These days, traditional school, such as a public or private school, is only one of many options to get an education. You've probably heard of homeschooling (I was personally homeschooled K-12). But another method that isn't as well known is known as "unschooling" It's a method of education I've recently adopted for my boys using resources such as the book "Unschooling to University". Many parents are frustrated by the school system, perhaps because of bullying, crowded classrooms, and outdated, dull, online courses. Disengaged learners that have no say in their coerced curriculum tend to act out, tune out, or drop out. Education must change and unschooling is the fastest growing alternative method of learning. T wo decades ago, students registered with their local school based on their house address. Now, with the internet, students are borderless. Learning can occur anywhere, anytime, anyway and from anyone - including self-taught. Self-directing their education, unschoolers learn through: -Play -Projects -Reading -Volunteering -Games -Sports -Mentorship -Travel -Life In this scenario, it's then the parents' job to provide an environment rich in resources: books, videos, cameras, computer and video games, workbooks, textbooks, projects, jobs, museums, field trips, volunteer programs, atlases and maps, science centers, zoos, museums, theaters, TV, toys, concerts, musical instruments, board games, mentor and apprenticeship programs, music, internet, libraries, instructors, living history parks, art galleries and supplies, sporting venues and equipment, science equipment, corporate venues, parks, travel, and many more. In her book Unschooling to University, my guest on this podcast, Judy Arnall, explores the path of 30 unschooled children who self-directed all or part of their education and were accepted by universities, colleges and other postsecondary schools. Most have already graduated. She outlines that what children need most are close relationships - parents, teachers, siblings, relatives, coaches, and mentors within a wider community, not just within an institutional school. Educational content is everywhere. Caring relationships are not. Families that embrace unschooling do not have to choose between a quality education and a relaxed, connected family lifestyle. They can have both. Judy is a keynote speaker and distinguished toastmaster who gives interactive presentations around the world. She specializes in non-punitive parenting and education practices, and regularly appears on television interviews on CBC, CTV, and Global as well as publications including Chatelaine, Today's Parent, Canadian Living, Parents magazine, The Globe and Mail, Metro and Postmedia News. As a Certified Canadian Family Life Educator (CCFE), she teaches brain and child development, and family communication, at the University of Calgary, Continuing Education, and has taught for Alberta Health Services for 13 years. She founded the non-profit organizations, Attachment Parenting Canada Association, and Unschooling Canada Association. She is also the bestselling author of the following print and e-books:  -"Discipline Without Distress: 135 Tools for raising caring, responsible children without time-out, spanking, punishment or bribery." (Translated into 5 languages) -"Plugged-In Parenting: Connecting with the digital generation for health, safety and love." (DVD) -"The Last Word on Parenting Advice." (A lovely little journal) -"Parenting With Patience: Turn frustration into connection with 3 easy steps." (Translated into 2 languages) -"Attachment Parenting Tips Raising Toddlers to Teens." -"Unschooling To University (and colleges): Relationships matter most in a world crammed with content." As a parent of five children, who were raised without any kind of punishment, Judy has a broad understanding of the issues facing parents and the digital generation. She is the proud parent of several university graduates who self-directed their education. During our discussion, you'll discover: -When formal schools were first established, and why...9:00 Schools began around the time of the Industrial Revolution; was a means of keeping kids occupied while parents worked in factories Critics claim it's simply to create factory worker mentality; obedient citizens, quashing critical thinking It has transformed into a billion dollar industry; it's difficult to imagine life without institutionalized school The brain interacts with its environment; it's not a bucket to fill up with facts and figures -Where the modern school system has failed us as a whole...13:00 Schools have stress for kids as well as teachers Teaching is a highly stressful profession Kids experience stress via bullying, expectations, etc. The big failure: a one size fits all approach It does not encourage individualism; it can't because it's a bureaucracy Technology has revolutionized many facets of life; formal education lags behind -How unschooling is different from homeschooling...20:05 "Empowering the learner to choose what they learn, when (or if) they learn, and how they learn." It's a matter of control and ownership With homeschooling, the parents control and own the process In unschooling, the skills and knowledge are learned and embedded with the experience, applied through their curiosity Self-directed, free learning -The value of play and unstructured time when it comes to learning...24:40 Kids need a period of time to "deschool" Approximately 1 month for each year they're in school Their natural curiosity takes over and they embrace We underestimate the value of play and downtime: it gives your brain rest and time to think about creative ideas Research shows that play and daydreaming is a sign of a better equipped brain (similar to meditation) Overscheduling doesn't allow for this quality time Unstructured play means it's not dictated by adults (soccer doesn't count) Play mimics what they would learn in school, but on their own terms -The conspicuous difference in testing and its results in unschooling vs. traditional schooling...34:30 Tests and essays begin to increase around the 6th grade Teachers need to stick to the schedule; teach to the test The emphasis is on accreditation/evaluation; but the journey to the destination is important It's not as difficult to prepare for the standardized tests as one might think -Yes, unschoolers can go to college too!...41:20 No benefits in year to year testing; ties students and parents to the local curriculum Appropriate to do a standardized test at age 18 for college entrance 13 year olds can do 8 grades of math in one year because their brain is ready to understand abstract concepts A strong homeschool lobby can influence legislation and enforcement of local education laws -Creative ways to satisfy governmental education requirements...44:30 Unschooling is a methodology; many schools do unschooling within their schools Look for skills that can be learned in video games, journals, etc. -The concept of "Block learning" and why learning something every day can do more harm than good...47:35 If a child doesn't want to do a particular task, don't make them do it Turn what they do naturally and turn it into a "subject" they need to learn: math, science, etc. -What a typical day of unschooling might look like...50:00 It's relaxed Lots of family activities, such as nightly family dinner -Success stories and research on the benefits of unschooling...55:00 Team of 30 Survey of parents of unschooled children All 30 of them got accepted into university 1/3 in arts fields; 1/3 in humanities; 1/3 in STEM courses 22 of the 30 have graduated from their programs John Holt's website John coined the term "unschooling" Judy doesn't like the term because it sounds "anti-school" -How unschooling compares with a Waldorf or Montessori method of learning...1:01:00 They incorporate unschooling in their methodology without calling it that "What do you do if the child doesn't want to do that?" Is it coercive or not? Most government schools are coercive Much easier to unschool outside the school system Templates or set curriculums lead children to a preconceived outcome Kids are natural communicators and collaborators -Why "time-honored" traditions like handwriting don't need to be emphasized in schooling today...1:06:05 It takes 15 years to change a curriculum in a government school Instead learn coding, social media, blogging, youtube, etc. Life experiences, world travel can replicate what is taught in university -Resources Judy recommends to learn more on unschooling and free play...1:16:30 Books by Thomas Armstrong on Amazon Book: Free To Learn (and Peter Gray's other books on Amazon) Hslda.org -And much more! Click here for a PDF version of this episodes's show notes Resources from this episode: -Book: Unschooling to University -John Holt's website -Book: Free To Learn (and Peter Gray's other books on Amazon) -Books by Thomas Armstrong on Amazon -Hslda.org Episode sponsors: -Kion Coffee: Carefully selected and roasted for taste, purity, high antioxidants and health. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners, receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Organifi Glow: A plant-based beverage that helps support the body’s natural ability to produce collagen, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and protect the skin from sun exposure and toxins. Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code: "BENG20" -Policy Genius: Whether you’re an insurance expert or a newbie, Policygenius created a website that makes it easy for you to compare quotes, get advice, and get covered. -Birdwell Beach Britches: Quality is our Gimmick isn’t just our slogan, it’s a commitment we honor with every stitch we sew. 100% money back guarantee. Get 10% off your order, PLUS free shipping on any order over $99 when you use discount code: BENG. Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Judy or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this premium podcast episode, recorded with Melanie Sliwka of SEALFit, you'll discover the following: -Branched chain amino acids a game-changer for performance...4:00 Issues: they don't repair muscle mass, and spike blood sugar I'm a fan of essential aminos: simple but effective -What I would personally do if I needed to thrive on a vegetarian diet... Learn the art of proper fermentation, sprouting, ancestral preparation techniques Can unlock a lot of essential amino acids in them Eat a wide variety of plant matter Vitamin B12 supplement Algae: chlorella, spirulina Taurine supplement Creatine Essential aminos Vitamin D Vitamin K Thorne Mediclear -My thoughts on the ketogenic diet...15:00 It's not always wise because of one's genetics Hormonal deficits and thyroid issues Carb refeeds for athletes Can induce short-term insulin resistance Down regulation of glycogen synthase enzyme (can be used in your favor) -How to enhance your mitochondria...23:30 Treat your body as a human battery that's charging Good intake of water with an electrical charge (Hydrogen tablets, structured water) JOOVV light Add minerals and sea salt Exercise and smart diet Ground with the earth PEMF mat and bed Heat and cold -And much more! Resources from this episode: Beyond Training Kion Aminos Episode sponsor: -Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. Got a question for me about what Mel and I talked about in this podcast? Leave a comment below and I'll reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Q&A Episode 400 Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the button at the bottom of the page (or go to SpeakPipe), or use the Contact button in the free Ben Greenfield Fitness app. Click here for some tips on how to have the best chance of having your question featured on the show! News Flashes...10:15 -Natural Giardia Remedies -This is pretty cool… It’s why CBD can “wake you up” in the morning, but then a similar dosage at night can enhance sleep and increase Deep Sleep percentages: Read more here. -BGF podcast w/ Ted Achacoso -The new “CBD is Toxic To The Liver” study claims are bullshit, and here's why. -The latest on weed and exercise performance - basically, it may slightly reduce anaerobic performance (e.g. power output while cycling all-out) and may also cause slightly higher inflammation (but these were only VERY slight differences). Read about it here. -I’m personally pretty happy that alcohol is slowly getting replaced by sexy new alternatives (although I still endorse one healthy glass of wine or healthy cocktail each day, many simply can’t stop at that): Read more Special Announcements... - Click here to follow Ben on Instagram, and get ready for some epic stories about his morning, day and evening routine!  Here's where I'm speaking and traveling around the world coming soon. - View Ben’s Calendar Here -August 3-4 - Aspen Snowmass  This podcast is brought to you by: -Kion Lean: Support for normal blood sugar levels and healthy energy metabolism, even after large, carb-rich meals. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners, receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Organifi Red Juice: Enjoy all the benefits of the 11 superfoods and their micronutrients that help increase resting metabolism, support cardiovascular health, and remove toxins to turn back the hands of time! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code: "BENG20" -Four Sigmatic: I’ve been using Four Sigmatic products for awhile now and I’m impressed by the efficacies of their mushroom products. I use them. I like them. I support the mission! Receive 15% off your Four Sigmatic purchase when you use discount code: BENGREENFIELD -Birdwell Beach Britches: Quality is our Gimmick isn’t just our slogan, it’s a commitment we honor with every stitch we sew. 100% money back guarantee. Get 10% off your order, PLUS free shipping on any order over $99 when you use discount code: BENG. Listener Q&A: How To Wake Up Less At Night...34:45 Mike asks: Do you have any advice on improving the restfulness metric in the Oura app? I'm doing well with deep and REM sleep, but it says "pay attention" on restfulness. Do you have any thoughts on why that might be? In my response, I recommend: -Podcast: The Effects Of Exercise, Carbohydrates, Saturated Fat, Protein, Fiber & Micronutrients On Sleep! -Ooler bed cooler  (use code BEN25) -Red light trick for iPhone -Iris app  -L-Theanine or a packet of Reishi with any cups of coffee after noon -CBD (here are the three options I like): BioCBD Element Health CBD  (use code BEN15) Wild Health CBD  (BEN10 for 10% off) -Sleepstream -Pzizz -Bose wired noise-blocking headphones -Mindfold sleep mask -My podcasts with Dr. Joe Zelk on sleep apnea -24 hour Pulse Oximeter -Genova Diagnostics GI Effects 3 day Stool Panel The Best Way To Lower Stress During Detoxification...58:05 Kaitlin asks: I've noticed what appear to be signs of impaired or blocked elimination while under psychological and physical stress, specifically acne and PMS. If such a relationship does exist, how could one tamper the effects cortisol has on detoxification and/or support detoxification better under periods of stress? In my response, I recommend: -My article on breathwork -My podcast on 32 different ways to hack the vagus nerve -Thorne Iso-Phos -Inner Peace -Pulsecenters -Stephen Porges work on polyvagal theory -Autonomic Nervous System and the Liver Should You Eat Carbs & Fat Together In The Same Meal?...1:09:30 Ben asks: So many people say that if you eat carbs alongside fat, you're going to store the fat because of the insulin response from the carbs. However, it seems pretty hard to never mix the two and a meal especially if you're doing strength training with some high intensity and you want to get those calories up. Like for example, when you posted that long article about your muscle mass gains protocol from a few months ago. There were things like extra virgin olive oil alongside tubers and things of that nature. That makes sense to me intuitively, but I was curious if I could get your take on if there's an upper limit on the amount of carbs that is safe to consume alongside fat if you are an active person. In my response, I recommend: -Dietary patterns reflecting healthy food choices are associated with lower serum LPS activity -Endotoxemia is modulated by quantity and quality of dietary fat in older adults. Giveaways & Goodies - 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! ------------------------------------------ Prior to asking your question, do a search in the 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.

I recently read the book "The Kaufmann Protocol: Why We Age and How to Stop It". It is the first comprehensive approach to aging that tackles why we age, and then recommends a strategic, scientific formulation to decelerate the process. The book brings practical information to everyday people, and takes the science of aging out of the laboratory and into the real world. The first half of The Kaufmann Protocol discusses aging on a cellular level, which separates it from all other anti-aging fads. We age because our cells age and it is this understanding that allows the protocol to combat aging for people from all walks of life. This is presented in terms of the seven tenets, or categories, of aging which comprise topics such as DNA alterations, mitochondrial energy, and aging pathways. These are explained in both scientific and laymen terms, such that anyone can understand the process. A series of analogies paralleling the cell to a factory assist the reader in following the logic. The second half of the book reviews the top fifteen molecular agents that curb the aging process. Each agent is examined, discussed and then rated in terms of the seven categories, thus granting it a Kaufmann Rating number. This number is essentially a snapshot of its anti-aging properties, and allows the reader to create a regimen to fit their personal needs. Alternatively, the book suggests the most common protocol, the PANACEA, which is a combination of five molecular agents. This regimen is fantastic for most people over the age of 40, but it certainly is not comprehensive. With the tools and knowledge presented in this book, the reader can determine what is best for them as individuals. This book is also meant to be a complimentary addition to the Kaufmann Protocol App which will allow the user to track their progress and stay up to date with all of the new scientific findings that will continue to make aging truly optional. Dr. Sandra Kaufmann began her academic career in the field of cellular biology, earning a Master’s Degree from the University of Connecticut in Tropical Ecology and Plant Physiology. Turning to medicine, she received her medical Degree at the University of Maryland, and completed a residency and fellowship at Johns Hopkins in the field of pediatric anesthesiology. For the last seven years she has been the Chief of Pediatric Anesthesia at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, a nationally recognized center of excellence. Her avid interest in the science of anti-aging begun many years ago as an intense hobby. Utilizing her knowledge in cell biology, human pharmacology and physiology, this hobby has now become a main focus. The Kaufmann Protocol represents years of non-clinical research leading the first ever, comprehensive theory of aging, complete with an explanation of why we age and the tools to decelerate the process. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How Dr. Kaufmann, a pediatrician, became interested in longevity and anti-aging... She became interested in it simply because she wanted to enjoy her life as long as possible After reading and researching, she realized there was no overarching theory, nor a comprehensive system on anti-aging and longevity Aubrey de Grey's SENS Research Foundation -Dr. Kaufmann's 7 Tenets of aging... The 7 Tenets of Aging Information Systems (DNA) Cellular Energy (Mitochondria, NAD) Cellular Pathways (AMP Kinase and mTOR system) Quality Control (autophagy) Security System (Immune system) fails for 3 reasons: Unable to fight infection over time Cells become cancerous over time Upregulates systemic inflammation Work Force (Individual Cells) Short acting cells (few hours to a few days) Goldilocks cells (1-12 years) Cells that live forever Senescent vs. quiescent cells Quiescent is reversible, a state of repair Senescent is partially repaired; damaged but still of some use Waste Management (AGE's, lipofusion) -The numerical ratings system Dr. Kaufmann created based on the 7 Tenets of aging... The Kaufmann Rating System Ratings are from 0-3 (0 being of no value, 3 being highly efficacious) Criteria to determine efficacy: Does it work in theory Does it work in a test tube Does it work in a small rodent lab Does it work in humans It gives people an educated guide to make decisions for themselves -How the app Dr. Kaufmann created helps people understand their genetics and longevity... The "My Protocol" app Her work began as a hobby, yet more and more people came to her seeking a protocol; the app was created to help as many people as possible The app experience Starts out with a quiz Asks if you want a standard protocol or if you want to build your own It follows you every day Rates exercise and foods -The most overhyped yet least effective ingredients, as well as the most effective... The up to date list of recommended ingredients and compounds from Dr. Kaufmann's website The least effective Vitamin E; astaxanthin and delphinidin are more potent alternatives BGF podcast w/ Dr. Barrie Tan on Vitamin E supplements Co enzyme Q Fish oils Use Visomitin eye drops and Carnosine eye drops for superb vision The most effective: Pterostilbene Astaxanthin Nicotinamide Riboside Curcumin Carnosine -Pterostilbene: Why is it so great?... Epigenetic modifier Very strong free radical scavenger Increases activity of endogenous antioxidants Activates your sirtuins Activates AMP kinase Caloric restriction mimetic (tells your body you're starving when you're not) Increases DNA repair mechanisms Increases autophagy Similar chemically but more potent than Resveratrol -Why Astaxanthin is the bomb... Bioastin is Dr. Kaufmann's favorite brand (edible sunscreen) Increases exercise capacity It's not a supplement because there is no endogenous astaxanthin in our system -The magical attributes of Carnosine... Gets into your muscle and is a buffer (don't get the burn) Transglycosylating agent; blocks formation of AGE products Men have more than women, and young people have more than old people Can only get it from muscle -Dr. Kaufmann's thoughts on the latest research regarding Metformin and its hampering of mitochondrial response to exercise... It uncouples mitochondria and electron transport chain; becomes less efficient May not be the best for an athlete (unless you take it at night) Everything is "best guess" when it comes to dosing for anti-aging Take branch chain aminos Decreases absorption of B Vitamins -Dr. Kaufmann's anti-aging lifestyle beyond the supplements and compounds discussed thus far... Rock climber Haritaki holiday Chebulic acid is the strongest antiglycation agent there is A huge flood intermittently is the best way to go Doesn't use stem cells -The maximum potential human lifespan based on protocols like the Kaufmann Protocol... -And much more Click here to get a PDF version of the show notes for this episode Resources from this episode: -The Kaufmann Protocol: Why we Age and How to Stop It -My podcast with Dr. Barrie Tan -Visomitin eye drops -Carnosine eye drops -BCM95 Curcumin -Metacurcumin -Superessentials Fish Oil with Astaxanthin -Organic haritaki powder (for chebulic acid) -My podcast with Bill Andrews about TA65 and TAM818 Compounds recommended by Dr. Kaufmann -Aloe Vera - 5,000~10,000 mg/day -Alpha Lipoic Acid - 300~600 mg/day (diabetic treatment- 600~1,800 mg/day) -Andrographolide (Andrographis Paniculata) - 400 mg/day -Apigenin - 50 mg/day -Astaxanthin - 2~12 mg/day (Athletes 12 mg/day) - take with food -Astaxanthin - 2~12 mg/day (Athletes 12 mg/day) - take with food -Astragalus TA-65 - 100~250 mg/day (Cycloastragenol 5~25 mg/day, Astragaloside IV 50 mg/day) -Carnosine - 500 mg - 2 times daily -Chebulic Acid - 200~500 mg/day (Can take up to 1,000 mg/day) -Cistanche Deserticola - 675 mg/day -Curcumin -Delphinidin  (usually available as Maqui Berry) - 500~2,000 mg/day -EGCG - 400~500 mg/day (1 cup Green Tea = 50 mg) - Take without food -Ecklonia Cava - 50 mg/day -Ellagic Acid - 250~500 mg/day -Melatonin - 3~10 mg/day - Take before bedtime -Metformin - 500~2,000 mg/day -Naringenin - 250~500 mg/day -Nicotinamide Riboside - 250~500 mg/day -Polypodium - 500 mg/day -Pterostilbene - 50~150 mg/day - Take with food -Pyridoxamine - 50~250 mg/day -Quercitin - 500 mg/day (up to 1,200 mg/day) -Resveratrol - 100~250 mg/day (up to 500~1,000 mg/day) -Rosmarinic Acid  (available as Lemon Balm or Rosemary) - 100~400 mg/day -Sulphoraphane - 400 mg/day -Yerba Mate - 600~900 mg/day Episode sponsors: -Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Harry's Razors: Try the shaving company that’s fixing shaving. Get a $13 value trial set that comes with everything you need for a close, comfortable shave when you go to harrys.com/greenfield -State and Liberty: Whether you're sitting in an office, traveling for work, or looking to dress it down, these are the best possible dress shirts from style, to fit to comfort. Type in discount code “BEN” to get 10% off your first order, or head to one of our store locations in New York City, Boston, or Chicago and mention this podcast to get 10% off your order. -Zip Recruiter: As your qualified candidates roll in, we make it easy to screen & rate them, allowing you to make the best hiring decisions for your business. Try it for free when you use my link! Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Kaufmann or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lately, I've been thinking quite a bit about life. I've been engaged in some deep introspection and self-inspection, which I think is healthy for everyone to do on a regular basis. In this case, I was forced into this exercise of self-examination, and into a state of extreme humbleness and ego dissolution when I failed to complete a recent event. See, during the Train to Hunt National Championships in Colorado, I came down with an extremely high heart rate, dizziness, extreme fatigue, and an inability to simply put one foot in front of the other. This was likely a combination of pushing myself too hard lately (in both work and travel), along with mild jet lag from having just returned from Europe, the 9700 foot altitude of the race that I hadn't had a chance to prepare for, and a cluster of other emotional factors (feeling guilty about being away from my kids again, missing my wife, feeling too distant from my company Kion) that basically left me dropping out of the race, and lying in my hotel room bed for about twelve hours, barely able to sleep, staring at the ceiling, and thinking generally about life. This is what I posted on Instagram about it. It wretched my heart to have to drop out of the Train To Hunt National Championships competition this weekend. Although I didn't wake up feeling 100% I never imagined I wouldn't make it through the day. I am a firm believer in the sage wisdom that "Pain Is Temporary, But Quitting Lasts Forever". And I’ve only ever had one DNF in my life. However, in this case in very high altitude and extreme heat, my body and brain were sending me every signal that I needed to hit the brakes hard - shortness of breath, very high heart rate, numb hands and feet, extreme dizziness - the works. Feeling like this, I made it through the first several hours of the competition, but realized at that point I needed to live to fight another day. I never like it when I can't "represent" on the field of battle the way I should be able to, but I know when I need to stop before I do lasting damage. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in action soon! A post shared by Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfieldfitness) on Jul 15, 2019 at 9:16pm PDT As I lay there with a journal, a bottle of water, and a plate of kiwi fruit (about all I could find that was healthy to eat in the local area), I had some interesting thoughts that I think you may find valuable for your own life, and give you deeper insight into where I'm coming from, and where I plan to go in the future. Now one thing that you need to understand is that I'm a fan of personality tests. It's something that we are actually very big on at Kion: everyone takes an Enneagram,and my personal Enneagram score puts me in a very, very high category of a what's called a Perfectionist (type 1)and an Achiever (type 3). That is a pretty dang dangerous one-two combo (or I suppose in this case, a one-three combo) because, as you can imagine, this causes me to expect a lot of myself in every task that I attempt to perform while simultaneously taking on a lot of tasks all at once. That's an exhausting combination that in many people can lead to burnout, into spinning too many plates at once, and into trying to do everything that you're doing (which is often too many things) perfectly. This means that you do everything with near-perfect precision but have zero time left over for relaxation, for hobbies, for family, or for self-care, or... ...perfection becomes impossible to sustain, projects begin to decline in quality, and all those plates you're spinning crash to the ground, then eventually you crash to the ground too. In addition, the Achiever personality type on the Enneagram dictates that one who fits that profile tends to try to be who others expect them to be, or at least who they think that others expect them to be. As a matter of fact, the direct quote from the Enneagram is that... ..."in the headlong rush to achieve whatever they believe will make them that more valuable, Achievers can become so alienated from themselves that they no longer know what they truly want or what their real feelings are. Thus, the deeper problem is that their search for a way to be of value increasingly takes them further away from their own essential self with its core of real value. Step-by-step, their own inner core - their heart's desire - is left behind until they no longer recognize it." Now that problem, combined with the perfectionist mentality, can create a person who tries very, very hard to seek the approval of others, to be perfect, to try to be someone they're not and to neglect what makes them truly happy. And frankly, I feel like I've begun to slip into that scenario myself. That's not to say it's wrongto want to achieve excellence in things. Nor is it to say it's wrongto want to achieve great things in life and create a lasting impact. Indeed, when steered in the right direction in a state of true authenticity and also a state that enables one to accept the fact that they cannot be perfect, one can go on to achieve great things as an Achiever and a Perfectionist. But in my case what I've done to myself is this: I've built constant 24/7 pressure to do many things all at once - to be fit as a fiddle for my next event, to be a CEO of a massively expanding supplements company, to complete a huge book, to be on an airplane nearly every week to give a speech, to juggle podcast appearances, podcast production, article writing, article editing, to maintain attempts to write fiction and make music simultaneously, to coach ten different executives and CEOs and athletes who rely on me for advice, and to try to fit in time with family and spiritual growth in the process. For example, take the constant pressure I place on myself to be on the "pointy-edge" of fitness. In the past, I have told others (I think in partial error) that in order to drive you to be motivated to be fit, you must always be signed up for something that slightly scares you, pushes you to the cliff edge of fear, or challenges you while pushing you far outside your comfort zone—and while this can be healthy, in some cases it can backfire. In my case this means, that I'm finding myself no longer able to travel and spend time with my family without waking up an hour early to crush the gym, to sit in a movie without feeling like I should be out training, to enjoy life without simply thinking about whether or not I'll be ready to represent on the starting line of a race, and to do just about anything without the thought at the back of my mind that I need to be that perfect person who inspires others to greatness and must be able to perform at the drop of a hat. It's been that way for a long time. Whether I'm competing in tennis tournaments, bodybuilding, water polo, volleyball, cycling, triathlons, obstacle course races or anything else, there's never really been a time since I was thirteen years old that I haven't had some type of event I was preparing for, or that I haven't worn the mask of an athlete, a competitor, a gladiator, or a warrior. In addition to feeling the pressure to be fit for the next event, I often also feel that I need to project the perfect person to the world: the perfect skin with no crow's eyes and no suspicion from anyone that anything I'm doing in the anti-aging department isn't working, the perfect six-pack abs, rippling muscles, extreme fitness and everything that I've grown to define myself as... ...because I'm under the impression that that's who the world expects me to be. To dig myself even deeper into that while all my bios, and all the information about me you can find on the internet, or when I'm getting up on stage to speak, are not focused on whether I'm smart or intelligent or witty or studious or any of those things that I try to try to maintain and pride myself on, but instead: what sets this guy apart is that he's the Ironman triathlete, the masochistic globetrotting adventurer, and the man who's able to handle any physical obstacle. I truly feel like that has dug me into this hole of needing to be that person—that hard-charging, high-achieving CEO with the chiseled chin who can handle anything life throws at them and simultaneously kick your ass in a 10K, triathlon, the gym, or anywhere else. Well, let me tell you something: that's exhausting to constantly be that person, and I often feel like I'm a failure if I'm notachieving. I feel like I'm a failure if I'm just lying around reading a work of fiction or watching a movie with my children. In that scenario, I feel as though I'm somehow shorting myself and not being that person who I'm called to be. And sure there's somewisdom to that: there's somewisdom to the idea that you don't want to laze around and spend your time unwisely; but at the same time that mentality can be taken to the extreme, and it can very much affect those around you because they sense that what you'd rather be doing is figuring out a way to make yourself even more perfect and go out and achieve even more. But what's interesting is when I wrote my entire Lifebooklast year—a book that dictated everything I hold dear in life, the mark I want to make upon the world, what will be written on my tombstone, and much more—frankly, being an extreme athlete wasn't really a big part of that book. Sure, I did include the fact that I think it's important that I occasionally go out and engage in challenging adventures like climbing a mountain or swimming in an icy cold river or doing something that makes me a little bit physically uncomfortable—and I think that's fine. However, I think that my life has become skewed much too far in that direction, and the other elements of my Lifebook that I dictated that I hold dear—such as being in a community and forming close friends and building quality relationships and spending more time with my children and immersing myself in nature and building my spiritual self—have been allowed to fall by the wayside because there simply isn't enough time to do all that and also push my body to the absolute limits with exercise, travel, and work. It's a vicious cycle, isn't it? Race, achieve, project the perfect person, post that person to Instagram, rinse, wash, repeat.  But when I stop and ask myself: what do I really want? What do I really want?And even more importantly, what would God want of me? Well, in this stage of my life, after a deep amount of introspection the past couple days, I can especially tell you that, in addition to simply spending more time with my children, with my wife, and forming deep, meaningful relationships with other people, I want the following... ...I want to be more present in my local community: I want to know my neighbor's names, I want to attend events in my local community, and I don't want to feel like I have to hop on a plane or go to a conference or go to a mastermind or go to a meet-up in order to be with my friends. Instead, I want to build ties and roots in my local community... ...furthermore, I want to be able to help people without feeling rushed. I want to be able to find out about, for example, an opportunity to go play my guitar at a nursing home or go volunteer at a park cleanup, or go help out at my church, or go do other things that involve helping others—and not look at my calendar and think "Well crap, I can't do that because I've stretched myself too thin, I'm busy and I'm in some other state, some other country, or some other nation far from my home." I'm not saying that I don't want to still travel the world and help people and use the platform that God has given me in that way to affect global change in people's lives when it comes to their health and fitness and longevity and spirituality and happiness—but again, there's an imbalance. I have almost no ties in my local community... ...I want to spend more time in nature, but not time in nature as a workout or time in nature being crushed in a race. I just want to be able to go out and learn more of plants, of plant medicine, of hunting, of tracking, of trekking, of building with my hands, of spending time in sunshine and fresh air and water because I want to and not because I'm there to run intervals or to post an Instagram story about how good I am at wild edible identification. Instead, I want to be able to enjoy nature for the simple sake of nature... ...I want to participate in sports without the feeling that everything has to be a workout. I want to play tennis like I did when I was a kid for hours, where I was just hitting balls and having fun with my friends. I want to be able to swim and hike and even lift weights and go to the gym, which I love to do, but without the pressure of it needing to be an absolute sufferfest because I have some event I'm supposed to be in peak physical fitness for... ...I want to care for my spirit and build my spiritual muscles in the same way I've built my physical body. I want to wake up in the morning and know that I have the time to pray and to meditate, to grow more deeply in my relationship to God, to memorize Scriptures, and even to fast. I've said this before, but there are many times when I want to fast and I want to to take care of my body in that way (almost as a religious practice), but can't because, yet again, I must dump calories down the hatch to be ready for the next workout and to get me fueled for the next hardcore masochistic event... ...I want to have the freedom, flexibility, and time to be able to devote focused, deep work and excellence into building my company Kion, and not feel as though it's a rushed afterthought because there are so many other items on my plate or because I feel like my company expects me to be out working out or buffeting my body so I can go be the big, perfect frontman face of the company. I want to build a company that will change the world, and me running around in the forest with my shirt off throwing spears at shit isn't really a sustainable, scalable way to make that happen, no matter how many likes it gets on social media to drive traffic to a product... ...and finally, I want to do what I know truly makes me happy and has made me happy since I was a child. I want to write and play more music and I want to write and read more fiction. Both of those things are elements that I draw a great deal of happiness out of, and that might sound selfish, but I want to create music that makes people happy. I want to write books that tell the hero's journey and inspire people. And I don't want every piece of content I create to be about the next injectable anti-aging molecule or pill you can pop or biohacked workout, but instead perhaps just a nice story about a princess, an elf, and a dragon that makes children smile. So when I close my eyes and I see myself five years from now, I've achieved that balance. I have friends and relationships and local community and volunteering and time with my family. I have a deep relationship with every plant in my backyard and the acreage around my house and I actually know the names of all our Nigerian dwarf goats and I help my wife with planting the garden and tending to the fruit trees. I'm still enjoying physically challenging events, and I'm still a healthy human specimen, but not in the way I've been doing it—not as a hardcore athlete, but instead as someone who enjoys physical culture because it makes them feel good, not because they have the pressure to perform. I want to transition from being an athlete to being a mentor, a teacher, and a well-rounded person who enjoys and has time for other aspects of life. I'm telling you all this so that you can simply know my position, so that you can know where I'm coming from, and so that as you see me evolve over the next several months and years, you can realize that I still have a deep desire to explore the depths of performance and fitness and health and longevity and biohacking and beyond, but in a balanced manner that doesn't turn me into a person who is simply sitting on a plane, lonely and banging out yet another article on biceps and abs while I travel to a conference to speak to a group of people and foster the relationships I've built afar because I don't have any back home. I simply can't take the pressure of being that perfect person any longer, and I realized that the pressure that I've placed upon myself to climb Mount Everest every day is not truly making me happy. I don't want to be that alpha male with the yin dominance and huge bank account, but with tired eyes and a wife and children who resent him. I don't want to be full of sadness or regret on my deathbed because in the end I really just made a lot of money and did some hard things but never actually built a lasting, meaningful legacy, changed people's souls, made my family happy, or took time myself to smell the roses and savor life.   So I'm in a transitional phase. Yes there are certain obligations that I have committed to this year such as competing in some obstacle course races and doing some physically challenging events; but after that, I really truly want to focus more on simply enjoying life with far less of the extreme pressure and on building a platform of balanced health, longevity, adventure, joy, and fulfillment in life for myself and for others. And that's why I've created this article for you: so that you can understand where I'm coming from and perhaps so that you can learn a few things about yourself in the process. So I thank you for reading all this. I hope it's given you a little bit of perspective on who I am and where I'm coming from and where I plan to go. Feel free to leave any of your own questions, comments, feedback, wisdom and insight below.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Q&A Episode 399 Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the button at the bottom of the page (or go to SpeakPipe), or use the Contact button in the free Ben Greenfield Fitness app. Click here for some tips on how to have the best chance of having your question featured on the show. - The morning brew recipe Ben mentions in intro: Alright, this recipe is fully loaded fuel that tastes like ambrosia of the gods. I tried it out this morning and my brain has been humming along quite nicely since about 5am. Here's the full recipe (yeah, you need plenty of ingredients, but it's worth it). Into a Nutribullet or any other heat-friendly blender, add the following: - 2 heaping tablespoons of MiCacao mix (this is a mix of cacao nibs and cacao shells that gives you the experience of drinking pure chocolate with no calories) - 2 packets Four Sigmatic Chaga mushroom extract - 2 packets Four Sigmatic Lion's Mane extract - 1 dropperful Omica Organics butterscotch toffee stevia - 1 teaspoon of a good salt (I used Colima salt) - 12-16 piping hot ounces of Kion Coffee Blend on high for about 90 seconds, then open your blender carefully as contents can expand and get foamy (and the foam is oh-so-delicious). I may or may not have also put 0.5 grams of psilocybin extract into this mix, but that's your call. ;) Bon appetit! News Flashes...5:30 Turns out a very low carb diet doesn’t seem to impair high-end exercise performance but there are SO many variables to this that I’ll unpack in next podcast. If you are eating a very low carbohydrate diet and also limiting calories for the goals of weight loss, this study shows that you sure as heck better also be lifting weights. It's so ridiculous how the media thinks "fasting" is a newfangled eating disorder. They should read this. Interesting! A new review looks into the optimum exercise intensity, type, and duration for boosting mood. Special Announcements...28:45 - Click here to follow Ben on Instagram, and get ready for some epic stories about his morning, day and evening routine!  Here's Where Ben Is Speaking And Traveling Around The World Coming Soon - August 3-4, 2019: Colorado Rockies Ultra, Beast, and Sprint Weekend -  Aspen, CO. The mountains are calling! High in the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, team members from my company, Kion and I will be experiencing the immense beauty of Colorado while conquering climbs, crawls, carries, and traverses. We hope to see you there! Sign up here! - September 12 - 15, 2019: RUNGA Immersion, Napa Valley, California. I attend this total mind-body reboot retreat each year with my wife, Jessa, to connect with a handful of friends and YOU can be one of them! I would love if you could join me at this retreat. Click here for details on this incredible event! - September 27 - 29, 2019: Spartan World Championships, Squaw Valley, California. Right beside Lake Tahoe, this epic venue was once host to the 1960 Olympic Winter Games. Join me there for the greatest obstacle course race in North Tahoe Lake, Olympic Village, CA. Sign up here! - View Ben's Calendar Here This Podcast Is Brought To You By - Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. - Thrive Market: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive 25% off your order when you use my link! - Native: Native creates safe, simple, effective products that people use in the bathroom everyday. Count on trusted ingredients and trusted performance. Shop at my link and save 20% off your first purchase when you use discount code: BEN Listener Q&A Is Fasting Dangerous For Lean Females? Jenny asks: You've mentioned on the podcast that fasting doesn't always work well for lean females. So should lean females like myself avoid fasting altogether? Or is there a fasting protocol you would recommend that will have a positive impact on my health? In my response, I recommend: A recent tweet: Intermittent fasting + resistance training IS effective fat loss strategy for females but they did not analyze long term effects on endocrine system, thyroid function, etc.: Get Fit Guy's Guide To Achieving Your Ideal Body Type KetoFast book by Joe Mercola (and my podcast with him) Jason Fung's "Complete Guide To Fasting" How Newborn Parents Can Sleep Better Jack asks: You mentioned in Q&A 398 about the physiological changes that occur in men when they become fathers. About a month ago, my wife gave birth to identical twin boys, and as you know, all sleep schedules go out the window. Do you have some tips to improve sleep quality when I'm bound to be waking up every 2-3 hours during the night? In my response, I recommend: Sleepstream App NuCalm  (use code: BEN500 for $500 off  for the Performance and the Pro) Yoga Nidra Modafinil Qualia Mind or Qualia Focus Short frequent bursts of exercise or endurance, aerobic exercise Rotate nights, not rotate feedings Blue light blockers (Ben recommends RA Optics) when you get up at night to feed Red incandescent bulbs CBD Vape Pen (BioCBD is good brand) C-Reactive Protein Levels and Tendinitis Jackie in Japan asks: Is it possible to have plantar fasciitis and full-blown achilles tendinitis in both feet and have a C-reactive protein level of .01-.03? In my response, I recommend: Mention chronic vs. acute Kion Flex How Far From Your Body Should Infrared Light Be? Darryl asks: How close to my body should I put the JOOVV Go? The manual says it should be 2-6", but I oftentimes will put it directly on my skin to help heal an injury and it seems to be just fine. I also heard you say in a previous podcast that your wife puts the device on her face. Can you give some guidance on how close is too close? In my response, I recommend: JOOVV Lights Giveaways & Goodies - 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! ------------------------------------------ Prior to asking your question, do a search in the 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.

In this podcast, recorded during the Swiss Clinic retreat that I led in the Swiss Alps two weeks ago, we cover a host of questions from attendees. Strap yourself in and prepare for this massive Q&A that includes the following: -Are you increasing mTOR by taking Kion Aminos throughout the day vs. around a workout? [6:25] 1 gram of amino acids = 1 gram of protein Any protein can be anabolic Exercising with 10 g of aminos is more effective than in a pure fasted state -What are the best protocols for eliminating heavy metals and toxins, and how do you measure success? [10:20] Process vs. Event. Daily detox is far more effective than a yearly or quarterly The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo Ben's Kitchari recipe BGF podcast with Dr. Dan Pompa BGF podcast with Dr. Satchin Panda Ben's personal protocol Sauna treatment everyday Coffee enema weekly Rebounder and vibration platform Biggest detox organ is the skin Mass spectrometry Onegevity NutrEval by Genova Diagnostics GI Effects 3 day gut test Wellness FX Once in a Lifetime Genetic Test Tree of Life BGF podcast w/ Dr. Kharim Dhanani Microbiome analysis: Viome or Onegevity -How to find relief from exercise-induced rhinitis [18:40] HistaBlock Avoid dairy -Is there a threshold between the sympathetic and parasympathetic state? [21:30] There is no threshold Autonomic nervous system sends signal to the heart via vagus nerve Good balance between the two dictates the vagus nerve communication with the heart will be clear High HRV is indicative of healthy balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems Breath work is highly efficacious -What is the latest science on carnivore, ketogenic, vegan diets? [28:15] There is no one "perfect" diet to follow; it's highly individualized Be aware of your ancestry and adjust your diet accordingly Periods of caloric restriction are very beneficial Ben does a Kitchari cleanse 4x per year -How dangerous are WiFi, cellular, 5G signals? [35:15] BGF podcast w/ Nick Pineault The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMF's by Nick Pineault BGF podcast w/ building biologist Brian Hoyer Shielded Healing dirty electricity filters Will humans evolve to tolerate these hazards? BluShield signal scrambling device Acoustimeter Holding your phone makes you a conductor of EMF Phase Angle (recommended by Dr. Mercola) Defender Shield bluetooth device Yur Buds (amazon) -Ben's thoughts on vaping, particularly CBD [47:25] -Ben's thoughts on the Viome results recently discussed on the podcast [49:35] BGF podcast on Ben's Viome test results Kion Flex is being reformulated When eating at a steak house: HistaBlock Kion Lean Gluten Guardian (4) Charcoal capsules before bed -What is the cause of low ferritin? [57:06] High ferritin is usually the concern Look at diet adjustments High red blood cell turnover Ferritin pyrophosphate - Floradix (link) Increasing intake of iron could be risky for men -How does one know they're ready to begin the process of detoxification from heavy metals and toxins? [1:00:20] -What is a MTHFR gene mutation and should anyone care? [1:04:00] Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch Stratagene, Dr. Lynch's company Impaired metabolism It would affect a supplementation protocol -What has piqued Ben's interest in the realm of anti-aging [1:06:40] Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) Deuterium depleted water BGF podcast w/ Robert Slovak of Water and Wellness Auto immune control Mistletoe extract (link) Keto, CBD, infrared light Hyperthermia Awareness of mitochondrial health Mitigation of EMF Stem cell treatments -Ben's thoughts on Carbon 60 [1:13:30] An upcoming podcast will be on the topic -Should fats be combined with starches? [1:16:00] Potential oxidation of cholesterol Formation of lipopolysaccharides -How can skinny guys gain muscle mass? [1:20:15] Similar to a body builder's approach (stronger by science) Dan John's 18 Week protocol Creatine (link) Peptides -What kind of massages Ben recommends [1:24:55] Deep tissue massage is very beneficial; injury-free Every Wednesday, 2.5 hr. massage Essential oils Music w/ healing frequencies Essential Oil Wizardry BGF podcast w/ Dr. Nick Berry -What do you recommend to enhance recovery from exercise and recovery from injury?...1:28:30 BPC 157 and TB500 peptides Amino acids PEMF therapy Infrared sauna JOOVV light Water and non-weight bearing exercise Magnesium bath salts Fasting (with caution) -Is airplane mode on our cell phones safe, or should we turn them off completely while we're sleeping? [1:32:25] -What can parents do for their pre-teen children to become strong and healthy young adults? [1:33:45] Unschooling to University by Judy Arnall John Holt Free to Learn by Peter Gray -And much more... Resources mentioned in this episode: - The Longevity Diet by Dr. Valter Longo - Ben's Kitchari recipe - BGF podcast with Dr. Dan Pompa - BGF podcast with Dr. Satchin Panda - HistaBlock - The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMF's by Nick Pineault - BGF podcast w/ Nick Pineault - BGF podcast w/ building biologist Brian Hoyer - Shielded Healing dirty electricity filters - Acoustimeter - BGF podcast on Ben's Viome test results - Dirty Genes by Dr. Ben Lynch - Stratagene, Dr. Lynch's company - BGF podcast w/ Robert Slovak of Water and Wellness - Dan John's 18 Week protocol - Essential Oil Wizardry - BGF podcast w/ Dr. Nick Berry - Unschooling to University by Judy Arnall - Free to Learn by Peter Gray Episode sponsors: -Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Organifi Green Juice: Now you can get all your healthy superfoods in one glass...with No Shopping, No Blending, No Juicing, and No Cleanup. Get a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code: BENG20 -Fresh Pressed Olive Oil: Olive oil direct from the harvest gives you peak flavor and maximum polyphenols. Try a retail-size, $39 bottle of Fresh Pressed Olive Oil that retails for just $1 to help cover shipping costs. -Birdwell Beach Britches: Quality is our Gimmick isn’t just our slogan, it’s a commitment we honor with every stitch we sew. 100% money back guarantee. Get 10% off your order, PLUS free shipping on any order over $99 when you use discount code: BENG. Got a question or comment for me regarding the content of this episode? Leave a reply below and I'll reply!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to diet, water, medicine, awareness, nature immersion, movement, hormesis, community, and ancestral technologies, not many folks know quite as much as my guest on today's show: Arthur Haines. Arthur is a Maine hunting and recreation guide, forager, ancestral skills mentor, author, public speaker, and botanical researcher. He grew up in the western mountains of Maine, a rural area that was home to swift streams known for their trout fishing. He spent most of his childhood in the Sandy River Valley hiking, tracking, and foraging. Arthur now runs the Delta Institute of Natural History in Canton, Maine, where he teaches human ecology, focusing on the values of foraging, wildcrafting medicine, and primitive living skills. His series of YouTube videos has inspired thousands of people interested in foraging wild edible and medicinal plants. Arthur recently authored a very big book that I thoroughly enjoyed, entitled “A New Path: To Transcend the Great Forgetting Through Incorporating Ancestral Practices into Contemporary Living”. This guide is a comprehensive work on nature connection and rewilding, detailing how to incorporate ancestral practices into modern living. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The criteria by which humans have become "domesticated"...7:38 Altered temperament -- milder than in the natural state Cows originated from aurochs (now extinct), which were very fierce Altered social hierarchy (establish that humans are in authority) Our ancestors lived a more egalitarian lifestyle than we do today Altered diet  Diet today is far different, oftentimes poorer in quality The ability to breed in captivity Humans consider pregnancy/giving birth to be an ailment 99% are institutionalized; take moms out of their most comfortable habitat Arthur maintains that humans display all of the above traits of domesticated animals -How fit were our hunter/gatherer ancestors...14:00 Very active lifestyle out of necessity, depending on resource density Micmac people (still exist in N. America) estimated to travel over a million acre home range over the course of a year What we travel on foot today is a fraction of that 10k steps a day would be close to the average of hunter/gatherers (5-10 miles per day) Arthur does not engage in any type of self-quantification Draw weight of bows among our ancestors: The more energy required to bend the bow, the more energy can be imparted to the arrow Most bows today are ~50 lb. draw Bows of hunter/gatherers were much higher; ~70 lb. The highest recorded were over 130 lbs. -The calorie consumption and burn of our ancestors, contrasted with the modern office worker...23:40 Recent studies have conflicting results; some say it's the same, others say it's far less today Humans tend to be bigger today than in ancestral times; results in more calorie expenditure Hunter/gatherers spent far more calories moving Calorie expenditure today due to complexity of the food Diversity of movement in ancestral times is lost in the modern gym or fitness center -Arthur's personal fitness or movement routine...29:40 Lots of walking; humans are meant to walk with episodes of running Paddling or carrying canoes Grains are milled by hand "Active lifestyle with bouts of athleticism" Brazilian jiu jitsu 1-2 times per week High Intensity Repetitive Training, HIRT (was mentioned in Q&A 398) Moving a killed animal over terrain "True cross fit" training can be found in everyday life, particularly in hunting -How indigenous diets fit within the context of the modern ketogenic or carnivore diets...42:00 Be aware of biological norms 97% of our time on the earth has been as hunter/gatherers Homo sapiens have been shown to be as old as 315,000 years Domesticated human diet for just a short time Wild plants were a huge component of their diets (~60%) Ancestors were not in ketosis on a regular basis Low carb diet is a "new" diet It is efficacious in treating things like epilepsy, not so much as a weight-loss strategy -Arthur's thoughts on the carnivore diet as a sustainable lifestyle choice...51:48 No group of people in history have ever been pure vegetarians Some have eaten mostly meat due to necessity Plants can't be grown due to climate/terrain, etc. However, they would gather plants in large quantities when available Large proportion of Vitamin C would come from plants Diet can be an actual therapy; drugs just cover the symptoms Plants can help us fight off the deleterious aspects of nature (sun exposure, toxins in the air, etc. BGF podcast about the book "Nourishment" by Fred Provenza BGF podcast with Dr. Paul Saladino -How the variety of species of plants that we currently consume compares to what our ancestors would have eaten...1:00:40 Plants are edible for a finite amount of time in the wild; a natural protective mechanism as a result Hypotensive and hypertensive compounds in the same plant; certain suites of plants win out depending on the person Average # of plants consumed by American diet is 30, Many of them are only one species; ex. collards, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, are the brassica oleracea species No real diversity in the diet Inupiat people have been documented to ingest 40+ different plant foods; more than the average American diet Over 100 foods in warmer climates -How the micronutrient or vitamin content in modern produce compares to wild plants...1:05:00 Stark contrast between wild and cultivated Minerals Vitamins Sometimes up to 100x more than what we find in the store Small berries have more skin; large berries are counterproductive Dillution effect: Individual fruits end up with lower mineral content than what's found in the wild Are backyard gardens wild or cultivated plants? Difference in genetics of most cultivated species Lettuce has been tampered with; it's more bitter in the wild Difference between organic and conventional (sprayed) produce When we tend plants, they don't need to work as hard to protect themselves Seedless grapes don't have nearly the same nutritional value More fiber in wild foods than in cultivated "Minimally modified plant foods" means eating closer to the wild What about grains? What is making the grains we consume today bad for us? Evidence of grain consumption up to 105,000 years ago Stone ovens that are 30,000 years old Diversify, properly prepare, choose the right type of grains Jared Diamond's book "Collapse" -Ancestral skills Arthur believes fully re-wilded modern humans should have...1:22:15 Hunter/gatherer is not a viable goal The entire goal is sovereignty: to lose  our dependence on industrial society Begin with recovering your health: diet, movement, exposure to toxins, etc. Don't worry about how much or how little you know Primitive living schools are becoming more common (avoid the prepper schools) -And much more Resources from this episode: -Book: A New Path: To Transcend the Great Forgetting Through Incorporating Ancestral Practices into Contemporary Living -Arthur's YouTube channel -ArthurHaines.com -My podcast with Katy Bowman -My podcast about the book "Nourishment" by Fred Provenza -My podcast with Dr. Paul Saladino -My latest podcast with Dr. Steven Gundry -Jared Diamond's book "Collapse" Episode Sponsors: -Kion: Join us on our 5-Day Meditation Challenge from 15-19 July! Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off their entire order at Kion when you use discount code: BGF10. -Organifi Gold: A new take on an ancient secret: Pain-soothing herbs, incredible antioxidants, and phytonutrients all in one delicious, soothing “Golden Milk” nighttime tea! Receive a 20% discount on your entire order when you use discount code: BENG20. -Clearlight Saunas: You can be sure that I researched all the saunas before I bought mine and Clearlight was the one that stood out from all the rest because of their EMF and ELF Shielding and their Lifetime Warranty. Use discount code: BENGREENFIELD to get $500 off your sauna and a free bonus gift! -Birdwell Beach Britches: Quality is our Gimmick isn’t just our slogan, it’s a commitment we honor with every stitch we sew. 100% money back guarantee. Get 10% off your order, PLUS free shipping on any order over $99 when you use discount code: BENG. Do you have questions, comments or feedback for Arthur or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Q&A Episode 398 Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the button at the bottom of the page (or go to SpeakPipe), or use the Contact button in the free Ben Greenfield Fitness app. Click here for some tips on how to have the best chance of having your question featured on the show! Ben's travels and extensive travel gear...1:42 lessemf.com Lambs radiation proof underwear RA Optics Pac Safe Theft and RFID preventing bags Hydrogen-rich water Activated charcoal Ample Keto Meal Replacement Shake EMF Portal mentioned News Flashes...15:00   -Top 12 keto myths debunked (WARNING - these studies were performed in diabetic patients NOT in active athletes)   -It’s pretty shocking how many nutrition studies rely on self reported data when we KNOW people vastly underestimate the # of calories consumed: Click here to read up on it.   -This incredibly helpful portal summarizes all systematically scientific research data on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) - with an inventory of 28,495 publications and 6,364 summaries of individual scientific studies on EMF, updated daily -Interesting - how men’s bodies change when they become fathers   -The dark side of Tabata sets (and a potentially better alternative) Special Announcements...41:40 - Click here to follow Ben on Instagram, and get ready for some epic stories about his morning, day and evening routine! Here's where I'm speaking and traveling around the world coming soon. 13-14 July -- Train to Hunt nationals in Mesa, CO 27-28 July -- Race the River Sprint Triathlon in Couer d'Alene, ID 3-4 August - Aspen Snowmass Late September -- Spartan World Championships in Lake Tahoe, CA - View Ben’s Calendar Here This podcast is brought to you by: -Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Thrive Market: Organic brands you love, for less. Your favorite organic food and products. Fast and free shipping to your doorstep. Receive 25% off your order when you use my link! -JOOVV: After using the Joovv for close to 2 years, it's the only light therapy device I'd ever recommend. Give it a try: you won't be disappointed. Order using my link and receive a nice bonus gift with your order! -Zip Recruiter: As your qualified candidates roll in, we make it easy to screen & rate them, allowing you to make the best hiring decisions for your business. Try it for free when you use my link! Listener Q&A: The Problem With Sunscreen (& What To Do About It)...55:15 Alex asks: There are a lot of claims from the sunscreen industry about its ability to reduce or remove the risk of skin cancer. From what I've seen, the rates of skin cancer have increased, as has the use of sunscreen. What are your thoughts on that, and what are some of your strategies in regards to using sunscreen? In my response, I recommend: -Article: Is Sunscreen The New Margarine? -EWG.org guide to sunscreens -Healthy sunscreen recipes -Superessentials fish oil with astaxanthin -Dr. Thomas Cowan's vegetable powders -A New Path book by Arthur Haines -Sunlight Makes You Skinny & Blue Light Makes You Fat: 11 Ways To Biohack Light To Optimize Your Body & Brain Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Benefits...1:10:56 Steve asks: I've used the food-grade hydrogen peroxide in the One Minute Miracle every day for several years. I didn't hear you mention it on your recent water podcast, so I want to get your take on it. In my response, I recommend: -35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Does Hydrogen Rich Water Feed SIBO Bacteria?... Kathy asks: I've heard you talk a lot about hydrogen-rich water lately on the podcast. If someone has hydrogen-dominant SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth), is hydrogen-rich water or the tablets going to be a good thing for them to ingest? In my response, I recommend: -Active H2 Molecular Hydrogen from Water & Wellness (Dr. Robert Slovak's website) -My podcast on hydrogen water with Tyler Lebaron -Drinking hydrogen water and intermittent hydrogen gas exposure... -Intestinal Microbiota Ecological Response to Oral Adminstrations of Hydrogen-Rich Water -Effects of the long-term consumption of hydrogen-rich water on the antioxidant activity in female Chinese soccer players Giveaways & Goodies - 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! ------------------------------------------ Prior to asking your question, do a search in the 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.

Click here for a downloadable PDF version of show notes for this episode.    The popular website Vice published a controversial article last week entitled "The Most Overhyped Wellness Promises, Debunked." Chock full of skepticism about keto, colonics, charcoal, and more, the article created plenty of buzz—both good and bad—across the internet... ...and in today's podcast, I'm going to address the Vice article in full, including debunking plenty of the BS that was in the article, presenting research-based facts about so-called wellness myths (including a few that will surprise, such as the truth about charcoal toothpaste and sea salt), and set the good folks at Vice right. Enjoy, and be sure to leave your own comments and feedback in the comments section below. You can find Part 1 of this series, where I debunked the first 22 "myths" found in the article here. Now, here are my responses to Myths 23-44: -Myth #23: Red yeast rice supplements aren’t that effective at lowering cholesterol...7:08 Red Yeast Rice: Benefits, Side Effects and Dosage Contains monacolin K (same thing found in statins) Some forms don't contain doses as high as found in literature Can affect cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure Greater insulin insensitivity Prevented increases in cholesterol levels in rats Decreased tumor levels and cancer cell growth Red yeast rice supplements contain only trace amounts of monacolin K (check label carefully) -Myth #24: You should not eat your placenta...11:30 Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks Nutritional composition: whole host of vitamins, interesting hormonal profile Effective in treating depressive moods, post-partum depression Not much human clinical research verifying the efficacy of eating the placenta -Myth #25: Microwaves are not bad for you...15:38 The Two Sides of the Story: Is Microwave Radiation Harmful? Dehydrates, hurts the taste of food It may not be bad for your food, but it may be bad for you Non-native EMFs -Myth #26: Crystals do not store healing, stress-relieving energy...18:55 How Crystals Work: The Science of Crystal Healing LCD: Liquid Crystal Display Crystals contain quartz (cilica dioxide) Much of modern computing depends on crystals Marcel Vogel: Pioneer of crystal research Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton Mind to Matter by Dr. Dawson Church No human clinical research on crystal's efficacy on healing and stress relief Himalayan Salt Lamp -Myth #27: You do not need a colonic to power-wash your intestines...24:20 Is a Colon Cleanse Actually Beneficial? What You Must Know... Can be helpful for some people Limited research to show its efficacy Need to repopulate the colon with a probiotic after a colonic hydrotherapy People feel amazing after the therapy; release of bile by the liver May be worth investigating if you have chronic constipation (after other resources have been exhausted) -Myth #28: Don’t drink red wine because you think it’s healthy...28:33 "I could probably do a whole podcast on the health benefits of red wine." --Ben Greenfield Contribution of Red Wine Consumption to Human Health Protection Resveratrol claims have been greatly exaggerated Blue zone inhabitants habitually drink red wine Blue Zones, by Dan Buettner Women are at lower risk for many health issues Good effects on cardiovascular system Beneficial for heart cells When wine paired with physical exercise, improve LDL to HDL ratios dramatically Beneficial effect on blood pressure The French Paradox: Lessons for Other Countries Fit Vine Wine (Use code: GREENFIELD for 10% off) BGF podcast w/ Todd White of Dry Farm Wines -Myth #29: Epsom salts don't relieve muscle pain...36:54 Pharmaceutical Influences of Epsom Salts | Insight Medical Publishing Sulfate ions may help in removing toxins and heavy metals from cells Ben uses magnesium sulfate salts, not Epsom salts Weekly bath in Epsom salts can support recovery, relaxation, sleep Vice is correct on the claim on muscle pain -Myth #30: You can’t cure depression by working out...40:30 Can Exercise Prevent Depression? Here's What the Science Says | Time Magazine Exercise can protect against depression, but depression doesn't prevent someone from exercising Weightlifting and running increase blood to the brain Small amounts improve mental health (walking after a meal) Numerous studies contradict the claim from the vice  article -Myth #31: Meditation isn’t always soothing...43:40 Meditation is a Powerful Mental Tool - And for Some People It Goes Terribly Wrong Some get hyper-aroused when they meditate; could be because of increase in mindfulness Can be avoided with proper instruction and preparation -Myth #32: Cryotherapy doesn’t help your muscles recover...45:52 Whole-Body Cryotherapy Decreases the Levels of Inflammatory, Oxidative Stress Cold-water immersion is superior to whole-body cryotherapy; but cryotherapy is effective in muscle recovery May not see a marked improvement immediately after, but it does help in recovery -Myth #33: Food intolerance tests are based on shoddy science...48:28 Four Pillars of Excellence Ben agrees with this one! Cyrex Labs -Myth #34: Eating soy isn't going to give men boobs...50:48 Should Men Cut Back On their Soy Intake? Gynecomastia This myth is the result of one individual who claims his man boobs are the result of increased soy intake Eat fermented forms of soy Estrogeneration by Dr. Anthony Jay -Myth #35: The birth control pill does not cause breast cancer...53:33 GPR30 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Gynecomastia Risk in Adolescents Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence With an Emphasis on Younger Women Study Finds Weak Link Between Birth Control and Breast Cancer New Study Finds Relationship Between Birth Control and Cancer -Myth #36: Hydrogen water isn’t better water...58:20 What is Hydrogen Water? Benefits & Effects - SelfHacked Hydrogen affects 63 different diseases because of impact on free radicals, cells, etc. H2 safe for stroke patients Parkinson's patients show improvement Protective effect in the brain, specifically hippocampus Anti-inflammatory effects, and anti-oxidative effect Bottom line: Ben doesn't agree... -Myth #37: You don't need to work out on an empty stomach to lose fat...1:03:23 Fasting and Exercise: What Are the Benefits? Intermittent Fasting for Athletes: Benefits and Concerns This one is partly true, but you can definitely lose fat while working out on an empty stomach Possible decrease in testosterone Can affect muscle buildup -Myth #38: Vitamin IV drips don’t do anything for healthy people...1:06:24 Ben agrees with this one IV Vitamin Therapy: Your Questions Answered BGF Podcast with Dr. Craig Koniver -Myth #39: The fat-burning effects of high-intensity interval workouts have been exaggerated...1:08:57 Fat Loss Showdown: Does HIIT or Steady State Cardio Burn More Fat? Study showed 3x greater fat loss in a HIIT regimen vs. steady state Post-exercise oxygen deficit Increase in metabolic rate that stays longer than steady state exercise HIIT may have appetite suppressing effect Ben agrees that some of the claims have been exaggerated, however HIIT is superior to steady state training -Myth #40: The concept of a “superfood” is misleading...1:12:04 Superfoods: Health Benefits, Uses and Risks Some "superfoods" have been blown out of proportion; however some foods are clearly more nutritious than others (blueberries vs. Oreos) -Myth #41: There’s no reason for healthy people to avoid nightshades...1:14:40 Are Nightshade Vegetables Bad for You? An Evidence-Based Look Paleo auto-immune protocol -Myth #42: Celery juice won’t cure your health problems...1:17:55 Ben agrees Celery Juice: Benefits and Myths Celery isn't bad for you, but its benefits are limited Any benefit is usually from the celery leaf, not the juice -Myth #43: You can lose weight without cutting carbs...1:21:07 Low-Fat vs. Low-Carb? Major Study Concludes: It Doesn't Matter for Weight Loss -Myth #44: There are no known health risks associated with eating genetically modified foods (GMOs)...1:24:00 Ben disagrees Research Exposes New Health Risks of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes and Salmon Ten Scientific Studies Prove that Genetically Modified Food Can Be Harmful to Human Health DNA from genetically modified crops have been shown to transfer to humans GMO cord has caused tumors in rats Glyphosate linked to birth defects and many more issues GMO risk assessment based on very little science recommendations Resources mention in this episode: - The article on vice.com mentioned throughout this series   - Red Yeast Rice: Benefits, Side Effects and Dosage   - Placenta – Worth Trying? Human Maternal Placentophagy: Possible Benefit and Potential Risks   - The Two Sides of the Story: Is Microwave Radiation Harmful?   - How Crystals Work: The Science of Crystal Healing   - Is a Colon Cleanse Actually Beneficial? What You Must Know...   - Contribution of Red Wine Consumption to Human Health Protection   - The French Paradox: Lessons for Other Countries   - Pharmaceutical Influences of Epsom Salts | Insight Medical Publishing   - Can Exercise Prevent Depression? Here's What the Science Says | Time   - Meditation is a Powerful Mental Tool - And for Some People It Goes Terribly Wrong   - Whole-Body Cryotherapy Decreases the Levels of Inflammatory, Oxidative Stress   - Four Pillars of Excellence   - Should Men Cut Back On their Soy Intake?   - GPR30 Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated With Gynecomastia Risk in Adolescents   - Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer: A Review of the Epidemiological Evidence With an Emphasis on Younger Women   - Study Finds Weak Link Between Birth Control and Breast Cancer   - New Study Finds Relationship Between Birth Control and Cancer   - What is Hydrogen Water? Benefits & Effects - SelfHacked   - Fasting and Exercise: What Are the Benefits?   - Intermittent Fasting for Athletes: Benefits and Concerns   - IV Vitamin Therapy: Your Questions Answered   - Fat Loss Showdown: Does HIIT or Steady State Cardio Burn More Fat?   - Superfoods: Health Benefits, Uses and Risks   - Are Nightshade Vegetables Bad for You? An Evidence-Based Look   - Celery Juice: Benefits and Myths   - Low-Fat vs. Low-Carb? Major Study Concludes: It Doesn't Matter for Weight Loss   - Research Exposes New Health Risks of Genetically Modified Mosquitoes and Salmon   - Ten Scientific Studies Prove that Genetically Modified Food Can Be Harmful to Human Health - Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton - Mind to Matter by Dr. Dawson Church - Himalayan Salt Lamp - Blue Zones, by Dan Buettner - Fit Vine Wine (Use code: GREENFIELD for 10% off) - BGF podcast w/ Todd White of Dry Farm Wines - Cyrex Labs - Gynecomastia - Estrogeneration by Dr. Anthony Jay - BGF Podcast with Dr. Craig Koniver Episode sponsors: -Kion: My personal playground for new supplement formulations, Kion blends ancestral wisdom with modern science. Ben Greenfield Fitness listeners receive a 10% discount off your entire order when you use discount code: BGF10. -Four Sigmatic: I’ve been using Four Sigmatic products for awhile now and I’m impressed by the efficacies of their mushroom products. I use them. I like them. I support the mission! Receive 15% off your Four Sigmatic purchase when you use discount code: BENGREENFIELD -ButcherBox: Delivers healthy 100% grass-fed and finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork directly to your door on a monthly basis. All their products are humanely raised and NEVER given antibiotics or hormones. New subscribers will receive 6 burgers for FREE + $20 OFF their first box by going to butcherbox.com/ben -NetSuite: With NetSuite, you save TIME, MONEY, and UNNEEDED HEADACHES by managing sales, finance and accounting, orders, and HR instantly - right from your desktop or phone. Click my link and download the free guide: “Seven Key Strategies to Grow your Profits”. Got questions, comments or feedback for me about anything I discussed in this episode? Leave a comment at https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/vicepodcast2, and I'll reply!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.