Episode #195: Can Coffee Really Make You Live Longer?

This is a special Premium audio episode. Click here to activate a Premium subscription to the BenGreenfieldFitness show and access this and over 300 additional hidden audios, videos, pdf's and more! In this episode, Ben answers questions covering tips for longevity, overcoming internal resistance, and what drives him to the next level.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Tammi 201730min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/whoop My guest on today's show - Will Ahmed - grew up loving sports and exercise. Many of his childhood heroes were athletes. He was recruited to Harvard and became Captain of the Men’s Varsity Squash Team. As a D1 athlete, he was amazed by how little he knew about his body. He would train for 3 or more hours a day with his teammates without knowing what gains he made. He was surrounded by athletes, himself included, who overtrained, misinterpreted fitness peaks, underestimated recovery and sleep, and got injured. Being prepared for game day often seemed…random. So he became inspired by a simple idea: Humans, especially athletes, could optimize their daily performance. Optimizing performance was not a random sequence of events and decisions, but rather a systematic approach to understanding your body. At Harvard, he met with cardiologists and physiologists. He read over 300 medical papers because he became obsessed with understanding the human body. What he learned was amazing: There are secrets that your body – your physiology – is trying to tell you. These secrets can help prevent overtraining and injury, they can detect fatigue and even sickness, and, sure enough, they can be used to optimize human performance. But few actually monitor those metrics. He partnered with his co-founder John Capodilupo, who was studying math and statistics at Harvard before dropping out to found a self-quantification company called "WHOOP", and also partnered with Aurelian Nicolae, a graduate from Harvard with a gift for mechanical prototyping and engineering. They then spent the past 4 years building a technology called "the WHOOP System". They assembled a scientific and performance advisory board and now work alongside our team of 50 engineers, designers, and data scientists in a downtown Boston office overlooking Fenway Park. They've been fortunate to work with many of the best athletes in the world. What they've discovered has amazed Will, and we talk about it all on today's show. Self quantification can transform your life and induce effects like positive behavior change, fitness improvements, injury reduction. Will believes that the data he's collecting on athletes is unprecedented, both in its sophistication and scale, and that no physiological studies have ever occurred on this magnitude. WHOOP benefits from the fact that athletes also have tangible performance data (wins/losses, batting average, time trials, etc) across sports. They want to share this data: the unbelievable correlations between physiology and performance; the approach to health monitoring and the different ways to interpret or action your body’s feedback. Beyond building a product that people love, Will and the team at WHOOP hope to advance human knowledge with our discoveries. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The key defining characteristics that set WHOOP apart, including skin conductivity, accelerometer data, and continuous HRV monitoring...[13:25] -Why WHOOP is the only company to measure the activity and fluctuations of the cardiac autonomic nervous system, particularly as it relates to recovery, training status, and training readiness...[13:57] -The actual hard data being collected by the WHOOP, and HRV, pulse oximetry, temperature, respiration, etc.)...[15:30 & 24:30] -Why the WHOOP uses a combination of PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors (4 LEDs and 1 Photodiode) along with 3-axis accelerometer, capacitive touch sensor, ambient temperature sensor...[18:17] -How coaches and trainers can use WHOOP to monitor the sleep, training and recovery status of a large number of athletes and clients...[20:00, 30:00 , 35:50 & 47:50] -Why the WHOOP has 90% sleep/wake accuracy compared to gold-standard sleep labs...[22:10] -How the WHOOP sleep coach automatically calculates sleep needed based on your sleep baseline, any sleep debt that has accumulated over the last few nights, and any naps taken for that day...[39:15] -The technology the WHOOP uses to tell you how much sleep you need and to give you a picture of when you should go to bed based on your habitual sleep efficiency and desired wake up time...[40:15] -Why athletes like Lebron James and Michael Phelps are using the WHOOP...[59:15] -And much more... Resources from this episode: -WHOOP (use code GREENFIELD for $50 off at checkout) -How A Bear Attack Affects Your Sleep Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Will or me? Leave your at https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/whoop and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 Tammi 201754min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/breathepodcast In the past several months, I've taken a deep, deep dive into breath work. Sure, in the past years I've written articles on everything from combining ketosis, breath holds and freediving, to how to make your own hyperbaric "exercise with oxygen therapy" (EWOT) device, to Wim Hof style breathing for cold thermogenesis to underwater workouts with Laird Hamilton to making yourself high with holotropic breathwork to the use of fancy breath strips and "Turbine" devices to enhance nasal breathing during both exercise and sleep... ...but lately, I've been making a very concerted effort to consistently do deep nasal breathing, rhythmic breathing and breath hold tactics during walks, weight training sessions, road trips and beyond. And by concerted, I mean consistently, every day, until these forms of breathing become fully automatic. In her new book "Breathe: The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health" my guest Dr. Belisa Vranich explains why breathing is so crucial for optimizing brain and body performance, and she delves into one of the most comprehensive treatises of practical breathing tactics that I've ever read (the other best book on this topic is "The Oxygen Advantage" by Patrick McKeown, who I'm also getting on the podcast soon). She highlights the results she's seen in her research and in her own patients, including... Insomnia? Gone. Anxiety? Gone. All without medication. Unpleasant side effects from blood pressure pills? Gone. A cheap and effective way to combat cardiovascular disease, immune dysfunction, obesity, and GI disorders? Yes. Sounds too good to be true? Contemporary science confirms what generations of healers have observed through centuries of practice: Breath awareness can turn on the body’s natural abilities to prevent and cure illness. The mental and physical stresses of modern life, such as anxiety, frustration, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, high blood pressure, digestive woes, and immune dysfunction can all be addressed through conscious control of your breath. In addition, it can increase energy, accelerate healing, improve cognitive skills, and enhance mental balance. Yet most of us stopped breathing in the anatomically “right” way, the way to take advantage of these benefits, when we were four or five years old. We now mostly breathe in a way that is anatomically incongruous and makes for more illness. But in the book "Breathe", Dr. Vranich shows readers how to turn back the tide of stress and illness, and improve the overall quality of their life through a daily breathing workout. In a fascinating, straightforward, jargon-free exploration of how our bodies were meant to breathe, she delves into the ins and outs of proper breathing. By combining both anatomy and fitness with psychology and mindfulness, Dr. Vranich gives readers a way of solving health problems at the crux and healing themselves from the inside out. Breathe is an easy-to-follow guide to breathing exercises that will increase energy, help lose weight, and make you feel calmer and happier. Dr. Vranich is a clinical psychologist with over twenty years of experience, and she has spent the last decade dedicating herself to the study of breathing. She is the founder of The Breathing Class and has appeared in dozens of national media outlets, including Anderson Cooper, CNN, Fox, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Men's Fitness and Huffington Post. She is also the former sports psychologist for Gold's Gym and columnist for Shape. During our discussion, you'll discover: -How to determine something called your "baseline breath"...[10:35] -The best biohacking gear that you can use to self quantify and test your breath...[24:45 & 28:10] -What percentage oxygen level you should look at when using an oximeter to check your blood oxygenation levels...[29:15] -The acid-alkaline relationship between something called "overbreathing" and craving junk foods...[19:20 & 34:40] -Why your breath hold time may not be that important (unless you're into freediving, spearfishing, shooting, golfing, surfing, surgery or tattoo artistry)...[38:00 & 42:00] -Why rock musicians have very strong vagus nerve stimulation...[52:20] -How breathwork detoxifies your body and moves lymph through your circulatory system...[57:30] -The $3000 device that Dr. Vranich swears by for full body massage and diaphragmatic stimulation...[64:45] -What Dr. Vranich thinks of devices like the Powerlung and the Elevation Training Mask...[70:50] -And much more! Resources from this episode: -My article on "30 Ways To Breathe Better" -Breathe: The Simple, Revolutionary 14-Day Program to Improve Your Mental and Physical Health -Deep Nutrition by Cate Shanahan -Fingertip pulse oximeter -Urine pH strips -Spirometer / flow meter for measuring lung capacity -PowerLung breath training device -Elevation Training Mask (use code GREEN1 for 20% discount) -Eat Wheat by Dr. John Douillard -The Myobuddy massage device that Ben uses -DMS Professional Deep Muscle Stimulator Massager that Belisa uses -The Official Bas Rutten O2Trainer Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Belisa or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

4 Tammi 20171h 12min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kevin Kevin Rose is a technology investor, podcaster, and self-experimenter. He has been named a "Top 25 Angel Investors", by Bloomberg and to the "Top 25 Most Influential People on the Web" list by Time magazine. You've might have also heard or seen him on Jimmy Fallon, Charlie Rose, or Kevin's own podcast "The Random Show", which he co-hosts with Tim Ferriss. Kevin also serves on the advisory board of Google Ventures and the Tony Hawk Foundation. Previously, Kevin founded Digg, Revision3, and was a General Partner at Google Ventures. Perhaps most interesting for me and you, and not as well known to most folks, is that Kevin considers himself a well-versed body hacker, and he is frequently experimenting with things like cold water training, breathwork, nootropics, ketogenic diets, meditation, and fasting. Kevin even recently released a free app to help individuals track their fasting progress, which we discuss during this episode. During our fascinating discussion, you'll discover: -Why Kevin microdoses with lithium (and the surprising link between lithium and 7-Up soda)...[9:00] -The neuroscientist and mutual connection Kevin and I have that goes way back and is known as the "Summer Tomato"...[15:10] -The surprising boost you get from 100% chocolate and Kevin's new infatuation with "chocolate ceremonies"...[18:25] -Why Kevin gave up on ketosis and instead switched to a Katavan-style diet with purple potatoes...[24:25] -What Kevin does with the dozen giant bags of ice he buys each week...[36:15] -The crazy form of breathwork that made someone pass out in Ben's basement...[46:20] -Why, if you are going to fast, you should only eat as close to sunset as possible...[54:40] -How Kevin's friend sent his stage-4 cancer into remission with a simple dietary change...[63:00] -What Kevin discovered in an old teahouse in the heart of Japan (and what it has to do with elephants pooping coffee)...[68:10] -The #1 ingredient in cologne that makes women go absolutely crazy over a man's scent...[72:45] -An app/headphone combo that drives you straight into a state of deep relaxation within 10 minutes...[75:15] -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Should We All Take A Bit Of Lithium -Nutritional Lithium: A Cinderella Story: The Untold Tale of a Mineral That Transforms Lives and Heals the Brain -My article on "The God Pill" -My original webcast with Kevin's wife Darya -Kevin's videos on chocolate ceremonies -Fruition 100% chocolate -The book by Stephan Guyenet The Hungry Brain: Outsmarting the Instincts That Make Us Overeat -The Kitavan diet -Dr. Veech podcast on ketone esters -Rhonda Patrick's Cold Stress .pdf -My podcast with Wim Hof -My experience with holotropic breathwork -How to get a custom Kundalini yoga routine -The Transcendental Meditation podcast Ben recorded -Dr. Rhonda Patrick's fasting interview with Satchin Panda -Kevin's Zero app for fasting -Tripping Over the Truth: The Return of the Metabolic Theory of Cancer Illuminates a New and Hopeful Path to a Cure -Black Ivory Coffee (naturally fermented by elephants) -Young Living Blue Spruce oil Ben diffuses in his office -The Greenfield Anti-Aging Skin Serum -The Wildfulness app -Brain.FM app -Kevin's Journal Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Kevin or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 Joulu 20161h 12min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kenton2 I've raced plenty of triathlons, from Sprint distance to Ironman. I've also done many, many obstacle races, including the toughest Spartan challenges in the world. And adventure races. And brutal workouts that claim to be the "hardest workout in the world". And SEALFit training, Agoge challenges, the World's Toughest Mudder and beyond. But my lungs have never sucked as much, my brain and body have never been simultaneously challenged as much and I've never experience any other form of competition so freaking functional until I started doing Train To Hunt Challenges. My guest today is a repeat guest. His name is Kenton Clairmont and he is the owner and creator of Train To Hunt, a unique mashup of bowhunting and obstacle racing that is taking the nation by storm. During our discussion, you'll discover: -The nasty autoimmune disease that took Kenton out of commission and sidelined him from a career as a professional baseball player...[12:20] -The natural Chinese remedy alternative to common immunosuppressant drugs for issues like rheumatoid arthritis...[20:12] -Why being fit for hunting goes far, far beyond simply needing to be able to "ruck" or hike...[22:25] -What a sample Train To Hunt work out looks like...[38:30] -How a typical Train To Hunt workout looks, and why something called "vagus nerve stimulation" is a huge part of each workout...[42:20] -Why the Train To Hunt national champion's key workout is "baling hay"...[54:30] -Why Kenton introduced the skill orienteering and GPS wayfinding into the Train To Hunt competition...[57:00] -How the Train To Hunt "3D shoot" is far different and far more practical for hunting situations than any other style of a 3D shoot...[58:45] -Why something called a "meat pack" is one of the hardest things Ben has ever done in his life (and why his lips turned blue after doing it)...[65:00] -What the brand new Train To Hunt challenge course now looks like, and why it's now extremely spectator friendly...[70:10] -How the meat pack portion of the challenge is going to change significantly in 2016...[79:00] -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Chinese herbal remedy as a replacement for methotrexate -Other hunting episodes: -Are Hunters The Fittest People In The World? -How To Get Into Hunting, Build Hunting Fitness, The Most Challenging Hunts & More! -Backpacking, Wilderness Survival, Combat Conditioning, Hunting Fitness & More With Aron Snyder. -Backpacking, Bowhunting & Shooting Tips From A Natural Born Hunter. -3 Ways Hunting Can Get You Ripped And 10 Ways To Get Fit For Hunting. -How To Build Primal Fitness And Endurance By Hunting: An Interview With A Bowhunting Triathlete -The National Champion & Poster Boy For One Of The Most Extreme Obstacle Races That Exists. -Train To Hunt: Train To Hunt was born out of necessity. All hunters alike want to hunt harder, longer, and farther. Fitness is the only piece of equipment that you can make better or worse. The team at Train To Hunt wants to extend wellness and longevity as well as improve performance for hunters. The workouts are a launching pad for serious outdoor enthusiast who want to learn the best way to be fit for their sport. Athletes hunt, and they have the formula to make you a better mountain athlete. Whether you’re a flatlander, hunt out West, or past your prime, they want to make you a better hunter through fitness. Their online program is designed to be your coach, trainer, and guide as you shape up for your passion. Click here to start into Train To Hunt online program now or to sign up for a challenge.  Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Kenton or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Joulu 20161h 24min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/livinglarge Nine years ago, I sat slack-jawed in the crowd at an event called "Fitness Business Summit", listening to a massive, muscle-bound trainer on stage tell his story of creating an e-book that made millions of dollars online and helped hundreds of thousands of skinny guys across the globe sculpt their thin bodies into herculean, Adonis-like physiques. I was actually so inspired by this guy's story that I went on to create my own "e-product" - a training system for Ironman triathletes to cross the finish line of an Ironman triathlon with less than ten hours of training per week, and still have plenty of time left over for friends, family, hobbies and career. I called it "The Triathlon Dominator", and it was my first big training program that I ever sold online. In an odd collision of fitness worlds, I have suddenly reconnected with Mr. X via a brand new book I recently received in the mail: Living Large: The Skinny Guy's Guide to No-Nonsense Muscle Building. Formerly known as "Skinny Vinny", Vinny's real name is Vince Del Monte, and he now goes by the name "The Skinny Guy Savior". Vinny's new book is jam-packed with everything you need to quickly build 30 pounds of rock-solid, shredded muscle without dangerous bodybuilding drugs, expensive supplements, and long hours in the gym, and it's actually not written like most books of this nature are, with pure meat-headedness. Instead, this book is intelligently written, full of practical advice and during our discussion, you'll discover: -How Vince made the transition from skinny endurance athlete and collegiate runner to becoming muscle-building phenomenon...[16:15] -The extremely unconventional training program Vince's first bodybuilding mentor used...[18:40] -Vince and Ben's thoughts on steroids...[24:40] -Why Vince says "get lean to get big" and how fat can diminish your ability to build muscle, especially in response to a high protein meal...[27:25] -The three mechanisms via which muscles actually grow, and how to target each of the three mechanisms...[47:50] -How massage therapy or foam rolling can directly assist with muscle building, and why Vince is such a fan of a muscle activation technique called "MAT"...[55:05] -What science says about how much muscle one can really build in a month...[63:05] -The seven key oils Vince uses and why...[73:00] -And much more... Resources from this episode: -My interview with Vinny's wife Flavia "7 Essential Kitchen Items You’ve Never Heard Of But Need To Have." -Vince's new book: Living Large: The Skinny Guy's Guide to No-Nonsense Muscle Building -Photos of Vince's brother Michael's impressive muscle gain -Study: Anabolic sensitivity of postprandial muscle protein synthesis to the ingestion of a protein-dense food is reduced in overweight and obese young adults. -Podcast: “Dr. Two Fingers” Reveals His Teeth-Gritting, Body-Healing Secrets.“ Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Vince or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

24 Joulu 20161h 17min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/examinepodcast I'm a voracious consumer of knowledge. On an average week, I read 3-5 books, listen to 15-20 podcasts, and read several dozen research articles. And one of my secrets to this hyperproductive digestion of information is through the use of services, websites, journals, newsletters and, well, "digests" that disseminate information into readily accessible bite-size pieces that allow me to cut through the clutter and quickly get to the main summaries, takeaways and actionable items from all the content. For example, I'm a huge fan of the book reviews produced by gentleman such as Derek Sivers and James Clear. In addition, I stay up to date with health, medical and science news via the Stone Hearth Newsletters, exercise and nutrition research via the website Suppversity, and, for general life knowledge, I'm a recent subscriber to the Farnham Street blog for staying up-to-date with the best recently published books and articles from around the web. And - for one of the most comprehensive exercise, diet, supplement resources I have ever accessed - I am a frequent visitor to the website Examine and their monthly publication The Examine Research Digest, which is produced by today's podcast guest: Kamal Patel. Kamal is the director of Examine.com, an independent and unbiased encyclopedia on supplementation and nutrition. He is a nutrition researcher with an MPH and MBA from Johns Hopkins University, and is on hiatus from a PhD in nutrition, in which he researched the link between diet and chronic pain. He has published peer-reviewed articles on vitamin D and calcium as well as a variety of clinical research topics, and in today's episode, you'll discover: -How supplement companies and the media manipulate science for their own benefits...[11:38 & 16:30] -Why Kamal thinks the "elimination diet" for nightshades is a hoax...[18:55] -The best way to know if a diet or supplement website is delivering you fake information...[29:35] -The truth about what they really feed lab rats and mice in high-fat diet studies...[31:35] -Why an extremely high percentage of the research released in medical journals is flawed or biased...[35:00] -The best way to quickly review an abstract without reading a full article, and red flags to look out for when reading an abstract...[44:50 & 48:30] -The top three most proven and researched supplements that just about everyone could benefit from...[54:56] -The surprising benefits of daily creatine intake...[61:50] -Why Kamal   doesn't take fish oil, but Ben does, and how genetics should influence supplement intake...[65:35 & 68:35] -The two supplements most people most infatuated with that Kamal thinks have very low credibility...[72:15] -The most beneficial one-two combo stack you can take for daily mental performance...[77:45] -Why you should spread your vegetable intake throughout the day to maximize your nitrate exposure...[80:48] -And much more! Resources from this episode: -Supplement Goals Reference Guide -Supplement Stack Guide -The Examine Research Digest -The SuperMemo sleep website Ben mentions -Ben's article about whether or not weed causes heart disease -The CreaPure Creatine that Ben recommends -The SuperEssentials fish oil that Ben recommends -IFOS website for testing fish oils -WellnessFX blood and biomarker testing -A 3 day gut panel for testing your bacterial balance -NaturalStacks "SmartCaffeine" caffeine/theanine blend Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Kamal or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Joulu 20161h 22min

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/detoxpodcas t I'm going to detox my entire body and brain, beginning Monday, January 9, 2017 (and you can listen to today's podcast episode to learn what the random, strange photo above has to do with this). Anyways, I'm not going to do just any ol' detox like putting cayenne pepper into a nasty concoction or pushing giant grocery shopping carts full of random herbs through the supermarket. These popular detoxes can actually release toxins from tissues such as fat cells and shove them into the brain, causing even more damage. Oops. That's a bad thing. Instead, I'm partnering up with one of the most brilliant detox minds on the face of the planet: the guy I interviewed in the podcast "The Most Effective Detox You’ve Never Heard Of (And Exactly How To Do It)." His name is Dr. Dan Pompa, and Dr. Dan is going to walk me through the entire brain and body detox program that he's studied and perfected for years. I'm then going to combine his proven detox formula with my own exercise and biohacking protocols so that I can completely clean up my body without losing fitness by doing only, say, hot yoga and trampolining for weeks and weeks. See, I don't want to come out of my detox having lost my muscle or having to huff and puff whenever I climb a flight of stairs, so I'm pulling out all my fitness tricks that allow me to sculpt my body while I detox, without actually causing adrenal fatigue issues or ruining the detox protocol. And I'm inviting YOU to join me. During today's solo podcast episode with yours truly, you'll discover:  -Why most detoxification programs can severely damage your body and brain...[6:55] -What a "true cellular detox" is...[10:56] -How to detox your body using a "Prep Phase", a "Brain Phase" and a "Body Phase"...[17:53] -The 5 strategies I'm personally using to ensure I don't lose fitness or muscle during my detox...[20:52] -How fringe techniques like dry skin brushing, rebounding and infrared therapy can maximize the effectiveness of a detox...[29:00 - 39:45] -The exact workouts I'll be performing during my detox...[30:00] -Whether or not you should use the dietary strategy of ketosis during a detox...[46:00] -The best fasting strategy to use during a detox...[41:25] -How meditation can fit perfectly into a detox program...[41:38] -How oil pulling can assist with detox...[49:00] -Why fermented foods are crucial during a detox...[50:45] -The crazy, unique tea blends I'll be using to accelerate my detox and wean myself off coffee...[53:50] -And much more!  Resources from this episode: -The True Cellular Detox challenge I'll be taking on in 2017 (click here to join me before January 1) -True To Form book -The Clearlight Infrared sauna I use -Kundalini yoga -Body By Science book -JumpSport Rebounder -WholeTones CD's -Dry Skin Brush -Rumble Roller -My article on coffee enemas -Kettle & Fire Bone Broth -Eat Wheat book Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Dan or me? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and one of us will reply!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

17 Joulu 201655min