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Cool Things for 2/5/2021

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Here are a few cool things I thought you might find interesting.

The recommendation of how much someone should drink is subject to a broad range of scenarios—like the aforementioned illness, heat, or exercise. The individual scenario—as is the case with most recommendations—is the determining factor. By the same token, the body is generally highly attuned to both dehydration and overhydration. But what is certain is that applying the 8 x 8 rule to the general public is simply not supported by scientific data.

– Dr. Peter Attia
  • What Are the Different Stages of Fasting (Heathline article) – The four phases in the fasting cycle are the fed state, early fasting state, fasting state, and long-term fasting state (starvation state). This article gives a nice overview of each stage.
  • 10 Graphs that Show the Immense Power of Creatine (Healthline article) – Creatine is one of the few supplements I take consistently EVERY DAY. 5g. It is one of the most researched supplements and this article shows you exactly why it should be part of your supplement routine. From athletic performance to cognitive, it covers the gamut of health benefits. I like Thorne Research Creatine which is the exact brand Healthline recommends as the best overall brand. You can purchase it here and get 15% off with code VIP15.
  • Onnit, one of my favorite high-performance company’s is offering free samples of a few of there top-selling products. Just pay S&H.
    • Total Human, a convenient day and night pack – complete with essential vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids to make optimization easy.
    • Alpha BRAIN, a nootropic designed to support cognitive functions, including memory, mental speed, and focus.
    • Shroom Tech Sport, designed to help the body with cellular energy and cardiovascular endurance
    • New MOOD, great for unwinding after a long day at work, or helping to support a normal daily stress response (like a deep breath and a smile in a bottle)
    • Total Hemp, great for daily stress support, joint health, memory, and cognition

Part 5 Recovery Series: Become Harder to Kill with Movement & Exercise

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deadlift max

I mentioned in Part 1 of my RECOVERY series that I had been hospitalized for 14 days and had thoracic surgery. In my RECOVERY series, I layout my blueprint for accelerating recovery and coming back stronger from a setback.

Movement and physical activity had a big part in my speedy recovery.

Not only does movement help maintain muscle and keep the body strong, it’s essential to keep the lymph system flowing which helps with the detox process.

Needless to say, maintaining an active day (and “active ” was very relative to my current circumstances) was important. I approached my movement and activity in three progressive phases which can be used by anyone wanting to get into strength training or just looking for a good workout routine:

  1. Walking…a lot.
  2. Movement basics…mobility, body weight exercises and natural movements
  3. Strength training
  4. Used sauna

I had been regularly exercising prior to all of this so starting back to the basics was very humbling but very important.

[Read more…]

The Ultimate Guide to Decaf Coffee: Using it to Improve Health & Performance and Choosing the Best Decaf

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Many people are dependent on their coffee and don’t even know it. They rely on and look forward to that ‘kick’ first thing in the morning. Or you might be one of those that experience unpleasant physical and mental symptoms from caffeine, including anxiety, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, stomach pain, and bladder irritation.

Most people don’t even consider replacing regular coffee with decaf, even for a short period of time because most decafs taste bad and may harm your health because of the potentially dangerous chemicals they use to process it.

In fact, most commercial decaf coffees use Methylene Chloride or Ethyl Acetate in their decaffeination process. Ethyl Acetate is commonly also used in glues, nail polish removers. Methylene chloride is so harmful that it was even banned to be used in paint thinners. The FDA has approved the chemical to be non-toxic to consume in accepted levels.

Although most of us will not be imminently affected by methylene chloride, those who are vulnerable include pregnant moms, the elderly, and those with heart complications. You can see the issue here as those groups are usually decaf drinkers. This harsh chemical used in most decaf coffees can be passed on from the mother to the baby which can cause serious damage even if it is a small amount of methylene chloride. 

Finding the right decaf that tastes good, makes you feel good and is good for you can be a complete game changer.

You can enjoy decaf coffee and still drink regular strategically to get the most out of it.

WHY DRINK DECAF

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Fire & Ice – The Tastiest & Healthiest Cocktail using The Rock’s Teremana Tequila (plus, How to Avoid a Hangover)

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fire-and-ice

I rarely drink more than a glass of wine or beer each week.

But I occasionally indulge in a little more. And when I do, I make sure it’s as healthy for me as possible and take a few extra precautions to ensure I don’t get a hangover and minimize the damaging effects of alcohol.

I want to share a highly classified recipe that I have been refining over the past ten years. I’ve received a lot of compliments on it, most people not even realizing its health benefits.

I call it Fire & Ice.

It’s a great sipping drink and offers an array of flavors: salty, bitter, sour, tart, smoky, and heat. Honestly, one drink will probably be enough (it’s strong but your would never know because of the burst of flavors). 

You’ll notice that I don’t include any sweeteners. Sugar, even agave, can have a negative effect on your blood sugar and also contribute to a hangover.

And I’ve recently perfected it by adding Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s tequila, Teremana (aka “The Magic”).

I created Teremana with the soul purpose to bring people together.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

Fire & Ice is best enjoyed with friends and family.

Ingredients

Instructions & Health Benefits

ingredients

Step 1: Add tequila, lime juice, mint, a few slices of jalapeño (seeds if you want it extra HOT) and jalapeño sea salt into a shaker.

teremana- tequila

Teremana Tequila “The Magic” – 3 oz. (or more)

Tequila is a very clean burning alcohol. It comes from agave and is gluten and starch free. The fermentation process removes sugar, then it’s distilled and filtered leaving only alcohol. 

Teremana is reasonably priced and very smooth. I just wish it had a worm for extra protein! 

Crafted in a small Mexican town, amidst the highest peaks of the Jalisco Highland mountains, every step of our tequila making process is meticulously done the right way at Distileria Teremana de Agave. The jimadores harvest fully mature naturally sweet agave, we then slow roast them in small traditional brick ovens, and distill in handmade copper pot stills. This creates a bright flavorful tequila that honors the land it comes from. In life we care about the things that have deep meaning to us - family, friends, work, good times and the not so good times. Our tequila is no different. TEREMANA combines two words that are meaningful. 'TERE' derived from the Latin 'terra' meaning earth and 'MANA', the Polynesian word meaning spirit - Teremana is the "Spirit of the Earth".

Teremana website

The Rock recommends adding spirits last in case you screw up so you don’t have to waste The Magic. But even if I messed up, I would still drink it.

mint

Fresh Mint – Handful

Offers more than a pleasing aroma and flavor, mint is considered an aid in digestion by providing calm to muscles of the stomach and intestine. Nutritionally, peppermint is a good source of vitamins A and C, along with manganese, and copper.

Fresh Lime Juice – 2-3 oz.

Adding citrus to drinks blunts the insulin response of alcohol and also adds a boost of vitamin C.

Jalapeño – A few slices (include seeds if you live on the wild side)

Contains capsaicin  which can melt away unwanted body fat and boosts resting rate of metabolism.

hot-salt

Jalapeño Sea Salt – A small pinch (optional)

Adds a little extra saltiness and heat plus minerals from the sea salt help maintain your hydration.

Step 2: Muddle, add ice and then do the sexy shake.

Step 3: Salt the glass rim by rounding the rim with a sliced lime and then rolling the rim in the smokey salt.

smokey-salt

Alderwood Smoked Sea Salt – Rim glass

Adds a nice smokey flavor plus the sea salt adds additional minerals to maintain your hydration.

Step 4: Pour over crushed ice.

Step 5: Add 1-2 oz. (or more) of coconut water.

coconut-water
 
Contains electrolytes which help fight off the potential hangover . 🙂 I like the chucks of pulp in Taste Nirvana. Avoid if you’re on a keto diet or strictly avoiding sugar.

Step 6: Add 3-4 squirts of bitters

Bitters-No9

Dr. Shade’s Bitters No. 9 – 3-4 squirts

Bitters help to digest any food consumed while also enhancing the insulin response to your meal, thereby lowering your blood sugar. Bitters No. 9 is a blend of nine bitter herbs and essential oils, all known to help activate bitter receptors and to be able to support bile flow and healthy digestion. Supporting healthy bile flow may support detoxification and elimination, which is important when drinking alcohol. It’s the only bitters I could find with clean ingredients. I add it to all of my evening drinks.

Step 6: Stir lightly.

Step 7: Add a splash of mineral water.

mineral-water

Mineral Water (I like S. Pellegrino or TopoChico) – A splash

Carbonation of the mineral water delivers ethanol to your blood quicker which means you can drink less and get the same buzz. Less drinks equals better sleep. The mineral water also adds additional minerals to maintain hydration (hydration is important!).

Step 8: Garnish with a jalapeño, lime slice and mint leaf.

Step 9: Raise your glass to a Fire & Ice toast

Cheers and enjoy!

Supplements to Prevent Negative Effects of Alcohol

CoQ10

CoQ10 + Vitamin C from the lime lowers liver aldehyde, the most damaging, aging. and wrinkle causing part of drinking alcohol. Take prior to drinking.

Zero Hour Detox delivers a potent, high-absorption dose of glutathione, your body’s master antioxidant. Glutathione helps support liver detox and plays a role in the detoxification of heavy metals and other harmful substance like alcohol. Zero Hour Detox should be taken through your drinking experience.

Zero Hour Detox

NAC: (N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has the ability to boost glutathione and counteract the effects of alcohol. NAC supplementation can help “pre-tox” your body when taken before alcohol, thereby minimizing the damage associated with alcohol consumption and reducing the acetaldehyde toxicity that causes many hangover symptoms. Take at least 200 mg 30 minutes before drinking.

I recommend Thorne Research NAC. 

Cheers and enjoy!

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Part 4 Recovery Series: Supplements to Heal the Gut, Accelerate Wound Healing, Counteract Radiation Damage & Detox

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I mentioned in Part 1 of my RECOVERY series that I had been hospitalized for 14 days and had thoracic surgery. In this series, I layout my blueprint for accelerating recovery and coming back stronger from a setback.

In Part 3 of my RECOVERY SERIES, I went over the food I consumed to help bounce back faster. But food alone wasn’t enough. Yes, there are A LOT of supplements listed below but keep in mind, my body went through a lot. It required many additional nutrients above and beyond what I could get from whole food alone – I needed concentrated doses of certain nutrients.

Now, you don’t have to go all in and get every supplement on this list. But review the list and decide what goals you’re trying to achieve and use that to make a decision with what you should use.

Here’s what my supplement routine looked like for 60 days following my surgery and hospital stay:

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