The Primal Shift

Your body already knows how to live to 120 in perfect health. It's just not doing it. That realization is what sent Dr. Chris Rhodes down the fasting research path during his PhD in nutritional biochemistry at UC Davis. His argument? Most people doing 16:8 intermittent fasting aren't getting nearly the benefits they think they are. The body doesn't flip into fasting mode until glycogen stores are depleted, which typically takes 20 to 24 hours. Autophagy, stem cell regeneration, and the real anti-inflammatory benefits don't peak until around 72 hours. In this episode, Dr. Rhodes, creator of Mimio – the world's first fasting mimetic supplement – explains what his team discovered when they tracked metabolites during 36-hour fasts in healthy subjects, as well as how they isolated four synergistic molecules that recreate fasting benefits at the cellular level. We also dig into something personal. Almost a year ago, I started supplementing with Mimio and tracked my biological age using TrueAge epigenetic testing before, during, and after. The result? My pace of aging slowed to 0.85 – meaning that for every calendar year, I'm only aging about 10 months biologically. Rhodes walks me through what the epigenetic markers actually mean, why some of my results seem contradictory on the surface, and why the phenotype matters more than the genotype when it comes to practical health decisions. We also get into why fasting can disrupt hormonal cycles through caloric restriction signaling, why elite athletes rarely have exceptional longevity despite peak fitness, and why combining actual fasting with Mimio may produce better results than either one alone. Try Mimio and get 20% off your first purchase with code MICHAELKUMMER: https://mimiohealth.sjv.io/qWzkOg About Chris Rhodes: Dr. Chris Rhodes, PhD, spent 8 years researching fasting at UC Davis before discovering that specific molecules produced during a fast can reduce inflammation, fight oxidative stress, and support metabolic health. That research led him to create Mimio, the world's first fasting mimetic supplement, backed by three clinical studies and designed to deliver measurable longevity benefits without changing your diet or lifestyle. Dr. Chris Rhodes on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thatnutritiondr Website: https://mimiohealth.com/ Learn more: 73: NAD Supplements That Actually Work: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/73-nad-supplements-that-actually-work/ 62: Biological Age Test Review: Epigenetics Explained Simply | Hannah Went: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/62-biological-age-test-review-epigenetics-explained-simply-hannah-went/ 63: HbA1c Levels Explained: Why They May Be High Without High Blood Sugar: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/63-hba1c-levels-explained-why-they-may-be-high-without-high-blood-sugar/ Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Apollo Neuro! Apollo is a wearable that uses gentle sound wave vibrations to signal safety to your nervous system, helping you feel calmer, more focused, and less reactive throughout the day. Check out my full Apollo review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/apollo-neuro-review/ Get $60 off with my discount code PRIMALSHIFT: https://michaelkummer.com/go/apolloneuro In this episode: 00:00 Fasting mimetic breakthrough 02:25 Experiment setup TrueAge 04:13 Why fasting extends life 06:14 How long to fast 09:11 Fasting risks and hormones 13:59 Longevity versus performance 18:02 Mimio [How it works] 20:39 Clinical results and trials 24:17 TrueAge report walkthrough 32:57 Immune markers vs feeling healthy 36:45 Can you change epigenetics 39:45 Pace of aging results 45:04 Hormetic stress and inflammation 50:11 Food and postprandial inflammation 57:05 Wrap up Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health. [Affiliate Disclaimer] I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code. #Mimio #Longevity

Most people who start an animal-based diet assume the goal is to eliminate every plant from the plate. I get it: when you've spent years being told kale is a superfood and you finally learn it's loaded with oxalates and goitrogens, the pendulum swings hard. It did for me. But the blanket "plants are bad" framing leaves a lot on the table. Plants aren't health foods. They don't want to be eaten, and they evolved with chemical defenses to discourage exactly that. Our dietary foundation at the Kummer household remains meat, organs, eggs, dairy and bone broth, and most of our calories come from animal sources. The question is whether certain plants, chosen carefully and prepared properly, can earn a supporting role. In this episode, I lay out a practical four-tier framework for thinking about plants on an animal-based diet: which ones you can eat freely, which work in moderation, which to approach with caution, and which to leave behind entirely. Ripe, low-seed fruits like berries, avocados, olives and coconut sit at the top of the list. They have minimal toxin load, and in the case of sweet fruit, the plant actually wants you to eat it. Peeled and deseeded vegetables like squash and zucchini come next, since removing the skin and seeds removes most of the antinutrient burden. Tubers can work well when peeled, cooked, and ideally fermented — we do ours in a 2.5% saline solution for a few days, which lowers both the glycemic index and the antinutrient count. On the other end, kale, spinach and chard are some of the worst offenders. Their oxalate levels are high, and unlike most other antinutrients, oxalates can't be reduced through any known preparation method. Grains are similarly problematic, though properly fermented sourdough — made at home over several days — can degrade a significant portion of the gluten and phytates. Where a plant lands in those tiers depends on its antinutrient concentration, whether preparation can neutralize the worst offenders, your individual gut and metabolic health, and how much you're eating and how often. I can have sourdough once a week without noticing anything negative. But if I eat it every day, I definitely notice. Peppers I tolerate surprisingly well. Raw dairy — which most animal-based influencers swear by — I can't do at all. My skin breaks out, I get bloated, and my body odor changes. Cut out dairy and I don't need deodorant. The question isn't whether to eat plants or not — it's which ones, how much, and how prepared. Plants play a supporting role, and you tier your choices by toxin load, preparation, and how your own body responds. Learn More: My Animal-Based Food List (Free Download): https://michaelkummer.com/food-list/ MEAT vs. PLANTS (What's Better for Your Health?): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqKzO_PkD-k&utm Plants vs. Meat: Why I Stopped Eating Veggies: https://michaelkummer.com/plants-vs-meat 99: Plants vs Animals: Why Meat Beats Plants for Nutrition: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/99-plants-vs-animals-why-meat-beats-plants-for-nutrition 49: From Almonds to Spinach: Dr. Schindler on Avoiding Common Dietary Traps: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/49-from-almonds-to-spinach-dr-schindler-on-avoiding-common-dietary-traps/ Thank you to this episode's sponsor, Peluva! Peluva makes minimalist shoes to support optimal foot, back and joint health. I started wearing Peluvas several months ago, and I haven't worn regular shoes since. I encourage you to consider trading your sneakers or training shoes for a pair of Peluvas, and then watch the health of your feet and lower back improve while reducing your risk of injury. To learn more about why I love Peluva barefoot shoes, check out my in-depth review: https://michaelkummer.com/health/peluva-review/ And use code MICHAEL to get 10% off your first pair: https://michaelkummer.com/go/peluva In this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:53 Why plants fight back 04:54 Four-tier plant spectrum 09:04 Best picks: Sweet fruits 12:34 Peeled veggies and sides 13:33 Tubers, rice, and mushrooms 16:24 Leafy greens to avoid 18:40 Nightshades and tolerance 20:33 Grains, legumes, and nuts 24:37 Prep methods that help 29:09 Personal testing protocol 31:34 Wrap-up: framework recap Find me on social media for more health and wellness content: Website: https://michaelkummer.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichaelKummer Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalshiftpodcast/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/ [Medical Disclaimer] The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or ov