Brief Summary
This episode of "The Bioenergetic View" features Georgi Dinkov, Jay Feldman, and Mike Fave discussing various health topics, including estrogen's role as a carcinogen, the dangers of synthetic progesterone, and the misconceptions around NAD+ and mitochondrial uncoupling. They also address the carnivore diet's impact on thyroid levels, Dave Asprey's orange juice recommendation, and Dr. Berg's views on serotonin.
- Estrogen is a carcinogen, and supplementation should be approached with caution.
- Synthetic progestins often have estrogenic effects, complicating hormonal contraception.
- Raising NAD+ effectively requires addressing the metabolic state and proper glucose oxidation.
- The carnivore diet can lead to thyroid issues due to insufficient carbohydrate intake and other factors.
- Serotonin is not necessarily a "happy hormone" and may play a role in chronic diseases.
Intro
The episode introduces the topics to be discussed, including a rebuttal to criticism of Georgi Dinkov's views on estrogen, the major point Sim Land is missing regarding increasing NAD, why Dr. Berg is considered wrong on serotonin, Nutrition with Judy's suggestion that thyroid issues on a carnivore diet are not caused by a lack of carbohydrates, and Dave Asprey's recommendation to drink orange juice.
Whether Estrogen Is a Carcinogen
Georgi argues that estrogen is a known human carcinogen, citing declarations from the CDC, NIH, and the World Health Organization. He challenges the idea that estrogen supplementation is beneficial, given its carcinogenic nature. He also mentions numerous studies linking estrogen to various cancers, even those not typically considered endocrine-dependent. He emphasizes that even low doses of uninterrupted estrogen supplementation can be carcinogenic over time, especially in environments with high reactive oxygen species.
Estrogen’s Role in Driving Weight Gain and Chronic Diseases Such as Cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Type 2 Diabetes
Georgi presents evidence from animal studies showing that estrogen administration can cause strokes, heart attacks, and Alzheimer's disease. He describes Alzheimer's as "diabetes of the brain," linking it to hyperlipidemia and excess fatty acid oxidation. Estrogen is implicated in promoting lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation, which was initially promoted for weight loss but later found to cause weight gain. The pharmaceutical industry shifted away from estrogen-only contraceptives due to long-term follow-up studies showing abysmal results, including increased cancer risks.
The Dangers of Synthetic Progesterone (Progestin) Use
The pharmaceutical industry added synthetic progestins to contraceptives to balance estrogen's effects. However, many synthetic progestins are themselves estrogenic and can act as glucocorticoid agonists, potentially causing Cushing syndrome. Despite this, it's nearly impossible to find a hormonal contraceptive on the market that is pure estrogen, as big pharma admitted the need to tame estrogen's carcinogenic effects.
The Difference Between Estrone and Estradiol and the Problems with Estrogen Testing
The discussion covers the differences between estrone and estradiol, with estrone being a predictive biomarker for breast and prostate cancer. Estrone sulfate functions as a long-term storage of estrogen. Standard blood tests measuring estradiol in menopausal women may be misleading because estrone and estrone sulfate levels do not decline. All three estrogens (estrone, estradiol, and estriol) have been associated with various cancers. Estradiol is the declared human carcinogen by both the CDC and WHO, while estrone is a precursor.
Whether Estrogen Therapy Should Be Used in Post-Menopausal Women
Estrogen therapy may initially alleviate some menopause symptoms by suppressing the pituitary gland and reducing inflammatory LH and FSH levels. However, long-term evidence from animal studies shows that estrogen administration in cancer models does not improve outcomes. There isn't a single study where injecting estrogen improved cancer outcomes in animals.
The Difference Between Oral and Transdermal Estrogen Use
Oral estrogen may be worse than transdermal estrogen because it goes through the liver, which views estrogen as a powerful toxin. Estrogen can clog cytochrome P450 enzymes, impeding the detoxification of substances like endotoxin. Transdermal estrogen may spare the liver but still accumulates in tissues. Longer exposure to lower concentrations of estrogen is just as carcinogenic as a single high concentration dose.
The Connection Between Inflammation and Estrogen Production
Inflammation activates aromatase, increasing estrogen production. It's not possible to have low estrogen in the context of high inflammation. Estrogen acts as a growth hormone, triggering cell proliferation and repair in trauma or chronic inflammation. However, over time, it contributes to the underlying pathology by activating COX and LOX enzymes, forming positive feedback cycles with stress steroids like cortisol and aldosterone.
Why Estrogen Levels Are Not Actually Low in Post-Menopausal Women
Hair analysis shows that most women over 40 have high estrogen levels, indicating that blood tests may not accurately reflect tissue levels. Almost every cell in the body expresses aromatase and can synthesize estrogen. Blood is merely a transport mechanism, reflecting the functioning of the producing organ. Studies on women with breast cancer show drastically elevated estrogen levels in breast tissue.
Our Take on Siim Land's Post on NAD+ and Mitochondrial Uncoupling
The discussion shifts to Sim Land's post on NAD+ and mitochondrial uncoupling, criticizing the focus on biosynthesis pathways while ignoring the cellular environment. Reductive stress and over-reliance on fatty acid oxidation are major factors in aging and decreased NAD levels. Oxidizing primarily fatty acids lowers the NAD to NADH ratio, blocking glucose oxidation.
Why Intentionally Seeking Hormetic Responses, Like the Activation of Heat-Shock Proteins, Should Be Avoided
The dangers of intentionally seeking hormetic responses, like the activation of heat-shock proteins, are discussed. Inducing dysfunction to get cells to respond is not beneficial. The question of when the body's response to these things fails is raised, along with the idea of a General Adaptation Syndrome response curve to hormetic stressors.
Which Form of CoQ10 Is Better: Ubiquinone or Ubiquinol
The discussion covers ubiquinol and ubiquinone, noting that maintaining a ubiquinone to ubiquinol ratio below 0.5 for 24 hours can cause structural damage to electron transport chain complexes. Reversing the ratio quickly restores the cell. The oxidized version, ubiquinone, is preferred, as the reduced version, ubiquinol, interferes with ETC2 function.
What Siim Land and Many Others Get Wrong When It Comes to Raising NAD+
The hierarchy of raising NAD levels is discussed, emphasizing minimizing NAD loss by inhibiting inflammation and CD38. Niacinamide is highlighted as the only NAD+ precursor that inhibits CD38. A combination of niacinamide and something that can directly oxidize NADH back into NAD, such as methylene blue or vitamin K, is suggested as the best approach.
Does Fasting and AMPK Upregulation Cause Cancer?
The discussion covers the potential pathological effects of AMPK, noting that it is upregulated in every type of cancer and protects cancer cells from apoptosis. Chronic fasting can increase the risk of cancer. Steve Jobs is mentioned as an anecdotal example of someone who fasted and developed pancreatic cancer.
Fat Fuels Cancer and Why Not to Restrict Sugar for Cancer
Cancer cells can run on fatty acid oxidation, using lactate to recycle NAD. Restricting glucose for cancer cells can increase tissue breakdown. Vitamin K shows promise as a treatment for liver cancer. Diabetes is a fat-driven disease, and if diabetes is a precursor state to many cancers, then cancer can't suddenly switch and do a 180 and say, oh yeah, you got me to this point by loving fat, but now I'm going to switch over to glucose.
Dr Berg’s Take That Serotonin Is the “Happy Hormone” – Why We Disagree
The discussion challenges the notion of serotonin as the "happy hormone." Every anti-serotonin drug has demonstrated effectiveness as an anti-depressant in animal models. Acute tryptophan depletion studies have not found that it causes depression. People with carcinoid tumors, who have extremely high serotonin levels, suffer from psychosis and aggression.
Serotonin’s Role in Driving Chronic Diseases and Conditions Including Depression, Anxiety, IBS, and Cancer
Serotonin is linked to driving fatty liver disease, and serotonin antagonists are being trialed for treating fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. Pfizer, while selling SSRI anti-depressants, is running clinical trials with an anti-serotonin drug to reverse the effects of elevated serotonin. Studies on serial killers and people who committed suicide show extremely high levels of serotonin in their cerebral spinal fluid.
Nutrition with Judy Claims That the Low Thyroid Levels Generally Seen on the Carnivore Diet Have Nothing to Do with a Lack of Carbohydrates
The discussion covers Judy Cho's claim that low thyroid levels on a carnivore diet are not due to a lack of carbohydrates. DHEA is not a reliable precursor to testosterone in males, mostly converting to DHT or estrogen. Fresh meat in a carnivore diet contains a significant amount of glycogen. The conversion of T4 into T3 is dependent on glucose availability.
How the Rate of Living Theory Changed Mainstream Medicine’s View That Thyroid Health Is Important
A shift occurred in the medical paradigm where thyroid health and metabolic rate were no longer considered important. The rate of living theory led to attempts to lower metabolic rate. High carbohydrate diets were previously used to raise thyroid function. The only weight loss drug used up until the 1950s was dinitrophenol.
How Excessive Exercise Raises Stress Hormones, Setting You Up for Weight Regain
Excessive exercise is known to lower basal metabolic rate. Endurance athletes have higher rates of lung fibrosis and cancer. Exercise increases lipolysis and can make individuals insulin resistant. Chronic fasting combined with exhaustive exercise increases cortisol production.
Why the Combination of Fasting and Exercise Is Detrimental to Our Health
The combination of fasting and exercise is detrimental to health. After stopping chronic exercise, individuals may gain weight on fewer calories due to a damaged basal metabolic rate. Muscle loss is greater than fat loss during fasting and exercise.
How Estrogen Is Used to Fatten Animals
Estrogen is widely used in the livestock industry to fatten up animals. In cattle, a combination of estrogen and an androgen is used. In swine, supplemental estrogen is primarily used.
Why Dave Asprey Is Talking About Endotoxin and Orange Juice
The discussion covers Dave Asprey's recommendation of orange juice for food poisoning due to its ability to reduce endotoxin levels. However, it's not the sugar in orange juice that reduces endotoxin levels, but the naringin and apigenin, which are endotoxin receptor antagonists.
Whether the Sugar in Orange Juice Feeds Bacteria and Increases Endotoxin
The sugar in orange juice does not feed bacteria and increase endotoxin. Orange juice has a systemic effect that acts in a way opposite to endotoxin. The flavonoids in orange juice are electron-accepting agents, shifting the redox status towards oxidation.
Why the Low-Carb Trend Keeps Resurfacing, Despite the Growing Evidence Against It
The low-carb trend keeps resurfacing because the foundation has nothing more to say other than restricting carbs. If they admit that oxidizing fat is bad, it's a small step to saying PUFA is terrible. The core themes are carbohydrate bad, fat good, PUFA good, and saturated fat bad.
Where to Find Georgi and IdeaLabs
Georgi Dinkov's company, IdeaLabs, focuses on pro-metabolic cosmetics and R&D chemicals. The products are based on Ray Peat's writings and Georgi's research, aiming to increase metabolic rate. The products address mediators of the sickness field like estrogen, serotonin, and prolactin, and increase youthful hormones like pregnenolone, progesterone, and DHEA.
