Exploring Smart Drugs, Fasting, and Fat Loss — Dr. Rhonda Patrick (#237)

Hi Tim,

First off, thank you for all of your amazing work you have given to us. It has life changing for me.

Secondly, I want to hear about your experience with prolonged fasting. Specifically, has it helped you recover from any of your chronic injuries? Can it help you regenerate connective tissue in your joints?

Thanks again,

Jarrod

In terms of most effective smart drugs, it is worth mentioning microdosing LSD and/or psilocybin mushrooms. Out of the many dozens of smart drugs available to us, microdoses of psychedelics are a leading candidate in efficacy and utility.

Rhonda:

What are your thoughts on microdosing, specifically with mushrooms? As you mentioned in the podcast, humans co-evolved with nutrition, not ‘smart drugs’, meaning nutrition is a better bet long term for improving mental efficacy.

However, it is likely humans have eaten mushrooms – and even psilocybin-

containing mushrooms – for thousands, if not tens-of-thousands, of years.

Tim:

If possible, I’d like to talk further with you about the work I’m doing. I’m formally working with Jim Fadiman on various microdosing related projects, acting as a public voice for education on microdosing psychedelic substances. I’ve done seminars in a dozen cities, speaking to 300-400 people at times. I always mention your work, how it influenced my ability to create independence (and thus, do public psychedelic advocacy), and can’t thank you enough for the work you’re currently doing in spreading awareness about these medicines.

This podcast from Dr Rhonda Patrick is packed with valuable information, but it is going so fast I could not keep up, my recommendation would be so that the majority of people can get the full benefit of this life changing information, please create a transcript.

Dr. OCD

Yet I listened to the whole thing and took tons of notes.

Just read 5 Bullet Friday. I’m curious about the comment that you do not need deodorant because of a well regulated diet. I’ve not listened to this (the newest) podcast yet but I have been listening to your podcast for years now. I must have missed that in previous health-focused podcasts. Can expound on an upcoming pod or direct me to the podcast that discusses the relationship between diet and body odor. Thank you!

Dr. Rhonda Patrick is incredible. She speaks fast but there is so much to say on that subject, fascinating really. She explain things so well. Even if you have no idea what an mTOR protein is you’ll get it. I always find it strange that most people are extremely interested in technology but have so very little interest about their own body. I could just listen to it over and over. If you can’t follow her do your homework. Expanding your understanding of anything take efforts and it is so easy to fall in the ego trap of ‘I can’t keep up this is too much for me’. We have ONE body for this lifetime. Some like to rely on a mechanic to fix their car when it’s broken – I’d rather learn how it works and give it proper care and be proactive than being passive and react to issues as they occur. Sustainable health is when you take full responsibility of yourself and spend time understanding how your body works. Intellectual laziness is easy. Researching is hard. No pain no gain. Thank you for this. I thought I was knowledgable but it turns out I have a lot of work to do. Darn it. lol. Humbling.

Complete prerecorded evidenceless monologue. Unfortunately because this not an interview it comes across as one hour opinion piece and makes it impossible to use any advice given reliably.

Awesome, listening to it for the third time-good stuff!

The “Crystal Body Deodorant Stick” in your 5/5 5 bullet Friday is alum crystal which is also useful for stemming bleeding from shaving nicks.

Great recommendations Dr. Patrick!

Thank you for providing show notes Tim. The speed of delivery was a bit fast otherwise really enjoyed the episode.

I love this podcast and speak very highly of it. This was so painful that I couldn’t get past even a couple minutes. She’s clearly reading. Please never do this again.

Rhonda / Tim,

Great info…so much info…mind blown.

Quick question around your recommendation to “do whatever it takes to triple vegetable consumption”….I’ll look into making your micronutrient smoothie, but would Athletic Greens or Vital Greens go a long way to addressing this too?

I have been substantial experimenting with Sulphoraphane since 2003 and was so glad Dr.Rhonda covered her own use of the compound found in broccoli sprouts. However, maybe due to time constraint, she forgot to mention an important fact about sulphoraohane – being a sulfur compound, it does a deep work of detox in the liver, bringing detox symptoms that may be quite uncomfortable in the first few days of taking sulphoraphane extract. A slow start is crucial. Also in the first few weeks of taking sulphoraphane extract, one needs to make sure that there is sufficient bowel movements, deep breathing, skin brushing etc. Sulphoraphane will clear toxins out of the liver but the body needs to eliminate these toxins through the skin, digestive system and respiratory system. If the broccoli sprouts are eaten as she mention, the body is more attuned to the detox process and it will be hard to overdose at first. The broccoli sprouts are ‘hot’, sulphur being a fire element and the excess heat from high dosage will create a natural ‘repelling’ effect and tame down the desire to consume too many of it. A slow steady increase is the best approach, with an emphasis on supporting the various elimination processes in the first few weeks of usage.

I am not a doctor, just a naturopath but this is what I have observed from years of using sulphoraphane. One last thing I would like to mention is the importance of ingesting raw fats like coconut oil, flax oil, avocados etc. while taking sulphoraphane. Sulphur is linked to fire. A surplus of fire will trigger a cascade of enzymatic responses in the body ranging from liver detox, increased performance of the immune system etc but might also imbalance the digestive system. An decent intake of fats consumed after taking the sulphoraphane will decrease the ‘fiery’ effect of the sulphur and balance the digestive system.

* Spirulina is a great source of vegetarian iron and does not contain phytates to inhibit its absorption.

So much of good information. Thank you very much for this amazing guest.

Absolutely phenomenal podcast with Dr.Patrick. She is amazing. I will need to listen to it again when I am not commuting to take notes, but I will also be frequenting her podcast. I LOVE that she can talk high level biochem and then bring it down to basic recommendations by the end. Tim, Keep up the awesome work. Also since I just recently found your podcast, I recently listened to Mr. Money Mustache, which I also found very informative.

Mind wasn’t blown – just expanded so much that telomeres lengthened out my nose and ears like spaghetti worms.

A bit confused now! I have been following RP’s advice of time restricted eating to within a 9 hour window for the last six months or so (find it quite easy and going well) however I work a random schedule and normally wind back 9 hours from when I know I’ll be able to eat at night and use that as a guide as when to start each day.

Am I hearing right that I should just be eating upon waking and starting the time restriction then to gain maximum benefits? Seems to contradict what is in Tools of Titans….

Any advice appreciated 🙂

This podcast was phenomenal! Thank you so much Tim and Dr. Patrick! I completely agree that this needs a transcript–it’s certainly a lot to digest in one sitting.

Tim, Rhonda,

Do you have any research on health benefits of ofuro – Japanese bath? Is it comparable with sauna?

that was a content-rich podcast! Thanks Tim for consistently delivering highest-quality material.

One short question for those out there with some biochemistry background: frozen veggies are better than none. But which ones are OK’ish to consume frozen and which ones really need to fresh?

have a great weekend and enjoy your “faturday” 🙂

Wow.

Dr. Patrick had some really great information here, but it was almost like playing Catch the Leaf in the Hurricane. I’ve never heard another human being talk so fast for so long. I agree with several others in that I think a full transcript would be a wonderful addition.

Just finished the episode…. Aaaaaaaaand I’m going out the door to buy kale.

I am so sorry but this format doesn’t work, the spark in the show is your honest banter with the guest. Dr Rhonda just packed way way too much information in per sentence that it wasn’t enjoyable to listen to. This is a real shame as she clearly is a very knowledgeable person and kind to share her learnings. If I had half of one hundredth of her knowledge base I would be proud as punch, but on this podcast I tuned out fast, which is my loss.

Rhonda Patrick is amazing, been following her content for over a year. BUT the 2.5 audio essay has an overwhelming amount of info in it. It almost feels paralysing how much in depth info she’s throwing at the listener. The info is that much harder to absorb because she’s reading off a piece of paper and it seem’s very robotic. If we could PLEASE get the transcript she was reading off that would be amazing.

On sulfuraphane and Nrf2 activation, note it’s not all positive…. Check the literature “Nrf2 inactivation enhances placental angiogenesis in a preeclampsia mouse model and improves maternal and fetal outcomes”

ie. turning off Nrf2 enhances outcomes for fetuses!

“These results indicate that ROS are necessary for the placental angiogenesis that reduces the risk of preeclampsia, and help to explain the negative results of the clinical trials of antioxidants.”

This is MIND BLOWING! I am a transformational nutrition coach and am doing/recommending a lot of what Rhonda says. It is solid advice and I learnt a lot. Love it! PS. Transcript would be great indeed. Thank you

WOW – what an episode! Normally listen on 2x speed, but had to slow down to 1x and take notes. So much to take in!

I’ve recently started intermittent fasting, using the 16/8 method (usually fasting from 8pm till midday), but I’ve been having some peppermint tea with coconut oil upon waking – this quells my hunger, and (I thought) was prepping my metabolism to use fat as its primary energy source rather than glucose, but after listening to this episode, it’s got me thinking whether I’m doing the right thing or not.

Should I be *strictly* fasting (nothing but water) for those 16 hours to get maximum benefit, or am I OK to “cheat” and take the Coconut Oil with peppermint tea? Especially after hearing Art De Vany’s views on Coconut Oil!

(my primary goal is fat loss, but also interested in cell regeneration benefits too!)