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Mastering Nutrition

Mastering Nutrition

708 episodes — Page 12 of 15

Kresser/Kahn Vegan Debate on Joe Rogan: My Post-Game Analysis

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Please head on over to the YouTube video and like it, share it, or comment on it to help me promote this! It would also be great if you're on Twitter if you could like, retweet, or reply to the tweet about the analysis. The links mentioned in the podcast can all be found in the description of the YouTube video. Enjoy! Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Oct 4, 20181h 17m

Why I Don't Believe in "Overmethylators" and "Undermethylators" | Chris Masterjohn Lite #74

Are you an undermethylator or an overmethylator? Neither! Chris Masterjohn Lite is a show about what works. Today we kick off a short series on a few things that don't work by discussing why I don't think it's useful and why I think it's actually counter-productive to classify people as undermethylators and overmethylators. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Oct 4, 20186 min

What EVERYONE Should Be Doing About Methylation | Chris Masterjohn Lite #73

MTHFR or not, this is the minimum that EVERYONE should be doing to support methylation, boiled down into five simple rules. Tune in to learn the rules! This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Oct 2, 201811 min

Five Rules for a Healthy Diet | Chris Masterjohn Lite #72

Here is a healthy diet, boiled down into five simple rules. Tune in to learn the rules! This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 27, 20187 min

Your Best Weapon Against Food Allergies and Food Intolerances | Chris Masterjohn Lite #71

Food allergies seem more common now than ever. Are we just hearing about them more because of better awareness, or are they really more common? We have reliable data about celiac disease: it's four times as common now than it was a half century ago. I suspect the same is true of other food intolerances and of food allergies. Your best weapons? The egg yolks and liver that have disappeared from our diets during this timeframe, and avoiding unnecessary use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 25, 20188 min

Vitamin A for Allergies | Chris Masterjohn Lite CML #70

When I was in Greece this August, I didn't have any allergies at first, but then they started acting up, and they kept getting worse throughout my trip. I thought it was from the local environment, but when I woke up with conjunctivitis in the last week I looked back and realized my diet had been very deficient in vitamin A while I was there. Vitamin A deficiency can be an important cause of allergies, and if you suffer from allergies you should consider your vitamin A status. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 20, 20188 min

Blood Tests for Food Allergies | Chris Masterjohn Lite #69

Many people have asked me what I think about blood tests for food allergies. In this episode, I explain. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 18, 20187 min

Seasonal Allergies? Think About the Histamine in Your Food | Chris Masterjohn Lite #68

If you suffer from allergies, you may need to remove fermented, aged, and cured foods from your diet. While the ultimate solution should be to make yourself more resilient to both pollen and these foods, lowering the amount of histamine in your "histamine bucket" may provide needed relief in the short-term. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 13, 20187 min

When Measuring Your Waist Circumference Doesn't Work | Chris Masterjohn Lite #67

In the past I have recommended measuring your waist circumference in addition to your scale weight when you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle. This is an easy way to gauge how much of your change in weight is fat versus muscle. But sometimes it just doesn't give you good information. Waist circumference is influenced not just by abdominal fat but also by the amount of undigested food in the stomach, and by retention of water and gas from hormones, inflammation, and digestive distress. This episode is about how to tell when you should and shouldn't be measuring your waist circumference. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements. Our Native American ancestors believed that eating the organs from a healthy animal would support the health of the corresponding organ of the individual. Ancestral Supplements has a nose-to-tail product line of grass-fed liver, organs, bone marrow and more... in the convenience of a capsule. For more information or to buy any of their products, go to ancestralsupplements.com. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 11, 20187 min

Why You Shouldn't Manage Iron Overload With Diet | Chris Masterjohn Lite #66

It may seem that people at risk of iron overload should manage it by avoiding iron-rich foods, but in most cases this is a bad idea. Iron-rich foods are rich in many other nutrients, like copper, zinc, vitamin A, and vitamin B12. Chelators like phytate can induce deficiencies of other minerals, like zinc. In this video, I explain why dietary management should be a last resort for iron overload. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 6, 20187 min

Why You Probably Don't Need to Care About Avoiding Iron-Rich Foods | Chris Masterjohn Lite #65

A lot of people seem to think that they should avoid iron-rich foods, even if they have no reason to believe they have a genetic predisposition to iron overload. In this video, I show you why this is ridiculous. I *do* have a genetic predisposition to iron overload, and I consume over 5 times the daily value for iron, including 10 ounces of red meat, and my iron status is kept on the low end of the physiologically healthy range by donating blood about once a year. Watch the video to see the numbers! In the video, I reference this previous episode on looking up your genetics for iron overload: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/03/22/know-youre-risk-iron-overload/ This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Sep 4, 20187 min

This is the Bloodwork You Should Get for Iron Overload | Chris Masterjohn Lite #64

In this episode, I break down an iron panel and explain why it's important to also measure serum ferritin and transferrin, and when you should use transferrin saturation instead of iron saturation as a marker of your short-term iron status. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 30, 20187 min

How to Monitor Your Thiamin (Vitamin B1) Status | Chris Masterjohn Lite #63

Thiamin, or vitamin B1, is needed for energy metabolism but is especially important to carbohydrate metabolism. Its deficiency causes severe neurological problems, but moderate deficits may manifest more mildly as poor carbohydrate tolerance. Carnivores and vegans alike can get plenty of thiamin if they eat the right foods, but a diet based mainly on fat, or on refined foods that have not been fortified with thiamin, can cause deficiency. Nevertheless, thiamin is unusual in that most factors contributing to deficiency are not dietary, and many are actually environmental. In this video, I teach you how to assess your thiamin status and fix it if you have a problem. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 28, 20187 min

How to Manage Your Magnesium Status | Chris Masterjohn Lite #62

Magnesium is needed for literally everything in the body. When you don't have enough, the most common problems are twitching, muscle cramps or spasms, heart palpitations, and weakness, plus other signs and symptoms discussed in the video. In this episode, I teach you how to look for its deficiency, how to use three different lab measurements to monitor your magnesium status, and how to fix a problem if you find one. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 23, 20188 min

How to Test Kidney Function When Taking Creatine | Chris Masterjohn Lite #61

Taking creatine can raise your serum creatinine and give the false impression your kidney function is declining. Here is how to avoid this problem. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 21, 20183 min

How to Manage Your Vitamin A Status | Chris Masterjohn Lite #60

Dry eyes? Poor night vision? Get sick often? Bumpy or flaky skin? You may need more vitamin A. In this video, I tell you how to figure that out, and what to do about it. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 16, 20188 min

The Best Way to Supplement With Potassium | Chris Masterjohn Lite #59

Only 2% of Americans meet the official recommendations for potassium, yet potassium supplements carry risks that has led the FDA to strictly regulate the amount in one serving to be so small you would need to take 50 pills a day to meet the requirement. Here are my recommendations for using potassium citrate powder in a way that protects you from the risks and allows you to get the benefits of much larger amounts than found in the typical pills. The potassium citrate powder discussed in the video can be found at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/potassium. If you use my affiliate link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Please make sure to watch the video for proper use of the supplement and clear the decision with your doctor in case you have any conditions or are on any medications that impair your ability to handle potassium supplements. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 14, 20188 min

The Best Way to Supplement With Calcium | Chris Masterjohn Lite # 58

Calcium supplementation is controversial. Some people believe that supplements, but not calcium-rich foods, can increase the risk of heart disease. Here are my recommendations for calcium supplementation to make it as close to eating whole foods as possible. The bone meal powder I use can be found at chrismasterjohnphd.com/calcium. If you use my affiliate link, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 9, 20185 min

Do you really need to be taking fish oil? | Chris Masterjohn Lite #57

Do we really need to be taking fish oil? For most people, it is better to use fish or pasture-raised egg yolks to get omega-3s. But there are specific reasons to use cod liver oil, fish oil, or krill oil. More details in the video! This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 7, 20186 min

How to Gain Muscle Without Gaining Fat | Chris Masterjohn Lite #56

How do you put on muscle without risking gaining fat? You need the right workout, enough protein, and a gentle caloric surplus. Watch the video for more details! This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Aug 2, 20187 min

7 Ways to Keep Your Blood Sugar Stable | Chris Masterjohn Lite #55

Here are seven ways to keep your blood sugar in control: vinegar; glycine, proper balance and eating order within your meals, walking after your meal, putting your carbs after exercise, managing your glycemic load per meal, and focusing on meals that have a low glycemic index for you personally. The video covers these recommendations in more detail. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jul 31, 20189 min

Why You Should Be Careful With Niacin and Nicotinamide Riboside | Chris Masterjohn Lite #54

Are you using niacin or nicotinamide riboside? If so, watch this video! These supplements can help you age more gracefully and give you more energy, but they can also hurt your liver, mess with your neurotransmitters and your mood, and even sap your energy. In this video I discuss using a powder for better control over the dose, and how to match your niacin dose to a corresponding dose of trimethylglycine (TMG). The nicotinamide riboside powder can be found at hpnsupplements.com. The TMG can be found at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/tmg. If you use my affiliate link for the TMG, I will get a small commission at no extra cost to you, which will help support the free work This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jul 26, 201812 min

3 Ways to Get Enough Potassium | Chris Masterjohn Lite #52

In this video, I give you three different ways to get enough potassium. The first focuses on eating a lots of fruits and vegetables. The second focuses on a diet low in fat, moderate in grains, and devoid of refined foods. The third focuses on selecting vegetables with the highest amount of potassium per net carb for use in high-fat, low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jul 19, 20188 min

Why Salt Raises Blood Pressure in Some People | Chris Masterjohn Lite #51

In this video, I give you three different ways to get enough potassium. The first focuses on eating a lots of fruits and vegetables. The second focuses on a diet low in fat, moderate in grains, and devoid of refined foods. The third focuses on selecting vegetables with the highest amount of potassium per net carb for use in high-fat, low-carbohydrate or ketogenic diets. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet Use the code LITE5 to get $5 off. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jul 17, 20185 min

5 Ways to Help With Glutamate Sensitivity and Glutamate Dominance | Chris Masterjohn Lite #50

If you have negative reactions to MSG, slowly cooked protein, pressure cooked protein, or fermented foods, you might have glutamate sensitivity. If you have a neurological or psychiatric condition (anxiety, sleep disorders, epilepsy are all examples), you might have glutamate dominance. In a previous episode, I discussed the possibility that oxaloacetate supplementation could help. In this episode, I discuss five more things to try: GABA, glycine, vitamin B6, magnesium, and electrolytes (salt and potassium-rich foods). Here is the older episode on oxaloacetate: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/11/oxaloacetate-supplements-help-glutamate-sensitivity/ This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jun 14, 20189 min

Carbs or Keto for Sleep? | Chris Masterjohn Lite #49

If you're trying to get better sleep, should you be upping your carbs, or going keto? Paradoxically, both of these strategies can help, but for different reasons. In this episode I cover why they can help, how to pick your strategy, and some ways you can gain some more freedom over which strategy to choose. In this episode I mention the sleep recommendations that I put out last year. They can be found here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/sleep This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jun 12, 20187 min

How to Protect Your Muscle Mass When Losing Weight | Chris Masterjohn Lite #48

When you want to lose weight, you really want to lose fat, right? You're not trying to turn into a wimpy twig with no muscle mass, are you? If so, it's important to design your weight loss strategy in a way that protects your muscle mass. If you don't, your weight loss could be as much as half lean mass, and that's not what you want. The two most important strategies are the right type of exercise program and consuming enough protein. Avoiding weight loss that's too rapid is another strategy that can help. In this episode, I provide the details about how to implement these strategies in the right way. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jun 7, 20185 min

Emotions and Environment Could Be Hurting Your Weight Loss | Chris Masterjohn Lite #47

Are you struggling to lose weight? Feel like you don't have the willpower to make it happen?Your emotional relationship with food and your environment could be hampering your ability to succeed. Knowing whether you are a moderator or a sustainer, knowing which of the "four tendencies" determine your relationship to inner and outer expectations, and identifying the emotional and psychological needs that you are meeting with food can all help you design a weight loss program that properly addresses your emotions and environment. In this episode I discuss two quizzes made by Gretchen Rubin: Moderator versus abstainer (more an article than a quiz: https://gretchenrubin.com/2012/05/quiz-are-you-an-abstainer-or-a-moderator/) The Four Tendencies https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4232520/gretchenrubinfourtendenciesquiz This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jun 5, 20188 min

Weight Loss: The Low-Hanging Fruit | Chris Masterjohn Lite #46

Why should you bother spending time tracking calories or eating something so monotonous as "The Robot Diet" when there are plenty of dietary approaches out there that allow a variety of delicious foods, don't require time spent tracking calories, and work for so many people?These approaches are "the low-hanging fruit of weight loss." Is there low-hanging fruit available to you? How do you know when you've picked it all? That's what I answer in this episode. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

May 31, 20187 min

Lose Weight With the Robot Diet | Chris Masterjohn Lite #45

The most reliable way to lose weight is to track calories, but tracking calories is time consuming. With the Robot Diet, you can substitute consistency for tracking calories, and save tons of time. Eat like a robot to have the abs of a robot. Walk like a human, talk like a human, and act like a human, and no one will no where they came from. Here are the two episodes I released last year on tracking calories:https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/02/reliable-way-lose-weight/ https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/04/easiest-way-track-calories/ This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Get your copy at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/cheatsheet To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

May 29, 20186 min

Chris Kresser on Unconventional Medicine | Mastering Nutrition #51

In this episode, I interview Chris Kresser! We discuss his new book, Unconventional Medicine, and everything he is doing over at the Kresser Institute, including his new health coach training program. Chris is changing the face of medicine with his new paradigm. Listen in to find out why I told him that in the 2020 presidential debates, I expect the candidates to be debating how many jobs Kresser created over the last four years. You can buy his new book, Unconventional Medicine, on Amazon. If you're interested in becoming a health coach, or if you already are one and wish to undergo his new training to get his functional medicine perspective, you have up until June 3 to enroll. You can sign up here. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Everything you could ever need to know to optimize your nutrition, all in one place. Easier to find and use than ever before. Yours for only $30. This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats. I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a milder braunschweiger and an even milder head cheese that gives you similar benefits, as well as a wide array of other meat products, all from animals raised on pasture. Head to grasslandbeef.com and enter promo code "Chris" at checkout to get a 15% discount on any order that is at least 7 pounds and is at least $75 after applying the discount but under 40 pounds (it can be 39.99 lbs, but not 40). You can use this discount code not once, but twice! To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 In this episode, you will find all of the following and more: 00:37 Cliff Notes 11:46 Introduction 12:29 Alternative medicine's critique of conventional medicine and what Chris Kresser has to add to that critique 15:41 Why hasn't alternative medicine outcompeted conventional medicine? 18:42 The differences between alternative medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine 25:14 The functional medicine approach to headaches 27:03 The California Center for Functional Medicine's intake process for new patients 34:32 Why taking medications to reduce fever might be a bad idea in most cases but can be helpful in some rare cases 37:27 How we can justify the costs of testing in functional medicine. Using type 2 diabetes as an example, investing $5,000 up front for one patient can save half a million dollars in the long run. 42:01 Who will end up paying for functional medicine? 47:38 What Chris Kresser is doing to spread the functional medicine approach to healthcare: his book Unconventional Medicine; the California Center for Functional Medicine; his program with the Berkeley Fire Department; and the Kresser Institute's physician and health coach training programs. 52:53 Why doctors still need people skills 56:21 The importance of allied health providers, such as health coaches, nutritionists, and nurse practitioners, and how they can make longer appointments with physicians economically feasible 1:10:07 Advice for starting a career in functional medicine and deciding what degree to pursue 1:16:05 Advice for physicians who want to start practicing functional medicine 1:17:55 Who should read Unconventional Medicine and where to get it Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/051-chris-kresser-on-unconventional Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

May 23, 20181h 26m

Here's What to Do About VDR Mutations | Chris Masterjohn Lite #44

Are mutations in your genes for the vitamin D receptor impacting your vitamin D requirements? There are three common genetic variants, known as Taq1, Bsm1, and Fok1. They've been associated with the risk of certain diseases but no one has quite sorted out what they are actually doing. It's possible they raise your need for vitamin D. Watch this video for my recommendations on what to do if you have them. I recommend testing your VDR genes with StrateGene, which you can get here: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene For more information on how to get the StrateGene report, watch this video: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/04/know-need-care-mthfr/ You may also enjoy these other two videos I made about vitamin D testing: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/16/tell-difference-vitamin-d-calcium-deficiencies/ https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/05/18/vitamin-d-normal-pth-high/ To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 23, 20184 min

Can You Get Vitamin A From Plants? It Depends on Your Genes. | Chris Masterjohn Lite #43

Can you get vitamin A from plant foods? It depends on your genes. Listen to this podcast to learn how to figure out your BCO1 genetics and how this impacts your vitamin A requirement. Vitamin A is found in the form of carotenoids in red, orange, yellow, and green vegetables, and in the form of retinol in animal foods, especially liver. BCO1 helps you convert the carotenoids to retinol, which is the form you need to have in your body to be healthy. Many of us have genetic impairments in BCO1. In fact, for genetic reasons alone, if you took 100 of us, half of us would make the conversion less than half as well as the other half. A quarter of us would have our ability to make the conversion slashed four-fold. But it isn't *all* about genetics. There are many other factors -- thyroid health, iron, protein, zinc, vitamin E, parasites, oxidative stress, heavy metals, polyunsaturated fats -- the list just goes on and on for the things that can affect this conversion. Knowing your genes is helpful, but only one piece of the puzzle. Listen to the podcast for how I recommend handling this. I recommend testing your BCO1 genes with StrateGene, which you can get here: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene For more information on how to get the StrateGene report, watch this video: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/04/know-need-care-mthfr/ To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 18, 20185 min

What to Do About Your COMT Genes | Chris Masterjohn Lite #42

Do you have anxiety? Depression? Attention problems? Or are you worried about estrogen and cancer? If so, listen to this podcast to learn about the role of your COMT genetics. COMT metabolizes dopamine, estrogen, and various other things. Half of us have the genetic for intermediate activity. The other half of us are split evenly between high and low activity. When nutrition is optimal, this just leads to personality differences: with low COMT activity, you're better at focusing, but tend to ruminate on things rather than letting them go; with high COMT activity, you rarely get stuck in a rut, but you just as rarely sit down to focus on one single thing. When nutrition is off, we can go to pathological extremes, whether it's depression and anxiety on one hand, or attention deficit and hyperactivity on the other. Robust COMT activity is also needed to get rid of harmful forms of estrogen that contribute to cancer risk. I recommend testing your COMT genes with StrateGene, which you can get here: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 For more information on how to get the StrateGene report, watch this video, the first of the three MTHFR videos: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/04/know-need-care-mthfr/ Here are the two other MTHFR videos: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/06/what-to-do-about-mthfr/ https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/11/bloodwork-get-mthfr/ Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 16, 20187 min

Why You Should Manage Your Thiamin Status and How to Do It | Mastering Nutrition #39

Today, January 14, is the *last day* to get 30% off your entire order by entering masterjohn as the promo code at checkout when you make purchases on paleovalley.com. Thiamin, or vitamin B1, is central to both energy metabolism and antioxidant defense. While its deficiency causes many problems, out of all the B vitamins its deficiency is most neurological in nature, because energy metabolism of the brain becomes severely compromised, and because neurotransmitters derived from protein cannot be produced. In its most severe form, beriberi, it can cause loss of muscle control, twitching, muscles freezing into awkward positions, and seizures. Carbohydrates require twice as much thiamin as fat. This means, on the one hand, that high-carbohydrate diets increase the need for thiamin, and on the other hand, that people who are deficient in thiamin may have neurological symptoms that resolve when they go on a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet. Thiamin is widely distributed in foods. Historically, diets high in refined grain produced beriberi, but now refined grains are enriched in thiamin, so its deficiency is rarely caused by diet. However, certain foods such as raw fish and moths that are eaten in some cultures contain thiamin antagonists, gastrointestinal microbes can degrade thiamin, and there are various environmental causes of thiamin deficiency, such the algae that grow in dead zones. As such, environmental exposure to thiamin antagonists may be a more common cause of thiamin deficiency than poor dietary intake. Still, some foods are much higher in thiamin than most others, with whole grains, legumes, yeast, and red meat being among the best sources. The show notes for this episode are available at chrismasterjohnphd.com/50. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. I wrote this to make everything you could possibly need to measure and manage your nutritional status all one click away. Get it now! This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. I use their beef sticks as a convenient yet nutritious snack. They are made from 100% grass-fed beef and preserved through traditional fermentation. The fermentation makes them more digestible and gives them a fresher mouthfeel and texture compared to most other meat snacks I've tried, which tend to be too dry for me to fully enjoy. They also have a grass-fed organ complex that contains a blend of liver, heart, kidney, and brain, all stuffed into gel caps for those who can't bring themselves to eat these incredibly nutritious meats with a fork. Head to paleovalley.com and enter the promo code masterjohn at checkout for 30% off your order. This is a huge savings available for only a limited time. You can get 30% off everything on the site, ordering as much as you want, but only for the duration of the next three podcast episodes. Check it out now to make sure you get your discount! This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats. I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a milder braunschweiger and an even milder head cheese that gives you similar benefits, as well as a wide array of other meat products, all from animals raised on pasture. Head to grasslandbeef.com and enter promo code "Chris" at checkout to get a 15% discount on any order that is at least 7 pounds and is at least $75 after applying the discount but under 40 pounds (it can be 39.99 lbs, but not 40). You can use this discount code not once, but twice! To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/050-why-you-should-manage-your-thiamin Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 14, 201856 min

Your Nitric Oxide Genes, Blood Pressure, and Asthma | Chris Masterjohn Lite #41

Do you have asthma? High blood pressure? Knowing your nitric oxide genes may help you find a solution. In this episode we continue to look at the StrateGene report, this time focusing on the genes for endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Impairments in this enzyme can increase your risk of asthma or high blood pressure. If you have either of these conditions and impairments in the enzyme, then you may benefit from strategies aimed at increasing nitric oxide production. Ensuring adequate zinc and arginine are part of the strategy because they support the enzyme, but you also should consider strategies that get around the enzyme, such as foods and supplements that generate nitric oxide enzymatically. Watch the video to learn more! I recommend testing your eNOS genes with StrateGene, which you can get here: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene For more information on how to get the StrateGene report, watch this video: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/04/know-need-care-mthfr/ Here is a link to Neo40: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/neo40 To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 11, 20185 min

Your MTRR Genes and Vitamin B12 | Chris Masterjohn Lite #40

You may have heard of MTHFR, but have you heard about MTRR? If you care about your vitamin B12 status, listen to this podcast to learn about it. MTRR is an enzyme that helps you repair your vitamin B12 once it's been damaged. You don't need to use it a lot most of the time, so some of us, including me, have genetic variations that make it not work very well, yet we're fine most of the time. But when you are exposed to new health challenges that increase the damage done to your B12, suddenly you may need to use the enzyme more than usual, and if you have genetic impairments in the enzyme you may suddenly become vulnerable to vitamin B12 deficiency. I don't recommend making a specific nutritional strategy around MTRR, but I do recommend you monitor your B12 status more proactively if you have genes that lower your MTRR activity. I recommend testing your MTRR with StrateGene, which you can get here: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene For more information on how to get the StrateGene report, watch this video: https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/2017/12/04/know-need-care-mthfr/ To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 9, 20186 min

Why You Need Glycine: A Panel Discussion | Mastering Nutrition #49

Glycine can you sleep, stabilize your blood sugar, improve your joint health, keep your skin beautiful, and do much more. It's a little amino acid with a big impact on your health. This episode is a panel discussion between Dr. Chris Masterjohn, Alex Leaf of Examine.Com, and Vladimir Heiskanen, covering everything you need to know about glycine. The best way to get glycine is from hydrolyzed collagen. Great Lakes offers the best balance of quality, transparency, and price. Vital Proteins, while more expensive, uses enzymatic digestions rather than heat to hydrolyze the collagen, and some people find that their digestion tolerates Vital Proteins but not other brands. Some people respond better to pure glycine. For these cases I recommend Bulk Supplements pure glycine powder. It has the same sweetness as sugar and can be used as a sweetener. You can view the show notes for this episode at chrismasterjohnphd.com/49. This episode is brought to you by Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. I wrote this to make everything you could possibly need to measure and manage your nutritional status all one click away. If you purchase it by Wednesday, January 9, you can turn in your proof of purchase at any point in the future while my consultations are available to get $30 back on a single consultation or $100 back on a Health and Wellness Package. Get it now! This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. I use their beef sticks as a convenient yet nutritious snack. They are made from 100% grass-fed beef and preserved through traditional fermentation. The fermentation makes them more digestible and gives them a fresher mouthfeel and texture compared to most other meat snacks I've tried, which tend to be too dry for me to fully enjoy. They also have a grass-fed organ complex that contains a blend of liver, heart, kidney, and brain, all stuffed into gel caps for those who can't bring themselves to eat these incredibly nutritious meats with a fork. Head to paleovalley.com and enter the promo code masterjohn at checkout for 30% off your order. This is a huge savings available for only a limited time. You can get 30% off everything on the site, ordering as much as you want, but only for the duration of the next three podcast episodes. Check it out now to make sure you get your discount! This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats. I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a milder braunschweiger and an even milder head cheese that gives you similar benefits, as well as a wide array of other meat products, all from animals raised on pasture. Head to grasslandbeef.com and enter promo code "Chris" at checkout to get a 15% discount on any order that is at least 7 pounds and is at least $75 after applying the discount but under 40 pounds (it can be 39.99 lbs, but not 40). You can use this discount code not once, but twice! To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/049-why-you-need-glycine-a-panel Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 8, 20181h 50m

Ten Tips for Preventing Kidney Stones | Chris Masterjohn Lite #39

Concerned about kidney stones? Here are ten things you can do to naturally protect yourself. Believe it or not, calcium is protective. But there is far more. Listen to this podcast to learn all about it. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 4, 20189 min

Introducing... Testing Nutritional Status: The ULTIMATE Cheat Sheet!

Happy 2018! After many dozens of hours putting this together, I'm super excited to announce "Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet." Over the course of 2017, many of you followed my podcast series on measuring and managing nutritional status. Some of you absolutely loved it. Some of you found it too technical to follow, or found the episodes too long and dense to share with your friends and family and were excited when I started condensing them into much shorter Chris Masterjohn Lite episodes. At the end of the day, I still am only about 5% through the series, mainly because producing each episode takes me about two weeks of doing nothing else and I need to clear out more time for it. One of my goals in 2018 is to unleash the complete series. But this also calls for something else: Could I completely distill the practical, actionable information from all the technical explanations? Could I collect it all into one, easy-to-find place? One of you wrote to me last year: Hi Chris, I'd happily pay for a PDF cheat sheet containing all your evidence-based recommendations in one table. I frequently find myself hunting through your transcripts :) Just a suggestion, keep up the good work. Man oh man, was he right. Quite often, dozens of hours reviewing the science around a nutrient led me to recommend specific tests that are not in common use, or specific ranges for tests that are commonly used but where the lab's range is far too broad, or just way off. So I started to put together such a cheat sheet. Lo and behold, I found myself hurting as I tried to find my own practical recommendations in the sprawling 2-hour transcripts. After all this time in the trenches, what I've emerged with... let's just say, ain't no ordinary cheat sheet. It's the ULTIMATE cheat sheet. It's is a "cheat sheet" in two ways: ● All of the lab testing required for comprehensive nutritional screening is reduced to a single page, with hyperlinks making ordering any of the tests just one click away. ● In just five pages, I provide full instructions for lab testing, blood pressure, and dietary analysis, as well as an algorithm for quick decisions on what to do next for each marker that may be off. This "cheat sheet" is ultimate because of what comes next: ● Over 70 pages list the signs and symptoms associated with all the possible nutrient imbalances, the potential causes of nutrient imbalances, and an action plan for correcting each imbalance. To top it off, it ends with an index of the signs and symptoms of nutrient deficiencies and imbalances. The index has 178 entries, and each entry links directly to the sections of the text where those signs and symptoms are discussed. This makes it incredibly easy to browse through the index for the things that seem most interesting or relevant to you and find exactly what you're looking for without having to read the whole guide. If you're getting antsy, you can buy it right now, but read on if you'd like to learn more about it. Three Ways to Use the Cheat Sheet Let's face it, testing nutritional status can be expensive. In my consulting practice, some of my clients often ask me to find ways to minimize the costs associated with figuring out nutritional problems. Others are able to get practically anything covered by insurance if they use the right labs, and others just want me to find the cream of the crop, the best of the best. So I've started the cheat sheet by outlining three different ways to use it: In the comprehensive approach, you get the comprehensive lab screening, conduct a dietary analysis and a series of home blood pressure measurements, and collect a list of signs and symptoms that seem relevant from the index. In the time-saving approach, you skip the dietary analysis -- the most time-consuming part -- and only resort to dietary analysis if and when some of your health challenges prove too difficult to resolve without it. In the cost-saving approach, you skip the lab screening, only resorting to running labs when doing so proves necessary to determine the best course of action. The comprehensive approach is the one that generates the correct strategies the fastest, but if time or finances are constraining, the other two options allow you to make the best of the resources you have at your disposal. By the way, while practical, this is an entirely educational resource. Please don't try anything in the cheat sheet without consulting your doctor, and please don't ever ignore the advice of your doctor because of anything I've written in the cheat sheet. This Is a Living Document Putting this cheat sheet together has been tremendously valuable to me. It required me to do a lot of research, and to collect my thoughts and findings all into one place. I know very well that it's going to be my primary tool for helping myself and others in the years to come. So I want to keep this constantly up-to-date for both myself and for you. You'll notice that I've called it Version 1.0. Since it

Jan 2, 201817 min

Oxalates: Should You Be Concerned About Collagen? | Chris Masterjohn Lite #38

So far we've seen that glycine or collagen supplements can improve sleep, tendon health, and blood sugar. But many of you have asked me, should we be concerned that they can raise oxalate levels? This could potentially increase the risk of kidney stones. There's about a ten percent chance you could be at risk of a kidney stone some day, and if you're in that minority you should be concerned about your exposure to oxalates. Glycine is very unlikely to generate oxalates, but collagen may, especially if you are deficient in vitamin B6. In this podcast, I describe how to figure out if this is relevant to you and what to do about it. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Jan 2, 20185 min

Glycine With a Meal for Blood Sugar | Chris Masterjohn Lite #37

Got blood sugar problems? Glycine might help! 3-5 grams of glycine before a meal helps stabilize your blood sugar after the meal, and 15 grams a day every day helps improve long-term blood sugar stability in type 2 diabetes. Listen to this podcast for the best way to implement this strategy. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 28, 20173 min

Collagen Before Your Workout for Tendon Health | Chris Masterjohn Lite #36

Achy joints? Tendon pain? Just looking to stay youthful forever? Taking 15 grams of collagen before your workout, maybe with a little vitamin C, can do wonders for your tendon health. Your tendons aren't that metabolically active and they don't vacuum up what they need as actively as your muscles do. Getting the collagen peptides into your bloodstream before your workout makes them available to your tendons when your workout starts pumping blood directly into all the nooks and crannies where those shy little tendons are found. Here is the link to the Sigma Nutrition episode with Danny Lennon and Keith Baar: https://sigmanutrition.com/episode143/ To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 26, 20173 min

Creatine: Far More Than a Performance Enhancer | Mastering Nutrition #48

Creatine, best known for its ability to build muscle and enhance athletic performance, is also critical for digestion, mental health, protecting your hearing, and keeping your skin vibrant and youthful. From among the various options for creatine supplementation, I recommend Optimized Nutrition micronized creatine powder. If you are using creatine while traveling, try Optimized Nutrition creatine caps. Click here for the only searchable database of the creatine content of foods on the internet. It has over 140 entries! This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. I use their beef sticks as a convenient yet nutritious snack. They are made from 100% grass-fed beef and preserved through traditional fermentation. The fermentation makes them more digestible and gives them a fresher mouthfeel and texture compared to most other meat snacks I've tried, which tend to be too dry for me to fully enjoy. They also have a grass-fed organ complex that contains a blend of liver, heart, kidney, and brain, all stuffed into gel caps for those who can't bring themselves to eat these incredibly nutritious meats with a fork. Head to paleovalley.com and enter the promo code masterjohn at checkout for 30% off your order. This is a huge savings available for only a limited time. You can get 30% off everything on the site, ordering as much as you want, but only for the duration of the next three podcast episodes. Check it out now to make sure you get your discount! This episode is brought to you by US Wellness Meats. I use their liverwurst as a convenient way to make a sustainable habit of eating a diversity of organ meats. They also have a milder braunschweiger and an even milder head cheese that gives you similar benefits, as well as a wide array of other meat products, all from animals raised on pasture. Head to grasslandbeef.com and enter promo code "Chris" at checkout to get a 15% discount on any order that is at least 7 pounds and is at least $75 after applying the discount but under 40 pounds (it can be 39.99 lbs, but not 40). You can use this discount code not once, but twice! Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/048-creatine-far-more-than-a-performance Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 21, 20171h 33m

Get Better Sleep With Glycine | Chris Masterjohn Lite #35

Do you have trouble sleeping, or wish you felt more rested and energized during the day? Glycine might be one of the best things you can try. It doesn't just have a calming effect, but it improves sleep quality and can make you feel more rested even on the same amount of sleep. In this episode, I discuss how to use glycine for better sleep and why you should consider both free glycine and hydrolyzed collagen. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 13, 20174 min

This is the Bloodwork You Should Get for MTHFR | Chris Masterjohn Lite #34

Is what you're doing for MTHFR working? How would you know? In this episode I cover the most important blood work to get to make sure what you're doing is working. I cover the importance of homocysteine, how to interpret glycine and sarcosine levels on a plasma amino acids test, the difference between measuring serum or plasma folate and measuring red blood cell folate, and more. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 11, 20178 min

What to Do About MTHFR | Chris Masterjohn Lite #33

Got MTHFR? I got you: here's what you can do with nutrition to optimize for your genetics. MTHFR mutations increase your need for choline and glycine. It's key to get methylfolate in your diet, but high-dose methylfolate supplements are not the solution. You need to boost choline as an alternative supply of methyl groups, and creatine supplementation can help you better conserve your methylfolate by reducing the need to use it. This is important because adequate methylfolate preserves glycine and prevents it from being lost. Too little protein hurts methylation, but too much worsens the loss of glycine, so you need to hit the Goldilocks amount. Finally, you need to get more glycine to make up for whatever you're losing. In this episode, I explain how to use food and supplements to make all this work in your favor. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 6, 20178 min

How to Know If You Need to Care About Your MTHFR | Chris Masterjohn Lite #32

Should you care about your MTHFR? Here's how to find out your MTHFR genetic status and know how it affects you. MTHFR is an enzyme that allows folate, or vitamin B9, to support a process known as methylation. Methylation is important to mental health, cardiovascular health, sports performance, and preventing cancer, just to name a few. In this episode, I show you how to find your MTHFR genetic status. I also discuss how the various different genetic combinations impact you and how you can leverage that information to determine how strictly you should follow the dietary recommendations I'll outline in the next episode. To order a StrateGene report while kicking a small commission my way at no extra cost to you, use this link: chrismasterjohnphd.com/strategene I appreciate the support! The audio of this episode was generously enhanced and post-processed by Bob Davodian of Taurean mixing. You can find more of his work at taureanonlinemixing.com. To get these episodes free of ads, with transcripts, and weeks or sometimes even months before they are released to the public, along with access to monthly live Q&A sessions, sign up for the CMJ Masterpass at https://chrismasterjohnphd.com/masterpass. Use the code LITE10 to get 10% off. To make it easier to get the discount, use this link, which has the coupon already activated: https://masterpass.chrismasterjohnphd.com/cmj-masterpass/2200/buy?coupon=LITE10 Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Dec 4, 20178 min

Are You Coming to Wise Traditions?

Are you coming to Wise Traditions 2017? It's in Minneapolis, with some pregame events beginning on Thursday November 9th and the main conference running from Friday, November 10th through Monday, November 13th. I'm excited to see friends like Ben Greenfield and Laura Schoenfeld, to meet many other people I know only through the internet, and to spend some face-to-face time with lots of people who share traditional diets as a common interest. I'll be giving two talks, plus teaching an all-day interactive course on measuring and managing nutritional status. Here's what I'm doing: On Saturday, I'll be giving a talk on the role of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals in achieving an optimal hormonal balance. On Sunday, I'll be giving a talk "Methylate Your Way to Mental Health: Beyond Folate and B12 Supplements." On Monday, I'll be teaching an all-day interactive course called "Measuring and Managing Nutritional Status Masterclass." To register for the conference, go here. Please note that the Monday class on managing nutritional status comes separately. When you sign up, look for the "Monday Event Registration" header on the form, and change the dropdown menu from "No Monday Event Selected" to "Chris Masterjohn (includes lunch)." The Masterclass will take each of the essential nutrients, and cover both the "what" and the "why" behind the signs and symptoms of deficiency, the distribution in the diet, and the lab work used to assess nutritional status. It will consist of 10-15 minute chunks of lecture interspersed with questions that I'll give you. You'll vote on the answers with an app on your mobile device or laptop and we'll look at how people respond (anonymously in aggregate), often using the responses as a basis for discussion. You will have numerous opportunities to ask me questions about what we cover through the class and a more free-for-all-style opportunity to ask me anything at the end. Sound great? Register here! Register for Wise Traditions, 2017 Hope to see you there, Chris Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Nov 4, 20174 min

How We Make Ketones | MWM Energy Metabolism Cliff Notes #32

In conditions of glucose deprivation, such as fasting or carbohydrate restriction, ketogenesis serves to reduce our needs for glucose. This reduces the need to engage in the energetically wasteful process of gluconeogenesis, which would otherwise be extremely taxing on our skeletal muscle if dietary protein were inadequate. Ketogenesis mainly occurs in the liver. The biochemical event that leads to ketogenesis is an accumulation of acetyl CoA that cannot enter the citric acid cycle because it exceeds the supply of oxaloacetate. The set of physiological conditions that provoke this biochemical event are as follows: free fatty acids from adipose tissue reach the liver, providing the energy needed for gluconeogenesis as well as a large excess of acetyl CoA. Oxaloacetate, with the help of the energy provided by free fatty acids, leaves the citric acid cycle for gluconeogenesis. These events increase the ratio of acetyl CoA to oxaloacetate, which leads to the accumulation of acetyl CoA that cannot enter the citric acid cycle and therefore enter the ketogenic pathway. This pathway results in the production of acetoacetate, a ketoacid. Acetoacetate can then be reduced to beta-hydroxybutyrate, a hydroxyacid, in a manner analogous to the reduction of pyruvate, a ketoacid, to lactate, a hydroxyacid. Acetoacetate is an unstable beta-ketoacid just like oxalosuccinate (covered in lesson 6) and can also spontaneously decarboxylate to form acetone, a simple ketone that is extremely volatile and can evaporate through the lungs, causing ketone breath. This lesson covers the basic mechanisms of ketogenesis and sets the ground for the forthcoming lesson on the benefits and drawbacks of ketogenesis in various contexts. Click here for the full lesson. Sign up for MWM Pro for early access to content, enhanced keyword searching, self-pacing tools, downloadable audio and transcripts, a rich array of hyperlinked further reading suggestions, and a community with a forum for each lesson. Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.

Oct 10, 201710 min