George Ferman Profile picture
Nov 17 20 tweets 16 min read Read on X
Most people trying to improve their health waste money on the wrong things.

So before you spend any money on your health journey, make sure that you're applying these free or quite cheap tools.

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*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*

It's George.

This thread will basically try to:

-Prevent people from wasting money on fancy tools that don't really work simply because they have the wrong priorities

-Showcase that even if you don't have a lot of money, you can still improve your health.

Let's get into it/the tools.
Number 1: Assess your starting point through the following metrics.

-Measure your resting heart rate.
-Measure your temperature.
-Cooper test (basically a running test for VO2 Max).
-Measure your blood pressure.
-Waist to height ratio.
-Orthostatic test.
-BOLT score.
-Write down symptoms you have that indicate dysfunction in very key functions of the human body (libido, energy levels, gut issues etc).

In fact, some of these might provide more insights compared to an isolated blood marker.Image
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Number 2: Realize that when it comes to food, you can cover A LOT of your nutritional needs with just:
-300 grams of quality shrimp/octopus or squid
-10 whole eggs
-200 grams of beef or lamb heart
-200 grams of raw cheese
-2 pounds of strawberries, oranges, kiwis, berries or something seasonal
-Brewer's yeast/marmite
-100 grams of beef liver
-Adding EVOO, potatoes, mushrooms and easy to digest vegetables in just one of your daily meals
-4 pounds of bone in red meat
per week

Are these the cheapest foods? No.

Are they cheaper than you might expect if they are sourced properly? Yes.

P.S: If you have the space realize that growing a garden turns out to be easier than we think.Image
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Number 3: Work on the lymphatic system through certain massages/exercises.

There are many tools you can use in order to work on the lymphatic system.

Some are free, some have a low cost and some are a bit expensive.

But free ones such as big 6, putting legs up on a wall and similar ones (just Google "lymphatic drainage exercises") can be quite powerful.

Now if you have no idea what the lymphatic system is, it's a subsystem of the circulatory system and the immune system.

It is responsible for filtering out waste products, absorbing fats from the intestines, releasing lymphocytes, gathering the excess fluid from the tissues and bringing it back into the bloodstream in order for us to maintain normal fluid levels.

So it's pretty important.

Just like when it comes to the other tools, i've done a full thread on the lymphatic system as well that you can find here:

x.com/Helios_Movemen…Image
Number 4: Spend more time in nature.

Spending more time in nature can do more for your health than a 617-step biohacking routine.

Here's why.

-It reduces cortisol quite fast.

Even 30 minutes spent in nature can lower cortisol by 30%-50%.

These numbers are huge considering the fact that high cortisol levels, are linked to issues ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes all the way to hypothyroidism, depression and cancer.

-Spending more time in forests, specifically, is great for the immune system because we are breathing in phytoncides (antimicrobial compounds emitted by trees) and these increase the activity and number of natural killer (NK) cells.

-Spending time in forests can increase levels of DHEA and adiponectin, which support our cardiovascular and overall metabolic health.

-Less air pollution.

Urban air in most big cities is shown to contain various carcinogens.

-It's one of the most powerful interventions when it comes to circadian health.

-Walking in nature reduces amygdala activity (especially in women).

Whatever your thoughts and beliefs about trauma are, one thing is for sure.

Traumatic events often result in an overactive amygdala, leading to a heightened state of alertness and a perception of danger in non-threatening situations.

This makes us unable to think clearly and process various data properly.

So given the fact that you, me and everyone you know will 100% go through something very traumatic because well, that's life, using walks in nature during these periods can help more than you might think.

Now i am not saying that these walks will cure everything overnight.

All i’m saying is that they can be a great tool for assisting the recovery from these issues.Image
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Number 5: Exercise

Movement is medicine and having an active lifestyle (walking daily, lifting, playing sports etc) is of course a cornerstone for our health and crucial for our hormonal health, brain health, mood and a lot more.

Even plain walking it is also a great way to balance your blood sugar after meals.

Flat out sitting all day is unnatural and ruins our mood, cardiovascular health and digestion.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30409414/Image
Number 6: Stretching.

Now if you've neglected stretching don't worry, you're not alone.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33338988/As a typical bro i neglected this for a long time as well since mobility drills took care of my warm ups just fine.

But unfortunately since most of us sit for multiple hours a day, do bodybuilding exercises, experience stress and so on, we need to make stretching a priority even if it is for 5 minutes a day.

It's also a great way to unwire and calm the mind.

Not to even mention that poor posture can negatively affect our gut health and gut issues are pretty common these days.

If you're still skeptical, stretching can be superior to walking when it comes to lowering blood pressure.
Number 7: Spending less time on social media/using them more consciously.

First and foremost, you are probably aware by now that billions of dollars are spent on social media algorithms each year in order to make them as addictive as possible but in order to do that obviously, our own emotions need to be used against us and obviously, our emotional health has a great impact on our physical health.

They are designed to keep us on a sympathetic state for as long as possible but this has a greater negative impact which thankfully is realized as soon as someone decides to take a break.

In order to understand how but it has gotten, scientists actually study the effects of "doomscrolling".

This is not a joke. It has gotten THAT bad.Image
Number 8: Grounding.

You can have the perfect nutrition, the perfect workout plan, get the most cutting-edge supplements and substances that are supposed to do miracles, but if you do not ground, you will never reach true peak levels of health.

We carry a constant flow of electrical charge which we need to discharge and if we never do this and thus never restore and maintain the body’s natural electrical state, disease will inevitably happen.

Our bodies need lots of stuff in order to be healthy and one of them is grounding. In modern societies, we are bombarded with sources of oxidative stress but the good news are that the surface of the earth, possesses a limitless and continuously renewed supply of free or mobile electrons as a consequence of a global atmospheric electric circuit.

When you’re grounding, you’re transferring these electrons (negatively charged subatomic particles) from the earth to your body which can produce a reduction reaction and thus reduce oxidative stress (free radicals have unpaired electrons)).

A direct earth connection enables both diurnal electrical rhythms-free electrons to flow from the earth to the body and neutralize the positively charged free radicals.

Every cell in our bodies is affected by electromagnetic fields and just as your cells can’t be healthy under and unhealthy environment, they can’t be healthy under unhealthy electromagnetic fields.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25848315/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31831261/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28987038/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36481428/
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22291721/

Grounding is free and consistently practicing it will skyrocket all aspects of your health and well-being.

If you don't ground daily, you haven't covered the absolute foundation of what you need to do to be healthy by default in our nnEMF filled world and you can change that by even 30 minutes a day.Image
Number 9: Some type of gratitude practice.

Believe it or not, this was built in in everyone's life for a long time.

Every culture had various traditions and practices based on this because let's face it, negative stuff happens all the time.

The same thing is true today and if we are only exposed to problems, sooner or later it will have a negative impact on the way we think so we need to balance this out.

Any type of gratitude practice will put you in a very healing emotional state.Image
Number 10: Fasting.

Now, this might annoy some people, which is fine, but i don’t think that fasting is a tool for beginners.

I think that most people should start by consuming more micronutrients and providing the right building blocks before considering fasting.

That being said, fasting can obviously be a good tool for both physical and spiritual reasons that has been praised for thousands of years.

It can also have many other benefits such as recognizing the hyper-consumer culture that’s around food.

Note: If you are going to fast, slam down electrolytes (the salts, not the ones filled with things such as artificial sweeteners) and have a snack with you just in case your blood sugar drops too much (if you feel dizzy even after consuming electrolytes, just stop and break the fast))).
Number 11: Breathing techniques.

Our breath affects our entire body breath is such as powerful tool.

Some of my favorite breathing techniques are:
1. Breathe very slowly and aim to get one breath every 10 seconds (try a 4 second inhale and a 6 second exhale (since the exhale triggers the relaxation response).

You can also try breathing for 4 seconds, holding your breath for 1 and exhaling for 5 seconds.

If you do 5-6 rounds of these, you will find yourself more relaxed.

2. Wim Hof breathing

3. Buteyko (yes, there is a typo in the pic)Image
Number 12: Sweating.

You might think that sweating is just a bonus great tool for us to deal with the toxic loads that we're exposed to daily but think again.

Sweating for example can even improve our gut health and this isn't a joke. Image
Number 13: Mitigating the artificial blue light in devices such as your PC or laptop with free programs like f.lux.

Artificial blue light that's emitted from these devices, can even exacerbate your acne in case you're struggling with it and contribute to skin ageing.

In summary:

Artificial blue light is a range of the visible light spectrum with a wavelength between 400 and 495 nm.

A few things that exposure to artificial blue light can cause include:
-Raise corticotropin-like intermediate peptide (ACTH(18-39)) which functions as an insulin secretagogue in the pancreas
-Raise cortisol
-GnRH deficiency (GnRH signals to the pituitary gland to make and secrete things such as LH and FSH which are crucial for testosterone and progesterone)
-Melanin degradation
-Neuropathy (damaged nerves)
-Insomnia
-Fatigue
-Suppress BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factors is obviously a neurotropic factor found in the brain (but also expressed in the retina and even the kidneys) which supports the health of neurons and synapses).
-Increase leptin (leptin is a hormone made mainly by adipose cells which acts on receptors in the hypothalamus in order to control our hunger signals among other things)
-Depression
-Headaches
-Gut issues (mainly by messing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) which stimulates pancreatic bicarbonate secretion, bile salts and similar things)
-Migraines
-Anxiety
-Dark circles
-Adrenal fatigue (a very underrated cause behind the adrenal fatigue epidemic that’s been noticed)
-Dehydration (it messes vasopressin (essential for fluid and electrolyte balance)
-Dysregulated circadian rhythm (you are literally signaling to your body non stop that you’re in the middle of the desert)
-Skin aging
-Suppress melatonin
and a lot more.Image
Number 14: Visualization. Image
Number 15: Sleeping in a dark room.

For millions of years, we lived under the influence of sources of light with a lux of 0.0001-3.4 at night.



But now?
You can live even under 500! This is 50.000 times MORE in some cases.

And poor sleep is not something to take lightly.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/2…
Number 16: Practise cold exposure the right way.

We say “the right way” because cold exposure can be a stressor for a lot of people and mess up with your workouts if you do it right after.

So it's not for everyone.

But we’ve known for quite a while the benefits that cold exposure can have on our overall well-being (one example is winter swimmerspubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15253480/)
Now the good news is that even a short cold shower can have benefits for our immune system especially when it comes to white blood cells, T-cells and NK cells.

Studies:
1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8925815/
2. liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/ji…
3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17999770/
4. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8925815/
Number 17: Ignore fancy supplements unless you've tried well established ones such as creatine, taurine, glycine, magnesium etc.

Minerals for example orchestrate thousands of functions, including:
-Tens of thousands of enzymatic reactions that rely on minerals as cofactors (magnesium activates 300+ enzymes for ATP production, zinc a few hundred as well like carbonic anhydrase).
-Nervous system regulation: Sodium, potassium, and calcium maintain nerve impulses and muscle contractions via ion channels.
-Detoxification: Selenium and zinc support liver enzymes like glutathione peroxidase for example.
-Energy production: Iron in hemoglobin and cytochromes for example and magnesium in mitochondria fuels ATP production.
-Blood cell production: The go-to examples for these are copper and iron for red blood cells and zinc for white blood cells.
-Oxygen metabolism and vitamin utilization/metabolism: Minerals like zinc are crucial for vitamin A metabolism for example and manganese and copper are crucial for superoxide dismutase (SOD).
-Blood sugar/insulin regulation: The go-to examples are that magnesium improves insulin sensitivity, zinc modulates glucose uptake and chromium enhances insulin signaling.
-Gut Health: Zinc aids hydrochloric acid (HCl) and enzyme production, copper has antimicrobial properties, chloride supports HCl as well.
-Hormonal support: Iodine and selenium for thyroid hormones T4/T3, boron, zinc and magnesium for steroid hormone metabolism.
-Oxidative stress defense: Selenium, zinc, copper, and manganese are crucial for antioxidant enzymes like GPx and SOD.
-Immune function: Zinc boosts T-cells and NK cells for example.
-Cholesterol conversion.
-Hydration: Electrolytes such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and chloride regulate fluid balance through the Na/K-ATPase pump.

The list is endless.Image
That's all.
I hope that you found this thread helpful.

If you did, make sure to leave a like/RT.

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More from @Helios_Movement

Nov 11
If you will never fix your brain unless you fix your mitochondria.

Just a single cortical neuron utilizes approximately 4.7 billion ATPs per second in a resting human brain.

Here are some basic steps you can take to support the function of your mitochondria.

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*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*

Now first and foremost, mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a host of health conditions ranging from chronic fatigue, low testosterone, depression, bipolar disorders, low testosterone and neurodegenerative diseases all the way to cardiovascular issues, diabetes and even sleep apnea.

Now, what are mitochondria?

Mitochondria are subcellular organelles that likely originated from ancient α-proteobacteria engulfed by eukaryotic cells.

These organelles produce the vast majority of cellular energy through adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is needed to power every cell's biochemical reactions.

They also modulate processes like cell signaling, calcium homeostasis and apoptosis.

So it’s really no wonder that mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in a host of health conditions.

When it comes to the structure of these double-membrane organelles, it’s a good idea to be aware of the following.

We have the:

-Outer membrane that is highly permeable due to porins such as voltage-dependent anion channels that allow small molecules and ions to pass freely.

-Inner membrane that is less permeable, with selective transporters, that houses the electron transport chain (ETC) and ATP synthase.

-Intermembrane space that is the region between the membranes.

This one is enriched with protons during ATP synthesis, creating a gradient essential for energy production through chemiosmosis.

-Mitochondrial matrix that is the innermost compartment, containing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), 70S ribosomes and enzymes for metabolic pathways like the Krebs cycle.Image
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Now let’s dive a bit deeper into their main functions.

Let's start with ATP production.

Our cells require, well, energy in order to run properly.
Mitochondria produce ATP through oxidative phosphorylation in the ETC.

How?

In a nutshell, electrons from NADH (complex I) and FADH₂ (complex II) pass through complexes III and IV, pumping protons into the intermembrane space. The resulting proton gradient drives ATP synthase to convert ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi) into ATP.

If you have no idea what these are, ATP production happens primarily through three stages:

-Glycolysis (happens in the cytoplasm)
-The citric acid cycle (or the Krebs cycle (happens in the mitochondrial matrix))
-Oxidative phosphorylation (happens across the mitochondrial inner membrane)

Glycolysis is anaerobic (no oxygen needed) and takes one glucose molecule breaks it into two 3-carbon pyruvate molecules through a 10-step enzymatic process (glucose gets two phosphates added whcich uses 2 ATP and gives us fructose-1,6-bisphosphate which splits into dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, then the former also converts to G3P, so we get two G3Ps and each one is then oxidized (loses electrons to NAD⁺ and forms 2 NADH (these basically “carry” energy)).

Finally phosphates are transferred to ADP making 4 ATP total (only 2 were used). After some shuffling, you’re left with 2 pyruvate.

Now, we take these 2 pyruvate molecules and each one is converted to acetyl-CoA by pyruvate dehydrogenase. This process releases CO₂ and generates 2 NADH.

For each acetyl-CoA, the following happens: Acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate get together to form citrate which reshuffles into isocitrate, then isocitrate loses CO₂ and electrons, forming α-ketoglutarate and 1 NADH.

Now that the first oxidation is done, we move to the second one were α-Ketoglutarate drops another CO₂, yielding succinyl-CoA and 1 NADH. Now in this critical step, succinyl-CoA transfers a phosphate to GDP (making GTP, which converts to 1 ATP).

The oxidations don’t stop here and succinate becomes fumarate (1 FADH₂), then malate, then oxaloacetate (1 NADH), completing the loop.

And we can finally talk about oxidative phosphorylation and its two parts, the electron transport chain (ETC) and chemiosmosis. The first one is a series of protein complexes (I-IV) and carriers (ubiquinone, cytochrome c) embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane.Image
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Read 17 tweets
Nov 10
Here's the list of nutrients most people don't get enough of and experience:
-Fatigue
-High blood pressure
-Skin issues
-Low libido
-Brain fog
-High blood sugar
-Hair loss
-A compromised immune system
and more, as a result.

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*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*

Before we even get into the nutrients, you must be aware of two things.

Number 1: Each macronutrient (protein, carbs, fats) relies on specific metabolic pathways that require distinct vitamins, minerals and cofactors for optimal function.

So basically, our micronutrient needs are influenced by our macronutrient intake.

Now, here are some micronutrient adjustments you can make for certain macronutrient splits.

-High-protein diets
B6: Cofactor for transaminases and decarboxylases in amino acid metabolism.
B9: Aids in methionine metabolism.
B7: Supports amino acid catabolism and energy production from branched-chain amino acids.
B12: Essential for methionine synthesis.
Magnesium: Facilitates protein synthesis.
Molybdenum: Cofactor in the urea cycle (via xanthine oxidase), helping detoxify nitrogen waste from protein breakdown.

-High-carb diets
B1: Essential for pyruvate dehydrogenase.
B3: Needed for NAD+ synthesis in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.
Magnesium: Cofactor for enzymes in glucose metabolism.
Zinc: Supports insulin signaling and glucose uptake.
Potassium: Supports insulin signaling and glucose uptake.
B5 : Precursor to coenzyme A, vital for metabolizing carbs into energy via the Krebs cycle.
Chromium: Enhances insulin sensitivity, improving glucose uptake in high-carb diets.

-High-fat diets
Choline: Critical for fat transport (via lipoproteins).
Electrolytes (Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium): Low-carb intake = can't hold onto enough electrolytes in the long run.
L-Carnitine: Transports fatty acids into mitochondria for energy.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Supports mitochondrial energy production from fats, reducing fatigue in depression.
Glycine and taurine (for bile)Image
Number 2: The main things that deplete us of various micronutrients, interfere with their absorption or increase the need for certain micronutrients:

1. Sweating
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Electrolytes but especially potassium

2.Alcohol
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-B vitamins
-Electrolytes
-Vitamin K

3. Sodium fluoride, bromine etc
Nutrients they mainly interfere with:
-Minerals and especially trace minerals

4. Smoking
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Retinol
-Vitamin C
-Taurine

5. Phytic acid
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Minerals and especially zinc

6. Stimulants
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Vitamin C
-Electrolytes
-B1
-B2
-B5

7. Statins
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-CoQ10
-Vitamin D
-Vitamin A, K and E depending on the dosage

8. Birth control pills
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Everything, just stop using them

9. Antidepressants
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-B vitamins
-Vitamin K
-Vitamin D

10. Blood pressure medication
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-B vitamins
-Electrolytes

11. Stress
Nutrients it mainly depletes:
-Minerals
-B vitamins

12. Heavy metals
Nutrients they mainly deplete:
-Minerals

13. Herbicides and pesticides.
These terms are too broad, but most of the trouble makers deplete/interfere with:
-Minerals
-Glycine
-Vitamin K

14. NAC/glutathione
Now don't freak out, NAC can be a useful supplement but it will mess up copper status and even zinc if it's used for months on end.

Same with things such as NAD+, niacin or NMN for example.

If you're going to use them for a long time you should encounter for their side effects and in this case add some TMG for example.

15. Binders such as activated charcoal.
Nutrients it mainly depletes/interferes with:
-Minerals

16. Elevated PTH
Nutrients it mainly interferes with:
-Calcium
-MagnesiumImage
Read 21 tweets
Nov 9
Proper sauna use is one of the best things you can do for your health during this winter.

Overall, it is shown to:
-Protect against neurodegenerative diseases
-Rapidly alleviate depression (faster than antidepressants)
-Be one of the best tools for detoxing from industrial toxins
-Support the immune system
-Enhance physical performance
-Promote myelination
-Improve cardiovascular health
-Alleviate chronic pain
-Reduce fatigue in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
-Be quite effective for resolving insomnia
and more.

Here's a short guide on the benefits of the sauna.
Thread🧵Image
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*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*

For the few of you who might be unaware, sauna therapy involves controlled exposure to heat, typically in a traditional (hot rock/steam) sauna (160-200°F, 70-100°C) or an infrared sauna (120-140°F, 49-60°C), inducing hyperthermia and sweating.

This triggers a cascade of physiological responses, including activation of the HPA axis, sympathetic nervous system and heat shock protein (HSP) pathways.

These responses drive adaptations in neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, immune and integumentary systems, contributing to the following benefits.

But besides these, saunas have been a cornerstone of wellness practices for centuries, from the sweat lodges of indigenous cultures to the Finnish saunas embedded in modern spa culture.Image
So let's see some benefits (some of which we've known for 30+ years).

Number 1: Mood enhancement and depression reduction.

In one study, a single infrared sauna session (at 135-140°F for 30 min) reduced depression symptoms by ~50% in patients with major depressive disorder.

Not only that, but the effects persisted for six weeks.

This outperformed SSRIs (3-4x effect size) and exercise (2x effect size).

Another study on mildly depressed patients with fatigue and appetite loss reported significant improvements in appetite and mental complaints after infrared sauna therapy.Image
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Read 15 tweets
Nov 8
🧵The ultimate candida thread🧵

Most people don't really understand how problematic and dangerous having candida overgrowth actually is.

First, some potential signs and symptoms of Candida overgrowth include:
-Digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, white coating on the tongue or gas (especially after eating carbs).
-Brain fog that, even though it might sound weird, it’s very similar to a low-grade hangover (since it releases acetaldehyde) which is experienced once again, especially after eating carbs.
-Blood sugar regulation issues.
-Intense sugar cravings.
-Athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, jock itch, oral thrush, bad breath, acne and eczema.
-Chronic fatigue.
-Frequent infections.
-Leaky gut.
-Developing more and more food intolerances.

Now, how can a candida overgrowth lead to these symptoms?

Here are some basic explanations.

First, it disrupts the balance of gut microbiota, reducing beneficial bacteria.

This leads to fermentation of undigested carbohydrates, producing gas and bloating by 2–3-fold as most studies suggest.

It also secretes aspartyl proteases and phospholipases, damaging the mucosal bilayer which can lead to bloating and general discomfort.

When it comes to the oral cavity, it forms biofilms creating a white coating on the tongue.

Then, it metabolizes sugars via fermentation, producing acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct that crosses the blood-brain barrier and impairs neuronal function, causing brain fog, confusion, and a “hangover-like” feeling.

In animal models for example, candida-induced inflammation reduced cognitive clarity by 30%. Candida also consumes glucose for growth and biofilm formation, causing fluctuations in blood sugar levels, especially after high-carb meals.

In diabetic patients for example, an ovegrowth led to a 2-fold increase in insulin resistance.

Regarding sugar cravings, candida albicans thrives on glucose and its overgrowth may signal the host to consume more sugars throygh gut-brain axis modulation of hormones that control our appetite such as ghrelin.

Many studies show that a Candida overgrowth increased sugar cravingsand ghrelin levels in 20–30% of patients.

Fatigue-wise, candida overgrowth triggers cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α, causing systemic inflammation that disrupts energy metabolism, the acetaldehyde impairs mitochondrial function, reducing ATP production, biofilms and mucosal damage impair nutrient absorption (especially when it comes to B vitamins and iron), which are critical for energy production.

Then, candida overgrowth overwhelms mucosal immunity, reducing IgA and phagocytic activity, increasing susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections.

And finally when it comes to effects such as developing a leaky gut and food intolerances, the overgrowth degrades tight junction proteins such as occludin and ZO-1 (it’s shown to reduce ZO-1 expression by 40%), increasing intestinal permeability allowing toxins and antigens to leak into the bloodstream triggering immune responses and food intolerances (Candida-induced leaky gut has shown to lead to a 30% increase in food intolerances).Image
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But the problems don't end here.

An overgrowth will also:
1. Increase D-Arabinitol.

Unlike L-arabinitol (produced by humans), D-arabinitol is specific to fungal metabolism. D-arabinitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol (polyol) produced by certain fungi, including Candida albicans and other Candida species, during carbohydrate metabolism (candida metabolizes glucose into D-arabinitol via the pentose phosphate pathway).

2. Pyruvate accumulation and thiamine (B1) deficiency.

Pyruvate is an intermediate in glucose metabolism, formed after glycolysis and is converted into acetyl-CoA by pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) for entry into the citric acid cycle.

The problem now is that acetaldehyde inhibits PDH by binding to its coenzyme A or thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) (*) sites and excess pyruvate is shunted to lactate production through lactate dehydrogenase.

(*)Acetaldehyde inactivates thiamine by binding to its active sites.

*Partly why a lot of people who have a candida overgrowth and start using thiamine as a pre-workout, anecdotally improve their endurance at the gym by 20-30-40%.

3. Urea cycle dysfunction (why a lot of people who have a candida overgrowth get severe headaches after supplementing glutamine without any magnesium or P5P (ammonia crosses the BBB)).

Candida can produce ammonia as a byproduct of amino acid metabolism and thus overwhelm the urea cycle, leading to accumulation of intermediates such as ornithine, citrulline or ammonia itself (the urea cycle detoxifies ammonia into urea via enzymes like carbamoyl phosphate synthetase and ornithine transcarbamylase).

4. Increased BBB (blood-brain-barrier) permeability. Acetaldehyde disrupts tight junction proteins such as occludin and claudin-5 in BBB endothelial cells, yet chronic BBB dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative diseases and even multiple sclerosis.

5. Increased oxalic acid production (and absorption).

Oxalic acid is produced by Candida via the glyoxylate cycle, which converts carbohydrates into oxalates

Why is this a problem? Because oxalates overall can cause joint pain, insomnia, prostate issues, kidney issues, skin issues, brain fog, fatigue, hair loss, issues with eyesight and even affect autism and your blood vessels believe it or not.

How are they able to affect all these? Well, the easiest rabbit hole to go down to is how they can deplete glutathione.

There are simple papers you can read as well in general such as this: sciencedirect.com/science/articl…

We can go on and on when it comes to the problems that a Candida overgrowth can create.

Candida for example can release so much acetaldehyde and thus salsolinol all the way to making someone experience symptoms of anhedonia.

Now when it comes to diagnostic tools for the things we just talked about (1->5) we have:
-Urine D-arabinitol/L-arabinitol ratio
-Serum D-arabinitol
-Blood lactate
-Urine organic acid test
-Erythrocyte transketolase activity
-Urine oxalate
-Plasma ammonia
-GSH/GSSG ratioImage
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Now for the people who might be unaware of what candida even is, candida is a genus of yeast that includes close to 200 species not all of which are pathogenic.

These organisms are naturally found in and on the human body, particularly in the skin, nasal passages, digestive tract (mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine etc) and female reproductive system.

In small amounts, Candida species are typically harmless and may even play beneficial roles in the gut microbiome.

However, an overgrowth of certain pathogenic species, particularly Candida albicans, can lead to infections known as candidiasis, ranging from superficial issues like oral thrush to life-threatening systemic infections.

What’s also worth knowing from the get-go, is that candida albicans is a dimorphic fungus, existing in two primary forms:

-Yeast form: Single, oval-shaped cells ideal for dissemination through the bloodstream.

-Hyphal form: Elongated, thread-like filaments that facilitate tissue invasion and adherence to host cells.

This yeast-to-hypha transition is a major virulence factor, regulated by environmental cues like temperature (37°C favors hyphae), pH, CO2 levels, and nutrient availability.

Key transcription factors, such as Efg1 and Ace2, and signaling pathways like cAMP-PKA and MAPK, orchestrate this process.Image
Read 21 tweets
Nov 7
Oxidative stress is a very important but far more complicated topic than the average person is made to believe.

Here's what you need to know.
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*Standard disclaimer that this does not constitute medical advice*

Oxidative stress is characterized by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce mitochondrial DNA mutations, damage the mitochondrial respiratory chain, alter membrane permeability, and influence Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial defense systems.

Calcium homeostasis refers to the maintenance of a constant concentration of calcium ions in the extracellular fluid.

It includes all of the processes that contribute to maintaining calcium at its “set point.”

Because plasma [Ca2+] rapidly equilibrates with the extracellular fluid, ECF [Ca2+] is kept constant by keeping the plasma [Ca2+] constant.Image
Maintaining a constant plasma [Ca2+] is important for things such as nerve transmission and conduction, cardigan contractility, blood clotting, cell to cell adhesion and of course bone formation.

Now a free radical attack occurs directly at complexes in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

Mitochondria are normally protected from oxidative damage by a multilayer network of mitochondrial antioxidant systems which consist of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase together with a number of low molecular weight antioxidants such as α-tocopherol and ubiquinol.

These molecules are particularly effective in scavenging lipid peroxyl radicals and preventing free radical chain reactions of lipid peroxidation.

Cumulative oxidative injuries to mitochondria, triggered by endogenous metabolic processes and/or exogenous oxidative influences, cause mitochondria to progressively become less efficient.Image
Read 14 tweets
Nov 7
Miracle supplement for high cholesterol and blood pressure revealed.

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*Standard disclaimer that nothing in this thread should be used as a substitute for medical advice*

It's George.

Plenty of people, once they hit 40-50 get on statins and since they have plenty of side effects, some of them start searching for other solutions (usually OTC supplements).

But the problem is that even though certain supplements can in fact help, high LDL overall is not caused by "one thing" so there's no one-size-fits-all magic supplement.

When it comes to LDL, it all begins with the synthesis of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) in the liver.

In hepatocytes, microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) loads apoB-100 with triglycerides, cholesterol esters, and phospholipids in the endoplasmic reticulum, forming nascent VLDL.

Each VLDL particle contains:

-One molecule of apolipoprotein B-100

-Triglycerides (50–60%)

-Cholesterol esters (20–25%)

-Chospholipids

-Smaller apolipoproteins like apoC and apoE

So the liver uses VLDL particles to transport triglycerides and cholesterol to peripheral tissues for example.Image
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Notes:

1. Insulin suppresses VLDL secretion by promoting apoB-100 degradation and inhibiting MTP.

2. High saturated fat (KEY WORD: HIGH i am not saying eat no saturated fat) and/or sugar intake increases VLDL output.

3. When M.Ds say that high cholesterol is genetic they mean that mutations in LDLR, APOB, or other lipid-regulating genes enhance VLDL production.

4. Hypothyroidism slows LPL activity, delaying VLDL breakdown into LDL.Image
Read 14 tweets

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