June 15, 2016
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June 15, 2016 Podcast: 353: The 5 Best Ways To Accelerate Fat Loss, Can Testosterone Be Too High, How To Get In Running Shape Fast & More!
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August 11-13, 2016: Ben is speaking at the Ancestral Health Symposium (AHS) in Boulder, Colorado. AHS is a historic three-day event created to unite the ancestral health movement and to foster collaboration among scientists, health professionals, and laypersons who study and communicate about health from an evolutionary perspective to develop solutions to our health challenges. Click here to learn more or to register now.
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Listener Q&A:
As compiled, deciphered, edited and sometimes read by Rachel Browne, the NEW Podcast Sidekick.
Can Testosterone Be Too High?
Joshua says: He loves the podcast and website. His question is, he just got his blood work back and everything looks good, except his testosterone. It was 1100, which he knows is ridiculously high so it scares him. Do you have any thoughts? He's going to his doctor in a week but doesn't trust them to have a real answer to whats going on. He knows its good to have high testosterone but 1100 is over the top.
–Sex Hormone Balance Test
Coffee Enemas 101
Yvonne says: She has a friend who does regular coffee enemas who also can't sleep at night. Is there a relationship between the enemas and the fact he can't sleep? Should he change the frequency of the enemas? He enjoys them so much because of the energy they give him. Please give us your advice.
–My article on Bulletproof Coffee Enemas
How To Get In Running Shape Fast
Joshua says: He's decided to start running, but he's never ran further than 3 miles. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve stamina, or ways to motivate yourself to go for a run? He's not sure if he'll try to get to full marathon distance, but he'd like to get to the point where he can run for an hour without getting tired, what are your thoughts?
–Treadmill desk article
–Troy Jacobson's Runervals
-30 second treadmill bursts
-Elliptical trainer high-intensity intervals (including this recent study on the Elliptigo)
–Incline treadmill with weighted vest
-Isometric squats or isometric lunges into sprints. Very much like the Russian underground techniques here.
The 5 Best Ways To Accelerate Fat Loss
Craig says: Over the winter time he hurt his arm and fell out of taking care of himself with eating good foods and so on. Now he's 20lbs over the weight he likes to be at and hes trying to get aback on the horse. He's curious to know if you were in that position Ben, from a food, detox, fat loss perspective, what would you do, besides the obvious of eat better foods and exercise?
In my response, I recommend:
–Infrared sauna plus niacin, followed by cold thermogenesis
–Fasted fat loss with caffeine, including this fat burning zone calculation
–MPX100, Organic Ceylon Cinnamon, Apple Cider Vinegar + regulation of sugar transporters the high intensity interval training or strength training pre-largest meal.
–Compex or MarcPro ($32 discount at http://www.MarcPro.com with discount code “Ben”)
–PowerLung
– Captain of Crush/Hand Expander Band
-One 24 hour water fast per week combined with amino acids, minerals and multivitamin.
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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!
Ask Your Question
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I already take straight beta-alanine for a preworkout supplement..would it be a good idea to add niacin to my preworkout stack to get a good pump and sweat going? Would this be dangerous/worth it to do? Also would a b-complex vitamin supply high enough levels of niacin to get the benefits from it?
Yes, but I am a bigger fan of something called "Niasafe". Read this: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/hackedsauna hope that helps!
In the naturopathic realm 24-72hr water fasts have been recommended for candida yeast infection, among other infections. What is your take on this?
Hi Andrea – I'm a huge fan of this for starving off the sugar, but you need more. Check this out: http://bit.ly/2ldw9HU
Hi Ben,
A lot of reviews and medical reccomendations say 50mg Max of niacin? Is this a different form I can image taking double the dosage but 500mg seems like there would be side effect?
I’ve been taking 200mg after listening to podcast and the “flush” is so intense I can’t imagine doubling dosage.
Go to https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/hackedsauna for all the details I use the supplement Niasafe instead of niacin, which can be found here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/flush-free-niacin
Ben,
how many minutes of powerlung, grip strength and reverse grip bands per day?
thanks, Anup
Usually 10 rounds of 3s in/3s out powerlung, 3×10 reps each hand grip and 3×20 hand expanders.
thk u Ben. U are changing the world;
Hey Ben! I love that you recommended alternate workouts to running. I ran for years before I discovered that mixing up workouts (spinning, HIIT, walking!) was better for my body and I never got bored. Love your advice- but if Joshua is set on starting a running routine, would you recommend Danny Dreyer’s book ‘Chi Running’? It drastically improved the way I run and I tell everyone about it (I work in a bookstore!) You guys are awesome, keep up the good work!
For fat loss, is fasting safe if you are hypothyroid?
Typically, at least for me, I can do a day of intermittent fasting every few weeks, ONLY if I have enough calories on board, been eating clean and consistently and adrenals are not stressed, otherwise it backfires.
As a general rule of thumb(having low thyroid for awhile) I don’t fast and focus on eating consistently or fast only for breakfast.
Intermittent fasting yes. Long water fasts, 24 hour fasts, etc. you need to be more careful with.
If one is an undermethylator (MTHFR) could they take SAMe instead of niacin?
Niacin is supposedly a methyl “sponge” would there be anything that could be equal and less detrimental to the methylation cycle than niacin?
Yes, but it doesn't lyse fat cells as effectively as niacin. I'd use Niasafe by Thorne: https://amzn.to/28QOlNJ. Far easier to metabolize.
Hi Ben
Love the show, thanks so much!
About the niacin/ niasafe, does it only works with sauna? imagine just taking the niacine without the sauna, does it does anything at all?
Cheers!
There are far less benefits – you definitely want to take it with the infrared sauna.
Hi Ben,
there is an alchemical process from the middle ages which uses calcification , it is called Spagyric – These procedures involve fermentation, distillation and the extraction of mineral components from the ash of the plant.
Maybe they are referring to this ?
Maybe – I will check it out!
I just started making Hunza water according to the ehow instructions. It does not specify where I put the jar containing the crystals. Is this jar also to be left in the sun? Does it matter where I put the crystal jar?
I don't think that part matters. You could put it in the sun for double goodness. Let us know how it goes!
Hi Ben,
Paul Becker (Earthpulse PEMF) cited in a previous interview he’s a big proponent of the Bob Beck Protocol (Blood Electrification, Pulsing, Colloidal Silver and Ozonated Water) with emphasis on the Blood Electrification. Becks stuff has been around for decades and I’m curious if you’ve experimented with one or all aspects of the protocol? My particular interest is in the Blood Electrification portion of the protocol (Non-invasive, simple and painless method to boost the immune system and to reduce infections and inflammation). Many devices exist with some using the original specs and some with modifications. Have you done any research or self-experimentation in blood electrification as a performance enhancer and immune system booster? A relative of mine has used blood electrification successfully against the CFS virus and flu.
I have NOT yet used blood electrification but that comes REALLY close to this: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2015/12/what-is-…
How much time would you recommend spending in the infrared sauna and the cold thermogenesis? And would you do those directly back to back?
30 mins in the sauna followed by a 5 minute cold shower, back to back, and for 3 rounds.
Hi Ben. Great podcast.
I am bit confused on two things.
1. You recommend intervals for getting in shape but not for fat loss. Instead fasted cardio with lower heart rate zones. Is HIIT not a good idea for fat loss?
2. You recommend caffeine with the fasted morning work out because eating a light breakfast will rise up the cortisol. However caffeine is a stimulant and I imagine it will provoke a cortisol release. I tried caffeine with the fasted work out and it was awesome, i felt i can go on and on. Just worried that fat loss is not going to be much.
Thanks
You need to check this out regarding the fat loss: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/xml/getfitguy.xm… – listen to the latest episode on how to burn fat from the 5 different areas of your body.
For the morning workout, the caffeine will cause a little bit of a cortisol releasae but very slight. The tradeoff in terms of increased fatty acid utilization is worth it.
Would the high dose niacin work with a oven-heated sauna?
Far few benefits, actually. Infrared vibrates the fat cells much more effectively.
I was a happy healthy dude until 2002 when diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In addition to learning how to control blood sugar with exogenous insulin, my total testosterone crashed. My doctor put me on exogenous testosterone which worked mildly well, but now my SHBG is high. On one side, a low carb diet controls blood sugar really well. On the other hand, eating more carbs seems to help with libido assuming I don’t miscalculate insulin while eating carbs because blood sugar abnormalities can also boost cortisol which can increase SHBG. According to my blood tests, my total T is high, but free T is low. I don’t seem to be converting the total T into estrogen, but I am converting it to SHBG. Are there any other ways to lower SHBG?
This would be a good one for us to cover on the podcast. Could you call it in? Speakpipe.com/bengreenfield
Which podcast is this info covered in?
Ben, I don’t think the Nature CBD caps work well as a suppository. I tried it last night after listening to this podcast. I tried 2, which when ingested orally, give me a nice calming buzz. As a suppository, I felt virtually nothing. A few hours later, they came out – still somewhat in pill form. A bit disappointing, especially given the price tag on these, I usually save them for special needs.
Ah…we didn't get too deep (pun intended) into specifics in podcast, but you need to use coconut oil so they get nice and greasy and get way up there, and ideally you "invert" in a headstand for 5-10 min after inserting.
If you don’t have access to a sauna, can you still get the benefit from the high-dose niacin?
Probably not worth your time and expense you get exposed to some kind of heat. In the absence of a sauna, high-intensity exercise intervals can work to heat the body.
What about older man with low testosterone taking gel supplements.
Natural supplements to increase testosterone are fine, I just don't recommend testosterone therapy. I go over natural options here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2014/10/best-sup…
Consuming raw combustion products will expose you to benzopyrene. Obviously, we are exposed to carcinogenic compounds all the time, but benzopyrene is pretty nasty stuff if it is in there. Assuming you drink this after workouts, you would be exposing yourself chronically to one of the most potent carcinogens we know about. Maybe, if you dissolved up the ash in water and then filtered it through activated charcoal and sand or something it would let all of the phosphorus, magnesium, and lye go through and you could safely drink the water… Though I don’t know much about how drinking lye is a good idea. This is just a guess but it seems like not a good idea to drink straight potash water.
Also, can you not just heat water up to increase its vibrational energy? Why do you need to use the sun? Wouldn’t the vibrational energy of the water return to normal once it’s temperature changes?
I agree. Some kind of filtration could be necessary.
For heating water to increase it's vibrational energy, Dr. Gerald Pollack has shown that it is UVA/UVB light that can increase presence of exclusion zones (EZ H20) so I think the sun or some other form of UV is important…
These are all great questions. But one thing to consider here is that LIGHT is just as important as HEAT in changing vibrational energy of water.
I have been starting to do a weekly 21-23 hour fast once a week and appreciated hearing this information. A few questions though – you call it is a water fast but can I start my day with coffee? Have tea later? Powdered mushroom drinks?
And on multivitamins. I take the morning/evening Exos multi but usually skip it on fast days as I assume it should be taken with food (and I’m worried it wouldn’t sit well on an empty stomach). I will often just take all of my morning supplements (D, K2) and just 2 each of the morning and evening Exos multi when I break my fast at dinner.
Any thoughts?
Just tons of really good glass bottled water (SPARKLING is OK too) and then:
Multivitamin: https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/product/mult…
Aminos: https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/product/natu…
Minerals: https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/product/natu…
That's it.