

Mastering Nutrition
Chris Masterjohn, PhD
Welcome to the Mastering Nutrition podcast.
Mastering Nutrition is hosted by Chris Masterjohn, a nutrition scientist focused on optimizing mitochondrial health, and founder of BioOptHealth, a program that uses whole genome sequencing, a comprehensive suite of biochemical data, cutting-edge research and deep scientific insights to optimize each person's metabolism by finding their own unique unlocks.
He received his PhD in Nutritional Sciences from University of Connecticut at Storrs in 2012, served as a postdoctoral research associate in the Comparative Biosciences department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's College of Veterinary Medicine from 2012-2014, served as Assistant Professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Brooklyn College from 2014-2017, and now works independently in science research and education.
Mastering Nutrition is hosted by Chris Masterjohn, a nutrition scientist focused on optimizing mitochondrial health, and founder of BioOptHealth, a program that uses whole genome sequencing, a comprehensive suite of biochemical data, cutting-edge research and deep scientific insights to optimize each person's metabolism by finding their own unique unlocks.
He received his PhD in Nutritional Sciences from University of Connecticut at Storrs in 2012, served as a postdoctoral research associate in the Comparative Biosciences department of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's College of Veterinary Medicine from 2012-2014, served as Assistant Professor of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Brooklyn College from 2014-2017, and now works independently in science research and education.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 25, 2023 • 5min
How can I protect against oxalates? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #324
Question: How can I protect against oxalates? Short Answer: Getting 300-400 mg calcium between food and supplements at each meal will minimize oxalate absorption. Maintaining postprandial urine pH in the 6.4-6.8 range by getting 3-5 grams of potassium per day from food or from organic acid salts such as potassium citrate will prevent its crystallization in the kidney. Reducing dietary oxalate will prevent any possible damage in the gut. This is a clip from a live Q&A session open to CMJ Masterpass members. In addition to this episode, you can access two other free samples using this link: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/questions-on-blood-glucose-and-oxalate In that batch of free episodes you will also find the answer to this question: Why Should Postprandial Glucose Be Kept Under 140 mg/dL? If you want to become a Masterpass member so you can participate in the next live Q&A, or so you can have access to the complete recording and transcript of each Q&A session, you can save 10% off the subscription price for as long as you remain a member by using this link to sign up: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/qanda Learn more about the Masterpass here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/about This snippet is from the April 12, 2023 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what's included: What Causes Hypercholesterolemia and Does It Matter? How to Reverse Coronary Calcification? How to do a comprehensive nutritional screening How long after eating improperly cooked egg whites should I wait to take biotin? Is the extrusion process as harmful as some claim? How long can one fast before micronutrient deficiencies become an issue? Do B vitamins compete with each other for absorption? Why is thirst a symptom of diabetes? Do I agree with Peter Attia that ApoB should be driven as low as pharmacologically possible? During a fast, does the body break down muscle? How do you rest and refeed your brain? Why would someone have high RBC magnesium but low serum magnesium? GLA deficiency? Should we eat for our ethnicity? How convincing are polyphenol studies? Can coronary calcium be driven by oxalate? Citrulline for vasodilation How to reduce catabolism Rapid-fire run-through of orphaned questions from the submission contest, including a detailed look at Nadia's thyroid numbers Here's a link to the full AMA: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/recording-and-transcript-of-the-april Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 11, 2023 • 10min
Why Should Postprandial Glucose Be Kept Under 140 mg/dL? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #323
The podcast discusses the importance of keeping post-prandial blood glucose levels under 140 mg/dL to avoid negative effects on metabolism. It explores the relationship between sorbitol and plasma glucose levels, the significance of adaptation to postprandial glucose levels, and the importance of glycemic load adaptation for overall health.

10 snips
Sep 2, 2023 • 10min
Methylene Blue in 10 Minutes
This podcast discusses the historical synthesis of Methylene Blue in medicine, its role in rerouting electrons and therapeutic applications, the effects and risks of Methylene Blue including decreased brain connectivity, and its potential benefits as a disinfectant and in treating respiratory chain disorders.

Sep 1, 2023 • 1h 18min
Methylene Blue: Biohacker's Delight, or Playing With Fire?
Explore the uses and effects of methylene blue, from its historical background to its potential benefits for mitochondrial health. Learn about the redox reactions and the cycling process of methylene blue. Discover the role of complexes in cellular respiration and the interplay between fat, leucine, and the electron transport chain. Understand the complexity of the respiratory chain and the impact of nutrient deficiencies on energy metabolism.

Aug 28, 2023 • 12min
What is the relationship between copper and estrogen? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #322
Masterjohn, podcast host, explores the relationship between copper and estrogen in this episode. They discuss how estrogen moves copper from the mother's bloodstream to the fetus during pregnancy and how it promotes intestinal copper absorption. Maintaining pregnancy-level hormones while not pregnant poses a risk of promoting too much copper absorption. Copper status should be monitored when using supplemental hormones to avoid toxicity.

8 snips
Aug 23, 2023 • 31min
Why Would Citrate or Malate Cause Insomnia?
This is now subscribers-only and is available here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/why-would-citrate-or-malate-cause Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 22, 2023 • 42min
What to Do About Constipation
This is now subscribers-only and can be accessed here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/what-to-do-about-constipation Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 14, 2023 • 22min
How to slow or reverse graying of hair? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #321
Exploring ways to slow or reverse graying of hair by addressing weak links in energy signaling, infrastructure of energy production, and antioxidant protection. Topics include the relationship between carbohydrate intake and thyroid hormone production, biology and factors contributing to hair graying, the effects of calcium pentathenate, and inborn errors of metabolism's influence on graying hair.

5 snips
Jul 31, 2023 • 28min
How Much Iron Can We Absorb At Once? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #320
Question: How much iron can we absorb at once? Short Answer: High-dose iron will produce more total absorbed iron, but will also leave more in the gut, which could cause constipation or disturb the gut microbiome. If desperate for quick relief, 200 milligrams per day of iron taken in the morning will work faster than lower doses or the same dose taken in the afternoon. For most people, however, I believe it is best to start with 18 milligrams of iron, and only increase it to 27 or 36 milligrams, or higher, if needed. If it is difficult to raise iron with a supplement, try eating a temporary carnivore diet that includes egg yolks but not whites, or at least try taking your iron with a breakfast that matches this description. This is a clip from a live Q&A session open to CMJ Masterpass members. In addition to this episode, you can access two other free samples using this link: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/questions-on-vitamin-d-sulfate-synthesis In that batch of free episodes you will also find the answers to these questions: Is It Important to Get Vitamin D Sulfate Specifically From the Sun? What cofactors are needed to synthesize and recycle BH4? If you want to become a Masterpass member so you can participate in the next live Q&A, or so you can have access to the complete recording and transcript of each Q&A session, you can save 10% off the subscription price for as long as you remain a member by using this link to sign up: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/qanda Learn more about the Masterpass here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/about This snippet is from the February 15, 2023 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what's included: Is It Important to Get Vitamin D Sulfate Specifically From the Sun? What cofactors are needed to synthesize and recycle BH4? What nutrients are important for long-term PPI use? For how long does transferrin saturation respond to recent iron-rich food? Muscle spasms: creatine, creatinine, sodium, and potassium. Hematologists ignore iron saturation. How to detox arsenic? Could folic acid supplements impair BH4 recycling? How to increase butyrate? More on hematologists and transferrin saturation. Here's a link to the full AMA: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/recording-and-transcript-of-the-february Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jul 17, 2023 • 13min
What cofactors are needed to synthesize and recycle BH4? | Masterjohn Q&A Files #319
Question: What cofactors are needed to synthesize and recycle BH4? Short Answer: Zinc, magnesium, potassium, and niacin are the cofactors needed for the synthesis and recycling of BH4. Folate and methylation are not involved, though high-dose folate or folic acid could hypothetically hurt BH4 recycling since both are recycled by dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). This is a clip from a live Q&A session open to CMJ Masterpass members. In addition to this episode, you can access two other free samples using this link: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/questions-on-vitamin-d-sulfate-synthesis In that batch of free episodes you will also find the answers to these questions: Is It Important to Get Vitamin D Sulfate Specifically From the Sun? How Much Iron Can We Absorb At Once? If you want to become a Masterpass member so you can participate in the next live Q&A, or so you can have access to the complete recording and transcript of each Q&A session, you can save 10% off the subscription price for as long as you remain a member by using this link to sign up: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/qanda Learn more about the Masterpass here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/about This snippet is from the February 15, 2023 AMA. The full recording and transcript is reserved for Masterpass members. Here is a preview of what's included: Is It Important to Get Vitamin D Sulfate Specifically From the Sun? How Much Iron Can We Absorb At Once? What nutrients are important for long-term PPI use? For how long does transferrin saturation respond to recent iron-rich food? Muscle spasms: creatine, creatinine, sodium, and potassium. Hematologists ignore iron saturation. How to detox arsenic? Could folic acid supplements impair BH4 recycling? How to increase butyrate? More on hematologists and transferrin saturation. Here's a link to the full AMA: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/recording-and-transcript-of-the-february Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


