Episode description

Everything you’ve been told about weight loss is a lie!

In this episode, Dr. Nick Norwitz, a metabolic health expert with accolades from Oxford and Harvard, joins Dave to expose the biggest myth in dieting: Calorie Counting. Together, they dismantle outdated weight-loss advice and reveal the truth about metabolism that could revolutionize your health. 

Dr. Norwitz shares cutting-edge science and personal stories that challenge the “eat less, move more” narrative, uncovering why traditional dieting often fails—and what actually works. From the role of ketosis in healing chronic illness to the surprising ways fasting affects hair loss, metabolism, and inflammation, this episode is packed with actionable insights that you won’t hear anywhere else. 

You’ll also learn how viruses might be fueling food addiction, why gut health is the missing key to metabolic recovery, and how new research could unlock the future of personalized medicine. If you’ve ever felt like your metabolism was holding you back, this conversation will give you the tools to take control of your health for good. 

What You’ll Learn: 

• Why calorie counting is useless—and the better way to lose weight 

• The shocking truth about how your metabolism ACTUALLY works 

• How ketosis and fasting can heal inflammation and chronic disease 

• The role of gut health and microbiome diversity in weight loss 

• New research on food addiction and its surprising link to viruses 

• Why individualization is the key to sustainable health 

Resources:  

• 2025 Biohacking Conference: https://biohackingconference.com/2025 

• Nick Norwitz’s YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@nicknorwitzPhD 

• Nick Norwitz’s Website – https://www.nicknorwitz.com/ 

• Follow Nick on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nicknorwitz/ 

• Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com 

• Dave Asprey’s Website: https://daveasprey.com 

• Dave Asprey’s Book – Smarter Not Harder: https://daveasprey.com/books 

• Dave Asprey’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/daveasprey 

• Upgrade Collective – Join The Human Upgrade Podcast Live: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com 

• Own an Upgrade Labs: https://ownanupgradelabs.com 

• Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com 

• 40 Years of Zen – Neurofeedback Training for Advanced Cognitive Enhancement: https://40yearsofzen.com 

SPONSORS:  

• Quantum Upgrade | Go to https://quantumupgrade.io/Dave for a free trial. 

• fatty15 | Go to https://fatty15.com/dave and save an extra $15 when you subscribe with code DAVE. 

Timestamps: 

• 00:00 Trailer 

• 00:39 Meet Dr. Nick 

• 04:44 Nick’s Health Journey 

• 07:54 Keto Diets 

• 09:37 Modern Medicine Challenges 

• 13:31 Exercise vs. Diet 

• 14:32 Obesity Memory 

• 17:36 Keto Cycling 

• 20:51 Microbiome Health 

• 26:26 Fasting & Hair Loss 

• 34:56 Alzheimer’s Insights 

• 45:11 Cold Plunge Benefits 

• 45:43 Dopamine Boosts 

• 46:26 Cold Plunge & Inflammation 

• 47:15 Best Time to Cold Plunge 

• 48:18 Pain & Dopamine 

• 49:31 Exercise & Stress 

• 51:49 Cholesterol & Inflammation 

• 01:05:42 Debunking Calories In/Out 

• 01:07:09 Food Addiction 

• 01:11:15 Metabolic Health Tips 

• 01:24:13 Nick’s Mission 

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