Ben Greenfield: Cannabis & Testosterone/Fertility

Release date: 11/24/22

Podcast Duration: 1:22:36

A Summary by Brandon Johnson, DC

4 Key Takeaways

1. Frequent cannabis use is correlated with less testosterone production

2. Carbohydrate (sugar) dense meals are usually less satiating and can lead to over eating

3. 20% of people that adhere to the government fitness guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise per week do not experience an increase in cardio respiratory fitness/health

4. 3 supplements to help manage hunger

   1. Paraxanthine (caffeine metabolite with fewer side effects)

   2. Keto esters ( provides energy without altering blood glucose levels)

   3. Amino acids (building blocks of protein that reduce muscle wasting)

In this Podcast Ben begins by offering some insight on studies regarding cannabis use and how it might affect male physiology

Recreational cannabis and testosterone/fertility

1. Males who recreationally use cannabis had on average lower total testosterone levels and decreased sperm motility

2. The cannabis users were more likely to drink alcohol and eat poorly

3. Regular use affected primary hypogonadism the testicles, not the brain

4. Study found that people who used cannabis daily at a high dose were more affected

Ben then discusses biohacking techniques on satiety (the state of feeling full). He also explains some of the issues with the current exercise recommendations.

Foods that fill you up the fastest

1. The satiety index of common foods- used to quantify how filling certain foods are

   1. Boiled potato has the highest rating

      1. Lowest was a croissant

2. Study found that people who ate a carb dense meal were less satiated after 3 hours and more likely to consume more carbohydrates

3. Reheating a potato increases resistant starch making it less impactful on blood sugar

4. 3 supplements to take to manage hunger

   1. Paraxanthine

      1. Caffeine metabolite with fewer side effects

   2. Keto esters

      1. Provides energy without altering blood glucose levels

   3. Amino acids

      1. Building blocks of protein that reduce muscle wasting

Exercise Recommendations

1. Certain people that adhere to 150 minutes of exercise per week do not experience an increase in cardio respiratory fitness/health

   1. Up to 20% of people don't respond

   2. Fixed by doubling time

2. Fixed by upping the intensity of exercise 60 minutes of high intensity eliminated non responding group

3. The current recommendations are specific to cardio respiratory fitness/health

   1. They do not reflect the importance of lifting weights

4. May need to change the guidelines based on large percentage of non-responders

Ben ends the podcast by responding live to listeners questions.

Q&A

1. C60- a critical antioxidant also works for anti aging

   1. May be linked to reduce Alzheimer symptoms

2. Thoughts on TB 12 workout

   1. Ben thinks its a good minimalist workout to be done on vacation

   2. It is lacking weights and movements for traditional strength training to build muscle mass

   3. He believes that vibrating tools in Brady's mobility workouts are very helpful

3. Thoughts on Taurine

   1. It is an amino acid that has decent research on it

   2. Found in electrically charged tissue such as heart and brain

   3. Considered an essential nutrient

   4. Found in meat

   5. Can help with cardiac performance

   6. Usually combined with caffeine to promote energy\

   7. Enhances blood flow through vasodilation (opening of blood vessels)

   8. 1.5-2 grams per day

   9. Can be a good supplement for vegetarians/ vegans

   10. Might offset vasoconstriction (closing of blood vessels) from caffeine

4. Can supplements down regulate natural production in the body?

   1. Usually it can create desensitivity or tolerance

   2. Important to cycle on and off supplements

   3. Taking supplements that impact systems that involve feedback loops such as testosterone will reduce your body's ability to produce its natural hormones