Boundless Life

A special kind of compound called "ketone esters" seem to be taking the sports and biohacking world by storm. Scientific American published the article "Ketone-Based Sports Drink Promises Edge for Athletes", claiming an extra 2% of energy from the use of ketones, which is the equivalent of 60 yards in a 30 minute row, along with a world record broken in a lab test of ketones. Cycling Weekly wrote "Ketones: New energy drink could be next big thing in cycling."...   Tech and Innovation Daily featured the article "The Difference Between Sports Champs and Sports Chumps? Ketones."...   ...and Daily Mail Online reported "Could this elixir hold the key to weight loss? Experts hope it'll also treat diabetes, epilepsy and Alzheimer's"... ...I've even written about my own forays into ketosis for everything from Ironman triathlon to freediving in the article "How To Get Into Ketosis". In today's podcast, I take an even deeper dive into ketosis and specifically focus on a type of ketosis supplement called "ketone salts", also known as "synthetic ketones". My guest is Dr. Richard Veech. Dr. Veech is one of the world’s foremost experts on ketosis, and the Senior Researcher and Laboratory Chief at The National Institutes of Health, the inventor of the ketone ester, and has worked for the last 47 years studying cellular energy and homeostasis. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The fastest way to get into ketosis... -Why humans are the only animal that can truly get into ketosis... -Why Dr. Veech believes that the exogenous ketones currently on the market can be extremely dangerous... -Why a "true" ketone ester is actually a salt free and non racemic (D-bhb) drink that replicates the actual secondary fuel that the body produces during times of starvation... -Why a non-racemic, non-salt version of ketones so expensive ($3000+ a bottle!)... -The truth about something called "NAD" as the next big anti-aging drug... -Which supplements Dr. Veech would use for anti-aging... -Whether or not coconut oil can truly work for curing Alzheimer's as some may claim... -How Dr. Veech received DARPA funding and created a new fuel for the troops... -Dr. Veech's most recommended method of measuring ketones... Resources from this episode: -Precision Xtra blood monitors -book - Alzheimer's Disease: What If There Was a Cure?: The Story of Ketones -Dr. Veech's NIH website -Brain Octane C8 -1,3 Butane-Diol -Beyond Resveratrol: The Anti-Aging NAD Fad -Ketonix breath testing Research: Lendvai N, Pawlosky R, Bullova P, Eisenhofer G, Patocs A, Veech RL, Pacak K. Succinate-to-fumarate ratio as a new metabolic marker to detect the presence of SDHB/D-related paraganglioma: initial experimental and ex vivo findings. Endocrinology. 2014;155(1):27-32. Veech RL. Ketone esters increase brown fat in mice and overcome insulin resistance in other tissues in the rat.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013;1302:42-8. Nakagawa T, Ge Q, Pawlosky R, Wynn RM, Veech RL, Uyeda K. Metabolite regulation of nucleo-cytosolic trafficking of carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP): role of ketone bodies. J Biol Chem. 2013;288(39):28358-67. Kashiwaya Y, Bergman C, Lee JH, Wan R, King MT, Mughal MR, Okun E, Clarke K, Mattson MP, Veech RL. A ketone ester diet exhibits anxiolytic and cognition-sparing properties, and lessens amyloid and tau pathologies in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2013;34(6):1530-9. Srivastava S, Baxa U, Niu G, Chen X, Veech RL. A ketogenic diet increases brown adipose tissue mitochondrial proteins and UCP1 levels in mice. IUBMB Life. 2013;65(1):58-66. Do you have questions, comments, or feedback about ketone salts or anything else that Dr. Veech and I discuss? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems like at least once a month on a podcast, I'm recommending somebody... ...whether that somebody is having skin issues like acne or eczema, gut pain, brain fog, food allergies or intolerances or constipation or any other signs of immune system or inflammation issues... ...try something called the "Autoimmune Diet". Problem is, this particular diet, typically meant to be followed for a short period of time until things are healed up, can be confusing when it comes to whether you really need to use it to heal an issue, which foods are "allowed" and which foods aren't, how to transition off the diet back into a "normal" eating style once you've finished the autoimmune diet, and that's exactly why I decided to have Eileen Laird on the show. Eileen just wrote the book "A Simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol", I read it last week, and it's exactly what it promises, a book simple enough that even someone with brain fog can understand, written like a conversation between friends a simple and contains all of the essential information in a package small enough to throw in your purse or backpack. Eileen is a writer, podcast host, and self-described "autoimmune warrior", who has reversed rheumatoid arthritis through this diet. Her blog, Phoenix Helix, receives 1 million unique visitors annually and there she features recipes, research and personal stories about the autoimmune experience. She also writes "Autoimmune Answers", a regular column in Paleo Magazine, and is the host of the Phoenix Helix Podcast, the only paleo podcast focused 100% on autoimmune healing. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What exactly the autoimmune paleo diet is... -Why your body can attack itself and what you can do about it... -What a sample daily meal plan would look like... -A surprising "substitute" for organ meats...   -Why Eileen isn't a fan of stevia... -Why it's a myth that the liver stores toxins... -Three "gentle" ways to detox... -If you can use nightshades, how you can make meals spicy... -How to "transition" back to normal eating after following the AIP, and he an order in which you would introduce foods... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -A Simple Guide to the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol -Pemmican from USWellnessMeats -Organic whole roasted crickets -Dry skin brush -Magnesium salts -Sushi Sonic wasabi Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Eileen or I about the Paleo Autoimmune diet, or anything else we discuss during this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Kelly, a former hedge fund manager and pro mountain biker, discusses the complexities of cortisol, emphasizing its dual role in health. He introduces the innovative DUTCH test, a game-changer for accurately measuring hormone levels and their metabolites. The conversation delves into the pitfalls of traditional cortisol testing and the effects of high cortisol on energy and the immune system. Kelly shares insights on managing stress, sleep, and the interconnectedness of hormones, underscoring the importance of personalized hormone management for overall wellness.

I'm infatuated with getting a better body andmindbyusing special breathing techniques. In previous podcasts and articles, I've describedeverythingfromrhythmic breathwork while runningandbicycling,to hyperoxygenation breathing, to fire breathing to hypoxic and apnea training and beyond. Andintoday'spodcast, I'm going to introduce you to anotherspecializedstyle ofbreathwork referred to Chi Kung - or QiGong. My guest is Gary Daniels, a lifelong martialartist,formercompetitive boxer, and former elite amateur bicycleracerwith over100,000 logged miles and over 200 race starts.Garyspecializes intraining methods that have been designed tohonephysical skill andmental focus, and uses specificbreathingtechniques to extend timeto failure, increase overallcorecompetency, and achieve thehighest level of natural balanceforgreater efficiency in anyfield of endeavor. Gary aUSA-Cyclingcertified coach, formerBlack-Belt in Uechi Ryu karate,three timeFlorida AAU GoldenGloves competitor, NORBA expert crosscountrycyclist, Cat-3masters road racer, present coach of severalworldclass athletes,founder of HealthDefense training systems and writerforNextMotoChampion.com. During our podcast episode, you'll discover: -What exactly Qi Gong is... -How you can "move" electricity throughoutyourbody... -The link between Gary's work as anelectrician,acupunctureand Qi Gong... -How to "breathe" through your handsandfeet... -How your blood, biomarkers and biology respondtoQiGong... -And much more! Do you have questions, comments, or feedback aboutQiGong or anything else that Gary and I discuss? Leaveyourthoughtsat BenGreenfieldFitness.com andoneofus will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every morning I put about thirty tiny spirulina algae tablets on top of my morning smoothie. Then, in the evening, I often swallow another handful of tiny chlorella tablets to satiate my appetite. After that, I have to rinse out my mouth with water if I want my wife to kiss me, but it's all worth it because... ...regardless of whether you think that us land-dwelling creatures at some point evolved from ocean-dwelling life (a belief espoused by my previous podcast guest Jack Kruse to encourage people spend time in the cold and to eat more seafood), it can’t be denied that fish, turtles, and millions of other large and small inhabitants of water rely on one extremely dense nutrition source for sustenance of life… …algae – particularly from spirulina and chlorella sources. And (especially for vegans and vegetarians), it is the only way to get absorbable, brain-building DHA from a plant-based source. Chia seeds and flax seeds don't get converted into DHA. Algae has 40 vitamins and minerals, more protein then steak, more iron than liver, more calcium than milk, more chlorophyll than kale, more antioxidants than berries and provides so much steady energy and focus, that your performance improves all without chemicals, caffeine, sugar, gluten, soy, animal products or stomach distress. Algae is also an eco-friendly, sustainable crop that releases oxygen while it is growing, produces 100 times more protein per acre than beef and provides the safest, vegan, source of Omega 3. It is grown in fresh water tanks, not the ocean so it protects the ocean’s ecosystem too. And there's only one calorie in a single tab. My guest on today's podcast is Catharine Arnston, and she puts my own algae consumption to shame, eating 75 pieces of chlorella and 75 pieces of spirulina every day. She holds an MBA from Western’s Ivey School of Business, and a BA in geography and economic development from Queen’s University. She is  a Board Certified Health Counselor from The Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a REIKI Master. She is also an algae expert and the CEO and Chief Scientific Officer of ENERGYbits, a sports nutrition company that sells algae in tablet form to athletes and consumers (click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of their algae products). Catharine founded ENERGYbits eight years ago after she became aware of the health and athletic benefits of a plant based diet. When she subsequently learned that algae was the most nutrient dense plant in the world and that Asians had been growing it and benefiting from it for fifty years, she made it her life mission to bring algae into the mainstream so others could benefit from this superfood too. During our discussion, you'll discover: -What exactly algae is... -Which specific form of algae works best for pre or during workouts, and the appropriate hourly dosage... -Which form of algae has the identical nutritional profile to mother's milk... -The blue-green pigment in one specific form of algae that has been shown in research to enhance muscle recovery... -Why, based on RNA and DNA content, sardines and algae are two of the most potent anti-aging foods on the face of the planet...  -How chlorophyll allows the body to produce ATP, even in the absence of calories... -Which type of algae acts as a natural source of sun protection and prevention of radiation damage... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -How To Eat Algae (The Ultimate Guide To Fueling With Spirulina And Chlorella). -Mother's Milk and ENERGYbits Spirulina Profile -Mother's Milk Amino Profile from Biological Chemistry -ENERGYbits Label with Amino Acid -Mothers Milk and ENERGYbits® Spirulina, Virtually the Same Nutritional Profile Do you have questions, comments, or thoughts for Catharine or I about algae, spirulina, chlorella, or anything else algae related? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply.  You can also click here and use code BEN to save 10% on any of the algae products I personally use, including spirulina ENERGYbits and chlorella RECOVERYbits.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I first met today's podcast guest at a health conference four years ago. I happened to be sitting across the dinner table from him, and watched as he pulled out the mysterious leather satchel that I'd seen him carrying all weekend long. He opened the satchel to reveal tiny bottles of black oil, dropper bottles full of dark, green algae-like goo, mineral salts, and all kinds of other strange substances which he proceeded to use to "dress-up" his dinner. Later, I learned his name - Ian Clark - and invited him on my podcast to talk about that green algae goo, which turned out to be marine phytoplankton. I also learned that back in 2004, at the age of 46, when he was hit with a series of life threatening health issues, obesity, and a prediction from physicians that he only had about two years left to live, Ian refused to accept life’s traditional circumstances and decided to pursue more natural methods of restoring perfect health. Ian began traveling all over the world to discover strange, new health products while developing relationships with top labs and researchers in the fields of natural healing. Now operating out of a farm in Canada with his five sons and the support of an entire team of innovators at Activation Products Canada and Activation Germany, his company has become a significant manufacturer of unique products like magnesium spray, black seed oil, marine phytoplankton and much more. In today's podcast with Ian, you'll discover: -The genetic illness that nearly killed Ian back in 2004 and led to his journey of interest in natural healing... -How you can personally "equip" your body to deal with mold and fungus (and the shocking link between mold, fungus and cancer)... -How Ian has created his own micro-universe to heal his body... -One specific pose you can hold for 30 minutes a day for two weeks to "reboot" your autonomic nervous system... -The small exercise machine that Ian swears by and keeps in both his home and his office... -A new form of fasting called "dry fasting"... -What Ian uses as a "smart drug" to stay hyper-awake and alert... -The reason Ian sprays his entire abdomen with magnesium prior to bed at night... -Why Ian travels everywhere with a black leather bag, and what he keeps in it... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -The Ultimate Superfood You've Probably Never Heard Of (previous phytoplankton podcast with Ian) -Activation Products -Dr. Simoncini mold/fungus -Tripping Over The Truth book on the metabolic theory -Fortis Construction -Concrobium mold control spray -Essential oils -Cold air diffuser -Dr. Stitler's website -Xiser Stairmaster -Dr. Filonov Dry Fasting resources Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Ian or I? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month, I had the pleasure of visiting Kauai, Hawaii and hanging out with a few of the coolest couples on the face of the planet. One such couple was big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton and his wife, volleyball Olympian and fitness celebrity Gabby Reece. You can listen to my podcast interview with them here. Another couple was James Sol Radina and Dr. Somer Nicole, who you get to meet in this podcast episode. Dr. Somer Nicole is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and specializes in CranioSacral Therapy, SomatoEmotional Release and is a Reiki Master/Teacher. She has teaches alignment-based Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, has been teaching Yoga since 2002 and travels internationally for workshops and retreats. She also creates personalized Yoga videos for clients, lives in Kauai and has created an online platform for Yoga, Meditation and holistic living you can access at www.YogaDoctors.TV. James Sol Radina, has been a podcast guest before in a special episode on CBD. He is CEO of EAD Labs, a co-founder of “The Science of Weed,” a documentary releasing in late 2016 that features over 40 of the top doctors and scientists on the subject of using cannabis for healing, has built a Hemp CBD product company that is the gold standard in the industry. My time with James and Somer in Hawaii included some groundbreaking personal discoveries into how to use kundalini yoga, experimentation with psilocybin, more insight into the science of CBD and much more. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How Somer and James met... -What Kundalini yoga actually is, and how it works from a scientific standpoint... -The difference between Kundalini breathing and Wim Hof breathing... -Why James does coconut oil pulling... -How to decide what a custom yoga routine should look or feel like... -Why James uses cannabidiol (CBD), and which forms he uses... -The surprising use that Somer has discovered for CBD, specifically for women... -Why James uses psilocybin micro-dosing... -The proposed mechanism of action of psilocybin... -What psilocybin can be "mixed" with to increase potency... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Book "Tuning the Human Biofield: Healing with Vibrational Sound Therapy " -The movie "Neurons to Nirvana" -Earthrunner sandals -Ben's SmartDrugSmarts podcast episode on CBD -NatureCBD -Somer's custom yoga routines -My podcast episode with Wim Hof Do you have questions, comments, or feedback about anything that James, Somer and I discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply. And remember to click here if you want to one of Somer's custom yoga routines at a $65 discount!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sleep can be super confusing. I get lots of questions about it and have my own too...for example: Are there healthy substitutes for sunlight? What does it exactly mean to be a fast vs. a slow caffeine metabolizer? What's the ideal nap length? How can you limit the damage from a night shift? What's the ideal sleeping position? Should you use an alarm? My guest on today's podcast is Shawn Stevenson just wrote the new book "Sleep Smarter: 21 Proven Tips to Sleep Your Way To a Better Body, Better Health and Bigger Success", and today we dig into plenty of detail on the topics he covers in this book, which I highly recommend as a comprehensive sleep resource. Shawn is a graduate of The University of Missouri - St. Louis, where he studied business, biology and kinesiology, and went on to be the founder of Advanced Integrative Health Alliance, a company that provides wellness services for individuals and organizations worldwide. Shawn has been featured in Entrepreneur magazine, Men's Health magazine, ESPN, FOX News, and many other media outlets. He is also a frequent keynote speaker for numerous organizations, universities, and conferences - all with outstanding reviews. To learn more about Shawn visit TheModelHealthShow.com. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How using natural medicine to rebuild his spine bones made Shawn want to write a book about sleep... -How Shawn and I differ in the ways we quantify and track sleep... -Whether there are sunlight substitutes you can use instead of sunlight... -How to measure your UVA vs. UVB exposure... -The difference between blue-light boxes, in-ear photo therapy and intranasal therapy... -How many sleep cycles you should get each night... -What Shawn thinks about the effect of caffeine on sleep if one is genetically tested and found to be a fast caffeine metabolizer... -Shawn's top tips for people who have to work graveyard or night shifts to avoid the metabolic issues that can arise with circadian rhythm disruptions... -The surprising link between gut bacteria and sleep... -Whether morning vs. evening exercise is best for sleep... -Shawn's thoughts on optimal nap time, and if you really need to limit your naps to less than 60 minutes... -What the ideal sleeping position is... -Why you should use black-out curtains and sleep masks even though your ancestors or "caveman" didn't... -The best type of alarm to use to optimize your sleep cycles... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -What You Need To Know About Stem Cells previous podcast episode with Shawn -The OURA ring and HRV Ben uses for sleep tracking (and other sleep cycle tips) -How to use light to "hack" your sleep cycles -Intranasal light therapy -Apps to measure your UVA/UVB index -My podcast with sleep coach Nick Littlehales -The Sleep Cocktail supplement -Dr J. Sleep Solution pillow Do you have questions, comments, or feedback for Shawn or I about what we discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply, and be sure to check out Shawn's book Sleep Smarter: 21 Proven Tips to Sleep Your Way To a Better Body, Better Health and Bigger Success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few months ago, I released the article "Dark & Dirty Secrets Of The Wine Industry, Four Ways To Make Wine Healthier, and What Kind Of Wine Fit People Should Drink."  In it, I detailed the serious issues with arsenic, overpricing, lack of sustainability, high levels of sulfites, amines and ochratoxins, boatloads of sugars, high pH levels (that increase the possibility of contamination by unwanted organisms), a less than stellar taste, plastic polyethylenes and many other problems plaguing the modern wine industry - and causing many people (including my wife) to get headaches or poor sleep from a nightly glass of wine. At the end of that post, I highlight that I now drink a new kind of healthy wine called "FitVineWine", and in today's podcast, I interview Mark Warren, co-founder of FitVineWine, a national level black belt competitor in TaeKwonDo, a Crossfitter and of course, as a wine enthusiast and father of two boys, a man after my own heart. During our discussion, you'll discover: -Why there are shocking levels of additives and other fillers in most modern wines... -How most wineries add sugar and grape concentrate to wines to adjust the pH (and why pH is so important)... -Why many wines are filtered through wheat and contain gluten... -Whether you need to be concerned about mold in wine... -How you can concentrate the amount of antioxidants like resveratrol, polyphenols and proanthocyanidins in grapes... -What it means for a wine to be "biodynamic" or "organically" farmed... -Why many wines are over-irrigated and why wineries should use less water, not more... -Why wine grapes should be grown at higher, cooler elevations... -Why people really aren't allergic to sulfites in wine, and why it's something else altogether... -How FitVineWine compares to other popular "healthy" or "Paleo" wines out there... -And much more! Resources from this episode: -FitVineWine.com (use 10% discount code BEN10) “California Winemakers Sued Over High Levels of Arsenic in Wines” “Bad News for Those of You Who, Like Us, Drank Cheap Wine Each and Every Night of Your 20s” Do you have questions, comments or feedback for me or my guest Mark on anything we discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply...and click here to get a bottle of red or a bottle of white at FitVineWine.com with 10% discount code BEN10 (assuming you’re 21 years of age or older).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former research biochemist, Robb Wolf, discusses a day in his life and shares his nutrition, training, and biohacking tools. Topics covered include transitioning to sustainable farming, blood glucose monitoring, the benefits of the Versa Climber, and exploring the use of binaural beats for relaxation and focus.