Mind & Matter
Weekly science podcast by neuroscientist Nick Jikomes, PhD. Long-form interviews with researchers on the brain, nutrition, metabolism, drugs and aging. Not medical advice.At M&M, we are interested in trying to figure out how things work, not affirming our existing beliefs. We prefer consulting primary rather than secondary sources and independent rather than institutional voices. If we encounter uncomfortable truths or the evidence suggests unfashionable ideas may be valid, so be it.As the host, my aim is to help you better understand how the body & mind work by curating & synthesizing information in a way that yields science-based insights...
GDF15, Morning Sickness & Mitochondrial Stress | Stephen O'Rahilly | Episode 311
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Dr. Stephen O'Rahilly explains GDF15, a stress hormone that makes us feel sick and eat less, and why morning sickness, and its severe form hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), comes from GDF15 made by the fetus.
SPONSOR:
Brain Bean: Smart-roasted coffee with high polyphenol content, ultra-pure grass-fed colostrum, and more. Use code MINDMATTER15 for 15% off.TOPICS DISCUSSED:
• What GDF15 Is: A hormone made by stressed cells, sensed only in two small regions of the brainstem.
• A Warning Hormone: It rises with toxins, chemotherapy and...
Psilocybin vs. SSRIs for Depression, Emotional Blunting & How Psychedelics Work | Robin Carhart-Harris | 310
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Robin Carhart-Harris explains why his trial of psilocybin therapy vs. the SSRI escitalopram for depression missed one primary measure but favored psilocybin on almost everything else, and why SSRIs can blunt emotion.
SPONSOR:
Brain Bean: Smart-roasted coffee with high polyphenol content, ultra-pure grass-fed colostrum, and more. Use code MINDMATTER15 for 15% off.TOPICS DISCUSSED:
• Consciousness Matters: Why the mind can drive biology, with placebo as the clearest example.
• Expectancy and Response: How beliefs and the quality of the experience shape outcomes.
• The Psilocybin vs. Escitalopram Trial: Not si...
This Animal Survives 18 Minutes Without Oxygen | Gary Lewin | 309
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Nick talks with Prof. Gary Lewin (Max DelbrĂĽck Center, Berlin) about naked mole-rats, which in lab tests survived 18 minutes in pure nitrogen by shutting down brain activity, keeping the heart beating, and switching to fructose for fuel.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
• From Pain Research to Mole-Rats: The work began when the animals turned out not to feel the burn of capsaicin.
• Ecology & Eusociality: Colonies with a queen, one breeding male, workers, and soldiers, spread across semi-arid East Africa.
• Where the Low...
Low Selenium Doubles Your Heart Attack Risk | Lutz Schomburg | 308
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Nick talks with Prof. Lutz Schomburg about selenium biology in the endocrine system: selenoprotein P as the liver’s selenium transport protein and status biomarker, autoantibodies that can impair delivery despite normal blood selenium, thyroid autoimmunity (Hashimoto’s and Graves’), diabetes, aging, and what selenium supplementation trials show.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
• Selenoprotein P: Liver-made transport protein that delivers selenium to tissues and serves as a status biomarker beyond total serum selenium.
• Autoantibodies & Delivery: Anti-SELENOP antibodies can impair selenium delivery even when blood selenium l...
What we're getting WRONG about cane sugar & corn syrup | Kimber Stanhope | 307
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Controlled human feeding trials show added fructose raises liver fat, triglycerides, uric acid, and insulin resistance at real-world doses.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Glucose vs Fructose in the Liver: Glucose and fructose are handled by the liver in distinct ways.Natural Sugars vs Processed Sugars: Whole fruit is mostly water, fiber, and micronutrients at modest sugar density; cookies and sodas pack far more sugar per weight and are easier to overconsume.HFCS on Store Shelves: Industry cites 55% fructose for beverages, but independent assays of...Why Bigger Brains Get More Mutations | Christopher Walsh | 306
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How genomics is used to study what makes a human brain, and how genetically damaged neurons get removed.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Scale & Size: A human brain is about three times a chimpanzee brain by mass, but the larger change is extra association cortex and extra upper-layer circuits that talk mostly to other cortex.When Development Ends: Most cortical neurons are born before birth. Myelin and other glia keep forming into the twenties. Synapses keep changing after that.Broken Genomes Get Edited: Walsh describes...Why THC Users Eat More but Don't Gain Weight | Nephi Stella | 305
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The biology of endogenous cannabinoids & history of cannabinoid-based therapeutics
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Anandamide vs 2-AG: The two major endocannabinoids with a shared arachidonic acid backbone but distinct head groups biological roles.On-demand production: Calcium-dependent enzymes release cannabinoids from membranes in response to neuronal activity patterns.Trafficking: Fatty acid binding proteins and extracellular microvesicles traffic endocannabinoids within and between cells.Adolescent THC: Global receptor activation during circuit wiring may contribute to cannabis use disorder and psychosis vulnerability in susceptible individuals.Enzyme...The Gene Variant Linked to Living to 100 | Pinchas Cohen | 304
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Mitochondrial peptides act as stress signals that regulate metabolism, muscle mass, and neurodegeneration.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Mitochondria as Communication Hubs: Beyond ATP production, mitochondria encode peptides that regulate cell death, immunity, and inter-organ communication.Humanin Discovery: Identified independently by three labs; neuroprotective, longevity-linked, and capable of neutralizing APOE4 effects via a rare Jewish variant.Ethnic Genetic Variants: Ancestry-specific mutations in MOTS-c, MENTSH, and SHMOOSE influence diabetes, obesity, sarcopenia, and Alzheimer’s risk.MOTS-c & Muscle Preservation: Exercise-induced peptide prevents atrophy and may of...Pain, Inflammation, Peptides & Healing | Isaac Chiu | 303
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How the nervous and immune systems communicate, using peptides and other signals, to regulate pain, itch, and inflammation.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Nociception & Pathogens: Sensory neurons detect bacterial toxins within seconds, enabling rapid host-defense coordination ahead of immune-cell recruitment.CGRP & neutrophils: Nociceptor-release the peptide CGRP, which blocks neutrophil (immune cell) recruitment; pathogens exploit this in necrotizing fasciitis and meningitis.Pain sensitization: Inflammation can lower neuronal thresholds for pain, which sometimes becomes a chronic problem.Gut barrier protection: CGRP from gut nociceptors drives...Mitochondrial Peptide That Doubled Running | David Lee | 302
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Mitochondrial peptide MOTS-c is a stress-induced signal that reprograms cell metabolism.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Mitochondrial Roles: Not just ATP production, but “speaker of the house” via communication molecules that “talk” to the rest of the cell.Origin of Communication: Mitochondrial peptides were likely co-opted from ancient antimicrobial factors to synchronize nuclear and mitochondrial genomes.MOTC Discovery: Identified in mitochondrial ribosomal RNA regions linked to interferon responses.Stress Induction: MOTS-c is produced in response to exercise, immune activation, and nutrient withdrawal; circulates as a mit...What we're getting WRONG about copper peptides | Rahi Sarbaziha | 301
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GHK-Copper and peptides in skin care, aging, and general health.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Endogenous Decline: GHK-copper levels peak in young adulthood then fall with age, reducing natural support for skin repair and collagen maintenance.Skin Penetration: Effective topical delivery depends on molecular size under and fat solubility, often improved by procedures such as microneedling that briefly disrupt the barrier.Mechanisms of Action: The peptide upregulates fibroblasts and vascular endothelial growth factor, stimulates glycosaminoglycan production, and alters expression of genes involved in tissue regeneration...What we're getting WRONG about the "leaky" aging brain | William Banks | 300
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Blood-brain barrier as a dynamic interface allowing selective passage of nutrients, peptides, and gut hormones.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Blood-Brain Barrier Structure: Capillary endothelial cells with tight junctions, absent fenestrae, and minimal vesicles create a selective interface; supported by astrocytes and pericytes.Crossing Mechanisms: Lipid-soluble small molecules diffuse passively; glucose, amino acids, and regulatory peptides use saturable transporters whose rates vary by need.Peptide Transport: Many peptides cross via lipid solubility or specific transporters; rate, not all-or-none presence, determines biological relevance; efflux systems remove...Too Much Iron and the Aging Brain | Dr. Pamela Maher | 299
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Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death pathway driven by lipid peroxidation; chronoferoptosis, in which chronic stress sensitizes neurons gradually.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Cell Death Pathways: Apoptosis proceeds through regulated steps with surface “eat me” signals that enable non-inflammatory clearance by phagocytes, whereas ferroptosis and related pathways release cellular contents that can amplify local damage and inflammation.Ferroptosis Discovery: Work on glutamate toxicity in neuronal cell lines first identified a glutathione-depletion pathway termed oxytosis; parallel studies in cancer cells renamed and generalized it as ferroptosis to highlight iron...Ozempic Reaches Your Brain in Ways Your Own GLP-1 Can't | Katrin Svensson | 298
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Endogenous peptide diversity, GLP-1 drugs, and methods for novel peptide discovery.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Peptide Structure & Production: Short amino acid chains (3-50 residues) cleaved from larger precursors by PCSK enzymes, stored in dense-core vesicles, and released upon stimuli rather than acting as folded enzymes like proteins.Tissue-Specific Processing: The same precursor yields different peptides by tissue; preproglucagon produces glucagon in pancreas but GLP-1 in gut L-cells due to distinct cleavage patterns.Signaling Timescales: Peptides act over minutes via GPCRs and can drive longer...Can Water Low in Deuterium Slow Cancer? | Gábor Somlyai | 297
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The possible role of deuterium (heavy isotope of hydrogen) in regulating cell division, mitochondrial metabolism & cancer.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Deuterium Basics: Deuterium is twice as massive as regular hydrogen; natural water contains ~150 ppm, with stronger oxygen-deuterium bonds slowing reactions compared to oxygen-hydrogen.Mitochondrial Role: Healthy mitochondria produce deuterium-depleted metabolic water (~110 ppm from fat oxidation vs. ~150 ppm from carbs), helping maintain low cellular D:H ratios.Cell Growth Regulation: Lower deuterium slows cell division in vitro; cells sense small D:H changes, with higher...Antioxidant Supplements Raised Cancer Rates in Major Trials. Here's Why | Isaac Harris | 296
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New research finds that excess antioxidants can support tumor growth in preexisting cancers.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Oxidative Stress: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by mitochondrial metabolism cause damage; context determines whether they promote or suppress cancer.Glutathione Biology: Primary cellular antioxidant made from cysteine, glycine, and glutamate; works with peroxidase enzymes to protect against ROS.Antioxidant Paradox: Clinical trials (SELECT vitamin E, beta-carotene) showed supplements increased cancer rather than preventing it.Cancer Antioxidant Hijacking: Tumors ramp up antioxidant systems to handle...Your Body Makes Fructose From Glucose, and It Turns On Fat Storage | Richard Johnson | 295
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Fructose survival hypothesis: how fructose metabolism in the liver triggers ATP depletion, uric acid production, oxidative stress, lipogenesis & leptin resistance.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Glucose vs Fructose Metabolism: Fructose is rapidly metabolized in the liver by fructokinase without feedback, causing ATP depletion and uric acid production, unlike glucose metabolism.Liver Effects: Fructose induces uric acid production, NADPH oxidase activation, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and de novo lipogenesis even under caloric restriction.Fructose Survival Hypothesis: Fructose signaling promotes fat storage, leptin resistance, foraging behavior, and metabolic...How to Lie With Science: Seed Oils & Inflammation | Livestream #1
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Deep-dive into a 2026 cardiology review paper claiming seed oils reduce inflammation, exposing misrepresentations of cited clinical trials, and detailing how oxidized Ω-6 fats trigger inflammation.
Companion article: Click HERE
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Seed Oil Profiles: Typical seed oils like sunflower are high in linoleic acid (omega-6 PUFA), while canola is higher in monounsaturated fats and resembles olive oil.Review Paper Critique: The 2026 JACC review falsely claims sunflower oil reduce inflammation like olive oil, citing an RCT that showed benefits only for c...Your Ancestry Changes How Your Body Handles Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fats | Floyd Chilton | 294
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Human genetic variation in dietary fat metabolism and its implications for health & disease.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Linoleic Acid Rise: Linoleic acid now comprises 6-8% or more of energy in Western diets.Metabolic Pathways: Omega-6 linoleic acid converts to arachidonic acid and pro-inflammatory oxylipins; omega-3 ALA converts via shared enzymes to EPA/DHA with anti-inflammatory effects.FADS Genetic Variants: Ancestry-linked haplotypes in the FADS cluster create large “pipe” size differences, altering fatty acid by up to 40% between ancestral and derived versions.Population Differences: A...A Brain Steroid Showed Antidepressant Effects in Bipolar Disorder | Sherwood Brown | 293
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Pregnenolone, a neurosteroid derived from cholesterol, affects brain activity and shows promise for treating mood and substance abuse disorders.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Steroid Biosynthesis: Cholesterol converted to pregnenolone, the precursor for all steroid hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones.Corticosteroids: Synthetic versions like prednisone primarily target glucocorticoid receptors for anti-inflammatory uses but can impact mood and cognition.Pregnenolone Mechanisms: Positive allosteric modulator of NMDA receptors for cognition and negative allosteric modulator of CB1 cannabinoid receptors.Allopregnanolone: GABAergic derivative of pregnenolone...Most Americans Fall Far Below the Omega-3 Levels Linked to Better Health | Bill Harris | 292
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How omega-3 fats in human health, including dietary intake needs, supplements, & omega fat testing.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
ω-3 chemistry: EPA and DHA differ from plant ALA in chain length and double-bond count, making them structurally and biologically distinct — and largely irreplaceable by ALA conversion.ALA-to-EPA/DHA conversion: A small percentage of dietary ALA converts to EPA, and conversion to DHA is even lower; vegans rely on this inefficient pathway for all long-chain omega-3s.Cardiovascular mechanisms: ω-3s lower triglycerides, reduce platelet stickiness, impr...Inflammation Doesn't Just Fade. Omega-3s Help Your Body Switch It Off | Philip Calder | 291
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How dietary fatty acids regulate the initiation, propagation, and resolution of inflammation.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Parenteral nutrition history: IV nutrition evolved from soybean oil alone in the 1960s to complex blends including fish oil as the biology of ω-3s became understood.Three phases of inflammation: Initiation, propagation (driven by ω-6–derived prostaglandins and leukotrienes), and active resolution (driven by ω-3-derived resolvins and protectins).Pro-resolving mediators: Resolution is an active biological process, not passive; EPA and DHA generate resolvins and protectins that activ...Reversing Alzheimer's Memory Loss in Mice Without Clearing Plaques | Andrew Pieper | 290
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A metabolic view of Alzheimer's disease & the recent discovery of compounds that reverse advanced disease symptoms in mouse models by restoring mitochondrial health.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Classic Alzheimer’s pathology: amyloid plaques and tau tangles identified over 120 years ago, long assumed to drive irreversible neuron loss.Limitations of amyloid focus: plaques appear in some cognitively normal brains; antibody therapies have shown limited clinical benefit.Metabolic perspective: brain energy failure as a tipping point where repair mechanisms are overwhelmed, linking genetics, injury, and aging....Parents' Exercise Improves Offspring Metabolism via Sperm and Milk | Kristin Stanford | 289
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How exercise in parents can improve the metabolic and cardiovascular health of their offspring through epigenetic mechanisms.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Parental exercise & offspring metabolic health: exercise before and during pregnancy improves glucose tolerance and reduces fat gain in offspring.Paternal effects via sperm: moderate voluntary wheel running alters small non-coding RNAs, especially tRNA fragments, in sperm and enhances glucose clearance, with stronger benefits in female offspring.Maternal exercise mechanisms: benefits arise from in utero environment, placental changes, and breast milk composition rather than...Your Vagus Nerve Can Switch Off Inflammation | Kevin Tracey | 288
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How the vagus nerve regulates inflammation; bioelectronic therapies to treat inflammatory conditions.
Nick speaks with Dr. Kevin Tracey about inflammation as a major driver of modern diseases, the vagus nerve’s role in balancing immune responses via reflexes, limitations of anti-cytokine drugs, and emerging bioelectronic medicine using targeted nerve stimulation.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Inflammation is related to diseases that contribute to most deaths today: heart disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration, and cancer.Molecular signals involved in inflammation, such as cytokines.Homeostasis is maintained by push-pull mechanisms, with excitatory and in...Sunlight Curbs Appetite Through a Hormone Unrelated to Vitamin D | Alexis Cowan | 287
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How light regulate circadian rhythms, mitochondrial function, hormones, and appetite.
Nick & Dr. Alexis Cowan discuss non-image-forming effects of light on the body, from melanopsin-driven circadian signaling in the eye to UV-stimulated pathways in skin and brain that influence melatonin, cortisol, melanin production, and energy balance.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Melanopsin & non-image-forming light: blue light signals daytime to the SCN master clock, suppressing melatonin and promoting alertness.UV light, POMC & peptide hormones: UVB exposure in skin and hypothalamus produces alpha-MSH (reduces appetite, boosts energy expenditure...Being Awake Damages Brain Fats, and Sleep Clears Them Out | Amita Sehgal | 286
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Is the fundamental purpose of sleep to remove oxidized fats from the brain?
Nick & Dr. Amita Sehgal talk about the latest science on why animals sleep. Using fruit flies, her lab shows that waking generates oxidized lipids in neurons that are shuttled to glia and then cleared by macrophage-like cells during sleep. This process protects mitochondria, supports memory, and links sleep to metabolic cleanup rather than just rest.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Drosophila as a model: Fruit flies sleep with immobility, reduced responsiveness, and homeostatic rebound...BPC-157 Heals Rats but Has Barely Been Tested in Humans | Flynn McGuire | 285
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The science, hype, and unknowns surrounding popular peptides like BPC-157 & TB-500 ("Wolverine stack") for injury recovery & tissue repair.
Nick & Dr. Flynn McGuire discuss the surge in peptide use for injury recovery. They cover peptide basics, the preclinical evidence for BPC-157 and TB-500, mechanisms like angiogenesis and tissue repair, the lack of robust human trials, sourcing risks, regulatory bans, and the gap between anecdotal reports and scientific certainty.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Peptide basics: Short amino acid chains (e.g., insulin, GLP-1 agonists); BPC-157 derived from gastric...Why Some People Stay Thin Even When They Overeat | Jens Lund | 284
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Biology of obesity resistance and factors influencing weight gain in humans and animals.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Historical views on obesity: In some cultures, like northern Africa or Stone Age societies, high body fat signaled status or attractiveness due to food scarcity, unlike today’s focus on leanness amid calorie abundance.Energy balance components: Metabolizable energy (95% absorption on average, but varying 1-11%) and unabsorbed nutrients excreted as waste significantly influence weight.Obesity resistance in animals: Inbred mouse strains show wide variation in weight gain on...Your Mother's Mitochondrial DNA Shapes Metabolism and Disease Risk | Douglas Wallace | 283
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Mitochondria in human evolution, climate adaptation, maternal genetics, aging, and disease.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Endosymbiotic theory: Mitochondria arose from oxidative bacteria engulfed by archaea-like hosts, confirmed by phylogenetic analysis.Maternal mtDNA inheritance: Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the mother, not the father. There are adaptive reasons for this.Haplogroups & adaptation: Tropical lineages tightly couple energy production for efficiency; northern ones uncouple to generate heat.Heteroplasmy & aging: Mixed mutant and normal mitochondria accumulate in cells, eroding energy in high-demand tissues like brain...Half Your Cholesterol Exits as Bile Acids, and Diabetes Alters Them | Rebecca Haeusler | 282
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Role of bile acids in cholesterol regulation, digestion & metabolic diseases like diabetes.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Bile acids basics: They enable cholesterol excretion, with about half of bodily cholesterol eliminated this way, and also aid digestion by emulsifying fats to increase enzyme access.Bile production & pathway: Synthesized in liver hepatocytes, bile flows via ducts to the gallbladder for storage or directly to the small intestine; post-meal, cholecystokinin triggers gallbladder contraction for fat emulsification.Regulation of bile acids: Self-regulated to prevent cytotoxicity, as excess can...Why Eating at the Wrong Time of Day Adds Weight | Joseph Bass | 281
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How the body's internal circadian clocks regulate metabolism, energy balance, and health.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Master circadian clock in the brain: Light detection via retina entrains the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which coordinates body-wide rhythms; intrinsic period slightly deviates from 24 hours, allowing seasonal flexibility.Peripheral clocks in organs: Nearly all cells have autonomous clocks; liver and fat clocks rapidly adjust to feeding time, while brain clock aligns more tightly to light.Clock mutations and metabolism: Disrupting core clock genes (e.g., CLOCK, BMAL1) causes obesity...A Single Psilocybin Dose Reduced Heroin Seeking in Rats | Stephanie Daws | 280
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Gene regulation through RNAs, the neurobiology of opioid addiction, and how psychedelics affect drug-seeking by modulating inflammation and plasticity. Not medical advice.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Gene regulation basics: DNA transcribes to RNAs, including non-coding types like microRNAs that inhibit mRNA translation into proteins, influencing up to 60% of the proteome.Non-coding RNAs in neuroplasticity: MicroRNAs and circular RNAs regulate synaptic changes, with activity-induced ones like miR-485-5p linked to rapid responses in drug cue memory and addiction reinforcement.Opioid addiction models: Rats self-administer...Why Women Gain Belly Fat After Menopause | Victoria Vieira-Potter | 279
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The biology of fat tissue, estrogen's role in metabolism and health, and how exercise interacts with these processes, especially during menopause.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Adipose tissue basics: White fat primarily stores energy in large lipid droplets, while brown fat burns fatty acids for heat via high mitochondrial density; white fat can “brown” with exercise or certain foods like capsaicin.Fat distribution & health: Subcutaneous fat (under skin) is more insulin-sensitive and less problematic than visceral fat (around organs), which links to metabolic issues; females store more subc...A Thin, Hidden Brain Structure Kicks In When Tasks Get Hard | Brian Mathur | 278
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The brain's mysterious claustrum region, its role in cognitive flexibility, and how substances like alcohol and psychedelics affect neural circuits and behavior. Not medical advice.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Cerebral cortex structure: Described as a six-layered structure with pyramidal neurons and inhibitory interneurons; information flows between layers and regions to process sensory input and enable complex behaviors.Claustrum anatomy & connectivity: A sheet-like subcortical structure embedded in white matter, bidirectionally connected to cortical areas, especially prefrontal regions in rodents, with broader connections in primates and humans suggesting...Psychedelics Hit Female Mice Harder but Helped Males More | Javier González-Maeso | 277
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Pharmacology & neurobiology of psychedelics & MDMA, focusing on isomers, sex-specific effects, and mechanisms in animal models. Not medical advice.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Biased agonism: Different drugs activate the same receptor (e.g., 5-HT2A) but trigger varied intracellular pathways, explaining why LSD is psychedelic while similar lisuride is not.Enantiomers & isomers: Mirror-image versions of drugs like MDMA (S and R forms) and LSD (four isomers) often produce distinct effects; only one LSD isomer is psychedelic, for example.MDMA isomer effects: S-MDMA induces stronger head...The Enzyme That Fasting, Exercise, Metformin & Ozempic All Switch On | Greg Steinberg | 276
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The AMP kinase pathway's role in cellular energy sensing, nutrient allocation, and its connections to health practices like fasting, exercise, and diet.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Cellular energy basics: ATP/ADP/AMP as energy currencies; AMP kinase activates on low ATP to conserve and redirect resources, like a budget manager.AMP kinase mechanics: Heterotrimeric enzyme phosphorylating 100+ substrates; localizes dynamically in cytosol, mitochondria, nucleus to integrate signals.Nutrient detection: Senses fatty acids in fasting/ketogenic states, boosting fat oxidation and mitochondria independent of energy drops.<...Even Pasture-Raised Eggs Mostly Reflect Corn and Soy Feed | Ashley Armstrong | 275
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How industrial farming, seed oils, soy, and pesticides impact food nutrition and health. Not medical advice.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Soy’s rise in farming: Originating from paint uses and wartime chemicals, soy became dominant due to subsidies and large-scale farming practices, but introduces high PUFAs, phytoestrogens, and pesticides into animal feeds.Feed’s impact on eggs: Chicken feeds high in soy and corn raise linoleic acid levels in eggs compared to low-soy alternatives; low-PUFA eggs improve digestibility for many.PUFAs & health effects: Feeding PUFA...Why the Same Food Spikes One Person's Blood Sugar and Not Another's | Michael Snyder | 274
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How individuals vary in responses to carbs, fibers, and fats.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Personalized health profiling: Snyder’s lab sequences genomes and measures molecules from blood, urine, and microbiomes to detect diseases early, emphasizing data-driven discovery over assumptions.Fiber variations and effects: Responses to dietary fibers vary individually, with microbiome playing a key role.Glycemic responses to carbs: People spike differently to foods like rice, potatoes, or bread; tied to insulin resistance subtypes in muscles, liver, or pancreas.Type 2 diabetes heterogeneity: 90% of...Most of What's in Your Food Isn't on the Nutrition Label | Stephan van Vliet | 273
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How agricultural practices influence the nutrient density of foods, particularly meat, and the importance of hidden compounds beyond standard nutrition labels.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Nutrient density profiling: Labs analyze thousands of compounds beyond macros and vitamins; this “dark matter” includes phytonutrients that may support health despite not being essential.Phytonutrients in foods: Plant secondary metabolites like polyphenols act as antioxidants and influence pathways like mTOR; animals convert plant compounds into bioactives humans access via meat.Red meat definition: Refers to meats high in myog...