Beginning Cold Thermogenesis

Cold thermogenesis seems to be getting more popular as high level athletes (e.g. Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps) and biohackers (Dr. Jack Kruse, Dave Asprey) have added it to their tool sets. I decided a while back to begin researching it and am now jumping into the fray.

Benefits From Cold Thermogenesis:

• Burning white fat (kind that gives you cellulite and generally unattractive)
• Stimulating brown fat (good/needed kind)
• Converts some white fat to brown
• Lowered inflammation (keeping inflammation low is essential for many endeavors)
• Increased recovery from injury
• More efficient metabolism
• Can suppress appetite while increasing energy
• Resistance to cold and more efficient dealing with heat
• Improved thyroid function
• Increased leptin sensitivity
• Increased muscle strength
• Improved sleep

Okay, I'm interested.

Equipment needed:

• Thermometers (one for skin and one for water)
• Compression clothing (personally haven't gotten these yet)
• Healthy amount of caution

First Step:

Beginning with five minute shower at 55f and two minute face immersion at 50f daily for two weeks.

Reasons Why Being Better and Eating Wheat Doesn't Mix

Wheat. The big trend that I hear a lot of right now is gluten. Yes, gluten can be *extremely* bad for you physically and mentally and that's fairly easily quantified. That said, gluten is in wheat. Gluten free wheat should be better, and I'm not going to get into whole grain wheat right now but believe me that the science doesn't follow the idea that eating most of your diet from whole grains or any wheat will be good for you (unless you're starving to death). Also, wheat is a subclass of grains and I will not dive into all grains right now.

Let's run through some reasons wheat isn't making you better:

• Cancer cells fall in love with simple carbohydrates
• Stomach fat (lovingly referred to as the "American Gut")
• Inflammation
• Mental fog
• Mycotoxins
• Mold
• Gut damage
• Damage to the gall bladder and bile production
• Less than optimal bone health
• Less energy
• Lowered immune system

Possible long terms effects:

• Infertility
• Type 2 diabetes
• Multiple sclerosis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Lupus
• Vitiligo
• Narcolepsy
• Schizophrenia
• Autism
• Depression
• Huntington’s
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• Hypothyroidism
• Porphyria

I've always loved cereal, there are quite extensive studies coming out that grains and sugary foods in particular can be as addictive, because it hits a lot of the same receptors, as cocaine. If that sounds crazy try mentioning to somebody that they go a week without it and see the kind of responses you'll typically get. One alternative to wheat I enjoy is rather than not having sandwiches get a head of good cabbage and use that to hold everything together. Some studies show that if fermented there may be specialized benefits. Yes french toast is delicious, sadly for most humans it's also slowly killing you.

Resources, studies and further reading:

http://rawfoodsos.com/2010/12/15/new-china-study-links-wheat-with-weight-gai/

http://www.bulletproofexec.com/another-reason-wheat-destroys-your-performance/

http://www.naturalnews.com/034040_grains_weight_gain.html

http://www.bulletproofexec.com/podcast-25-wheat-belly-with-dr-william-davis-md/

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2010/09/19/paleo-diet-solution/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22237879

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16126993

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/wheat-gluten_b_1274872.html

MCT/Coconut Oil and Why it Can Make You Better

Can honestly say without feeling like I am over exaggerating that good quality MCT oil is quite possibly not just the healthiest oil but one of the healthiest foods on this planet. MCT oil is generally concentrated coconut oil, it can also be made from palm oil (seems good) and canola oil (avoid canola for many reasons). MCT stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides also known as fatty acids. The majority of foods are either short or long chain.

Although you can find what seems like endless anecdotal evidence of benefits, especially on coconut oil, the scientific studies are spotty at best. I will list many of the possible and individual benefits then go over my own personal benefits:

• Weight loss
• Muslce/mass gain
• Belly fat "spare tire" reduced
• Increased energy
• Improved mood
• Improved brain function
• Alzheimer's prevention/cure
• Cancer prevention/cure
• Skin care
• Scar treatment
• Assisting in putting the body in ketosis (explain more on ketones late)
• Bone and dental health
• Diabetes prevention/cure
• Improving allergies
• Improving immune system
• Pneumonia cure
• Improved cholesterol levels

I know, right? That's a lot.

My personal results:

• Improved skin
• Bone and dental health
• Improving allergies
• Improving immune system
• Improved mood/energy
• Belly fat reduced
• Muscle/mass gain
• Improved brain function
• Quicker entry into ketosis

Those are the benefits I was able to quantify using things like a journal, brain exercises, physical exercises, fasting, and a Elimination diet to add validity to it being the coconut and MCT oil rather than something else I was ingesting. Also though it's flu season I have not been sick in about half a year although I work in public areas and travel semi frequently.

Dosage I was using is 2-4 tbsp daily. Using two with coffee then with dinner. Only side effect I've heard of from upping the dosage specifically on an empty stomach is GI issues such as diarrhea. I never had this issue, but I wasn't trying to cure cancer or Alzheimers. 

There's lots of ways to get MCTs. I'd recommend staying away from the cheap processed stuff and get either organic extra virgin coconut oil or good quality MCT oils derived coconut and (but not only) palm oil if you can afford it to get all the benefits.