@ChroncStresChris Re "calcium d-glucarate, caffeine + K2, CO2, TUDCA, taurine, and niacinamide", That's a good idea of yours to focus on strengthening your liver. I would first try plain milk or eggshell powder for the calcium. They're less likely to cause digestive difficulty. Caffeine and k2 should be helpful, as well as should co2. I think I would drop the tudca coz the taurine takes care of what it would do (it's actually what I did for myself: bought it but soon after starting stopped using it) I'd also start with trying to get the nutrients from actual food, eg caffeine from coffee/tea, k2 and b vitamins from liver, taurine from seafood... And finally I guess you're also planning to get quality protein from things like cheese and eggs (along with something sweet like coke or orange juice to prevent triggering stress hormones) Good luck

Non-static comb: an added point here that I just remembered is that I use a non-static comb, specifically a comb made out of bone. Plastic combs create static, and my view is that the static electricity could get picked up by the hair, like an antenna, and transferred into the hair follicles, and potentially do harm to the follicles. Uncontrolled static electricity was allegedly a huge health problem for early researchers in electricity (1700s--see The Invisible Rainbow, Arthur Firstenberg). Non-static combs are made out of bone, wood, horn, and maybe other things.

@Milk-Destroyer Well, not everyone notices effect from Pregnenolone, and not everyone notices (I think admits ) the effects from sounds Usually I use them like I mentioned, placing my thumb on the phone’s speakers and playing the sound, you can get a better effect by shaking a water bottle vigorously for 10 seconds and sticking the speaker to the bottle, then playing and drinking the water I’ve opened up another post, Medical Grade Carbon Dioxide. Try the water method and see if that has an effect https://www.patreon.com/chickfiles/posts/161848133?utm_campaign=postshare_creator

@gnc_destroyer I've used cascara sagrada occasionally as needed, if I foresee digestive trouble from a meal. It came with an extremely tiny measuring spoon (don't know the exact measurement, but less than 1/10 of a 1/4 teaspoon), and I would typically use about half that amount (very small amount). It is extremely bitter, and I found it most palatable in cranberry juice (very delicious). That worked well. However, I haven't used it for a while because I discovered that hops aid digestion in a similar manner, so now I just drink a beer with a meal that might otherwise be digestively tricky. Hops are an old herbal remedy for stimulating the production of digestive juices. For example, I used to struggle with pizza, and could not eat more than two slices without digestive trouble. If I drink a beer with the pizza, I can eat 4 slices without difficulty.

About teeth. I have been doing some tests with ices. And as much crazy as this sounds eating salted ice cubes has improved my teeth strenght and made them more solid, less porous. Drinking sweet milk usually makes my theeth porous, which is a sign of deterioration. When i have some digestion problems drinking extremelly cold water and eating apples helps a lot.

@evan.hinkle That was my experience as well. It feels so wrong, because when you look at the mainstream advice you would think that you'd disintegrate on such an intake.

@ChroncStresChris if you're aromatizing at a high rate, TRT will make it worse

@BearWithMe, do you think your protein and/or glucose metabolism may be poor and if so, could your thyroid need some support—I see your pulse is a little low? I ask because in my late 20s I too was unable to gain weight, while averaging well over 3,000 calories a day and I’m tiny. I’m normally 45 kg, but my weight plummeted—I was 30 kg at my lowest—and I had to stop mountain climbing due to my spine collapsing and having to learn how to walk again. Thankfully, I got a new doctor who put me on an ancestral diet that pretty much saved my life. I averaged 4 liters of raw milk, some cheese, eggs and meat (mainly scallops) daily and within 2 or so months I had regained 7 kg of mostly muscle (shown via a DEXA scan), but it wasn’t until I convinced my doctor years later to prescribe me standardized NDT (WP Thyroid) that I no longer needed crazy amounts of protein to not only maintain the weight I gained, but gain back the remaining weight I hadn’t, and I’m now able to maintain the 45 kg on 2,500 calories on sedentary days and roughly 4,000 on days I mountain climb. Some quotes from Ray that may be of interest: Thyroid Gland Recovery and Function Post Supplementation "Contrary to popular ideas about thyroid, the gland will resume its functioning after stopping the use of a supplement even if it has been suppressed, and sometimes taking thyroid will increase the glands function to normal. Taking thyroid will sometimes help thin people gain weight, by improving protein metabolism, and it often helps people to sleep more soundly." Ray Peat https://raypeatexplained.com/ray-peat-on-metabolism/ "In my teens and twenties, I needed about 8000 calories per day when I was physically active, about 4000 to 5000 when I was sedentary, but after I took thyroid, I needed only about half as many calories. Thyroid is the basic regulator of blood glucose, and it causes it to be fully oxidized for energy, so that it produces ATP efficiently, on relatively few calories. If blood glucose falls, because it's being used very quickly, the body responds with stress hormones, including glucagon, adrenalin, and cortisol." Ray Peat

@engineer said: Therefore, what I'm wondering about is a strategy to ease the switch from FAO to glucose oxidation. Hi, your analyze if fine but it won't do the job whenever you stress. I can develop if needed (adrenalin => cortisol => no glycolysis allowed). Of, course your body must be accustomed to lipolysis and ketosis. It takes time (progressively improved). If you don't manage this staple very well, your brain is going to slow carburation down. When going out of a real fast (3-4 days), the return must be very progressive with carbs. It seems you've got problems too to manage insulin spike, if I decode well. It won't function well if ....

Ray was asked the difference in effect between using T and using DHT: https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/ray-peat-email-advice-depository.1035/post-669099 Q: What is the major difference in impact between testosterone and dht? Assuming all the foundational stuff is sorted first (-thyroid good, calcium intake, etc.) Peat: Stress and inflammation increase the risk that testosterone will turn to estrogen.

@jamezb46 thanks @jamezb46 @sunsunsun @lobotomize @bio3nergetic

@lobotomize

bgpharmadrugs?

@sunsunsun said: I learned this from Chris Masterjohn's article where he explains it has to do with CoA and if you are taking b6 it is a good idea to take b5. After reading Sunsunsun’s comment on B5/CoA, as a likely kinetic bottleneck in cellular energy and side-effects on nerve cells, I decided to go deeper in the mechanism. Here are the main points (excerpts) if you are taking HD B6 or trying to optimize the energy levels, when talking about interaction from some supplements like betaine (as a traffic controller) or the Choline-Egg-TMG Connection (role in cell energy & signaling). Summary of the pathway In short, B6 PLP acts as the accelerator pedal for creating cysteine. If you step on that pedal with 20–25 mg of PLP, you must dramatically increase the supply of Vitamin B5 (at a 2:1 ratio) to prevent the system from exhausting. The extra B5 safely captures the excess cysteine, escorts it into Coenzyme A production, and prevents the cellular energy depletion that triggers a neurological shutdown. [image: 1786964093985-bottelneck-b5-coa.png] Even before I even introduce the higher-dose B5 (200 mg), my setup was already highly defensive. The combination of TMG, Choline/Eggs, and periodic Methyl-B9/B12 creates a massive upstream buffer. It actively prevents a massive, sudden tidal wave of cysteine from hitting the B5 pathway all at once, while Inositol protects the nerve membranes. Further details can be found on my forum to see how I manage and more, e.g.: “How I Manage Brain scrambling following admin issues” in order to block “the noise”, enhance alpha brain waves and synergize GABA-like effects when combining magnesium bisglycinate (1.3 g), L-theanine (200 mg), taurine powder (500-1000 mg). NB1: You’ll need caffeine to go through the doc (10 pages docx), with references. NB2: These references don’t go through when I post here on bioenergetic forum.

@ChroncStresChris said: Any ideas? Hi, HD riboflavin is a good choice but drowsiness is a side effect. I cite: High-dose riboflavin (vitamin B2) may improve sleep quality by reducing perceived stress, fighting cellular oxidative stress in the brain, and supporting the nervous system and energy metabolism. [1, 2, 3] Symptom Check: Drowsiness is not a standard toxicity symptom of B2, but clinically reflects a sudden parasympathetic shift or "rebound fatigue" when a chronically exhausted nervous system finally drops its stress drive. [1, 2] What I would manage and how I see the problem: Every other day 200 mg B2. 3 times a week a B50 complex (co-enzymed) (the 3 other days). Not every day. Mg bisglycinate powder 2 x 1.3 g at the beginning. Then 3x when accustomed. You’ll probably need beginning with half the dose when suffering from SIBO (tolerance). Don’t force the speed or your brain will register it as a toxin. L-theanine 200 mg 1 hour before bed. To help relax and improve deep sleep. One week later, we'll see for dysbiosis and energy. Explanation: The Reason: Magnesium acts as a natural brake for the nervous system. It works hand-in-hand with B2 to stabilize the mitochondria and prevent the "emergency brake" feeling that causes daytime fatigue. Smaller, frequent doses maximize intestinal absorption and prevent bowel tolerance issues (diarrhea), while the glycine bound to the magnesium acts as an inhibitory neurotransmitter to calm her fried nervous system. The L-Theanine (200 mg) Knockout: L-theanine increases alpha brain waves and blocks glutamate receptors. This directly dampens the neurological "noise" and hyper-arousal caused by her high estrogen and chronic stress, allowing her to transition into deep sleep Splitting the dose B2 (in 2 takes 100 mg, the same day). The B2 / B-Complex Alternate Balance: High-dose B2 pushes the mitochondrial and liver pathways hard. Giving it every other day prevents her system from getting overwhelmed (+ rate-limited assimilation). The B50 co-enzymed complex on the off-days ensures her body has the necessary cofactors (like active B6, B9, and B12) to actually utilize that energy without hitting a metabolic bottleneck. When the sleep gets better, we’ll manage dysbiosis. You’ll probably have to calm over-reaction from the stomach linen with plant extract from melissa and curcumin (both are here required but only in the liquid form, otherwise curcumin is irritable). We call it: EPS (Extrait de plantes standardisées) (Plant extract liquid). Very soft approach for irritable bowels. They are generally available as an alcohol-free oral solution and can be prescribed as a custom blend tailored to individual needs. PS: You need a plan. If you try one molecule after the other, it won't match. Let me see how you see it / how you perceive the pieces of advice.

I have tried some Cytomel later in the PM, and it doesn’t seem to disturb my sleep architecture like PM Armour does, So is the T4 the problem? I got my hands on NP thyroid, and this week I will try that and see if I have the same issue. By the way, has anyone noticed that NP Thyroid has actually the same formula as the original Armour?

I think I might have figured it out. Unknown to me he had started taking calcium carbonate supplements and was taking his thyroid in the morning together with it for the past few months. It looks like calcium carbonate can prevent thyroid medication from absorbing properly. This may not be the entire reason but something to keep in mind for those who take both calcium and thyroid.

@zaaku, what helps me during these "bad energy" encounters is making sure I breathe through the nose only and only with the frequency of 12-24 breaths per minute. This is to activate the hippocampus rather than the amygdala, which evokes the fight-or-flight response and which is activated when we breathe fast. Humming (for about 5 seconds at a time) calms me down too.