Q&A 452: Does NR or NAD Really Cause Cancer, The Latest On THC & Your Brain, “Super-Ager” Brains, Artery Unclogging & Much More.

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  • Great breakdown of that whole recent “NR Causes Cancer” scare: Does Nicotinamide Riboside Fuel Cancer Growth?…06:17
    • Nicotinamide Riboside (NR), also known as niacin, is the building block of NAD.
    • NAD is a critical molecule that allows your body to generate energy from food.
    • Preferred NAD supplements include
    • NR is a cellular protectant.
    • Azido NR includes an added nitrogen, which means:
      • It can't be turned into NAD
      • It can be tracked in the body
    • Triple-negative breast cancer cells took up 4 times the amount of NR as the other cancer cells.
      • Negative for estrogen receptor
      • Negative for progesterone receptor
      • Negative for the growth factor HER2
    • Brain metastasis was found in mice that were injected with cancer cells and given NR.
      • The dose given was equivalent to an average dose that people supplement: 25-30 mg.
    • Should you stop taking NR?
      • The book The China Study claims that protein causes cancer. However, cancer was already present when they did the study.
    • When cancer isn't present, does NR give you cancer?
      • Similar to The China Study, the NR study assumes cancer is present
      • If you have cancer, avoid taking NR, NAD, or NMN. Otherwise, it's fine to supplement with NR.
  • Can CBD (with or without THC) improve sleep? Here's the answer: Use of Cannabidiol in the Management of Insomnia: A Systematic Review…19:42
    • CBD alone, or CBD in a 1:1 ratio with THC, can be beneficial for alleviating the symptoms of insomnia.
      • The study fails to mention that THC consumption can cause a decrease in deep sleep, as well as dreaming and memory consolidation during sleep.
    • Ben's Yoga Nidra practice for insomnia which he first learned about from Dr. Andrew Huberman.
    • Element Health CBD is preferred CBD supplement (use code BEN15 to save 15%).

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

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Ask Ben a Podcast Question

8 thoughts on “Q&A 452: Does NR or NAD Really Cause Cancer, The Latest On THC & Your Brain, “Super-Ager” Brains, Artery Unclogging & Much More.

  1. rob toni says:

    Hey Ben, love you man and thanks for all the info you pass along. Heres one for you regarding arterial walls’ health: check out Hibiscus flowers -simply even as a cold brewed delicious tea. Its wicked tart like Pom so maybe there in lies the magic. Leslie Taylor, the renowned amazon herb herbalist, has a short info book about it. I found this through a podcast talk found under “top ten amazonian herbs” with Anne Loise Gettleman, First Lady of Nutrition podcast. organic whole cut and sifted Hibiscus dried flowers is pretty cheap by the pound making this economical for hearty daily consumption.

  2. Mary says:

    Ben, can you let us know what is the best pomegranate supplement or juice to take. It appears there is a difference between and extract and the juice. Maybe you can clarify this. I want to start taking this once I know the best form to take. Thank you! Loved this podcast.

  3. A says:

    I tried 2 golden kiwis for constipation with no noticeable results.
    Could it be that the effectiveness also depends on the amount of oxalates they contain?
    i.e. the less the better. It looks like the oxalate content in kiwis varies quite a lot
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5302238/

    As far as I understand high oxalate foods can interfere with peristalsis.

  4. Abby Kranitz says:

    Hey Ben great episode!! Would you please send a correct link to the pomegranate study. The link in the show notes links to a different study. Thanks.

  5. R G Land says:

    Life Extension makes a couple different pomegranate Products. They use a patented and standardized extract called ‘Pomella’ which is derived from the fruit, flower and seed.
    https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item02497/endothelial-defense-pomegranate-plus

    https://www.lifeextension.com/vitamins-supplements/item01953/pomegranate-complete

  6. Joe says:

    Hello Ben, enjoyed the podcast. I noticed that Organafi lists Pomegranate as its first ingredient in the Antioxidant section of its Red Juce.

  7. Global Brain says:

    Great episode Ben! Is there a difference in benefits from eating the golden kiwi with the skin vs without?

  8. Kira Miftari says:

    Ben, what about proteolytic enzymes to help clean the arteries, do you think they are worth trying?

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