@NoeticJuice said in Kanna, OCD + other:

maybe it's just the left hemisphere of my brain that is fatigued; what I was experiencing was because it tried to hold on, to maintain some level of control, even though it lacked energy.

So, I decided to let go--to let the left hemisphere rest, even fall asleep if it needed to, and to let the right hemisphere take over.

"Letting go," as in opposition to "holding on."

@NoeticJuice said in Kanna, OCD + other:

When I do feel fatigued, I can let it go, and the fatigue disappears.

Also in opposition to "pushing away"/fighting/resisting.

In a way, it takes effort, but it leads to increased energy. It doesn't feel like what effort usually feels like.

By the way

@NoeticJuice said in Kanna, OCD + other:

When I did this, I didn't feel fatigued anymore. I also experienced other changes

Internal speech also decreased, although it's still present to some degree most of the time. There seems to be some negative correlation between internal speech and the degree of the other changes.

sr 9011 looks interesting/peaty check this thread out https://lowtoxinforum.com/threads/stenabolic.27227/
a list of its benefits mentioned

All the effects observed for SR9009 derive from REV-ERB (NR1D1, NR1D2) activation in the body.

REV-ERB affects the circadian behavior of mice, altering their activity and sleep patterns [R].

Besides its effect on the circadian rhythm (suppression of BMAL1 production), REV-ERB affects many other functions related to energy production [R, R].

REV-ERB is mainly found in liver, muscle, and fat tissue:

Liver: REV-ERB affects the rhythm of 90% of the about 900 genes under circadian control in mice liver. It turns off the genes that produce glucose without altering insulin sensitivity. It also turns on genes that generate new fat cells and reduces the inflammatory response (by affecting macrophage production) [R, R, R, R].

Muscles: REV-ERB promotes the burning of fat, increases the activity of mitochondria, and promotes the generation of new while decreasing the destruction of old mitochondria [R].

Fat cells: REV-ERB turns off the genes responsible for storing fat and decreases triglyceride production [R].
In animal and cell studies, SR9009:

Increased oxygen consumption [R]

Decreased generation of new fat cells in the liver [R]

Decreased production of cholesterol and bile acids in the liver [R]

Increased the number of mitochondria in muscle [R]

Increased glucose and fatty acid use in muscle [R]

Decreased fat storage [R]

@brotherwentcrazy
relevant thread https://bioenergetic.forum/topic/6398/psychosis-and-serotonins-5ht2a-receptor-hdac-and-chronic-anti-psychotic-use/4?_=1750496348424

@biolife123 I don't have a solution for you but if you but hope you find one. If you have the have time to answer, what do these ridges feel like? Is it like ravines in your skull of more like the skin and tissues are folding in on themselves (so the ridges are malleable?).

I continued the low iodine diet until early April, about two months ago. After that I stopped restricting it (so I could drink milk again!) and now probably average 150 mcg iodine per day.

In the last month and a half or so I've been feeling improved, and my intermittent gum inflammation is mostly gone too. My morning temps are still low, but they now average just a bit higher, around 96.7. Around two months ago I greatly reduced the grain in my diet, stopped drinking store bought orange juice, stopped eating raw apples, and reduced raw vegetables. I don't know what exactly is responsible for my improvement.

And I just got bloodwork again. My liver enzymes have improved, my elevated TPO Ab is gone, and TSH is down a lot! However, cortisol (which I've never tested before) is high.

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@Ibshaver23 I am so sorry to hear that. Something similar happened to me when I was sprinting and that is why I am hesitant to restart sprinting. I had for weeks pain in the leg (so not as bad as your case) and only a skilled osteopath could reset me and my nervous system.
I did not try progesterone though. In the past I was using progesterone but I had the impression that I was growing manboobs. At your high levels do you not experience that as well?

@Corngold elastin fibers are a main factor to look into restoring too so the skin can keep good form. some enzymes degrade the elastin fibers elastase & a couple of the MMPs are most relevant from what ive read ,
frays & thickens the fibers

so looking for things that target those,
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9060010/#ski258-sec-0070
76ea9335-6470-4e27-8578-d6a583ed052d-image.png
things i put in a document:

ergothionene (not from mushrooms because of beta glucan & androgens) , hit 1.5mg copper , hit 3000iu-5000iu Vitamin A, 30 minutes exercise sessions twice a week , 4g total glycine intake (maybe, not really a lack of collagen as problem?) , take 200 mg TUDCA most days to sort ER stress , boswellia (restores cartilage, so fits it restores skin function or prevents it being degraded) https://sci-hub.ru/10.1055/s-0029-1240581 BAs also enhance the metabolism of fibroblasts and, at the same time, they inhibit human leukocyte elastase [24] and hyaluronidase [25], as well as TNF-α-induced transcription, expression, and activity of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-10, and MMP-12 in human microvascular endothelial cells [5]. All these enzymes have a key importance in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, collagen, and elastic fibers reverse hypothyroid hypoxia lower H2O2-induced matrix metalloproteinase (lower h2o2) lower neurophil elastase and neutrophil induced metallopreoteinase (lower neutrophil response, il-8) Inhibit MAPK ? (mmp-12 -> mapk -> mmp9) Drink a glass or 2 of OJ a day https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5791357/#Sec14 keep inflammation (macrophages) low , if need more, support fibroblasts

@PissBoy I haven’t but it does enlarge during the higher estrogen part of my cycle. So that’s a good point.

@eduardo-crispino you mean Sam Harris! Yes that was hilarious.

@stahl said in Unable to feel any sort of effect, positive or negative, from any supplement:

Actually, I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel the slightest boost to my alertness from a couple of cups of coffee taken with milk and sugar - but that's the only substance in the Peat sphere I have ever had do anything for me.

Food is a substance in the Peat sphere. How does that treat you? What’s your morning temperature? What’s your resting heart rate? Do you dream interesting dreams? Do you talk nonstop all day? Are you calm under adversity? Do you poop 2-3 times a day?
What are we talking about when you say you don’t feel anything? Peating is about feeling euphoric most of the time. How’s that going?
Ray talked about things like it could take a year or more to find the right dose of thyroid or progesterone. Keep experimenting. That’s the game really.

@GlucoseGal of course, wish you the best. Honestly, I wonder if a lot of people who come to the Peat space take baggage from past dietary ideas with them — my insistence on fat for satiety from my carnivore days definitely contributed to weight gain — but if I had just put less butter in my rice and ate more rice and less chocolate, I don’t think I’d have gained 40 lbs Peating — and of course I got on actual thyroid meds (not glandulars) well after the weight gain.

Jimmy Carter was a 33rd Degree Freemason and in the Illuminati.

I would be careful about disrespecting him if I were you.

@jamezb46 i think your micronutrient deficiency in high androgen state causing hairloss theory is correct

the amount of food required for optimal health is beyond what seems reasonable to normies.

eating clean , whole, “nutritious” foods all day with no junk foods with empty calories, one has to be eating what feels like constantly, every few hours, to hit micronutrient targets. I’ve seen it theorized that copper RDA in usa (0.9mg) is actually up to 10x too low, for example. When I eat mainstream foods like chicken, rice, brocolli, potatoes, I barely hit 2-2.5mg. Only with the addition of seafoods, organ meats, cocoa powders, etc do I get approaching the higher target.

now add athletes/bodybuilders to this. your theory that the androgen receptor agonism requires more nutrients makes sense. also, what happens when someone suffers a major physical or even emotional trauma. their hair falls out, or turns white/grey.

add to that the poor foods people choose, and how this makes it so they can’t eat enough. with bloating and stomach discomfort.

I think calorie and nutrient needs are way higher than commonly thought. The fasting meme and OMAD is mostly a mistake . sure sometimes it’s cool to fast or skip meals but in my opinion many people could do with alot more food, like alot.

ive had this theory that a way for chronic illness sufferers to recover is to aim for basically a bodybuilding lifestyle and diet. with multiple meals per day, anabolic steroids, and training. then once recovered they can stop the gear and by then they will know what food intake is required and also what normal euphoria from day to day living feels like and should feel like

Your experience of reduced pore size on a low-fat diet but feeling excessively cold highlights a tension between two goals: skin health (via reduced sebum/dampness) and metabolic warmth (requiring adequate energy and nutrient density). Let’s integrate Ray Peat’s metabolic principles and TCM energetics to find balance:

Why a Low-Fat Diet Might Reduce Pore Size

Ray Peat: Lower fat intake, especially from polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), may reduce inflammatory mediators that contribute to oily skin and clogged pores. Peat also linked excess PUFAs to hormonal imbalances (e.g., increased androgens) that stimulate sebum.

TCM: Reducing greasy, damp-forming foods (e.g., fried foods, fatty meats) lightens the Spleen’s workload, resolving damp-heat that manifests as oily skin and large pores.

Why You Feel Cold on a Low-Fat Diet

Ray Peat’s View:

Fat is calorically dense and supports hormone production (e.g., thyroid hormones, sex hormones). Extreme fat restriction can slow metabolism, impair thermogenesis, and lower body temperature. Insufficient saturated fats (e.g., coconut oil, butter) may reduce cellular energy production (mitochondrial function), leaving you cold.

TCM Perspective:

A very low-fat diet risks creating Qi and Yang deficiency, especially if it lacks warming, nourishing foods. Coldness signals weakened Spleen Yang (digestive fire) or Kidney Yang (metabolic warmth). Overly "cooling" foods (e.g., raw salads, cold drinks) exacerbate this.

Bridging the Gap: Balance Skin Benefits with Metabolic Warmth
Diet Adjustments

Add Small Amounts of Warming, Non-Dampening Fats:

Ray Peat: Use coconut oil (rich in saturated MCTs, supports thyroid function) or grass-fed butter (vitamin A, butyrate). TCM: These fats are less "damp-forming" than greasy meats or fried foods. Coconut oil is mildly warming and disperses cold.

Prioritize Nutrient-Dense Carbohydrates:

Ray Peat: Sweet potatoes, ripe fruit, honey (easy-to-metabolize sugars fuel mitochondria without spiking insulin). TCM: Cooked, warm carbohydrates (e.g., congee, roasted squash) strengthen Spleen Qi and generate gentle warmth.

Include Lean, Warming Proteins:

Ray Peat: Gelatinous cuts (bone broth, collagen) support skin and thyroid. TCM: Add small amounts of lamb or chicken (warming meats) with spices like ginger or cinnamon to counteract cold.

Avoid Extremes

Don’t eliminate fats entirely—aim for 10-20% of calories from quality fats to sustain hormones and warmth. Avoid cold, raw foods (TCM) and PUFA-rich fats (Peat), which disrupt both frameworks.

TCM Herbs and Practices to Counteract Cold

Warming Herbs:

Gui Zhi (Cinnamon twig): Warms Yang, circulates Qi. Dang Shen (Codonopsis): Strengthens Spleen Qi without overheating.

Acupuncture: Target Ren 4 (Guanyuan) and KD 3 (Taixi) to nourish Kidney Yang.

Moxibustion: Apply to ST 36 (Zusanli) to boost Spleen/stomach fire.

Ray Peat Strategies to Support Metabolism

Thyroid Support: Ensure adequate selenium (Brazil nuts), zinc (oysters), and vitamin A (liver, dairy).

Avoid Starvation Signals: Eat consistently—long gaps between meals stress metabolism.

Supplements: Small doses of aspirin (improves circulation) or vitamin E (protects against PUFA damage).

Sample Daily Plan (Peat + TCM Synergy)

Breakfast: Congee with ginger, scallions, and a poached egg (warming, Spleen-friendly).

Lunch: Roasted chicken with steamed carrots, sweet potato, and a drizzle of coconut oil.

Snack: Ripe mango with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Dinner: Fish soup with lotus root, goji berries, and a side of jasmine rice.

Beverages: Warm ginger tea or hibiscus tea (cooling for skin but balanced with warming spices).

Key Takeaways

Your pores improved because the low-fat diet reduced damp-heat (TCM) and PUFA-driven inflammation (Peat).

You feel cold because the diet lacks fats and warming foods to sustain metabolic heat and Yang energy.

Solution: Introduce small amounts of saturated fats (coconut oil, butter) and warming TCM foods/herbs while keeping PUFA-rich fats and damp-forming foods low.

Monitor your skin and body temperature closely. If coldness persists, consult a TCM practitioner to assess Yang deficiency or a nutritionist to evaluate metabolic health. Balance is possible! 🌟🔥