Q&A 420: Which Stimulants Are Safe To Take At Night, Maximizing Benefits Of Cold Thermogenesis, When To Do Blood Flow Restriction Training & More!

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Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

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Listener Q&A:

When To Do Blood Flow Restriction Training…24:05

I've listened to a lot of your talks on using blood flow restriction bands, which I purchased when the gyms were closed to use for kettlebell training and bodywork. Now, with gyms are reopened, I'm using heavier weights with barbells, dumbbells, and cable machines. Do you see any benefits to incorporating BFR with hard sets of strength training inside of a gym or not so much?

In my response, I recommend:

How To Reduce The Effects Of Radiation…31:45

Jim asks: I recently had surgery for neck cancer and need to do six weeks of radiation. I was just wondering your thoughts on the top three things to do to reduce side effects.

In my response, I recommend:

If you listen to my podcast with Dr. Mercola or read his excellent book EMF*D, then you'll know there are three basic mechanisms of action via which 5G (and any other form of man-made EMFs) can damage your cells and mitochondria:

  • Direct DNA damage via radiation
  • Steep influx of calcium into the cell
  • Upregulation of oxidative stress via your body’s inflammatory Nrf2 pathway

After interviewing him and hearing his take on how to control the damage, I decided to put together a 5G Protection Cocktail using simple ingredients you can find on Amazon, specifically:

  • Pterostilbene paired with NAD/Sirtuins to repair the DNA
  • Magnesium to offset the calcium influx (use code GREENFIELD10 to save 10%)
  • Ketones to downregulate the Nrf2 pathway

I found everything on Amazon and made a handy list for you here: BenGreenfieldFitness.com/5GPackage

So, whenever I’m exposed to large amounts of EMFs in airplanes, airports, offices, or co-working spaces, hefty use of a cell phone, walking through a neighborhood plastered with 5G panels, etc., I’ve been using this cocktail, and it’s very simple.

Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, so please don’t take this as medical advice. Nor am I a tin-foil hat wearing freak, so please don’t assume you have to drop everything and suck this stuff down three times a day. But I think it’s prudent to have these items on hand should you be exposed to hefty amounts of 5G or EMF.

Effects Of Nicotine On HRV…40:15

Caitlyn asks: I have recently started chewing the Lucy nicotine gum. I'm not a smoker, and I've never smoked before. I'm loving it and loving how it makes my brain feel. But I've noticed on my Oura Ring that my readiness score has been dropping for the last month or so. I usually get between 90 and 93 daily for my readiness, but it's now a significant loss to around 75 to 82. I don't eat late, usually by 6:00 PM. I rarely have a drink, and I'm usually in bed by 9:00 PM. So I feel like I'm doing everything right, but I'm wondering if nicotine might be having adverse effects on overall recovery.

In my response, I recommend: 

Stimulants That Won't Disrupt Sleep Or Keep You Up At Night…48:45

Steve asks: I recently started taking night classes for my graduate degree. The classes are typically from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM, which is really late. I was wondering if you had any tips for maintaining mental acuity, making sure that I'm nice and sharp for those classes without keeping me up too late afterwards. Things like caffeine are great, but they do tend to disrupt my sleep. I want to get to sleep as soon as possible after those classes, so any advice you have would be great.

In my response, I recommend: 


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10 thoughts on “Q&A 420: Which Stimulants Are Safe To Take At Night, Maximizing Benefits Of Cold Thermogenesis, When To Do Blood Flow Restriction Training & More!

  1. Sven says:

    I am afraid the link you put in at the end of the introduction when you talked about Supplements enhancing fat burning from cold thermogenesis you only linked to the ketones and not the whole list of what you mentioned on the podcast (red pepper, green tea, etc). I was looking for that list, but only found it on the podcast itself. Maybe it doesn‘t work on my device or maybe you want to change the link. Great stuff, keep it coming!

  2. Adam says:

    Re BFR not likely to cause thrombosis clots during intense weight training due to bodybuilders doing it all the time, hopefully enough natural bodybuilders were observed since assisted Pros often on blood thinning meds which would artificially prevent clots. Andreas Munzer comes to mind, he died in 96 from internal abdominal bleeding – he bled to death because his blood couldn’t clot due to blood thinning meds (to counter thickening effect of PEDs he was taking).

  3. Mary says:

    To get the brain benefits of cold therapy, does the head need to submerged in cold? Or can cryotherapy provide same benefits? Also could you immerse your head/face in cold water? Don’t have access to cold water swimming.

  4. Gino says:

    I believe its pronounced Kuh-Fear. lol

  5. Lise says:

    “Brain Cooling” reverses or halts brain damage in newborns. https://utswmed.org/medblog/total-body-cooling-saving-babies-lives-after-emergency-delivery/

    My grandbaby, who’s now 18 months old, was called the “poster child” of this therapy.

  6. Daniel Gilliam says:

    I wear BFR bands to my CrossFit workouts when we have weight training and I definitely get snickers and called strap on but I also get results and one girl said I listen to Ben Greenfield I know what those are! Also coincidentally just started Qualia Mind and is unbelievable but definitely not something I am going to do daily.

    1. Nick says:

      BFR bands are game-changing. Powerful way to upgrade workouts while on the move, recover faster, and get more out of low-intensity activities. Can’t imagine crushing a CrossFit WOD with them on though. At least not at a 7/10 tightness.

  7. Chris says:

    I have a VASPER machine… would you say that it’s superior to the bands for bfr training?

    1. KwF says:

      Vasper is nothing more than Kaatsu bands , 110 degree compression ice cold wraps and a elliptical machine.

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