Should you be more concerned about overall fat intake or saturated fat intake with familial hypercholesterolemia? Question: "I have familial hypercholesterolemia, as well as a mutation in my Lp(a). I listened to your 2016 podcast regarding FH and have implemented a low-fat diet and am in the process of fixing thyroid issues. My question is, can you please further explain whether I should be more concerned about overall fat or saturated fat intake?" To be clear, I am not treating anyone here. I a...
Nov 15, 2019•3 min
How would you address normal TSH, but low T4? Well, the first thing I'd do is I'd look at your T3. For those of you who aren't familiar with thyroid hormones, TSH tells your thyroid to make thyroid hormone. T4 is the precursor. T3 is the active hormone. If your TSH is normal, that means that your pituitary is receiving the proper messages from your thyroid gland. But if your T4 is low I would ask; is your T3 normal or high? If your T3 is high, then you're probably just converting it very rapidly...
Nov 14, 2019•4 min
"What do you think is the best clinical way to monitor COMT function if you have already tested for SNPs?" One way you can look at it is through the DUTCH test — which is at dutchtest.com — it's a dried urine hormone testing platform, they have a methylation index that is based on the methylation of estrogen. For example; the main significance of COMT, is related to long-term risk of estrogen-related cancers. Acute symptoms are primarily going to manifest in the brain in the relation between COM...
Nov 13, 2019•4 min
Supplements that may lower anxiety at night and improve heart rate variability during sleep I don't know enough about the HRV, the heart rate variability, to comment on improving that specifically. Heart rate variability is largely related to recovery from stress. So, I know the Oura ring tracks heart rate variability during sleep. The main application that I'm familiar with HRV for is recovery from stress, especially from exercise. So anything that supports recovery — mainly is rest, is going t...
Nov 11, 2019•7 min
Nutritional causes of low white blood cells and possible solutions? The absolute first thing that I would always think of when I see low white blood cells is copper. So, generally copper deficiency at its most sensitive is going to cause neutropenia; which is low neutrophils, but it can cause low white blood cells across the board. I'm not saying there aren't other things, but that's going to be the number one thing that I jump to first when looking for low white blood cells. Solutions, well, I'...
Nov 04, 2019•2 min
So, deep sleep is, primarily what's going on in deep sleep is that all of your biogenic amines, which are most of the neurotransmitters that you make from protein with the possible except — like depending on how you classify it, you could say ultimately you make melatonin from protein, but it's not a biogenic amine. Biogenic amines, which are the catecholamines — all are basically shut off. They're probably not zero, zero, but they're almost zero during sleep. Acetylcholine is also shut down dur...
Nov 04, 2019•4 min
On May 25, members of the CMJ Masterpass joined me, Chad Macias, Danny Lennon, and Alex Leaf in a live Zoom meeting to ask us anything about sports nutrition, and here's the full recording! We talk about things like: Is there a risk of depleting histidine with beta-alanine supplementation? What's the best form of fuel to use during a workout? Candy, or something else? Nutritional strategies for recovery from soft tissue injuries to muscles, tendons and ligaments from lifting? Is AMPK the primary...
Oct 23, 2019•2 hr 28 min
On May 10, members of the CMJ Masterpass joined me and Dr. Carrie Jones in a live Zoom meeting to ask us anything about hormones, and here's the full recording! We talk about things like: What time of day is best to take T4 and/or T3? How to use pregnenolone to manage perimenopausal insomnia? Is insomnia different between people who are and aren't on HRT? Estrogen's effect on the kynurenine pathway could be keeping you up at night. What about men with high estrogen? Over-the-counter supplements ...
Oct 19, 2019•2 hr 17 min
This is part 2 of the pantothenic acid Mastering Nutrition podcast. Pantothenate is also known as vitamin B5! It supports your mood, mental health, skin clarity, energy, sleep, and comfort. Alex Leaf and I team up again, this time to how to get B5 from foods and supplements, and how to know when you're getting enough. When you aren't getting enough, you may suffer from fatigue, apathy, discomfort, uneasiness, or pain. You may get numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. You may get depressed...
Oct 09, 2019•2 hr 23 min
On March 8, members of the CMJ Masterpass joined me in a live Zoom meeting to ask me anything about nutrition, and here's the full recording! We talk about things like: What to do if zinc causes nausea? When on a ketogenic diet, it is a problem if ketones are going up to 5 to 6 millimoles per liter? What if I'm on a ketogenic diet, and I can't get my ketone levels up higher than 1 millimole per liter when my primary reason for being on the ketogenic diet is that I'm trying to control blood gluco...
Sep 06, 2019•2 hr 58 min
Got any strange, unresolved health problems? 🤭 High-dose riboflavin might help! MIGHT. 😬 This episode is a shot in the dark, but covers how high-dose riboflavin could help with a lot of mystery issues. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets...
Jul 09, 2019•9 min
Got migraines? 😣 You may need a LOT of riboflavin! 😮 This episode covers what dose to use, and how to time the dosing. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can get it delivered by Facebook Messenger or email. T...
Jul 04, 2019•8 min
Got anemia? 🙋🏽🙋🏼🙋♀️🙋🏿♀️ You may need more riboflavin! 😮 This episode covers how to know if your iron-deficiency anemia could be helped by riboflavin, and what to do about it using food and supplements. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for spec...
Jul 02, 2019•7 min
What's the best riboflavin supplement? 🤷♂️ For years I thought it was riboflavin 5'-phosphate, also known as flavin mononucleotide (FMN). In this episode, I explain why I know believe it is plain old riboflavin. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for spe...
Jun 27, 2019•8 min
This episode covers the best blood test to use for assessing riboflavin status. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can get it delivered by Facebook Messenger or email. The Messenger version is taught by Chris M...
Jun 25, 2019•6 min
Here's how to get RIBOFLAVIN from FOOD. 🍲 😋 This episode covers how to figure out how much you need, and which foods to get it from. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can get it delivered by Facebook Messeng...
Jun 20, 2019•11 min
Pantothenic acid is vitamin B5. You use it to make coenzyme A, a molecule that is central to energy metabolism, most famous for forming acetyl CoA, which lies at the intersection of all anabolic (building up) and catabolic (breaking down) reactions. Alex Leaf and I team up again, this time to tackle B5. This is what happens when you don't have enough: You get fatigue apathy, discomfort, uneasiness, or pain. You get numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. You may get depressed, quarrelsome, ...
Jun 19, 2019•2 hr 15 min
Losing weight? Leaning out? Slimming down? 🙋🏽🙋🏼♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️🙋🏿♀️ Hitting the gym? Doing cardio? Gettin' yo fat-burnin' on? 🙋🏽🙋🏼♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️🙋🏿♀️ You might need more riboflavin. 😬 This episode covers by how much, and how to get it from food. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think...
Jun 18, 2019•7 min
Eating keto? Low-carb? High-fat? 🙋🏽🙋🏼♂️🙋♀️🙋♂️🙋🏿♀️ You might need more riboflavin. 😬 This episode covers how much more you'd need and how to get it from food. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can ...
Jun 13, 2019•6 min
Have a fungal infection? Here's how the combination of tanning beds and riboflavin might help. This is speculative, but worth trying for many people. Make sure to talk to your doctor about any infections you have and anything you're doing to treat them. Tune in for the details! This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more...
Jun 11, 2019•10 min
Do you sunbathe or use tanning beds? If so, you might need more riboflavin. Tune in for the details. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can get it delivered by Facebook Messenger or email. The Messenger version...
Jun 06, 2019•7 min
Riboflavin is the ultimate fat-burning nutrient. 🔥 Could you need more of it? This episode covers the signs you could need a just a little more, and what it would look like if you started running real low. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special di...
Jun 04, 2019•8 min
Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here: https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/ask-us-anything-about-gut-health Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome .
Jun 01, 2019•2 hr 3 min
Niacin is great! BUT… It can hurt your liver. 😟 This episode covers a protocol to make sure niacin doesn't hurt your liver. It covers the specific form you take, your health history, the dose, and what to take it with to protect your liver. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplem...
May 30, 2019•10 min
Ugh, the NIACIN FLUSH! 🥵🥵🥵 This episode covers what to do and what NOT to do to avoid it. It covers slow-release niacin, extended-release niacin, inositol hexanicotinate, niacinamide, aspirin, and waiting it out. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for s...
May 28, 2019•7 min
Here's how to take NIACIN 😁… without getting DIABETES. 😔 Alex Leaf and I did a HUGE podcast on niacin, and Alex looked at the data on whether it is safe and effective to use for preventing heart disease. Based on that data, one out of every 18 people who use it for this purpose get saved from heart disease, but for every 7 people saved from heart disease, 3 get diabetes. In this episode I cover Alex's idea on how to take niacin without getting diabetes. This episode is brought to you by Vitami...
May 23, 2019•11 min
Should you use niacin to lower your blood lipids? For every seven people that this saves from heart disease, three get diabetes. This episode covers alternative strategies to achieve the same effect of niacin on blood lipids without the risk of diabetes. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think ...
May 21, 2019•10 min
Here's why the best test for niacin status is HDRI's NADH/NADPH, how to use it to calculate the niacin number, and what numbers you should be aiming for. This episode is brought to you by Vitamins and Minerals 101. This is my new, free, 30-day course that covers the basics of each nutrient, including why it's important, how to get it from food, how to know if you need more, when you should think about supplementing, and concerns for special diets or special populations. You can get it delivered ...
May 16, 2019•8 min
Here's how to get NIACIN from FOOD. 🍲😋 I recommend getting a half gram to a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight (double this if you measure your weight in kilograms), which contributes to your niacin status, as well as 20 milligrams of preformed niacin from food per day. So, here are your foods, arranged in five tiers. Tier 1 supplies close to 15 mg or more per serving. Fresh yellowfin or shipjack tuna, anchovies, liver (beef, lamb, pork), unfortified nutritional yeast in the amount of 3 h...
May 14, 2019•12 min
Do women need more niacin than men? The RDA says they need less. But the evidence suggests otherwise. This episode is brought to you by Ancestral Supplements' Grass Fed Beef Brain. 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 brain... all in the convenience of a capsule. For more information...
May 09, 2019•10 min
