Optimal Performance

By now, you know that our brains and bodies can run on various fuel sources. No longer confined to run on glucose, we know that FAT is not only an effective fuel source, but often preferred for high performance. But what if you've never been fat adapted? What if you're yet to take that plunge to re-program your metabolism, give us sugar and get yourself into ketosis.? What if you've never measured your blood ketones, but are are curious about the wonderful world of ketone esters, ketone salts and (of course) optimal performance. Exogenous ketones my friends. Exogenous ketones. I've been eating for ketosis about 80/20 for about 2.5 years. Meaning, most of my meals are keto-friendly, high fat, moderate protein, low carb. I have a cheat day though, sometimes two. But, after trying exogenous ketones twice in one week, I can tell you, there's a shortcut. My first test with Ketoneaid went like this: Woke up, opted for black coffee instead of my daily butter coffee (upon suggestion), skipped breakfast as well as my typical Natural Stack supplements: Krill, D3, Curcumin, Vit C, Ciltep, MycoImmune, MycoMind. Then around 930am, I tested my blood ketones and they read .4. Mind you, the standard fat-burning ketosis range starts at .5 - but it was the day after the superbowl and I watched at Ben's house...and his lady Deana made these ridiculous chocolate chip cookies (I had 3). After my first blood test reading of .4 - I chugged the 30 grams of Ketoneaid. Within 20 min I was in full ketosis. Frank Llosa is the founder and CEO of KetoneAid - the same ketone ester company that raised over $150,000 on Indiegogo to continue research on their ketone ester product. They had so many people pre-order the product, that they had to stop the offer. YOU COULD SAY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED. Frank is an interesting and energetic guy. I had a great time talking with him. He got into the wide world of ketones after his wife's godfather - the creator of the exogenous ketone Dr. Richard Veech tapped him on the shoulder. Our conversation ranges from both the very technical, to the standard operating procedures when taking exogenous ketones. Here's some highlights: There are some key differences between salts and esters. They are the same in that they are both beta hydroxybutyrate, but ketone salts are bonded with salts and ingested (and to get an effect you have to eat half a salt shaker to see the increase - whereas ketone esters are bonded with 1 3 butanediol which is an organic alcohol. With effective ketone esters like Ketoneaid, there is a point of diminishing returns. You can actually get too much energy, which may be wasted if you're not burning energy for performance. You can take Ketoneaid for mental performance (which I did) or for physical performance. Frank suggests that consumer grade ketone esters like Ketoneaid will be available at convenience stores at some point in the near future, as a healthier option to energy drinks. If you're used to ketosis. As in, if your baseline is a ketogenic state, then you may not benefit or notice the effect of the exogenous ketones. We said in the podcast "You can't be in more flow then then flow." Back to my first exogenous ketone ester experience. I tested my blood ketones 20 min after drinking the 30gram bottle of Ketoneaid - and they had jumped from .4 to 2.9. That's full ketosis. I tested 20 min later and again got 2.9, then I kept working and did another test at 60 min and it registered at 3.2. My cognitive speed noticeably increased, as well as my vocabulary. I was able to focus faster and more clearly almost immediately. I liked the energy boost as well. Energy without jitters. After talking with Frank a little more about baselines, he suggested that I do another test, but take the same standard vitamin/nootropic stack i usually do. So, about a week later I took another 30 gram test, on top of my daily stacks. At 930am I tested my blood ketones beforehand again, and I was at .5. Then I drank another 30 grams of Ketoneaid and tested after 20 min. They had jumped to 3.4! Also, my immune system had been tested all week by a cold that both my kids and wife had been working through. I was holding out, and at the day of my second test, I woke up with a bit of dryness in the sinuses and a little brain fog...not bad, but noticeable. I was actually pretty interested in seeing what effect, if any the Ketoneaid had on my incoming cold symptoms. After a second post-drink test, I was at 4.2 (well within the ideal range of ketosis). This day wasn't a big cognitive load day, instead, my family was headed to the beach to walk and built driftwood forts. But, after driving about 15 minutes I felt like the pressure mounting in my sinuses and brain fog had lifted noticeably and I actually mentioned to my wife that i felt much better. I didn't test again that day, but I did notice a few things: My bourgeoning cold symptoms suppressed. Whether that's my own badass immune system or the MycoImmune or what, I don't know. But, I didn't get sick. I felt a mood increase, a brain speed increase, and even a slight increase in my wit. At least I thought I was funnier my wife and kids may not :). I felt a natural energetic increase. Despite feeling the start of a start of a cold, the symptoms decreased and really dissipated over the next 24 hours. I didn't experience a drop off or anything like that. Perhaps it was the 3pm cup of tea I had while conversing with my folks at their house, but I didn't get tired until my typical repose around 915pm. This was my first experience with Ketoneaid, or any other sort of ketone ester. I like it. I can absolutely see why it's getting these really exceptional results for people. Of course, I took the mind protocol, which Frank explained to me in an email. But the other protocol is for performance and I can clearly see how it's effective in that respect. I'd do it again for sure. And since it sounds like the goal is to make it available at convenience stores everywhere (but probably health food stores and amazon before that), it sounds like everyone will have the chance to try it. I don't know of any research that says exogenous ketone esters are harmful. I think it's really really early in the process to try and understand how all of this works, the effects and it's uses. But I dig the stuff. Follow Frank Llosa LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/FrankLlosaOPP Follow Sean McCormickInstagram: http://bit.ly/OPPMacTwitter: http://bit.ly/OPPMacTwitter Follow Natural StacksTwitter: http://bit.ly/NsTwitterInstagram: http://bit.ly/NsInstagram Facebook: http://bit.ly/NsFacebook Shop Natural StacksShop: http://bit.ly/OPPShop

Lots of exciting content in this episode of the OPP. We sit down with Natural Stacks co-founder Roy Krebs. Tons of exciting announcements and chances to win cool stuff! We're really excited to give you a chance to win a Concept 2 Rower! We're always looking to hook you guys up stuff you'll love. Enter here. CILTEP Studies coming soon -2 large scale, double-bling placebo controls with two groups healthy adults, and healthy elderly. Of course, these are top notch University studies instead of a Contract Research Organization (which many other supplement companies use) which leave room for manipulation. NEW PRODUCTS FOR 2018 -Ciltep to-go pack! Take it with you when you travel. No-brainer. -This March we're releasing a drink! Won't say which product though (wink) - Targeted probiotic products for memory, focus and sleep. Roy is developing a probiotic supplement which will be for specific optimization. Studies are showing that specific strains help specific areas and Roy is working to optimize probiotics. - Better Blue Blocker Glasses - along with an eye health supplement sold as a stack NEW CONTENT FOR 2018 -We'll be looking at developing some online courses in collaboration with the NS Board of Directors - who are experts in nutrition, brain training and the body. -OPP as a whole, will continue to evolve and focus on useable, accessible content that everyone can use. -We may be reaching out to you to hear your story and potentially have you on the podcast to share your journey with everyone. Roy is a master innovator as you probably already know, so it should come as no surprise that he's working on a dozen projects all at once. But the best part about it - everything Roy develops is done with transparency, high ethics and accountability to the absolute best possible ingredients. As Roy mentioned, every batch of every product is tested and results posted online for you to see. As always, we want to hear from you. We want your feedback, reviews, thoughts and concerns. If you have a cool show idea - we want to hear it. If you have a cool story to tell - let us know. If you want to be an affiliate, email ben@naturalstacks.com Stay tuned folks, there's a lot more where this came from! Sean Follow Sean McCormick Instagram: http://bit.ly/OPPMac Twitter: http://bit.ly/OPPMacTwitter Follow Natural Stacks Twitter: http://bit.ly/NsTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NsInstagram Facebook: http://bit.ly/NsFacebook SHOP NATURAL STACKS Shop: http://bit.ly/OPPShop

I've done Ayahuasca around 25 times, but never with a shaman who was also a Western medical doctor. Until recently. Dr. Joe Tafur is a fascinating human being and author of a new book called The Fellowship of the River - A Medical Doctor's Exploration Into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine. Dr. Tafur and I dive into a deep conversation surrounding the power of psychedelic shamanism. Highlights: • How we need to take care of our emotional bodies in order to #liveoptimal • The interplay between western medicine an Amazonian Plant Medicine • Spiritual states, flow states and how optimal performance depends on our "soul health" • The emergence and importance of psychedelic research i.e. MAPS • The importance of spiritual healing in modern health care i.e. Modern Spirit • The difference between experimentation with psychedelics and entheogenic healing • The power of plant medicine retreats like the ones at Nihue Rao in Peru Lets take a step back though. What is Ayahuasca? Ayahuasca is a lot of things. It's a plant vine found in parts of Central and South America. It's sometimes called to the vine of souls, or spirit vine. It's one medicine in a vast array of plant medicines from the deep and ancient practice of traditional plant medicine. Think about it this way. Most of the compounds we take in our supplements are derived from plant sources. These plants are powerful additives to our diets and allow us to live and perform at higher levels. Ayahuasca is the same, but instead of the value resting solely on the chemical components, it's the visionary, transformative properties of the plant that have the effect. That, coupled with the skill of an experienced shaman, healer, is the basis of the amazonian plant medicine. Of course...it goes deeper than that. But what does all of this mean for you? A lot of us deal with varying levels of emotional distress. Depression is now the number one mental illness on the planet and depression has a high co-morbidity rate with anxiety (meaning they usually come hand in hand). And that's why Serotonin Brainfood is such a popular supplement. I know I prefer a natural open source supplement for improved well-being over some pharmaceutical with WHO KNOWS in it. But, beyond supplements there is deeper work we can do in order to live more optimally. Here are a few ways you can help nourish your emotional body • Connect in nature. GO OUTSIDE, sit by a tree, or take a forest bath. • Cultivate or connect with a community. • Take time to do simple things that connect your inner-self, floatation therapy, meditation, walks etc. And if you're in need of something stronger to get yourself back on track, take a look at a Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine. If anyone has questions about this work, or wants to pick my brain about it - email me - sean@naturalstacks.com Optimally, Sean McCormick Follow Dr. Joe Tafur http://bit.ly/docshaman Follow Sean McCormick Instagram: http://bit.ly/OPPMac Twitter: http://bit.ly/OPPMacTwitter Follow Natural Stacks Twitter: http://bit.ly/NsTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NsInstagram Facebook: http://bit.ly/NsFacebook SHOP NATURAL STACKS Shop: http://bit.ly/OPPShop

OPP host Sean McCormick has a ranging conversation with Stem Cell expert and Integrated Health Specialist Regan Archibald. Regan has had 7 therapeutic sessions of stem cell therapy himself and is an expert in it's wide ranging uses.

OPP 96 Guest Dr. Christine Rosche returns to talk gut permeability, stool testing and how leaky gut can lead to leaky brain and have a drastic effect on your whole body.

Craving The Truth author Chris Dufey

Perfect Keto founder Dr. Anthony Gustin on the integrative approach to Movement, Stress, Sleep and Nutrition for optimal health and performance. Dr. Gustin is a sports chiropractor who owns multiple businesses (Perfect Keto & Equip Foods) and can talk leadership and time management skills just as well as he can explain physiology and nutritional strategies. On this episode of the OPP, we talk about: The difference between a cyro and a sports cyro? Looking at things from a movement-based, integrated approach Fire-alarm going off in your house, you wouldn't ignore it Imagining does not equal intervention Foods that increase inflammation What you need to know about vegetable oils and food quality All tissue is made from the things you eat Problems he sees and how to scale his mission to the masses Have to let go of ego to grow As business owner you should be putting yourself out of business time and time again Purpose, vision, goal Transparency over all Educational company first Own your own health Keto is not a quality based diet If you look for average advice, you will be an average human Never use the exception to prove the rule Exogenous ketones, will they break your intermittent fast? Dr. Gustin's take on the Carnivore diet, Eat food that spoils

In theory, positive change isn't so difficult. The reality, as we all know, is a much different story. This week, we talk with Ari Banayan and Mikey Ahdoot, 2/3 of the founding team at Habit Nest to explore the neural connections involved in habits. We discuss the reasons change is so difficult, and what the research and their experience tells us about the best ways to help all of us take back our decisional authority over our every action so that we can actually realize the growth and self-improvement we all wish to see in our lives. We also talk about their latest project - The Greatest Gift - a gratitude journal experience inspired by Darren Hardy's The Compound Effect. Show Notes: Focus your attention Tracking and monitoring body for stress Self-awareness Maximize happiness on daily basis Lessons from Partners in Grind The Morning Sidekick Journal Helping enact actual behavior change Habits are neurological connections being strengthened The waterfall and dirt road analogies Be mindful of small decisions you make daily The Greatest Gift Become the ultimate storyteller Top 3 tips to live optimal Be grateful – your life is a blessing Experiment with breaking bad habits Remove the emotion of guilt from your life

Is Virtual Reality the Future of Fitness Devices & Fitness Tracking? That's exactly what we discuss with Wellovate founder Joe Morgan as we explore potential applications for their mixed reality health and wellness platform. A collaboration between 3 doctors, Wellovate is creating an innovative health and wellness experience that may change the way we see health and fitness, the way we track it, and the way our personal devices can integrate with clinician's software. On this episode, we talk to Dr. Joe Morgan about: Meet Wellovate and the doctors behind it The most important health metric to track How many steps a day do we really need? Why Dr. Morgan says "don't miss the simple stuff" General --> Customize --> Personalize The importance of making health goals relevant to our individual health risks and family history (See last week's podcast with Dr. Anthony for more on how to decode your DNA to discover individual health risks) How fitness trackers are moving toward more valid and useful devices A picture is worth a thousand words, but a 3 dimensional one is worth a million The "nerds that know they need to workout" Cheapest genetic test in existence is to ask your parents How Wellovate plans to disrupt health and wellness Keep it simple, you don't have time unless you make time and spend time with people that are healthy to your life Dr. Joe Morgan's Top 3 Tips to #LiveOptimal

This week on the OPP, we're decoding our genetics by analyzing 23&Me data with Dr. Anthony Jay. Author of Estrogeneration and a previous guest on the OPP (#97), Dr. Jay is back to talk Epigenetics by using our 23&Me data to look at our single nucleotide polymorphisms, or snips (SNP). These polymorphisms (not mutations), or DNA snips are the most common variations in our genes, playing a direct in the function of those genes and serving as biological markers for certain disease risks, among other health implications. Dr. Jay analyzes 23 & Me to investigate 3 key areas: detoxification, disease risk, and overall health. On this episode, Dr. Jay analyzes my DNA snips and you'll hear: How single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP or snips) occur and how scientists use them as biological markers What these DNA snips reveal about our disease risks and other epigenetic tendencies The 3 crucial areas Dr. Jay analyzes My results What our detox genes reveal about our affinity for adrenaline, our ability to clear medications and caffeine from our system, and why bad coffee is a real thing What we can learn about our genetic risk for certain diseases - especially Alzheimer's The exact genes and snips we need to looks at for this data The MTHFR gene, methylation and what you need to know about folic acid before you take another supplement Dr. Jay also reveals the genes that 23&Me stopped reporting and why this should cause concern The Top 3 Books Dr. Jay has read this year And more…