← The Peter Attia Drive

#02 - Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.: the performance and longevity paradox of IGF-1, ketogenic diets and genetics, the health benefits of sauna, NAD+, and more

Jul 2, 2018 1h 49m 19 insights
<p>Rhonda and I go on a Nerd Safari into the jungle of health, nutrition, fitness, performance, and longevity. We visit IGF-1 and whether there's a tradeoff of having high or low levels. We discuss the PPARs (receptor proteins) and genetic polymorphisms. Does Rhonda think there's any benefit in a NAD+ booster for health and longevity? Can saunas lower the risk of heart disease, dementia, and all-cause mortality? </p> <p>Rhonda is a wealth of knowledge on so many topics and was the perfect companion to dig into so many fun topics in this episode. She puts a ton of thought into her research and it really shows in this conversation.</p> <p> </p> <p>We discuss:</p> <ul> <li>What Rhonda believes differently today than she did a few years ago [5:40];</li> <li>The paradox of GH/IGF-1 in performance and longevity [21:00];</li> <li>The role of PPAR in fat metabolism and ketogenic diets [23:00];</li> <li>The possible genetic explanations for why some patients don't respond well to a ketogenic diet [31:00];</li> <li>The health benefits of heat and cold exposure [1:12:30];</li> <li>NAD+ [1:32:45];</li> <li>And more.</li> </ul> <p>Learn more at <a href="http://www.peterattiamd.com/">www.PeterAttiaMD.com</a></p> <div>Connect with Peter on <a href="Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Instagram</a></div>
Actionable Insights

1. Prioritize Daily Exercise for Brain Health

Prioritize daily physical activity for brain health, as it is considered a highly effective strategy for preserving cognitive function, improving executive function, and managing anxiety levels.

2. Incorporate Periodic Prolonged Fasts

Consider incorporating periodic prolonged fasts (e.g., a few days, a couple of times a year) to activate stem cells, clear dysfunctional cells, and promote cellular rejuvenation, potentially delaying age-related diseases and improving health span.

3. Regular Sauna Use for Longevity

Incorporate frequent sauna sessions (4-7 times per week, 20 minutes at 175-179°F in a dry sauna) to significantly reduce cardiovascular-related and all-cause mortality, and improve arterial compliance.

4. Maintain Muscle & Aerobic Performance

Focus on maintaining muscle mass and peak aerobic performance through regular exercise to dramatically improve your healthy years of life (median health span).

5. Suppress Chronic Inflammation

To promote longevity and cognitive function, prioritize strategies that suppress chronic inflammation, as low inflammation has been shown to be a key predictor of healthy aging and survival in centenarians.

6. Combine Ketogenic Diet with Time-Restricted Feeding

If considering a ketogenic diet for long-term health benefits, combine it with calorie restriction or time-restricted feeding (e.g., eating within an 8-9 hour window) to manage calorie intake and enhance benefits like increased health span and improved cognitive function.

7. Optimize Ketogenic Fat Burning

To optimize fat burning on a ketogenic diet and prevent fat storage, avoid constant fat intake and ensure periods of rest from eating, allowing for efficient fatty acid catabolism.

8. Sauna for Enhanced Sleep

To improve sleep quality, try a routine of sauna use before bed, followed by a cold shower, then sleeping in a cold environment, as this rapid temperature drop can enhance sleep onset and duration.

9. Sauna for Mood Improvement

Utilize sauna sessions to potentially improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms, as the heat stress induces IL-6 and beta-endorphin release, which are linked to antidepressant effects.

10. Choose Dry Saunas for Benefits

For optimal benefits from sauna use, prioritize traditional dry saunas that reach temperatures of 175-179°F, and aim for sessions of approximately 20 minutes.

11. Cold Showers for Focus

To enhance focus and reduce anxiety, consider taking cold showers, as this practice is associated with increased norepinephrine levels.

12. Cold Exposure for Mitochondria

To potentially increase mitochondrial biogenesis in adipose and muscle tissue, incorporate cold exposure into your routine.

13. Timing Cold Post-Strength Training

Avoid immediate cold exposure (within an hour) after strength training if your goal is muscle hypertrophy, as it may dampen the muscle growth response by interfering with the post-exercise inflammatory and repair processes.

14. Use Exogenous Ketones for Focus

To potentially enhance focus, reduce anxiety, or improve endurance performance, consider experimenting with exogenous ketones (e.g., BHB ester).

15. Exogenous Ketones Lower Glucose

To significantly lower blood glucose levels, even after a high-carbohydrate meal, consider taking a BHB ester, as it has been shown to cause substantial drops in blood glucose.

16. NAD Precursor Supplementation

To potentially combat age-related NAD decline and support mitochondrial function, consider supplementing with NAD precursors like nicotinamide riboside, which has shown benefits in animal models for muscle and brain health and increases NAD levels in humans.

17. Acarbose for High-Carb Meals

If you plan to indulge in high-carbohydrate meals, consider taking 100mg of Acarbose beforehand to significantly reduce or flatline your blood glucose response.

18. Explore Rapamycin for Longevity

Explore the potential of rapamycin for longevity and improving age-related conditions like cardiomyopathy, as it has shown life-extending effects across species and can improve cardiac function by targeting senescent cells.

19. Utilize Rhonda’s Video Podcasts

If you want to deeply understand complex scientific topics discussed on Rhonda Patrick’s podcast, watch her video podcasts for enhanced learning with on-screen explanations and definitions.