Welcome to Ben Greenfield’s Weekly Roundup!
On this weekly submit, I share with you my most attention-grabbing discoveries of the week, together with the newest information on the fronts of health, vitamin, well being, wellness, biohacking, and anti-aging analysis. I additionally recap my upcoming occasions and particular bulletins so you possibly can sustain with alternatives to study, giveaways, reductions, and extra!
New Discoveries
Sedation ≠ Restorative Sleep: *This is* How Hashish-Primarily based Sleep Aids Influence Your REM Sleep (In keeping with New Science) 🌙
A brand-new pilot trial put cannabis-based sleep aids beneath the microscope, and the outcomes would possibly shock (and disappoint you).
On this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover examine, researchers gave adults with scientific insomnia a nighttime dose of 200 mg of CBD plus 10 mg of THC, after which tracked their sleep utilizing high-density electroencephalography (EEG)—a brain-wave monitoring software that maps electrical exercise throughout sleep.
In comparison with the placebo, the cannabinoid mixture truly decreased whole sleep time by ~25 minutes and decreased REM (fast eye motion) sleep by ~34 minutes. It additionally delayed REM onset by over an hour.
Why does this matter?
REM sleep—the newest stage of the sleep cycle characterised by elevated mind exercise—is vital for reminiscence consolidation, emotional processing, and restoration. Persistent suppression of REM, as seen with THC and a few sleeping drugs, can go away you feeling groggy, much less resilient, and extra liable to temper disturbances.
Apparently, members on this specific examine didn’t present measurable impairments in alertness the following day, however they did report barely extra daytime sleepiness.
Primarily based on these findings, listed below are some takeaways so that you can think about:
- Don’t assume “pure” means protected. Cannabinoids may be higher options to some sleep meds, however they’ll nonetheless disrupt sleep structure, particularly REM sleep. The precise steadiness between CBD and THC determines whether or not you expertise calming advantages, sedation, or unfavourable results like grogginess, REM suppression, or anxiousness.
- CBD-heavy blends can truly amplify the consequences of THC. CBD is able to growing blood ranges of THC by interfering with how the liver breaks it down (particularly, CBD inhibits CYP450 enzymes, that are answerable for metabolizing THC). The result’s that THC stays in your system longer and at increased concentrations, which means even when a formulation is “CBD-heavy,” the THC inside it would hit more durable than anticipated, particularly in delicate or cannabis-naïve folks.
- Deal with safer steps first. Make an effort to get daytime gentle publicity (particularly by way of morning daylight), restrict or block night blue-light publicity, set up circadian consistency (by sticking to the identical sleep/wake instances), and check out confirmed sleep enhancers like supplementing with magnesium, glycine, or tart cherry.
- Begin low and gradual. If you do need to discover cannabinoids, which is not essentially a nasty concept general, begin with very low THC (or CBD-dominant choices) and monitor the way it impacts your sleep high quality—not simply the length, however the way it feels and the way you operate the following day.
To sum it up: THC and CBD would possibly sedate you, however sedation just isn’t the identical as restorative sleep.
Shield your REM cycles firstly, since this has a significant affect in your temper and productiveness the next day.
P.S.: Whereas the examine above reveals that *sedating* your self with CBD or THC for sleep doesn’t at all times equal totally restorative relaxation, these compounds may help ease stress, calm the nervous system, assist restoration, and even scale back irritation.
That’s why I hold Aspect Well being’s Full Spectrum Most Energy CBD Oil readily available—whether or not I’m touring, beneath strain, or simply must take the sting off. I’ll use a dropper or two of the oil, or typically one or two gummies, relying on the scenario. If you wish to attempt it your self, you need to use code Ben15 to save lots of 15% off your order.
Need to uncover extra about find out how to expertise the upsides of CBD, THC, and full-spectrum hemp, with out the frequent pitfalls? You possibly can take a look at these assets to grasp how dosing, ratios, and supply strategies could make all of the distinction:
Your Well being & Wellness Hub Simply Obtained a Contemporary New Look—Discover LIFE Community’s Fantastically Redesigned Expertise 🎉
Too usually, your well being and wellness journey feels scattered: one place for podcasts, one other for recipes, one other for Q&As, and limitless looking simply to search out what truly works.
That’s why we not too long ago redesigned LIFE Community—to make it simpler than ever to entry the steerage, assets, and group it is advisable to thrive.
Now, every part it is advisable to dwell a wholesome, optimized life exists in a single glossy, easy-to-use house, together with:
✨ Direct Entry to Specialists: Faucet into premium content material from world-class well being leaders, delivering cutting-edge exercises, vitamin plans, recipes, and wellness insights designed to assist rework your physique and thoughts.
👥 Like-Minded Folks to Share Your Journey With: Be a part of uplifting teams and boards the place you possibly can join, ask questions, share wins, and develop alongside others who share your ardour for well being and longevity.
🥗 Recipes & Instruments: Entry easy, nourishing recipes and assets to gas your way of life, making wholesome decisions simpler and extra pleasing.
🤖 “Ask Ben” AI: Get personalised solutions anytime from my AI, skilled on many years of my well being and wellness content material—your 24/7 useful resource for fast, dependable steerage.
✨ New Function—Vetted Wellness Spots: Uncover curated “Locations” that actually assist your well being—from seed-oil-free eating places to natural markets, gyms, and extra. Every spot is handpicked so you possibly can gas your physique with one of the best.
With knowledgeable steerage, group assist, and trusted suggestions, that is your shortcut to more healthy dwelling and your launchpad to lasting change.
👉 You possibly can click on right here to discover the brand new web site at the moment!
*Right here’s* How one can Obtain Teaching, Exercises & Biohacking Assist—with TRIUMPH Teaching
I get it—navigating your well being and health in at the moment’s world can really feel like chasing a shifting goal. One week it’s about your macros, the following it’s wearables and peptide stacks.
When was the final time you had an precise crew serving to you type by the noise, guiding you step-by-step based mostly in your distinctive biomarkers, targets, and way of life?
With TRIUMPH Teaching, you acquire entry to elite-level assist with out the guesswork.
We’ve got totally different teaching plans to satisfy you wherever you might be. Work 1-on-1 with considered one of my knowledgeable coaches, or as a part of a bunch. No matter you select, you’ll be rooted in real-time changes and outcomes. In case your targets contain optimizing VO2 max, chasing longevity, or simply making an attempt to construct muscle and mobility proper out of your lounge, we’ve acquired you coated.
Need to discover your TRIUMPH teaching choices?
Fill out our teaching kind, and considered one of our knowledgeable coaches will attain out to debate how that will help you obtain extraordinary health and peak efficiency.
This Week in Well being & Efficiency: What the Newest Analysis Says
☕ Espresso’s Hidden Catch: Love including cream and sugar to your espresso? This behavior can wipe out espresso’s pure advantages for longevity and cardiovascular safety, in accordance with a brand new meta-analysis (examine right here).
🧬 Male Fertility Boosters: A large meta-analysis of fifty randomized managed trials with 5,266 males discovered dietary supplements like alpha-lipoic acid, CoQ10, L-carnitine, selenium, and zinc + folic acid considerably improved sperm high quality (learn the examine).
💩 Poop Tablets for Longevity?: Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) from preconditioned wholesome donors present promise in rejuvenating the intestine microbiome, selling wholesome growing old, and doubtlessly extending lifespan, though regulatory and security considerations stay (full examine right here).
🌱 Microplastics & the Intestine: Need to flush out microplastics? Sufficient soluble fiber and probiotics may help improve elimination and shield intestine well being, in accordance with new analysis (examine right here).
Key Takeaway: From what you place in your espresso cup to the state of your intestine microbiome, easy each day decisions—like your fiber consumption, complement decisions, and even future therapies like FMT—can profoundly form fertility, longevity, and resilience.
Need to dive deeper? Click on the hyperlinks above to discover the analysis, and click on right here to comply with me on X for all the newest well being and efficiency information scorching off the press!
Product Of The Week
::: Assist Sluggish Down Growing older with 20% off Full-Spectrum Minerals :::
I discuss lots about working smarter, not more durable, and about making small, strategic adjustments that compound over time to maintain you trying, feeling, and performing your greatest.
A kind of small each day adjustments (and considered one of my largest secrets and techniques for slowing down growing old) is defending towards mineral depletion.
As you age, your demand for minerals goes manner up, inflicting you to wish extra of the next:
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Zinc and selenium: Crucial vitamins for pores and skin well being, collagen manufacturing, and wrinkle protection.
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Calcium, iron, and boron: Minerals that assist metabolism and promote wholesome physique composition.
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Magnesium and potassium: Important parts that keep muscle operate, regulate electrolyte steadiness, and allow deep, restorative sleep.
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Chromium: A hint mineral essential for sustaining a secure temper and supporting mind operate.
The issue?
As a consequence of depleted soils and declining meals high quality, even the cleanest weight-reduction plan normally received’t meet your mineral wants.
That’s why I exploit BEAM Minerals.
As a substitute of popping a dozen totally different capsules daily, I simply take two capfuls of their liquid minerals each morning: one capful of their Electrolyze and considered one of Micro-BOOST.
They style like water, they’re almost 100% bioavailable, and your physique absorbs them inside minutes.
These formulation are additionally loaded with fulvic and humic complexes, that are highly effective antioxidants and transport molecules that shuttle minerals deep into your cells, the place they increase mitochondrial vitality manufacturing and battle irritation.
If you’d like an all-in-one, full-spectrum mineral answer to replenish your shops, assist restoration, and really feel many years youthful—particularly in the event you’re navigating the hormonal shifts of menopause or simply seeking to decelerate growing old—give BEAM Minerals a attempt.
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Podcasts I Recorded This Week:
