The Human Upgrade: Biohacking for Longevity & Performance

You’re about to learn how government approved food policies, regulatory loopholes, and corporate lobbying have quietly reshaped what’s allowed in the food supply and why these decisions are driving chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and neurological breakdown at scale. This episode exposes how biotoxins, ultra processed ingredients, and systemic regulatory failures contribute to long COVID, POTS, mold illness, chronic fatigue, and dysautonomia and why so many people feel sick despite following official health guidance. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey sits down with Dr. Will Cole, a functional medicine expert who works extensively with autoimmune disease, mold illness, hormonal dysfunction, digestive disorders, and complex brain related symptoms. Dr. Cole brings years of clinical experience analyzing lab data and treating patients with biotoxin exposure, neuro immune dysregulation, and chronic fatigue patterns. Together, they connect the dots between mold exposure, post viral illness, mast cell activation, low blood pressure, and why many people with long COVID or POTS feel dizzy, inflamed, and cognitively impaired. They explain how histamine overload, electrolyte depletion, cortisol imbalance, and genetics combine to disrupt blood flow to the brain and shut down human performance. The conversation focuses on practical functional medicine and biohacking tools that help rebuild resilience at the mitochondrial and nervous system level. You’ll Learn: • Why long COVID, mold illness, POTS, and chronic fatigue often share the same biological drivers • How biotoxins like mold and viral exposure dysregulate the neuro immune endocrine axis • Why low blood pressure reduces blood flow to the brain and causes brain fog and fatigue • What mast cell activation syndrome is and how histamine overload affects the body and brain • Why electrolytes, especially sodium, potassium, and magnesium, are foundational for recovery • How creatine supports brain energy, hydration, and mitochondrial function • The role of cortisol in inflammation, stress tolerance, and nervous system stability • When antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers can improve quality of life • How nicotine acts as a low dose neuroprotective compound when used carefully • The benefits and risks of methylene blue for mitochondrial and cognitive support • Why removing the trigger matters more than chasing symptoms • How a functional medicine approach rebuilds resilience instead of masking dysfunction • Why creatine absorption improves when added to hot coffee • How Danger Coffee fits into performance, hydration, and brain energy Thank you to our sponsors! - IGNITON | Go to http://igniton.com/ and use code DAVE for 15% off your first order. -TRU KAVA | Go to https://trukava.com/ and use code DAVE10 for 10% off. -Caldera + Lab | Go to https://calderalab.com/DAVE and use code DAVE at checkout for 20% off your first order. -LYMA | Go to https://lyma.sjv.io/gOQ545 and use code DAVE10 for 10% off the LYMA Laser. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: long COVID, POTS syndrome, dysautonomia, mold illness, biotoxin illness, mast cell activation, histamine intolerance, low blood pressure brain fog, chronic fatigue syndrome, mitochondrial dysfunction, cortisol imbalance, electrolytes sodium potassium, creatine brain energy, functional medicine long COVID, nicotine neuroprotection, methylene blue mitochondria, brain fog causes, neuro immune dysfunction, will cole dave asprey, will cole biohacking Resources: • Dr. Will Cole’s Website: https://drwillcole.com/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Trailer 1:25 - Introduction 2:20 - Conspiracy and misinformation 9:07 - Vaccine safety and fertility 12:48 - Big Food front groups 19:38 - POTS, dysautonomia, biotoxins 20:51 - HLA genetics and immunity 25:11 - Mast cells and histamine 28:41 - Electrolytes and sodium 33:37 - Cortisol and inflammation 35:01 - HPA axis burnout 39:22 - Bioidentical cortisol support 40:27 - Methylene blue and mitochondria 46:51 - Methylation and MTHFR 49:57 - Folinic acid and homocysteine 52:52 - Creatine in coffee hack See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This solo masterclass on oxalates explains why many people who eat clean still struggle with joint pain, kidney stones, fatigue, brain fog, and chronic inflammation. You’ll learn how oxalates behave very differently from other plant compounds like lectins, phytates, and salicylates. Unlike those compounds, oxalates physically bind minerals and form microscopic crystals that can lodge in tissues, damage mitochondria, and accumulate over time. This episode will change how you think about superfoods, clean eating, and long term human performance. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Host Dave Asprey walks you through the real science of oxalates using decades of self experimentation, functional medicine research, and hands on biohacking. As the founder of the biohacking movement, Dave has tested fasting, ketosis, carnivore strategies, supplements, nootropics, sleep optimization protocols, and metabolic interventions to uncover what actually improves resilience, neuroplasticity, and mitochondrial function without unnecessary damage. In this masterclass, you’ll learn why oxalates cause problems even when digestion seems fine, why symptoms can show up in joints, kidneys, nerves, skin, and old injuries, and why reducing oxalates too fast can make you feel worse before you feel better. Dave explains oxalate dumping, candida driven oxalate overload, microbiome interactions, and why foods like spinach, almonds, cacao, and green smoothies often backfire over time. He also shares practical ways to lower your oxalate load safely, support mineral balance, and protect your metabolism and brain using a Smarter Not Harder approach. This episode is for you if you eat “healthy” but still feel off, deal with unexplained pain or inflammation, or want to improve longevity, brain optimization, sleep, and human performance without extreme restriction. You’ll Learn: • Why oxalates are different from lectins, phytates, and other plant toxins • How oxalates drain minerals and damage mitochondria • What oxalate dumping feels like and how to avoid it • Which superfoods cause the biggest problems and what to replace them with • How hydration, minerals, and supplements affect oxalate clearance • Why oxalates accelerate aging and tissue stiffness over time • Practical biohacking strategies to protect longevity and human performance Thank you to our sponsors! -ECHO Water | Go to http://echowater.com/dave and use code DAVE10 for 10% off your ECHO Flask. -Branch Basics | Get 15% off Branch Basics with the code DAVE15 at https://branchbasics.com/DAVE15. -BodyHealth | Go to https://bodyhealth.com/ and use code DAVE20 to save 20% off your first order of PerfectAmino. -Zbiotics | Go to https://zbiotics.com/DAVE for 15% off your first order. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: oxalates, oxalic acid, biohacking oxalates, oxalate dumping, plant toxins explained, lectins vs oxalates, phytates and mineral absorption, anti-nutrients, superfoods controversy, clean eating problems, kidney stones oxalates, joint pain inflammation, mineral depletion, calcium oxalate crystals, metabolism dysfunction, brain fog causes, neuroplasticity and inflammation, longevity nutrition, anti-aging nutrition, functional medicine oxalates, supplements for oxalates, hydration and kidney health, urinary pH balance, candida and oxalates, microbiome and oxalates, fasting and oxalates, ketosis and oxalates, carnivore diet transition, human performance nutrition, sleep optimization inflammation, nootropics and brain optimization, Dave Asprey oxalates Resources: • Join Our New Low-Oxalate Challenge! https://daveasprey.com/2026-low-ox-reset/ • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 – Trailer 1:25 – Introduction 3:18 – What Are Oxalates 5:40 – Oxalates vs Other Plant Toxins 7:18 – Oxalate Sources and Chemistry 9:17 – Kidney Stones and Crystal Formation 10:19 – Oxalate Dumping Explained 12:03 – System Level Effects 14:54 – Inflammation, Mitochondria, and Aging 16:56 – Who Should Pay Attention 19:32 – High Oxalate Foods 24:56 – Smart Food Swaps 27:22 – Exercise and Hydration 29:07 – Clearing Oxalates Safely 31:01 – Summary and Key Takeaways See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This video reveals the hidden mistake most people make when fasting that causes muscle loss instead of fat loss. You’ll learn how to flip the body’s fat-burning switch so your fast protects muscle, boosts energy, and actually melts fat. It’s positioned around one of the many solutions Dave did to lose 100 pounds.*** Dave's Biohacking Holiday Gift Guide | Go to https://daveasprey.com/giftguide/ to explore the full guide. ***Thank you to our sponsors! -HeartMath | Go to https://www.heartmath.com/dave to save 15% off.-Generation Lab | Go to http://generationlab.com/, use code Dave20 for $20 off, and see what your body’s really doing behind the surface.*Chapters*00:00 - I used to weigh 300 pounds00:48 - Fasting wrong makes you better at storing fat01:25 - When fasting burns muscle instead of fat02:44 - Muscle: the "organ of longevity"07:03 - Daily habits that sabotage fat burning08:29 - Steps to flip the switch faster10:13 - How to break a fast correctly (critical!)11:45 - The sweet spotResources: • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today. • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Connect with Dave Asprey!Website: https://daveasprey.comTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daveaspreyofficialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave.asprey/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Daveaspreyofficial/X: https://x.com/daveaspreyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/daveaspreybprThe Human Upgrade Podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheHumanUpgradePodcast/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Thehumanupgrade/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode covers: • Trump Drug Pricing Deals and Access to Longevity Medications New drug-pricing agreements announced under President Donald Trump aim to lower the cost of high-priced prescription drugs through negotiated rebates and pricing pressure on major pharmaceutical companies. Early reporting suggests these changes could affect cardiometabolic and longevity-relevant medications, including GLP-1 diabetes and obesity drugs. Dave explains why the real question is not headline savings, but whether lower prices actually reach patients at the pharmacy counter. He breaks down how affordability shapes real-world access, adherence, and long-term prevention strategies, and why policy decisions can matter more than new mechanisms when it comes to sustainable longevity care. Source: https://longevity.technology/news/trump-sets-new-drug-pricing-deals-with-big-pharma/ • 5:2 Intermittent Fasting Outperforms Daily Dieting on Metabolic Health A controlled study compared three popular strategies in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes: 5:2 intermittent fasting, time-restricted eating, and continuous daily calorie restriction. All approaches improved weight and HbA1c, but the 5:2 protocol produced larger reductions in fasting glucose, triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Dave explains why periodic restriction can outperform constant dieting, how to structure fasting days without tanking performance, and how to pair intermittent fasting with CGM data and training schedules for better metabolic flexibility and long-term health. Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250715043351.htm Full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-32673-9 • Cocoa’s Theobromine Linked to Slower Epigenetic Aging New research highlighted by Aging-US suggests that theobromine, a bioactive compound found in cocoa, is associated with epigenetic markers of slower biological aging. Dave breaks down what epigenetic aging clocks actually measure, why this finding adds credibility to cocoa’s cardiometabolic benefits, and why most chocolate products cancel out the upside with sugar and ultra-processing. He explains how to think about food-derived bioactives without turning them into hype-driven anti-aging shortcuts. Source: https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/theobromine-from-cocoa-linked-to-slower-biological-aging • Organ-Specific Biological Age Clocks Predict Disease Risk More Accurately A large Nature study built biological aging clocks for individual organs using blood-based proteomics, showing that organ-specific aging predicts disease and mortality better than a single “bio age” number. Dave explains why you can be biologically young overall but still have an aging brain, arteries, or kidneys, and how this reframes longevity from generic anti-aging to targeted organ protection. He explores how sleep, blood pressure, glucose control, and exercise map differently to different organs, and why precision aging metrics are the future of prevention. Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43587-025-01016-8 • Copper Peptides and the Rise of Skin Longevity Copper peptides like GHK-Cu are moving from niche skincare into serious longevity conversations. Human data show strong effects on collagen synthesis, barrier repair, and wound healing, in some cases outperforming traditional retinoids. Dave explains why skin is not just cosmetic but a key immune and environmental interface, how copper peptides fit into repair-focused protocols, and why cycling repair and stress mirrors smarter approaches to training and recovery across the body. Source: https://www.vogue.com/article/copper-peptides Auro Wellness Copper Peptide with Discount (click on skincare and scroll to Copper Peptide): https://aurowellness.com/pages/dave All source links provided for direct access to the original research and reporting. This episode is designed for biohackers, longevity seekers, and high-performance listeners who want practical strategies grounded in real science and real-world constraints. Dave Asprey translates emerging research, policy shifts, and clinical data into actionable upgrades for metabolism, fasting, biological age tracking, skin health, and long-term prevention. New episodes every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. Keywords: Trump drug pricing deals, prescription drug affordability, GLP-1 access, cardiometabolic medications, longevity policy, intermittent fasting 5:2, intermittent energy restriction, time restricted eating study, insulin sensitivity improvement, metabolic flexibility fasting, theobromine cocoa aging, epigenetic aging markers, biological age clocks, organ specific aging, proteomics longevity research, brain age dementia risk, vascular aging, copper peptides GHK-Cu, skin longevity protocols, collagen synthesis skincare, evidence-based biohacking news, longevity science updates Thank you to our sponsors! - HeartMath | Go to https://www.heartmath.com/dave to save 15% off. -Generation Lab | Go to http://generationlab.com/, use code Dave20 for $20 off, and see what your body’s really doing behind the surface. Resources: • Subscribe to my weekly newsletter: https://substack.daveasprey.com/welcome • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Trailer0:19 - Story 1: Trump’s Drug Price Deals 2:33 - Story 2: Fasting Reality Check 4:35 - Story 3: Chocolate and Biological Age 6:11 - Substack Update7:30 - Story 4: Organ-Specific Aging 9:05 - Story 5: Copper Peptides for Skin 11:02 - Weekly Wrap-Up See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The holidays are when drinking quietly ramps up for a lot of people. More parties, more stress, more excuses, and habits that feel temporary but often aren’t. This episode is for anyone reflecting on their relationship with alcohol, substances, or compulsive habits and questioning whether those patterns are actually supporting the life and health they want going forward. This episode features host Dave Asprey joined by Luke Storey, a motivational speaker, spiritual teacher, and host of the top-rated podcast The Life Stylist, which has surpassed 10 million downloads. Luke is widely regarded as a pioneer in health and wellness, known for articulating transformative principles around spirituality, addiction recovery, and mental, emotional, and physical health optimization. Together, Dave and Luke explore why getting sober and staying sober rarely comes down to willpower alone. They unpack how addiction often shows up as biology, trauma, nervous system dysregulation, and learned coping patterns, not just substance use. The conversation expands the definition of addiction to include socially accepted behaviors like alcohol, nicotine, work, scrolling, and distraction. The discussion moves through long term sobriety, discernment around substances, the role of spirituality in recovery, and how people break free from compulsive loops by addressing root causes instead of chasing short term fixes. Nuanced topics like abstinence, nicotine, psychedelics, and altered states are explored with clear boundaries around safety, intention, and stability. You’ll learn: • Why willpower alone fails to sustain sobriety • How addiction is driven by nervous system wiring and trauma • Why socially accepted habits can still be addictive • How to tell the difference between craving and intuition • What supports long term recovery beyond abstinence • Why identity and environment matter more than discipline • How sobriety creates clarity, resilience, and freedom over time Thank you to our sponsors! -TRU KAVA | Go to https://trukava.com/ and use code DAVE10 for 10% off. -Caldera + Lab | Go to https://calderalab.com/DAVE and use code DAVE at checkout for 20% off your first order. -Vibrant Blue Oils | Grab a full-size bottle for over 50% off at https://vibrantblueoils.com/dave. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: sobriety biohacking, addiction recovery science, how to get sober, how to stay sober, long term sobriety, addiction and trauma, nervous system regulation addiction, biology of addiction, habit loops and addiction, compulsive behavior recovery, holiday drinking habits, alcohol and nervous system, dopamine addiction cycles, stress response and addiction, emotional regulation recovery, identity and sobriety, spirituality and addiction recovery, abstinence based recovery, craving vs intuition, addiction and loneliness, socially acceptable addictions, nicotine and addiction debate, psychedelics and addiction recovery, forgiveness and trauma healing, nervous system healing tools, Dave Asprey sobriety, Luke Storey sobriety, The Human Upgrade addiction episode Resources: • Luke’s website: https://www.lukestorey.com/ • Dave's Biohacking Holiday Gift Guide | Go to https://daveasprey.com/giftguide/ to explore the full guide. • Dave Asprey's Latest News | Go to https://daveasprey.com/ to join Inside Track today • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • My Daily Supplements: SuppGrade Labs (15% Off) • Favorite Blue Light Blocking Glasses: TrueDark (15% Off) • Dave Asprey’s BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey’s New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 0:00 - Trailer 0:45 - Introduction 1:18 - Crack, Heroin, and Early Addiction 5:14 - Pandemic and Addiction 8:34 - Addicted to Negative Thinking 10:22 - Getting Sober at 26 15:12 - Why People Become Addicted 16:34 - Heroin and Cocaine Neurochemistry 18:15 - Nicotine Benefits 26:22 - 12 Step vs Ibogaine 27:36 - Complete Abstinence 33:03 - First Ayahuasca Experience 35:28 - Origins of AA 38:34 - Psychedelics and Trauma 42:36 - Choosing the Right Shaman 48:38 - Dark Forces and Protection 58:09 - Intuition vs Craving 1:05:23 - Healing Order of Operations 1:08:16 - Brain Health Risks 1:09:40 - Hyperbaric Therapy 1:12:21 - Closing and Wrap Up See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.