https://microbiomejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40168-024-02013-6? In a pig-derived L. reuteri study, rats gavaged with that strain had higher body weight and fat pad weights vs controls.

@DavidPS A good strategy when investigating foods is to explore their profile from a traditional medicine perspective. This gives an insight into the items more subtle properties which are equally as important as it's physical properties. Often it tells you things which a "conventional" analysis (eg a scientific study on Nutmeg's influence on digestive transit time) wouldn't, or which a "conventional" way of thinking would overlook. Personally I find the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) take on foods easy to understand, more so than the Indian Ayurvedic one. TCM is orientated for medicinal intentions but the info is applicable for general day-to-day use. Here's the TCM profile for Nutmeg: TCM category: Herbs that stabilize and bind TCM nature: Warm TCM taste: Pungent Meridian affinity: Large intestine, Spleen, Stomach Dosage: 3 - 9 grams [for medicinal purposes] Key Actions: Warms the Spleen and Stomach, circulates Qi. Protects the Intestines and stops diarrhea. Medicinal Uses: Diarrhea / Abdominal pain / Vomiting / Loss of appetite / Abdominal bloating Here's the TCM profile for coffee: TCM nature: Warm TCM taste: Bitter, Pungent/Acrid Meridian affinity: Liver, Spleen, Heart Key Actions: Regulates the flow of Qi, Opens the Heart, Clears toxins, Cleanses the Gallbladder, Warms and Moves Blood Medicinal Uses: Regulates menses, relieves headaches, lifts the spirit, energizes, promotes mental clarity, improves circulation, prevents gallstones, regulates constipation, boosts metabolism, promotes urination, eliminates toxins For some contrast, here's the TCM profile for milk: TCM nature: Slightly cold TCM taste: Sweet Meridian affinity: Heart, Lung, Stomach Key Actions: Tonify deficiency, Tonify the Lung and Stomach, Promote the secretion of body fluid, Moisten the Intestines, Tonify Blood and remove Toxicity. Medicinal Uses: Weakness, physical strain, constipation, diabetes, regurgitation, dysphagia. Dosage and Administrations: Boil it beforehand Cautions: It is contraindicated in case of deficiency cold in Spleen and Stomach. As you can see, TCM offers a rich context for interpreting herbs/spices/foods. The point of TCM is restoring and maintaining balance. In this context, nutmeg's warming nature would be balanced by mixing with something cooling like milk or cheese. This also applies to the body condition, if the body is in a cold condition then adding nutmeg will warm things up. This isn't referring to temperature! There are some subtleties which might cause someone accustomed to the typical Western modality to do a "double take". Eg on a super hot day drinking warm peppermint tea is more effective than ice cold water. IMHO the Ray Peat approach would greatly benefit from incorporating TCM principles. TCM would be the icing on the cake so to speak. I wonder if Ray ever peeked into the world of TCM, no doubt he would have found it fascinating and worthwhile. I bet you it would have influenced his recommendations, for example... only drink warm liquids (especially milk)...explains why OG Chinese prefer warm OJ/water add warming spices to dairy (milk/cheese) combine sugar/honey/maple syrup with things to mitigate "dampness" (dampness not good) combine heavy meals with warming spices/herbs which aid digestion combine coffee with an item that mitigates dryness, eg dairy adds moisture (in excess = damp) and notably...avoid cold ice cream (!). The issue there is that ice cream is composed of cooling/cold/damp ingredients, and the item itself is frozen - double whammy. At the very least, Ray would have said to add warming/hot spices like ginger which seems most suitable. Powdered ginger, candied ginger etc. In a tropical sunny environment, items with a cooling/cold nature can be better tolerated, whilst in a cold environment items with a hot/warming nature are preferable. Again, this isn't referring to temperature.

@yerrag said in Longer wavelengths in sunlight have a systemic impact which improves vision: One thing we can do is to not use sunglasses at all The term 'Sunglasses" is a misnomer. Lenses are now made from plastic. They are lighter in weight than glass lenses and they tend to leave less of an indentation on the bridge of the nose after wearing the frames for hours at a time. The term should be sunplastics, The glass lenses blocked part of the UV in sunlight so the eye would get very little of the light responsible for the production of vitamin D, The plastic lenses do not and people are given an opportunity to purchase a blue light blocking coating when they get new glasses with clear lenses. The coatings are not 100% effective. Shades are often labeled as blocking UVA and UVB.

Thanks for he serotonin connection. Youtube has videos several describing how make a high-potency fizzy drinks using juice and a capusule of Saccharomyces boulardii. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDXoXFzXs-c&t=1s

@haidut I find it hard to reconcile the need for a high GSSG/GSH state to have an oxidative state for high energy production characteristic of efficient mitochondrial metabolism via a vis a need for having a high GSH/GSSG ratio to give the body the antioxidant capacity to counter oxidative stresses that are inflammatory and destructive of tissues which leads to a state that favors infection. So I asked Delphi AI to weigh and the answer makes sense to me: The balance between the oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) forms of glutathione is indeed a nuanced aspect of cellular metabolism, particularly in the context of mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. The apparent contradiction you’ve raised—needing a high GSSG/GSH ratio for optimal mitochondrial oxidation while also requiring a low ratio to protect against oxidative stress—can be reconciled by understanding the dynamic and compartmentalized nature of redox regulation in the cell. 1. The Role of GSSG/GSH in Mitochondrial Oxidation Mitochondrial Oxidation and the Redox State: A relatively oxidized redox environment (higher GSSG/GSH ratio) within the mitochondria is necessary for efficient oxidative phosphorylation. This is because the electron transport chain (ETC) relies on a flow of electrons from reduced substrates (like NADH) to oxygen, and an overly reduced state can impair this process by creating a bottleneck in electron flow. A higher GSSG/GSH ratio in the mitochondria reflects active energy production, as electrons are being transferred efficiently through the ETC, generating ATP and carbon dioxide. This oxidized state is a marker of healthy mitochondrial respiration and metabolic activity [3][6]. 2. The Role of GSSG/GSH in Protecting Against Oxidative Stress Antioxidant Defense and Cellular Protection: Glutathione in its reduced form (GSH) is a critical antioxidant that neutralizes reactive oxygen species (ROS) and prevents oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA. A low GSSG/GSH ratio in the cytoplasm is essential for maintaining this protective function. When ROS levels rise, GSH is oxidized to GSSG, temporarily increasing the GSSG/GSH ratio. However, the cell’s glutathione reductase enzyme quickly regenerates GSH from GSSG, restoring the reduced state and ensuring continued protection against oxidative stress [5][7]. 3. Reconciling the Two Needs The key to resolving this apparent contradiction lies in recognizing that the GSSG/GSH ratio is not uniform throughout the cell. Instead, it is tightly regulated and compartmentalized: Mitochondrial Compartment: Within the mitochondria, a slightly more oxidized environment (higher GSSG/GSH ratio) supports efficient electron transport and ATP production. This is a localized adaptation to the high metabolic activity and ROS generation in this organelle. The mitochondria have their own pool of glutathione, which is regulated independently of the cytoplasmic pool. This allows the mitochondria to maintain an oxidized redox state for respiration while still having enough GSH available to neutralize ROS and prevent damage to mitochondrial components [3][6]. Cytoplasmic Compartment: In the cytoplasm, a low GSSG/GSH ratio is maintained to protect the cell from oxidative stress and to support various enzymatic processes that require a reduced environment. This ensures that ROS generated by the mitochondria or external stressors do not overwhelm the cell’s defenses [5][7]. Dynamic Regulation: The cell dynamically adjusts the GSSG/GSH ratio in response to metabolic demands and stress. For example: During periods of high energy production, the mitochondrial GSSG/GSH ratio may increase to facilitate oxidative phosphorylation. If oxidative stress becomes excessive, the cell prioritizes antioxidant defense, increasing the activity of glutathione reductase and other protective systems to restore a reduced state. 4. Practical Implications for Health and Metabolism Support Mitochondrial Function: Ensure adequate glucose oxidation, as this produces more carbon dioxide and less ROS compared to fat oxidation. Carbon dioxide itself helps regulate calcium and oxygen utilization, reducing the likelihood of oxidative stress [1][3][6]. Avoid excessive intake of polyunsaturated fats, which are prone to peroxidation and can exacerbate oxidative stress [3][7]. Enhance Antioxidant Capacity: Provide the nutrients needed for glutathione synthesis and recycling, such as glycine, cysteine, selenium, and riboflavin. These support the cell’s ability to maintain a low GSSG/GSH ratio in the cytoplasm while allowing for localized oxidation in the mitochondria [5][7]. Vitamin E and progesterone can stabilize mitochondrial membranes and reduce the production of ROS, indirectly supporting a balanced redox state [7][8]. Monitor Thyroid Function: Optimal thyroid function supports mitochondrial biogenesis and glucose oxidation, improving the cell’s ability to produce energy efficiently without excessive ROS generation [6][7]. Final Thoughts The GSSG/GSH ratio is a dynamic and compartmentalized system that reflects the cell’s ability to balance energy production with antioxidant defense. By supporting mitochondrial function and providing the nutrients needed for glutathione recycling, you can optimize both aspects of this balance. Let me know if you’d like to explore specific strategies or nutrients further. There’s always more to uncover in optimizing your health.

@DavidPS [image: 1758947358026-screenshot-2025-09-26-at-9.29.14-pm.png]

@ThinPicking -

@dapose -

@haidut I really enjoy this account about circadian biology https://www.instagram.com/zaidkdahhaj/?hl=en For the past couple months I’ve been following his advice: 20 min viewing morning sunrise without glasses/contact lenses 20 min exposing skin to UVA rise (ie around 8:30-9:30am) gradual midday sun exposure (started with 5 min, now at 20) for vitamin D Main and quickest benefit I noticed was a more regulated menstrual cycle. However, I’m getting freckles so I think I have to quit exposing my face so much.

What does Dr. Peat think about molecular hydrogen and its research so far? (2020)