Boundless Life

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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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!

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As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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-- 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.

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.

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.

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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).

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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!

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As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.

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-- 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.

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

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.

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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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

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?

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?

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?

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.

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?

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-- 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.

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.

Ben just raced the Ironman Hawaii World Championships with just 14 days of preparation.

In this post-race podcast straight from the Big Island just hours after the race, you'll find out: -How Ben prepared (including why he wasn't able to stick to his original plan, and had to biohack instead)... -Why Ben did yoga during the actual race... -Ben's top mental tactics for achieving things that seem like they should be impossible... -The crazy illegal drugs Ben was offered during the race... -What you can learn from Ben's foray into extremely minimalist Ironman training, and whether you should try this too...

This episode was brought to you by Training Mask. Visit TrainingMask.com and use code "KONA" to save 25% on this essential training tool that Ben uses to grow himself a third lung.

During this episode, Ben and Brock also fill you in on the brand new "Defying Sports Nutrition Paradigms" episode that was just released inside the BenGreenfieldFitness Premium channel.

Leave your questions at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Here are your resources from Ben Greenfield’s presentation at the Ironman Medical Conference 2014 – enjoy!

• Book: “Beyond Training“
• Article: “How Much Fat Can You Burn?” Parts 1 and 2
• Article: “The Real Truth About What To Eat Before, During And After Your Workouts & Races.“
• Article: “Fat Based Energy Gels“
• Book: “Feed Zone Portables“
• “Real food” powder for on the go: LivingFuel Meal Replacement
• Easy to digest fats: MCT / Coconut Oil / Bone Broth
• Easy to digest proteins: Master Amino Pattern Capsules / Thorne Amino Powder
• Easy to digest carbs: UCAN Superstarch / Infinit-E (use 50% discount code MSTBG09 at http://www.millenniumsport.net)
• Getting body into fat burning mode: X2Performance
• Pack of fats/proteins/carbs: Greenfield Fitness Systems Endurance Pack
• Pre-race meal: Upgraded Coffee
• Extra electrolytes: Real Good Aztecan sea salt
• Real food: Organic USWellness meats for pemmican, jerky, etc.

Need more resources? Visit Greenfield Fitness Systems for instant access to everything Ben recommends!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For two years, since nearly breaking the 4 hour mark in a Half-Ironman in Japan, I've had an "anchor".

Not that heavy piece of metal you drop off the back of a boat. I'm talking about a mental anchor. Basically, it goes like this: when I'm in the middle of a race, I squeeze my thumb up against the inside of my hand, and this triggers my mind to shout this phrase "never gonna catch me".

Then I seem to just take off like a shot. I'm totally not kidding. It shuts down the pain, let's me focus, and causes me to tap into a quick burst of hidden energy. I developed this anchor during something called a neurolingustic programming session (also known as "NLP") that I recorded for a podcast just a few days before that race in Japan, and I released the podcast a few days later.

You can listen to it at "How To Rewire Your Brain and Body With Neurolinguistic Programming". But this simple programming technique still didn't tackle another important issue - the trouble that many athletes have getting to sleep at night before the big race.

After all, no matter how well wired you are to perform fantastically, you'll be miserable if you feel like you've just pulled an all-nighter!

So today I have good news: I've invited back on the podcast the guy who taught me that anchor and neurolinguistically "programmed" me.

His name is Andy Murphy, and in this episode, he's going to teach us exactly how to get to sleep at night before a big race or event.

During our podcast, you'll learn: -How to tap into your subconscious in a practical and easy-to-understand way... -How to instantly make your room more comfortable, even if it's a hotel room, tent or some other place you're not used to sleeping... -How to stop the "excitement" movie from playing in your head, and replace it with relaxation... -How to program your subconscious for deep sleep to feel calm and happy before your event... -And much more!

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to get to sleep at night before a big race, or your own tips to share? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In recent podcasts, I've talked a lot lately about alcohol, and what it does to the body, both good and bad.

My friend James Swanwick, who wrote the article below and is the host of the Alpha Male Club podcast, has a very interesting take on alcohol.

So in today's podcast, you're going to learn how quitting alcohol helped James lose 30 pounds of fat, make more money, attract better friends and lovers, and got him a job hosting SportsCenter on ESPN - and get a formula for reducing or quitting alcohol. You'll learn:

-Why James quit alcohol...

-What happens to your body when you stop drinking, physically and mentally...

-The biggest challenges that happen when you stop or reduce drinking...

-What to do when you’re at a party or bar if you're not going to order a drink...

-If James turned to any other vices as a replacement...

-Why James doesn't just use a “one glass of wine a day” approach...

-And much more!

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"I am four years alcohol-free today. What started as a 30-day challenge, turned into a four-year lifestyle change. Friends often ask me about this so I figure I’ll quickly share my story, assuming others may be interested. I was never a big drinker. I’d enjoy a few quiet beers during the week. Most weekends I’d go a little harder and get a good “buzz”. On a handful of occasions over many years, I would say I got “drunk”. It was all good fun. There was no drinking to excess. I never had a drinking problem. But I awoke with a shocking hangover one morning four years ago at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas after a particularly fun night. I walked into an International House of Pancakes for a hangover breakfast. The IHOP menus have photos of the food you can choose – big, bright, bold colors. The sight of those scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes on the menu and big, fat, overweight people sitting at tables next to me made me ill. I decided then and there to see if I could go 30 days alcohol-free. It was simply a personal bet with myself to test my self-discipline. I didn’t plan to go more than 30 days. But I eventually would. The first two weeks were hard. I went out with friends and ordered water or diet coke and they’d give me a hard time. “You’re un-Australian!” they’d say to me. But I got through those two weeks and I was off to the races. I felt better, slept better and had much more mental clarity. After 30 days, I’d lost an incredible 13lbs (5.9kg) of fat around my stomach. Just from stopping drinking. I had more money in the bank balance, my skin looked considerably better and I actually enjoyed getting out of bed early morning to exercise.

So I said to myself, “Bugger it. I feel great. I’ll just keep going and see how far I can go.” Little did I know just how far I would go. After 60 days, I craved a cold beer. Or a red wine. Or a Bombay Sapphire gin and tonic with a dash of lime. When it was hot outside, I started dreaming, “I would smash an ice cold beer right now!” But I breathed deeply, downed a diet coke or water and the feeling passed. After three months, I felt terrific. I’d dropped a few more pounds of fat and was starting to put on some lean muscle in the gym. People were complimenting me on how good I looked. I also realized that despite not drinking, I was still managing to have wildly entertaining nights out – even with my drunken friends slurring their words around me. Conversations with women became much more interesting. When I told women I wasn’t drinking, far from them thinking I was an alcoholic in recovery, they actually told me they were impressed with my self-discipline.

“Beautiful,” I thought. “I can stop drinking and still be fun, entertaining and attractive to women.” Guys were always suspicious of my story, though. They always thought I was a recovering alcoholic who “obviously” had a problem. I just smiled. Between three and six months I was in the zone. I felt energetic and healthy and I actually started to thrive on telling people I had temporarily stopped drinking. But many people – particularly guys – still challenged me. They called me a “Pussy!” Or said to me, “Just have one!” Or “An Aussie that doesn’t drink?!?! F$%k off!” I just laughed, pointed to my head and gave them my stock response, “I’m too strong in mind!” Some idiots even tried to secretly slip vodka into my soda. I had to make a point of always sniffing before drinking if they’d ordered for me. Six to 12 months was fairly easy to be honest. And this is where I noticed the most dramatic changes. I found that my relationships were considerably better – romantic and platonic. For example, I was constantly thinking about how I could help my friends rather than how they could help me. I was more inclined to help people generally and was more considerate. I was calmer and noticed I made better decisions.

My work productivity soared. My business made more money. More opportunities – like an ESPN audition to host SportsCenter – came my way. When it did, I was clear in mind, energetic, and seized the opportunity. I ended up getting that gig and hosted SportsCenter for two years. I did, however, find I got tired at night time and went to sleep earlier. Listen, I could still burn the midnight oil until 5am during my sobriety. But I found I didn’t really want to. I felt like nothing that good really happened after 1am anyway.

So I would party hard – alcohol-free – until 1am. Most people who just met me weren’t even ever aware I wasn’t drinking. I could still be the life of the party with nobody even knowing. Then I headed home to be asleep most Friday and Saturday nights by no later than 2am.

I was up at 8am or 9am on weekends to hit the gym, showered, had breakfast and was ready to tackle the day by 11am when my mates were just dragging their lazy hungover backsides out of bed. When I reached the personal milestone of one year without drinking, I found myself back in Austin at South by Southwest. I went to a pub, ordered a Budweiser, and put it to my mouth.

It smelled good. I had every intention of drinking that beer. But something stopped me from taking a sip. I paused and thought about it for a minute. I decided that all the pros of not drinking outnumbered the cons. So I said to myself, “I’ll just keep going.” So I did. I put the Budweiser down and haven’t picked up a drink since. March 12, 2014, is four years to the day since I gave myself that initial 30-day challenge. I’m 20lbs (9kg) lighter today than I was when I started on March 12, 2010. I’m 38lbs (17kg) lighter than when I was at my porkiest (See fat face photo above). Drinking definitely kept fat around my waist. Stopping drinking eliminated it. This is likely due to three main things: 1. Alcohol contains a lot of carbs 2. Drinking makes you eat a lot more food, especially bad food like fries and desserts 3. Quitting drinking gives you more energy which turns you into a fat-burning machine. I’m not for one moment suggesting you should quit drinking entirely like I did. Obviously, I am an extreme case. But my story clearly shows some of the positive benefits you can get if you do quit. Even just reducing your alcohol consumption by a few drinks a week, I believe only positive things can happen. If I have a drink today, no worries.

I’ve accomplished my goal. But I just don’t feel like having a drink. In summary:

PROS: I feel better, look better, work better, act better, am better, have more money, have better quality of friends, really enjoy a nice ice cold water, don’t miss alcohol, realize I CAN party like a rock star WITHOUT alcohol, friends who’ve known me a long time say I’m a considerably nicer and more agreeable person

CONS: It is sometimes awkward explaining to new friends or business associates why you don’t drink. BUT…that initial awkwardness is mostly felt by THEM, not by you. And you can’t control how they feel. If you decide you want to give it a try, trust that the pros will likely outweigh the cons. Set yourself a 30-day-goal. Or a two or three-month goal.

Test it. See how you feel. See if it works for you. Or go for a year. Or don’t do it at all. If you’re happy drinking, keep drinking! I love drinking! I love to drink a six-pack of beer and a bottle of red with the best of them. I’m sure I’ll do it again one day. But for now, I’m happy with water and soda and feel like I am the best version of me."

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the health of alcohol, quitting alcohol, reducing alcohol or anything else related to today's podcast? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com and either James or I will reply!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've just returned from the 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference, where I spoke on "5 Potent Biohacks For Beastlike Performance", tested the latest and greatest biohacking gear, and grabbed 13 educational and entertaining interviews for you with some of the best biohackers and biohacking tool companies on the planet. The slides for my presentation, along with each and all of these insider interviews are now available (along with our vault of over 300+ other secret BenGreenfieldFitness shows, interviews, videos and pdf's) over on the BenGreenfieldFitness Premium channel. Click here to go Premium for ten bucks a year (yeah, $10 for the entire year - you heard right), and listen in or download now! Here's what's included in the 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference show (WARNING: some of these audios are funny, but also slightly edgy and inappropriate): 1) An "injectables" interview with the amazing Dr. Lo - who sings me a beautiful song as she injects a 100% legal recovery and performance cocktail into my butt cheek... 2) A interview about why not all electrostimulation is created equal, and how to use high and low frequencies to get different results... 3) A chat with Daniel Vitalis of Surthrival about whether elk antler velvet can really increase testosterone... 4) How to get an entire safe and EMF-free Pulsed Electromagnetic Field, light and sound, binaural beats room in your house for way less than you'd think... 5) A frank chat with the guy at Muse about whether it's actually safe for your brain to hook up EEG electrodes to your head... 6) How an ex-cop turned herbal chef of JingSlingers makes blue nootropic ice cream, and her exact recipe... 7) How to biohack sex and experience a 15 minute orgasm... 8) What happens when you combine compression with weight, attach it all to your body, then try to walk around... 9) How I felt when the most powerful therapeutical laser on the planet was pointed at my knee, and whether protective eyewear is really necessary when playing with devices like this... 10) A new wearable device that shocks you when you do things like check Facebook or search for kitten photos... 11) The pulsed electromagnetic coil that you wrap around a body part to instantly shut down pain and make bones heal faster... 12) The gaming and brain training system that you can control with your brain waves... 13) And finally, what it feels like to get oxygen infused with pure essential oils shot up your nose...

Enjoy!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/295

Oct 1, 2014 Podcast: Ben's Ultimate Guide To Stretching, Should You Stop Taking Supplements Before A Blood Test, Can Coffee Raise Cholesterol, How To Reset Your Sleep Cycle, and an excerpt of "How To Fix Insomnia" from Chapter 10 of Ben Greenfield's Beyond Training book.

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.

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You can receive these News Flashes (and more) every single day, if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Good reason to use those cool little sunrise alarm clocks.
• Here’s a good reason to consider only having “red light waves” in your bedroom/master bathroom
  • Lighting Science Awake & Alert bulbs
  • Lighting Science Good Night Sleep bulbs
• Curious about this new PQQ supplement everybody is talking about? Here’s the synopsis.

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Visit BenGreenfieldFitness.com/aded - to get Yuri Elkaim's new All Day Energy Diet cookbook for free (with recipes like hemp balls, natural gatorade and green cappuccino)! This week you get free videos all week long from Yuri, including "The Worn-Out Weight Gain Connection", "How to Kill Cravings" and "How to Make Healthy Eating Stick".

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will be there too).

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! 

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As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Brandon asks: He wants to know all about stretching. He hears that some people advocate fast stretching, with quick pulses for a neurological effect. Some like stretching for a long period of time to really get to the deep fascia. Which is best and when should you use them?

Brayden asks: He wants to get a complete view of his naturally occurring blood nutrient levels. How long should he wait after he has stopped taking a supplement (Vitamin D) to get his blood tested?

Nathan asks: He has heard that the cafestol content in brewed coffee can effect cholesterol levels in a negative fashion. Is there more in arabic vs. robusta beans? Is this issue limited by using a filter? Is this even an issue or is it just another symptom of people misunderstanding of cholesterol?

Will asks: He has always been a night owl and finds it hard to wake up early. He usually goes to bed at 2am and wakes up at 10am. When he is forced to wake up early he experiences muscle fatigue, absentmindedness, GI issues, and far from optimal functioning. He has tried going to bed early using all kinds of techniques and nothing helps. He just lays there in bed awake. This is an issue with ultra races. The first part of the race is terrible but the back half (when he would normally be awake) he picks up the pace and kills it.

-- This podcast finished with an excerpt of "How To Fix Insomnia" from Chapter 10 of Ben Greenfield's Beyond Training book, click here to go Premium and get access to each audio chapter as it is released! --

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-- 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.

I've got one problem with the whole "sitting is the new smoking" movement.

There's a lack of practical solutions for how to fix what happens to your body when you sit, how to structure your workday to minimize the damage of sitting, and how to make your body bulletproof to the issues with sitting.

So in today's podcast, I interview physical therapists Chad Walding and Brenda Walding, authors of the new book "The Sitting Solution: How To Save Your Spine, Body & Life." During the interview, Chad and Brenda discuss what happens to your body when you sit, why standing may not be the best solution, how to fix the issues that happen to your body when you sit, and the unique set of problems facing athletes who sit.

Below is a sample screenshot from The Sitting Solution that shows how you could easily structure your workday using the techniques we talk about in this episode: This podcast is brought to you by Rebel Desk. At RebelDesk.com, you can use code “BEN” to get $40 off their Rebel Crank-Up desk and you can use code “GREENFIELD” to get $20 off the Rebel Chair that comes with their desk.

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to stop sitting from killing you? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and be sure to check out The Sitting Solution!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few months ago, we had an amazingly popular podcast episode with Steven Kotler, author of "Decoding The Science of Ultimate Human Performance".

During that podcast, Steven mentioned another book he co-wrote with Peter Diamandis (famous founder of the X-Prize Foundation) called "Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think".

Frankly, I thought this other book sounded like a bit of an airy-fairy, positive thinking, Everything Is Awesome (cue Lego movie soundtrack here) type of a book.

But then, over the course of just one week, three more people recommended this book to me, including SEALFit commander Mark Divine. So I figured I should probably read it. And I did.

Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think is based on a contrarian view that exponentially growing technologies and other powerful forces are conspiring to better the lives of billions on our planet, that the gap between the privileged few and hardscrabble majority is closing fast, and that this is drastically affecting human access to everything from water to food, energy, healthcare, education, and freedom.

In today's podcast, you're going to learn why Steven believes that the future of health is better than you may think, and how you can help make all this a reality.

During our discussion you'll learn: -What the pyramid of abundance is... -What Steven means about your stress levels when he says "if it bleeds, it leads"... -How you can grow enough food to feed 9 billion people using vertical farming, skyscrapers "growing food in water"... -Creative ways to get the world's population more protein... -Where "synthetic life" like algae come in for creating biofuel... -A special new kind of toilet that can power your house with your own feces... -How a Star-Trek like Tricorder and a Lab On A Chip would work... -Whether we can actually use genetics to stop obesity... -What the next steps are, and how can you can take action...

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the book "Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think"?

Do you disagree with Steven? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, my friend Yuri Elkaim (pictured above) published a book. Yuri is a bit of an outlier and renegade in the nutrition and health community. His mission is to empower everyday men and women with proper nutrition and health wisdom so they can take better control of their own health.

He also holds High Honors degree in Physical Education and Health/Kinesiology from the University of Toronto, is a former professional soccer player, and for 7 seasons acted as the strength & conditioning/nutrition coach for the nationally ranked men's soccer program at the University of Toronto. Some refer to him as the "health whisperer" for being to get to the heart of what matters and produce amazing health, weight loss, and fitness results where there seemed little hope.

I interview Yuri in today's podcast, and in this episode, we talk about protein digestibility, enzyme exhaustion, why most juicing recipes are no good, and much more.

I must admit, Yuri's new book "The All Day Energy Diet" is not the kind of book I would not normally read.

After all, Yuri - despite being an ex-professional soccer player - is bigtime into juicing, cleanses, detoxing - and I guarantee the guy eats far, far less steak than me...

...so I would *almost* classify him as a Whole Foods hippie.

But his book is, frankly, brilliant.

It covers dietary concepts that I haven't ever seen discussed in a book - concepts like:

-adjusting your blood pH with the foods you eat...

-how to test your adrenals without expensive lab tests...

-which foods literally exhaust your digestive enzymes...

-a new thing called the "PRAL" load of specific meals...

-six myths about plant protein

-how to choose the best kinds of coconut oil and butter...

-and much more.

I learned a ton from this book, and Yuri is a fellow athlete, a father, and a very smart dude, so I'm happy to tell you about his new book.

Better yet, if you click here to get the book now, you get the following ten bonuses (easily worth way more than what you pay for the book of course)...

1. The All-Day Energy Diet Community Cookbook ($29 value) Features 67 energizing, gluten/sugar/soy/dairy-free recipes that takel ess than 15 minutes to make from some of the industry's leading experts and a few of our very own customers (including two recipes by yours truly).

2. 8 Energy-Boosting Desserts ($19 value) These yummy and healthy desserts will finally allow you to have your cake and eat it too, without the dangers of sugar, dairy, or gluten.

3. Food Labels Made Easy ($39 value) Chances are you will still have some packaged foods from time to time. This walkthrough video and workbook shows you how to understand those tricky food labels so you don’t get taken for a ride.

4. The All-Day Energy Diet Grocery Guide ($19 value) Get the complete list and quantities of foods you’ll need for The All-Day Energy Diet.

5. The All-Day Energy Diet Kitchen Makeover ($49 value) Watch Yuri show you around the kitchen and see what you should and should not include your “energized” fridge and pantry.

6. The Bodyweight Energy Workout ($29 value) Burn fat and get energized with this simple 20-minute follow-along bodyweight workout with Yuri.

7. Yoga for Energy ($29 value) 15-minute yoga routine to relax and rejuvenate your body.

8. The "Energy Sessions" audio series ($199 value) Features 5 audio interviews with Dr. Alan Christianson (endocrine), Mitchell Stevko (sleep), Ben Greenfield (fitness), Dr. Isaac Jones (cellular health), and Brendan Brazier (alkalinity).

9. 1-Hour "Getting Started" Group Coaching Call With Yuri ($99 value)

10. Lifetime Access To Yuri's Private Facebook "Social Support" Group (priceless)

If you have questions, comments or feedback about the AJust click here to get the All Day Energy Diet with all the bonuses listed above, and leave your thoughts or questions at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zach Even-Esh - author of the new book the "Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning" - is one of my friends, and one of the few guys who I truly consider to be an absolute beast when it comes to physical strength.

But he wasn't always so strong. As a kid, Zach was crippled by self-doubt, low self-esteem, depression and career-ending injuries. L

ater in life, he got sidetracked by false prophets trumpeting bodybuilding lies that weakened him and had him beaten down over and over again by stronger, more agile, tougher opponents.

Faced by all these failures he could easily have thrown in the towel and contented himself with a comfortable, average role as a so-so athlete and so-so personal trainer.

But Zach had a dream and a vision that was more powerful than the army of setbacks and the bouts of despair.

So he never quit in his relentless quest for athletic supremacy, and continued to persevere and struggle, through multiple odds and continued setback. T

hings finally changed when he was told that he was put on earth to make people strong. And that's what Zach and I talk about on today's podcast - not just his backstory, but also how he's discovered a ton of secret, underground training methods that build strength fast in both men and women.

During our discussion, you'll learn: -Zach's amazing story of how he got into underground style strength training... -Zach's favorite body weight training exercises that you rarely see people doing... -How to get fit with nothing more than a picnic table... -How you can make our own sandbag, and the #1 sandbag move that Zach recommends... -The hardest workout Zach has ever done with a rock... -The shocking ways you can get fit by just using a tire (and it goes way beyond tire flippin'!)... -How you can get a keg and how you can use a keg for a workout... -And much more!

Some of the world’s toughest—and most successful—men have endorsed Zach Even-Esh’s Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning as a must-have, go-to resource for developing the supreme athletic durability, multi-functional strength and spiritual fortitude they most prize. Men like Joe De Sena, founder of The Spartan Race, who says:

“At Spartan, we have always said the world needs a thorough encyclopedia on strength and conditioning. Whether it is our own athletes attending our races, moms, or even the elite special forces we speak to, everyone is looking for an edge. Zach's Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning is exactly what today's society needs to build a stronger mind, body and life, just as we encourage here at Spartan. The inspirational life lessons shared in this book along with these training methods are what make this book powerful and timeless. You owe it to yourself to read this book if you want to change your life.”

And men like the warrior-athlete Mark Divine, founder of SEALFIT and Unbeatable Mind, NYT bestselling author of 8 Weeks to SEALFIT and The Way of the SEAL, says:

“When it comes to functional strength and conditioning—old school style—Zach Even-Esh has been there, done that. Zach is a master at developing young athletes who not only become world class at their sport, but also develop the strength of character to be successful at whatever they choose in life. I highly recommend this book, as it will open your eyes to reality-based training.”

So in the comments section at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, feel free to let Zach and I know which of his methods you've tried, be sure to grab his new "Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning", and leave any other feedback and thoughts!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 17, 2014 Podcast: How Many Calories Do You Burn With Cold Thermogenesis, Dangerous Ingredients In Muscle Rubs, Building Muscle On A Vegan Diet, How To Use A Powerlung, and Autoimmune Issues In Kids.

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.

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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 fitter the CEO, the more valuable the firm? Could be something to it.
• Take creatine to control cortisol level? This molecule just gets better and better.
• Yet another good reason to use creatine (I personally take 5g/day of CreO2 - use 50% discount code MSTBG09)

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Visit BenGreenfieldFitness.com/aded - to get Yuri Elkaim's new All Day Energy Diet cookbook for free (with recipes like hemp balls, natural gatorade and green cappuccino)!

Visit GotHunts.com if you listened to the recent podcast on bowhunting or read the recent article on hunting fitness and you want the VIP Ben Greenfield treatment from the folks at GotHunts!

September 21-23: Ben will be speaking at The 431 Project - where astronauts, technologists, screenwriters, CEO’s, educators and more, will assemble in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont to take up a crucial call to action to end inactivity and obesity in the U.S.. Imagine Ted Talks meets Davos meets the National Geographic Channel. Vibrant fall foliage, fresh farm to table cuisine and world-class sommelier-curated wine lists are a bonus of this exclusive summit. If you want to connect, share, learn, have the time of your life AND change the world... get invited by requesting an invitation in the efforts to lead 300 million Americans towards positive choices, healthy living, and simple, sustained changes that will change their lives.

September 25-27: Ben will be presenting at The Vermont Traditional Foods and Health Symposium at Shelburne Farms. Inspired by the teachings of the Weston A. Price Foundation, this event explores the core principals of how traditional diets can contribute to health, wellness, and longevity.

September 26-28: Ben will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena - Dave Asprey has decided to extend the pre-sale ticket price of $400 until this Friday, August 1st. Dave is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers... and more... Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will be there too).

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Jared asks: He has been searching all over the net for the specific amounts of calories that are burned in an hour long session of all the different forms of Cold Thermogenesis.

Andrew asks: His 4-year-old son has itchy skin (visibly fine) and a persistent cough (for 3 years now). He also has "insane mood swings". He eats a real food diet (with some fruits and starches). He has tested positive for mould sensitivity. They dealt with as much mould as possible. They live in Australia so they can't get tests without going through their doctor. What would you suggest they get tested?

Mark asks: He is looking for a soy free, vegan, muscle building program. He is a vegan athlete looking to put on some muscle. What food, meal plan, nutrition, supplements that would you recommend to put on some muscle?

Michael asks: He wants to go "beyond training" with a Powerlung. He has read the book and listened to the interview with Gregg Wells. In it you said you use it twice a week but the instructions say to use it twice a day. What is the best way to use the Powerlung to get maximum benefit? Best sets and reps? Best rest? Should he use it in the morning or will that effect his run or spinning session? Is it better to use after a training session? Should he use it under a cold shower doing static lunges, with a weighted vest, being hooked to am EMS device with training bands on his legs to build up extra lactic acid while reading your book?

Mori asks: He came up with an ointment made up of coconut oil, topical magnesium and caffeine. He has been rubbing it on his sore knees, ankles and calves and it seems to be helping. He got the idea from a dream he had... do you think it really is helping or is it all in his head?

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-- 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!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Good broth will resurrect the dead," says a South American proverb.

I don't know about that, but I still drink bone broth every week for healthy skin, hair, nails, a strong gut lining, good joints, and even a bit of a liver detox.

Whether you’re injured, need to heal your gut fast, build muscle, need more natural sources of minerals and electrolytes in your diet, or simply want to drink, sip and cook with some the most nourishing liquid food on the face of the planet, bone broth really is the ultimate solution, and in today's podcast, I interview bone broth expert and chef Lance Roth.

Creator of TheBrothery, bone broth and Executive Chef Lance Roll puts his 20-year diverse culinary career and education as a health and nutrition professional into each special batch of bone broth to create the healthiest broth on the face of the planet. Lance actually freezes his broth and ships it around the continental US too, making for the ultimate, easy done-for-you bone broth experience, especially if you don’t have the time or resources to make your own bone broth.

In this podcast, you'll discover: -How bone broth can enhance liver detox pathways... -How to make the best kind of broth, including a few of Lance's secret ingredients... -The important difference between broth and stock... -Is it safe for you to ship bone broth around the country without it going bad... -What are the tastiest things you can do with bone broth once you get it... -How to use bone broth during an Ironman triathlon...

Each batch of flavorful, nourishing, bone-growing, muscle-building and body and gut-healing organic bone broth from The Brothery is made in small batches using locally-grown, organic produce and free-range, humanely-raised meats and poultry – so you get no harmful hormones or toxins in your nourishing broth. Click here to grab some now.

Leave your questions, comments and feedback about bone broth at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and feel free to share any good bone broth recipes you may have!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/293

Sep 10, 2014 Podcast: 5 Ways To Have More Energy At Work, Can Cigarettes Enhance Performance?, The Best Ways To Increase Grip Strength & More!

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.

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You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Nice - 5 ways to trick your body into being more awesome.
• Red wine is only good for you if you are physically active (I drink a glass a day).
• Standing may be the best anti-aging technique.

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Visit BenGreenfieldFitness.com/aded - to get Yuri Elkaim's new All Day Energy Diet cookbook for free (with recipes like hemp balls, natural gatorade and green cappuccino)!

Visit GotHunts.com if you listened to the recent podcast on bowhunting or read the recent article on hunting fitness and you want the VIP Ben Greenfield treatment from the folks at GotHunts!

September 21-23: Ben will be speaking at The 431 Project - where astronauts, technologists, screenwriters, CEO’s, educators and more, will assemble in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont to take up a crucial call to action to end inactivity and obesity in the U.S.. Imagine Ted Talks meets Davos meets the National Geographic Channel. Vibrant fall foliage, fresh farm to table cuisine and world-class sommelier-curated wine lists are a bonus of this exclusive summit. If you want to connect, share, learn, have the time of your life AND change the world... get invited by requesting an invitation in the efforts to lead 300 million Americans towards positive choices, healthy living, and simple, sustained changes that will change their lives.

September 25-27: Ben will be presenting at The Vermont Traditional Foods and Health Symposium at Shelburne Farms. Inspired by the teachings of the Weston A. Price Foundation, this event explores the core principals of how traditional diets can contribute to health, wellness, and longevity.

September 26-28: Ben will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena - Dave Asprey has decided to extend the pre-sale ticket price of $400 until this Friday, August 1st. Dave is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers... and more... Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will be there too).

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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! 

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Testimonial from Jack: Started off the year using Tri-Ripped (second year on this plan) to prepare for early season races. Switched to the Beyond Training Ancestral plan 12 weeks out from my yearly half. Used the tools and protocols in the book alongside the plan and adapted the race nutrition protocol to fit my sensitive stomach (GI meltdown the last time). In a downpour most of the race, last Sunday I had a PR in each leg and an overall PR by 28 min for my first sub 5:30 half. Felt great all day (probably could have pushed even harder) and now enjoying a smooth recovery. Love the Beyond Training concepts - can race fast while not cheating family and work or destroy the body.

Darren asks: He has been working 8 hour work days for years now and is about to start a job where 12 hour work days are common. Do you have any tips on how to improve stamina and endurance at work or energy management during the work day?

Matt asks: He is an ex-smoker (quit years and years ago) but recently he has been having the occasional cigarette (1 or 2 here every couple weeks/month). Is it possible that low dosing with cigarettes could have an hormetic effect on training? He is not planning to use cigarettes as a training protocol for his upcoming Ironman but he has noticed a decrease in his resting heart rate and an increase in his sprinting ability (especially in the pool).

Richard asks: He is in his early 40s, follows a low carb/paleo diet and has osteoarthritis in both hips (is heading in for total hip replacement surgery in 2015). He is wondering what you think of Dr Jack Kruse's idea that arthritis is caused by dehydration? In Robb Wolfe's last podcast he and Paul Jaminet suggested that restricting carbs could lead to dehydration; impacting mucus production, cartilage, synovial fluid, etc... what do you think?

Ellie asks: Sometimes while she runs, one of her eyes will water and tear continuously. One steady tear, just in one eye. What could be causing that?

Wilmer asks: He has been lifting progressively heavier and heavier weights over the last few months but he can't seem to hold a grip on the weights. What devices and exercises do you recommend to improve grip and wrist strength?

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-- 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!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm really not a big self-quantification nerd.

I don't like to be plugged into stuff all day long. It just makes me feel like a giant robot (and being constantly plugged into things like bluetooth devices just gives me the tin-foil hat wearing heebie-jeebies).

But I do religiously take one simple measurement every single morning: heart rate variability. And the method that I use to measure heart rate variability is, in my opinion, the singe, next big trend in biohacking and self-quantification.

It's called SweetBeatLife, and all you need to use it is the SweetBeatLife phone app. In today's audio interview, I speak with Ronda Collier, who has more than 25 years of experience in high technology product development with a proven track record of delivering leading edge consumer electronic products.

The previous two heart rate variability podcasts with Ronda (that I'd recommend you listen to before you listen to today's podcast if you don't know much about heart rate variability) are below:-Everything You Need To Know About Heart Rate Variability Testing -The Do-It-Yourself Guide To Using Heart Rate Variability Testing to Track Your Stress and Nervous System Health

By analyzing HRV and Stress along with additional data, SweetBeatLife provides a deep dive into health and provides insight into what activities you engage in that effect the health metrics you care about.

This is important because the next big trend in bio-hacking is understanding the relationships between different metrics like your weight, your blood pressure, your blood glucose, the number of steps you take and your actual internal health and nervous system. SweetBeatLife integrates and correlates data from popular fitness platforms like MapMyFitness, Fitbit and Withings and integrates seamlessly with the extensive biometrics from the new HealthPatch sensor (which we talk about in the podcast).

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/292

September, 2014 Podcast: Titles titles titles...

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Want to get smarter? Yoga can make you smarter.
• Standing also makes you smarter. You can use code “BEN” to get $40 off their Rebel Crank-Up desk and you can use code “GREENFIELD” to get $20 off the Rebel Chair that comes with their desk.
• Hot bath for fat loss, anyone?
• Goes to show you can dose with a pretty freaking huge amount of carbs before you “get fat”. Carb loading pre-race won’t make you fat.
• Ever heard of “chia seed loading”? Here’s the breakdown.

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Visit BenGreenfieldFitness.com/aded to get Yuri Elkaim's new All Day Energy Diet cookbook for free (with recipes like hemp balls, natural gatorade and green cappuccino)!

September 21-23: Ben will be speaking at The 431 Project - where astronauts, technologists, screenwriters, CEO’s, educators and more, will assemble in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont to take up a crucial call to action to end inactivity and obesity in the U.S.. Imagine Ted Talks meets Davos meets the National Geographic Channel. Vibrant fall foliage, fresh farm to table cuisine and world-class sommelier-curated wine lists are a bonus of this exclusive summit. If you want to connect, share, learn, have the time of your life AND change the world... get invited by requesting an invitation in the efforts to lead 300 million Americans towards positive choices, healthy living, and simple, sustained changes that will change their lives.

September 25-27: Ben will be presenting at The Vermont Traditional Foods and Health Symposium at Shelburne Farms. Inspired by the teachings of the Weston A. Price Foundation, this event explores the core principals of how traditional diets can contribute to health, wellness, and longevity.

September 26-28: Ben will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena - Dave Asprey has decided to extend the pre-sale ticket price of $400 until this Friday, August 1st. Dave is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers... and more... Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will *hopefully* be there too).

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

Get a squatty potty here.

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Sceptic asks: He recently heard that one scientific journal retracted 60 papers after details of a “peer review ring” came to light and the journal Nature recently retracted two papers involving stem cells. So he is wondering, what are the most important things to look for when you’re reading a study or looking at research to figure out whether it’s actually good research or whether you can trust the conclusions?

Theresa asks: She wants to know what you know about tinnitus. What makes your ears ring incessantly during the day and into the evening? She is approaching 50 years old and the ringing is getting worse. Do you have any suggestions on how to quiet the inner noise that is happening in her ears?

Jeff asks: He is running the Las Vegas half marathon which is run at night. Most races are in the morning and he has that fuelling dialed in but doesn't know how much or what to eat before an afternoon or night race. He is looking for "wise council" from both of us.

Fred asks: He is 66 and has always prided himself on having a low heart rate but now he has found out that he has an Atrial Fibrillation. He is wondering if he can still train/exercise with a heart that has A-Fib? Now he doesn't know when he gets out of breath if it is the fibrillation or his age or just if he is out of shape.

Lawrence asks: He does a twice daily 9 mile bicycle commute in pretty heavy traffic. The rides are often the highlight of his day and he also feels that they counteract an otherwise sedentary lifestyle. He is not afraid to ride in traffic but he is afraid of the environmental toxins that he may be exposed to during the ride. What lab tests should he get to find out if he has been exposed. He looks forward to hearing your response during one of his commutes - don't worry be uses bone conducting earphones not earbuds.

-Most of the kits by Doctor’s Data deal with toxic metals, elements, etc. If you go to the main site you do a search for each individual specialty lab’s tests.

US Biotek:

-Environmental Pollutants-USBiotek KIT $209: Urine analysis for assessment of exposure to common environmental and occupational chemicals.

-Urinary Metabolic Profile+Environmental Pollutants-USBiotek KIT $349: Assessment of organic acids, aromatic solvent metabolites, phthalate metabolites, and parabens in urine.

However, to order either one of the US Biotek kits, you must call in the order because USBiotek does not want their kits on the DirectLabs website.

RealTime Labs:

-Mycotoxin Panel, Total-RTL Kit $699: Used to detect mycotoxins which are toxins produced by fungi.

-Aflatoxin Group, urine-RTL KIT $250 :Measures Aflatoxin levels.

-Ochratoxin Group (A)-RTL Kit $250: Potentially carcinogenic (cancer producing) to humans. Found in food samples and in food storage areas.

BioHealth:

-Clostridium difficile: Colitis Toxins A & B-BioHealth KIT $109: Assesses whether or not diarrhea is caused by Clostridium Difficile

-----------------------------------------------------

-- 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.

Welcome to Part 2 of my experience with SEALFit Comprehensive Academy and SEALFit Kokoro Camp, in which you’re going to get as many tips and tricks as possible for the SEALFit Academy. Even if you don’t plan on attending any SEALFit events, there are plenty of takeaway gems here for anyone who wants to achieve challenging feats of physical or mental performance.

In the next article - Part 3 of this three-part series -you’ll learn exactly what happens at SEALFit Kokoro, and some my own takeaways, tips and tricks - but in the meantime, let’s jump right into what you need to know for the six days of the SEALFit Academy.

Even if you don't plan on ever going to a SEALFit event, you're going to learn a ton of useful information about how to get physically and mentally stronger!

-----------------------------------------

Day 1 abruptly began at 4pm with a very brief orientation from Coach Dave (most of the coaches here go by “Coach”, followed by their first name - so don’t call them Sir or Mr. or anything like that), during which we introduced ourselves and selected a team leader. We then went straight into the coach barking orders at us as he led us through the initial PT test on “The Grinder”, which a hard, textured concrete surface at the US Crossfit facility in Encinitas, California.

The Grinder looks like this (fun, eh?):

During the PT test, which is performed in highly stylish black pants, white t-shirt and combat boots, myself and the 10 other Academy attendees were tested for the SEALFit Academy physical standards, which are:

-50 pushups in 2 minutes -50 situps in 2 minutes -50 squats in 2 minutes -10 dead hang pull-ups (6 for women) -1 mile run in 9:30 or less

Here’s a photo of the PT test from Academy.

As you can see, based on my physical training for the Academy (read about it in Part 1 of this series), I did just fine. But come prepared, because the candidates that failed (red circles) were pretty severely reprimanded for it. Take the standards seriously.

Other quick tips for the Academy PT test include:

1. Pay attention and be mindful, especially if you have a creative mind that wanders (like I do). Reign it in! Focus. Every tiny little detail matters at the Academy, especially when a coach is giving instructions for a WOD (Workout Of The Day) or any other activity. For example, I incurred a 50 burpee penalty for our whole team by simply running on the sidewalk rather than the road during the run portion of the PT test. I thought this would be safer, but it turns out that at SEALFit Academy and Kokoro, they pretty much avoid the sidewalks and almost always run on the road, even at night.

2. Suffer in silence. No grunting or weird workout noises. Be careful with grimacing too. Practice keeping a stone face, or better yet, smiling even when the going gets tough. Deep breathing helps with this.

3. Don’t show off or be a Rambo. Be a team player. As soon as I finished my run well ahead of most of the others, I was instructed to sprint back out and bring the rest of the team in. Unless instructed otherwise, always prioritize helping your team vs. just showing off your fitness.

4. If you can lay down a strip of duct tape or kinesiotape vertically down your spine, it will help you not get back blisters from situps on the hard Grinder surface. This helps because if you start the week with a chafed back, it’s going to hurt a bunch during the rucks, leg levers, flutter kicks, and pretty much any other time something is rubbing against your back. I learned that lesson the hard way.

5. Practice strict pull-ups to an above the bar chin position and full extension at the bottom, along with a hook grip in which your fingers wrap around your thumbs. Avoid“suicide” gripping on the pull-ups (a thumbs off position).

After the PT test, we sat in on a lecture with Coach Mark Divine - the owner of SEALFit, in which he introduced the core principles of The Unbeatable Mind, adapted from concepts in his book by the same name. I’d highly recommend you read both Unbeatable Mind and 8 Weeks To SEALFit well in advance of showing up for any of the SEALFit events. You will be way ahead of the game if you read them and do both the mental and physical activities in the book.

Following Coach Divine’s talk, we were cut free for a team dinner on our own. As the team leader, I was given $100 to divvy up among the team, so we went out for some team bonding at a restaurant across the street from the SEALFit headquarters, then an early bedtime. When you get a chance to sleep at the Academy, plan to do it - as you don’t get many chances for a solid night of sleep and you never know when you may get ripped out of bed and thrown into the ocean or shoved into a midnight workout (seriously - keep reading for more details on that).

-------------------------------------------

We awoke to a glorious breakfast on Day 2. Unlike Kokoro, you don't get crappy MRE's (stands for "Meals Ready To Eat"). Instead, the Academy is catered by a trained chef named Kathryn, who is also a nutritionist, yoga teacher and meditation expert. For breakfast on Day 2, Kathryn served us scrambled eggs with vegetable, gluten-free raisin nut muffins, and an assortment of fruits and yogurts.

Of course, the only downside is that as soon as your glorious breakfast ends, you can expect to be rushing to a hard workout - during which you'll often get the unique experience of tasting breakfast a second time, especially if you overeat on proteins and fats. As a matter of fact, at the SEALFit Academy you can pretty much expect to be rushing from the moment you awake - to breakfast, to a workout, a lecture, another workout, lunch, another workout, a lecture, a skills clinic, etc. Sometimes the rushing seems intentionally programmed to keep you slightly outside your comfort zone. For example, for lunch on Day 2, we had a fantastic but extremely filling chicken sausage and squash casserole - which was immediately followed by a 1 mile fast run in the heat.

This takes me to an important lesson: the use of digestive enzymes to help digest meals more quickly. I used this trick many times during Academy week and even during Kokoro - popping just a couple digestive enzymes with or immediately before meals to help things get through my digestive system more quickly and to help me absorb extra nutrients.

After breakfast, the first workout of Day 2 was "Grinder PT" with Mark Divine. You can get an idea of what it looks like in the video below. We did movements like this for a solid 2 hours, and finished with a sandbag run to the top of Lookout Hill, which sits about a quarter mile from the Academy.

At the top of Lookout Hill, Mark finished by bringing us through a Warrior Breathing session, which involves hyperoxygenating the body with sharp intakes of oxygen through the nose, then very quick exhales. During our Warrior Breathing, we practiced visualizing our "internal warrior" (Coach Divine's is King Leonidas of the Spartans). But I was baffled and slightly frustrated during this exercise, as I simply couldn't find or visualize my internal warrior. Images that floated through my head included a wolf, an archer (like Robin Hood), and even a shark, but none of these seemed quite right. I know this sounds cheesy and woo-woo, but being able to picture your warrior before a hard workout or intense physical challenge can give you a huge advantage. On Day 4, which you'll read about below, I had my first intense emotional breakthrough of the Academy, in which I finally did discover my internal warrior.

After the workout, Coach Divine gave a lecture on the principles of SEALFit, adapted from the book 8 Weeks To SEALFit. Then we moved on to a 2 hour clinic that covered sandbag skills, kettlebell skills and barbell skills, in which we learned 8-10 different exercises and movements for each of these tools. This doesn't sound like much of a workout, but 2 solid hours of practicing with sandbags, kettlbebells and barbells adds up pretty quickly.

After lunch, we had another lifting clinic, this time with Coach Adam, who taught us proper form for deadlifts, cleans, overhead press, push press and bench press. As you are probably noticing, you can expect to spend a lot of time with a barbell in your hands at SEALFit events.

Next, we settled in for another lecture with Coach Dave, during which Dave discussed training principles and the SEALFit components of Endurance, Strength, Stamina, Work Capacity and Durability. At the end of the lecture, he abruptly announced that we'd go do "Cindy" - a relatively famous Crossfit workout consisting of an AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) in 20 minutes of 5 pull-ups, 10 pushups and 15 air squats. After 26 rounds, my hands - already a bit rubbed raw from the amount of barbell holds - were ripped open and bleeding. So I'd recommend you bring tincture of benzoin and

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I have a new toy.

It's this set of tiny little blocks that are barely larger than Lego pieces (pictured above), and each little block can be connected to your phone to measure, collect and analyze the hidden qualities of your surroundings.

It's called a "MyLapka Personal Environment Monitor". The Lapka is a tiny, beautifully designed personal environment monitor, and in today's podcast, I interview the designer, Vadik Marmeladov.

In the interview, we talk about how the Lapka works, what it measures, how you can use it to quantify your environment to get healthier, and much more. Each little block is equipped with a set of precise sensors which respond to the invisible world of particles, ions, molecules and waves.

But Lapka doesn’t just quantify what it measures. You get results that are specific to where you happen to be at the moment. On the street, at the office, inside your baby's bedroom, or on an airplane - it actually compares readings to average guidelines for each individual environment.

The Lapka is actually comprised of four different devices that measure radiation, electromagnetic fields, humidity and how organic your produce is.

The first is Lapka Radiation, which measures all of the radioactive particles around you and is sensitive to levels of beta and gamma particles. Legal limits for radiation vary, and Lapka provides health guidelines for each. For example, a baby’s bedroom's legal limit is much lower than that of an airplane at 10,000 feet. Lapka knows to analyze in relation to this when you choose either the Airplane or Baby preset in the app.

The second is the Lapka Electromagnetic Field, which measures EMF’s caused by electronic devices, wireless transmitters, nearby power lines, etc. Lapka EMF takes measurements of both High Frequency and Low Frequency fields and can detect cell phone antenna activity, microwaves or exposed wires to reveal the spots with the least electromagnetic pollution. That’s where you might want to put your yoga mat.

Next is Lapka Humidity, which measures both the temperature and humidity of your environment. It combines and compares the results with a knowledge base of comfort standards to help you better understand your personal climate at any moment and ways that you could sleep better or think better based on temperature and humidity. Different scenarios - for example, wine storage and sleep comfort — call for different temperatures and levels of moisture (don’t sleep in your wine cellar, by the way).

Finally, Lapka Organic detects whether or not your fruits and vegetables were really grown organically. The little probe simply measures ionic conductivity, which correlates to the quantity of nitrates left behind from nitrogen-based fertilizers. Each fruit and vegetable has a defined limit for nitrate concentration, and conductivity that significantly exceeds these limits suggests the use of non-organic farming practices. So you can find out whether that organic carrot is really organic.

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the Lapka? Do you have one and if so, how are you using it? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year, in the podcast episode "The Unforeseen Costs of Civilization And What You Can Do About It.", I spoke to author Spencer Wells about the world of genetic testing and gene research.

In just one year since that episode, we've come a long way, baby. Even though the popular genetic testing service "23andme" seems to have had a bit of a slapdown from the FDA when it comes to releasing specific health information, that doesn't mean you can't still go get tested by 23andme (a simple salivary test that costs $99) and then export that data to another service that will give you targeted health, fitness and nutrition information.

My guest on today's podcast, Andrew Steele, is British Olympic athlete in the 400m and the 4x400m relay (runs the 400 in 44.94 seconds) and has represented his country at European Championships, Commonwealth games, World Championships and Olympic games.

The guy knows what it takes to go from good to great, how to tap into the power of genetic research to make targeted training and nutrition choices, and now works as head of sport for a company called "DNAFit", which allows you to import your 23andme test results to get personalized fitness and diet results.

During our discussion, Andrew and I go over my: -DNAFit Nutrition Results (click to download) -DNAFit Fitness Results (click to download)

You're going to learn the background and science of how the process works, real world examples of how this information can be applied with significant benefits to health, performance and biomarkers, and how accurate the results are.

Do you have questions or feedback about how to use genetic testing to get personalized diet and fitness recommendations? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Brogan (pictured above after going from a fat keyboard slob to conquering SEALFit workouts) is author of the book "Just Start Here: Lose Weight, Get Stronger and FINALLY Succeed at Your Goals.".

As an internet entrepreneur, Chris is a self-professed complete non-expert in the field of fitness.

But nonetheless, I read his book. And it is actually quite good.

So in today's podcast episode, Chris joins us, and you learn: -Why you need a story that defines you if you want to truly master fitness and diet... -Why willpower is stupid... -Why Chris puts so many pictures of himself on Instagram... -How losing weight should be an “hourly” experience... -Chris's potent “time quilting” strategy for enhancing fat loss... -And much more!

Resources we discuss in this episode: -Chris's Instagram account -Just Start Here: Lose Weight, Get Stronger and FINALLY Succeed at Your Goals. -BossFitMag.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/291

Aug 13, 2014 Podcast: Five Fitness Tips For Newlyweds, Using Jack Daniel's Running Formula, Morning vs. Evening Workouts, Benefits of Protein Fasting, and How To Fix Bad Posture From Working On A Computer.

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Hidden contributors to obesity that are in your food.
• Female? Triathlete? You could be it trouble. Check out this study (this is the whole reason I created Tri-Ripped).
• Tracking heart rate during a marathon or triathlon? It’s going to increase about 3 beats for every 1% body mass loss, so adjust accordingly.

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Here's the link for the Ancestral Health Symposium 2014 videos.

Lots of premium podcast episodes are getting released lately - including audio chapters of Beyond Training, an interview with MyLapka designer, and much more. Click here to go premium and get access to a protected vault of over 300 audios, videos and .pdf downloads - all for 9.99/year.

September 21-23: Ben will be speaking at The 431 Project - where astronauts, technologists, screenwriters, CEO’s, educators and more, will assemble in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont to take up a crucial call to action to end inactivity and obesity in the U.S.. Imagine Ted Talks meets Davos meets the National Geographic Channel. Vibrant fall foliage, fresh farm to table cuisine and world-class sommelier-curated wine lists are a bonus of this exclusive summit. If you want to connect, share, learn, have the time of your life AND change the world... get invited by requesting an invitation in the efforts to lead 300 million Americans towards positive choices, healthy living, and simple, sustained changes that will change their lives.

September 25-27: Ben will be presenting at The Vermont Traditional Foods and Health Symposium at Shelburne Farms. Inspired by the teachings of the Weston A. Price Foundation, this event explores the core principals of how traditional diets can contribute to health, wellness, and longevity.

September 26-28: Ben will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena - Dave Asprey has decided to extend the pre-sale ticket price of $400 until this Friday, August 1st. Dave is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers... and more... Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will *hopefully* be there too)

If you want The Purigenex Intensive Collagen System that JJ Virgin talks about in the podcast, it has only been sold to plastic surgeons, doctors and medspas for the past 5 years. But this transdermal collagen mask and serum is being made available exclusively to Ben Greenfield Fitness Subscribers for $300 below the doctor price with FREE overnight shipping! Check it out here. You can also get the Age Reversal Serum she talks about here.

The Rock Star Triathlete Academy has relaunched with a lifestyle membership card! Click here for all details.

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Robbie asks: He is calling on behalf of your biggest fan (and his soon to be wed brother) Marco. He and Marco's fiancé Jasmine are wondering what your top marriage tips are for someone who loves all things triathlon, nutrition and Ben Greenfield.

Ignacio asks: He keeps reading and hearing that a lot of ultra trail runners train based on Elevation & Time rather than based on Distance. He is currently training for a rather hilly 50k trail run and would like to know the best way to incorporate elevation and time into his training?

Rick asks: He knows from listening to the podcast that working out in the afternoon is optimal but if he must workout in the morning, what are the factors he needs to consider to optimize that morning workout?

Troy asks: He has heard that eating less than 15 grams of protein in a day can activate certain detox pathways. He couldn't find any scientific research on it but he has heard that you should do "protein fasting" once a week. What do you think? How often should you do it and what are the benefits or doing it?

Rachel asks: She has very bad posture ever since she was in university from slumping over at a desk. It seems really impossible for her to reverse. She doesn't know if it is from lower back muscle disuse or what... but what do you recommend for fixing bad posture?

-----------------------------------------------------

-- 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.

Welcome to Part 1 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".

In this episode, Ben and Tai talk about multi-tasking, reprogramming your genetics and checking your e-mail less.

Resources Tai and Ben discuss in this podcast: -Book: The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains -Book: Inheritance: How Our Genes Change Our Lives--and Our Lives Change Our Genes -Book: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results -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? Do you want Ben to keep publishing audio content like this with Tai Lopez? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Until today's podcast episode, I didn't realize lasers were so darn cool, and effective for so many issues.

The laser was invented in 1960 and the biological stimulation properties of laser light were discovered shortly after than, in 1967. Even though therapy lasers have been used in Europe much longer than in the United States, in 2002, the FDA cleared therapy lasers for treating injuries and enhancing recovery.

Now, multiple researchers throughout the world are finding enormous therapeutic application of different laser infrared wavelengths like red, green, and blue wavelengths and their effects on tissues. New high-power laser therapy systems penetrate deep into tissue and deliver physiological benefits that no other modality like electrical muscle stimulation or ultrasound can deliver. By stimulating adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and enhancing cell membrane permeability, lasers can actually helps injuries heal and speed up recovery from workouts, rather than just masking pain.

Today's podcast guest, Dr. Phil Harrington, has over 10 years of clinical experience using lasers for healing, and is a national and international author and lecturer on laser therapy. During our discussion you'll discover: -How laser treatments work... -What conditions can benefit from laser treatments... -Whether those little handheld laser units you can buy online work... -Which elite athletes are currently using laster treatments.... -What other modalities or treatments can be used with laster... -Why your body won't just heal itself from injury... -The difference between laser and other things like ultrasound or electrical muscle stimulation... -How to find a K-Laser provider in your area...

Do you have questions about how you can use lasers to heal injuries, enhance recovery and increase performance, or questions about the K-Laser? Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I grew up in North Idaho surrounded by hunters. I've personally been hunting whitetail deer in my backyard for 4 years, fishing since I was a kid, and I've even podcasted about whether deer meat is healthy.

And in the recent post "The 3 P’s Of Being A Man, Getting Tough and Doing Hard Things", you learned that one way to accomplish the "P" of providing is to hunt.

My guest on today's podcast is Shad Wheeler (pictured above) from GotHunts.com.

Shad is an entrepreneur, a bowhunter, and an triathlete, and in this episode, he teaches you how to build primal fitness and endurance by hunting.

-How Shad's father helped found and invent the Bowflex exercise device...

-What type of bows are best for bow hunting, whether you're a seasoned hunter or just getting started...

-The similarities between triathlon and bowhunting...

-TrainToHunt.com and the Train To Hunt Challenges...

-Workouts for getting ready for bowhunting...

Do you have questions or comments about this show? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know what the similarities are between epilepsy, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), heartburn (GERD), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, mental illness, schizophrenia, bipolar, depression, narcolepsy, and sleep disorders, treating cancer, autism, migraines, chronic pain, brain injury, stroke, and kidney disease?

They can all be positively effected by a low-carb, high-fat, ketosis diet...

...and my guest today, Jimmy Moore, is going to tell you all about it.

Jimmy is world’s leading low-carb diet blogger and podcaster. Last year, he wrote the book Cholesterol Clarity with coauthor Dr. Eric C. Westman, a practicing internist and low-carb diet researcher, and I interviewed him about that book in the podcast episode "The Shocking Truth About Cholesterol & Why You Probably Don’t Even Need To Test For It."

Well now, Jimmy's back with a new book that pretty much answers everything you've always wanted to know about ketosis but were afraid to ask.

The new book is called Keto Clarity: Your Definitive Guide to the Benefits of a Low-Carb, High-Fat Diet and in the book, Jimmy shows you how a low-carb diet can be much more than simply as a means to lose weight, and how ketosis produces not only a powerful therapeutic effect on a wide variety of health conditions (that most people think requires medication to control) but can also be a pretty incredible biohack for both physical and mental performance.

The book includes interviews from twenty of the world’s authorities on low carb and ketosis diets, along with a step-by-step guide to help you produce more ketones and track your progress, real life success stories of people using a ketogenic diet, and more.

During my discussion with Jimmy, you'll find out: -Why not all low-carb diets are created equal... -How to find your carbohydrate tolerance level... -How to determine your personal protein threshold... -How much saturated fat is too much... -The biggest low carb mistakes that you can make... -Why you may not be producing adequate ketones... -And much more!

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

-Ketosis Dangers: How To Maximize the Nutrient Density of a Low Carb Diet with Terry Wahls

-A Deep Dive Into Ketosis: How Navy Seals, Extreme Athletes & Busy Executives Can Enhance Physical and Mental Performance With The Secret Weapon of Ketone Fuel with Dr. Dominic D' Agostino

-The Ultimate Guide To Combining Fasting and Exercise: Everything You Need To Know with Dr. Peter Attia

Do you have questions about ketosis, Keto Clarity or the high-fat, low-carb approach we discuss in this episode? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/290

July 30, 2014 Podcast: Dizziness During Exercise, Combining Heat Acclimation And Cold Thermogenesis, Can Eating Slow Increase Food Absorption, Lucid Dreaming Detox, and How To Use Infrared Therapy.

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Very insightful observations on how gold medal athletes taper for competition.
• Contrary to popular belief…being cold doesn’t “give you a cold” - it actually bulletproofs you against it!
• Here’s a good rule to follow: if the carbs that you’re eating don’t or didn’t have CELLS they’re probably not such a good idea.

-----------------------------------------------------

Lots of premium podcast episodes are getting released lately, including audio chapters of Beyond Training, an interview with MyLapka designer, and much more. Click here to go premium and get access to a protected vault of over 300 audios, videos and .pdf downloads - all for 9.99/year.

September 21-23: Ben will be speaking at The 431 Project, where astronauts, technologists, screenwriters, CEO’s, educators and more, will assemble in the picturesque Green Mountains of Vermont to take up a crucial call to action to end inactivity and obesity in the U.S.. Imagine Ted Talks meets Davos meets the National Geographic Channel. Vibrant fall foliage, fresh farm to table cuisine and world-class sommelier-curated wine lists are a bonus of this exclusive summit. If you want to connect, share, learn, have the time of your life AND change the world…get invited by requesting an invitation in the efforts to lead 300 million Americans towards positive choices, healthy living, and simple, sustained changes that will change their lives.

September 25-27: Ben will be presenting at The Vermont Traditional Foods and Health Symposium at Shelburne Farms. Inspired by the teachings of the Weston A. Price Foundation, this event explores the core principals of how traditional diets can contribute to health, wellness, and longevity.

September 26-28: Ben will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena - Dave Asprey has decided to extend the pre-sale ticket price of $400 until this Friday, August 1st. Dave is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers… and more… Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

October 8-13: Ben will be speaking at the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. He will be presenting on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will *hopefully* be there too)

If you want The Purigenex Intensive Collagen System that JJ Virgin talks about in the podcast, it has only been sold to plastic surgeons, doctors and medspas for the past 5 years. But this transdermal collagen mask and serum is being made available exclusively to Ben Greenfield Fitness Subscribers for $300 below the doctor price with FREE overnight shipping! Check it out here. You can also get the Age Reversal Serum she talks about here.

The Rock Star Triathlete Academy has relaunched with a lifestyle membership card! Click here for all details.

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Brian asks: He gets lightheaded at the gym sometimes. Usually when he is doing weighted lunges. Is this a bad thing? Is it dangerous? He would of course rather not have it happen, but is it something to worry about?

HotandCold asks: He has seen a lot of information about becoming heat acclimated and about ice baths and cold showers but not a lot about how to prepare yourself for a race that may start off in very cold water but end with a very hot run. How can you prepare and adapt for extreme temperature fluctuation? Does training for one temperature negate training for the other?

Laura asks: When she and her boyfriend finish a workout they both have a protein shake or a green smoothie. He downs his in 2 or 3 gulps while she sips hers for 30 minutes. She likes to think that the slower you drink it the better your body can absorb it. Is that true or should she try to chug it?

Ben asks: He has stopped wearing his Superhuman Encoder to bed because it gives him bad dreams. He Tweeted you about it and you mentioned something about a detox... but he hasn't been able to find any more info about it. Could you explain what might be happening and why he is getting the nightmares?

Peter asks: He knows that you like to use a red light in the bedroom before you go to sleep and he understand why. He is colourblind and cannot see red. Will he still get the beneficial effects from using a red light or does it rely on you being able to see that part of the spectrum?

-----------------------------------------------------

-- 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.

Already twice this month, I've read a handy little free book for guys called Semper Virilis: A Roadmap to Manhood in the 21st Century (ladies, just forward it to the dude in your life).

It was written by Brett McKay, a guest on today's podcast and founder of the Art of Manliness, a website which I religiously read. In one section of Semper Virilis, Brett introduces Theodore Roosevelt.

This struck close to my heart, since Roosevelt was one of my favorite Presidents (and from a physical virility and workout standpoint, in pretty stark contrast to this guy). Here's what Brett has to say about Roosevelt:

----------------------------------

"...Theodore Roosevelt was born to a wealthy family in New York City. The Roosevelts enjoyed comforts and conveniences in their 19th century brownstone that most Americans wouldn’t see until several decades later. When the Civil War tore America apart, Teddy’s father had more than enough money to pay for a substitute and thus avoid a draft into the Union Army.

If you were to judge the trajectory of TR’s life based on the first ten years of it, you’d probably guess that he’d end up as a smart and capable, but physically weak, natural history professor at some Ivy League university. Roosevelt could have easily settled into a life of cosmopolitan comfort.

But after a stern talk from his father, young Teddy chose a different path for himself.

He chose the hard way. What he called “the strenuous life.”

In Teddy’s time, the standards of male honor largely revolved around virtues like integrity and industry – being a good man. And Roosevelt kept this code to a T. But he didn’t want to just be a good man, he wanted to be good at being a man, too.

It was a goal he actively pursued.

His adolescence was spent exercising and building up his once frail body. He took up boxing in college and became a competitive fighter. During winter breaks in school, he’d go up to Maine and hunt with the famous guide and timberman Bill Sewell. After his wife and mother died on the same night, instead of wallowing in grief and despair, Roosevelt headed out to the badlands of the Dakotas to take up cattle ranching. Despite being a four-eyed “dude” from back east, Roosevelt quickly earned the respect of rough and hard cowboys by showing he could pull his own weight and wasn’t afraid to jump into the fray: he cleared out stables himself without complaint; he captured a posse of horse thieves after tailing them for 3 days in subzero weather; he knocked out a gun-wielding loudmouth with 3 dynamite punches.

By striving to live the hard way in his younger years, Roosevelt armed himself with the fire and fight he needed to succeed in the political, social, and intellectual challenges of his later life. Even as a middle-aged U.S. president, Roosevelt didn’t let up on his dedication to testing himself and living the strenuous life; he took part in judo and boxing matches in the White House and punctuated his schedule with hunting, skinny dips in the Potomac, and brisk hikes. He stayed ever ready for whatever adventures and exploits might await him.

And what exploits they were. Roosevelt served as police commissioner, governor, assistant secretary of the navy, and president (the youngest ever to assume the office). When war broke out with Spain in Cuba, Roosevelt put together his own volunteer unit and led them in a charge up San Juan Hill. He was a devoted husband and father of six children. He read tens of thousands of books and penned 35 of his own. After his days as President were over, he set out on an expedition to explore an uncharted part of the Amazon River and nearly died in the process.

All throughout his life, Roosevelt had the choice to reject the masculine code, but he never did. He sought to ever challenge himself “in the arena” and to always “carry his own pack.”

Some historical commentators chalk up Roosevelt’s obsession with the strenuous life to a symptom of the “male anxiety” that many 19th century urban men faced in America. It was the age of machines and steam and a man’s place in society was being questioned: What was the use of masculine strength when new machines could do the work of twenty men? With the frontier closed, what use was there for the old pioneer qualities of ruggedness and self-reliance?

Sound familiar?

Roosevelt and other men of his time ignored the hand-wringing and deliberately chose to live by the code of men even though it wasn’t demanded of them.

I think that’s why I and so many modern men admire Teddy Roosevelt. He showed that it’s possible to live in our modern world of luxury and comfort, but not be softened by it. He showed us that you could proactively choose to be good at being a man even when your surroundings or culture aren’t conducive to exercising your innate masculinity.

In short, TR showed us that it’s possible to live in civilization but not be of it..."

----------------------------------

Good stuff. This is the kind of writing that inspires me to go do sandbags, car pushes, tire flips and sledgehammers - which new research shows gets you just as much results as hitting the fancy Nautilus machines at the health club (and is way more fun).

Go read Semper Virilis to get more.And if you have questions, comments or feedback about today's podcast, the 3P's of becoming a man, leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In every drugstore aisle in America, shoppers cast the classic pose: two products in hand, confusion on their faces as they attempt to decipher the advertising claims and safety labels. It's an important decision, but it is so hard to be certain you're making the right call.

A new company called LabDoor buys dietary supplements and energy drinks off retail shelves and sites. Then, they send each product to an FDA-registered laboratory for a detailed chemical analysis. Their technical team then collects the laboratory results and builds algorithms to translate this data into simple grades and rankings.

The result is that you get to find out what's good, what's bad, and whether your protein powder, fish oil, vitamin D, energy drink or multivitamin actually contains what it says it contains, and whether it has any nasty contaminants.

In this episode with Neil Thanedar from Labdoor, you'll find out: -How supplement companies "cheat" when it comes to getting their products analyzed... -Why your protein powder may not actually have in it what it says it has in it... -The shocking truth about fish oil quality... -The one energy drink that is the biggest chemical cocktail in the supplement industry... -And much more!

If you have questions, comments or feedback about Labdoor and the supplements industry, leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/289

July 23, 2014 Podcast: 3 Ways To Keep Injuries From Piling Up, Is Deli Meat Healthy, How To Defat Bone Broth, Is Powdered Peanut Butter Healthy, How To Maximize Performance in Fire Gear, and Where To Find Beyond Training Audiobook.

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Fat loss pills? More Crossfit? Intermittent fasting? Try drinking more water first.
• This is pretty cool. High, high performance under stress...
• Increasing your heart rate variability and decrease heart rate arrhythmias - it all comes down to FLEXIBILITY.

-----------------------------------------------------

Ben Greenfield will be speaking at 2014 Bulletproof Biohacking Conference in Pasadena September, 26-28 - Dave Asprey is stacking this year’s event with an all-star speaker lineup of bestselling authors… entrepreneurs… Olympic athletes… nutritionists… world-class biohackers… and more… Plus, an interactive expo of the latest biohacking ‘tech’ – including cutting-edge gear designed to get you into hyper-productive “flow” state, courtesy of the Flow Genome Project. And YES, that means Dave is making sure all the best ‘toys’ are on display in one place – and you get to play with them… click here to get in now.

The Rock Star Triathlete Academy has relaunched with a lifestyle membership card! Click here for all details.

Check out the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. Ben will be speaking on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman (and Brock will *hopefully* be there too)

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Liz asks: She is an avid long course triathlete that was diagnosed with a partial tear in her plantar fascia just two weeks before her A-Race. She can still swim and bike but she has to wear a moveable walking boot for 3 months in order to keep her toes from bending back and to let fascia heal. What can she do to stop the awkward gait of the walking boot from causing problems elsewhere on her body?

Donald asks: He is wondering how healthy (or unhealthy) are those big circular, pressed together, deli ham, turkey and other meats that you see at Walmart and stores like that. Could that be a quick way to get some meat before or after the gym? They seem a little too good to be true.

Dave asks: He just made his first batch of bone broth and it is super delicious. He has noticed that when he puts it in the fridge it gets a quarter inch of what looks like pure fat on the top of it. He has been heating it up and mixing the fat back in and eating it. Is that the right thing to do?

Elyse asks: What do you think about dehydrated peanut butters that have all the fat removed before they are packaged? Is this better or worse than regular peanut butter?

Jim asks: He was just hired by the fire department. He is currently in training all day, wearing the protective gear. It really keeps the heat in and causes him to sweat more than he ever has before. It also weighs about 80lbs and most days he can feel his legs (and other parts of his body) start to cramp up. What can he do to maximize his performance in this situation?

Charles asks: He purchased the Kindle version of Beyond Training and is wondering where the alluded to "audio version" of the book is? He has called Audible a couple times and they say that it does not exist. Where can he find it?

-----------------------------------------------------

-- 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.

That's JJ Virgin pictured above.

I first met JJ at a health conference in New York. I looked at the person seated in the chair to my left, and then I did a double-take as I realized that this woman sitting next to me had some of the most impressively toned arms and legs that I've ever seen in my life. I was even more shocked when I found out how she exercises.

She's going to spill the beans on how she got such amazing arms and legs in today's podcast, in which you'll also find out why exercise may be less important than you think.

Resources we discuss: -JJ's books, including "The Virgin Diet" -CNN story of JJ's son -6 Weeks to Sleeveless And Sexy book -JJ's Fit Club -Retinol Cream -Purigenex Skin Care line -Thorne Clay SkinCare bar -Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System -Nuskin Ageloc -Nerium Age Defying Cream Kit -Annmarie Gianni Skin Care

Do you have question about how to get amazing arms and legs, and anything else JJ and I discuss in this podcast?

Leave your comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/288

July 16, 2014 Podcast: 5 Ways To Get Fit With an iTunes Gift Card, How To Workout If Your Hands Are Broken, Why A Vegan Diet Helped Bill Clinton, Natural Remedies for Alopecia, and Standing Lawn Mower Fitness.

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.

-----------------------------------------------------

You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• I love crazy Kickstarters - can women’s sweat boost dude’s testosterone?
• Yet another use for coffee: flour.
• 18 Ingredients That Sound Dangerous, But Aren’t.

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The Rock Star Triathlete Academy has relaunched with a lifestyle membership card! Click here for all details.

Check out the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. Ben will be speaking on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman.

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

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As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Tim asks: He was given a VERY generous gift of a $1000 gift card for iTunes from one of his customers. He wants to know what we would spend it on. What health, wellness or fitness apps - high end or low end - would we buy?

Lee asks: Two weeks ago he broke both of his hands in a bicycle accident (went over the handlebars) and is now looking for ways to exercise and stay in shape. He is a triathlete who also lift weights, rock climbs and plays racquetball - all things that involve grip strength which he no longer has.

Bob asks: He wants to know why people like Bill Clinton and George W. Bush seem to have health improvements after they switch from a meat based diet to a vegan or vegetarian diet. Why do you think that happens?

Eyebrows asks: He recently ran his first marathon. While he was training he lost his eyebrows and was diagnosed with alopecia. The doc said it was likely from the stress of training for the race but he topped out at 35 miles per week so he doesn't think the training caused it. Right now he is getting shots every month to stimulate hair growth (seems like a band aid solution) but is looking for other ways to deal with the autoimmune problem. He eats mostly paleo but with a few carbs and some dairy.

Jeff asks: He has a unique standing workstation which is attached to a large commercial mower. It's like lawn surfing. He is in constant movement - hips, knees and feet all moving and shaking. How would he take this kind of "exercise" (he does feel fatigued at the end of the day) into account when training for a marathon?

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-- 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.

As a parent living in a modern era, you have the privileged ability to enable your kids to become amazing human beings who look, feel and perform with optimized bodies and minds.

But unfortunately, it’s very easy to make parenting mistakes that create a host of issues in your kids, including immune system weakness, low IQ, stunted growth, obesity, depression, attention deficit disorder and other frustrating problems that society now accept as all-too-common.

As you may know, I have twin boys.

Incidentally, my friend Ari Meisel (who originally appeared on the podcast episode "10 Top Tips for Optimizing, Automating and Outsourcing Everything In Your Life.") is also a father of twins.

So in this podcast episode, Ari and I decided to combine our knowledge of health, fitness, nutrition, biohacking, productivity and parenting to give you our top tips for raising healthy, smart and successful kids.

Resources mentioned in this podcast:

-The brand new Udemy course taught by Ari and Ben: "Double Dads: The Twin Dad's Ultimate Guide To Raising Healthy, Smart & Successful Kids”

-Magnesium Flakes

-Noise Activated Noise Machine

-YoNanas Banana Ice Cream Maker

-Coconut Macaroons

-Coconut-Chocolate-Avocado Pudding

-Coconut Popsicles

-Mindful Parenting book

-Fetch app for having other people buy stuff for you

-Thieves Essential Oil Blend

-Ben's MRSA/Staph Story

-Oil of Oregano

-Cold Air Diffuser for Essential Oils

-Lemon Balm

-IFTTT & Zapier

-Mini kettlebells

-Mini medicine balls

-Kid's kickboxing equipment

During this episode, Ben and Ari also give you a $10 discount code on their brand new "Double Dads: The Twin Dad's Ultimate Guide To Raising Healthy, Smart & Successful Kids", so be sure to listen in!

This new course gives parents of twins everything necessary for raising healthy and smart twins, including how both mothers and fathers should eat and exercise during a twin pregnancy, how to bulletproof your children’s immune system, twin parent sleeping tips, healthy holistic nutrition for twins, productivity and money-saving hacks, keep yourself healthy and fit while raising twins, creating socially enhanced children, and much more!

If you have questions, comments or feedback about these tips for raising healthy, smart and successful kids, then leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/287

July 9, 2014 Podcast: What Is The Best Way To Eat Eggs, Gelatin vs. Collagen, Better Sleep for New Mothers, Foam Roller 101, and Germs on Water Fountains.

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.

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You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• You may want to actually run *behind* (AKA Draft) the person in front of you in your next triathlon, 5K, 10K or marathon.
• The do’s and don’ts of running your first marathon. Hilarious.
• Ever wondered how a green banana or stick of butter could make you smarter?

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The Rock Star Triathlete Academy has relaunched with a lifestyle membership card! Click here for all details.

Check out the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. Ben will be speaking on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman.

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Andrew asks: He is following a hypertrophy diet right now and is eating 4 eggs cooked in coconut oil every day for breakfast. He likes his eggs scrambled but has heard that scrambling eggs can introduce oxygen that along with the heat from cooking, can oxidize the cholesterol in the eggs and create free radicals that are detrimental to health. What is the best way to eat eggs?

Gelatin asks: He is wanting to use something other than bone broth to heal his gut. Which would be the best substitute: Great Lakes Gelatin, Great Lakes Hydrolyzed Collagen or Upgraded Collagen. What would be the differences? Is there any truth to Dave Asprey's claims that his collagen is produced in a way that leaves the peptides intact and provides more collagen than bone broth.

Jenn asks: She just had a baby 6 weeks ago (and also has a 2 year old). Needless to say she is not getting good sleep at night and is not able to nap during the day. Is there anything she can take/do at night to help the little sleep she does get be more restorative? Or is there something she can use during the day to have more energy?

Joe asks: His personal trainer has been telling him to foam roll but he finds it very painful. His trainer says it will get easier and hurt less with time. What is your opinion and how/why does it get easier and less painful?

KJ asks: What is more sanitary? The water fountain or the water faucet at the gym? He has heard that you shouldn't drink out of a water fountain but is it any more sanitary to use the faucet in the locker room instead?

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-- 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.

The video below tells the story of Sadie, an 11-month-old baby who suffered from 300 seizures per day. She was given Cannabidiol, an oil-based extract of marijuana. What happens next blew my mind. Grab a Kleenex and watch. The truth is, marijuana - although an extremely controversial drug - has been proven to be effective for medical issues like: -Pain -Epilepsy (seizures) -Muscle Tension -Anxiety -Depression -Nausea -Cancer -Anorexia -Insomnia -PTSD -Crohn's & Colitis -And much, much more...

My guest in today's podcast, Dr. James Schmachtenberger, has made it his goal - as the executive producer a new documentary called "The Science of Weed" - to put the truth and real facts in the hands of those who need marijuana-based medicine, so they can make informed decisions about utilizing cannabis not as a recreational drug per se, but instead as an effective treatment method for health issues.

In today's podcast, James and I discuss: -The difference between medicinal cannabis and weed... -The best medicinal uses of marijuana... -How you can use marijuana without side effects of endocannibanoids... -Why the WADA has marijuana listed as a banned substance for athletes... -How you can use marijuana to sleep better or beat insomnia... -Whether marijuana is effective as an anti-inflammatory... -Do you have to be careful with mold and fungi in marijuana, and how do you know your sources are “good”... -Is weed addictive?

Do you have more questions about weed, and how it can be used as medicine? Leave your thoughts and comments at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and check out The Science of Weed documentary here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/286

July 2, 2014 Podcast: Is The Potato Diet Healthy, How To Biohack Your Office, How Much Liver Is Too Much, Natural Remedies for Receding Gums, and Itchy Skin After Hard Workouts.

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.

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You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• This is super interesting. Exercising can make you smart but exercising too long can make you stupid!
• Can a big steak before bed help you sleep? Wrong kind of protein. Try glycine instead.
• Interesting. Eating carbs during a workout can blunt the training response.

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Check out the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. Ben will be speaking on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman.

Get a Weehoo bike trailer in this giveaway at the Ben Greenfield Fitness Facebook page as part of the "Grow Tiny Superhumans" book launch! Click here to enter now.

Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast.

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!

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As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Becky asks: She had to have her wisdom teeth removed and ended up being on an all mashed potato diet for a few days. During that time, she felt very healthy and fast and ended up losing a bit of weight that week as well. She has heard of people going on a "potato fast" and is wondering what you think about it and the research? It seems frugal and healthy... especially considering her Irish ancestry.

Heather asks: She recently got her first "office job" in many years (cubicles, dirty electricity, EMF, wifi) and is looking for guidance. If you, Ben, were forced to work in an office, what would you bring with you into the office to help mitigate the toxins. Can you walk through a day of "What Ben Would Do" in an office job?

Kathy asks: She has been taking desiccated liver powder (instead of organ meat) for a while now and is feeling good. Is it safe to take it everyday? She knows that you should only eat organ meats 1 or 2 times a week but does this also apply to the powder?

Matt asks: His wife just had a Free Soft Tissue grab with her dentist to fix some gum recession. He also has some gum recession and is hoping to avoid the same procedure. Do you know of any supplements or techniques he can use to regrow his gums... or is he just out of luck? He has been trying liposomal Coq10 with his eggs at breakfast (taken with a fatty meal).

Skyler asks: Where ever she does a mildly intense workout (20min of kettle bells or a little running speed work) she has a lot of trouble sleeping at night. Her body gets wired and she is itching in her skin. What is going on with her nervous system that is causing this and what can she do about it?

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-- 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.

I'm often asked how somebody actually gets to the point where they can help people have better health - particularly when it comes to the eating part. After all, even if you don't have the resources to attend medical school and become a physician, we still live in an era where you can become a personal trainer, nutritionist, dietitian, or health coach and still be able to help lots of people achieve better health. So in today's podcast, I interview Maria Marlowe (pictured right), who is certified through the "Institute for Integrative Nutrition", which is the world's largest nutrition school. Maria graduated at the top of her class, summa cum laude, from Fordham University with a BS in Finance and Marketing. After landing a coveted finance position after graduation, she quickly decided that industry wasn’t for her, and pursued her passion for the healing power of food. She attended the Natural Gourmet Institute to learn raw food preparation, and became a Certified Health Coach through Integrative Nutrition. She is a regular contributor to The Daily Love, Wellness Today, and Mind Body Green, and has been featured in Shape, Well & Good NYC, and New York Press. She is currently working towards her Masters in Human Nutrition and resides in New York. In this interview, you'll learn: -What a health coach is... -How to become a health coach... -How being a health coach is different than being a nutritionist or an RD... -What a typical day in the life of a health coach looks like (including the video below)... -How much it costs to become a health coach... -How much money a health coach makes... -And much more! Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to become a health coach? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com, and be sure to check out the Institute for Integrative Nutrition!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/285

June 25, 2014 Podcast: What's The Healthiest Way To Tan, How To Biohack Getting Ripped, The Best Exercise To Get Fat Adapted, Can You Get Fitter Without Exercising, Does Zone 1 Training Affect Recovery, Can Electrical Stimulation Help Bones Heal Faster?

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.

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You can get these News Flashes hot off the presses if you follow Ben on Twitter.com/BenGreenfield, Facebook.com/BGFitness and Google+.

• Is it safe for 40 year olds to exercise hard?
• Barefoot running is safe.
• This is kinda cool. Mix amino acids and electrolytes together if you have a “long day” of hot workouts planned (e.g. Ironman!).

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-Check out the Ironman Sports Medicine conference in October during Ironman Hawaii. Ben will be speaking on nutrition myths and alternative methods of fueling Ironman.

-ThorneFX has dropped international shipping rates by 1/2 to 1/3.

-Go ask your burning Obstacle Racing questions at http://www.ObstacleDominator.com for the brand new Obstacle Dominator podcast!

-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!

-----------------------------------------------------

As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Brock Skywalker Armstrong, the Podcast Sidekick and Audio Ninja.

Celia asks: She stopped tanning in the sun about 10 years ago because of all the sun spots she was getting on her chest, arms and legs. She uses sun screen while running and gardening but would really like to look tanned again. Do you know what the safest way to chemically tan is? Spray on at a shop or any of the over the counter products?

Handsome asks: If you were preparing for a 1-2 day photo shoot, what would you do in preparation? He wants to look as lean and awesome as possible. Would you do a carb depletion and repletion in the week leading up to it? What would the training look like? Then, after the shoot, what would you do to make sure you continue looking as good as possible for as long as possible?

Patrick asks: You have mentioned that becoming truly fat adapted for exercise takes 6 months. Is this only effected by diet or does specific types of training play a part as well? He background is strength and power (college offensive lineman) and is starting SealFit training.

Dom asks: Can cold thermogenesis and a ketogenic diet alone improve one's stroke volume and heart rate or does it have to be combined with some kind of exercise to reap the benefits?

Blake asks: He is following the Beyond Training - Ancestral Minimal Ironman training plan included with the book and is wondering how riding his bike everyday, pulling children, in Zone 1 will effect the training plan?

Davey Navy asks: He was playing soccer and someone came in a broke the fibula bone in his ankle. He is recovering well but is ready to introduce some e-stim to his healing protocol. He noticed there are some cheaper ones at the drug store (like Omron) and is wondering how they stack up against the others.

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-- 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!

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[gravityform id="2" name="Ask Ben" title="false" description="false"]

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most of us have at least some familiarity with a state called "flow".

If you’ve ever lost an afternoon to a great conversation or gotten so involved in a work project that all else is forgotten or found yourself completely firing on all cylinders during a swim, bike, run or other workout, then you’ve tasted the experience.

In flow, you are so focused on the task at hand that everything else falls away. Action and awareness merge. Time flies. Self vanishes. Performance goes through the roof.

In his book The Rise Of Superman - Decoding The Science of Ultimate Human Performance, and on today's podcast interview, my guest Steven Kotler tells you exactly how to biohack yourself into this state of flow, and how you can tap into this power to achieve amazing feats of physical and mental performance, even if you're not a "super athlete".

I really enjoyed this discussion with Steven, and you're going to get a lot out of it if you want to increase your ability to tap into the equivalent of "the runner's high" anytime, anyplace.

Resources we discuss during this podcast:

-Steven's Book: The Rise Of Superman - Decoding The Science of Ultimate Human Performance

-Steven's Book: Abundance - The Future is Better Than You Think

-Flow Genome Project

-The free 17 Flow Triggers slideshare

-Advanced Brain Monitoring EEG

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to achieve a state of flow, or tap into your ultimate performance potential? Leave your questions, comments and feedback at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I go to the sauna once a week, and often twice a week in the winter.

I get a huge pile of the magazines or journals I subscribe to, like ESPN, Fast Company, or Mother Earth News (and sometimes even grab a book I don't mind destroying) then settle in for a good 30-45 minute sweat session.

After about 25 minutes, it get pretty tough as my heart rate and core temperature rapidly rise, and I eventually get so hot that I have to quit reading - and then I simply switch to staring at the wall and doing deep, meditative breathing to sit things out for as long as I can. I pretend I'm some kind of ancient warrior sitting in an Indian sweat lodge, or a prisoner of war tossed into one of those heat torture chambers.

Then I take a cold shower and I feel amazing.

I've used this strategy to train for everything from racing Ironman in the lava fields of Hawaii to preparing for a tennis tournament in a stifling indoor tennis courts stadium.

But why does heat work so well to enhance performance?

Can you use heat to build muscle or burn fat?

What's the best kind of heat? Saunas? Steam rooms? Those dorky sauna suits?

You're about to find out the answers to these burning questions (ha!), and so much more.

My guest in today's podcast, Dr. Rhonda Patrick (pictured right) has a Ph.D. in biomedical science, a Bachelor’s of Science degree in biochemistry/chemistry, has done extensive research on aging, cancer, and nutrition, she did her graduate research on the link between mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis, and cancer...

...and she knows a thing or two about heat exposure too, as you can see from her video here on heat stress. 

Dr. Patrick is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, where she conducts clinical trials looking at the effects of micronutrients (e.g. vitamins and minerals) on metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage, and aging. In addition, she is investigating the role of vitamin D in brain function and other physiological functions. She has also done research on anti-aging techniques at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences.

During our podcast, you'll learn everything you need to know about how to use heat exposure to enhance performance, burn fat, and gain muscle.

-3 ways getting into a sauna could actually grow new neurons and make you smarter...

-The best to use heat to build endurance, build muscle and heal injuries...

-How much heat exposure is enough, and how much is too much...

-Whether it's really true that you can increase growth hormone inside a sauna...

-How heat can help you produce the "runner's high"...

-The amazing anti-aging effect of saunas and how it works...

-What the best type of heat is, and whether there is a difference between wet heat vs. dry heat vs. sauna suits vs. infrared saunas and mats...

-How to ideally combine heat exposure with cold thermogenesis...

Resources discussed in this podcast:

-FoundMyFitness.com

-Biomat infrared mat

-CoolFatBurner vest

Do you have questions about how to use heat to enhance performance, or any other thoughts about this episode with Rhonda Patrick? Leave your comments by clicking here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year, popular media has been blowing up the news with reports that hormone replacement therapy like testosterone replacement therapy could cause increased risk of heart attacks.

But what they don't tell you is that low testosterone (in both men and women) can actually decrease your cardiac health, bigtime. And if you don't address low testosterone as you age, you not only pile extra stress on your heart, but you also get frail, lose muscle, gain fat, get impaired cognition, experience lower bone density, increased risk of type II diabetes, and many more serious issues.

There were also many, many other problems with the JAMA study that suggested testosterone replacement therapy could hurt your heart. And you'll learn about those problems - and much more about the link between your heart and your hormones - in today's podcast episode with Jon Benson.

Ten years ago, Jon Benson (pictured above) was a somewhat typical American male: Overworked, over-stressed, and overweight. Benson's weight put him officially into the "obese" category and brought with it all the associated disease states such as high blood pressure, high inflammation, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, massive amounts of "stress fat" around the belly and chest region, and some serious heart issues.

But he's fixed himself. Jon is now a 4-time bestselling author on the subject of fitness and nutrition, including "Fit Over 40", "7 Minute Body", and "The Every Other Day Diet" - and testosterone plays a big role in his story.

Today you're going to learn all about Jon, and the crucial link between your heart and your hormones. During our discussion, Jon and I cover:

-How increasing testosterone improve cardiovascular health...

-The best way to test testosterone, and other hormones to test...

-What kind of total and free testosterone numbers you should look for...

-What to do about excess estrogens and aromatization...

-What the best and safest methods are for testosterone replacement therapy...

-The ideal herbs and supplements for increasing testosterone...

Resources we discuss in this episode:

-ThorneFX Hormone Test (check on your testosterone, cortisol and much more)

-ThorneFX Cardiovascular Risk test

-Aggressive Strength herbal testosterone booster (that Ben takes)

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about the link between your hormones and your heart, or how low testosterone can destroy your heart? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you know if the nutrition supplements that you are using are safe and legal? 

How is the supplement industry actually regulated?

What should you look for to know if your supplement actually contains what it says it contains?

You're going to learn the answers to these and many more questions in this podcast episode.

My guest for this episode, Tom Nikkola (pictured right) is a fitness and nutrition expert who is well-versed in the nutrition supplement industry. He was cured from leukemia when he was five. He spent years doing follow-up testing at the Mayo Clinic, and during that time, often thought of becoming a doctor.

This interest in health turned into an interest in fitness, which eventually led him to graduate from university, cum laude, with a pre-Med Biology degree. Shortly after graduating, Tom started working for Life Time Fitness, and was there for nearly 12 years working as a personal trainer, and holding various management roles, before finally leaving after holding the position of  Senior Director of Nutrition & Weight Management. During that time, Tom was responsible for Life Time’s nutrition, metabolism and weight management programs and products.

Tom holds a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as my Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN) certification from the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN).  Beyond his standardized education, Tom has also read hundreds of books on fitness and nutrition and currently has a personal library of about 900 published research papers and articles.

Tom now uses his insights and experience to advise and build the one of the world's leading fitness supplement brands - ThorneFX - with a focus on producing products and services in which fitness professionals and the clients they work with can have complete trust. In today’s episode, Tom is going to walk us through everything we need to know about whether the supplements we’re taking are actually safe, legal and contain what they say they contain.

-The history behind ThorneFX...

-How multivitamins are made, from idea conception to final product...

-How to know whether supplements actually contain the exact amount of product that is on the label...

-What kind of third-party certifications you should be looking for on a supplement label...

-Why fillers, binders, excipients and other additives are added to supplements - and which are safe and which are not...

-4 things you must completely avoid in any supplement, capsule, powder or tablet...

-Tom's three favorite supplement “stacks”, and why he chooses them...

-And much more!

These are all important issues.

And here's why...

A woman in Hawaii recently died from liver failure due to her use of the weight loss supplement OxyELITE Pro. Following actions by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Texas-based company has agreed to recall and destroy a dietary supplement linked to dozens of cases of acute liver failure and hepatitis, including one death and illnesses so severe that several patients required liver transplants.

A recent journal of medicine presented a case report on two soldiers who were taking commercially available energy supplements and who both collapsed during physical exertion from cardiac arrest and ultimately died.

In many cases, there are reported risks of deaths actually increasing with long term use of supplements such as multivitamins, vitamin B6, folic acid, iron, magnesium, zinc, and copper and there are athletes who have been banned from competition due to their "innocent" electrolytes and sports fuels being tainted with hormones and steroids.

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about whether your supplement is safe, or any other thoughts about this episode? Leave your comments by clicking here, and go to ThorneFX to view any of the products we discuss in this podcast!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My podcast guest in this episode suffered a stroke when he was 22 years old.

That set him down a path that would change his life forever. Within 5 months, he had dropped 55 pounds, lowered his blood pressure from 200/90 to 110/70, and began developing the anti-aging system and 5 age defying techniques that we talk about in today's podcast.

At age 53, using his own techniques from his anti-aging protocol, he has now shattered the world endurance record for most pounds lifted overhead in an hour (53,640 pounds). And now he plans to break the record for aging.

His name is Nick Delgado, and in this amazing audio episode, we delve into hormones, hypoxia, nutrient density, fats and oils, trampolining, telomere testing, and much much more.

Resources from this episode: -The Delgado Protocol -Nick's book How To Stay Young -CVAC Pod and the Hypoxic air generator Ben and Nick discuss -The MindAlive light/sound device to achieve brain theta waves -Telomere Length Testing -TA-65 extract for telomeres -Astragalus herb in TianChi that Ben uses -Marine Phytoplankton for essential fatty acids -Melatonin Cream for wrinkles -The olive oil that Ben smears on his face every day -The Weston A. Price / Okinawa study that Ben mentions -Mini trampoline for lymph flow

Do you have questions, comments or feedback about how to break the world record for aging? Leave your thoughts at BenGreenfieldFitness.com!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My friend Tai Lopez is a very interesting guy.

Tai is a true renaissance man.

Tai (pictured right) went from being a college dropout living with the Amish and working on Joel Salatin's farm (which we talk about in this podcast episode) to becoming a self made millionaire before the age of 30, while launching 12 multi-million dollar businesses in the process.

He is a member of MENSA: the high IQ society, a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, and most importantly a student of life with a ton of books (5000 plus at the last count). In addition to his massive book collection, he is himself the author of several books on unrelated subjects such as dating, life insurance and modeling, and the voice of the brand new podcast "The Grand Theory of Everything".

Tai was on Bravo's "The Millionaire Matchmaker" (his episode is the highest rated yet), is addicted to traveling (51 countries on 6 continents so far), and is also a student of salsa dancing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and playing classical piano. He lives in the Hollywood Hills, where he has a cold thermogenesis pool off his front porch.

Tai also has a good way of summing up books that would normally take you a long time to read. That’s wonderful for anyone who doesn’t have the time luxury to read lots of books (and you can consider his Book of the Day list a fantastic time-hacking technique).

A few weeks ago, I featured an article by Tai entitled "50 Secrets Of The World Longest Living People", and in this podcast we go way above and beyond just living long. You'll learn:

-How Tai went from being a college dropout to living with the Amish...

-Why the Apache Indian tribe were some of the toughest people on earth...

-What farmers and ranchers know about toughness that we don't...

-How aligning your body with your natural circadian rhythms can make you tough...

-Tai's top techniques for getting tough...

-Tai's technique for getting through as many books as possible in as short a period of time...

Resources we discuss in this episode:

-Book: Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior

-Book: Arnold Schwarzenegger's Total Recall: My Unbelievably True Life Story

-Book: Michael Jordan: The Life

-Book: Peter Drucker: Managing Life

-Book: Poor Charlie's Almanack

-Book: Kon Tiki

-Tai's Book of the Day list

-Joel Salatin, and the amazing books he has written

Leave your questions, comments or feedback for Tai at the shownotes here, and be sure to check out his new podcast "The Grand Theory of Everything".

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