out how to reduce your blood thickness, especially if you travel and or if you get jet lag... -How light exposure and a process called photobiomodulation induces the release of nitric oxide... -Why (until now) science hasn't yet discovered how to get the positive benefits of light and cold at the same time... -How a thermo-electric cooler works and why it allows you to fool your body into not vasoconstricting in response to cold... -When you should use light and cold, for how long, and when not to use light and cold... -Whether the Quantlet produces Bluetooth, WiFi or other EMF frequencies... -How well the Quantlet holds up under conditions like water immersion or workouts... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -The Quantlet -Quantlet video for Indiegogo Campaign -Interview with Prof. Michael Hamblin (Harvard and Quantlet's Scientific Advisor) -Interview with James Carroll (LLLT expert and Quantlet's Light Module Developer) -Interview with Ruben Salinas on The Quantlet's Protocols -Ben Greenfield's Heat-Hacking Experiment in LAVA Magazine -The Peltier thermo-electric cooling effect Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the Quantlet? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Ruben or I will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Dr. Kirk Parsley (pictured above), affectionately known as "Doc Parsley". Doc Parsley is a former Navy SEAL. He received his Medical Degree from Bethesda, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) in 2004. He interned in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Balboa Naval Hospital San Diego in 2005 and subsequently completed a Navy residency in Hyperbarics and Diving Medicine in 2006. He served as an Undersea Medical Officer at Naval Special Warfare Group One from June 2009 to January 2013. While there, he led the development and supervised the group’s first Sports Medicine Rehabilitation center. And in addition to being able to kill you with his pinky finger, he's a total sleep nerd. Doc Parsley has been a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine since 2006 and served as Naval Special Warfare’s expert on Sleep Medicine. After leaving the Navy he went into concierge medicine and consulting. He consults on sleep for multiple corporations, and professional athletes, teams and individual clients, including the Navy SEALs. He lectures worldwide on sleep, wellness, anti-aging and hormonal optimization. But wait, I'm not done... Doc Parsley is also a bit of a chemist, and his supplement formulations are used to help the world’s most elite fighting organization: the Navy SEALs. He designs sleep products to compensate for the toxic environment that SEALs find themselves living in - high stress, heavily processed foods, and insufficient sleep, and his brand new "Sleep Cocktail" is the first sleep product designed specifically for hard-charging, high-achievers to fall asleep fast. I know that I talk a lot about different pills, capsules, powders and oils that can help you sleep, but this Sleep Cocktail stuff is one of the most potent that I've used lately, and worth a try, especially if nothing else seems to be working for you. So now you can tap into the same stuff Doc Parsley is feeding the SEALs, and in today's podcast we get to talk about that, the unique mix of Sleep Cocktail ingredients, sleep cycles, melatonin, jet lag, and much, much more. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The shocking things that happen to your body while you are sleeping if you take Ambien or Valium... -Why the GABA in sleep supplements doesn't cross the blood-brain barrier (and how to actually make GABA cross your blood-brain barrier)... -Why you must shut down your neocortex if you want to get true, restorative sleep... -The biggest nutrient deficiencies that keep you from falling asleep... -One big disturbing fact about physicians and sleep... -Why you "wake up" in middle of night when melatonin wears off... -How to manage jet lag symptoms with supplementation protocol... -If you can take sleep supplements when you wake up at, say, 4 or 5am and you want to sleep until 7am... -And much more! Click here and use coupon code Greenfield to save 10% on Sleep Cocktail. Do you have questions, comments or feedback about sleep supplements or insomnia? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either myself or Doc Parsley will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, my friend Skye Chilton visited my house. One night, he sat down at my kitchen table and spread out an array of colorful mushrooms, including cordyceps, a mushroom well-known for it's athletic performance enhancing capabilities (and one that I recently tweeted this study about). "Taste this." Skye said, as he handed me a standard, commercial cordyceps product. It was tasteless, flavorless and a bland brownish color. I didn't care for it. Then he gave me another handful of cordyceps. This different blend was a rich, reddish-brown color, and had a powerful, potent, medicinal taste. Within just a couple minutes I felt a surge of energy. The difference between these two mushroom extracts was noticeable, palatable, and significant. So what makes one mushroom extract different from another? Do medicinal mushrooms have different benefits depending on how they are grown, what stage they are harvested in, or where they are sourced? How do you actually use mushrooms in your daily life? In today's podcast, you'll get all these answers and more from Skye's father, Jeff Chilton, who wrote a book called "The Mushroom Cultivator: A Practical Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home", which Skye gave me after he left my house, and which I realized after I read it is the most comprehensive guide on medicinal mushrooms I've ever seen. In the 1980's he operated a commercial mushroom spawn laboratory, and in 1989 he started one of the first medicinal mushroom businesses in North America. His company, Nammex, sells certified organic mushroom extracts to nutritional supplement businesses in the US, Canada and worldwide. During our discussion, you'll discover: -Why you should add mushroom extracts such as reishi, shitaake, cordyceps to a morning cup of coffee... -The important difference between medicinal mushroom and the kind of mushrooms you eat as food... -How to cut through the confusion of which mushroom extracts are actually quality and which are a complete waste of your money... -Why some mushrooms just contain grain, with very little actual mushroom extract... -An easy way you can use an iodine dropper test yourself at home to see if a mushroom contains a bunch of cheap starch...   -The medical condition that some people have which indicates they should avoid eating mushrooms...   -Whether psychedelic mushrooms are safe, or have any helpful utilization...   -And much more!   Resources from this episode:   -The Mushroom Cultivator book by Jeff Chilton   -FourSigmaFoods mushroom extracts (the ones Ben uses)   -Jeff's company "Real Mushrooms" on Amazon   Do you have questions, comments or feedback about medicinal mushrooms? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either Jeff or I will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://bengreenfieldfitness.com/339 November 25, 2015 Podcast: Is Cardio Really Bad For Your Heart, What Is The Best Way To Filter Your Water, How To Get Rid of Candida & More! Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right (or go to SpeakPipe), use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, or use the “Ask Ben” form at the bottom of this page. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: What do you think about this? (particularly in light of my recent personal “volume vs. intensity” decision I unveiled) What do you think? Would you use a bike to power your home?  Green tea with Thanksgiving Dinner anyone (fat burning trick)?  You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Instagram.com/BenGreenfieldFitness, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: This podcast is brought to you by: Kimera Koffee, noo-tropic infused coffee that makes your brain work faster (use 10% discount code BEN10), and by Onnit, the world's best website for outside-the-box performance enhancement. The Fat Loss Summit just began and goes November 15-29. This is a FREE online event you can attend from home or on any mobile device, and includes talks like: How to lose more fat with intermittent fasting and carb cycling strategies, secret Russian and mixed martial art training principles that speed fat loss, how to gamify your workouts to burn more fat in less time, a gut healing plan to go from sugar burner to fat burner, how to tweak your nervous system to lose weight faster...and much more (including a cold thermogenesis episode from yours truly). Sign up NOW here: BenGreenfieldFitness.com/fatlosssummit Did you miss the weekend podcast episode with Dr Andrew Hill? It was a must-listen - titled "Can Weed Really Shrink Your Brain". Click here to listen now or download for later! Now Available - Ben Greenfield’s “REV Yourself Conference” – 25 Packaged Interviews With The World’s Leading Experts In Physical & Mental Performance Enhancement Strategies. In this package, you’ll get to watch and listen as Ben Greenfield sits down with the world’s leading experts in biohacking, physical performance, mental performance, cognitive enhancement, personal productivity, muscle gain, fat loss and more. In a frank, easy-to-understand, fireside chat format, these experts reveal all their most cutting-edge secrets, and your access to the videos and audios also includes helpful notes, summaries and more. From Dr. Mercola to Mark Sisson to Nora Gedgaudas, you can check out the lineup and get access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, forever (no expiration!) once you click here to get lifetime access for $47. Dec 4-6, 2015: Ben is speaking at the Unbeatable Mind Retreat in Carlsbad, California. This is where SEALFit and Navy SEAL Commander Mark Divine will be assembling the best of the best in everything from performance to cutting-edge mental training to advanced sleep tactics and more. Includes amazing ancestral meals, morning WOD's at SEALFit HQ (the site of the world famous Kokoro camp), Warrior Yoga instruction and workouts, and speakers such as Robb Wolf, Dr. Kirk Parsley, Dominic D'Agostino, and more. Click here to get in now. Nov 17-18, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Biohacker's Summit in Helsinki, Finland. Discover the latest in wearables, internet of things, digital health, and mobile apps to increase performance, be healthier, stay fit, and get more done. Learn about taking food, preparation, cooking, and eating to the next level with the latest science and kitchen chemistry. Even delve into implanted chips, gene therapy, bionic arms, biometric shirts, robotic assistants, and virtual reality. Two days with an amazing crowd and a closing party with upgraded DJs to talk about. Click here to get in now at a 40% discount. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - click here to leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Rachel Browne, the NEW Podcast Sidekick. How To Know If Your Brain Is Damaged Terrence says: He heard that you recently took up boxing. He's an MMA fighter and is always worried about traumatic brain injury - he takes turmeric and fish oil regularly. But he's wondering if HRV can be used as an indicator of TBI or if not, are there any biomarkers specifically of brain trauma and brain inflammation that he should be aware of and on the look out for? In my response, I recommend: -TianChi -How To Heal From A Concussion podcast -DirectLabs CRP Test and Inflammatory Cytokine test -HeartMath website What Is The Best Way To Filter Your Water? Julia says: She's on the go and often ends up buying a lot of bottle water. She's wondering if you have the chance to evaluate any filters for handheld bottles? In my response, I recommend: -Structured water filter (the one Ben uses in his home) -OralIV (use 20% discount code BEN20) -Klean Kanteen with Kishu Charcoal Sticks -Bobble - Bobble's sleek water bottle comes in three sizes and many different colors. The carbon filter removes chlorine and organic contaminants. -Camelbak - Camelbak's durable bottle has a carrying handle and spill-proof bite valve. The filter reduces chlorine, taste, and odor. -Vapur - Vapur's water bottle is collapsible, making it easy to stash and carry. The filter removes 99.9999% of waterborne bacteria and 99.9% of protozoa. -Hydros -The Hydros filtering water bottle has a unique side opening for ease in filling up at water fountains and taps. The filter reduces chlorine, chloramines, and particulates. How To Get Rid Of Candida Chrissy says: She's wondering if you can provide information to get rid of candida overgrowth for good. Since September last year she's had recurring UTI's and yeast infections, she's started taking supplements like anti-fungals, probiotics, fermented foods she eats paleo/gluten free, but every time she goes off her supplements it comes back. She doesn't want to depend on supplements to keep her body in check and she's trying to figure out how to get her gut/bacteria balance back in order. In my response, I recommend: -GAPS diet or SCD Diet -The Candida Cleanse 5 Ways To Stay Healthy In The Armed Forces Olivia says: What is your advice with someone going into the Armed Forces? In regards to fitness and maintaining health and sanity in stressful situations with limited access to resources. How would you prepare for the armed forces and what would be your hacks for someone with their boots on the ground? In my response, I recommend: -Use MRP's like SuperGreens -Sleep efficiently (Sleepmask, Sleephones, Sleepstream combo) -Use carb back-loading and ketosis (get KetoCaNa with 10% discount code BG2015) -Avoid the fancy gym -Make every moment count (PowerLung, GripTrainer, etc.) ----------------------------------------------------- Prior to asking your question, do a search in upper right hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness! -----------------------------------------------------See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.