Somehow, even while living in our modern era of scientific wonders, I’ve never gotten pregnant or had a baby.
But I’ve heard that the process of giving birth (and God bless you, if you have) is such a laborious ritual that most mothers don’t instantly turn to thoughts of attempting to produce another baby anytime in the very near future.
That may not be true. It is not a PubMed fact.
But let’s say it is true.
Then (the following risks offending all hard-working mothers), for an author like me, the process of writing and publishing a book might be synonymous with childbirth. An author who has just published a book may not be terribly excited about writing another book right away.
Until recently, I sure wasn’t excited about launching another book “baby-making” process.
But it’s been around six months since Boundless was released. So the writing flea is beginning to gnaw somewhere near the base of my left ear again. And—the itch seems to have spread to my brain, because here I am writing, again.
See, I’ve had quite a few thoughts lately about writing, such as:
First, I like to express my thoughts in written word. Although I don’t do many things well, writing is an inborn skill of mine. It makes me better at organizing and disseminating my thoughts, and I trust that what I write can help you, too. I actually feel like I am underserving you by not writing.
Second, I used to write a weekly newsletter that had a bit of “meat” to it. Currently, most of the emails you get from me offer you some great discoveries, deals, research dives, and podcast alerts—but believe it or not, I have some other musings rolling around in my skull that would be valuable to share with you.
There’s a big difference between me pushing out a quick social media post and me rolling up my sleeves and writing something really meaningful and potentially more permanently valuable for you.
That leads me to point number three: in the health industry, there are myths and common beliefs that are hurting you and wasting your valuable time. I plan to systematically tackle these issues in the coming months.
This will include me giving you my unique perspective, personal stories, and experienced but controversial take on:
- Supplements (including creatine, multivitamins, fish oil, collagen, fairy dusting, proprietary formulas, peptides, and more)
- Temperature (common misconceptions and confusion around cold and heat therapies)
- Sleep (do you really need 7–9 hours?)
- Gluten
- Seed oils
- Red meat
- Keto/carbs
- Fasting
- Biohacking vs. natural living
- Psychedelics
- And (this is a big one) the modern obsession—er, quest—for immortality
Fourth, did you know that Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, Alexandre Dumas’s Count of Monte Cristo, and Neil Gaiman’s American Gods (to name a few) were all written as syndications? This means that each of these books was released bit by bit in a newspaper or other publication.
This is also how I’ve created books in the past: I write a series of articles over the course of a year or so; I pay close attention to your comments, questions, and feedback; then I improve, refine, and eventually sculpt them into a polished book.
This is my goal with the newsletter/article/video series that starts today: you get to help decide the scope and direction of my next book. You are my co-creator.
So if something resonates with you, great: let me know.
If something is completely uninteresting, let me know that too.
If I’m not discussing or taking a deep enough dive into something that you think I should, fill me in.
After all, I wake up in the morning to learn helpful tidbits that I can share with you to make your health, vitality, and overall life better. I promise to keep doing that if you promise to keep giving me feedback.
Finally, just a few housekeeping items:
- Each newsletter will include a video version from me, in case you’d rather watch/listen than read.
- You will be able to find these weekly musings not only in your email inbox (you can subscribe here), but also on my website, on Substack, on LinkedIn, and wherever else you prefer to consume content (YouTube, Instagram, X, Facebook, my podcast—take your pick). Every piece will be dispersed across my channels throughout the week.
- I don’t use AI to write. AI is a decent research and idea-generating tool, but what you are reading is literally me typing or dictating. AI cannot give you the personal experience and stories that I’ll be sharing with you over the coming months. It can’t give you a unique human perspective. Frankly, I will never again write a book that’s mostly full of facts and research. Everything I create going forward must be my own personal experience, with entertaining and educating stories that make your life better. Yes, that takes more time, more creativity, and more energy than cranking out AI drivel, but I’m going to do it because that’s what I’m here to do for you.
That’s it.
Let me know what you think in the comments section below. I read all the comments.
Ben
P.S. Coming next week: “Why biohack”? Hint: it’s not to live forever.
30 Responses
Hi Ben, I think this is great, and I am really enjoying the Life Network content as well.
My particular ask might be a little too narrow, but if you scan out a bit, I’d welcome an updated one stop shop for all things hot and cold thermogenesis.
My particular ask is mainly around hot thermogenesis. It is my understanding that longer term studies really on exist for dry saunas. I’d like to understand more about the researched benefits specifically of infrared saunas. Do the study benefits on the various infrared sauna websites hold up to scrutiny?
Thanks much! R, Mike
glad you’re enjoying the content on LIFE Network — thanks for the comment. this recent episode might answer a few of your questions, too: https://bengreenfieldlife.com/podcast/495/.
Hi Ben, I’ve followed your stuff for a number of years and really appreciate your honesty and clarity. I’m a health practitioner in the southern hemisphere and not everything you suggest is available here but it’s always interesting reading and / or listening! Many thanks to you for your many years of creating and sharing information.
Personally, I’m always keen to hear more about the micro habits people use and integrate that make a big difference over time. As an example – I love and often recommend the Big 6 from Stop Chasing Pain to people I see as there really are no excuses – it’s fast, effective, and you don’t have to buy anything to add it into your life. My sense has always been that the more people can integrate small helpful things, the more agency they have and then over time it becomes easier to make better choices across the board. I’d love to hear about the simple things you do that just help you to feel weller and more like yourself. I’m curious about the same for your lovely wife too, as I definitely know what works for me (as a woman) is a bit different than for my husband!
Many thanks again 🙏🏼
thanks for listening! noted — great idea.
I’d love to hear you cover Trauma, I think most chronic illness can be fixed by reregulating your nervous system. A reason that a lot of people are sick or just not living optimally is the traumatic load of their life (environment as well) and the impact that has had on their nervous system. Healthy nervous system = Healthy person. You should also consider Interviewing Raelan Agle! That would be a great convo.
i’ll look into it, thanks!
Hi Ben,
lots of good ideas from all the people here but spontaneously what I am missing as I am doing it for years:
stretching ! Im from overseas and can´t easily get all the products mentioned, I am quite old (>70) and doing all kinds of sport since I was 5.
As I also do Martial Arts for about 30 years, I know how important flexibility of body (and mind) in my age is. Moving your body (arms and legs) to both sides and crossing them, is enhancing the connection of the 2 hemispheres of your brain.
So maybe these also are good subjects for longevity – in my experience they are.
thanks for sharing!
Psychedelics!!
noted!
Hi Ben,
I’ve benefitted hugely from consulting your AI chatbot about how to prepare for and manage health through pregnancy, but I’d love for your resources to go further on this. Could you take a more in-depth look at the most impactful focuses for a man and a woman wanting to have a maximally healthy pregnancy and baby? I’m thinking what should the man and woman each focus on 18, 12 and 6 months out from conception, how to manage things during pregnancy (lots of myths to dispel here) and how best to care for the mother and baby following birth.
A lot of resources equivocate too much or are too conservative I’d suggest due to fear of liability, rather than taking a more commonsense and thoughtful science backed approach to recommendations (with appropriate warnings), and then there’s all the fear mongering out there. A consolidated, considered and structured body of thinking from you on these topics would be valuable beyond measure.
great idea!
Really specific – how to make a healthy baby and/or what can be done to set a baby up maximally for healthy development from 18, 12 and 6 months out from conception for the man and the woman. There’s myriad myths out there that need squashing.
Also, there’s plenty of myths about what to do to care for the mum and the baby following birth, and plenty of topics and resources in this area that people won’t touch for fear of liability. Maybe there’s a commonsense thought process paired with the scie ce here. Your AI chatbot has been a great resource for us (we now have a healthy and thriving seven month old baby), however I’d appreciate hearing more from you on this.
glad you’re enjoying the resources on LIFE Network and find them useful — all good ideas for the future!
I would like a deep dive on prebiotics and probiotics addressing questions like, should probiotics be formulated based on seasons to mimic natural food availability? Do certain formulated strains compete with each other? If so, which ones? Should we rotate different brands and formulations?
got it!
I’ve followed you for several years and have implemented dozens of your health protocols and benefitted immensely. Would love to hear an update on how you are progressing with managing and perhaps reversing atherosclerosis especially re: use of supplements and statins or anything else you’re using.
ok!
Hi Ben, you might also consider showing evidences in most topics. E.g. there are a lot of vagus nerve stimulators on the market but still there is no evidence that they can stimulate the vagus nerve through the skin (as you can read this in Dr Kevin Tracey’s book). And it might be the same for lots of supplements as well. If it works for a given person it is not an evidence that it will work for everyone – unless it is based on experiments.
cool, an d I have a podcast coming out soon on stimulators.
I have been casually following your content for several years. Recently, I have begun to follow your content a little more closely. I appreciate your willingness to try just about anything. I would encourage you to not just write from your personal history, but to have your experience with research mixed in–though I do realize that research can be highly subjective depending on who is funding the study. Still, as you and others have pointed out instances (for example like vitamin D and optimizing your levels and the benefits of doing so especially before a surgery) where the research is overwhelming. I appreciate seeing when research and personal experience coincide and also when they do not seem to. I am excitedly anticipating your willingness to tackle the controversial subjects of common held ideals in the health industry that are actually hurting people. The two I am most excited about are supplements, and biohacking vs natural living.
“Desert island” challenges: if you were only allowed to take three supplements, what would they be?
The following thoughts are perhaps other “fleas” for a different time…
The question I asked my spouse this evening after listening to one of your podcasts was, “What about the people who cannot afford all of the flights, hyperbaric chamber, and experiences? Are there things they can do to still benefit from all of your wisdom and experience?” Kind of the idea of biohacking for the blue-collared individual, where money is tight, insurance is expensive, and doctors don’t care. The Robin Hood of biohacking per say except gleaning from the upscale instead of robbing them.
The other question I have when reading or listening to your content, is how to bio hack from a faith-based perspective and trying to avoid some things that are spiritually stinky? Examples: I love the idea of yoga, but I do not love that the practice is one of the pillars of worship to a god of a religion that is not mine. Some people can navigate this with ease. I have trouble doing so once I heard that the poses are a physical representation of people subjecting themselves to this god. Is there a stretching program that isn’t yoga?
Cranial sacral therapy is another powerful tool, but I learned that they are trained to pray to your “inner physician”. As much as I benefitted from the therapy, I could not escape the dark thoughts that seemed to go with it.
Just because a therapy helps physically does not mean there are no negative spiritual implications–depending on the sources and context, and that is where I struggle.
Or maybe that is a rock that is better left undisturbed.
Thank you for being willing to push the boundaries.
these are great ideas!
bonjour Ben I like very much read your letter and all your Q&A and web. my question is about the Perpetua life AON complex. there is a lot of different stuff in a cap, how can it be tto many dilution to be effective? by the way is that your product brand?
.
I am not associated with that product at all…
Love this idea and all of your content! I would love to know more about:
– brain health and AI usage
– red light therapy benefits
– intermittent and or water fasting vs. the benefits of fasting mimicking diets,
– oxalates…signs you have a build up of them, the damage they do, how to remove them from the body and minimize them when eating foods containing them (I recently learned that they even cause plaque to develop on your teeth!)
– dangers of mouthwash and fluoride toothpaste
– health benefits of fermented foods (I recently learned that they often contain oxalates too!)
– health benefits of matcha and cacao (I recently learned that they too contain oxalates)
– dangers or health benefits of microwave
– ways to increase nitric oxide in the body
Thank you for the work that you do in keeping us informed!
great ideas!
Thanks for inviting people to ask questions comment etc…
I am wanting to know more about supplements and a CURE for cancer….
and spiritual disciplines the life of prayer and how it effects health?
Thanks
I appreciate all your hard work ..will be looking forward to watching and listening on you tube
elisabeth
thanks for following, and noted!
Love this and can’t wait to follow along. In addition to your overall perspective, I’d love to hear more about the nuance… when you would or wouldn’t recommend something, and how to tell if it’s actually working for you. I’m currently in the perimenopause stage, and man, things are different. But one of the biggest gifts of this stage has been the growing, deeper respect for my body, tuning into what does or doesn’t feel good, and finding a more middle-of-the-road approach that feels less stressful to maintain. It’s the “under the hood” effects that are hardest to discern when trying new things.
cool, thanks!