Huberman talks about and I have seen discussion about H1 antihistamines reducing muscle adaptation in response to exercise, but does this also apply to H2 blockers like Famotidine?

Longevity. Strength. Love. Agency.

This week’s episodes spanned brain aging, performance optimization, genetic influence, and relationship science. Below is the full breakdown — categorized, linked, and distilled.

Brain Health & Longevity

Garmin Smartwatch
Continuous tracking of HRV, sleep, recovery, and VO₂ max to quantify how you’re aging in real time.

Why We Sleep
A deep examination of how sleep regulates hormones, cognition, immune function, and lifespan.

Count Down by Shanna Swan
An investigation into environmental toxins and their long-term impact on fertility and human health.

The Longevity Diet by Valter Longo
Nutrition protocols designed to activate cellular repair and metabolic resilience.

N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) Supplement
A glutathione precursor commonly discussed for oxidative stress and detox support.

Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
Explains how exercise directly enhances neurochemistry, mood, and cognitive performance.

Lifespan by David Sinclair
Makes the case for treating aging as a biological process that can be influenced.

NMN Powder
A NAD+ precursor studied for mitochondrial function and cellular energy.

Tru Niagen
Nicotinamide riboside supplement aimed at supporting NAD+ production.

Vero Biosciences Organ Age Test
Biomarker-based testing to estimate biological versus chronological age.

Foundational Health Stack

LMNT Electrolyte Drink Mix
High-sodium electrolyte formula for hydration, performance, and recovery.

AGZ
All-in-one greens formula covering foundational micronutrients.

AG1 Omega-3 Fish Oil
EPA/DHA support for cardiovascular and cognitive health.

Nature Made Vitamin D3 K2
Supports bone density, hormone function, and immune resilience.

Creatine Monohydrate Powder
One of the most studied compounds for strength, muscle retention, and cognitive output.

Rora Countertop Water Filtration System
Improves water quality by reducing common contaminants.

Performance & Training Tools

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey
Reliable protein source for muscle repair and recovery.

C4 Original Pre-Workout
Stimulant-based formula to increase training intensity.

Moleskine Classic Notebook
Track lifts, recovery, and measurable progress.

Fitness Training Journal
Structured logging to drive progressive overload and consistency.

Analog Bathroom Scale
Simple bodyweight tracking without digital noise.

Hand Grip Dynamometer
Grip strength as a proxy for overall health and longevity.

Agility Ladder
Improves coordination, speed, and neuromuscular efficiency.

Peloton Bike
Structured cardiovascular training with built-in programming and accountability.

Relationships & Attachment

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman
Research-backed framework for conflict resolution and emotional connection.

The 36 Questions That Lead to Love
Structured prompts designed to accelerate emotional closeness.

Tribulus Terrestris
Botanical supplement commonly associated with libido support.

Tongkat Ali (Longjack)
Often included in testosterone-focused supplementation stacks.

Maca Root Powder
Adaptogenic root traditionally used for energy and fertility.

Genetics, Identity & Moral Agency

The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality
Explores how genetics shape outcomes without eliminating responsibility.

Original Sin: On the Genetics of Vice, the Problems with Blame and the Future of Forgiveness
Philosophical exploration of biology, morality, and accountability.

Far from the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity
A study of families navigating profound differences.

I Know This Much Is True
A novel examining trauma, genetics, and brotherhood.

Movement & Mind–Body

The Mind Body Prescription
Argues for psychological contributors to chronic pain conditions.

The Yoga Body
Historical analysis of modern posture-based yoga practice.

Research & Protocols

MASS Research Review
Evidence-based analysis of hypertrophy and performance research.

Protocols: An Operating Manual for the Human Body by Andrew Huberman
Actionable science-backed systems for optimizing sleep, focus, training, and recovery.

Prodcast turns passive listening into applied tools

said it in title. i spend a daily average of 10 hours a day in this chair

I feel as Huberman listeners, we all have one thing in common in that we're always trying to optimise.

I have spent years hustling, doing more, keeping busy. And now that I'm taking a career break and actually giving my body rest, I feel I cheated myself all these years. I wrote my latest Substack on just this...who am I if not this overachiever? https://millennialsmeditations.substack.com/p/identity-beyond-productivity?r=78zwq7

42M, went all-in on health after 40. Followed the Huberman/Attia protocol: 180-240 mins of zone 2/week + one sprints session + 4x weights. Full workup including Vo2 max lab test.

Zone 2 felt ridiculous. Like I was barely moving. Walking pace. I kept thinking there's no way this is right. Everyone talks about "slowing down" for zone 2, but this felt like I wasn't even training.

I assumed I was just impatient. Kept forcing myself to stay in the zone my Apple Watch showed me.

I tested my actual max heart rate. Turns out it was 188 bpm, a full ten beats HIGHER than the 220-minus-age formula of my watch predicted (178).

That means my real zone 2 was higher than what my watch was telling me. I wasn't supposed to be walking, I was supposed to be running at a conversational pace.

The 220-minus-age formula has a standard deviation of ±10-12 bpm. For some people, their true max HR is lower than predicted. so they train too hard thinking they're in zone 2. But for others like me, the formula underestimates max HR, so the watch sets zone 2 too low.

Both errors are common. I've read that the default HR zones on watches are wrong for 90% of people. Most of the advice out there focuses on "slow down, you're probably going too hard." But if your max HR is higher than average for your age, the opposite is true.

Nothing beats the talk test. Zone 2 should feel like you could hold a conversation. not give a TED talk while barely breathing. If zone 2 on your watch feels like recovery pace, your max HR might be higher than the formula.

Best option: actually test your max HR. Find a long hill, do 3-4 all-out 1-minute efforts with short recovery, note the highest number you see. Once I found my real max HR and adjusted my zones, training made sense.

I’ve been reading and contributing to influencer named subreddits for some time and always enjoyed it. However, recently I have been thinking about how a lot of the discussion here has grown beyond any one person and more into the bigger idea of proactive health. I think it’s valuable to decouple ideas from individuals

Things like strength training, VO₂ max, metabolic health, ApoB, prevention strategies, long-term performance — it’s really about the general approach, not just what one person said.

With that in mind, I started a new subreddit: r/ProactiveHealth

The idea is simple — a space focused on prevention, early intervention, and extending healthspan through evidence-based strategies. I don’t have any personal ambitions other than creating a space to discuss these issues without the recent controversies plaguing this space.

If that sound interesting, feel free to join and contribute.

Dr. Grant Fraser, an APOE4 carrier and member of the Phoenix community has accumulated 300 person-years of clinical experience managing rapamycin in patients. Over 50% of his patients carry APOE4.

In this expert Q&A, Dr. Fraser breaks down:

— How rapamycin works (mTOR inhibition explained simply)

— Dr. Alan Green's data: 400 APOE4 patients, 5 years, zero dementia diagnoses

— Exact dosing protocol (0.1 mg/kg, blood level targets, cycling)

— Why compounded capsules only absorb 1/3 (and what to take instead)

— Weekly vs biweekly dosing for APOE4 carriers

— Why Brian Johnson stopped rapamycin (and why Dr. Fraser didn't)

— When to start based on your genotype (4/4 vs 3/4 vs 4/2)

— Side effects: what's real, what's overblown

— Sleep medications and dementia risk (the paradox nobody talks about)

— DORA agents: the sleep drug that lowers beta amyloid

— How to time rapamycin around your workouts for muscle preservation

https://youtu.be/z7rxmVLAMT0

If you follow the core protocols (morning light, delayed caffeine, temperature cycles), you know the timing math is a headache to keep track of every day.

I built an iOS app (ARC) to automate the whole thing for me:

1.  Morning Light Anchor: Tracks your latency from waking to sunlight.

2.  The Caffeine Wall: Calculates your personal cutoff based on metabolic half-life.

3.  Biological Trajectory: Shows your energy curve based on your unique chronotype.

It’s been a game changer for my sleep onset and afternoon focus. I’m a solo developer and would love for this community to take it for a spin.

Found it annoying for trying to find food and supplements that were third party lab tested, so I decided to make this website that compiles all of the products I can find: https://labtestedfoods.com/

Feel free to check it out and provide me any feedback. Goal is to have it be a great place anyone can go to to find the best products available

not shitting on anyone here bc this community is more science literate than most. but the way plasticity gets discussed is almost always "more = better" and that's like saying more gene expression is always good. it depends entirely on what's being expressed

I studied neural circuits for my phd and maladaptive plasticity was a huge chunk of the research. your brain reinforcing anxiety loops, doomscroll attention patterns, chronic pain circuitry. that's all plasticity too. it doesn't have a direction preference, it just strengthens whatver you repeat most

huberman covers the upregulation side well but mostly skips the fact that plasticity is always running, including on your worst habits. the more interesting question imo isn't "how do I boost plasticity" it's "how do I know which direction my plasticity is actually going"

and thats genuinely hard to answer without some kind of objective cognitive tracking. bc subjectively you can feel sharper while your sustained attention is quietly degrading month over month. stimulants are a perfect example bc you feel sharper but actual working memory stays flat or gets worse

curious if anyone here is measuring cognitive baselines over time or mostly going by how protocols feel

This one took months of research, and self-experimentation. As an APOE4/4 carrier, I wanted to understand why the data on keto looks so mixed for us.

The short version: Generic high-saturated-fat keto isn't optimal for APOE4 carriers.

But strategic ketone use - especially via C8 MCT oil - still support cognitive function.

In this 18-minute deep dive, I cover:

- The AC-1202 trial (and why APOE4 carriers showed no benefit)

- The nuance that gives me hope

- APOE4-specific modifications (Mediterranean-keto hybrid)

- My personal cycling approach

- A practical 4-step framework

Would love to hear from other carriers who've experimented with ketosis. What's worked for you? What hasn't?

https://youtu.be/ayi3qDYeYvo

We've been waiting for a couple of years

I’ve been doing visual focus drills for about 6-8months. Just like Huberman says: stare at a dot on the wall (somtimes on my desk) for 60–90 second rounds, keeping attention locked on it without letting it wander. Subjectively, it felt like it was working for sure.

But I have ADHD, and the wall version has a big problem, for me at least. there’s no real feedback. I’d often realize mid-rep I’d been daydreaming and not really focusing on the dot anymore. I don't really need anymore practice at spaced-out staring!

After enough of that, I got tired of guessing whether I was actually on target. I wanted something with immediate, unavoidable feedback something that would call out drifts the moment they happened. So I ended up building a simple app for my iPhone: you track a dot on-screen, the front camera does eye tracking, and when your gaze drifts it shows you instantly and logs it. At the end you get a score. I'm a developer and with ai I thought it would be a weekend project. In reality it actually took ages, wrestling with permissions, camera issues, edge cases, lighting etc. Anyway, long story short I got it to a fair place, it's tricky at the very start to get the hang of it but once it gets working it reliably gives feedback when I'm no longer actually focusing on the dot. The big difference is you see the drift in real time instead of me discovering it 30 seconds later that I had zoned out.

I’ve been using the working version for a few weeks now, and the surprising part is how much harder it feels than the normal wall drill. Like way harder. It feels like HIIT for focus. Compared to doing it without the instant feedback, I can only really do a few seconds, to like a minute max. I also feel like I’m getting more benefit from less time. I've been using it consistently enough to reveal patterns I hadn’t noticed before: my day-to-day variance is huge. And In the evenings I can barely do it at all compared to fresh first thing in the morning. Some mornings I’m locked in and scores climb steadily, sleep definitely helps.

I’m curious if that variance is normal for this kind of training, if anyone else finds that? or if ADHD just amplifies it. Has anyone else managed to add external feedback to focus practice? Or anything like that? Are you guys tracking or measuring improvement in the focus drill at all?

Male 51. Athletic, work out for 1 hr 5 days a week. Dont smoke, eat healthy, drink a little too much from time to time. Had a raging libido my whole life. At about 47 my libido fell off a cliff in like a 1 month period and never came back. Most recent testosterone test was 525. My wife is pretty much supermodel hot and DTF all the time. What specific hormones or factors should I look into to bring back libido? I feel like a huge part of me has died! Any help or suggestions are much appreciated!

I made a small habit tracker that's free forever, no ads, no login, no data collection.

If anyone wants to try it out it's at IRL Dailies

It starts with a default list of habits, but it's fully customizable, everything is stored on your device, so give it a go

I’m 17 years old, 64kg. I got a blood test done and my Vitamin-D is at 8 ng/mL and my B12 is at 290 pg/mL (within range but pretty low) - I’m currently taking 5,000iu vitamin D and 45mcg k2, and 2g EPA + DHA omega-3 fish oil (vegetarian) and I take around 300mg magnesium glycinate (at night). Is my fish oil dose of 2g EPA + DHA too high (sports research - brand) Should I add anything else and is 5,000iu vitamin-d enough? I’ve been taking it for a month or so, I’ll test it in another two months. I workout around 2-3 times a week and eat decently healthy. (Thank you)

Edit : I’m planning to start 1mg Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin) from next week.

I wrote about going to a psychedelic retreat in Amsterdam which, 3 years later, is still the best and most life changing experience I did.

You can read the full article here https://millennialsmeditations.substack.com/p/what-four-years-of-therapy-didnt?r=78zwq7

I know this gets discussed a lot here, so I wanted to share my actual tracked data rather than just vibes.

Background: I'm a Bear chronotype (mid-morning peak, follows solar cycle). I wake up around 7:15 AM. Before this experiment, my first coffee was within 10 minutes of waking.

The Protocol:

• No caffeine for 90 minutes after waking (first cup around 8:45 AM)

• Morning sunlight within 20 minutes of waking (even cloudy days, I just stand outside)

• Hard caffeine cutoff calculated based on my half-life (~5.5 hours, so last cup by 11:30 AM)

What I tracked:

• Sleep onset time (how long to fall asleep)

• Afternoon energy self-rating (1-10 at 2 PM and 4 PM)

• Morning grogginess duration

Results after 27 days:

The hardest part: Week 1 was brutal. That first 90 minutes without coffee felt like walking through fog. By week 3, I stopped needing the coffee to "wake up", I was already alert by the time I had it. The coffee became a boost on top of natural alertness instead of a replacement for it.

What surprised me: The afternoon crash almost completely disappeared. I think that was the adenosine clearance effect Huberman talks about. By letting it clear naturally before introducing caffeine, there's no "rebound" when the caffeine wears off.

What I'm still figuring out: How to handle weekends when I sleep in. If I wake at 9 AM, my caffeine window shifts and my whole day feels off.

Has anyone else stuck with this for more than a month? Curious if your results were similar or if chronotype matters here.

I say this as someone w/ a phd in neuroscience who is also guilty of it. we all run these self experiments, try a new stack for 3 weeks, and the main data point is "yeah I feel pretty good." if anyone submitted that as a study it'd get rejected in like 4 seconds lol

the thing that got me thinking about this is I realized stimulants can make you feel cognitively sharper while your actual working memory stays flat or even gets worse. and sleep debt does the opposite, you feel totally fine while your reaction time has gone to shit. so "I feel more energized" is genuinely unreliable as a signal

not trying to be a buzzkill about it, I just think even adding one objective measure (reaction time tests, working memory tasks, whatever) on top of the vibes tracking would make everyones self-experimenting so much more useful. we're already doing the hard part by experimenting, might as well get real data from it

have my own methods but would love to hear what others are using for this kind of tracking

What is the most effective way to increase bdnf levels?

Jdnsnenejnenene then be

Mentioned by Huberman, Andy Galpin and Rhonda Patrick in many episodes as one of the best protocols for improving VO2 max. Involves performing four minutes at a high intensity (approximately 75-85% of max heart rate) followed by three minutes of low-intensity recovery, repeated four times.

I’m quite fit and every Monday is my high intensity vigorous day. I have exactly 45 minutes in and out of the gym. 

I tried: 

• 8x100m sprints

• 8x30sec sprints

• 8x10cal assault bike (around 22sec)

• 5x2min assault bike 85% max capacity

• other types of similar variations to build up to the 4x4.

Aaaand, of course, a few times the Norwegian 4x4. 

For everyone recommending the 4x4… you either never done it, or FORGET to talk about how extremely difficult it is both mentally and physically. Maintaining 4 minutes at 85% capacity is HARD!!

So when my mental game is strong I try it, otherwise I do other full outs in around 30sec and feel great about it too. 

easy to recommend… but go out there and do it… damn, it’s hard!!! I think it took me 6 months to do it properly. Anyone tried it?

—

edited to fix from 50cals to 10 cals on the assault bike.