FoundMyFitness

• #107 How To Cure Insomnia & Fall Asleep Fast | Dr. Michael Grandner

  Get access to more than 70 Ask Me Anything episodes with Dr. Rhonda Patrick when you sign up as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member Chronic insomnia and untreated sleep apnea profoundly accelerate cognitive decline, impair performance, and diminish resilience. In this episode, Dr. Michael Grandner outlines practical, scientifically validated interventions, including CBT-I and stimulus control strategies, to retrain your body for consistently restorative sleep. He provides critical insights into detecting hidden sleep apnea and explains how precise timing of morning light, caffeine, and supplements like melatonin can dramatically enhance sleep quality and daytime performance. Dr. Grandner also shares actionable tips for falling asleep faster, managing nighttime awakenings, and provides an honest look at the accuracy and pitfalls of sleep trackers. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (04:45) Poor sleep vs. insomnia—how can you tell? (07:11) Does stressing about sleep make insomnia worse? (13:41) CBT-I’s real target—wakefulness, not sleepiness (16:11) Why your bed should be reserved strictly for sleep (20:23) Can trying too hard to sleep backfire? (21:38) Scrolling yourself awake? Try standing instead (24:59) What should you do if you can't fall back asleep? (27:51) Why effort keeps you awake (29:30) Sleep restriction therapy—worst name, best solution? (32:10) Can you train yourself to fall asleep faster? (34:52) Why bedtime cliffhangers sabotage sleep (36:32) Sedatives vs. CBT-I—which beats insomnia better? (40:45) Insomnia by the numbers—is it affecting you? (42:06) Why sleep apnea is shockingly common (and often unnoticed) (45:44) Is nighttime waking a hidden sign of sleep apnea? (51:50) Are at-home sleep apnea tests reliable? (53:22) Allergies vs. sleeping position—what causes sleep apnea? (56:05) What actually happens during REM and deep sleep? (1:04:33) Are dreams your brain’s way of decoding life? (1:08:50) How apnea destroys sleep architecture (1:10:20) Does untreated sleep apnea raise Alzheimer's risk? (1:13:19) How poor sleep disrupts attention and memory (1:16:36) Effective CPAP alternatives (1:20:39) Mouth taping—sleep hack or hype? (1:22:42) Measuring sleep apnea treatment success (1:24:45) Advanced sleep hygiene for chaotic schedules (1:28:13) Do blue-blocking glasses actually enhance sleep? (1:28:58) Why morning light is key (1:33:45) Should you delay your morning cup of coffee? (1:37:43) Why consistent mornings are crucial—even if bedtime isn't (1:41:14) Are you losing sleep to "revenge bedtime procrastination"? (1:46:01) Why 5 mg of melatonin might be too much (1:53:38) Do melatonin supplements contain more than advertised? (1:56:31) Can melatonin boost your immune system? (1:57:26) Debunking melatonin supplement safety myths (2:01:48) Do magnesium, glycine, and L-theanine actually help sleep? (2:04:49) Why glutamine and B12 might keep you awake (2:06:21) THC and REM suppression—the hidden costs (2:12:48) Does CBD genuinely improve sleep quality? (2:15:21) Alcohol as a sleep aid—more harm than good? (2:18:18) How late is too late for caffeine? (2:22:31) Why staying up late leads to unhealthy eating (2:27:21) Is shift work more harmful than smoking? (2:31:04) What's the ideal power nap length? (2:32:50) Strategic napping advice for shift workers (2:34:58) Optimal caffeine timing for shift workers (2:35:31) The fastest way to adjust to a new time zone (2:41:02) How exercise and light help beat jet lag (2:43:34) Can sleep trackers accurately detect wakefulness? (2:47:09) Sleep stage tracking—useful data or misleading? (2:51:36) Should you trust your wearable's sleep score? (2:55:54) How to use sleep tracker data effectively (3:01:08) Evening habits elevating your heart rate (3:03:11) Troubleshooting insufficient REM and deep sleep (3:06:07) Is your sleep tracker doing more harm than good? (3:10:25) Does better sleep boost cognitive resilience? (3:12:54) Why school start times clash with teen biology (3:15:32) Shifting your circadian rhythm with light and exercise (3:17:38) Can 15 minutes extra sleep boost athletic performance? (3:19:48) Is "sleep banking" a competitive game-changer? (3:22:15) Does poor sleep predict injury risk? (3:27:12) Why caffeine isn't enough to overcome poor sleep (3:28:50) Do eye masks and earplugs significantly improve sleep? (3:30:27) Proven techniques to fall asleep faster (3:32:24) Does reading before bed shorten sleep onset? (3:33:14) Can't fall back asleep? Try this (3:34:16) One proven strategy for deeper sleep (3:35:40) Reducing nighttime urination awakenings (3:37:23) Is sharing a bed disrupting your sleep? (3:39:02) How to tell if you're truly sleeping enough (3:40:40) Do you really need 8 hours of sleep? (3:41:55) Adjusting your routine to your chronotype Show notes, transcript, and summary are available by clicking here Watch this episode on YouTube

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• #106 How To Increase Your Testosterone Levels Naturally | Derek from MPMD

  Get access to more than 70 Ask Me Anything episodes with Dr. Rhonda Patrick when you sign up as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member When testosterone runs low, libido isn’t the only casualty—muscle mass drops, fat accumulates, insulin resistance rises, and motivation declines. In this episode, Derek from More Plates More Dates highlights common pitfalls that suppress testosterone and evaluates popular testosterone-boosting supplements like Tongkat Ali, boron, and ashwagandha, clarifying what's evidence-based versus overhyped. He also details practical strategies for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), covering optimal delivery methods, benefits, risks, fertility implications, and key biomarkers to monitor. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (04:50) Why is testosterone essential for men? (07:11) The role of testosterone in women’s health (08:53) Does higher testosterone shorten lifespan? (12:12) What the castrati reveal about testosterone and longevity (15:07) Free vs. total testosterone—what’s the difference? (18:42) Best practices for measuring and interpreting testosterone levels (21:29) Reference ranges or symptoms—which matters more? (24:50) When is high testosterone a red flag? (26:32) What LH and FSH reveal about testosterone production (31:11) Could high SHBG levels be limiting your testosterone? (35:02) Why SHBG increases with age—and how diet and lifestyle accelerate it (39:45) Key symptoms of low testosterone in men (42:46) Is alcohol sabotaging your testosterone levels? (45:39) Why low-fat and low-carb diets might lower testosterone (46:18) Common micronutrient mistakes hurting hormone levels (48:12) How excess body fat impacts testosterone (51:39) When endurance training goes too far (56:02) Are endocrine disruptors truly harming male hormones? (58:42) Debunking myths about declining testosterone in men (1:01:32) Why dietary fat is essential for hormone health (1:03:55) Is a ketogenic diet bad for testosterone? (1:05:10) Which type of exercise boosts testosterone most? (1:07:16) Do vitamin D, zinc, and magnesium actually help? (1:11:36) Does boron significantly raise free testosterone? (1:12:45) Ashwagandha’s true potential for testosterone enhancement (1:17:00) Is Tongkat Ali the best herbal testosterone booster? (1:20:51) Tongkat Ali or boron—which is superior? (1:22:20) Shilajit, Tribulus, Fenugreek—do they actually work? (1:23:33) The four best supplements to raise testosterone levels (1:25:17) Dutch test vs. blood test—which is better for cortisol? (1:26:32) When should you consider testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)? (1:34:23) What realistic benefits can TRT provide? (1:37:34) Does TRT raise heart disease and erythrocytosis risk? (1:47:23) Creams vs. injections (1:48:47) Does TRT increase prostate cancer risk? (1:51:01) Hair loss, acne, sleep apnea—what are TRT’s real side effects? (1:53:41) The rollercoaster effect of testosterone injections (1:56:15) Could low testosterone be riskier than TRT? (1:59:38) Choosing the right TRT delivery method (2:06:16) Do smaller, more frequent injections reduce risks? (2:08:12) Can you maintain fertility while on TRT? (2:16:12) Why TRT quickly shrinks testicles (2:17:40) Key biomarkers you must track on TRT (2:26:57) Testosterone therapy for women—symptoms, ranges, and risks (2:36:49) Can DHEA supplements safely raise testosterone in women? (2:39:47) What actually causes hair loss? (2:46:00) Does your maternal grandfather determine your hairline? (2:46:48) Why stopping hair loss means accepting risks (2:55:54) How effective are ketoconazole, minoxidil, and microneedling? (2:58:55) Topical vs. oral minoxidil—how do side effects compare? (3:02:00) Is microneedling effective without minoxidil? (3:04:51) Do finasteride and dutasteride alter brain chemistry? (3:06:03) Finasteride and the nocebo effect—are side effects imagined? (3:07:37) Does minoxidil delay baldness or just mask it? (3:09:06) Can dutasteride extend your lifespan? Show notes, transcript, and summary are available by clicking here Watch this episode on YouTube  

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• #105 Exogenous ketones, my coffee protocol, and supplements for blood sugar regulation (Premium Member Q&A July 2025)

  Become a FoundMyFitness Premium Member to access the full episode In this special episode, you'll get an exclusive 30-minute preview of my latest Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, normally reserved for FoundMyFitness Premium Members. Each month, Premium Members join me live to receive direct answers to their most pressing questions on nutrition, supplements, longevity, sleep, fitness—no topic is off-limits. In today's sneak peek, you'll hear why I've started taking exogenous ketones, details about my personal coffee routine (from bean choices to brewing methods), optimal supplement dosages (including ubiquinol, berberine, and vitamin K2), and whether some popular greens powders might pose risks due to heavy metals. Learn more here about becoming a FoundMyFitness Premium Member for as little as $15 per month. After signing up, you'll also unlock the full 90-minute session, along with more than 100 hours of additional AMA content. Your membership directly supports our mission to deliver trustworthy, unbiased, science-backed health information that's entirely ad-free and free from commercial bias. Every Premium Member helps us stay focused solely on providing you with the highest-quality insights grounded in rigorous science. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (02:44) Why I started taking exogenous ketones (04:02) What ketone supplement brand am I using? (07:16) Can ketones help reduce performance anxiety? (08:50) My daily coffee routine (beans, brewing, and tips) (11:31) Should you worry about diterpenes in coffee? (12:56) Which coffee bean brand do I trust most? (14:04) Does coffee cause dehydration or block mineral absorption? (15:46) Is drinking coffee on an empty stomach harmful? (16:01) Does dairy reduce coffee’s polyphenol benefits? (17:53) Should slow caffeine metabolizers avoid coffee? (18:52) Can coffee’s vasoconstriction affect brain blood flow? (19:18) Do coffee pods release harmful microplastics? (20:09) The ketone meter I've relied on for 10 years (20:35) Does quitting caffeine lower resting heart rate? (20:41) What's the best plastic-free coffee maker? (21:13) Ideal dosing for ubiquinol, berberine, and alpha-lipoic acid (22:43) Which supplements best support fertility and egg quality? (23:49) Why (and how much) myo-inositol did I take? (24:08) Am I still taking benfotiamine, collagen, lutein, and zeaxanthin? (24:34) Creatine vs. methylated B vitamins for homocysteine control (25:56) Which vitamin K2 supplement (and dosage) do I use? (26:17) Are greens powders (like moringa) high in heavy metals? (27:16) Which choline supplement won't raise TMAO? (30:31) Which Thorne supplements do I personally use? (30:44) How much CoQ10 is needed if you're not targeting fertility?

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• #103 A Deep Dive on Using Coffee For Health & Longevity (Full Guide & Research)

  Get access to more than 120 episodes of my premium podcast, The Aliquot, as a FoundMyFitness Premium Member Coffee is one of the most powerful longevity tools we have, potentially reducing epigenetic age by up to one year in regular coffee drinkers, but its effectiveness hinges entirely on how you brew it. In this episode, I outline precisely how coffee reduces DNA damage, a key driver of cancer and cellular aging, and why choosing filtered coffee over methods like French press significantly lowers cholesterol risk. I’ll discuss exactly which beans and roasts pack the highest antioxidant punch, plus a practical tip on a specific supplement that amplifies coffee’s cognitive benefits. You’ll also learn the truth about mycotoxins in coffee and why adding dairy can blunt coffee’s immediate cognitive-boosting effects. Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (01:24) Can coffee really slow biological aging? (04:42) Is coffee actually protective for your heart? (05:27) Why morning coffee is healthier than afternoon coffee (08:01) How coffee improves your metabolic health (09:52) Can coffee reduce cancer risk? (11:25) Does coffee protect DNA from damage? (13:38) Can coffee enhance your gut microbiome? (16:01) Can unfiltered coffee raise your cholesterol? (20:13) Which brewing method maximizes antioxidants? (20:40) Arabica or robusta—does bean type matter? (23:04) Dark vs. light roast—what’s richer in antioxidants? (23:28) Is cold brew coffee as healthy as hot coffee? (23:51) Practical tips to maximize antioxidants (24:38) Filtered vs. French press—what’s best for longevity? (26:48) Can espresso’s antioxidants offset its cholesterol risk? (27:18) Instant coffee—an overlooked longevity booster? (27:40) Why filtered coffee is the clear winner (28:20) Caffeinated vs. decaf—what’s better for your brain? (30:42) Can decaf coffee still enhance cognitive function? (33:38) How much caffeine is optimal for athletic performance? (36:31) How decaffeination methods affect coffee’s benefits (39:02) Are mold toxins in coffee really a concern? (41:45) Is adding dairy a mistake? (43:15) Does MCT powder boost cognition—or just cholesterol? (44:59) Does adding L-theanine reduce caffeine-induced anxiety? (47:04) The science-backed coffee routine for longevity Show notes, transcript, and summary are available by clicking here Watch this episode on YouTube

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• #102 Why Vitamin D Deficiency Accelerates Brain Aging

  Discover my premium podcast, The Aliquot Vitamin D is far more than just a vitamin—it's a potent steroid hormone regulating nearly 5% of our genome. Yet, remarkably, up to 70% of Americans aren't getting enough, placing them at increased risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. In this episode, I explore compelling new evidence from a study involving over 12,000 participants, demonstrating that vitamin D supplementation can reduce dementia risk by an impressive 40%, protecting even adults with genetic Alzheimer's risk (ApoE4 carriers). Timestamps: (00:00) Can vitamin D supplements reduce dementia risk? (00:46) How common is vitamin D deficiency? (03:31) What studies reveal about genes, vitamin D, and dementia (05:44) Does deficiency accelerate brain aging? (06:45) Can vitamin D supplementation enhance cognitive function? (08:15) Dementia risk reduction insights from 12,388 adults (09:58) Why women may benefit most (10:49) Normal vs. impaired cognition—who benefits more from vitamin D? (11:21) Do ApoE4 carriers get dementia protection from vitamin D? (13:00) How mild cognitive impairment affects dementia risk (13:41) Does the form of vitamin D matter? (14:11) What are the optimal vitamin D blood levels? (15:07) What dose corrects deficiency? (15:33) How vitamin D directly supports brain function Watch this episode on YouTube Show notes are available by clicking here The study discussed: Vitamin D supplementation and incident dementia: Effects of sex, APOE, and baseline cognitive status

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