May 18, 2023

During this discussion, you'll discover:

-How Ben, as a triathlete, got introduced to ketosis…07:36

• Ben’s experience with ketosis
  • Ironman triathlon with carb diet
  • Found out about ketosis
  • Started high fat/low carb diet
  • 3 years of ketosis
  • Started using MCT oil during races
• Ran into Dr. Dominic D'Agostino at a conference
• Ben's interviews with Dom D'Agostino:
  • 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
  • Which Ketone Supplement Works Best: Ketone Salts vs. Ketone Esters With Dr. Dominic D’Agostino.
• Ben's blog post about his participation in Jeff Volek's research at UConn's Human Performance Laboratory:
  • Rewriting The Fat Burning Textbook – Part 1: Why You’ve Been Lied To About Carbs And How To Turn Yourself Into A Fat Burning Machine.
  • Rewriting The Fat Burning Textbook – Part 2: Why You’ve Been Lied To About Carbs And How To Turn Yourself Into A Fat Burning Machine.
• Connected with biohacker Geoffrey Woo 
  • He was developing drinkable ketones
• Geoffrey's company H.V.M.N. (Health Via Modern Nutrition) – use code BGL to save 20%

-Dr. Latt Mansor, research lead at H.V.M.N….11:59

• Dr. Latt Mansor 
  • Ph.D. in physiology, anatomy, and genetics from the University of Oxford
  • Over a decade of experience in academic research, health technology, and pharmacology
  • Oversees the scientific development and clinical application for HVMN (use code BGL to save 20%)
• Ketone-IQ Shots (use code BGL to save 20%)
• Also the host of the HVMN podcast
• Ben uses Keto Brick to make cheesecakes

-When did Latt first start messing around with ketosis or get into ketones?…14:12

• Latt was born in Malaysia
• Brought up in a family with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
• As a child was overweight
• As an undergrad from the University of Nottingham
  • Started learning about biotechnology, physiology, and metabolism
• Started exercising
• His final year project was a mathematical model of adipose tissue metabolism
  • Adipose tissue is the main fat storage in the body
• Started losing weight – lost 45 lbs. in 1 year
• Research continued with his Master's in Biotechnology at Columbia University, focused on
  • Drug development
  • Pharmaceutical sciences
• Learned how the world treats diseases
• As a scientist wanted to have impact on people’s lives
• Found a job in a pharmaceutical company
  • Worked for a year and was inspired by the scientists there
• Applied for a PhD at Oxford
  • Specialized in cardiovascular disease and diabetes
  • Researched metabolism of Type 2 Diabetes in hypoxia
• Differences between fat metabolism and glucose metabolism in hypoxia
• Looking at the link between cardiovascular diseases and diabetes
  • Using hypoxia as a subset of ischemia
  • Cardiovascular disease causes hypoxia
• Ben's podcast with Gary Brecka:
  • The Superhuman Protocol That De-clumps Cells, Hyper-oxygenates The Body, Restores Cellular Wellness & Much More, With Gary Brecka.
• When you have clotted arteries, your heart isn’t getting enough oxygen or removing enough waste
• Researched the ability of heart to switch to glucose
  • Found out that in diabetes there is much less ability to shift from fat to glucose
• Worked in health tech and diabetes management program until 2019
• Got introduced to HVMN via Dr. Brianna Stubbs, former research lead at HVMN (use code BGL to save 20%)
  • Honesty, transparency, and scientific integrity
  • Constantly improving products
• First ever exogenous ketone in the market, Ketone Ester to Ketone IQ (use code BGL to save 20%)
• While he was in research, he looked at ketones as just a side product
• When he joined HVMN, started on a keto diet
• At the moment, on a low-carb diet
• Wanted to have the benefits of ketones without conforming to a strict diet
• Latt is also the host of the HVMN podcast

-What is ketoacidosis?…24:34

• When you have high levels of ketones in the presence of high levels of glucose
• It's like you are starving but at the same time have an abundance of substrate
• The increase in ketones lowers blood ph, potentially causing death

-If somebody has diabetes, should they not be using ketones?…25:44

• University of British Colombia study by Dr. Jonathan Little:
  • Need to control blood sugar? There’s a drink for that, says UBC prof
• Diabetes is a spectrum so consult your doctor before taking ketones

-How come ketones lowers blood glucose?…26:42

• Ben experienced being pale and clammy after taking ketones before dinner
• Had low blood glucose, in the 40s after he tested with a CGM
• Exact mechanism of action is not known but the hypothesis is that ketones signal the liver to reduce production of  glucose via gluconeogenesis
• Metabolism consists of anabolism and catabolism – building up and breaking down

-If you are fasting all day and you take ketones that result in a drop in blood glucose, can you just eat carbohydrates?…28:36

• If you start feeling unwell because of very low blood glucose, eat carbohydrates
• Ben's experience when using ketones

-Ketone IQ as DNA protection…29:46

• Ketone IQ (use code BGL to save 20%)
  • Small bottle (Shots) – 10g of R-1,3-Butanediol (each 59ml serving contains 10g of ketones)
  • Big bottle – 100g or 10 servings of R-1,3-Butanediol (each 35ml serving contains 10g of ketones)
• Ketones have DNA protective effect
• Great mitochondrial protection especially against radiation
• Just concluded review of a grant application to the European Space Agency
  • To get Ketone IQ to astronauts for protection against ionizing radiation
  • Cosmic galactic radiation

-The difference between BHB, Ketone Ester, and R-1,3-Butanediol…39:23

• Our bodies are designed to create and metabolize ketones
• We produce 3 types of ketones
  1. Acetoacetate
  2. Acetone
  3. BHB (β-hydroxybutyrate) – is the main form of ketone in the body
• There is a powder supplement called Free BHB Acid – causes GI issues
• Twenty years ago, DARPA was looking for potential super fuel to power soldiers for demanding missions
  • Toyed around the idea of exogenous ketones
  • As a result, they came up with ketone ester
    • They bound BHB to butanediol
    • Butanediol goes to the liver and is converted directly to BHB
• When you drink ketone ester
  • The esterase cuts the ester bond
  • BHB goes to the blood
  • Butanediol goes to the liver, gets converted to BHB in slow releasing form
• That’s the ketone ester HVMN brought to the market in 2017
• Drinking ketone ester
  • Raises blood ketone levels 3-5 millimolar
  • Just above 1 millimolar – start to get into ketosis
  • Above 3 millimolar – you get to feel really stable
  • Above 7 millimolar – danger of going into ketoacidosis
• It was earlier thought that 3.5 was good
• Dosage and measuring ketones
  • Nutritional ketosis – above 0.5
  • Therapeutic ketosis uses (epilepsy, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases) – above 1 millimolar
  • Performance ketosis – 1.5 to 2.5
  • More than 3 – going to acidification of the blood and ph lowering
  • Acidification of the blood upregulates all cardio-respiratory stress biomarkers to expel the CO2 to neutralize blood ph
    • Heart rate
    • Breathing rate
    • Have higher RPE (Rating of Perceived Exertion) during exercise
• To measure ketones
  • Keto mojo
  • Precision Xtra
  • Blood measurement measures BHB
  • Breath measurement – measures acetone (not very accurate)
  • Urine measurement- measures acetoacetate (not very accurate)

-What was the DARPA grant actually for?…46:00

• In 2017, started STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) Phase 1 trial with SOCOM (Special Operations Command)
  • Looked at the decline in cognition in hypoxia
  • That decline was mitigated with Ketone Ester
• Got funds for Phase 2 study
  • The study was prolonged, way longer, because of COVID
  • More conflicting studies and data came out during that time
• Offered the product with a refund so everybody can try
• With Butanediol, the increase of BHB in the blood is slow and steady – the liver is the gatekeeper
• In an internal study, Latt took 80g (not recommended) – his blood BHB did not go higher than 2.5 – just felt sleepy
  • The study was for safety and tolerability
• Recommended is 1 dose – 10g Ketone IQ Shots (use code BGL to save 20%)
• The slow increase in blood BHB gives people more time in ketosis
• Why the switch to butanediol
  1. Pharmacokinetics
  2. Price point
  3. Taste – ketone ester still tastes horrible
• One of the tasks of the $6M grant was to improve the taste
  • Worked with Monnel Chemical Senses Center to improve the taste

-Is it because of Butanediol high dose that it simulates the effects of alcohol?…52:13

• KetoneAid Ketohol simulates cocktails
• It falls to the dosing – anything high dose makes you ill
• It could be the hypoglycemic effect that is simulating the relaxing effect of alcohol
• Ketones act upon the GABAergic pathway where it has an anxiolytic effect
• The running community uses THC for performance
• Ketones are like an adaptive fuel
  • Seen in studies that it has opposing effects
  • Gives calm energy and yet gives better performance
• Appetite suppression –
  • Ketone ester decreases ghrelin
  • R-1,3-Butanediol has leptin sensitizing effect
• Ben's experience with the adaptogenic effects of Reishi mushrooms
  • Relaxes when ready for a nap or to settle down
  • Gives energy when you want more energy
• Ketones and inflammation
• With regard to sleep, more research needed
  • Some people claim to get better sleep

-Breath-hold practice and ketones…1:01:17

• Ben had 40 extra seconds on breath hold after taking ketones
• Similar to what was seen in military projects with hypoxic chamber
  • Oxygen saturation decreased from 99% to 65%
  • With ketones decreased to only 72%
  • A 7% increase in oxygen saturation
• A paper is coming out soon about this study
  • Study using masks and a hypoxic chamber
• The study also followed the 10th Special Group into the mountains during training
• When in hypoxia, glycolysis is upregulated
• With ketones, increase in the amount of oxygen you can carry 
• Ben's blood glucose is now at 78
  • 87 at the start of the podcast
  • Peaked during the morning walk at a 100

-Ketones and exercise…1:04:42

• Ben experimented with ketosis during his Ironman days
  • Used MCT oil – only thing available to Ben at the time 
• Mixing MCT oils with small amounts of carbohydrates
  • Initially used UCAN – didn't work for him
  • Glycofuse and Vitargo were also used, combined with electrolytes and amino acids – had better results
• Had several conversations with Dr. Peter Attia who recommended the use of BCAAs as an alternative fuel source
• Podcast with Peter Attia:
  • Is It Possible To Be Extremely Active and Eat A Low Carbohydrate Diet?
• Replaced the MCT oil later on with ketones – the most fantastic fuel for Ironman
• In the end, would switch to glucose (Coca-Cola)
• To Ben's knowledge, no company has yet come out with the most amazing endurance powdered mix fuel of
  • Ketone or MCT Oil
  • High molecular weight starch
  • Electrolytes
  • Amino acids 
• Later when Ben got into sports which is more anaerobic plus aerobic, like obstacle racing – Tough Mudder 
  • Increased both substrates to elevate glucose and ketones levels – amazing results
  • Won the race

-New research on ketones related to anaerobic performance…1:09:58

• Ketones are more related to fats
• Glucose is always the king when it comes to anaerobic
• No one has done studies on ketones and anaerobic performance
• HVMN partnered with University of North Georgia, a military college
• Did an extreme test (5k run and anaerobic Wingate test) and measured the ketones
  • Had ketones before and after the 5k run
• Anaerobic Wingate test:
  • 5 bouts of 10-sec sprints on the bike with 7.5% body weight as load
  • 10-sec sprints/30-sec rest 5 times
  • Ketones measured after
• Saw an increase in average power, peak power, and velocity
  • Paddling harder and faster
• Also measured fatigue level
  • People on Ketone IQ and carbs experienced less fatigue than the placebo group
• RER (Respiratory Exchange Ratio) results –
  • Ketone IQ and carbs group had significantly lower RER – burning more fat than glucose
  • Placebo group – 0.94
  • Ketone IQ and carbs group – 0.89
  • Ketone IQ and carbs group had a decrease in ketone levels
• Another reason for better performance can also be increased pain tolerance
  • Potential analgesic effect on the brain

-Lactate as an alternative fuel to glucose…1:17:26

• Lactate was not measured between the two groups
• Lactate and ketones for traumatic brain damage recovery
• The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen
• A pilot study in partnership with the Naval Health Research Center on TBI and the use of Ketone IQ for recovery (use code BGL to save 20%)
• The University of Western Australia is also going to start a study on TBI using Ketone IQ
• In the case of traumatic brain injury, within the first 48 hours
  • Hypometabolism of glucose – the brain starts taking all the glucose
  • 7 days after – a decrease in glucose metabolism
  • Huge increase in lactate
  • Years after, patients experience glucose metabolism – are not good at metabolizing glucose
  • Very similar to Alzheimer's disease – also called type-3 diabetes
• There is some form of insulin resistance, the brain can’t utilize glucose
• That’s where ketones come in
  • Ketones are the brain's super fuel, ketones can bypass insulin resistance
  • Anti-inflammatory properties of ketones
• Under normal circumstances, glucose is the brain's fuel
• Important for a failing heart – the heart upregulates ketone metabolism

-Are ketones safe for kids?…1:24:10

• Ben’s sons just took their first dose of ketones
• Ketone IQ is safe for kids (use code BGL to save 20%)
• Babies spend most of their time in ketosis
• Ben's sons' regular diet and supplements:
  • Lots of sardines, fatty fish (use code BENGREENFIELD20 to save $20), and avocados
  • Glutathione (use code BENGREENFIELD10 to save 10%) in the morning
  • Fish oil
  • Liver
• Ben is thinking of adding ketones to his sons' diet
• No studies or trials on cognitive performance
• Benefits are reported by users of Ketone IQ (use code BGL to save 20%)
• For every activity that requires brain power, Ketone IQ provides the fuel you need (use code BGL to save 20%)

-What goes well with ketones?…1:28:26

• Combining ketones with nootropics like modafinil and microdoses of plant medicines
• Stacking with aminos
• Latt takes green tea and ketones for pre-workout, protein shake after the workout
• Ben’s blood glucose – 78 (could have taken a total of 60g for the day)
• Ketone IQ (use code BGL to save 20%)

-And much more…

• Scan the QR code on the bottle, follow the instructions, and you will be reimbursed for the first shot!

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• Health Optimisation Summit: June 17th – 18th, 2023
  

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Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

– Dr. Latt Mansor:

• HVMN (use code BGL to save 20%)
  • Ketone-IQ Shots
  • Ketone IQ
• HVMN Podcast

– Podcasts And Articles:

• The Latest Research On Ketones & Ketosis For Performance & Recovery, Do Ketones Break A Fast, Using Ketones For 45 Days Of Crossfit Murph, Ketone Esters vs. Ketone Salts & More With Geoffrey Woo of H.V.M.N.
• The Crazy New World Of Ketone Esters (& How To Use Ketones For Sleep, Performance, Recovery, Fat Loss, Plant Medicines & Much More) With Michael Brandt Of HVMN.
• 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
• Which Ketone Supplement Works Best: Ketone Salts vs. Ketone Esters With Dr. Dominic D’Agostino.
• Rewriting The Fat Burning Textbook – Part 1: Why You’ve Been Lied To About Carbs And How To Turn Yourself Into A Fat Burning Machine.
• Rewriting The Fat Burning Textbook – Part 2: Why You’ve Been Lied To About Carbs And How To Turn Yourself Into A Fat Burning Machine.
• The Superhuman Protocol That Declumps Cells, Hyperoxygenates The Body, Restores Cellular Wellness & Much More, With Gary Brecka.
• Is It Possible To Be Extremely Active and Eat A Low Carbohydrate Diet?

– Books:

• The End of Alzheimer's by Dale Bredesen

– Other Resources:

• Keto Brick
• Wild Planet Sardines
• Seatopia (use code BENGREENFIELD20 to save $20)
• Glutathione
• Kion Fish Oil
• Ancestral Supplements (use code BEN10 to save 10%)
• Pique Tea
• KetoneAid Ketohol
• Four Sigmatic Reishi Mushrooms
• UCAN
• Glycofuse
• Vitargo
• LMNT
• MCT Oil
• Kion Aminos
• Levels Health
• keto mojo
• Precision Xtra
• Dr. Brianna Stubbs
• Dr. Jonathan Little
• Need To Control Blood Sugar? There’s A Drink For That, Says UBC Professor

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Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Latt Mansor or me? Leave your comments below, and one of us will reply!