
The Little Known Truth About Smart Drugs And Nootropics (Audio & Article)
The following is a guest post by Dr. Andrew Hill, Lead Neuroscientist at truBrain. Click here for a fascinating audio podcast that accompanies this article. featuring Ben Greenfield and Dr. Hill. Dr. Hill received his PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA in 2012, studying how attention operates in the brain. He has been employed as a Lecturer at UCLA over the past few years, teaching multidisciplinary courses on both Healthy Brain Aging and courses in Neuroscience and Psychology. Dr. Hill has published chapters on measuring and modulating human attention, and continues to research self regulation. Prior to UCLA, Dr. Hill obtained extensive experience working with both psychiatric and developmental populations as well as gaining experience in high technology areas. He received his B.S. in Psychology/Neuroscience from UMass Amherst, and is a key adviser in the formulation of the truBrain’s cognitive blend (get 20% off on your purchase with the code BEN20). --------------------------------- The Limitless Pill In the 2011 movie Limitless, Bradley Cooper’s character gets his hands on a smart drug (NZT-48) that enables him to be cognitively super human. The only known side effect is that his eyes change color while he is on the drug, but that changes over the course of the movie as side effects, including withdrawal symptoms, begin to get worse and worse. It’s a sci-fi thriller with a not-so-feel-good message about addiction and performance enhancing substances. And goons chasing you. Makes smart drugs sound dangerous, right? Like any good sci-fi , this movie questions our assumption on the limits of science. And some of what it is suggesting is not science fiction today. Smart drugs and nootropics are a current reality, being used more and more not to treat or remediate any active condition or complaint but towards boosting already typical or superior performance, in colleges, board rooms, military theatres, and by forward thinking gerontologists. With the wide variety of compounds available today that have some research support for cognitive effects, it is important for you to understand the risks and benefits associated with usage, or at least how to choose smarter, when choosing things that affect your brain. For example, one of the most popular misconceptions about smart drugs is that they are the same as nootropics. This may be due to similar benefits that people use them for, but ultimately they do not share the same range of effects, mechanisms of action, safety and side effects. So - what are smart drugs? What are nootropics? How do we know if something is safe or effective? What are these drugs actually doing to my brain? Why am I asking so many questions without answering them? Keep reading to get this and more information you need to understand these questions, and start formulating your own answers - and your own strategies for selecting nootropics. --------------------------------------- Smart Drugs vs. Nootropics A smart drug is generally a prescribed medication or off-label drug used primarily to treat some kind of mental or cognitive disorder. The most common are drugs such as Adderall (dextroamphetamine) or Ritalin (methylphenidate) in the stimulant class used to treat symptoms related to ADHD - although legal and illegal off-label use is rampant. And while they may promote focus and energy in some people, others have dramatic side effect, to body and brain. Smart drugs in the stimulant class also tend to be reinforcing, producing spikes in dopamine and norepinephrine. This leads to tolerance and habit formation, including adverse effects on appetite, mood stability, cardiac function, stress levels and possibly many other unwanted effects - especially on younger brains such as teens and young adults. Irritability and mood swings, anxiety, sleep issues, and other forms of emotional or cognitive regulation problems can crop up over time with stimulant use, as well. A popular atypical stimulant “smart drug” includes the narcolepsy agents Modafinil / Adrafinil, although their effects on cognition beyond wakefulness are unproven, and side effects - while rare - can be life threatening. If attention problems are already present the side effect risk appears to be significant increased, as well. (Kumar, (2008), Approved and Investigational Uses, Drugs. 68(13):1803-39.). In contrast to a smart drug, a nootropic is generally a non-prescribed compound, including vitamins, herb, other supplements, natural or synthetic compound that may increase or protect cognition in some way. The preponderance of research in the past 40 years shows some effects on focus, attention, effects on aging, and possibly cellular metabolism. To paraphrase the definition of “nootropic” as initially coined in this article by the researcher Girugea in 1972, it is something that improves cognition without appreciable side effects, or provides from protection to the brain. In a modern context we think of nootropics as something used not to treat any mental condition or pathology directly, but instead to provide support to peak function, protect against long term risk, and provide daily boost. Across the field, true nootropic ingredients and full blends can now be found largely sourced from natural ingredients. Nootropic blends are designed to leverage synergy effects suggested in the research and subjective experiences. The goals with nootropics should always be to allow for greater and more consistent cognitive effort and flow, without the side effects of a stimulant or other harsh substance. ------------------------------ How Do I Know If A Smart Drug Is Safe? As a rule of thumb, it is the nature of science to be wrong at times. We’ve come a long way since we accepted that the theory behind the Earth being the center of the universe was wrong. We understand that new research may overturn old knowledge. So how can we truly know the risks and benefits of long term use of nootropics or smart drugs? A red flag in understanding the harm of a substance is the body’s ability to handle an overabundance of this substance. Small amounts of toxic substances may be beneficial in the short term, but the magic happens when we look at what is happening in the body when we get too much. Something as simple as a cup of coffee may seem harmless, but caffeine in high amounts can cause dizziness, anxiety, and even cardiac arrest or death. Caffeine mimics the action of the neuromodulator adenosine in the body. This leads to higher adrenaline and cortisol levels. Even in typical doses caffeine can deeply affect our sleep and cause heart arrhythmias for some people. Alcohol has even worse short and long term toxicity symptoms at non-moderate doses, and some people struggle to keep their dosing moderate. In better doses - perhaps a couple cups of coffee a day (without sugar) and a drink or so per day on average, these substance are actively health promoting, and reduce risk for many brain and cardiac diseases. When you are picking substances and compounds, dosing should be cautious at first. From this, a couple rules come out - 1) don’t take any compounds, substance, or blends of substances that don’t list all their ingredients out in plain amounts. Proprietary blends with lump-sum amount hiding buzzword-compliant list of magical ingredients known as “fairy dusting” in the supplement industry. Don’t be fooled. Read the ingredients. Figure out why and what is in there, and if you want it. 2) don’t chase suspicious research chemicals without much history of use or safety profile. Experiment on yourself if you like, but you only have one brain - make rational and cautious choices. There are nootropic, smart drug, and cognitive enhancers that have been around for decades - something released last week as a “Research Chemical” with a bunch of numbers and letters for a name and no human studies isn’t worth the risk to you. Not for years. ------------------------------- What About Adderall & Modafinil Safety? Smart drugs such as Adderall can cause dangerous lows, psychosis with extreme use, rebound fatigue, and depression, even at lower use levels. As an amphetamine, Adderall can act as a reuptake inhibitor, meaning that it can compete with other neurotransmitters for reuptake. Specifically it is thought to block the uptake of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are associated with reward behaviors and our nervous system functions, respectively. This causes a flood of these neurotransmitters onto multiple receptors, causing neurotransmitter depletion and overexcited receiving neurons. This large “signal” is the reason for the focus, but also responsible for some of the side effects that go along with this class of prescription drugs. Existing research is also a bit weak on any improvement that Adderall or other stimulants may have on short term memory or cognitive function, and some actually may impair function. Modafinil, also known as Provigil, is an example of a smart drug that has been used like a nootropic. Modafinil is prescribed to treat sleep disorders, but when combined with a normal functioning brain, can potentially cause increases in cognition and awareness. Just like Adderall, the use of these drugs outside the medical field does not make them a nootropic. Modafinil is also a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine, causing the same type of neurotrasmitter flood as Adderall. However, Modafinil may also affect the histaminergic pathway, which deals with wakefulness and the delicate immune response of the body. Histaminergic neurons in the brain are more active during wakefulness and slow their firing pattern as we rest or sleep. Modafinil’s “beneficial” side effects may come from this heightened histaminergic neuronal activation, but too much activation can cause apoptosis, or cell death. In addition, this has been shown to cause adverse skin reactions that required hospitalization since the histamine pathway also deals with our immune system. Modafinil may increase your intelligence, but can be extremely dangerous to the health of your brain and body. ------------------------------- Enter Nootropics Nootropics, like truBrain’s cognitive blend, and a few other products on the market, have dose-toxicity levels much lower than salt, caffeine, and especially Adderall. There doesn’t seem to be any neurotransmitter depletion, tolerance or habit forming potential, adverse body side effects, or impaired brain function, from most true nootropics, by Girugea’s definition. The mechanisms for nootropics lie within the structural connectivity of the brain, the optimization of blood flow and oxygenation, and the fortification of brain regions over long term consistency. Nootropics act more as a super supplement to protecting the brain. Girugea’s own first synthesized nootropic (in 1964) is still in use today and has been shown to have effects on mitochondrial metabolism, cell membrane fluidity, and functional connectivity in the brain. Piracetam is this poster child for nootropics, and one of the main ingredients in truBrain nootropic blends. It is one of the only compounds used in that formulation that can not be found in nature, however it was originally derived from - and has structural similarities to - the neurotransmitter GABA. Since Girugea bought piracetam to light in 1964, there has been lots of research to support the benefits of piracetam. It has been shown to positively affect our cell membranes and to have neuroprotective and pro-metabolism effects on cells. The fluidity in our membranes changes with stress and old age, as well as moment to moment as one method of regulating receptor activity. By keeping our membranes healthy we can promote the cells ability to communicate. For example, truBrain combines other membrane oriented supplements - including choline. The cell membrane - especially in the brain - relays ongoing control signals and messages from other cells to the inner processes of the cell. Neurons’ membranes in the axon (wiring) and soma (cell body) help generate and propagate electrical signals, sum distant signals, and even have computational and complex learning functions related to changes in membrane function.Healthier and more active cell membranes bring us increased activity and cell communication, and hopefully better cognition. Piracetam along with other truBrain ingredients such as magnesium, choline, and DHA, increases in brain plasticity and are designed to improve cognition and efficiency under processing load - or peak performance, versus remediation. Nootropics may support increased cognitive potential as well as long term protection. The truBrain team added L-Theanine and L-Tyrosine to support neurotransmitters of GABA and Dopamine, respectively. You can use a similar or different strategy when building your own nootropic regimen, but use a strategy. Know why you are putting an ingredient in, know how it might interact with the others, and be sure that dosing is safe. When you are planning your nootropic or nutraceutical regimen, think in terms of nutrition support to cell metabolism and function, amino acids, natural or near-natural compounds, and avoid bad fats and harsh chemicals that give a momentary boost at the cost of later crashing or having other more serious side effects, such as excess sugars and caffeine. And don’t forget what else you put in your mouth - additional DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids (in grass fed meats, deep sea fish) are excellent for brain health. Craft your diet like you craft your brain supplement regimen - or have both catered / curated for you in a high end product. If you do create your own blend, think precise selection, not shotgun approach, and add slowly to your regimen. -------------------------------- The Problem With Instant Gratification As a culture, we often hear false marketing claims or create mindsets about what is possible with our health. We see ads that advertise a pill that gets rid of “stomach fat fast”. Truthfully, fat is lost uniformly in the body and the fastest and healthiest way to lose weight it about 1-2 pounds uniformly a week. So we eat poorly and don’t exercise for 2 years and then criticize our healthy workout plans and diet 1 month in when we don’t get the results we want. The healthiest and most effective things in life are often the ones that we do routinely. Consistency is key. This is true if you are talking about athletic performance, academic or intellectual training, or nutrition and supplement support. While not “necessary” like supplements or medicines, nootropic use follows this principle as well. There is another rule, emerging. If something is strongly “felt” dose to dose - if it gets you high, or wired, or sedated...it’s a smart drug, recreational drug, or something that may enhancing some aspect of performance (perhaps at the expense of another), but is definitely not a nootropic. And finally, nootropics should be sustainable. With some nootropics there is an initial loading phase followed by a maintenance phase, and while subtle, results can be felt fairly quickly on the timescale of a few days. The contrasting quick highs / crashes of coffee, alcohol, smart drugs, and even quickly digesting carbs are definitely experienced more immediately, but have consequences that make them unsustainable for many people. ------------------------------ Summary So in summary - here are a few initial rules to help select your own nootropic or cognitive enhancing blend: Know your ingredients, and their amounts. Don’t spend your money on obfuscate fairy dusting or expensive blends that are full of caffeine or random research chemicals. It’s not a nootropic if it has side effects. Your nootropic solutions should focus on mild nutritive and metabolic support, for long term gains and protection. Break the cycle peak and crash that you get with too many stimulants, and avoid the more serious side effects that you risk with smart drugs. Nootropics don’t get you high, altered, or wired. And don’t forget the other accessible and evidence-based brain and cognition improving methodologies we have at our disposal today: meditation, yoga, and other contemplative (attention training) practices, biofeedback and neurofeedback, diets high in good fats, and other modifiable behaviors you can implement to take control of your brain health and performance. So take care of your brain - the tools are out there, to support health and shift performance. Leave your questions, comments and feedback at BenGreenfieldFitness.com. Also, if you want to try the nootropic that Dr. Hill helped design, grab truBrain and get 20% off on your purchase with the code BEN20.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
8 Nov 201440min

Part 2: 67 Steps to Getting Anything You Want Out of Life Health, Wealth, Love, & Happiness with Tai Lopez
Welcome to Part 2 of this special podcast series, in which you get to sit in and listen to Tai Lopez coach Ben Greenfield (and you!) using the strategies from Tai's online video series "67 Steps to Getting Anything You Want Out of Life Health, Wealth, Love, & Happiness". You can listen to Part 1 here. In this episode, Ben and Tai talk about how to know when you're actually making enough money, and when you can stop focusing on income, start focusing more on life, love and happiness, and how to strike the ideal balance between being overambitious and underambitious. Books and resources Tai and Ben discuss in this podcast: -The Meyers-Briggs personality analysis -Joel Salatin's books and resources -Book: The Snowball: Warren Buffet and The Business Of Life -Book: A Few Lessons for Investors and Managers From Warren Buffett -Book: The Five Love Languages -Book: Strengths Finder 2.0 -Tai's online video series: 67 Steps to Getting Anything You Want Out of Life Health, Wealth, Love, & Happiness Do you have question, comments or feedback? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
5 Nov 201451min

How Dr. Bronner's Magical Soaps Are Fighting Toxic GMO Crop Production.
As you may know from reading my article on "How To Detox Your Home", if I can't eat something without it killing me, I don't smear it on my body either. From liquid soaps, to my bar soap, to lip balms to lotions, I've been using products from Dr. Bronner's as one of my main personal care products sources to follow this simple rule. Unlike most commercial soapmakers, who distill the glycerin out of their soaps to sell separately, Dr. Bronner's retain it in their soaps for its superb moisturizing qualities. They use natural vitamin E from sunflower seeds and citric acid from fermented tapioca to protect freshness. They don't add any chelating agents, dyes, whiteners or synthetic fragrances, and instead use pure and powerful high-quality certified organic essential oils. All their soaps are biodegradable and nature-friendly and their bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. In today's podcast, I interview David Bronner, the president of Dr. Bronners, and a guy who has been arrested for hemp activism, written a recently polarizing Huffington Post article on GMO's , and who recently championed a drive towards labeling GMO foods in my own home state of Washington, a drive that unfortunately lost by narrow margins, but is now being revived in another form, which you'll learn all about in today's episode, including: -The amazing story of the original Dr. Bronner... -Why there are over 30,000 words on the label of Dr. Bronner's soaps... -What’s in Dr. Bronner’s soap... -Why not all coconut oil is created equal... -Why David Bronner recently penned this controversial article in Huffington Post on GMO’s... -What you can do to stop the toxic production of GMO's on our farmed crops... Do you have questions, comments or feedback about Dr. Bronners or about GMO labeling? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, be sure to check out all of Dr. Bronner's products by clicking here, and visit OregonRightToKnow.org to help fight GMO crop production, to cast your vote, to donate and to stop the spread of toxic herbicides.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 Nov 201446min

The Best Remedies For Hot Flashes, Does N-Acetyl Cysteine Increase Glutathione, How To Increase Shoulder Mobility And Much More!
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/298 Oct 29, 2014 Podcast: The Best Remedies For Hot Flashes, Does N-Acetyl Cysteine Increase Glutathione, How To Increase Shoulder Mobility, and Getting Rid of Scar Tissue. Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right, use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, Skype “pacificfit” or use the “Ask Ben” form... but be prepared to wait - we prioritize audio questions over text questions. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. Would YOU do any of these crazy endurance quests? Which one? Do olympic athletes train like a caveman? The answer may surprise you. Wow. Cold water and chocolate as nootropics, and drinking water before a meal as a fat loss strategy. Good article. ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: Need to fix your gut, build new muscle, or enhance the effectiveness of your probiotic? The brand new Greenfield Fitness Systems NatureColostrum has arrived. Click here to check it out now. Go to TrainingMask.com and use code GREEN1 for a 20% discount on your third lung. November 17-21, 2014: Ben interviews 23 of the world's leading experts in performance, recovery, nutrition, fat loss, brain, sleep and hormone optimization, and you get a free all-access pass. Check it out now at BenGreenfieldFitness.com/RevYourself. Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast. Other places you can meet Ben: Nov 2-9 London (meet-up and drinks at Skylon Restaurant, November 8 at 6pm), Nov 9-16 Israel, Dec 4-7 Unbeatable Mind Retreat. January 30th - 31st, 2015, Ben will be speaking in Dubai - Talise Fitness and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, proudly invite you to take part in an exclusive two day seminar held by the renowned nutrition and fitness expert, best selling author, coach, speaker, ex-bodybuilder and Ironman triathlete, Ben Greenfield. Click here for all details. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja. The Best Remedies For Hot Flashes Graeme asks: His wife has been experiencing pre-menopause hot flushes. Most of the supplements focus on eostrogen i.e. Are phytoeostrogens which they are NOT a fan of due to increased risk of breast cancer etc. She has been using Magnesium which is helping a LOT, plus some Vitamin E and they have also heard Kelp powder (iodine) helps. Do you happen to have any other suggestions? In my response I recommend: -This article on acupuncture and hot flashes. -This article on black cohosh and hot flashes. -Black Cohosh/dong quai (e.g. Thorne MetaBalance) -Organic Maca Powder -TianChi -Vitamin E Does N-Acetyl Cysteine Increase Glutathione? Brian asks: He is interested in learning more about N-Acetyl Cysteine. He has read some articles that say it can help with a wide variety of health issues - helping to make things better for the body. One of the major questions he had was how does it work to reduce pre and post exercise oxidative stress? Also, could you recommend a pure quality product? Are there any side effects from taking NAC? In my response I recommend: -PharmaNAC N-Acetyl-Cysteine -Liposomal glutathione How To Increase Shoulder Mobility Mark asks: In June this year he did a Tough Mudder and had fun and felt really good. The next day he played two, back to back, soft ball games. He felt a tweak in his shoulder every time he threw the ball but didn't think much of it. From that day on he has had tightness in his shoulder and his range of motion was very limited (reaching for high things is difficult, playing golf is hard and even playing his dreadnought guitar is painful). It is getting better, very slowly, but it is still very tight in the morning and interrupts his sleep at night. Do you know why this is taking so long to heal, why it is tight in the morning and what he can do to speed up the healing? In my response I recommend: -Becoming A Supple Leopard book -AllThingsGym.com mobility page (esp. shoulder flossing and lacrosse ball shoulder) Getting Rid of Scar Tissue Yvonne asks: About a year ago she ripped her thigh muscle doing an aerobic workout. She now has some scar tissue at the top of her leg. Now she gets a burning sensation in her thigh muscle and wonders what it could be. Can you tell her? In my response I recommend: -Active Release Technique practitioner search ----------------------------------------------------- -- And don't forget to go to BenGreenfieldFitness.com/love!-- Prior to asking your question, do a search in upper right hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness! Podcast music from 80s Fitness (Reso Remix) by KOAN Sound. Buy this track now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
29 Okt 201458min

How To Find Nutrient-Dense Wild Edibles And Medicinal Plants In Your Own Backyard.
Ever wished you knew if you had plants in your backyard that you could actually eat - plants that might even be good for you, save you money grocery shopping, heal you, provide you with nutrient density and more? Or maybe you just want to know how to survive in the wilderness for a few days on your own. The fact is, if you know what to look for, you can find a wealth of edible and medicinal plants all around you. You just need to know where to look, and which plants to avoid so that you don't poison yourself. Not only that, but you can also survive in the wilderness with just a few primitive skills - fewer than you'd think. In this podcast, I interview Tim Corcoran, an expert on wilderness survival, permaculture, edible wild plants and more. Tim is co-director of Twin Eagles Wilderness School · Nature & Wilderness Survival School, an organization he co-founded with his wife, Jeannine Tidwell in Sandpoint, Idaho (located about an hour from my house. Tim is a certified Wilderness First Responder, a graduate of the Kamana Naturalist Training Program, and a graduate of the Vermont Wilderness School’s five-year Apprenticeship Program. During this episode, we discuss: -3 wild edibles you can find in your own backyard... -Two crucial wilderness survival skills that everyone should know... -How you can quickly die if you don't have the right mindset going into a wilderness survival situation... -Why we've lost our sense of tribe and community and what we can do about it... -How to go through a rite of passage... -Why you should know Gilbert Walking Bull's "Seven Sacred Attributes"... -And much more! Click here for the YouTube videos that accompany this episode, click here to grab the free e-book that Tim is offering on "Top 10 Edible Wild Plants", and leave your questions, comments and feedback about wild edibles and medicinal plants at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 Okt 201447min

How Warrior Breathing Works, The Best Way To Use DHEA, Should Kids Drink MCT Oil & More!
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/297 Oct 22, 2014 Podcast: How Does Warrior Breathing Work, The Best Way To Use DHEA, Should Kids Drink MCT Oil, Natural Remedies for Ingrown Hairs, and Applied Movement Neurology. Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right, use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, Skype “pacificfit” or use the “Ask Ben” form... but be prepared to wait - we prioritize audio questions over text questions. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. The anti-aging benefits of a 5-minute run match those of a 15-minute walk. Would YOU take a red wine bath? I think this is a great idea to spray plants with a pesticide sprayer…only to put something different in the sprayer. (and how to use seaweed to mulch your garden and organic trace minerals for your garden). ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: Go to TrainingMask.com and use code BEN2014 for a 20% discount on your third lung. November 17-21, 2014: Ben interviews 23 of the world's leading experts in performance, recovery, nutrition, fat loss, brain, sleep and hormone optimization, and you get a free all-access pass. Check it out now at BenGreenfieldFitness.com/RevYourself. Other places you can meet Ben: Oct 25-26 Sacramento Super Spartan, Nov 2-9 London, Nov 9-16 Israel. Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast. January 30th - 31st, 2015 - Talise Fitness and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, proudly invite you to take part in an exclusive two day seminar held by the renowned nutrition and fitness expert, best selling author, coach, speaker, ex-bodybuilder and Ironman triathlete, Ben Greenfield. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja. How Does Warrior Breathing Work? Brian asks: He recently attended a level 1 academy at Sealfit. His favorite evolution of the academy was the qigong guy that lead them through warrior breathing. He experienced intense feelings of oneness with all of humanity, crazy visions of flaming zebras, and was crying like a baby by the end of it. When he walked out of the room a teammate killed his metaphysical buzz by saying what they just experienced was oxygen deprivation, similar to altitude sickness. What are your thoughts and experiences with warrior breathing? What is going on physiologically that might trigger this type of psychedelic experience? In my response I recommend: -My SEALFit Warrior Breathing Experience -Wim Hof's fire breathing technique The Best Way To Use DHEA Buddy asks: DHEA. What are your thoughts, concerns, feelings? You once tweeted that if your weren't competitive, you would consider using it. Where would be a good place to start? Trusted brand? In my response I recommend: -The WADA Banned Supplements List -Thorne DHEA Should Kids Drink MCT Oil? Chris asks: He has a 6 month old baby body who doesn't sleep very well. He wants to try giving him some more MCT oil. The baby is breast feeding and Chris has tried adding 1 cc of MCT oil with breast milk in his bottle and it seemed like the baby slept better. What are your thoughts on this idea? In my response I recommend: -Upgraded MCT Oil Natural Remedies for Ingrown Hairs Jasmel asks: He gets ingrown hairs on his face. It has gotten worse as he has aged and also gets worse when he shaves. He has tried antibiotics on his face as a cream as as a medication. Is there anything else he can try? Applied Movement Neurology Aaem asks: Have you heard of Applied Movement Neurology? It is supposed to increase strength, improve mobility and enhance athleticism. Do you think this program is worth looking into further (he is a progressive calisthenics trainer) and thinks this sounds like something that might pair up with that. In my response I recommend: -My podcast with the folks at Z-Health ----------------------------------------------------- -- And don't forget to go to BenGreenfieldFitness.com/love!-- Prior to asking your question, do a search in upper right hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness! Podcast music from 80s Fitness (Reso Remix) by KOAN Sound. Buy this track now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
22 Okt 201457min

Does Food Combining Really Work, How To Exercise With A Knee Injury, Why Do You Put MCT Oil In Bulletproof Coffee?
http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/296 Oct 18, 2014 Podcast: Does Food Combining Really Work, How To Exercise With A Knee Injury, Why Do You Put Fat In Bulletproof Coffee, How To Jump Farther And Higher, and How To Handle More Alcohol. Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right, use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, Skype “pacificfit” or use the “Ask Ben” form... but be prepared to wait - we prioritize audio questions over text questions. ----------------------------------------------------- News Flashes: You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+. I met this guy last month at a conference. He has injected himself with ancestral poop. No joke. What do you think? Vegan or vegetarian? You need to read this, then go find you some nori (e.g. SeaSnax nori) Great article on how to increase your heart rate variability. ----------------------------------------------------- Special Announcements: This podcast is brought to you by TrainingMask.com. Use 20% discount code BEN2014 to grow a third lung. November 17-21, 2014: Ben interviews 23 of the world's leading experts in performance, recovery, nutrition, fat loss, brain, sleep and hormone optimization, and you get a free all-access pass. Check it out now at BenGreenfieldFitness.com/RevYourself. Other places you can meet Ben: Oct 25-26 Sacramento Super Spartan, Nov 2-9 London, Nov 9-16 Israel. Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast. January 30th - 31st, 2015 - Talise Fitness and Jumeirah Emirates Towers, proudly invite you to take part in an exclusive two day seminar held by the renowned nutrition and fitness expert, best selling author, coach, speaker, ex-bodybuilder and Ironman triathlete, Ben Greenfield. Grab this Official Ben Greenfield Fitness Gear package that comes with a tech shirt, a beanie and a water bottle. And of course, this week's top iTunes review - gets some BG Fitness swag straight from Ben - leave your review for a chance to win some! ----------------------------------------------------- Listener Q&A: As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja. Does Food Combining Really Work? Combine asks: Could you talk a little bit about food combining? Does the combination of macro and micro nutrients we put together really matter in terms of fat gain and muscle gain? Does this change if you are eating before, after or in the absence of a workout? In my response I recommend: -Digestive Enzymes -GI Effects Comprehensive Gut Panel How To Exercise With A Knee Injury Scott asks: His mom has been diagnosed with some severe knee damage due to some genetic problems. She is headed for a knee replacement but she wants to get fit. Is there anything she should be doing in particular? Machines, regimens, suggestions? Ideas like using the elliptical instead of running? In my response I recommend: -How To Exercise With A Knee Injury podcast -MarcPro (use $32 discount code "BEN") -Kelly Starrett's "Ready To Run" Book (Voodoo Flossing technique, deep tissue work) -CapraFlex Why Do You Put Fat In Bulletproof Coffee? Nick asks: He is wondering if there is any research that shows that the terpenes in Bulletproof Coffee are more bio-available or highly absorbed or if it is the MCT oil in particular that is causing it? Would half-and-half or heavy cream work better or just as well? In my response I recommend: -Upgraded MCT Oil How To Jump Farther And Higher Tyler asks: He is wondering about jumping. Is it a skill that most of us haven't properly learned? Do you have any suggestions, resources or tips for effective jump training for both height and distance? He has one surgically repaired ACL and would like to avoid tearing the other one. How To Handle More Alcohol Alex asks: He is wondering how he can safely start drinking again. His problem is that after a sip or two, he is "blitzed". Doesn't matter if he drinks water or eats before. This has been going on for 10 years. Could the tiny amounts of wine be more harmful to him? How can he learn how to drink? In my response I recommend: -Activated Charcoal -NoGlo ----------------------------------------------------- -- And don't forget to go to BenGreenfieldFitness.com/love!-- Prior to asking your question, do a search in upper right hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness! Podcast music from 80s Fitness (Reso Remix) by KOAN Sound. Buy this track now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Okt 20141h 4min

Everything You Need To Know About Essential Oils For Fat Loss, Performance, Smart Drugs, Scar Healing, Detoxing And More.
Two years ago, I got a nasty staph infection. It exploded into the flesh-eating bacteria MRSA, it took over both my arms and legs, it ate a golf-ball sized hole into my right thigh and I nearly lost my left arm. The entire nasty story, along with shocking photos, is here. After trying every natural remedy and topical creme on the face of the planet, I eventually got rid of the entire thing and healed myself with essential oils. Over the past two years, I went from knowing nothing about essential oils to discovering an entire wealth of knowledge about these amazing natural remedies, and in today's podcast episode with Dr. Sarah Lobisco, you're going to learn everything you need to know about essential oils for fat loss, performance, cognitive enhancement, scar healing, detoxing and more, including: What exactly an essential oil is and how an essential oil is actually made... How essential oils work chemically within your body... The three different ways you can apply and use essential oils... The best essential oils for your immune system... The best essential oil blends for stress and sleep... The best essential oils for fat loss (and for stretch marks too!)... Amazing ways you can use one essential oil as a smart drug and cognitive performance enhancer... How essential oils can be used to enhance physical performance... How essential oils can be used for cleansing and detox... -Why not all essential oils are created equal, why some can do some serious damage to you if you're not careful, and the exact brand that Dr. Sarah uses... My guest, Dr. Sarah Lobisco, is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport’s College of Naturopathic Medicine (UBCNM). She is licensed in Vermont as a naturopathic doctor and holds a Bachelor of Psychology from State University of New York at Geneseo. Dr. LoBisco speaks professionally on integrative medical topics, has several journal publications, and is a candidate for postdoctoral certification in functional medicine. She currently has a private integrative medicine consulting practice located in Ballston Spa, New York, where she incorporates her training in holistic medical practices with conventional medicine. Do you have more questions about essential oil? Leave your comments and feedback at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and click here to peruse the Young Living Essential Oils we discuss in this episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
15 Okt 201445min





















