Digital Twins: The End of Human Drug Testing for Biohackers : 1342

Want to biohack your biology with nature’s most powerful anti-aging compounds? In this episode, you’ll discover how medicinal mushrooms fuel neurogenesis, protect mitochondria, supercharge immunity, and even help save the planet’s pollinators. From sharper focus and deeper REM sleep to protecting DNA from oxidative stress, fungi are the ultimate biohacking tools for performance, resilience, and longevity. Watch episodes on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR (Re-run) Host Dave Asprey sits down with legendary mycologist and author Paul Stamets and mushroom entrepreneur Julian Mitchell. Together, they uncover the science of fungi as medicine — how mushrooms repair nerves, fight viruses, act as prebiotics for your microbiome, and provide the ultimate anti-aging biohacks. You’ll also hear how fungi hold the key to saving pollinators, regenerating soil, and extending human longevity. You’ll Learn: • Which anti-aging compounds in mushrooms protect your mitochondria and DNA • How lion’s mane stimulates nerve growth factor and improves memory, focus, and REM sleep • Why oyster mushrooms may help fight flu viruses and reduce chronic inflammation • How mushroom tinctures unlock more bioactive compounds than powders or capsules • The surprising role fungi play in saving bees and restoring environmental balance Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: anti-aging mushrooms, Paul Stamets fungi, lion’s mane memory, mushroom tincture benefits, ergothionine mitochondrial protection, oyster mushroom flu prevention, reishi immune system, cordyceps endurance, turkey tail microbiome, medicinal mushroom research, fungi save the bees, chaga antioxidants, mushroom longevity biohack, mycelium networks, functional mushrooms anti-inflammatory, mushroom brain health, neurogenesis fungi, adaptogenic mushrooms, mushroom cooking bioavailability • Lifecykel Mushroom Products - use code ‘DAVE20’ for 20% off: https://www.lifecykel.com/?rfsn=4497217.61b030&utm_source=refersion&utm_medium=affiliate&am… • Paul Stamets’ Website: https://hostdefense.com/ Thank you to our sponsors! • ECHO Water | Go to http://echowater.com/dave and use code DAVE10 for 10% off your ECHO Flask. Resources: • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: • 0:00 — Trailer • 0:47 — Intro • 6:15 — Mushrooms vs. Algae • 10:21 — Mushroom Safety & Microbiome • 12:24 — Mushrooms as Medicine • 14:43 — Psychedelics & Microdosing • 16:26 — Kakadu Plum & Prebiotics • 18:07 — Oyster Mushrooms & Cooking • 21:35 — Mushrooms & Bees • 25:59 — Lion’s Mane & Chaga See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Sep 30min

Want to improve memory, unlock neuroplasticity, and achieve sharper brain optimization? This episode reveals how Transcendental Meditation (TM) functions as one of the most powerful nootropics for human performance, longevity, and resilience. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with neuroscientist and physician Dr. Tony Nader, the global leader of the Transcendental Meditation movement. With an MD and PhD from MIT and Harvard, Dr. Nader bridges hard science with ancient wisdom, showing how TM measurably changes brainwaves, boosts mitochondria, and even slows biological aging. His research connects meditation to reduced stress, faster reaction time, and improved memory, giving listeners cutting-edge tools for smarter not harder living. You’ll Learn: • How Transcendental Meditation induces high-coherence alpha brain states that improve clarity, focus, and resilience • Why TM increases blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and supports memory, decision-making, and creativity • How meditation measurably reduces biological age by 5–10 years through stress reduction and physiological balance • Why reaction time and situational awareness improve immediately after meditation — even used by fighter pilots • How TM differs from mindfulness or concentration practices at the brainwave level (alpha vs. theta vs. gamma) Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: Transcendental Meditation benefits, Tony Nader MIT neuroscientist, TM brainwaves alpha coherence, Meditation and neuroplasticity, Default mode network meditation, Meditation and mitochondria, TM and biological age, Consciousness and quantum field theory, Meditation vs psychedelics, Meditation and intuition training, Meditation and dopamine, TM reaction time studies, Hippocampus meditation memory, TM and functional medicine, Meditation and metabolism, Meditation and PTSD recovery, TM for sleep optimization, Meditation and fasting stack, TM and human performance, Meditation and longevity research Thank you to our sponsors! Business of Biohacking Summit | Apply to The Business of Biohacking Summit https://businessofbiohacking.com/. fatty15 | Go to https://fatty15.com/dave and save an extra $15 when you subscribe with code DAVE. Zbiotics | Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAVE for 15% off your first order. Resources: • Tony’s Website: https://drtonynader.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 — Trailer 1:47 — Intro 2:57 — Transcendental Meditation 3:56 — States of Consciousness 10:16 — Brainwaves & Practice 18:35 — Science Bias 38:07 — Mind & Reality 50:32 — Psychedelics & TM 54:29 — Brain & Body Effects 59:31 — Daily Practice 1:02:43 — Closing Thoughts See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Sep 1h 3min

Most people spend their lives trying to outrun death instead of learning from it. This episode shows you why facing mortality directly can unlock resilience, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace while upgrading longevity, human performance, and even brain optimization. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Suzanne O’Brien, RN—an end-of-life expert, hospice nurse, and founder of Doulagivers who has guided over 1,000 people through their final moments. She shares what the dying can teach the living about biohacking fear, letting go of unresolved trauma, and finding clarity before it’s too late. Together they explore how hacking your mindset around death transforms not only emotional well-being but also physical health, neuroplasticity, and metabolism. You’ll hear stories of people who discovered forgiveness and gratitude at the end of life, and how those practices directly influence mitochondria, sleep optimization, and longevity. They dive into the link between fear, stress chemistry, and chronic illness—and why tools like fasting, ketosis, cold therapy, supplements, nootropics, and functional medicine create the inner and outer resilience needed to face life fully. You’ll Learn: • Why fear of death silently undermines health, performance, and human potential • How forgiveness and gratitude rewire neuroplasticity and boost brain optimization • What hospice nurses know about consciousness and near-death experiences that science is only starting to confirm • How unresolved trauma shows up as physical pain and disease at the end of life Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: fear of death, hospice nurse, doulagivers, end of life planning, good death, forgiveness practice, gratitude science, near death experience, hospice care stories, emotional trauma release, spiritual awakening, conscious dying, home funeral, palliative care, death doula training, legacy planning, end of life rituals, soul agreements, dying process stages, compassionate care Thank you to our sponsors! ECHO Water | Go to http://echowater.com/dave and use code DAVE10 for 10% off your ECHO Flask. Quantum Upgrade | Go to https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave for a free trial. BodyHealth | Go to https://bodyhealth.com/ and use code DAVE20 to save 20% off your first order of PerfectAmino. Resources: • Suzanne’s Website: https://suzannebobrien.com/ • Get Suzanne's Book 'The Good Death': https://thegooddeathbook.com• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 00:00 — Trailer 01:05 — Introduction 03:13 — End-of-Life Choices 09:50 — Forgiveness & Suffering 15:46 — Advice to Younger Self 20:00 — What Makes a Good Death 23:00 — Hospice Stories & Mystical Experiences 33:05 — The Good Death Defined 41:01 — Meaning & Purpose See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Sep 56min

What if the foods you think are healthy are actually disrupting your biology? From sugar marketed as a performance tool to “whole grains” that drive cravings, this episode uncovers how hidden traps in modern nutrition can hijack your brain, wreck your metabolism, and accelerate aging. You’ll learn how to rethink daily eating so it fuels energy, resilience, and long-term health instead of quietly sabotaging it. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Max Lugavere, health journalist, filmmaker, and bestselling author of Genius Foodsand The Genius Kitchen. Max is one of the most trusted voices in nutrition and functional medicine, translating complex science into practical tools you can use right now. His work has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, and across global media for helping people reclaim health through smarter food and lifestyle choices. In this re-run, Dave and Max break down the real impact of sugar, salt, and food processing on your brain and body. They explore how cooking methods change health outcomes, when fasting and ketosis become powerful tools, and why supplements, nootropics, and trace minerals fill gaps in the modern diet. They also tackle controversial topics like carnivore diets, cold therapy, and whether “healthy” plant-based foods are truly supporting resilience—or quietly eroding it. You’ll Learn: • The biggest nutrition myths that silently damage health and performance • How sugar can act as both poison and fuel depending on context • Why cooking methods make the difference between nourishment and toxicity • The overlooked role of minerals, supplements, and culinary literacy • How nootropics, cold therapy, and sleep optimization reset your brain • Why some “health foods” accelerate aging instead of protecting you • The truth about carnivore diets, industrial farming, and sustainability • When fasting, ketosis, and carb cycling create optimal results This episode gives you a science-backed blueprint to hack your nutrition, sharpen your brain, and extend your longevity with foods that truly support your biology. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: uric acid longevity, uric acid metabolism, fructose uric acid pathway, xanthine oxidase inhibition, quercetin uric acid, luteolin supplements, AMP kinase uric acid, AMP deaminase metabolism, uric acid and mitochondria, uric acid and neuroplasticity, uric acid Alzheimer’s risk, uric acid dementia prevention, uric acid and nitric oxide, fructose metabolism hibernation biology, evolutionary mismatch uricase mutation, fructokinase inhibition, uric acid and insulin resistance, gout biohacking, uric acid and obesity, uric acid functional medicine Resources: • Max’s Website: https://www.maxlugavere.com/ • Screenfit | Get your at-home eye training program for 40% off using code DAVE https://www.screenfit.com/dave • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 — Trailer 0:30 — Introduction 1:51 — Resilience & Stress 2:41 — Food Philosophy 6:20 — Sugar & Metabolism 11:21 — Fructose & Flexibility 21:57 — Big Food & Morality 24:51 — Meat & Sustainability 26:30 — Cooking at Home 28:34 — Salt & Minerals 30:07 — Dietitians & Industry 32:45 — Intuitive Eating 41:13 — Cooking Risks 45:26 — Fish & Contaminants 49:16 — Lectins & Sensitivities 52:22 — Herbs & Spices 54:59 — Recipes & Highlights 58:17 — Closing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Sep 1h

Most people think broccoli is a superfood, but the reality is more nuanced. In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey explores the good and bad of broccoli—why adult broccoli can block thyroid function and cause gut issues, while broccoli seeds deliver sulforaphane, the powerful compound that activates all three of your body’s detox pathways. You’ll learn how sulforaphane protects against glyphosate, repairs leaky gut, and upgrades mitochondria, metabolism, and longevity. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Dave is joined by two Johns Hopkins–trained researchers whose expertise in biohacking, biochemistry, and functional medicine makes them trusted leaders in the field. Together they reveal how sulforaphane, berberine, curcumin, and alpha-lipoic acid outperform bulk vegetables and even rival GLP-1 weight loss drugs—delivering natural ways to improve metabolism, regulate dopamine, and protect the brain. Their research shows how targeted supplements can boost neuroplasticity, brain optimization, and human performance without the side effects of pharmaceuticals. Dave and his guests break down why bulk vegetables don’t deliver enough beneficial compounds, how to hack plant toxins for maximum benefit, and why supplement stacks often outperform carnivore, vegan, or high-vegetable diets for long-term health. You’ll discover how biohacking tools like fasting, ketosis, nootropics, cold therapy, and sleep optimization amplify these compounds for smarter not harder living. You’ll Learn: • Why adult broccoli can disrupt thyroid function while broccoli seeds fuel detox and longevity • How sulforaphane, berberine, curcumin, and alpha-lipoic acid support metabolism and mitochondria • Why natural compounds can rival GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and energy regulation • The connection between glyphosate, leaky gut, inflammation, and brain fog • How to stack supplements with fasting, ketosis, and cold therapy for brain optimization • Why functional medicine and biohacking provide better long-term solutions than fad diets • The smarter not harder way to extract benefits from plants without the toxic load This episode is essential for anyone serious about biohacking, upgrading metabolism, extending longevity, and achieving high performance with resilience and clarity. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: sulforaphane supplements, broccoli seed extract, detox pathways phase 1 2 3, NRF2 activation, glyphosate gut health, leaky gut repair biohacking, thyroid blockers broccoli, DIM I3C compounds, functional medicine detox, Johns Hopkins biohacking research, berberine metabolism, alpha lipoic acid mitochondria, curcumin weight loss, GLP-1 natural alternatives, dopamine metabolism regulation, neuroplasticity supplements, fasting and sulforaphane, ketosis and detox synergy, smarter not harder supplements, Dave Asprey broccoli Mara Labs Website: https://mara-labs.com/Dave for 28% off!Resources: -Mara Labs Website: https://mara-labs.com/Davefor 28% off!-BrocElite link: https://partnerships.mara-labs.com/4H6KD28/TZW7X/?&sub4=biohack&uid=123-GLPerfect link: https://partnerships.mara-labs.com/4H6KD28/TZW7X/?&sub4=biohack&uid=123Thank you to our sponsors! EMR-Tek | https://www.emr-tek.com/DAVE and use code DAVE for 40% off. Timeline | Head to https://www.timeline.com/dave to get 10% off your first order. Calroy | Head to https://calroy.com/dave for an exclusive discount. Resources: • Mara Labs Website: NEED TO INSERT CODE • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 00:00 — Trailer 01:10 — Introduction 01:49 — Broccoli Benefits & Risks 09:24 — Plant Toxins & Modern Diet 12:56 — Mold Detox Experiences 18:30 — Mycotoxins, Glyphosate & Gut Health 26:20 — Metabolic Syndrome & Endotoxins 35:44 — Timing Sulforaphane for Glyphosate Protection 39:35 — Weight Loss & GL Perfect 49:19 — Personalization & Supplement Stacking 55:10 — Sleep, Ketosis & Berberine 58:30 — Alpha Lipoic Acid + Berberine Synergy 1:01:00 — Natural Alternatives to GLP-1 Drugs See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Sep 1h 2min

Millions of people are living with unexplained symptoms like allergies, brain fog, anxiety, and chronic fatigue without realizing the hidden cause: mast cells gone rogue. In this episode of The Human Upgrade, Host Dave Asprey sits down with leading functional medicine physician Dr. Tania Dempsey to uncover how Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) drives inflammation, disrupts mitochondria, and sabotages metabolism—and what you can do to switch it off. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Dr. Dempsey is internationally recognized for her work in functional medicine, biohacking, and chronic illness. She co-founded the AIM Center for Personalized Medicine, has published groundbreaking research on MCAS with Dr. Lawrence Afrin, and treats some of the most complex cases of immune dysregulation, autoimmune disease, and environmental illness. Her expertise helps you understand why mast cells are the missing link in allergies, long COVID, Lyme, mold toxicity, and even hormone disruption—and how to reclaim control of your biology. Dave and Dr. Dempsey break down how mast cells interact with mitochondria, hormones, and the nervous system, showing how chronic inflammation accelerates aging and blocks human performance. You’ll discover why biohacking tools like fasting, ketosis, supplements, red light, cold therapy, sleep optimization, and smarter not harder lifestyle strategies all influence mast cell stability. They also explore why brain optimization, neuroplasticity, and nootropics are essential for calming inflammatory cascades, and how functional medicine provides practical solutions beyond conventional treatment. You’ll Learn: • Why mast cells are the hidden switch behind allergies, chronic inflammation, and brain fog • How mitochondria and mast cells work together to drive human performance—or disease • The connection between toxic mold, Lyme, long COVID, hormone imbalance, and MCAS • How supplements, fasting, ketosis, and cold therapy stabilize mast cells and boost longevity • Why functional medicine and biohacking are essential for complex chronic illness • How mast cells impact metabolism, sleep optimization, and neuroplasticity • The surprising link between mast cells, anxiety, and mental health symptoms This episode is essential for anyone serious about hacking inflammation, protecting longevity, upgrading metabolism, and achieving high performance with resilience and clarity. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: mast cell activation syndrome, MCAS, chronic inflammation, mitochondria dysfunction, histamine intolerance, functional medicine, biohacking, allergies, brain fog, long covid, mold toxicity, Bartonella, Lyme co-infections, oxalates, salicylates, mast cell stabilizers, immune dysregulation, neuroinflammation, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune triggers, personalized medicine, longevity supplements Thank you to our sponsors!Leela Quantum Tech | Head to https://leelaq.com/DAVE for 10% off.LMNT | Free LMNT Sample Pack with any drink mix purchase by going to https://drinklmnt.com/DAVE.Resources: • Tania’s Website: https://drtaniadempsey.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 00:00 — Trailer 01:10 — Introduction 03:27 — Why So Sick Today? 05:57 — MCAS Explained 08:33 — Mold & Environment 11:36 — Spotting MCAS 13:43 — Personal Stories 15:15 — Research & Biohacking 16:35 — Managing Triggers 20:15 — Gut & Stomach Acid 22:42 — Reaction Timing 25:30 — Hormones & MCAS 28:39 — Thyroid & Mitochondria 32:28 — Chronic Illness Navigation 40:06 — Insurance Battles 44:44 — Cholesterol & Ethics 49:11 — Personalized Care 53:24 — Circadian & Stress 58:24 — Testing Approaches 01:01:35 — Collagen & Joints 01:04:34 — MMPs & Aging 01:09:12 — Access & Experimentation 01:13:14 — MCAS & Mental Health 01:17:46 — Benzos & Stigma 01:20:23 — Vaccines & Spike Protein 01:25:18 — Research & Treatments 01:26:12 — Nicotine & Focus 01:29:24 — Closing See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2 Sep 1h 29min

Most people track glucose or ketones, but almost no one is measuring the hidden signal that could be silently wrecking your metabolism, brain function, and longevity: uric acid. This episode reveals why this overlooked biomarker drives obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, and even accelerated aging—and how you can hack it to unlock resilience, human performance, and smarter not harder health upgrades. Watch the podcast on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR We revisit host Dave Asprey sitting down with Dr. David Perlmutter, one of the world’s leading functional medicine neurologists and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain and Drop Acid. Dr. Perlmutter has spent decades connecting gut health, brain optimization, and neuroplasticity with lifestyle interventions that truly change the trajectory of disease. In this conversation, he explains how uric acid acts as a metabolic switch that determines whether you burn fat or store it, whether your mitochondria power you up or slow you down, and whether your brain stays sharp or declines with age. They break down how fructose, purines, alcohol, and even dehydration spike uric acid, why Japan is decades ahead in using this as a health marker, and how supplements like quercetin and luteolin rival pharmaceuticals in keeping it under control. You’ll also learn how ketosis, fasting, cold therapy, carnivore and plant-based approaches, and sleep optimization all interact with uric acid to shape your healthspan. This is biohacking at its most actionable—because once you measure this signal, you can control it, and once you control it, you radically upgrade your metabolism, your brain, and your longevity. This is essential listening for anyone serious about hacking their biology, building neuroplasticity, powering up mitochondria, exploring nootropics, and discovering smarter not harder ways to live longer and perform better. You’ll Learn: • Why uric acid may be the most important overlooked biomarker for longevity • How it connects obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s • The evolutionary reason your body uses uric acid as a survival signal • How fructose and hidden sugars sabotage metabolism and brain optimization • The role of quercetin, luteolin, and targeted supplements in lowering uric acid • Why measuring at home with a simple device can change your health trajectory • How functional medicine uses uric acid as a predictive tool for chronic disease Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: uric acid longevity, uric acid metabolism, fructose uric acid pathway, xanthine oxidase inhibition, quercetin uric acid, luteolin supplements, AMP kinase uric acid, AMP deaminase metabolism, uric acid and mitochondria, uric acid and neuroplasticity, uric acid Alzheimer’s risk, uric acid dementia prevention, uric acid and nitric oxide, fructose metabolism hibernation biology, evolutionary mismatch uricase mutation, fructokinase inhibition, uric acid and insulin resistance, gout biohacking, uric acid and obesity, uric acid functional medicine Resources: • David’s Website: https://drperlmutter.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 — Trailer 0:35 — Introduction 2:26 — Why Uric Acid Matters 5:55 — Measuring Uric Acid 8:17 — Disease Risk 9:38 — Metabolism Disruption 15:59 — What Raises Uric Acid 26:20 — Global Research 29:50 — Gut & Inflammation 32:55 — Seasonal Eating 47:36 — Brain Health 56:38 — Supplements & Testing 61:45 — The LUV Diet 71:41 — Closing Insights See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Aug 1h 9min

Your dopamine system is being hijacked every day, and the way to reclaim it might surprise you. This episode reveals how pain, pleasure, and addiction are wired in your brain, and how to use that knowledge for real brain optimization, resilience, and longevity. You’ll discover why your dopamine levels control motivation, focus, mood, and even cravings—and the science-backed strategies that reset your neuroplasticity, metabolism, and reward system. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Anna Lembke, Stanford psychiatrist and bestselling author of Dopamine Nation. She is one of the world’s leading experts on addiction, compulsive behavior, and the neuroscience of reward pathways. With decades of clinical work and groundbreaking research, she explains why dopamine has become the modern lens for understanding desire, distraction, and dysfunction—and how we can hack it to upgrade human performance. They break down how dopamine drives addiction, why pain can reset your reward system, and how simple practices like fasting, cold therapy, and supplements affect your brain chemistry. You’ll learn how nicotine, GLP-1 drugs, and even nootropics alter dopamine sensitivity, and why overstimulation from social media, pornography, and ultra-processed food is creating an epidemic of anhedonia. The conversation also covers how functional medicine and biohacking can protect your mitochondria, restore your natural dopamine balance, and make your brain more resilient. You’ll Learn: • Why dopamine itself is not addictive—and what really drives addiction • How pain, hormesis, and “dopamine fasting” can reset your reward system • Why social media and digital overstimulation create chronic dopamine deficit states • The role of GLP-1 drugs, nicotine, psychedelics, and other substances in rewiring dopamine • How functional medicine and supplements help restore dopamine balance • The connection between dopamine, mitochondria, fasting, cold therapy, and longevity • Why radical honesty and self-binding are powerful anti-addiction hacks This is essential listening for anyone serious about hacking dopamine for better focus, sleep optimization, metabolism, and long-term brain health. Whether you’re curious about the link between dopamine and neuroplasticity, looking to upgrade human performance with smarter not harder tools, or just want to know how to stop dopamine hijacks from ruling your life, this episode gives you the science and strategies you need. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade is the top podcast for people who want to take control of their biology, extend their longevity, and optimize every system in the body and mind. Each episode features cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, hacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. Episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday (audio-only) where Dave asks the questions no one else dares, and brings you real tools to become more resilient, aware, and high performing. Keywords: dopamine fasting, pleasure-pain balance, dopamine deficit state, addiction neurobiology, anhedonia treatment, dopamine receptors, neuroadaptation gremlins, endogenous opioids, cold plunge dopamine, hormesis neuroscience, nucleus accumbens dopamine, L-Dopa addiction, GLP-1 and dopamine, social media addiction neuroscience, dopamine reward pathway, compulsive behavior psychiatry, dopamine and neuroplasticity, anhedonia supplements, functional medicine addiction, dopamine repair party Thank you to our sponsors! Zbiotics | Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAVE for 15% off your first order. ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order. Resources: • Anna’s Website: https://www.annalembke.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/DAVE15 • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 — Trailer 1:10 — Introduction 5:47 — Pleasure–Pain Balance 6:45 — Homeostasis & Adaptation 8:22 — Addiction & Dopamine Deficit 10:14 — BICEP: Conscious Pain Exposure 14:26 — Adapting to Pleasure & Pain 20:20 — GLP-1s and Joy 21:39 — Modern Anhedonia 34:32 — Resilience in Young People 42:00 — Social Media & Mental Health 44:46 — Control & Addiction 55:14 — Dopamine Fasting 1:03:18 — Self-Binding Tools 1:07:56 — Psychedelics & Addiction 1:12:25 — Parenting in the Digital Age 1:14:39 — Progress & Outlook See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 Aug 1h 15min