September 9, 2023
Before asking your question, search in the 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 Life!
News Flashes
- New Master Class Enrollment is now open to my brand new Ben Greenfield Life Masterclass, a 6-week course that breaks down every aspect of your life and provides you with a life-practice map to help you master all six major areas.
I share my personal experiences, expertise, and proven strategies that have helped superstar athletes, mega-successful entrepreneurs, Hollywood actors, and thousands of individuals optimize their time, space, mind, body, spirit, career, relationships, and capital with my proven life design strategy. - Spicy stuff for fat loss? Pass the hot sauce, please: In this meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials conducted in adults with overweight/obesity, supplementation with chili peppers, capsaicin, or capsinoids caused reductions in body mass index, body weight, and waist circumference: The effects of capsaicin intake on weight loss among overweight and obese subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials – also seems to help with performance! Effects of different phenylcapsaicin doses on resistance training performance, muscle damage, protein breakdown, metabolic response, ratings of perceived exertion, and recovery: a randomized, triple-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover trial…6:51
- Shoutout to Ben’s hot sauce go-to, Joey’s Hot Sauce (use code BEN20 to save 20%)
- This study: New Obesity Tool? Key may lie in receptor protein, brown fat cells show that capsaicin can mimic or enhance the effect of cold temperature to activate energy-burning brown fat cells and increase metabolism
- Diets often stop working due to adaptive thermogenesis
- The body reacts to lower calorie intake by reducing the amount of energy the body burns
- Studies have shown that capsaicin intake pre-workout:
- Favorably influenced squat performance
- Decreased rating of perceived exertion
- Decreased muscle damage
- Phenyl capsaicin is an alternative if you are sensitive to spice
- Capsaicin alternative: Grains of Paradise
- Contains paradoxine which increases thermogenesis, similar to capsaicin
- Penis optimization research – super interesting that my friend and former podcast guest Dr. Judson Brandeis has been able to safely and effectively grow healthy men’s penises almost an inch in length, a half an inch in girth, and significantly improve erectile function. Geez: Increasing Penile Length and Girth in Healthy Men Using a Novel Protocol:
The P-Long Study…15:22 - Yet another surprising benefit of daily “micro workouts”: reduced cancer risk – Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity and Cancer Incidence Among Nonexercising Adults…20:30
- VILPAs (Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity)
- For every 30 minutes of work (unless recording a podcast), Ben does a “micro workout”
Resources mentioned:
Listener Q&A:
Want to submit your question for Ben to answer on the podcast? Submit here or send a direct message on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. To make it easy to spot, preface your question with “Q&A Podcast Question: (ask a question)” and keep it concise, please.
Q: Anil asks: Love the stuff you put out, and I practice what is possible within limits here in beautiful Kathmandu. My question is, since I want to speak about health, nutrition, and well-being in general, what is a good course (online or not) to get that validation?…20:05
Ben Recommends:
- Many health coaching courses require an undergraduate or graduate degree in Exercise Science or Nutrition Science
- Ben’s education consists of:
- Ben’s education and certification benefits him
- Allowed him to work as a personal trainer
- Protected him from potential liabilities
- A four- or five-year degree program isn’t necessary to become a health coach or personal trainer
- There are some very good health coach certification programs on the market
- Ben recommends these health coach certification programs:
Q: Dan asks: Is it OK to listen to podcasts etc. in the sauna on Bluetooth earphones or is it still bad for health?…40:10
Ben Recommends:
- This study talks about many of these mechanisms and interplay: Signaling and Damaging Functions of Free Radicals in Aging—Free Radical Theory, Hormesis, and TOR
- All Bluetooth devices use EMF technology and RF (Radiofrequency) radiation
- Bluetooth devices give off less radiation than cell phones
- Non-ionizing radiation
- Less energy
- Bluetooth devices give off less radiation than cell phones
- Research has not yet associated RF radiation from Bluetooth with adverse health effects
- There has been some anecdotal evidence
- Jerry Phillips, professor of biochemistry at the University of Colorado is concerned that Airpods emit harmful non-ionizing radiation to the head
- EMF exposure in combination with heat can cause damage to sperm
- E.g., walking on a hot day with your cell phone in your pocket
- The Non-Tinfoil Guide to EMFs: How to Fix Our Stupid Use of Technology by Nicolas Pineault
- Ben’s EMF go-to guy, Brian Hoyer of Shielded Healing (use code BEN to get $100 off of any assessment listed under our services)
- Sauna therapy activates heat-shock proteins
- EMF exposure can increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)
- Mitochondria are susceptible to oxidative damage
- Podcasts with Brian Hoyer:
- Important to use only low-EMF saunas
- Ben always keeps his cell phone in airplane mode while in the sauna or a heated environment
Q: Wade asks: Hey Ben! I can’t afford the ARX machine, so is there another way to do a simple set to failure?…49:50
Ben Recommends:
- Nautilus workout systems at home or in the gym
- X3® Bar Workout with bands
- Kybun shoes
- Free weights also work well
- Be careful with the deadlift – Ben often skips this exercise if he’s traveling and using free weights
- Ben’s tip if you still have some “gas in the tank” at the end of 8 reps in a set, but can’t do one more slow:
- Go to the end range of motion
- “Bounce” and move through micro motions to completely exhaust the muscle
- Body by Science by John Little and Doug McGuff
Q: What’s your recommended setup for a treadmill desk?…54:00
Ben Recommends:
Q: What options do you recommend for males with low testosterone who are trying to have kids? I tried Clomid and Anastrazole for a long time but they’re not working…1:00:33
Ben Recommends:
- Testosterone replacement therapy can help men feel better overall, though can decrease sperm count
- If testosterone levels are low, the body naturally increases production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Triggers testes to produce more sperm
- When your brain detects an increase in testosterone from TRT (testosterone replacement therapy), sperm production process is disrupted
- If testosterone levels are low, the body naturally increases production of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Podcast with Adam Lamb:
- There are some workarounds to help with fertility:
- Some doctors combine TRT with hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) treatment
- You can try sperm banking prior to TRT
- Avoid excessive alcohol and heat from sauna or hot tub overuse
- Traditional TRT isn’t necessary, in Ben’s opinion
- Primary hypogonadism
- Rarer than secondary hypogonadism
- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland function is normal
- Successfully signaling for testosterone production
- Testes failing to produce testosterone (primary testicular failure)
- TRT is often the only option
- Secondary hypogonadism
- More common than primary hypogonadism
- Testes are able to produce testosterone
- Hypothalamus and pituitary gland are not sending the signal
- TRT may not be a good idea due to the enzyme aromatase
- Causes an excess of estradiol (E2) which impacts fertility
- Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are a better option than Clomid
- Causes E2 to not be bound to the receptor that causes the decrease in LH and FSH
- Most popular SERM is Enclomiphene
- Primary hypogonadism
- Ben recommends Enclomiphene with a small dose of Testosterone, or Enclomiphene by itself
Upcoming Events:
Join me for the Disrupt 2023 Event in Atlanta, Georgia, between September 27th – September 30th. This highly practical and immersive workshop will feature live Q&As, my top secrets for career success, and much more! Head to bengreenfieldlife.com/disrupt2023 to claim your spot today.
- Couples Collective: October 25th – 29th, 2023
Join Jessa and me for an exclusive and immersive way to explore health, wellness, and mindset with your significant other in Napa, California, October 25th – 29th. Head over to ownitcoaching.com/couples-collective to apply.
Special Announcements…
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Episode sponsors:
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