Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.
For over a century, we’ve accepted the scientific consensus that cancer results from genetic disease due to chromosomal damage in cell nuclei. But what if cancer isn’t a genetic disease after all?
What if scientists are chasing a flawed paradigm, and cancer isn’t a disease of damaged DNA but rather of defective metabolism as a result of mitochondrial dysfunction?
What if that startling truth could revolutionize our understanding of other diseases as well—and show us a radical new path to optimal health?
In the groundbreaking new book Fat for Fuel: A Revolutionary Diet to Combat Cancer, Boost Brain Power, and Increase Your Energy, the first of its kind, New York Times best-selling author, one of the nation's leading natural-health practitioner, and my previous guest on this podcast, Dr. Joseph Mercola explains how nearly all disease is caused by defective metabolic processes. Then he reveals what’s really causing your metabolism to go haywire: damage and dysfunction in the mitochondria, thousands of which are at work in nearly every cell in your body, generating 90 percent of the energy you need to stay alive and well. When mitochondria become damaged in large numbers, it is impossible to stay healthy.
That's his argument, at least.
But in this podcast, you get to listen as Dr. Mercola and I take a deep dive in this new view of cancer and much, much more when it comes to optimizing your mitochondria.
Dr. Mercola is a board certified family physician who has seen tens of thousands of patients before transitioning to a full time internet journalist, as he felt he could help far more people than he could in private practice. It turns out he was right, because every month he has ten million unique visitors and 80 million unique visitors for the year. It has been the most visited natural health site for the last 12 years and is now translated into six different languages.
During our discussion, you'll discover:
-Why you must “eat today to control the hormones that will tell your cells what to do tomorrow.” [10:35]
-The problem with the popular diabetic drug metformin…[12:55]
-Why Dr. Mercola lost too much weight and got too skinny…[14:10]
-Why Dr. Mercola is such a fan of tracking iron levels, and what iron numbers are good to look for…[20:00]
-The “selfie stick” trick Dr. Mercola uses to minimize his EMF exposure from cell phone use…[27:10]
-Why berries and grapefruits are “acceptable” foods in Dr. Mercola's recommended diet…[33:50]
-Why Dr. Mercola eats 1-3 avocados per day, whether you need to buy organic, how to save 50% on avocados, and a trick for transporting avocados easily…[36:00]
-An extremely tasty high-fat fudge ball recipe…[36:30]
-How heating eggs can make you allergic to them…[47:30]
-The #1 food and macronutrient tracking tool that Dr. Mercola recommends…[54:20]
-And much more…
Resources from this episode:
-Book: Fat for Fuel: A Revolutionary Diet to Combat Cancer, Boost Brain Power, and Increase Your Energy
-Book: Tripping Over The Truth
–The bitter melon extract/rock lotus extract Ben mentions
–The Greenwave dirty electricity filters Ben has in every room of his house
Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Mercola or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!
51 Responses
I find the Irlen research very fascination. Have you ever looked into the affects of poor quality lenses vs. high quality lenses and how poorer quality lenses force our eyes and brains to constantly adjust all day long and yet we wonder why we have eye strain? I toured the Oakley manufacturing facility a few years ago and they demonstrated how their lenses are better than the US quality control standard because of how they make them. I was skeptical, but now I notice the difference between how tired my eyes become from wearing non-Oakley prescription lenses vs. my Oakley prescription lenses.
http://www.oakley.com/en/technology/eyewear https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/fi…
Thanks for sharing all of your hard work and knowledge!
Is there a link to quality supplements of berberine, ubiquinol and magnesium? Thanks for all your help Ben.
Yep – ubiguinol: http://bit.ly/2rzdYQh, berberine: http://bit.ly/2sy9hoW and magnesium: https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/product/natu…
During the podcast (I listened a couple weeks ago so sorry if I’m not totally accurate), you both mentioned that ice baths are not best after a workout, especially after a heavy lifting session.
My goal is to use cold thermogenesis for fat loss, and also to help with soreness after intense tennis matches or lifting sessions. When is it best to use cold baths and why?
Hey Carole, wait two hours after your workout before having a cold shower or bath and you will be fine!
Just trying to start a conversation, I realize this is probably not the best site, but I wanted to share my experience. I loved the book, just finished a second reading. I also am really enjoying cronometer that he recommends (enrolled in Mercola study following the HF guidelines, albeit the “moderate” ones).
Does anyone have any thoughts on glucose sparing / physiological insulin resistance? In good starting health, I decided to “dive in” to his program with a 7 day water fast. Pre fast my fasting BG was around 75-80 and stable with 2 hour PP BG readings below 95. Starting weight was 158 (22 BMI) and ending weight was 145 (20 BMI). By day 4 of the fast BG dropped to 55 and stayed there for 2 days before rising to 85 by day 7. I ended the fast due to fear of gluconeogenesis and switched to his recommended “peak fasting,” which I’ve been following now for a week. Weight quickly climbed to 153 but has stayed there (I expected a fat loss of 5 pounds which appears to be exactly what happened). I now have stable BG readings between 90-95, and 2 hour PP GB has been below 105. I feel like this topic was side stepped in the book with a few paragraphs covering two theories. I feel great and am not worried (actually feel better than when I was not ketogenic), but wonder what’s going on and whether it will persist in the long term. I know looking only at BG is incomplete. I wonder if I may have had insulin resistance and the fast broke it. I wonder if there’s a genetic component. I wonder if the fast was “extreme” for my BMI and it will just take some time for my body to adjult to the new set point. There was pretty strong guidance in the book to eat when your BG is below 80. My Nova ketone meter is in the mail so I can be assured of being ketotic. A quick internet search seems to indicate I’m not alone on this issue, and I figure that others have had a similar experience and can report on how it played out for them.
I'd start here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2017/05/wired-to…
Not sure I understand the link to the Rob Wolf podcast to the question on the efficacy of the defendershield inquiry
Can you explain what you mean? I am not quite sure what you are asking.
Hi, Checking in to see if there was any updates on the effectiveness of using defender shield and the air tubes.
We haven't yet measured the EMF…stay tuned! I'm visiting Joe in Florida soon!
1. Do you know what cheap red glasses Dr Mercola is talking about that he buys on Amazon?
2. Any update on the effectiveness of the Defender Shield after testing with Dr Mercola?
Cheers :)
…meant to say SPENDY not speedy…LOL
In regards to the oxygen vaccume blender…and maybe someone already mentioned this…but if you google it they aren’t impossible to get…A little speedy, but no doubt available!
Ben, SERIOUSLY appreciate your Podcast! I listen to them all. I have purchased a few items through you.
I’m purchasing the ingredients for your Sleep Cake via your links. Are you comfortable with Kratom vs Kava?
Regarding Kratom, I would appreciate your clarification: “Know the Difference
While Kava and Kratom may be offered alongside one another at your local kava bar and online, it’s important to know the differences. Kratom has shown to be highly beneficial for certain individuals and uses but can be addictive and is becoming increasingly banned in the U.S. Kava on the other hand has seen widespread acceptance in it’s producing countries and here in the U.S. It has no addicitive properties and is ingrained in cultural tradition.”
2nd, since this is my first investment, rather than a Magic Butter Machine, can I use a crock pot for my first batch? If it works, buy the machine for future batches?
Kratom is better than Kava and easier on the liver in my opinion. And a crock pot won't work…you actually need something that will store your batches. Check this out: https://amzn.to/2qWYzFH Then check out how I use it here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2017/02/bgf-week…
Hi Ben, thanks a lot for the episode. I always learn a great deal with your podcast.
Can’t thank you enough for that.
I have a doubt regarding my iron levels. I have tweeted the pics to Dr. Mercola. I don’t know if he answers there, but I thought I’d post it here too, just in case.
Appreciate your feedback.
Hey Sameer, thanks for your question. For something like this you'd want to book a consult directly, because we'd have to go into a lot of detail. Just go to https://greenfieldfitnesssystems.com/product/ben-… and then choose a 20 or 60 minute consult, whichever you'd prefer. I can schedule ASAP after you get that. Hope that helps!
Did anyone else succeed in contacting someone at Chadwick Optical for custom lenses? I’ve tried to contact them via their site a few times already. Radio silence, so far.
So is Dr. Mercola just on speaker phone with his cell phone on a selfie stick? Or using a headset? I’m wondering if headsets – either wired or bluetooth – would do anything to mitigate the damage by allowing one to keep the phone at a distance. Or would there be similar issues with the bluetooth?
Hey Antonio – have a read through this: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/2015/01/is-bluet… and let me know if you have any questions!
Great podcast!
Ben, would you mind sharing where you source your Kratom? Thanks!!
Yes, here: https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kratom
Hey Ben,
Do you happen to know the name of the company that makes the Blender that Dr Mercola was speaking about? I think he said he saw it a trade show in China.. I am wondering if it has a pump that takes the air out of the canister.. But then doesn’t oxidation occur when you open and pour it out.. Is the oxidation it is preventing enough to make a difference?
Dr. Mercola is a legend, I always go back to his website for second opinion.
Hey, great show! Question for you two, how bad is it wearing a watch such as (Nike apple watch, Fitbit, etc) if using a cell phone (without a protective shield) is bad? That’s the new and trendy thing. I’m not sure if I can do the selfie stick with my cellphone yet BUT I am willing to give up wearing my watch if need be. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks!
If the watch is not in "airplane mode" or if the WiFi/bluetooth is not turned off, then it's a serious issue. I'd be careful.
Dr. Mercola also mentioned some cheap red lens glasses that he bought on Amazon and liked better than the TrueDark ones. Did he give you any more information about those?
Thanks!
You can check them out here: https://amzn.to/2q4g9qS
Hey Ben, She was asking about the cheap ones…you gave the link to TrueDark. To Liz look for the UVex classes. Plastic but they have to follow industrial standards and are actually just as effective.
FF
I had my feet x-rayed at the shoe store in Spokane when I was growing up. I remember thinking it was cool to see your foot bones.
What is your Sleep Cake recipe? I tried to find it using Google and can’t locate it.
Mercola suggests skipping dinner for an intermittent fast, which I’m going to try beginning today (tonight!) – would having a sleep cake stop the fast/autophagy ?
With regard to not heating eggs I wonder if it is any amount of heat or warmth that’s the problem for acquiring an allergic response to eggs or if (as according to the late Bernard Jensen) it’s safe to heat the butter you scramble yolks in to no more than 118 degrees (118 degrees is the heat cut off point for raw fooders) and do a long slow simmer until the yolks are just barely cooked. I’m not a smoothie fan, I never drink them and I’d never ever put a raw egg yolk into one.
Here you go Gail: ingredients of the bar: dark chocolate powder, stevia, sea salt, reishi mushroom extract, kratom, CBD (~5mg per), THC (~10mg per), black pepper, turmeric, an entire bottle of this for recovery <a href="http:// (https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex)” target=”_blank”> <a href="http://(https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex)” target=”_blank”>(https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex) and copaiba essential oil, which enhances absorption of any cannabinoid based terpene.
5mg per what?
I had my feet x-rayed when I was a child in shoe stores! This was in the 50’s. Soon after that, it was banned.
Great Podcast. Can you please share Dr. Mercolas shake recipe?
Ben, thanks for all you do. Excellent podcast. I’ve been on ambien for 8+ years. PLEASE be more specific regarding your sleep cakes! Thank you, Jer
Ingredients of the bar: dark chocolate powder, stevia, sea salt, reishi mushroom extract, kratom, CBD (~5mg per), THC (~10mg per), black pepper, turmeric, an entire bottle of this for recovery <a href="http:// (https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex)” target=”_blank”> <a href="http://(https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex)” target=”_blank”>(https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/kion-flex) and copaiba essential oil, which enhances absorption of any cannabinoid based terpene.
Can we get your sleepy cake recipie
3 years ago I had a ferritin level of 26,205. I have hemochromatosis (C282Y), which caused congestive heart failure and the installation of a pacemaker after an AV Node ablation. Had to give a pint of blood every week for 1.75 years in order to get sorta well.
Ben, I have not yet listened to this podcast yet. However, I want to say thanks for all of the amazing content. It’s been very helpful along my journey!!!
Another great podcast. I plan on looking into the red lens by Chadwick for my prescription glasses. Thanks Ben
So he went to red glasses vs amber. Do they block 100% of the bluelight as well?
I do indeed believe that they do… although as you can see they certainly are not sexy: https://amzn.to/2q4g9qS
I love Mercola. He helped me so much over the years, to find the right answers.
Ben, can you report back on what you find out about Defense Shield? I use this but suspicious of its effectiveness.
yes!
Was it effective
Hi Ben, Dr. Mercola,
Great podcast. Many experts are now expounding the importance of mitochondria and how to optomise the mitochondria health. Nowhere am I hearing or reading how to test – check – measure your mitochindrial health? There must be methodology more than lack of illness….
As I understand it the Mitochondrial function profile is made up of the following individual tests to determine deficiencies:
ATP profiles
NAD (functional B3)
SODase
L-carnitine
Cell-free DNA
Glutathione Peroxidase
Is there an easier way…. also can you recommend and laboratories that conduct the tests and provide expert opinion on the results, preferably with international client capability as I live in Switzerland…
Thanks for your thoughts on mitochondrial testing?
Cheers,
Richard
Accumen labs UK