Health Optimization Medicine Podcast

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, Dr. Ted Achacoso, Dr. Scott Sherr, Dr. Allen Bookatz, and Jodi Duval sit down to discuss what happens when the body's cellular defense systems remain activated after the original threat has passed.
Fatigue and brain fog are often treated as problems that require more stimulation, more exercise, or more supplements. But what if low energy is sometimes an adaptive response? The HOMeHOPe faculty explores the Cell Danger Response, how mitochondria and purinergic signaling respond to threats, and why pushing harder can sometimes work against recovery.
The discussion also introduces a practical three-phase approach to moving from persistent cellular defense toward greater metabolic and bioenergetic flexibility. 
Join us as we delve into:
Why Cells Get Stuck in Survival Mode: How infection, toxin exposure, tissue injury, and other stressors can shift cellular priorities toward defense, and what happens when those signals persist after the original crisis.

The Cell Danger Response: How mitochondrial function, ATP signaling, inflammation, and purinergic pathways can change during cellular stress.

Why More Energy May Not Be the Answer: Why fatigue can sometimes represent an adaptive biological response rather than simply a deficiency that can be corrected with more stimulants or supplements.

ATP Has Two Different Messages: How intracellular ATP supports cellular work while extracellular ATP can act as a danger signal through purinergic receptors.

The Three Phases of Recovery: How exposomic unburdening, assessment of intracellular and metabolic function, and reinforcement of cellular safety can provide a framework for recovery.

Measure, Don't Guess: Why organic acids, acylcarnitines, redox markers, amino acids, micronutrient patterns, and membrane lipids can help identify metabolic constraints and guide targeted interventions.

Circadian and Autonomic Regulation: Why morning light, sleep, appropriately graded activity, autonomic regulation, and circadian timing are part of restoring biological capacity.

The Limits of the Cell Danger Response Model: Where the evidence is mechanistic or emerging, why the framework should not be used to explain every chronic symptom, and why stronger clinical evidence is still needed.

This episode is for you if:
You work shifts, overnight schedules, or other situations where acute sleep deprivation is sometimes unavoidable.

You want to understand how sleep loss affects brain energy metabolism and cognitive performance.

You are interested in the relationship between creatine, phosphocreatine, ATP, and brain function.

You want to understand the potential and limitations of using creatine during acute cognitive stress.

You are interested in cellular bioenergetics and the Health Optimization Medicine approach to precision health.

You can also find this episode on…
YouTube: https://youtu.be/0mn-8B6K0bU
Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe):
Website: https://homehope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026
Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics
Find more from Troscriptions:
Website: https://troscriptions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, Boomer Anderson, Dr. Allen Bookatz, Dr. Ted Achacoso, and Dr. Jup Kuipers explore a misunderstood cause of chronic fatigue and leaky gut: the bioenergetic failure of your colonocytes. While many practitioners throw random probiotic strains and anti-inflammatory herbs at gut issues, metabolomic research shows this approach fails to address the root problem.
The team explains how a starved microbiome forces gut cells to switch energy systems, leaking oxygen into the colon, destroying strict anaerobes, and allowing endotoxins to flood the bloodstream and drain your cellular vitality. From holobiont metabolomics to targeted mucosal protocols, this discussion reframes gut health through the lens of mitochondrial beta oxidation rather than simply managing inflammation. 
Join us as we delve into:
The Gut Hypoxia Trap: How starved colonocytes switch to anaerobic glycolysis and leak oxygen into the gut, killing off the strict anaerobes that make butyrate.

The Endotoxemia Dilemma: How opportunistic bacteria pry apart tight junctions, allowing lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into the bloodstream and locking your cells into a permanent Cell Danger Response.

Why Probiotics Fall Short: Why conventional protocols fail to repair the mucosal shield and how to properly signal Akkermansia muciniphila with complex polyphenols.

The 4-Step Clinical Protocol: How to use stool metabolomics, pomegranate ellagitannins, oral tributyrin, and L-glutamine to rebuild the gut barrier from the ground up.

Pathogenesis vs Salutogenesis: Why Health Optimization Medicine focuses on restoring root cause physiological health rather than perpetually suppressing symptoms.

This episode is for you if:
You are dealing with chronic fatigue, brain fog, and unyielding food intolerances despite taking probiotics.

You want to understand the true biochemical mechanism behind leaky gut and systemic endotoxemia.

You are a practitioner looking to replace guesswork with objective metabolomic testing and precision mucosal protocols.

You can also find this episode on…
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wZH8tJTFWw&feature=youtu.be
Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe):
Website: https://homehope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026
Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics
Find more from Troscriptions:
Website: https://troscriptions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, Dr. Scott Sherr, Dr. Ted Achacoso, Dr. Allen Bookatz, and Dr. Jup Kuipers explore how acute sleep deprivation affects brain energy metabolism and whether creatine monohydrate can help preserve cognitive function when sleep loss is unavoidable.
Rather than relying on stimulants like caffeine or modafinil to push through fatigue, the team examines whether directly supporting the brain's phosphocreatine and ATP systems can maintain cellular energy and cognitive performance during acute sleep deprivation.
The discussion looks at recent research on single-dose creatine, brain bioenergetics, blood-brain barrier transport, clinical dosing, and the limits of using creatine as an acute rescue tool. 


Join us as we delve into:
Sleep Deprivation as a Bioenergetic Crisis: Why acute sleep loss is more than simply feeling tired, and how depletion of phosphocreatine and ATP can affect executive function and cognitive performance.
The Creatine Rescue Effect: What a 2026 randomized crossover study found when healthy participants received a single dose of creatine after prolonged sleep deprivation.
Creatine, ATP & the Brain: How creatine acts through the creatine kinase system to help maintain high-energy phosphates during acute metabolic stress.
The Blood-Brain Barrier Under Stress: Why sleep deprivation may change the conditions for creatine transport into the brain and create a window for acute supplementation.
The Clinical Protocol: What the episode discusses regarding single-dose creatine monohydrate, timing before an acute cognitive stress period, hydration, magnesium, and other cofactors.
Creatine Is Not a Substitute for Sleep: Why acute creatine rescue may help preserve cellular function during unavoidable sleep loss, but cannot replace the restorative functions of deep sleep and REM sleep.
Health Optimization vs. Disease Prevention: Why HOMeHOPe approaches acute physiological stress by supporting cellular function before the system reaches a state of failure.
This episode is for you if:
You work shifts, overnight schedules, or other situations where acute sleep deprivation is sometimes unavoidable.
You want to understand how sleep loss affects brain energy metabolism and cognitive performance.
You are interested in the relationship between creatine, phosphocreatine, ATP, and brain function.
You want to understand the potential and limitations of using creatine during acute cognitive stress.
You are interested in cellular bioenergetics and the Health Optimization Medicine approach to precision health.
You can also find this episode on…
YouTube: https://youtu.be/LvEBMroaLA4
Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe):
Website: https://homehope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026
Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics
Find more from Troscriptions:
Website: https://troscriptions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, Dr. Scott Sherr, Dr. Ted Achacoso, Dr. Allen Bookatz, and Jodi Duval explore one of the most overlooked causes of declining cellular energy: the structural breakdown of the mitochondrial membrane.
While many people invest in premium longevity supplements like NAD+, NMN, and CoQ10 to improve energy production, emerging research suggests these compounds cannot overcome a damaged mitochondrial membrane. The team explains how age-related phosphatidylcholine depletion weakens the mitochondrial lipid bilayer, causing proton leakage, oxidative stress, and reduced ATP production, even when the biochemical machinery appears intact.
From membrane lipidomics and clinical metabolomics to phosphatidylcholine replacement and methylation support, this discussion reframes mitochondrial health through the lens of structural integrity rather than simply adding more fuel.
Join us as we delve into:
The Leaky Mitochondria Problem: Why declining phosphatidylcholine causes proton leaks that reduce ATP production and accelerate mitochondrial aging.

Why NAD+, NMN & CoQ10 Sometimes Fail: How expensive mitochondrial supplements cannot restore energy when the mitochondrial membrane itself has become structurally compromised.

Pathogenesis vs. Salutogenesis: Why Health Optimization Medicine focuses on building the biology of health instead of simply preventing disease.

Clinical Metabolomics & Membrane Lipidomics: How measuring functional biomarkers provides deeper insight into cellular health than conventional blood tests alone.

Phosphatidylcholine Replacement Therapy: Why rebuilding mitochondrial membranes with pharmaceutical-grade phosphatidylcholine, methyl donors, and chronobiology may improve bioenergetics.

The Prevention Paradigm Shift: Why optimizing membrane integrity may become a foundational strategy for supporting healthy aging and cellular resilience.

This episode is for you if:
You are taking NAD+, NMN, CoQ10, or other mitochondrial supplements but still struggle with fatigue or poor recovery.

You want to understand why mitochondrial membrane health may be more important than simply increasing energy substrates.

You are interested in clinical metabolomics, membrane lipidomics, and the future of precision lifestyle medicine.

You want to learn how phosphatidylcholine and methylation support contribute to healthy mitochondrial function.

You can also find this episode on…
YouTube:
Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe):
Website: https://homehope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026
Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics
Find more from Troscriptions:
Website: https://troscriptions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products

In this episode of the Health Optimization Medicine Podcast, Dr. Scott Sherr sits down with Dr. Dominic D'Agostino, the premier researcher in ketogenic metabolic therapies. Moving past the mainstream fads of keto ice cream and internet trends, they break down how exogenous ketones actually impact cellular energy, cardiovascular health, and environmental stress.
From the liver toxicity associated with certain high-dose ketone esters to the hidden vasodilatory superpowers of L-BHB, this discussion separates the biohacking hype from the physiological reality of ketone supplementation.
Join us as we delve into:
Fad vs. Science: Why serious researchers use the term Ketone Metabolic Therapy instead of Ketogenic Diet, and why peer-reviewed science is growing exponentially despite Google trends.

The Metformin VO2 Max Penalty: Exploring recent data showing metformin can blunt VO2 max adaptations to exercise by 50% and acts as a weak mitochondrial toxin.

Mitochondrial Hydraulic Efficiency: How ketones physically tighten electron flow in the mitochondria, reducing superoxide (ROS) production and enhancing endogenous antioxidant capacity.

The Danger of 1,3-Butanediol: Why relying on high doses of certain ketone esters and diols can trigger dizziness, liver abnormalities, and dependence, and how to formulate them safely.

The L-BHB Advantage: Why the lesser-known L-enantiomer of BHB acts as a potent vasodilator, significantly increasing cardiac output and brain blood flow through adenosine signaling.

Performance vs. Recovery: Why exogenous ketones might underwhelm a healthy athlete looking for a power boost, but shine in extreme stress environments like hypoxia, hyperoxia, and recovery.

This episode is for you if:
You want to know the difference between a nutritional ketogenic diet and simply taking exogenous ketone supplements.

You are concerned about the side effects, liver stress, and acidic load of pushing your blood ketone levels too high.

You are interested in the synergistic effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) combined with ketone therapies for traumatic brain injury and mitigating oxygen toxicity.

You can also find this episode on…
YouTube: https://youtu.be/sU-ZNinqqgg
Find more from Dr. Dominic D'Agostino:
Website: https://ketonutrition.org/
Metabolic Health Initiative: https://www.metabolicinitiative.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dominic.dagostino.kt/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-d-agostino-156014b/
Find more from Health Optimization Medicine and Practice (HOMeHOPe):
Website: https://homehope.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homehopeorg/
HOMeHOPe Conference 2026: https://homehope.org/homehope-conference-2026
Use PODCAST10 to get 10% OFF your purchase of the Clinical Metabolomics Module at https://homehope.org/products/clinical-metabolomics
Find more from Troscriptions:
Website: https://troscriptions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troscriptions/
Use POD10 to get 10% OFF your Troscriptions purchase at https://troscriptions.com/collections/our-products