
September 12, 2020
Q&A 417: Dry Vs Infrared Saunas, The Best Blood Tests For Biohackers, Early Cancer Detection, How To Fix Brain Fog & Much More | Ben Greenfield Fitness
Key Takeaways
- A newly created blood test is able to detect cancer four years prior to the onset of any symptoms
- Order of priorities for biohacker testing: self-quantification device, comprehensive blood panel, genetic testing, and stool testing
- Brain fog is usually the result of inflammation of the nervous system which ultimately affects the limbic system
- There are benefits to both dry and infrared saunas but infrared saunas allow you to mix modalities for a range of benefits
Introduction
Been Greenfield answers listener questions about sauna, blood testing for biohackers, the latest in cancer research, and how to manage brain fog.
Host: Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfieldfitness)
Latest in Cancer Research
- A newly created blood test can diagnose cancer four years prior to the onset of symptoms
- The test had remarkable accuracy in early detection
- In a study out of China, over 1.6 million blood samples were collected from the stomach, esophagus, colon, and lung
- The test isolated DNA from blood sample then measured DNA methylation
- Full study: Non-Invasive early detection of cancer four years before conventional diagnosis using a blood test
Blood Panels for Early Cancer Screening
- Recommended book: Metabolic Approach to Cancer by Nasha Winters
- Blood panels for monitoring and early detection: sedimentation rate, ESR, HSCRP, LDH, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, hemoglobin A1C, vitamin D
- Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a composite of different enzymes in the body has been increasingly touted as a standard cancer biomarker
What Are The Best Biohacker Tests?
- Daily self-quantification: heart rate variability (HRV), daily step count (shoot for more than 10,000 steps), sleep cycle tracking – all can be measured with whoop or oura ring
- Genetic testing: use a website like StrateGene and identify “dirty” genes that may be affecting energy and sleep levels
- GI testing: use GI Effects Comprehensive Profile to learn about maldigestion, inflammation, metabolite imbalances, infection, etc.
- Comprehensive blood panel: use a company like Wellness FX to test mercury, iron, thyroid uptake, hormones, blood count, metabolic panel, etc.
- NutrEval allows you to dig in deeper to omegas, amino acid profile, selenium, copper, zinc, and other micronutrients that don’t appear on a basic blood panel
- Deeper hormone testing: DUTCH test takes deep dive into hormones via urinary tests
- Later tests: full microbiome panel, longevity tests (such as telomere length)
- Order of priorities: self-quantification device, comprehensive blood panel, StrateGene, GI Effects Comprehensive Profile – then if you have money left, add NutrEval panel and DUTCH test – icing on the cake is the full microbiome analysis and telomere testing
How to Clear Brain Fog
- Symptoms of brain fog: confusion, inability to sustain focus, inability to memorize or concentrate, low energy
- Hidden causes of brain fog: inflammation of the nervous system that affects the limbic system, which is the control center for mood, appetite, emotions, etc.
- Lectins and/or oxalates are major triggers for inflammation
- Recommended books for diet information and sensitivity: The Plant Paradox by Steven Gundry and Grain Brain by David Perlmutter
- How to treat: fix inflammation and explore genetic testing and biohacker testing and heavy metal testing if it’s unresolved through diet and lifestyle
- Wellue O2 ring can measure oxygen saturation while sleeping and throughout the day which can be related to sleep apnea and useful in unresolved brain fog
- Identify the source of brain fog before loading up supplements
- Action plan: measure sleep, manage stress and anxiety, avoid sugar, avoid alcohol
Traditional Versus Infrared Saunas
- With infrared saunas, you miss out on the benefits of a steam component you get with Finnish/traditional/dry saunas
- Ben Greenfield uses an infrared sauna but has thought about adding dry barrel sauna
- The temperature for traditional saunas will get much hotter than infrared saunas
- You can add a fan to an infrared sauna to continuously push the heat down
- Skin warming creams like Prototype 8 can also make up for lower temperatures
- Most studies that have been done on heart health and health benefits have been done in traditional saunas
- Non-sauna option: Higher Dose heat blanket
- Ben Greenfield personally recommends infrared saunas because you can stack modalities for additional benefit
Physiological Responses to Maximum Eating in Men
- A study looked at metabolic consequences when you eat too much
- Participants consumed almost twice as much pizza as they would
- Average calorie intake was 3,000-4,000 calories for one meal
- Blood glucose was no higher than participants who consumed regular portion
- Insulin and blood lipids were only slightly higher
- Hormones indicating satiety skyrocketed
- Limitation: study didn’t look at inflammation and related markers