Silicon Investor - vitamins herbs supplements longevity and aging

[Smart_Asset] Thanks for the recomendation but my fitness regimen is cardio based and 100% bod...

Smart_Asset — 10/4/2026 12:49:30 PM

Thanks for the recomendation but my fitness regimen is cardio based and 100% body weight, stretch, balance and completely portable. I can do my workout anywhere. No need for equipment. I do use 8 pound weights when I'm home and use a stick or racquet for some cardio but when I travel they are with me.

[Saulamanca] x.com[X] Most people train their legs the same way for years without realizing ...

Saulamanca — 10/4/2026 11:59:16 AM

x.com[X]

Most people train their legs the same way for years without realizing one small adjustment can change where they feel the work. This is one of those things you have to see to understand.
— VelorHealth (@velorhealthusa) September 10, 2026

[/X]

amazon.com

I bought this slant board 6 years ago for $61. It`s $58.89 today at Amazon.
It`s solid.

[Pogeu Mahone] It is also a preventative. Drink 4 ounces before bed you will sleep thru the nig...

Pogeu Mahone — 10/3/2026 9:28:54 PM

It is also a preventative. Drink 4 ounces before bed you will sleep thru the night with no cramps after your hardest workouts.

Safety concerns for tonic water.? You have bought the bullshit.

Low Concentration: Commercial tonic water contains a very low, FDA-regulated limit of up to 83 parts per million (about 20 mg per 8-ounce glass). This is far below the 500+ mg found in medicinal pills. [ 1, 2, 3]

"Believe it or not, one of the oldest cures for malaria, a compound called quinine, is now found in a popular "mixer" used to make cocktails: tonic water.

Before you get excited, here's some disappointing news: The amount of quinine found in tonic water is very low, meaning it isn't enough to provide much protection against infections or other symptoms.

I
Quinine is the compound that gives tonic water its bitter qualities. It is also the same compound used to lend strong, bitter flavors to other products, such as those intended to taste like "bitter lemon."

Understanding Bitter Lemon and Quinine

The Flavor Profile: Bitter lemon is a well-known carbonated soft drink or mixer made with lemon juice, pith, and peel combined with quinine to give it a sharp, bittersweet snap. [ 1, 2, 3]

[Yorikke] I've used quinine water previously, I don't doubt it can be effective. But i...

Yorikke — 10/3/2026 7:43:33 AM

I've used quinine water previously, I don't doubt it can be effective. But its a reaction, not a preventative. A cure to a problem that already has one paralyzed in bed. I include the following information, to point out the benefits and risks of Quinine, and to look at the more physical 'preventative' methods---as the original post on this topic dealt with.

The medical basis for using quinine to treat muscle cramps lies in its ability to decrease the excitability of the motor endplate (where your nerves connect to your muscles) and increase the muscle's refractory period. Essentially, it chemically tells the muscle to stop hyper-reacting and locking up. [ 1]
Historically, prescription quinine pills were widely used for nocturnal leg cramps. However, the medical consensus has shifted dramatically due to safety concerns, making tonic water an unreliable and potentially risky remedy for you. [ 1, 2]

1. The Tonic Water Reality Check: Under-Dosing

[ 1, 2]

The Concentration: Commercial beverages contain strictly limited, trace amounts of quinine. [ 1, 2]
The Therapeutic Gap: The clinical amounts used historically to suppress leg cramps are substantially higher than what is present in commercial tonic water. [ 1, 2]
To obtain a medically effective amount of quinine from diet tonic water, an impractical volume of fluid would be required. Drinking that much fluid right before bed is highly impractical and would severely disrupt your sleep with bathroom trips. [ 1]

2. Serious Medical Warnings
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Boxed Warning against using quinine for night-time leg cramps. The drug is now strictly approved only for treating malaria. [ 1, 2, 3, 4]
Quinine carries a rare but severe risk of causing life-threatening hematologic conditions, most notably thrombocytopenia (a sudden, dangerous drop in blood platelets that causes severe internal bleeding). Furthermore, because you have a unique athletic heart baseline and have noticed changing resting heart rates, quinine presents an added danger: it can cause QT prolongation and cardiac arrhythmias. Even trace amounts can occasionally trigger these adverse reactions in sensitive individuals. [ 1, 2, 3, 4]

The Calf Raise Factor: Because you are forced indoors due to the volcanic gases and weather, you have swapped low-impact, fluid trail running for isolated, high-load resistance training (calf raises). Concentrated concentric contractions under load are classic triggers for acute muscle fatigue and nocturnal spasms.
Deconditioning & Dehydration: As your athletic training volume drops, your muscles change how they store glycogen and manage local electrolytes.

Safer Alternatives to Try Tonight
Instead of relying on diet tonic water, the American Academy of Neurology and other medical bodies recommend safe, non-pharmacological interventions for nighttime cramps: [ 1]

Passive Wall Stretching: Before getting into bed, stand facing a wall, step one foot back, and keep your heel flat on the floor to thoroughly stretch the calf muscle for an adequate duration per side.
Hydration Balance: Ensure you are consuming plenty of water throughout the afternoon to counteract your morning coffee, which can act as a mild diuretic.
Active Flexion During a Cramp: If you wake up with a spasm, immediately pull your toes up toward your shin (dorsiflexion) to manually force the calf muscle to lengthen and release. [ 1, 2]

[Pogeu Mahone] diet quinine ends your cramps in 30 seconds

Pogeu Mahone — 10/2/2026 9:44:24 AM

[Pogeu Mahone] Diet tonic water has no sugar

Pogeu Mahone — 10/2/2026 9:21:15 AM

[Smart_Asset] <> One of my habits is whe...

Smart_Asset — 10/2/2026 8:43:07 AM

<<A good set of calf lifts before bed seems to work t>>

One of my habits is when waiting on line somewhere, or just in idle times I will go up on my toes getting a great calf benefit and probably some quad as well. It's also multi-tasking wrt the balancing. I am low profile with it in public and never had anyone mention it or look at me sideways. It's an everyday habit and I'll continue.

Leg strength becomes paramount.

[Yorikke] I seem to remember this same conversation with you about ten years back. I trie...

Yorikke — 10/2/2026 2:33:35 AM

I seem to remember this same conversation with you about ten years back. I tried it out and had some luck with it, but the sugar load of the quinine was too much. I have some quinine pills in the freezer as well, took one of those and it seemed to work. But it played havoc with my heart rate in the morning.

Nolo has been hanging around for ten days or so. It makes it hard to get out and hike, which is my go to in situations like this. I think a lot of it is just sleeping with pointing my feet down. Calves just don't like that. A good set of calf lifts before bed seems to work that option out abit.

[Pogeu Mahone] Quinine will end your cramps in minutes. Quinine water works in 2 minutes and y...

Pogeu Mahone — 9/30/2026 10:23:52 AM

Quinine will end your cramps in minutes.

Quinine water works in 2 minutes and your cramps are gone. Keep tonic water in your fridge.

Get a bottle of Quinine pills. Massachusetts is very Farked up and sometimes they are over the counter and sometimes one needs a prescription, The bottle I am still using I keep in the freezer and bought it in 1984 and they still work as I needed one about a month ago. Pills also only take a few minutes to get rid of your cramps.

Works 100% every time!

Fast and simple.

[Yorikke] Thanks for comment. I've tried the Mag, still use it, I'll look into the pick...

Yorikke — 9/25/2026 4:42:26 PM

Thanks for comment. I've tried the Mag, still use it, I'll look into the pickle juice. I find keeping myself well exercised has helped the most. Doing a routine of calf lifts and stretches works well for me. This El Nino has ruined my exercise routines. My leg muscles are shrinking due to much less exercise, and they scream at me during the night.

[miraje] A magnesium supplement and lots of turmeric have pretty much eliminated my night...

miraje — 9/25/2026 1:21:46 PM

A magnesium supplement and lots of turmeric have pretty much eliminated my nightly leg cramps. Whatever works..

[Smart_Asset] I've had painful cramps in the past following vigorous workouts but drink water ...

Smart_Asset — 9/25/2026 9:43:06 AM

I've had painful cramps in the past following vigorous workouts but drink water with pickle juice now before and during. Seems to work well.

[Yorikke] Canada's 'Do good Government' has only the protections it decides are equitable...

Yorikke — 9/25/2026 5:05:34 AM

Canada's 'Do good Government' has only the protections it decides are equitable. As I have been saying.....the push has begun to lessen the load on the social care systems. If you last long enough.....they will come for you, just because you have lived longer than 'norms' permit; ie, your allotted time has expired, and we need your home for more productive individuals.

zerohedge.com

[Yorikke] I've been experiencing some leg cramping at night. Been doing squats and getting...

Yorikke — 9/25/2026 3:18:16 AM

I've been experiencing some leg cramping at night. Been doing squats and getting some cardio. It has helped but this YouTube video can be a real challenge if you take it up the scale and face the reality of your deteriorating leg strength. Particularly for anyone over 50. The best thing is that it gets you up and off the couch, does not require you leave the room, and takes no gear and just the effort you are willing to give it.
Winter is upon us, don't talk yourself into believing effort can be put into storage until spring.

Remember, when the weasels of the medical office begin to circle the first things they will do is test your balance 'stand on one leg and recite the pledge of allegiance' or sing a country Joe Song 'What are we fighting for?' ( can we take away his right to drive and work outside?') ; ask you to count backwards from 100 by 7's (is this geezer demented and incompetent ?) and bend over and touch your toes, then tie and untie your shoe laces, and tell me what you had to eat at your last 5 dinners (I'm just in a bit of rush hun and seems to me you can not feed yourself, let alone handle the simple tasks of personal care...(Sarcopenia is at hand and we likely got a fish for the Long Term Care octopus!'

79-Year-Old Surgeon Reveals the ONLY 3 Exercises He Does Daily
youtube.com

[Yorikke] I don't think that a most of the legal stimulants are dangerous per se, but the...

Yorikke — 9/19/2026 3:06:34 AM

I don't think that a most of the legal stimulants are dangerous per se, but the problem arises in what level of exertion you choose to push your body. There are athletes that fall over of 'heart attacks', and there are many more who run that race and a dozen more just like it, and get lazy by relying on the simulant effects rather than the training required to climb at speed, and 'Low and behold!' your heart finally carries that exertion on its atrial valve walls like a tatoo. Training remains the key. Fitness allows life extension where marketed 'you-go-guy' pills can create 'heart burn' decades later. Plus as I have noted once a body hits its mid seventies, it is the very rare body that can continue to respond as it did 20 years earlier. An old man at 55+ and an old man at 75+ are not the same guy. That does not mean that the 75 year old can not beat the 55 year old, but its a much more delicate tortoise and hare kind of engagement.

[Pogeu Mahone] There is actually a nuance to that perspective, as L-tyrosine is not inherently ...

Pogeu Mahone — 9/17/2026 9:58:22 AM

There is actually a nuance to that perspective, as L-tyrosine is not inherently an "avoid" substance due to danger, but rather because it has long been considered ineffective for pure physical performance. In endurance circles, early theories suggested that manipulating neurotransmitters with amino acids could delay central nervous system fatigue. However, decades of rigorous sports science research have shown that acute tyrosine supplementation does not improve time-trial performance, muscle strength, or aerobic capacity under normal conditions. Because it rarely lives up to the marketing hype for physical endurance, many coaches and runners write it off as an unnecessary supplement to avoid spending money on. [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
That being said, contemporary sports science has identified specific, niche scenarios where tyrosine actually offers value, shifting how the running community views it:

?? The Mental Fatigue Buffer

While tyrosine won’t directly make your muscles contract faster or improve your VO2 max, it is a crucial precursor to dopamine and norepinephrine. In long-distance running, mental fatigue drastically increases your Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)—making the exact same physical pace feel significantly harder. Emerging studies, including recent clinical trials, demonstrate that tyrosine supplementation can mitigate the effects of mental exhaustion. By preserving dopamine levels, it lowers the RPE slope during prolonged efforts, allowing runners to better tolerate high effort levels and maintain their goal pace when mentally drained. [ 1, 2, 3, 4]

??? Extreme Environmental Stress

Tyrosine stores in the brain are rapidly depleted during acute environmental stress. Research shows that tyrosine supplementation becomes notably effective when running in: [ 1]

Severe Cold or Altitude: It helps sustain cognitive function, reaction time, and decision-making when the body is fighting to stay warm or oxygenated. [ 1, 2]

Extreme Heat: Some heat-stress protocols indicate it can help maintain central nervous system drive, though physical outcomes remain mixed. [ 1, 2, 3]

Summary of Tyrosine for Runners

ScenarioImpact on PerformanceWhy?

Standard Training Run	Minimal to None	The brain tightly regulates baseline dopamine production; extra tyrosine is simply metabolized.
Mentally Fatiguing Days	Moderate Benefit	Blunts the cognitive drain that makes physical pacing feel harder.
Multi-day/Extreme Weather Events	High Cognitive Support	Replenishes catecholamines depleted by cold, altitude, or severe physical stress.

Actual "Avoid" Red Flags

There are legitimate reasons some runners must strictly avoid tyrosine altogether:

Thyroid Conditions: Tyrosine is a precursor to thyroid hormones. Anyone with hyperthyroidism or Graves' disease should avoid it, as it can cause dangerous blood pressure spikes or heart palpitations.

Medication Interactions: It negatively interacts with MAOIs (antidepressants) and Levodopa (Parkinson's medication). [ 1, 2, 3, 4]

[Yorikke] Pogue, please use the research publications, not the spamish rotten eggy publi...

Yorikke — 9/17/2026 5:28:56 AM

Pogue, please use the research publications, not the spamish rotten eggy publications meant for mass distribution. None of this means much if we can not view the actual numbers, the study conclusions are base upon.

I believe that tyrosine has been an 'avoid' substance in the running community for some time. Perhaps distance runners ran into its negative aspects decades ago and pulled back a bit on its use. There are a lot more other substances that act as stimulants that have likely truly harmed many runners. Even intermittent use in conditions of severe stress may have taxed the body in highly inflammatory ways.

High level athletes are not the only ones facing this problem. Decades later use of legal, but very stimulating substances is seeping into the lives of now retired chronic runners. Its just not muscles. Its organs, and perhaps even the brain itself that was 'whacked' by these 'do better' magic pills.

Too many athletes, even at the Marathon levels regularly ingest simulants of questionable long term effect in order to make some 'cut-off', a time that eliminates their continued participation, or which lies out at the end of the race and stands as the literal 'Do or Die' point.

As a regular 'back of the packer' ultra runner I have faced those decisions. I was never in contention for awards or qualifications for elite class events, so any additions of these 'legal, but health questionable' substances to my medical pouch was in a race against myself and not the upper echelon racers of the race. The point being that in conditions of very high stress to body and mind, people may be more prone to discount the future to a much greater extent that reality does on its own.

[Yorikke] Again, no offense to you Pogue. But it was written by a group of idiots who ...

Yorikke — 9/17/2026 4:57:15 AM

Again, no offense to you Pogue. But it was written by a group of idiots who don't even know there is a D3 or what that implies. Likely its the same group of quack-writers addressing the same audience as the Parade article.

If I would have used this article a year or even ten years ago, you would have torn the skin from my skull and pointed out all the ridiculous points of what is meant as a positive D3 article.

One point, the authors point out that taking statins, which is becoming ubiquitous in the elder population, has the distinct tendency of negating naturally produced COQ10. Supplementation is recommended to return overly medicated individuals to a normal COQ10 level.

[Pogeu Mahone] "And The Winner Is" Scientists Just Discovered That This Popular Vitamin Is Als...

Pogeu Mahone — 9/16/2026 9:49:56 PM

"And The Winner Is"

Scientists Just Discovered That This Popular Vitamin Is Also Linked to Better Aging

Korin Miller

Tue, September 15, 2026 at 7:00 AM EDT

5

This Supplement May Also Boost Your Brain Getty/WH Illustration

There are plenty of reasons you might want to slow down aging—from cognitive to physical health. And while science hasn’t quite discovered a magic cure-all to keep you young, new research suggests a popular supplement may at least help support your brain as you age:Vitamin D. While the supplement is often associated with sunlight and supporting your immune system, a growing body of research suggests it may have brain benefits as well.

A new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine suggests that older adults with certain health complications who took vitamin D ended up doing better on a cognitive test than those who weren’t on the supplement. It’s a bit of a stretch to say that means this supplement will boost your brainpower as you age, but this, in conjunction with existing research, suggests that vitamin D could play a role in healthy brain aging.

Whether you’ve been eyeing vitamin D for your brain health or just want to do what you can to keep yourself sharp as you get older, experts say the results are worth paying attention to. Here’s why.

Meet the experts: Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game Changers; Sandra Zhang, RDN, a dietitian at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center; and Victoria Pak, PhD, study co-author and associate professor at the Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing.

What did the study find?For the cross-sectional study, researchers looked at 54 older adults who were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and disturbed sleep, or were suspected to have these health complications. Researchers had each participant take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, which is a 10-minute cognitive screening test. They compared those results against the participants’ vitamin D supplement use.

After crunching the numbers, the researchers found that participants who took 5,000 international units (IU) or more of vitamin D a day scored more than 13 percent higher on the cognitive test than those who didn’t take the supplement. That held true, even when the researchers adjusted for other factors like BMI, age, and education. Worth noting: Lower doses of vitamin D were not linked with better cognitive scores.

The researchers concluded that their “findings suggest that taking higher doses of daily vitamin D supplementation is associated with better overall cognitive performance in this population.”

Why might vitamin D support cognition as you age?This isn’t the first study to link vitamin D with better cognition. Research published in the Alzheimer’s & Dementia Diagnosis, Assessment, & Disease Monitoringjournal in 2023 analyzed the impact of vitamin D on dementia risk in nearly 12,500 older adults. There, the researchers discovered that people who took a vitamin D supplement had a 40 percent lower risk of developing dementia than those who didn’t take a supplement. Women, who were at a higher risk of developing dementia than men, had a 49 percent lower risk of developing dementia if they took vitamin D than those who didn’t take the supplement.

It’s important to point out that this latest study was small and observational, making it tough to say that taking more than 5,000 IU of vitamin D daily will boost your brain as you age. But experts say there may still be something worth paying attention to here.

“Vitamin D plays a role in brain health, including brain-cell function and inflammation,” says Sandra Zhang, RDN, a dietitian at the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center. “Low vitamin D levels have also been linked with poorer cognitive health, although we don't know yet if supplementation directly improves cognition.”

Vitamin D has “long been known” to play a role in brain function, agrees Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game Changers. “When levels are low, things like memory, focus, and mood may be impacted,” she says.

Vitamin D receptors are found in the brain, notes Victoria Pak, PhD, study co-author and associate professor at the Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. “Research suggests that inflammation can increase with age and may be associated with cognitive decline,” she says. “These are some of the reasons why the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive health is worth studying further.”

Should everyone take vitamin D for brain health?Not necessarily. “People who are deficient may benefit from supplementation,” Zhang says. How can you know if you’re on the right track? Most adults should get 600 IU daily, while adults 70 and up should have 800 IU of the nutrient, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

You can get vitamin D from sun exposure, along with eating foods that contain vitamin D or are fortified with the nutrient, like fatty fish, UV-treated mushrooms, and fortified milks, Cording says. But it’s common for people in the northern hemisphere to have lower levels of vitamin D, she adds.

The only way to know for sure if you’re low in vitamin D is to get your levels checked via a blood test, Cording points out. Zhang also flags that 5,000 IU daily is a high dose, making it important to check in with a healthcare provider before putting yourself on it.

“Our findings are encouraging, but they’re still preliminary and come from people with signs of cognitive impairment who also had sleep disturbances,” Pak says.

If you’re curious about your vitamin D status and its potential impact on your health, talk to your healthcare provider. They can get you tested, establish a baseline, and make personalized recommendations from there.

[Pogeu Mahone] edit

Pogeu Mahone — 9/16/2026 9:46:32 PM

[Pogeu Mahone] Popular brain-boosting supplement ingredient linked to shorter lifespan in men, ...

Pogeu Mahone — 9/16/2026 11:55:14 AM

Popular brain-boosting supplement ingredient linked to shorter lifespan in men, study finds

Published: Sep. 15, 2026, 4:13 p.m.

A common amino acid found in protein-rich foods and widely marketed in supplements for focus and mental performance may be linked to a shorter lifespan in men, according to a new study involving more than 270,000 people.

University researchers found that higher blood levels of tyrosine were associated with reduced life expectancy in men, potentially shortening lifespan by nearly a year.

The findings, published in the journal Aging-US, are drawing attention because tyrosine is a popular ingredient in dietary supplements promoted for alertness, concentration and cognitive performance.

Tyrosine is a naturally occurring amino acid that the body uses to produce important brain chemicals, including dopamine, which plays a role in mood, motivation and thinking.

It is also found in many protein-rich foods, including meat, fish, dairy products and eggs.

To explore whether tyrosine and another amino acid, phenylalanine, could influence longevity, researchers analyzed health and genetic information from more than 270,000 participants in the United Kingdom’s Biobank database.

The team used both traditional observational methods and a genetic technique known as Mendelian randomization, which can help researchers determine whether a biological factor may play a causal role in an outcome rather than simply being associated with it.

While both amino acids initially appeared to be linked to a greater risk of death, tyrosine emerged as the stronger predictor after researchers accounted for other variables.

According to the study, higher tyrosine levels showed a potentially causal relationship with reduced lifespan in men, while no significant effect was found among women. Researchers also noted that men generally have higher tyrosine levels than women, though the study did not establish that tyrosine is responsible for broader differences in life expectancy between the sexes.

Why is this happening?

Scientists say they do not yet know exactly why elevated tyrosine levels may be associated with shorter lifespans in men.

One possible explanation involves insulin resistance, a condition in which the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin and which has been linked to a range of age-related health problems.

Researchers also pointed to differences in hormones and stress-response pathways between men and women as a possible factor.

[Yorikke] Congrats on the coming ninth decade, Smart_Asset. I believe our biggest challe...

Yorikke — 9/14/2026 9:14:07 PM

Congrats on the coming ninth decade, Smart_Asset.

I believe our biggest challenge is to remain aware of what is going on in our own body and localized environment. One can use the standard methods of recent decades or, now, one can look to the various AI engines to provide detailed info and analysis. Today it is much easier to become 'literate' in ones own state of health and affairs. In fact as one become more sophisticated at data collection and analysis tools, the emphasis needs to be reversed. One needs to spend more time filtering and determining just what it is that is of personal importance.

The goal is not to replace your medical professionals. The goal it to be able to walk into a meeting with them and ask really relevant questions that advance what you may have already found out on lab tests. (Demand that all lab tests you take be accessible to you!) The moment you ask questions, they are bound/required to come back with good answers, even if that is only a "You know I don't really know, lets look at that." The point is that we all need to take ourselves out of the cattle chute. We need to increase our participation in our own care. We must separate ourselves from those who are lined up for that 'ultimate bullet at the back of our skulls' which is what the present medical system sees as the end of the human care road.

Even google AI is a quantum leap from what we had a few years ago. The engine will give one a good overview of a problem, diagnosis, or test reding, though weighted with medical insurance risk blather, but can, if prodded with more precise info, and some 'release type jargon' or more specific statement of personal factors, come back with some good analysis that is better than than what your doc can provide in the few minutes you may have with him. Again by being able to ask these questions.....Even if you have them printed up for your own reference they signal to the DOC that you are very involved with your own care. That just throwing some meds at you is pretty much BS. Suddenly he has a patient that is asking good questions, not sitting there hands in the lap and head and shoulders bent in submission. If you feel you need a certain lab test, he is more likely to grant it, or discuss it with you, if you are looking him in the eyes and talking about the readings you feel will increase your understanding of your state of health.

People in my family have lived into their late eighties and nineties. The most long-lived were the individuals who fought their way through the medical system. Unfortunately they were hampered by the lack of medical technology and AI we have today. But they asked their Docs questions, they demanded that be treated as paying customers. It paid off.

Finally get a handle on the check-up routines the docs office runs people through. Counting backwards by sevens from 100. Standing on one leg for 30 seconds, then the other, finally if you have a particularly demanding admission nurse, learn how to jump into the air and turn 360's for five seconds or so. Keep sharp when they do this entry level check as once they write that you are unstable on your feet, or have problems with cognition, seem generally confused that chit stays on your record. Its hard to get it expunged. Its the lead in to shoving you back down the chute. So review the conting BS, know what day it it, The month, who the president of the US. your date of birth, childrens names. (Many of these you'd like to forget, and with some justification, but Nurses have no humor, are dower even when they are putting a mark on you.

At home maintain all the routines you decide upon. Keeping your BS/A1c down is a constant/momentary battle. Understand what makes you BP go up and down. Looking at your heart rate requires constant monitoring and perhaps even a regular electro cardiogram
Get good sleep, eat well, hydrate. All really stuff you hear every day. But we got know what that means, and how we achieve it.

These are the issues I find myself facing now. If you read this wrong you may believe I'm lecturing. Perhaps, but it is from what I have faced personally and through friends, many of whom have already passed and would for the most part agree with me.

[Smart_Asset] That's a very on point post. I will turn 80 two weeks from today and have devel...

Smart_Asset — 9/13/2026 11:49:56 AM

That's a very on point post.

I will turn 80 two weeks from today and have developed a life style that focuses on physical health while not ignoring mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health. My belief is that physical fitness has great impacts on the four other facets of health I mentioned.

<<Slowly each of us, in our own way, becomes a mass of chit.

Like Socialism in our corporal lives, once there, it is almost impossible to move away from it. In fact there is such an inertia in these processes that most of us just let it happen. Its just too painful to resist. Literally! The body cries its way to the grave.

So can anything be done? Surprisingly the first thing is to recognize it and to put up your finger and temp the fates. Resist.>>

Don't let the old man in. State of mind plays an important role in physical fitness. One of my phrases is- gain, regain and maintain...all the ains. At my stage of the game it's mostly maintain with a fair amount of regain and, surprisingly some gains. I'm more flexible now than I was in years past simply by daily stretching which I ignored for years even though very active. I do every day cardio mixed with strength, stretching, and balance. Again, mostly in the maintain arena.

<<Resistance means looking around and attempting to move toward a more healthy lifestyle. Friction in all you do becomes essential. Friction means forcing the free riders of you cells out at in increased rate. Resistance does mean less less sleep, or exercise, or contact with other people, but it does definitely mean saying NO to all the old ladies at the socials who want you to try their cake or pie. Or to the latent denial of regularly checking your blood sugar and actually Responding to high reading by diet alteration. >>

My 'program' is always a work in progress. Daily monitoring of heart rate, sleep, weight, and diet is helpful. Friction is a good word. I like to think of it as engagement. I'm engaging in the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual spheres. Not the same level of engagement from previous decades but purposefully engaged.

<<Now you got to be even more strong and decisive. >>

Self discipline is not so easy to measure but can certainly be developed over time. A central element of my program is a long term commitment. A diet or exercise program without a long term commitment is nothing more than a passing fancy. Terms have beginnings and ends and it's easy to think I'll just do this diet/exercise for the rest of my life. But we don't know how long that is so I use 1000 days as my LTC. I enter the number each morning, takes about 10 seconds to record the day(I'm currently on day 114 in my third 1000 day cycle), my weight, and a grade for the previous day's diet. Works for me.

<<Monitor your systems, Keep learning and adapting,>>

Amen to that.

<<Most of all tell all your friends of your age the truth as you see it, and accept that most of them are already on their way out. Prepare to be laughed at, or ignored. Give it the obligatory effort, then you are free of any responsibility.>>

That's a bit problematic for me. I don't want to preach but....The last World Health Organization number that I saw was the US is the 35th healthiest nation in the world. Room for lots of improvement there. I have been asked 'what is my secret' a few times and respond that there is no secret....diet and exercise will lead to a healthy lifestyle for anybody if done correctly.

Thanks for your post.

[Yorikke] It's been stated that scientific studies have found that around the age of 75 ou...

Yorikke — 9/13/2026 2:20:30 AM

It's been stated that scientific studies have found that around the age of 75 our body finally is called upon to face the sins of the past. The free riding quiescent cells begin to gain some dominance in our systems, and we are faced with fact that we are being taken down by a bunch of free riders. Its kind of the socialism of cell biology. All that whiny 'everybody should have a chance!?' begins to see an increasing number of people lining up at the free lunch counters, and the real contributors, the ones that are still able to reproduce healthy offspring, are overwhelmed by a system that begins to recognize aberration as normality. Slowly each of us, in our own way, becomes a mass of chit.

Like Socialism in our corporal lives, once there, it is almost impossible to move away from it. In fact there is such an inertia in these processes that most of us just let it happen. Its just too painful to resist. Literally! The body cries its way to the grave.

So can anything be done? Surprisingly the first thing is to recognize it and to put up your finger and temp the fates. Resist. Emotionally, physically, mentally, RESIST. It is likely to extend your life, and by some accounts upwards of an average seven years of so. Resistance means change. Resistance means looking around and attempting to move toward a more healthy lifestyle. Friction in all you do becomes essential. Friction means forcing the free riders of you cells out at in increased rate. Resistance does mean less less sleep, or exercise, or contact with other people, but it does definitely mean saying NO to all the old ladies at the socials who want you to try their cake or pie. Or to the latent denial of regularly checking your blood sugar and actually Responding to high reading by diet alteration.

Resistance means generally ignoring all those on the shorter term tracks who council caution and care. How the hell do you think you got here. True a lot of us got here by becoming drinkers and whoring whenever we had the chance. That chit catches up many years later. At the same time having come through that you are likely to have fought some battles with Alcoholism, or other addictions. You had to be strong and decisive to still be here. Now you got to be even more strong and decisive. But you are unlikely to be a whinner. And whining in your seventies is just acceptance of what others tell you is inevitable.

So, even after the general biological nadir of the seventies...you need to get out and lose weight or for many GAIN weight and keep hydrated, improve diet, do some weights, or liftin in the yard, walk or run, Monitor your systems, Keep learning and adapting, and even get laid if you can still swing that. Most of all tell all your friends of your age the truth as you see it, and accept that most of them are already on their way out. Prepare to be laughed at, or ignored. Give it the obligatory effort, then you are free of any responsibility.

Get mean and a bit nasty, and be ready to see a lot of your friends just quit. It aint your fault. You don't have to go with them. Stick around to see your great grand children and impress them with your knowledge and scare the hell out them when they screw around.

[Yorikke] When it comes to health, statements of certainty do not make much sense to me. ...

Yorikke — 9/9/2026 4:42:56 AM

When it comes to health, statements of certainty do not make much sense to me. I prefer to leave the door open a bit. People in this day and age want certainty and the assurances that they will not have to be responsible for their decisions, or have to make any for that matter. One of the reasons older people get so nasty is that to get where they are in life they have to watch an increasing number of cohorts commit suicide by known stupidity. The conundrum is that you can point it out to people but most of the time they don't want to hear it. They want to live for free in a world that always charges a fare. Pointing that out makes you the conductor and tends to ruin the celebration when the doors open at their stop.

[Pogeu Mahone] CoQ10 deficiency is as rare as having a cow over it.-G- Primary CoQ10 Deficienc...

Pogeu Mahone — 9/8/2026 9:27:32 PM

CoQ10 deficiency is as rare as having a cow over it.-G-

Primary CoQ10 Deficiency: Caused by rare genetic mutations in the biosynthetic pathway required for cells to make CoQ10. Fewer than 150 total cases have been thoroughly detailed in medical literature.

Primary (genetic) Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency is extremely rare, with an estimated prevalence of less than 1 in 100,000 people.

So scare the chit out of the ignorant and sell them not needed cock10

Reading your posts are always the highlight of my day. Thank you.

I can hear your siblings now:

"Why don't you stop those crazy 100 mile races you are going to hurt yourself"

[Yorikke] Snake Oil?...….that's what people write when they don't have time to read....or...

Yorikke — 9/8/2026 6:16:40 PM

Snake Oil?...….that's what people write when they don't have time to read....or learn. Or can not understand that what they determine is the razor's edge is actually a broad plain of understanding. A place where you are not cutting to the quick, but bludgeoning the bejesus out of disparate antidotes.

If your body or organs can not produce CoQ10 in the necessary quantities then taking supplements is not 'snake oil', particularly if you are not in a position to get a proper diet. Then there is the debate that sparked this discussion. "When does the use prescribed meds override the intake of dietary or supplementary essentials?" When do the shills of Parade Magazine get to print an article that basically asserts that interfering with a Pharma drug's action by intake of a natural product that does the same thing, is a danger? My understanding is that Pharma drugs are the danger if mis-prescribed.

Pogeu, You have indirectly agreed that a supplement that is extremely difficult to take to the point of toxicity is not really a danger---if one is in the realm of sanity. Take for instance D3 or to get even more strict, D3 from natural fish oils.

Much of this Toxicity info now available is a defensive wall built by the Parma Industry to defend their own chit-based product and increase their profits. Cultivating fear and most of all uncertianty, is making these greedy wolves rich. People are more afraid of D3/K2/Mag/boron than they are of a regular diet of high fructose and carbs diets. I see doctors telling patients that they are at toxic levels of D3 when they are at 60ng!! I don't hear about them advising more coherent sun exposure, or proper exercise, or weight control, or monitoring of BS or BP. I am told to shut up as I watch my family elders wander toward death in '15 minute one every three month' doctors checkups.

These are the 'they always knew better than me' siblings who are suddenly unaware of their own health state as they bump toward death. There was no real reason to be where they are now but for their own acceptance of ignorance; and a refusal to learn that the world has come a long way in the last 30 years. I could call it arrogance, but too many people over 60 are too dull to be called arrogant.

If your doctor tells you that you are suddenly pre-diabetic.....never really having discussed your low pre-diabetic state with you, or discussed your rising weight and erratic BP, or mentioned that you can buy a BP meter and a Blood Sugar monitor to get a handle on what the truth is concerning your diet, not what that fairy tale you live with as you 'cheat a little here and there'. Then you are being complicit in your own passing. ( The fact that the younger generations are both ignorant and avarice makes this all the more difficult. Setting your sites on outliving the little bastids is your only defensive mechanism. Do not trust 'em as even your own blood will turn on you when it appears to be time to divide the spoils.)

Believe me I worked on a Hospice ward for years..... the stories at the end of the line are very much the same. A great many people end up there with no real understanding of why, yet the diagnoses were made a decade or two earlier. Others talked themselves out the door, because they just didn't bother with dealing the issues years earlier, and let the doc, who have 300 other people who aren't listening on their lists, schedule them for terminal care because that is what they do, and what keeps that far range of Pharma drugs profitably active.

[Yorikke] A growing number of sites featuring nutritional advice are AI generated. Common...

Yorikke — 9/1/2026 2:05:34 PM

A growing number of sites featuring nutritional advice are AI generated. Common 'presenters' often feature differing voices, accents, and noticeable repeats of information. Often what is presented as the topic of the presentation is NOT what is presented. YouTube seems to be overwhelmed by this and deals with only the most egregious exploitations.

When these YouTube videos are not attempting to exploit popular presenters, they feature AI generated personalities which are likely sold as a part of the AI system to create these features. When they move to create pseudo talks from established real individuals they often run into more problems and are often deleted as a result of complaint.

Not all the AI information is bogus. Its just being presented by AI personalities. Converting text into a video presentation is a lot of what is going on. But as Pogeu has pointed out. There is a growing level of videos that are outright scams. Many of them are aimed at creating familiarity and then slipping in a fee.

[Pogeu Mahone] The "15-Second Vicks Trick" featuring Elon Musk is a completely fabricated socia...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/30/2026 11:54:03 AM

The "15-Second Vicks Trick" featuring Elon Musk is a completely fabricated social media scam. Elon Musk has never promoted Vicks VapoRub for memory loss or dementia, and the viral videos online use AI deepfakes to impersonate celebrities and medical professionals. These advertisements manipulate real people’s likenesses to trick consumers into purchasing unproven supplements or clicking on malicious links. [ 1, 2, 3]

[Pogeu Mahone] 60 minutes Elon Musk Reveals The 15-Second Vicks Trick For Memory Loss and Deme...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/30/2026 10:16:58 AM

60 minutes

Elon Musk Reveals The 15-Second Vicks Trick For Memory Loss and Dementia!

Updated 30 minutes ago 08/30/2026

zinwiree.com

[Pogeu Mahone] CoQ10 supplements are snake oil. What Happens to Athletic Performance When You ...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/27/2026 9:57:08 AM

CoQ10 supplements are snake oil.

What Happens to Athletic Performance When You Take CoQ10 Supplements

By Megan Nunn, PharmD
Published on August 26, 2026

Medically reviewed by Patricia Mikula, PharmDBy Megan Nunn, PharmD
Published on August 26, 2026

Medically reviewed by Patricia Mikula, PharmD

CoQ10 may modestly improve anaerobic workouts, but further research is needed

.Extreme Photographer / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Limited evidence suggests CoQ10 could modestly improve anaerobic workouts, such as weightlifting, but it may not significantly enhance aerobic performance.
CoQ10 may indirectly improve athletic performance by reducing fatigue, pain, swelling, and muscle injury caused by strenuous exercise.
CoQ10 interacts with various medications and may cause gastrointestinal side effects or trouble sleeping. For best results, take CoQ10 with a high-fat meal and divide large doses throughout the day to improve absorption.

Supplementing with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is more likely to enhance workout recovery than directly boost your athletic performance. Here’s the latest research.

How CoQ10 Relates to Athletic Performance

CoQ10 is an antioxidant compound made in the body that helps cells generate energy and fight muscle damage caused by free radicals.1
CoQ10 levels decline as you age. Lower levels are associated with reduced strength, energy, and exercise endurance.2
Taking CoQ10 supplements increases CoQ10 levels in your blood but is unlikely to increase CoQ10 in your muscles or significantly boost athletic performance.34

Deng H, Song T, Yin M, et al. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation increases blood concentrations but shows limited and inconsistent effects on exercise performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. Published online December 29, 2025. doi:10.1017/S0007114525106211
Some evidence supports CoQ10 for muscle recovery, which could indirectly improve your workout frequency or intensity.5

Role in Muscle EnergyCoQ10 helps cells produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), an energy source needed for muscle contraction.126

Limited evidence suggests CoQ10 may modestly improve anaerobic workouts, such as weightlifting or bodyweight exercises.
For instance, a clinical trial showed that athletically trained men who took a form of CoQ10 for two weeks were able to lift heavier weights, complete more reps, and experience less fatigue than those who took a placebo (sugar pill).7
Another small trial showed that older adults who supplemented with CoQ10 for 8 weeks increased lower-body strength.2
There’s no strong evidence that CoQ10 improves performance in aerobic (“cardio”) activities like running.5

Role in Exercise RecoveryCoQ10 may improve recovery after a workout by mitigating the harmful effects of strenuous exercise: fatigue, pain, swelling (inflammation), and muscle injury.5

As an antioxidant, CoQ10 reduces dangerous reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the body during intense workouts.8
A review of 28 clinical trials showed that CoQ10 reduces markers of muscle breakdown and damage due to high-intensity or endurance exercise. These markers include creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase, and myoglobin, which are muscle proteins that leak into the bloodstream during inflammation.910
Notably, some recent research concludes that CoQ10’s effects on markers of muscle damage are inconsistent. While some trials show it decreases CK, other data suggest CoQ10 either does not affect or even increases CK.10 lol CoQ10 is a fake oil

CoQ10 has been studied for its effects on workout performance and recovery at doses ranging from 30 to 300 milligrams (mg) daily.5
Keep in mind that long-term (chronic) supplementation is your best bet for athletic gains, though benefits are likely to be modest.4
For best results, take CoQ10 supplements with a high-fat meal or snack, and divide large doses throughout the day to increase absorption and boost CoQ10 levels in your body. 1112
If you’re looking to supplement stack (combine supplements to optimize their effects), consider pairing CoQ10 with creatine, omega-3 fatty acids, or curcumin for added benefits.10

Is CoQ10 Safe For Me?Like all dietary supplements, CoQ10 may cause side effects, drug interactions, and risks for certain populations. If you decide to try it, be mindful of the following precautions.

Side effects associated with CoQ10 may include the following:1

Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Rash
Nausea
Stomach pain
Heartburn
Dizziness
Light sensitivity
Headache
Irritability
Fatigue

CoQ10 interacts with many medications, including the following:1

Statins, gemfibrozil, and diabetes medicines lower CoQ10 levels.
Beta-blockers, used to treat heart conditions or high blood pressure, reduce the effects of CoQ10.
CoQ10 reduces the effects of the blood-thinner Coumadin (warfarin).
You may need a lower dose of insulin if you start taking CoQ10.

For personalized recommendations and optimal health, discuss the use of CoQ10 or any other supplement with your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or registered dietitian before adding it to your medicine cabinet. Here are some general tips on choosing a top-quality supplement.

[Yorikke] I understand what you are saying....it just that your anger and irritation often...

Yorikke — 8/27/2026 12:28:27 AM

I understand what you are saying....it just that your anger and irritation often walk in the way of the common sense your are uttering. Have you become a ghost of E Charters.?

As far as the parade article is concerned, they are cautioning people to beware of a natural substance because it interferes with the administration of high valued phama drugs. For some reason I take offence at this stupidity and avarice.

I have never really questioned your D3 comments. I take it regularly. It would appear, from the Parade article and general postings and reference from you, that CoQ10 acts to repair the damage done by Pharma drugs. There may indeed be much of it in the system as a product of cellular activity; but there appears to be enough of it to potentially throw off the income calculations of the pharma monopsony. Hence their over the top scheeching about COQ10 being such a danger. (Not to the common man, but to the common investor and shill artists of the Pharma industry. )

[Pogeu Mahone] Let me clear up what I have been saying for the last decades: Vitamin D3 is a U...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/26/2026 10:27:08 AM

Let me clear up what I have been saying for the last decades:

Vitamin D3 is a Universal essential provided by nature to all living things..... essential

Forget the rest of star fish ingredients {prevagin} supplements and eat real food to get your Vitamins and minerals

Scientific Evidence: Clinical proof supporting its memory benefits is weak, limited, and mostly derived from small, company-funded studies. [ 1, 2] None

Legal Actions: Following lawsuits by the Federal Trade Commission and the state of New York, federal courts ordered the makers of Prevagen to stop claiming the product improves memory or cognitive function due to a lack of solid scientific proof. [ 1]

Is this clear enough?

'I've had a problem figuring out what you are saying for almost 20 years."

[Pogeu Mahone] No mention of COQ10!..... no one needs coq10 ...Statins can lower natural CoQ10 ...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/26/2026 9:40:28 AM

No mention of COQ10!..... no one needs coq10 ...Statins can lower natural CoQ10 levels in the body.
-------------------------------------------------------------

High-dose vitamin D may boost brain heath in older adults at risk of dementia

Supplementing vitamin D may help protect brain health in older adults at risk of dementia. SolStock/ Getty Images

In 2021, there were about 57 million people globally living with dementia.
Early symptoms of dementia can include signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and sleep issues.
Previous research shows certain nutrients may help slow dementia progression, such as vitamin D.
A new study suggests that consuming a higher amount of vitamin D may improve cognitive function in older adults who have both MCI and problems sleeping.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021 there were about 57 million peopleTrusted Source globally living with dementia, an umbrella term for diseases that impact a person’s ability to think and remember, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Early symptoms of dementia can include signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) like memory loss, inability to problem solve, or difficulties speaking or remembering words, as well as sleep issues.

Previous research shows that dietTrusted Source can play an important role in the slowing of progression of dementia. Some foods, such as those that are high in nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, B vitaminsTrusted Source, antioxidants, and vitamin D, may be especially relevant to this equation.

Now, a new study published in the journal Sleep Medicine says that consuming a higher amount of vitamin D is linked to improved cognitive function in older adults who have both MCI and problems sleeping.

What’s the link between MCI, sleep issues, and vitamin D?

For this study, researchers recruited 54 adults with an average age of about 67 who had diagnosed or suspected MCI and sleeping problems.

Study participants’ cognition was assessed through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and their sleep quality was assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS).

Study participants also self-reported their daily vitamin D consumption and dosage.

“Vitamin D is especially interesting because it’s part of everyday life, yet we’re still learning about the role it may play in cognitive health,” Victoria Pak, PhD, MS, MTR, associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta and senior author of the study, told Medical News Today.

“We focused on people with sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment because sleep and cognition are closely connected, and we wanted to understand whether vitamin D supplement intake was associated with differences in cognitive function in this group,” added Pak.

Taking vitamin D increased cognitive score by 13%

At the study’s conclusion, researchers discovered that study participants who reported taking 5,000 international units (IU) or more of vitamin D each day scored more than 13% higher on the MoCA, when compared to those who didn’t take a vitamin D supplement.

“Scores differed by approximately four points on the MoCA,” Pak said. “This was an observational study, so we need to be cautious about how we interpret the finding. What makes the result important to investigate further is that we observed this relationship in people with mild cognitive impairment and sleep disturbances.”

“The amount of vitamin D someone needs can vary, so anyone concerned about their levels should talk with their healthcare provider about whether testing is appropriate,” she added.

For the next steps in this research, Pak said they plan to test these findings in a clinical trial to determine whether vitamin D supplementation can influence cognition.

“If the trial shows that vitamin D contributes to the differences in cognitive function we observed, that could open up new possibilities for supporting cognitive health,” she said.

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Highlighting a noninvasive intervention for an at-risk group

MNT had the opportunity to speak with Manisha Santosh Parulekar, MD, FACP, AGSF, CMD, chief of the Division of Geriatrics and co-director of the Center for Memory Loss and Brain Health at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Parulekar, who was not involved in this study, commented that her first reaction to this its findings was one of optimism.

“The findings highlight an accessible, noninvasive intervention for an at-risk group,” she explained. “It reinforces the hypothesis that dietary modifications impact cognitive decline.”

MNT also spoke with Dung Trinh, MD, an internist for MemorialCare Medical Group and chief medical officer of Healthy Brain Clinic in Irvine, CA, who likewise was not involved in this study.

Trinh said that he found this to be an intriguing and clinically relevant finding, particularly because sleep disturbance is so common in patients with mild cognitive impairment and may contribute to worsening cognitive health over time.

“The study found that participants taking 5,000 IU or more of vitamin D daily had better cognitive scores, but I would emphasize that this was a small, cross-sectional study involving only 54 participants, so it shows an association rather than proving that high-dose vitamin D improves cognition,” he continued.

“Still, the magnitude of the observed difference is enough to justify larger and more rigorous studies,” he emphasized.

What are the cognitive function benefits of vitamin D?

When asked how vitamin D might help improve cognitive function in people with sleep disturbances and MCI, Trinh said one possible explanation is vitamin D’s role in regulating inflammation and immune function.

“Poor sleep has been associated with increased inflammatory activity, and neuroinflammation may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative processes. Vitamin D may help modulate inflammatory signaling, and there is also some evidence that vitamin D status is related to sleep quality. That creates a plausible biological pathway in which adequate vitamin D could potentially support both sleep and brain health, although this study did not directly demonstrate that mechanism and the broader research on vitamin D and cognition remains mixed.”

– Dung Trinh, MD

Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP, a registered dietitian nutritionist and owner of Nutrition-In-Sight — who was not involved in this study — added that in addition to inflammation, vitamin D appears to influence other pathways relevant to brain health, including oxidative stress, neuronal signaling, and neurotrophic factors.

“Sleep disturbance itself can also amplify inflammation and metabolic stress, so vitamin D may be one piece of a much larger sleep–brain–immune connection,” Richard continued.

“My perspective is that the greatest potential benefit may be in identifying someone who is insufficient or deficient rather than assuming that ‘more is always better.’ Evidence from larger trials remains mixed, which is an important part of the story, emphasizing the fact that personalizing recommendations is best,” she told us.

“Vitamin D may not be a magic memory pill, but correcting a deficiency could be one modifiable piece of the brain-health puzzle,” Richard added.

Should you take a vitamin D supplement?

For those worrying about their vitamin D intake, Richard recommended first looking at the whole picture rather than immediately reaching for a high-dose supplement of D2 or D3.

“Vitamin D is naturally present in relatively few foods, but fatty fish such as salmon and trout, egg yolks, and fortified milk or plant-based beverages can contribute in meaningful, beneficial amounts. Reading labels, understanding sources and whether that item — irradiated mushrooms, for example — are contributing reliable amounts, are a few additional tips to consider with Vitamin D.”

– Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP

For people with limited sun exposure, low dietary intake, or other risk factors, Richard said supplementation may be appropriate — but ideally based on an individual’s health history, dietary pattern, medications, ethnicity, conversion rate, and, when clinically indicated, a 25-hydroxyvitamin D blood test.

“Importantly, the 5,000-IU dose in this study should not be interpreted as a universal recommendation,” she continued. “The NIH lists 4,000 IU/dayTrusted Source as the tolerable upper intake level for most adults from food and supplements combined, although higher doses may sometimes be used under medical supervision to treat deficiency.”

“Consulting with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) can help meet people where they are at and tailor an appropriate recommendation and game plan for their needs,” Richard added.

“The goal with vitamin D is to identify whether it is a missing piece of that individual’s health picture and then how that piece can be addressed most appropriately to reap the benefits and support the body and mind’s needs,” the dietitian concluded.

Medically reviewed
A guide to nutrition and diet with MSYvonne was a big junk food fan when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. This is how she changed her habit.

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[Yorikke] I take it because someone told me it was like legal grass and if you smoked eno...

Yorikke — 8/25/2026 4:04:00 AM

I take it because someone told me it was like legal grass and if you smoked enough of it you could get high.
That is my "Yardstick of supplement health' Goes back to the days when 'If you smoke enough of this chit you can get a buzz on!! and that was the yardstick of supplementation. I'm not sure that was such a bad way to deal with things. After all it was mostly organic herb and was not going to kill you; even at a rate of a few oz per day, or one beeeg hooka bowl. You know things are screwed up when the sixties mentalities which were generally harmless (very few people took acid or hard drugs, and mostly drank beer and rolled bomber joints of oregano.) are demonized in favor of 'can kill you' pharma drugs at prices so inflated they got to get the government to help them rape the public. COQ10 is basically harmless as a supplement--Unless you are drugging yourself up with crap that will kill you regardless.

[Yorikke] If you are saying that Statins and Blood Sugar meds are the answer and that COQ1...

Yorikke — 8/25/2026 3:50:08 AM

If you are saying that Statins and Blood Sugar meds are the answer and that COQ10 is not a help to the system I must disagree. What I pointed out is that Parade presented this as a individual on Statins and Blood Sugar meds was the NORM. COQ10 was classified as dangerous because it screwed with the norm (of loading up on pharma prescriptions). COQ10 is not necessarily the cure to being stupid, but it wont hurt you in non-excessive doses as the body produces a lot of it itself WHEN it is healthy. It will however play a bit of havoc with pharma products and their dosing.

Most people can not really read, or don't bother to try. I'm often in that second category . But this article is a load of crap only meant to panic.

I've had a problem figuring out what you are saying for almost 20 years. Usually when I figure that out I find we agree in general.

[Pogeu Mahone] Looking at obese America sugar is the problem CQ 10 is not needed Healthy adu...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/24/2026 7:05:26 AM

Looking at obese America sugar is the problem

CQ 10 is not needed

Healthy adults who eat a balanced diet do not need CoQ10 supplements because the body makes enough on its own. Supplements are generally unnecessary unless a doctor suggests them for specific health needs.

When Supplements Are Not Needed

Healthy Bodies: Your cells make all the CoQ10 required for daily energy.

Balanced Diet: Foods like fish, meat, and nuts provide extra trace amounts.

General Aging: Normal aging alone does not mean you lack the nutrient.

When Doctors Might Discuss CoQ10

Statin Use: Some patients take it if cholesterol drugs cause muscle discomfort.

Heart Support: Doctors may review it for specific heart conditions.

Migraines: It is sometimes tried to help reduce headaches. [ 1, 2, 3]

[Pogeu Mahone] ignorance is not the answer if one is not smart enough to distinguish between t...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/24/2026 6:56:35 AM

ignorance is not the answer

if one is not smart enough to distinguish between the universal naturel given cure

and snake oil c'est la vie

[Yorikke] Furthermore....if you read the last few paragraphs you find that taking COQ10 h...

Yorikke — 8/24/2026 1:25:29 AM

Furthermore....if you read the last few paragraphs you find that taking COQ10 has a tendency to reduce blood sugar, and to deal with high blood pressure and the things that Statins deal with. ie COQ10 usage has a tendency to reduce the need for these products, (Billion dollar revenue producers) This is presented as a terrible threat, because it throws the cycles of income way off. Instead of speaking to doctors and saying try reducing your prescriptions a bit and supplementing it with CoQ10.

I have been recommended prescriptions for Statins (because I am at that age?) and some kind of crap to lower my BS. I actually took some Statins and suffered from a bout of head aches with a week. I have brought my BS down by severely watching my diet. I expect a call from the Health Defenders who will ask me to explain why I'm not willingly participating in the pharma mass suicide.

But Parade is a nothing more than a paid advertisement, and this article is a hit piece defending the income producing drugs that feed the pharma giants.

My feeling.....if you can not read perhaps you deserve to lose your seat on the plane 't'.

Again the 'you' is always generalized and not aimed at Pogeu personally.

[Yorikke] So, if one takes COQ10 along with 'standard medical treatments' (ie Blood Press...

Yorikke — 8/23/2026 6:29:56 PM

So, if one takes COQ10 along with 'standard medical treatments' (ie Blood Pressure Meds and other ESSENTIAL what-nots that make the medical profession rich. ) you are endangering yourself. BETTER to just rely on your quack doc and let them term you out along their predetermined life channel.

Come on Pogue. Read the GD articles and see through the hype and fear mongering. It is just BS. I got a few friends who have honed in on this crap and now refuse to take any supplements. And they are low in D3, and a host of other things......they are old men losing weight and refusing to take the propper steps to care for themselves.....these kinds of articles just hasten their departure.

COQ10 may or may not be beneficial if overdosed but I see no evidence that taking Blood Pressure meds is gonna extend your life.....over what you have already fked yourself for by being a bloody idiot through the decades.

[Pogeu Mahone] No one needs this: aol.com Cardiologists Warn: CoQ10 Supplements May Harm Hear...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/18/2026 11:44:43 AM

No one needs this: aol.com

Cardiologists Warn: CoQ10 Supplements May Harm Heart Health and Waste Your Money

Beth Ann Mayer

Mon, August 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM EDT

14

As a consultative cardiologist, Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC, says supplements operate in the “wild west” of the health system.

“When I prescribe a medication, I know exactly what’s in the bottle, how it’s manufactured and precisely how it interacts with the body because it has undergone years of rigorous, large-scale clinical trials,” he tells Parade.

But Dr. Tadwalkar warns that supplements aren’t held to the same regulatory standards as medications.

“Often, the marketing is driven by profit rather than peer-reviewed data,” he explains. “As a patient, you have to play detective, asking questions like: Who is selling this? What is their incentive? If it sounds like a miracle cure, it’s almost certainly marketing bravado rather than medical science.”

Yet, if you’re one of the more than 20 million adults in the U.S. living with heart disease, it’s natural to want a cure. Unfortunately, supplements are also billed as “natural,” which Dr. Tadwalkar says doesn’t always mean “safe,” especially if you have or are at risk for heart disease.

“Supplements can alter the metabolism of life-saving medications or add unnecessary strain to your system,” he explains. “We need to be careful that your ‘wellness’ routine isn’t quietly working against your heart prescriptions.”

One trending supplement, billed as a tool for cardiovascular disease, may actually do more harm than good (or just no good at all). Four cardiologists agree that this supplement is mostly a waste of money for heart health, and that people taking statins need to be especially careful with it. Scroll on to learn more, including research-backed ways to protect your heart.

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This Supplement Is a Waste of Money for Heart Health, Cardiologists SayFour cardiologists agree that CoQ10 is generally a waste of money for heart health, even though it’s promoted as a miracle cure for cardiovascular disease, statin-related muscle pains and even aging (which, um, doesn’t need to be cured).

“Despite the glowing marketing claims, the official stance from major medical organizations tells a different story,” Dr. Patrick Kee, MD, Ph.D, a cardiologist at Vital Heart & Vein, tells Parade. “The American Heart Association (AHA) explicitly states that CoQ10 remains ‘of uncertain value’ in heart failure management, and it does not replace standard, guideline-directed medical therapy.”

If your algorithm hasn’t pushed TikTok videos promoting this supplement as a blanket fix for “all the things,” you may wonder: “Hey, what is CoQ10 anyway?”

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Every cell in your body has it, says Dr. Ryan Kaple, MD,an interventional cardiologist and the director of the Structural & Congenital Heart Program at Hackensack University Medical Center.

“It plays a crucial role in creating energy within your cells and protecting them from damage,” he says. “Think of it as a tiny spark plug for your cells’ engines. Your body produces CoQ10, but its levels can decrease with age or in people with certain conditions, like heart disease.”

But that doesn’t mean CoQ10 supplements are a great way to reduce the risk of heart disease (or slow it). Unfortunately, though, that’s why people often one-click buy them.

“Manufacturers heavily promote it with a ‘health halo,'” Dr. Kee points out. “It is widely sold under the premise that taking extra pills will naturally boost your heart’s pumping energy, slow down aging or magically shield your cardiovascular system.”

Yet, cardiologists say the hype isn’t usually right here.

Related: Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop Pairing This Common Supplement With Blood Pressure Medication

The Truth About CoQ10 and Heart HealthDr. Kaple warns that CoQ10 can interfere with blood thinners, including warfarin, and could lower blood sugar, a potential concern for people taking diabetes medications (Remember: people with diabetes are more likely to live with heart disease, too). Lack of oversight is also a problem.

“You can’t always be sure of the quality or dosage of the supplement you’re taking,” Dr. Kaple warns.

However, Dr. Tadwalkar is generally less concerned with toxicity than with the opportunity cost. “Many patients spend time and money chasing a supplement that doesn’t move the needle, potentially delaying the lifestyle changes or evidence-based treatments that actually save lives,” he explains.

For instance, there’s some anecdotal evidence that CoQ10 helps some people on statins with muscle aches. “But clinical trials have been largely neutral,” Dr. Tadwalkar clarifies. “It’s not a dangerous interaction, but it’s rarely the fix people hope it is.”

Another cardiologist agrees. “There are some studies that have demonstrated some mild cardiac benefits,” states Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, the chair of internal medicine at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. “These, however, are significantly outweighed by the time you invest in optimizing your nutrition, daily exercise, restful sleep and socialization.”

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—Here’s How To Know When You Should Go on Blood Pressure Medication’

When CoQ10 May Be HelpfulDr. Kaple doesn’t recommend CoQ10 for most of his patients but says the supplement might have a place in some holistic treatment plans. Dr. Kaple shares that times when CoQ10 might be considered include:

True CoQ10 deficiency (very rare)
Heart failure, along with standard medical treatments (“This is not a replacement for proven therapies,” Dr. Kaple emphasizes.)
Migraines

Importantly, Dr. Kaple stresses these plans should always stem from “consultation with a doctor.”

Related: Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop Pairing This Common Supplement With Blood Thinners

3 Ways To Improve Your Heart Health That Aren’t CoQ10 SupplementsThere’s no one-size-fits-all prescription for better heart health. Instead, cardiologists recommend starting with lifestyle changes. Below, they detail three effective ways to improve your heart health with more backing than CoQ10.

1. Adopt a heart-healthy dietDr. Kaple recommends following a diet plan that prioritizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats, such as the Mediterranean or DASH eating plans. These diets also minimize intake of processed foods, saturated and trans fats, added sugars and sodium. Dr. Kaple shares that these eating plans can help you keep your weight, cholesterol and blood pressure in check and lower your risk of chronic conditions that can strain the heart.

Want to get some CoQ10 the “food-first” way?

“The most heart-healthy source is oily fish like salmon, char, trout or mackerel,” shares Dr. Sathyamoorthy. “For vegetarians and vegans, walnuts, tofu, cauliflower and soybeans.”

2. Log exerciseDr. Kaple suggests aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, like brisk walking, swimming or cycling, each week. Moderate-intensity simply means your heart rate goes up, but you can still carry on a conversation.

“Exercise strengthens your heart muscle, improves circulation, helps control your weight, and can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol,” Dr. Kaple says.

Speaking of strength, don’t forget to add at least two resistance-training exercises to your regimen each week.

“There is a massive misconception that heart health equals hours on the treadmill, but lifting weights improves insulin sensitivity and lowers blood pressure,” Dr. Tadwalkar adds.

3. Prioritize sleepYour heart, mind and whole body will thank you. “Deep, restorative sleep gives your heart a necessary rest period, lowers your baseline heart rate and regulates stress hormones that can otherwise trigger inflammation and hypertension over time,” Dr. Kee reports.

[Pogeu Mahone] edit

Pogeu Mahone — 8/18/2026 11:40:10 AM

[Pogeu Mahone] I told you this stuff was not needed years ago. Cardiologists Warn: CoQ10 Suppl...

Pogeu Mahone — 8/18/2026 11:38:22 AM

I told you this stuff was not needed years ago.

Cardiologists Warn: CoQ10 Supplements May Harm Heart Health and Waste Your Money

Beth Ann Mayer

Mon, August 17, 2026 at 9:25 PM EDT

14

As a consultative cardiologist, Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, MD, FACC, says supplements operate in the “wild west” of the health system.

“When I prescribe a medication, I know exactly what’s in the bottle, how it’s manufactured and precisely how it interacts with the body because it has undergone years of rigorous, large-scale clinical trials,” he tells Parade.

But Dr. Tadwalkar warns that supplements aren’t held to the same regulatory standards as medications.

“Often, the marketing is driven by profit rather than peer-reviewed data,” he explains. “As a patient, you have to play detective, asking questions like: Who is selling this? What is their incentive? If it sounds like a miracle cure, it’s almost certainly marketing bravado rather than medical science.”

Yet, if you’re one of the more than 20 million adults in the U.S. living with heart disease, it’s natural to want a cure. Unfortunately, supplements are also billed as “natural,” which Dr. Tadwalkar says doesn’t always mean “safe,” especially if you have or are at risk for heart disease.

“Supplements can alter the metabolism of life-saving medications or add unnecessary strain to your system,” he explains. “We need to be careful that your ‘wellness’ routine isn’t quietly working against your heart prescriptions.”

One trending supplement, billed as a tool for cardiovascular disease, may actually do more harm than good (or just no good at all). Four cardiologists agree that this supplement is mostly a waste of money for heart health, and that people taking statins need to be especially careful with it. Scroll on to learn more, including research-backed ways to protect your heart.

?? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week ??

This Supplement Is a Waste of Money for Heart Health, Cardiologists SayFour cardiologists agree that CoQ10 is generally a waste of money for heart health, even though it’s promoted as a miracle cure for cardiovascular disease, statin-related muscle pains and even aging (which, um, doesn’t need to be cured).

“Despite the glowing marketing claims, the official stance from major medical organizations tells a different story,” Dr. Patrick Kee, MD, Ph.D, a cardiologist at Vital Heart & Vein, tells Parade. “The American Heart Association (AHA) explicitly states that CoQ10 remains ‘of uncertain value’ in heart failure management, and it does not replace standard, guideline-directed medical therapy.”

If your algorithm hasn’t pushed TikTok videos promoting this supplement as a blanket fix for “all the things,” you may wonder: “Hey, what is CoQ10 anyway?”

Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10, is a naturally occurring antioxidant. Every cell in your body has it, says Dr. Ryan Kaple, MD,an interventional cardiologist and the director of the Structural & Congenital Heart Program at Hackensack University Medical Center.

“It plays a crucial role in creating energy within your cells and protecting them from damage,” he says. “Think of it as a tiny spark plug for your cells’ engines. Your body produces CoQ10, but its levels can decrease with age or in people with certain conditions, like heart disease.”

But that doesn’t mean CoQ10 supplements are a great way to reduce the risk of heart disease (or slow it). Unfortunately, though, that’s why people often one-click buy them.

“Manufacturers heavily promote it with a ‘health halo,'” Dr. Kee points out. “It is widely sold under the premise that taking extra pills will naturally boost your heart’s pumping energy, slow down aging or magically shield your cardiovascular system.”

Yet, cardiologists say the hype isn’t usually right here.

Related: Cardiologists Are Begging People To Stop Pairing This Common Supplement With Blood Pressure Medication

The Truth About CoQ10 and Heart HealthDr. Kaple warns that CoQ10 can interfere with blood thinners, including warfarin, and could lower blood sugar, a potential concern for people taking diabetes medications (Remember: people with diabetes are more likely to live with heart disease, too). Lack of oversight is also a problem.

“You can’t always be sure of the quality or dosage of the supplement you’re taking,” Dr. Kaple warns.

However, Dr. Tadwalkar is generally less concerned with toxicity than with the opportunity cost. “Many patients spend time and money chasing a supplement that doesn’t move the needle, potentially delaying the lifestyle changes or evidence-based treatments that actually save lives,” he explains.

For instance, there’s some anecdotal evidence that CoQ10 helps some people on statins with muscle aches. “But clinical trials have been largely neutral,” Dr. Tadwalkar clarifies. “It’s not a dangerous interaction, but it’s rarely the fix people hope it is.”

Another cardiologist agrees. “There are some studies that have demonstrated some mild cardiac benefits,” states Dr. Mohanakrishnan Sathyamoorthy, MD, the chair of internal medicine at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU. “These, however, are significantly outweighed by the time you invest in optimizing your nutrition, daily exercise, restful sleep and socialization.”

Related: ‘I’m a Cardiologist—Here’s How To Know When You Should Go on Blood Pressure Medication’

When CoQ10 May Be HelpfulDr. Kaple doesn’t recommend CoQ10 for most of his patients but says the supplement might have a place in some holistic treatment plans. Dr. Kaple shares that times when CoQ10 might be considered include:

True CoQ10 deficiency (very rare)
Heart failure, along with standard medical treatments (“This is not a replacement for proven therapies,” Dr. Kaple emphasizes.)
Migraines

[Yorikke] Glycine Dosing and Uses. Glycine has a remarkably wide safety margin, but "high...

Yorikke — 8/13/2026 5:11:53 PM

Glycine Dosing and Uses.

Glycine has a remarkably wide safety margin, but "higher" supplementation changes its biological behavior depending on the dose tier. While a standard dose for sleep is 3 grams, clinical trials for complex metabolic and neurological conditions have safely evaluated high doses ranging from 15 to 30 grams per day, and historically up to 60 to 90 grams per day under strict medical supervision for schizophrenia. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
When escalating glycine intake beyond standard nutritional baselines, several distinct physiological shifts and potential side effects occur: [6]
Dose-Dependent Negative Effects & Risks

Gastrointestinal Distress: This is the most common side effect of escalating doses. Consuming more than 15 to 20 grams at once frequently causes mild stomach pain, nausea, abdominal cramping, or loose stools. Taking the supplement with food can significantly reduce this discomfort. [1, 6, 7]
Profound Daytime Drowsiness: Glycine functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and lowers core body temperature to signal sleep. At high daytime doses, this calming effect can cross over into counterproductive daytime sedation, sluggishness, or a flat affect. [1, 6, 8]
Potential for Excitotoxicity at Extreme Mega-Doses: While glycine is primarily inhibitory in the spinal cord, it acts as a mandatory co-agonist at NMDA receptors in the brain's cortex and hippocampus. In vitro and animal models show that extreme, super-physiological tissue saturation (>500 mg/kg of body mass) can trigger paradoxical hyperexcitatory pathways, contributing to localized neurotoxicity or acute glutamate toxicity. [1, 9, 10, 11]
Hyperammonemia (Sub-populations): In roughly 10% to 15% of individuals, massive doses of isolated amino acids can overwhelm the liver's urea cycle, leading to mild hyperammonemia (elevated blood ammonia). This typically presents as mild confusion, fatigue, or headaches. [6, 12, 13]
Medication Interferences: High doses of glycine can directly block the therapeutic effectiveness of the antipsychotic medication Clozapine (Clozaril). [3, 14, 15]

Known Therapeutic & Positive Effects at Higher Doses

Drastic Acceleration of Collagen Synthesis: While 3 grams is standard for sleep, optimal structural support for joints, ligaments, and skin requires significantly more. Clinical data shows that taking 10 to 15 grams of glycine daily triggers a 60% to 75% increase in Type II collagen production, which helps rebuild degraded cartilage matrixes. [3, 4, 16, 17, 18]
Enhanced Intracellular Glutathione Synthesis: Glycine is one of the three foundational precursors needed to produce glutathione, your body's master antioxidant. Pairing high-dose glycine with N-Acetylcysteine (the "GlyNAC" protocol) at tiers up to 30 grams daily has been shown to deeply restore cellular mitochondrial health, reduce systemic oxidative stress, and improve metabolic efficiency in tissue models. [1]
Cardiometabolic & Fatty Liver Protection: High-dose protocols (roughly 20 to 30 grams daily) have demonstrated a clinical capacity to lower overall visceral fat stores, decrease circulating plasma triglycerides, and reduce dangerous liver enzymes (like ALT and AST) by accelerating hepatic mitochondrial function. [19, 20, 21, 22, 23]
Deep Sleep Architecture Support: A 3-gram dose taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed effectively stabilizes sleep by cooling core body temperature. Higher doses within safe bounds help reduce next-day cognitive fatigue, reduce nighttime urinary urgency, and improve morning reaction times. [1, 3, 17]

Safe Practice Framework
If you plan to experiment with higher-dose glycine, avoid consuming a massive dose all at once. Splitting a high daily target into three smaller doses taken with meals significantly minimizes gastrointestinal distress and prevents sudden, sharp spikes in brain NMDA receptor activity. [6, 7, 24]
To help frame this safely, what daily milligram or gram amount are you planning to take, and what primary health objective are you trying to achieve with a higher dose?

[1] drstanfield.com
[2] drstanfield.com
[3] mitohealth.com
[4] purovitalis.com
[5] mitohealth.com
[6] synapse.patsnap.com
[7] joinmidi.com
[8] navacenter.com
[9] webmd.com
[10] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[11] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[12] consensus.app
[13] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[14] rthm.com
[15] empowerpharmacy.com
[16] purovitalis.com
[17] healthline.com
[18] pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[19] nature.com
[20] openheart.bmj.com
[21] biomedres.us
[22] pubs.rsc.org
[23] pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[24] supplementneeds.co.uk

[Yorikke] Anti Oxidant periodization This runs a bit counter to a great part of dialogue ...

Yorikke — 8/13/2026 4:58:54 PM

Anti Oxidant periodization

This runs a bit counter to a great part of dialogue of this thread. But I believe it is in the spirit of E. Charters. Things change over time.

When too much is just as bad as too little. Cytokine and ROS Benefits to the body's growth processes.

Much of this post addresses Astaxanthin, but it is really about all antioxidants, and the sum total of their presence in ones system, particularly through supplementation.

To safely generate the acute inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) required to trigger muscle growth while leveraging astaxanthin’s extreme protective benefits, you must practice Antioxidant Periodization. Because astaxanthin has a long half-life of 16 to 52 hours, you cannot simply time it hour-by-hour around a workout. Instead, you must cycle your dosages across larger training blocks. [1]

The optimal routine to balance muscle hypertrophy with maximal systemic protection involves the following phased schedule:

Phase 1: The Hypertrophy & Cytokine Window (Weeks 1–4)This phase prioritizes muscle growth, strength gains, and mitochondrial biogenesis by allowing natural exercise-induced stress to signal cellular adaptations.

The Goal: Allow acute inflammatory cytokines (like IL-6) and ROS to trigger the mTOR pathway, which drives muscle protein synthesis.
The Astaxanthin Routine: Completely discontinue astaxanthin or drop down to a minimal baseline of 2 mg to 4 mg per day.
The Protocol: Engage in your high-intensity hypertrophy or heavy resistance training blocks during this window. Your muscles will experience normal micro-tears and soreness (DOMS), which is the necessary signal your body uses to build back bigger and more resilient fibers. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Phase 2: The Clearing Block (Weeks 5–6)Because astaxanthin builds up heavily in fat cells, your body requires an intentional clearing phase between training cycles to completely free up muscle tissue signaling.

The Goal: Clear residual carotenoids from your tissues to ensure your body responds fully to the next round of exercise stress.
The Astaxanthin Routine: 0 mg per day (complete cessation).
The Protocol: Continue training with progressive overload. Skipping the supplement ensures your muscle fibers are fully sensitive to baseline cellular signaling molecules. [4, 7, 8]

Phase 3: The High-Protection & Recovery Cycle (Weeks 7–8)This phase shifts your physiological focus away from raw muscle growth to maximize tissue repair, lower systemic inflammation, and boost overall endurance. [9, 10, 11, 12]

The Goal: Rapidly reduce structural muscle damage markers (like creatine kinase), restore immune function, protect lipids, and build peak UV skin protection. [3, 13, 14, 15, 16]
The Astaxanthin Routine: 12 mg to 24 mg per day, always taken with a fat-inclusive meal to maximize absorption. [14]
The Protocol: Shift your training toward deload weeks, high-volume endurance blocks, multi-day outdoor events, or intensive cardio. The astaxanthin will efficiently shield your mitochondria, preserve muscle glycogen, and support cardiovascular recovery during this highly demanding phase. [17, 18, 19, 20]

Key Macro-Rules for this Routine

Keep it Food-Based During Hypertrophy: During Phase 1 and 2, get your antioxidants exclusively from whole foods (like berries, leafy greens, or wild seafood). Whole-food matrix antioxidants do not blunt muscle growth or inhibit mitochondrial biogenesis the way concentrated, isolated supplements do. [4, 17]
Avoid the 60 mg Tier entirely: Even during Phase 3 (High-Protection), cap your maximum intake at 24 mg per day. Exceeding this amount provides no additional muscle or cardiovascular protection due to tissue saturation limits, but it significantly elevates your risk of gastrointestinal distress and carotenodermia (orange skin).
Time it to the Evening: When you are in the High-Protection phase, take your daily dose with dinner. This places the peak 8-to-12-hour absorption window during your deep sleep cycles, when the majority of systemic tissue repair and immune system normalization occurs. [4]

How long do your hypertrophy training blocks typically last compared to your endurance or deload blocks? Sharing this will allow us to map these specific astaxanthin phases directly onto your existing workout calendar.

[1]nutrisense.io

[2]onlinelibrary.wiley.com

[3]mdpi.com

[4]youtube.com

[5]vitaminshoppe.com

[6]stamox.com

[7]vibrant-wellness.com

[8]setforset.com

[9]algatech.com

[10]nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com

[11]speediance.com

[12]perfectb.com

[13]pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[14]ubiehealth.com

[15]grassrootshealth.net

[16]acibademinternational.com

[17]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[18]academia.edu

[19]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[20]ai.hubermanlab.com

[Yorikke] Astaxanthin, and associated dosing regimes. (other antioxidants can follow muc...

Yorikke — 8/13/2026 4:53:24 PM

Astaxanthin, and associated dosing regimes. (other antioxidants can follow much the same routines)

Naturally derived astaxanthin is generally non-toxic even at high doses, but routinely exceeding standard clinical amounts (typically 4 mg to 12 mg per day) can trigger distinct physical changes and biochemical trade-offs. While regulatory bodies generally cap standard, daily recommended intakes around 12 mg, clinical trials have safely evaluated doses up to 40 mg to 48 mg per day for short-term durations. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The known positive and negative effects of high-dose astaxanthin supplementation include the following:

Known Negative Effects & Drawbacks

Red Fecal Discoloration: The most common and visible effect of high dosing is a distinct red tinting of the stool. While medically harmless, it can easily be mistaken for gastrointestinal bleeding during routine medical evaluations. [2, 5]
Gastrointestinal Distress: Escalating your daily intake up to 20 mg or above frequently leads to mild digestive disruptions. Reported side effects include increased bowel movements, mild stomach pain, and occasional abdominal cramps. [1, 4, 5]
Blunted Exercise Adaptations: High doses of systemic antioxidants can inadvertently hinder muscle growth and endurance gains. Because the body relies on moderate bursts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during exercise to signal cellular adaptations and mitochondrial biogenesis, super-physiological doses of astaxanthin can suppress this beneficial stress response. [5, 6]
Elevated Liver Enzymes: Meta-analyses have noted isolated, mild elevations in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a specific liver enzyme, at high dosing tiers. However, this typically occurs without impacting other foundational liver markers. [2]
Medication Interactions: High doses can amplify the effects of blood-thinning medications like warfarin, accelerating bruising and bleeding risks. Because it can lower blood sugar and diastolic blood pressure, it may also interact unpredictably with diabetes and hypertension drugs. [1, 2]

Known Positive Effects

Triglyceride & HDL Improvement: Clinical trials observing higher dosing bands (12 mg to 18 mg per day) have demonstrated a significant capacity to lower overall triglyceride levels. Parallel improvements include a notable rise in cardioprotective HDL ("good") cholesterol. [7]
Enhanced Skin Photoprotection: Escalating the dose helps accumulate this carotenoid pigment directly inside dermal tissue layers. This buildup effectively increases your minimal erythema dose (MED), meaning it raises the baseline threshold of UV light exposure required to induce a sunburn. [5]
Sharper Cognitive & Metabolic Support: Doses hovering around 12 mg daily have been validated to accelerate recovery from age-related cognitive decline over a standard 12-week timeframe. It also functions as a potent insulin sensitizer, which aids in optimizing whole-body glucose management. [8, 9]

To further tailor this information, could you share why you are looking into high doses (e.g., for athletic performance, skin health, or cardiovascular support) and what specific daily milligram amount you consider high?

[1]https://www.clarus-health.com/blog/astaxanthin-dangers

[2]https://examine.com/faq/what-are-astaxanthins-main-drawbacks/

[3]https://examine.com/supplements/astaxanthin/

[4]https://www.rxlist.com/supplements/astaxanthin.htm

[5]https://drstanfield.com/blogs/articles/astaxanthin-benefits-forms-dosing-and-side-effects

[6]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6627865/

[7]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12389351/

[8]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6878783/

[9]https://www.health.com/astaxanthin-benefits-8613082

Taking 60 mg per day of astaxanthin is a mega-dose that significantly exceeds the standard, evidence-based clinical range of 4 mg to 12 mg per day. While natural astaxanthin has shown an incredibly high safety profile and low toxicity in human trials—with temporary single doses tested up to 100 mg—sustaining 60 mg daily to target endurance, cardiovascular health, and UV skin resistance will likely trigger a phenomenon of diminishing returns and explicit physical trade-offs. [1, 2, 3]

A breakdown of how a 60 mg daily dose alters your three target outcomes, along with the expected biological responses, reveals the following:

1. Endurance & Exercise Performance: The Direct Negative Trade-offTaking 60 mg will likely hinder, rather than help, your athletic progress.

The Mechanism: To build muscular endurance, strength, and mitochondrial efficiency, your body requires the acute stress of exercise. Physical exertion generates free radicals (reactive oxygen species), which act as crucial cellular signals telling your body to adapt, rebuild stronger, and increase capillary density. [4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
The High-Dose Problem: Because astaxanthin is an exceptionally powerful antioxidant, a massive 60 mg daily dose aggressively neutralizes these free radicals before they can fire off their signaling cascade. This effectively blunts your natural training adaptations, leaving you with fewer fitness gains from your hard workouts. [9, 10, 11]
The Evidence-Based Alternative: The clinical studies demonstrating positive endurance and recovery outcomes uniformly utilize much lower doses—typically right around 4 mg per day. [12]

2. Cardiovascular Support: Saturation and Diminishing ReturnsWhile astaxanthin safely supports your lipid profile and heart health, 60 mg is unnecessary for optimal results. [13, 14, 15, 16]

The Mechanism: Astaxanthin improves cardiovascular health by lowering systemic inflammation, reducing malicious lipid peroxidation, lowering triglycerides, and boosting HDL ("good") cholesterol. [13, 14, 17, 18, 19]
The High-Dose Problem: Your body’s cellular receptors and tissues have a maximum saturation point for carotenoids. Once your cellular tissues are fully saturated, the excess astaxanthin cannot be utilized further for cardioprotection. It is simply processed by your liver and excreted via your spleen and digestive tract. [20]
The Evidence-Based Alternative: Robust cardiovascular trials observing distinct drops in triglycerides and improvements in blood rheology establish peak efficacy at just 12 mg to 18 mg per day. [14, 21]

3. Skin Resistance to UV: Physical Discoloration RisksAccumulating astaxanthin in your skin tissue does provide an internal shield against sun damage, but a 60 mg dose comes with highly visible cosmetic side effects. [22, 23, 24]

The Mechanism: Oral astaxanthin safely migrates to the skin, where it increases your minimal erythema dose (MED)—the amount of UV light required to cause a sunburn. It acts as a cellular internal sunscreen to mitigate UV-induced collagen breakdown. [23, 25, 26, 27]
The High-Dose Problem: Carotenodermia. Because astaxanthin is a deep red-orange pigment, consuming a sustained 60 mg dose will heavily saturate your subcutaneous fat layers and skin cells. This commonly causes your skin to develop a noticeable yellowish, orange, or reddish tint, particularly on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. [28, 29, 30, 31]
The Evidence-Based Alternative: Dermatologists and photoprotection studies find that consistent, daily usage of only 4 mg to 6 mg per day is highly effective at boosting UV skin resistance and minimizing wrinkle depth without discoloring your skin. [2, 12, 23]

What to Expect Physically at 60 mg DailyIf you proceed with a 60 mg daily regimen, you should anticipate prominent, though medically benign, side effects:

Bright Red Stool: A large portion of the unabsorbed pigment will pass completely through you, consistently dyeing your stool dark red or bright orange.
Frequent Gastrointestinal Distress: Mega-dosing heavily taxes the digestive tract, often causing mild stomach cramping, bloating, nausea, and more frequent, loose bowel movements.
Hormonal Footprint: Astaxanthin can weakly inhibit 5-alpha-reductase (the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT). At 60 mg, this could theoretically impact your baseline hormone ratios, altering libido or performance in unpredictable ways. [1, 15, 21, 32, 33]

Proactive Summary Recommendationn
To optimally hit your goals without blunting your athletic endurance or turning your skin orange, consider tapering down. A targeted daily dose of 12 mg taken with a fat-containing meal (as astaxanthin is fat-soluble) maximizes cardiovascular and skin benefits while staying clear of the threshold that compromises your workout recovery. [34, 35, 36]

Are you planning to take this mega-dose via a single formulation or by stacking multiple supplements, and are you currently taking any concurrent medications (like blood thinners or blood pressure drugs) that we should evaluate for safety interactions? [32, 37]

[1]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/astaxanthin

[2]https://ubiehealth.com/doctors-note/astaxanthin-skin-aging-uv-repair-derma-recommend2751q4

[3]https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAE6aGzSoos/

[4]https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/quercetin-scientific-studies/

[5]https://biogena.com/en-gb/knowledge/blog/astaxanthin

[6]https://www.mitoq.com/blogs/journal/researchers-discover-mitoq-increases-power-outputs-with-hiit-exercise-training

[7]https://drstanfield.com/blogs/articles/alpha-lipoic-acid-antioxidant

[8]https://backbayfit.com/vo%E2%82%82-max-testing-explained-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/

[9]https://www.lifeextension.com/wellness/supplements/astaxanthin-benefits

[10]https://www.popsci.com/what-are-antioxidants-good-bad-enough-too-much/

[11]https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAN9r26xvht/

[12]https://drstanfield.com/blogs/articles/astaxanthin-benefits-forms-dosing-and-side-effects

[13]https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/2/700

[14]https://jksus.org/astaxanthin-a-promising-nutraceutical-for-cardiovascular-health/

[15]https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/astaxanthin

[16]https://welltchemicals.com/blog/what-is-the-strongest-antioxidant/

[17]https://healthpath.com/gut-health/astaxanthin-benefits/

[18]https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/astaxanthin-benefits

[19]https://yourhealthmagazine.net/article/supplements/beyond-the-glow-the-comprehensive-health-benefits-of-astaxanthin/

[20]https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/10/1482

[21]https://examine.com/supplements/astaxanthin/research/

[22]https://www.cytoplan.co.uk/ask-the-expert/astaxanthin-benefits-skin-health

[23]https://www.biospherenutrition.co.nz/blogs/astaxanthin/9-evidence-based-benefits-of-astaxanthin

[24]https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYPdh7Gxs62/

[25]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6073124/

[26]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9008233/

[27]https://www.darwin-nutrition.fr/en/active/astaxanthin/

[28]https://www.amazon.sg/Vitamins-Macular-Degeneration-Zeaxanthin-Supplement/dp/B09ZQ34S68

To safely generate the acute inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) required to trigger muscle growth while leveraging astaxanthin’s extreme protective benefits, you must practice Antioxidant Periodization. Because astaxanthin has a long half-life of 16 to 52 hours, you cannot simply time it hour-by-hour around a workout. Instead, you must cycle your dosages across larger training blocks. [1]

The optimal routine to balance muscle hypertrophy with maximal systemic protection involves the following phased schedule:

Phase 1: The Hypertrophy & Cytokine Window (Weeks 1–4)This phase prioritizes muscle growth, strength gains, and mitochondrial biogenesis by allowing natural exercise-induced stress to signal cellular adaptations.

The Goal: Allow acute inflammatory cytokines (like IL-6) and ROS to trigger the mTOR pathway, which drives muscle protein synthesis.
The Astaxanthin Routine: Completely discontinue astaxanthin or drop down to a minimal baseline of 2 mg to 4 mg per day.
The Protocol: Engage in your high-intensity hypertrophy or heavy resistance training blocks during this window. Your muscles will experience normal micro-tears and soreness (DOMS), which is the necessary signal your body uses to build back bigger and more resilient fibers. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

The Goal: Clear residual carotenoids from your tissues to ensure your body responds fully to the next round of exercise stress.
The Astaxanthin Routine: 0 mg per day (complete cessation).
The Protocol: Continue training with progressive overload. Skipping the supplement ensures your muscle fibers are fully sensitive to baseline cellular signaling molecules. [4, 7, 8]

The Goal: Rapidly reduce structural muscle damage markers (like creatine kinase), restore immune function, protect lipids, and build peak UV skin protection. [3, 13, 14, 15, 16]
The Astaxanthin Routine: 12 mg to 24 mg per day, always taken with a fat-inclusive meal to maximize absorption. [14]
The Protocol: Shift your training toward deload weeks, high-volume endurance blocks, multi-day outdoor events, or intensive cardio. The astaxanthin will efficiently shield your mitochondria, preserve muscle glycogen, and support cardiovascular recovery during this highly demanding phase. [17, 18, 19, 20]

Key Macro-Rules for this Routine

Keep it Food-Based During Hypertrophy: During Phase 1 and 2, get your antioxidants exclusively from whole foods (like berries, leafy greens, or wild seafood). Whole-food matrix antioxidants do not blunt muscle growth or inhibit mitochondrial biogenesis the way concentrated, isolated supplements do. [4, 17]
Avoid the 60 mg Tier entirely: Even during Phase 3 (High-Protection), cap your maximum intake at 24 mg per day. Exceeding this amount provides no additional muscle or cardiovascular protection due to tissue saturation limits, but it significantly elevates your risk of gastrointestinal distress and carotenodermia (orange skin).
Time it to the Evening: When you are in the High-Protection phase, take your daily dose with dinner. This places the peak 8-to-12-hour absorption window during your deep sleep cycles, when the majority of systemic tissue repair and immune system normalization occurs. [4]

How long do your hypertrophy training blocks typically last compared to your endurance or deload blocks? Sharing this will allow us to map these specific astaxanthin phases directly onto your existing workout calendar.

[1]https://www.nutrisense.io/blog/is-inflammation-good-for-muscle-building

[2]https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.70470

[3]https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/10/1570

[4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXwQV_IwGJc&t=170

[5]https://www.vitaminshoppe.com/blog/astaxanthin/

[6]https://stamox.com/en-no/blogs/recovery/antioxidant-recovery-post-workout

[7]https://vibrant-wellness.com/blog/strength-training-oxidative-stress-how-to-optimize-muscle-growth

[8]https://www.setforset.com/blogs/news/3-hit-training-programs

[9]https://www.algatech.com/astaxanthin-optimal-sports-nutritional-supplement/

[10]https://nutraceuticalbusinessreview.com/the-power-of-natural-astaxanthin-for-increased-muscle-performance-100998

[11]https://www.speediance.com/blogs/fitness/12-week-body-transformation-program

[12]https://www.perfectb.com/wolverine-peptide-bpc-157-tb-500/

[13]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37025615/

[14]https://ubiehealth.com/doctors-note/astaxanthin-muscle-sports-recovery-doctor-protip6451q4

[15]https://www.grassrootshealth.net/blog/omega-3s-inflammation-and-muscle-recovery-what-the-latest-meta-analysis-reveals/

[16]https://acibademinternational.com/health-library/how-to-boost-immune-system-quickly-a-doctor-reviewed-answer/

[17]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5778137/

[18]https://www.academia.edu/14722385/Astaxanthin_improves_muscle_lipid_metabolism_in_exercise_via_inhibitory_effect_of_oxidative_CPT_I_modification

[19]https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10511399/

[20]https://ai.hubermanlab.com/s/Ac17ao5B

[Yorikke] Antioxidant Periodization Is it safe to assume that all antioxidants supplemen...

Yorikke — 8/13/2026 4:39:02 PM

Antioxidant Periodization

Is it safe to assume that all antioxidants supplements are best administered in a periodic format?

Yes, it is entirely reasonable and biologically accurate to assume that almost all isolated antioxidant supplements are more effective when consumed in intervals or cycles rather than taken continuously.
This concept, known in physiology as Antioxidant Periodization, applies to nearly all major isolated antioxidants, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, CoQ10, N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), and Alpha-Lipoic Acid.
The biological mechanisms that explain why interval dosing is universally superior include:

1. Preventing the "Antioxidant Paradox"

The Mechanism: Your body features its own powerful, built-in antioxidant defense system, which creates compounds like glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD). [1]
The Problem: When you take high doses of isolated antioxidants continuously, your body senses that free radicals are constantly being neutralized externally. As a result, it downregulates its own internal production of glutathione and SOD. [2]
The Interval Benefit: Blasting the system with supplements continuously makes your body lazy. Cycling off forces your cells to maintain their natural, robust defense machinery.

2. Preserving the Hormesis Curve

The Mechanism: Hormesis is the biological rule that a small, temporary amount of stress makes a cell stronger, while too much stress kills it, and zero stress makes it weak.
The Problem: Chronic supplementation completely flattens the stress curve, eliminating the beneficial micro-shocks your body needs to adapt. This is why continuous high-dose Vitamin C (over 1,000 mg) and Vitamin E have been shown in multiple clinical trials to blunt muscle growth, reduce insulin sensitivity, and stall endurance gains.
The Interval Benefit: Interval dosing allows for necessary bursts of cellular stress (like exercise or cold exposure) to trigger growth, followed by a supplementation phase that helps clean up the resulting damage. [3]

3. Preventing Pro-Oxidant Shifts

The Mechanism: At excessively high or completely saturated levels, certain antioxidant molecules can flip their behavior and become pro-oxidants. [4]
The Problem: In a saturated environment, molecules like Vitamin C or beta-carotene can begin generating free radicals and causing cellular damage rather than preventing it. [5]
The Interval Benefit: Periodic breaks ensure your tissue concentrations never cross the threshold into pro-oxidant territory.

Exceptions to the Rule: When Not to Use Intervals
While cycling works best for performance and longevity, a few exceptions require consistent, daily dosing:

Chronic Clinical Deficiencies: If a doctor diagnoses a severe deficiency (such as scurvy or severe vitamin E malabsorption), daily non-stop dosing is required to restore baseline health.
Whole Food Antioxidants: You do not need to cycle off antioxidants found in a whole-food matrix (like blueberries, dark leafy greens, or green tea). Whole foods contain thousands of co-factors and fibers that slow down absorption, preventing the body from being overwhelmed and ensuring they never blunt muscle growth. [6]

Summary Strategy for All Supplements

If you want to apply this interval mindset to your entire supplement stack, a highly effective universal framework is the 4:2 or 5:2 strategy. You can either take your supplements for 4 weeks on and 2 weeks off, or simply take them for 5 days during the week and completely fast from all supplements on the weekend. This simple habit prevents cellular saturation and keeps your body's natural adaptation pathways sharp.
What other antioxidant supplements do you currently include in your routine? Sharing your full list will help identify if any of them have specific clearance rates or half-lives that require unique cycling schedules.

[1] longevity.technology
[2] healthline.com
[3] blog.nasm.org
[4] cymbiotika.com
[5] cymbiotika.com
[6] cymbiotika.com

[Carolyn] I take glycine every night. Ok, here goes: I bought a grounding mat from Earth...

Carolyn — 8/2/2026 6:41:15 PM

I take glycine every night.

Ok, here goes:

I bought a grounding mat from Earthbound and have been using it for a week. I have never slept better. Used to get up 2 times a night, tossed and turned. No more. Sleep for much longer hours before awaking.

[Yorikke] Try adding about 3 grams of Glycine to your schedule. A lot of pain is related ...

Yorikke — 8/2/2026 5:32:12 PM

Try adding about 3 grams of Glycine to your schedule. A lot of pain is related to chemical actions in the body that rely on glycine availability. As we age our internal manufacture of glycine declines. We suffer the effects of that by increased breakdown of standard functional processes. We run through it, and then our systems get sketchy and creak.

Lots of YouTube vids on glycine and its functions and benefits.

[JakeStraw] Yorikke, I've been using Zyflamend for a few months. I don't know if it's a "pla...

JakeStraw — 7/30/2026 2:05:03 PM

Yorikke, I've been using Zyflamend for a few months. I don't know if it's a "placebo" effect, but I have noticed some relief from from on/off pain in my back, elbow and knee.