Full show notes: bengreenfieldlife.com/pharma

In this special repeat episode, Dr. Sandra Kaufmann breaks down which pharmaceuticals mimic the effects of things you already do for your health: what replaces a sauna session, what replaces a fast, what replaces a cold plunge (use code BENFORGE for $500 off select products), and what she takes with meals to blunt the damage from glucose spikes. I'm re-airing it now because of a new Nature paper finding that lithium is a naturally occurring brain nutrient, and that losing it may be one of the earliest steps toward Alzheimer's, at a dose in exactly the range Dr. Kaufmann described on this show years earlier.

You'll hear why she prefers pioglitazone over metformin for autophagy, how a Japanese gastritis drug connects to Alzheimer's, and how she worked her way up on an emergency blood pressure medication, starting at a dose that nearly knocked her off her feet and climbing to 100mg with no effect at all. The centerpiece is lithium (code BGL10 for 10% off): why the doses hidden inside popular nootropics are a fraction of what she considers useful, and everything it appears to do beyond mood, from controlling a pore in your mitochondria to building bone and growing new neurons. You'll also get her honest take on gene therapy versus pharmaceuticals, why peptides underperform in an older cell, and which molecule finally knocked astaxanthin off the top of her ranking system.

Episode Sponsors:

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BON CHARGE: BON CHARGE is a holistic wellness brand whose products help you sleep better, perform better, recover faster, balance hormones, and reduce inflammation. Go to boncharge.com/GREENFIELD and use coupon code GREENFIELD to save 15%.

Tecton Ketones: Tecton Ketones deliver bioidentical D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the same ketone molecule your body produces during ketosis, for clean cognitive support and stable energy with no conversion step. Visit tectonketones.com/ben and use code BEN for 16% off your first order.

Dr. Murray Natural Products – ThymoQuin®: ThymoQuin® is a clinically researched black seed oil formulated to support healthy cortisol levels, improve resilience to everyday stress, and promote overall well-being. Visit doctormurray.com/ben and use code BEN25 for 25% off all Dr. Murray Natural Products.

Hiya: Give your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. I've secured a special deal with Hiya on their best-selling children's vitamin, 50% off your first order. Go to hiyahealth.com/BEN (it is not available on their regular website).

Full show notes:<a href="https://bengreenfieldlife.com/pharma"> bengreenfieldlife.com/pharma</a>
In this special repeat episode, Dr. Sandra Kaufmann breaks down which pharmaceuticals mimic the effects of things you already do for your health: what replaces a<a href="https://bengreenfieldlife.com/sunlighten"> sauna session</a>, what replaces a fast, what replaces a<a href="https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/morozko"> cold plunge</a> (use code BENFORGE for $500 off select products), and what she takes with meals to blunt the damage from glucose spikes. I'm re-airing it now because of a new<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x"> Nature paper</a> finding that lithium is a naturally occurring brain nutrient, and that losing it may be one of the earliest steps toward Alzheimer's, at a dose in exactly the range Dr. Kaufmann described on this show years earlier.
You'll hear why she prefers pioglitazone over metformin for autophagy, how a Japanese gastritis drug connects to Alzheimer's, and how she worked her way up on an emergency blood pressure medication, starting at a dose that nearly knocked her off her feet and climbing to 100mg with no effect at all. The centerpiece is<a href="https://bengreenfieldlife.com/peptual"> lithium</a> (code BGL10 for 10% off): why the doses hidden inside popular nootropics are a fraction of what she considers useful, and everything it appears to do beyond mood, from controlling a pore in your mitochondria to building bone and growing new neurons. You'll also get her honest take on gene therapy versus pharmaceuticals, why<a href="https://bengreenfieldlife.com/peptual"> peptides</a> underperform in an older cell, and which molecule finally knocked astaxanthin off the top of her ranking system.
Episode Sponsors:
<a href="https://xtendlife.com/BensChoice">Xtendlife Prosta Support Advanced:</a> A comprehensive daily prostate support formula combining saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, vitamins, minerals, and botanicals to support prostate health, urinary function, and healthy aging. Visit<a href="https://xtendlife.com/BensChoice"> Xtendlife.com/BensChoice</a> and use code GREENFIELD for 15% off your order today.
<a href="https://boncharge.com/pages/affiliates/greenfield?bchref=greenfield">BON CHARGE</a>: BON CHARGE is a holistic wellness brand whose products help you sleep better, perform better, recover faster, balance hormones, and reduce inflammation. Go to<a href="https://boncharge.com/pages/affiliates/greenfield?bchref=greenfield"> boncharge.com/GREENFIELD</a> and use coupon code GREENFIELD to save 15%.
<a href="https://tectonketones.com/ben">Tecton Ketones:</a> Tecton Ketones deliver bioidentical D-beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), the same ketone molecule your body produces during ketosis, for clean cognitive support and stable energy with no conversion step. Visit<a href="https://tectonketones.com/ben"> tectonketones.com/ben</a> and use code BEN for 16% off your first order.
<a href="https://doctormurray.com/ben">Dr. Murray Natural Products &ndash; ThymoQuin&reg;:</a> ThymoQuin&reg; is a clinically researched black seed oil formulated to support healthy cortisol levels, improve resilience to everyday stress, and promote overall well-being. Visit<a href="https://doctormurray.com/ben"> doctormurray.com/ben</a> and use code BEN25 for 25% off all Dr. Murray Natural Products.
<a href="https://hiyahealth.com/BEN">Hiya</a>: Give your kids the full-body nourishment they need to grow into healthy adults. I've secured a special deal with Hiya on their best-selling children's vitamin, 50% off your first order. Go to<a href="https://hiyahealth.com/BEN"> hiyahealth.com/BEN</a> (it is not available on their regular website).

Free fitness, nutrition, biohacking, fat loss, anti-aging and cutting-edge health advice from BenGreenfieldLife.com! Tune in to the latest research, interviews with exercise, diet and medical professionals, and an entertaining mash-up of ancestral wisdom and modern science, along with Q&A's and mind-body-spirit optimizing content from America's top personal trainer.